ES2384858B1 - Domestic appliance with a useful space for housing fruit and / or vegetables. - Google Patents

Abstract

Domestic appliance with a useful space for storing fruit / vegetables. # The invention relates to a domestic appliance with at least one useful space (19) for accommodating fruit or vegetables. According to the invention, the domestic appliance has a unit (25), by means of which the ripening process of fruit or vegetables stored in the useful space (19) is accelerable.

Description

HOUSEHOLD APPARATUS WITH A USEFUL SPACE FOR THE ACCOMMODATION OF FRUIT YIO VERDURA

The invention relates to a household appliance with at least one space useful for housing fruit and / or vegetables according to the preamble of the Claim 1.

In vegetables, the so-called climacteric constitutes a process, which has an influence on fruit and vegetables, which encourages ripening. The climacteric fruits are, by way of example, among others, apples, bananas, pears, or tomatoes. In this, as maturation gas, ethene or ethylene is used, which acts in a self-catalyzing way; that is, the fruit absorbs ethylene, through which the intracellular synthesis of ethylene is stimulated. Next, the gaseous ethylene is emitted, and it can act stimulatingly on other fruits again, through which an accelerated ripening is started.

15 By using this artificial ripening, the fruit and vegetables can be collected in the countries of origin already at a very early harvest time, and be distributed to the countries of sale, for example, by sea transport, such as the so-called "green products" in refrigerated containers. After unloading the "green products" at the destination port,

Depending on the demand and the market situation, a subsequent ripening can be carried out in special ripening chambers. In such maturation chambers, a maturation gas, especially ethylene, is added under predetermined process conditions. The maturation process is controlled electronically here in terms of residence time and

25 concentration of the maturation gas. The artificially matured fruit / vegetable is then distributed to the food trade.

The artificially accelerated ripening process is carried out almost to maturity for fruit consumption. The artificially matured fruit and vegetables can therefore be offered commercially.

They are foodstuffs as easily perishable products only for a very limited period of time, and, for sale, are only suitable for consumption for a short time.

The task of the invention is to make available a domestic appliance which, on the one hand, makes possible a long-term storage of fruit and vegetables, but which, on the other hand, also allows a short-term consumption of fruit and vegetables stored in the household appliance.

The task is solved by the features of claim 1. In the secondary claims, preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed.

The invention is based on the idea that the fruit or vegetable, contrary to the usual custom until now, is not acquired in the state matured by the final consumer, but, in fact, still as a "green product". In this not yet matured state, the final consumer can store the fruit or the vegetable in a lasting way. However, to prepare the fruit or vegetable in a short time for consumption, the green product can be supplied by the final consumer with a ripening gas. Therefore, depending on the need, the artificial subsequent maturation can be carried out directly by the final consumer, and should no longer take place before distribution in the food trade. Against this background, the domestic appliance presents, according to the characterizing part of claim 1, a unit by means of which the final consumer can accelerate the ripening process of fruit or vegetables stored in the useful space.

Preferably, the unit can introduce a maturing gas, especially ethylene, into the useful space of the domestic appliance. The maturation gas can be made available in high-pressure tanks, configured for this, which can be arranged in a machine space of the domestic appliance and, if necessary, can be exchanged without further ado. By adding ethylene, the ripening process of fruit or vegetables stored in useful space can be stimulated. Depending on the residence time and the ethylene concentration, the artificial subsequent maturation process can also be accelerated or delayed. The desired degree of ripeness of the fruit or vegetable stored in the useful space can be adjusted by means of predeterminations by the user.

The unit can preferably be arranged outside the useful space, and can be connected in terms of fluid mechanics with the useful space through a gas inlet. The maturation gas stream generated in the

unit can here be inserted into the usable space, preferably in

case of need of the final consumer, by means of a fan. So i can

to occur a smooth and non-problematic accelerated ripening process is

a more or less uniform distribution of the maturation gas in the

5

useful space. Given this background, the useful space can present a

air outlet opening, through which air can exit the usable space,

while, at the same time, a gas stream of

maturation. In this, the residence time and the concentration of the current

maturation gases are preferably adjustable via a

1 O

electronic control device.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the acceleration unit

artificial maturation may be a constituent part of an air circuit

circulating. In the circulating air circuit, the

usable space, fan, and unit. The circulating air circuit may be

fifteen

configured closed out and / or, if necessary, being configured open, it is

that is, through an air outlet duct, it can be connected to the

environment in terms of fluid mechanics.

In the unit, the maturation gas flowing from a high tank

pressure can be intermixed, for example, with the air stream

twenty

of the useful space transported in the circulating air circuit. Air stream

the useful space therefore serves as a carrier current, which introduces the gas

ripening in the useful space. In this case, the air in the usable space is

firstly driven through the unit according to the invention and there it is

intermixed with maturation gas. Then the air in the usable space is

25

redirected, together with the maturation gas, to the useful space.

To obtain a non-problematic ripening process, it is preferred if the

Useful space is gas-and / or air-tight closed out. By

Therefore, the useful space can preferably have an appliance door,

with which it is locks a loading opening of the useful space.

30

According to an embodiment, the domestic appliance can be a

refrigerator, especially a refrigerator, or the like, in which, together with the

cooling space, the useful space is additionally integrated according to the

invention. For the accelerated ripening process to take place

exclusively in the useful space in a directed way, it is preferred if the space

The cooling chamber is separated from the usable space in a gas and / or air tight manner.

As already mentioned above, the unit for accelerating the ripening process of fruit or vegetables stored in useful space can be activated by an electronic control device. Preferably, activation of the electronic control device can be triggered by the end consumer. For this, a manually operated control element may be assigned to the electronic control device. With activation by the user, the unit can activate the accelerated ripening process.

Two examples of embodiment of the invention are described below by means of the attached figures.

They show:

Fig. 1

in a simplified block diagram of the connections,

a

refrigerator with  a useful space according to the invention,

according to the first example of embodiment; and

Fig. 2

a household appliance with useful space according to the invention,

according to the second example of embodiment.

In FIG. 1, a refrigerator apparatus with a cooling space 1 is schematically shown in an approximate manner. The cooling space 1 is closed by its charging opening 3 by means of an appliance door 5. With the rear wall of the cooling space 1, opposite the charging opening 3, an evaporator is thermally coupled, in a manner known per se. 7, which is a constituent part of a refrigerant circuit R. As such, the evaporator 7 is positioned in the refrigerant circuit R together with a condenser 9, a liquefactor 11, as well as an expansion member 13.

As removed in addition to Figure 1, the cooling space 1 is separated from a fruit / vegetable bucket 17 on the base side via an intermediate base 15. With appliance door 5 open, the fruit bucket / vegetable 17 is led into the cooling space 1 removably from the front side, like a drawer. The fruit / vegetable tray 17 delimits a useful space 19 according to the invention. Furthermore, according to FIG. 1, a control device 21 is provided, which, by means of a cooling space sensor 23, senses the actual temperature in the cooling space 1 in a known manner and, depending on the relative predetermination at the theoretical temperature by the user, activates the condenser 9, to increase or decrease a cooling power introduced in the cooling space 1.

The cooling apparatus has, next to the refrigerant circuit R, a circulating air circuit A, in which a unit 25 is positioned, by means of which a ripening process of fruit or vegetables stored in useful space 19 can be accelerated. Therefore, unit 25 can have a high-pressure tank filled with ethylene, with which the ethylene acting as the maturation gas can be conducted in gaseous form to the useful space 19 through a gas inlet 27. According to Figure 1, the circulating air circuit A is configured as a closed circuit, in which the useful space 19 is connected to the unit 25 in terms of fluid mechanics through an air outlet 29. In this, a fan 31 is connected before of unit 25 in the direction of the current. In addition, a control valve 33 is provided in the circulating air circuit U, with which the circulating air circuit U can optionally be opened outwards. Thus, there is the possibility of forcibly expelling air from the usable space, from the usable space 19 into the environment.

The control valve 33, as well as the fan 31 and the unit 25, are activatable through the electronic control device 21. With appropriate connection position of the control valve 33, the fan 31 can conduct an air stream from the space useful towards unit 25. Unit 25 may present, for example, a high pressure tank filled with liquid ethylene, which, with corresponding activation by means of control device 21, is connectable in terms of fluid mechanics with the circuit of circulating air A. Preferably, the high pressure tank can be coupled to the circulating air circuit A through easily separable connections, so that an emptied high pressure tank is easily replaceable. Through the high-pressure reservoir, ethylene can be added to the air stream in the usable space. The ethylene-air mixture thus formed is then redirected back to useful space 19 through gas inlet 27.

The accelerated ripening process can be started by means of a manually actuated control element 35, which is provided as

of element 35, control device 21 activates components 25, 31, 33

of

way corresponding, to speed up the process of maturation in the

usable space 19 with predetermined duration as well as ethylene concentration

5

default.

In figure 2, according to the second example of embodiment, it is shown

a

household appliance,

whose space Useful 19 not this integrated in a apparatus

fridge;

of done, the apparatus domestic this accomplished how apparatus

Incorporable separately, or as a receptacle, if applicable, mobile. As in the

1 O

figure 1, also in FIG. 2, the useful space 19 is lockable out of

gas-tight and air-tight using an appliance door 5. The space

useful 19 is in

it also integrated into a circulating air circuit A, the

which

is airship via electronic control device 21 of way

analogous to

first example of embodiment. The drive element 35

fifteen

intended to trigger the maturation process can, just like in the

FIG. 1 is supported by a control panel 36 of the domestic appliance.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

one

Cooling space

3

Loading opening

5

Appliance door

7

Evaporator

9

Condenser

eleven

Liquefactor

13

Expansion process

fifteen

Intermediate base

17

Fruit / vegetable bucket

19

Useful space

twenty-one

Electronic control device

2. 3

Cooling space sensor

25

Unit

27

Gas inlet

29

Gas outlet

31

Fan

33

Control valve

35

Control element

36

Control panel

R

Refrigerant circuit

TO

Circulating air circuit

Claims (10)

one.

Household appliance with at least one useful space (19) for housing fruit and / or vegetables, characterized in that the household appliance has a unit (25), by means of which the ripening process of fruit or vegetables stored in the useful space (19).

2.

Domestic appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the unit (25) is arranged outside the useful space (19), and a maturing gas, especially ethylene, is untranslatable in the useful space (19) of the domestic appliance.

3.

Domestic appliance according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the unit (25) is in connection with the useful space (19) through a gas inlet (27).

Four.

Domestic appliance according to claim 3, characterized in that the unit (25) has a fan (31), by means of which the maturing gas is untranslatable in the useful space (19).

5.

Domestic appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the useful space (19) has a gas outlet (29), through which the air from the useful space leaves the useful space (19).

6.

Household appliance according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the unit (25) is a constituent part of a circulating air circuit (A), whereby a stream of air from the usable space is mixed in the unit (25) with the maturation gas, and then it is redirected to the useful space (19).

above, characterized in that the useful space (19)

is locks

out gas-tight and / or air-tight, especially by

an appliance door (5).

5

8.

Apparatus domestic according a of the claims enunciated

above, characterized in that the domestic appliance is an appliance

refrigerator where

in special, the useful space (19) is separated from the

refrigeration space (1) of the refrigerator in a hermetic way

10

to gas and / or air.

9.

Apparatus domestic according a of the claims enunciated

previously,

characterized why the Unit (25) for the

acceleration

of the process of maturation of fruit me vegetable

fifteen

Stored in useful space (19) it can be activated by a device

electronic control (21).

10.

Domestic appliance according to claim 9, characterized in that at

electronic control device (21) is associated

a element of

twenty

manually operated knob (35), with which the unit can be activated

(25).

SPANISH OFFICE OF THE PATENTS AND BRAND Application number: 201031588 SPAIN Application filing date: 10/29/2010 Priority Date: REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE ART 51 Int. Cl.: A23B7 / 144 (2006.01) F25D23 / 12 (2006.01) RELEVANT DOCUMENTS

Category

56 Documents cited Claims affected

X

CN 201349484 Y (XIAOGUANG GUO) 25.11.2009, summary; figures. Summary of the EPODOC database. Recovered from EPOQUE; AN CN-20082145098-U. 1-10

X

US 2005165499 A1 (STEIN RUSSELL L) 07/28/2005, abstract; paragraphs 10-11,16-17,19,22-24,26-30; Figures 2.3. 1-10

X

US 2005217282 A1 (STROHM ANDREW G et al.) 06.10.2005, paragraphs 2,13,23-24,27,35-36,38,40-41; figures. 1-10

TO

US 5136853 A (GIRARDON PHILIPPE et al.) 08.11.1992, abstract; Figures 1-2. 1.3-10

Category of the documents cited X: of particular relevance Y: of particular relevance combined with other / s of the same category A: reflects the state of the art O: referring to unwritten disclosure P: published between the priority date and the date of filing of application E: previous document, but published after the filing date of the application

This report has been made • for all claims □ for claims no:

Date of reporting 29.06.2012

Examiner R. Magro Rodríguez Page 1/4

STATE OF THE ART REPORT Application number: 201031588 Minimum searched documentation (classification system followed by classification symbols) A23B, F25D Electronic databases consulted during the search (name of the database and, if possible, terms of used search) INVENES, EPODOC State of the Art Report Page 2/4  WRITTEN OPINION Application number: 201031588 Date of Completion of Written Opinion: 06.29.2012 Statement

Novelty (Art. 6.1 LP 11/1986)

Claims Claims 1-10 IF NOT

Inventive step (Art. 8.1 LP11 / 1986)

Claims Claims 1-10 IF NOT

The application is considered to meet the requirement of industrial application. This requirement was evaluated during the formal and technical examination phase of the application (Article 31.2 Law 11/1986).  Basis of Opinion. This opinion has been made on the basis of the patent application as published. State of the Art Report Page 3/4  WRITTEN OPINION Application number: 201031588 1. Documents considered.- Next, the documents pertaining to the state of the technique are taken under consideration for the realization of this opinion.

Document

Publication or Identification Number publication date

D01

CN 201349484 Y (XIAOGUANG GUO) 11.25.2009

D02

US 2005165499 A1 (STEIN RUSSELL L) 07/28/2005

D03

US 2005217282 A1 (STROHM ANDREW G et al.) 10/06/2005

D04

US 5136853 A (GIRARDON PHILIPPE et al.) 08/11/1992

2. Reasoned declaration according to articles 29.6 and 29.7 of the Implementing Regulation of Law 11/1986, of March 20, on Patents on novelty and inventive step; quotes and explanations in support of this statement The application under report describes a domestic appliance, implemented with a useful space for the accommodation of fruit and / or vegetables, which allows an accelerated process of maturation of the stored product by controlled addition of ethylene. Based on the search carried out, a large number of documents have been found whose essence responds to the approach made in the application, that is, different procedures and domestic appliances, independent or with annexed spaces, for the conservation and / or controlled control routes and vegetables, through the addition of ethylene and regulation of different parameters involved. However, D1-D3 have been considered the closest to the state of the art for the preparation of this written opinion. The D1 document presents a small device to accelerate the maturation of routes and vegetables through the controlled addition of ethylene. The set is implemented by an ethylene generator, a fan, a refrigerated zone, separated from the ripening zone, a control unit and sensors for the automated regulation of different parameters. All the characteristics included in claims 1 -10 of the request are found in advance in document D1. Document D 2 describes a sero device for controlled lamination, def routes and vegetables, combined luxury of ethylene and fresh air flow, in proportions adequate to achieve the objective set out in each case, depending on the existing parameters. The system consists of a treatment space or chamber; an ethylene emitter; a device regulating the flow of gases around the product, fan type or the like; electronic control device associated with actuation m anos, as well as lighting and temperature control units. The characteristics included in claims 1-10 of the application are found in document D2. Document D 3 contains a domestic refrigeration device, for the storage and preservation of fruits and vegetables, with the possibility of dividing them into separate compartments, and with mechanisms to regulate ethylene levels and, consequently, the ripening process. . The unit, in its different variants, is made up of an automated system for the controlled exchange of air and / or other gases such as ethylene, fans, deflectors that regulate flows and means of control of other parameters such as temperature and humidity. . The characteristics of the application, as set out in claims 1-10, are anticipated in document D3. From all this it follows that the application, based on the aforementioned documents and as stated in claims 1-10, lacks novelty and inventive step (Art.6.1 and 8.1 LP 11/1986). State of the Art Report Page 4/4