JP5268172B2 - Banana ripening processing method and ripening processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and a system for postharvest ripening treatment of bananas that can considerably reduce a postharvest ripening treatment cost. <P>SOLUTION: After a step for activating the respiration of unripened bananas, the atmospheric temperature of a postharvest ripening treatment chamber is regulated to a preset specific low temperature value suitable for restraining ripening of bananas, at least around the bananas during a temperature drop step for restraining ripening of the respiration activated bananas. The atmosphere flow rate of the postharvest ripening treatment chamber in which the temperature drop step is performed, is controlled such that the flesh temperature of the bananas approaches the low temperature value with the lapse of time during the temperature drop step at least around the bananas. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2013,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a banana ripening processing method and a ripening processing system for carrying out the method.

  Bananas are regulated by the Plant Protection Act in the mature state, so immature bananas imported at low temperatures must be matured by ripening. Since bananas are climacteric-type fruits, the ripening process brings out the activation of the respiration of immature bananas (climacteric rise), thereby yellowing the skin and softening the flesh. In addition, holding the breath-activated banana at a high temperature will cause deterioration of the skin, shortening the period during which maturation proceeds rapidly and can be sold as a product, and rapid cooling will sufficiently increase the sugar content of the pulp. It cannot be improved, and if it is cooled too much, a low temperature failure occurs. Therefore, the ripening process of bananas increases the temperature of the pulp of immature bananas in the ripening process chamber, thereby activating the respiration of the bananas and the temperature of the flesh of the bananas whose respiration is activated. Is lowered to the set value over time, thereby having a temperature lowering step for suppressing ripening of the banana.

Conventionally, in order to control the banana pulp temperature during ripening processing, the ambient temperature in the ripening processing chamber has been changed. FIG. 19 relates to a conventional ripening processing method, where the alternate long and short dash line α is the relationship between the target temperature and time set in advance in the ripening processing chamber atmosphere, and the solid line β is the measured temperature and time of the ripening processing chamber atmosphere. The broken line γ shows the relationship between the measured value of the banana pulp temperature and time. That is, in the conventional temperature reduction process of the ripening process, in order to lower the pulp temperature of the banana activated by respiration, the target temperature α of the atmosphere of the ripening process chamber is set in advance corresponding to the elapsed time, The ambient temperature β in the ripening processing chamber was changed so as to follow the target temperature α. (See Patent Documents 1 to 4).

Normally, bananas are ripened in the ripening chamber while they are stored in a number of cartons, so if you want the measured temperature of the ripening chamber atmosphere to follow the target temperature as in the past, each carton It is necessary to prevent the ambient temperature around the banana from changing unevenly depending on the position. Therefore, for example , a ripening processing apparatus 201 as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 is widely used. The ripening processing device 201 includes a housing 203 that constitutes a ripening processing chamber 202, a room temperature adjusting device 204 that performs cooling, heating, and ventilation of the ripening processing chamber 202, and a hanging shape on the ceiling of the housing 203. A pair of left and right airbags 205 attached to the vehicle. A door 207 for taking in and out the carton 206 containing bananas is provided in the front part of the housing 203, and the inside of the ripening processing chamber 202 is hardly affected by the outside air temperature by closing the door 207. It becomes. A plurality of cartons 206 are stacked without any gaps through the pallet 208 in each of the lower portions of the airbags 205 in the ripening processing chamber 202, and constitute a pair of carton stacks arranged at intervals on the left and right. Each air bag 205 is inflated by supplying air, and a gap between each carton laminate and the ceiling of the housing 3 is eliminated. Each carton 206 is formed with a hole 206a for circulation of the atmosphere. The room temperature adjusting device 204 has a circulation fan 204a disposed in the vicinity of the ceiling of the ripening processing chamber 202, sucks the atmosphere in the central region of the ripening processing chamber 202 at a constant flow rate, and discharges it to the left and right regions. Thereby, the pressure in the central region in the ripening processing chamber 202 is lower than that in the left and right regions, and a differential pressure is generated. In addition, the airbag 205 suppresses a decrease in differential pressure. Thereby, when the atmospheric temperature of the ripening processing chamber is changed by the room temperature adjusting device 204, it is possible to suppress the atmospheric temperature around the banana from changing unevenly depending on the position. In addition, instead of the airbag as described above, the pressure difference in the ripening processing chamber can be reduced by using a cushion and cloth, a bed, a sheet covering the stacked cartons, a shutter that can protrude into the ripening processing chamber, etc. A ripening processing apparatus that suppresses the variation in the atmospheric temperature from becoming nonuniform has also been used conventionally (see Patent Document 5).

JP 2002-171901 A JP-A-4-356158 JP 60-217859 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-299541 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-9835

  When the atmospheric temperature of the ripening processing chamber is changed in order to lower the banana pulp temperature in the temperature lowering step as in the conventional case, it is difficult to change the pulp temperature uniformly if the atmospheric flow rate is small. Therefore, conventionally, it has been necessary to always generate a large amount of circulating airflow. As a result, the conventional ripening processing equipment becomes very expensive, requiring maintenance, making it difficult to increase the size to increase the banana storage capacity, and improving the productivity. It was a major factor that hindered the reduction of the ripening cost of sewage. An object of the present invention is to provide a banana ripening processing method and a ripening processing system capable of solving such problems.

The present invention relates to a breathing activation process for raising the pulp temperature to activate the respiration of an immature banana in the ripening processing chamber, and a supplementary process different from the ripening processing chamber after the breathing activation process. The present invention is applied to a banana ripening processing method including a temperature lowering step of lowering the pulp temperature in order to suppress the ripening of a rejuvenated banana in a ripening processing chamber.
In the ripening processing method for bananas according to the present invention, the banana storage capacity of the ripening processing chamber where the temperature lowering process is performed is larger than the banana storage capacity of the ripening processing chamber where the breathing activation process is performed, and the temperature decreasing process The temperature of the ripening processing chamber is adjusted to a predetermined low temperature value suitable for suppressing ripening of the banana at least during the temperature lowering process at least around the banana, and the low temperature value Is selected from a temperature range of 13 ° C. to 16 ° C., a banana is disposed in each of the plurality of regions in the ripening processing chamber where the temperature lowering step is performed, and the atmospheric flow rate in the ripening processing chamber where the temperature lowering step is performed is at least at ambient banana, and characterized in that over a period of cooling step, pulp temperature banana disposed in each of the plurality of regions are controlled so as to approach the said cold value by the elapsed time That.
According to the present invention, breathing is activated in a ripening processing chamber different from that in which the breathing activation process has been performed in a state where at least the ambient temperature around the banana is adjusted to a certain low temperature. In order to suppress the ripening of the converted banana, a temperature lowering process for lowering the pulp temperature is performed. In order to lower the pulp temperature of the banana in the temperature lowering step, the atmosphere flow rate in the ripening processing chamber where the temperature lowering step is performed is controlled at least around the banana. That is, the pulp temperature of the banana activated by respiration tends to increase due to the heat of breathing, but the pulp temperature is gradually decreased by controlling the atmospheric flow rate adjusted to a constant low temperature value. At this time, when the respiration of the banana is active and the pulp temperature is high and the difference from the low temperature value is large, ripening can be sufficiently suppressed even if the atmospheric flow rate is small. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the need for a device that always generates a large amount of circulating airflow as in the prior art.
The low temperature value is a value suitable for suppressing the ripening of respiration activated bananas by controlling the atmospheric flow rate, such as banana type, flesh firmness, freshness, environmental temperature, period for selling as a product, etc. Depending on the temperature range of 13 ° C. to 16 ° C., for example, when the ripening process is completed before the skin is sufficiently yellowed, the low temperature value is sufficiently yellowed. Higher than the low temperature value.
In the present invention, in order to improve productivity, the ripening processing chamber in which the breathing activation process is performed and the ripening processing chamber in which the temperature lowering process is performed are different from each other, and the temperature lowering process is performed. The banana storage capacity of the ripening processing chamber is made larger than the banana storage capacity of the ripening processing chamber where the breathing activation process is performed, and bananas are added to each of the plurality of regions in the ripening processing chamber where the temperature lowering process is performed. The atmosphere flow rate is controlled so that the pulp temperature of the arranged banana approaches the low temperature value. Thereby, the cycle for repeating the temperature lowering process is made longer than the cycle for repeating the breathing activation process, and the temperature lowering process is executed by lowering the banana flesh temperature in any region in the ripening processing chamber where the temperature lowering process is performed. In the meantime, in the ripening processing room where the respiration activation process is performed, the respiration activation process is executed by activating respiration of the banana, and the pulp temperature of the banana whose respiration is activated by this respiration activation process is lowered. The temperature lowering process to be started can be started in any remaining region in the ripening processing chamber where the temperature lowering process is performed.
When the ripening processing chamber where the breathing activation process is performed is different from the ripening processing chamber where the temperature lowering process is performed, the breathing activation process is performed using the same ripening processing apparatus as in the conventional case. This may be done to make effective use of existing equipment.

The door of the ripening processing chamber where the temperature lowering process is performed may be opened and closed for taking in and out of the banana storage carton. For this reason, in the vicinity of the door of the ripening processing chamber or at a time when the fluctuation of the outside air temperature is large, the ambient temperature around the banana may vary greatly even if it is adjusted to a low temperature value. If such temperature fluctuation is small or short, there is no problem. However, if the temperature is long and long, ripening of bananas may not be suppressed properly only by controlling the atmospheric flow rate. Therefore, by adjusting the ambient temperature of the ripening processing chamber where the temperature lowering step is performed, at least around the banana so as to be the low temperature value, the time average over the temperature lowering step is ± 1 ° C. of the low temperature value. It is preferable to keep in the range. Usually, the ambient temperature in the ripening processing chamber where the temperature lowering step is performed is adjusted to be the low temperature value at least around the banana, so that the time average over the temperature lowering step ranges from 13 ° C to 15 ° C. It is preferable to hold the banana in order to suppress ripening of the banana by controlling the atmospheric flow rate .

In the method of the present invention, a circulation device that circulates the atmosphere around the banana by rotating a fan is disposed in the ripening processing chamber where the temperature lowering step is performed, and the standard range of the banana pulp temperature in the temperature lowering step It is set in advance in association with the time, and the relationship between the rotation speed of the fan and the elapsed time of the temperature lowering step is set in advance so that the banana pulp temperature is maintained within the standard range corresponding to the elapsed time of the temperature lowering step. It is preferable to control the atmospheric flow rate at least around the banana in the ripening processing chamber where the temperature lowering step is performed by setting and changing the rotational speed of the fan according to the relationship.
The standard range of the pulp temperature should be set in advance in association with the elapsed time of the temperature-decreasing process based on experiments and empirical rules, for example, so that the ripening is not excessively suppressed or the skin is not damaged. That's fine. Thereby, ripening of a banana can be suppressed appropriately only by changing the rotation speed of a fan according to the elapsed time of a temperature-falling process according to the set relationship. Furthermore, since the difference between the pulp temperature and the low temperature value is large at the beginning of the temperature lowering step, the pulp temperature can be quickly and uniformly lowered even if the rotational speed of the fan is small. On the other hand, by increasing the rotational speed of the fan as the pulp temperature decreases, the pulp temperature can be uniformly lowered even if the difference between the pulp temperature and the low temperature value is small. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the energy required for driving the fan from being increased unnecessarily, to save energy, and to reduce the ripening cost of the banana.
In this case, the measured value of the banana pulp temperature in the temperature lowering process is obtained in time series, and when the obtained measured value is out of the standard range, the rotation speed of the fan is changed so as to be within the standard range. Is preferred. As a result, when the pulp temperature deviates from the standard range by opening or closing the door of the ripening processing chamber, the fan speed is returned to the standard range by changing the size of the fan, and ripening of bananas is appropriately suppressed. can do.

  In the method of the present invention, the target value of the fruit temperature of the banana in the temperature lowering step is set in advance corresponding to the elapsed time so that the fruit temperature approaches the low temperature value as time elapses and ripening of the banana is suppressed. An actual measurement value of the banana pulp temperature in the process may be obtained in time series, and an atmospheric flow rate around the banana in the ripening processing chamber where the temperature lowering process is performed may be controlled so that the actual value follows the target value. . As a result, if the measured value of the pulp temperature in the temperature lowering process is lower than the target value, the low temperature value is equal to or lower than the target value, so the atmospheric flow rate adjusted to become the low temperature value is reduced, and in some cases it is zero. By doing so, the pulp temperature can be raised. Further, if the measured value of the pulp temperature is higher than the target value, the pulp temperature can be lowered by increasing the atmosphere flow rate adjusted so as to be a low temperature value equal to or lower than the target value.

  In the method of the present invention, it is preferable that the direction of the rotational speed of the fan, that is, the rotational direction is reversed during the temperature lowering process. Thereby, the flow direction of the atmosphere around a banana is made uniform, and it can suppress that the pulp temperature falls unevenly. Moreover, the flow direction of the atmosphere around the banana can be made uniform by providing a period in which the magnitude of the rotational speed of the fan is set to zero for a predetermined set time. Further, in order to lower the pulp temperature uniformly, it is preferable to provide a period in which the magnitude of the rotational speed of the fan is made zero for a predetermined set time before the rotational direction is reversed.

In the present invention, the atmosphere temperature of the ripening processing chamber where the breathing activation process is performed is higher than the low temperature value and activates the breathing of the banana at least around the banana during the breathing activation process. It is preferable to adjust the temperature to a suitable preset constant high temperature value. Thus, the different ripening process chamber as cooling step is performed by introducing ethylene breathing by raising the banana pulp temperature of immature can be activated. The high temperature value is a value that can bring out the activation of respiration of an immature banana, and may be appropriately selected according to the type of banana, pulp firmness, freshness, environmental temperature, etc. It is preferable to select from the temperature range, for example, higher in a highland cultivated banana than in a lowland cultivated banana.

The adjustment of the atmospheric temperature to a high temperature value is only required to activate the respiration of the banana in the respiration activation step. Therefore, the atmospheric temperature of the ripening processing chamber where the respiration activation step is performed is at least around the banana. the by modulate it to be hot value, Ru sufficient if kept in the range of ± 1 ° C. of the hot values in the time average over during breath-activated step.

  The banana ripening processing system of the present invention is a circulator that circulates the atmosphere around the banana by rotation of the fan in the ripening processing chamber where the temperature lowering step is performed, and by changing the rotation speed of the fan, And a control means for controlling the atmosphere flow rate circulated by the circulation device. The ripening processing system of the present invention can be used for carrying out the banana ripening processing method of the present invention. The system according to the present invention includes a first room temperature adjusting device that adjusts the atmospheric temperature of the ripening processing chamber where the breathing activation process is performed so as to reach the high temperature value at least around the banana, and a temperature lowering process. You may provide the 2nd room temperature adjustment apparatus which adjusts the atmospheric temperature of the said ripening processing chamber so that it may become the said low-temperature value at least around a banana. The system of the present invention may further include a ripening processing chamber in which a breathing activation process is performed and a ripening processing chamber in which a temperature lowering process is performed.

In the banana ripening processing system according to the present invention, the system includes storage means for storing a preset relationship between the rotation speed of the fan and the elapsed time of the temperature lowering step, and the fan is in accordance with the relationship stored in the storage means. Is preferably controlled by the control means. Thereby, aging of a banana can be suppressed appropriately only by changing the rotation speed of a fan according to the passage of time according to the relation.
In this case, a temperature sensor that obtains the measured value of the banana pulp temperature in the temperature lowering process in time series, a temperature sensor that obtains the measured value of the banana pulp temperature in the temperature lowering process in time series, and the magnitude of the rotational speed of the fan It is preferable that an override signal to be changed during control by the control unit is provided with an input unit that inputs the control unit. As a result, if the pulp temperature deviates from the standard range, it can be returned to the standard range simply by changing the rotational speed of the fan, preventing the pulp temperature from dropping too fast or too low. Aging can be suppressed appropriately.

Ripening processing system banana invention have the preferred provided with a device for introducing ethylene into the ripening process chamber breath-activated step.

In the present invention method, descending temperature process may be used general-purpose insulation warehouses as ripening process chamber takes place, it may be used ripening process chamber cooling step only, also breath-activated step line A general-purpose heat storage warehouse or the like may be used as the ripening processing chamber, or a ripening processing chamber dedicated to the breathing activation process may be used.

  According to the present invention, a banana ripening processing method that can use a warehouse with easy maintenance as a ripening processing room, can be easily increased in size, can improve productivity, and can greatly reduce the ripening processing cost. And ripening processing system can be provided.

The block diagram of the system for ripening processing of the banana which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. The front view of the circulation apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. The side view of the circulation apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. IV-IV sectional view taken on the line of FIG. The side view in the operating state of the circulation apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. The front view in the operating state of the circulating apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the control structure in the system for ripening processing of the banana which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the relationship between the pulp temperature of a banana, the frequency for motor drive, and elapsed time in the temperature-fall process performed by controlling the atmospheric flow rate with the circulation apparatus of 1st Embodiment of this invention. The block diagram of the system for ripening processing of the banana which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The perspective view of the circulation apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The top view in the operating state of the circulation apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The front view in the operating state of the circulation apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The side view in the operating state of the circulation apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the control structure in the system for ripening processing of the banana which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. Explanatory drawing of the relationship between the atmospheric temperature around a banana, the target value of pulp temperature, the measured value of pulp temperature, and elapsed time in the case of ripening a banana by the method of this invention. The enlarged view of the area | region A of FIG. The enlarged view of the area | region B of FIG. Front sectional view of a conventional ripening apparatus. The sectional side view of the conventional ripening processing apparatus. The figure explaining the measured temperature of the atmosphere of the ripening processing chamber, the target temperature of the atmosphere, the measured value of the pulp temperature, and the elapsed time when the banana is ripened by the conventional method.

FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a ripening processing system 1 according to a first embodiment for carrying out the banana ripening processing method of the present invention. With this system 1, in the first ripening processing chamber 2, a breathing activation process for increasing the pulp temperature is performed in order to activate the breathing of immature bananas. In the ripening processing chamber 3, a temperature lowering step is performed to lower the pulp temperature in order to suppress the ripening of the respiration activated banana. In the present embodiment, the banana storage capacity of the second ripening processing chamber 3 is made larger than the banana storage capacity of the first ripening processing chamber 2, and the number of first ripening processing chambers 2 (2 in the illustrated example) is the first. 2 The number of ripening processing chambers 3 is larger than the number (1 in the illustrated example), and the total banana storage capacity of the second ripening processing chamber 3 is equal to or greater than the total banana storage capacity of all the first ripening processing chambers 2. Yes. The number of the ripening process chamber 2, 3 have a particularly limited.

  The first ripening processing chamber 2 includes a first room temperature adjustment device 4 that adjusts the temperature of air, which is an indoor atmosphere, and ethylene is charged into the chamber by an ethylene charging device 24. A known device can be used as the ethylene charging device 24. The first ripening processing chamber 2 has a door 2 'for taking in and out a carton containing a banana, and constitutes a substantially sealed space that is hardly affected by the outside air temperature by closing the door 2'. For example, it can be constituted by a heat insulation warehouse covered with a heat insulating material.

  The first room temperature adjustment device 4 adjusts the atmospheric temperature of the first ripening processing chamber 2 so as to be a constant high temperature value during the breath activation process. The high temperature value is set in advance so as to be a value suitable for activating respiration of the banana, and is preferably selected from a temperature range of 19 ° C. to 24 ° C., and is set to 20 ° C. in this embodiment. The adjustment accuracy to the constant high temperature value of the ambient temperature by the first room temperature adjustment device 4 is sufficient if it can activate the respiration of the banana in the respiration activation process, and is adjusted to be a high temperature value. Thus, at least around the banana, it is preferable that the ambient temperature can be maintained within a range of ± 1 ° C. of the high temperature value on a time average over the respiratory activation process. That is, the atmospheric temperature in the first ripening processing chamber 2 may slightly vary from the high temperature value during ventilation or the like if there is no substantial influence on the breathing activation process. The configuration of the first room temperature adjustment device 4 is not limited as long as the atmospheric temperature of the first ripening processing chamber 2 can be adjusted to a high temperature value. For example, the first room temperature adjustment device 4 has an indoor cooling and heating function and is distributed on the ceiling, side walls, and the like. A known air conditioner that blows out the temperature-controlled atmosphere through the opening and also has a ventilation function between the indoor atmosphere and the outside air can be used.

  The second ripening processing chamber 3 includes a second room temperature adjusting device 5 that adjusts the temperature of air that is an indoor atmosphere. The second ripening processing chamber 3 has a door 3 'for taking in and out a carton containing a banana, and constitutes a substantially sealed space that is hardly affected by the outside air temperature by closing the door 3'. For example, it can be constituted by a heat insulation warehouse covered with a heat insulating material.

  The second room temperature adjusting device 5 adjusts the atmospheric temperature of the second ripening processing chamber 3 so as to be a constant low temperature value during the temperature lowering process. The low temperature value is set in advance so as to be lower than the high temperature value and suitable for suppressing ripening of bananas, and is preferably selected from a temperature range of 13 ° C. to 16 ° C. In this embodiment, 14 ° C. It is said. The adjustment accuracy to the constant low temperature value of the atmospheric temperature by the second room temperature adjustment device 5 may be such that the banana ripening can be suppressed by controlling the pulp temperature of the banana only by changing the atmospheric flow rate in the temperature lowering step. . The ambient temperature in the second ripening processing chamber 3 may fluctuate when carrying in / out bananas or ventilating, but if there is no substantial effect on the temperature lowering process, bananas are taken in / out or ventilated. The temperature may vary slightly from the low temperature value. Therefore, in appropriately suppressing the ripening of the banana by controlling the atmospheric flow rate, by adjusting the atmospheric temperature of the second ripening processing chamber 3 so as to be a low temperature at least around the banana, It is preferable to keep the temperature average in the range of ± 1 ° C. of the low temperature value, particularly preferably in the range of 13 ° C. to 15 ° C. The configuration of the second room temperature adjusting device 5 is not limited as long as the atmosphere temperature of the second ripening processing chamber 3 can be adjusted to a low temperature value. For example, the second room temperature adjusting device 5 has an indoor cooling and heating function and is distributed on the ceiling, side walls, and the like. A known air conditioner that blows out the temperature-controlled atmosphere through the opening and also has a ventilation function between the indoor atmosphere and the outside air can be used.

  A circulation device 10 that circulates the atmosphere around the banana is disposed in each of the plurality of regions in each of the ripening processing chambers 2 and 3. Each of the circulation devices 10 of this embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 includes a frame 10A and a blower 10B. The frame 10A is formed by connecting four corners of a rectangular plate-like base 10a and a top plate 10b with support columns 10c. A pair of front and rear openings 10d is formed between the left and right (left and right in FIGS. 2 and 4) struts 10c in the frame 10A. The front and rear (left and right in FIG. 3) struts 10c in the frame 10A are each closed by a shielding plate 10e.

  The blower 10B includes a casing 10f attached on the top plate 10b and a fan 10g driven around the vertical axis by a motor built in the casing 10f. An upper flow hole (not shown) is formed in the upper part of the casing 10f, and a lower flow hole 10h is formed in the lower part of the casing 10f and the top plate 10b of the frame 10A.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, a plurality of circulation devices 10 are arranged in parallel by contacting each other via a shielding plate 10 e, and as shown in FIG. 1, the rows of the circulation devices 10 are arranged. Are arranged in two rows in the first ripening processing chamber 2 and eight rows in the second ripening processing chamber 3. The shielding plate 10e of each circulation device 10 may be detachable, and the shielding plate 10e may be attached only to the outer ends of the circulation devices 10 at both ends of the circulation devices 10 arranged in a row.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a plurality of cartons 11 containing bananas are stacked on the floors before and after each circulation device 10 in each ripening processing chamber 2, 3 through a pallet 12 without any substantial gaps. The laminate 13 is configured. The carton laminate 13 is disposed so as to be in contact with the front and rear surfaces of the support column 10 c of the circulation device 10 without a substantial gap, and the front and rear openings 10 d of each circulation device 10 are covered with the carton laminate 13. Each carton 11 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and holes 11a for circulation of the atmosphere are formed in the front, rear, left and right walls. Thereby, a banana is arrange | positioned in each of the some area | region in each ripening process chamber 2,3.

  By rotating the fan 10g in one direction, the atmosphere in the ripening processing chambers 2 and 3 is sucked through the upper flow hole of the casing 10f and guided into the frame 10A through the lower flow hole 10h. It exhausts through the front-rear opening 10d. From the rotation of the fan 10g in the other direction, the atmosphere in the ripening processing chambers 2 and 3 guided into the frame 10A through the front and rear openings 10d was sucked through the lower flow hole 10h of the casing 10f. Later, it is exhausted through the upper flow hole of the casing 10f. That is, the circulation device 10 can circulate the atmosphere around the banana in the ripening processing chambers 2 and 3 by the rotation of the fan 10g, and the circulation flow rate of the atmosphere is changed by the change in the rotation speed of the fan 10g. Can be changed. In this embodiment, if the driving power of the motor that rotates the fan 10g is changed according to the driving frequency, the rotational speed of the fan 10g changes, and the rotational speed corresponds to the atmospheric flow rate. It is possible to control the atmosphere flow rate around the three bananas. Further, as the rotational speed of the fan 10g, not only the magnitude of the rotational speed but also the direction of the rotational speed, that is, the rotational direction can be changed, and the rotational direction of the fan 10g can be reversed or the magnitude of the rotational speed can be changed. Can be set to zero for a set time.

  By rotating the fan 10g in one direction, the atmosphere in the ripening processing chambers 2 and 3 is exhausted from the front and rear openings 10d after being guided into the frame 10A. Higher than the pressure in the surrounding area. Due to this pressure difference, the atmosphere at least around the banana in the ripening processing chambers 2 and 3 circulates by flowing in the direction indicated by the arrows in FIGS. Further, since the atmosphere in the ripening processing chambers 2 and 3 is guided into the frame 10A by the rotation of the fan 10g in the other direction, the pressure in the frame 10A is exhausted through the upper flow hole of the casing 10f. Becomes lower than the pressure in the surrounding area of the carton laminate 13. Due to this pressure difference, the atmosphere around the bananas in the ripening processing chambers 2 and 3 circulates by flowing in the direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrows in FIGS. The circulating atmosphere flow rate changes according to the change in the rotational speed of the fan 10g.

As shown in FIG. 7, each circulation device 10 is connected to a control device 20 mainly constituted by a computer. Further, the control device 20 determines the room temperature of the first room temperature adjustment device 4 and the first ripening processing chamber 2 in time series, the room temperature sensor 4a for obtaining the room temperature in the time series, the second room temperature adjustment device 5, and the room temperature of the second ripening processing chamber 3 in time series. Room temperature sensor 5a required for input, input device 21 composed of a keyboard and the like, temperature sensor 22 for determining the measured value of the banana flesh temperature in the respiratory activation process and the temperature lowering process in time series, and the CO2 in the first ripening processing chamber 2 CO ₂ sensor 23a for determining the actual value of the carbon concentration, the second ripening obtaining the measured value of carbon dioxide concentration in the processing chamber 3 CO ₂ sensor 23b, ethylene dosing device for introducing ethylene into the first ripening process chamber 2 24 An output device 25 composed of a display device, a printer, or the like is connected. The temperature sensor 22 does not need to obtain the pulp temperatures of all the bananas during the ripening process, and only needs to obtain a part of the pulp temperature. Also, instead of using a chamber dedicated to ripening processing of a certain volume as the first ripening processing chamber 2, the ethylene concentration in the first ripening processing chamber 2 is measured when using a heat storage warehouse with various volumes. It is preferable to connect an ethylene concentration sensor to the control device 20 so that the ethylene charging device 24 can be controlled so that the ethylene concentration in the first ripening processing chamber 2 does not become higher than necessary.

  The control device 20 functions as a storage unit that stores a preset relationship between the rotational speed of the fan 10g of the circulation device 10 in the first ripening processing chamber 2 and the elapsed time of the respiratory activation process. This memorized relationship is preset by experiment so that the banana flesh temperature approaches the high temperature value as time elapses by executing the respiration activation process, and the respiration of the banana is appropriately activated. By controlling the rotational speed of the fan 10g according to the stored relationship, the atmospheric flow rate at least around the banana in the first ripening processing chamber 2 is controlled. In the respiratory activation process of the present embodiment, the atmospheric flow rate at least around the banana in the first ripening processing chamber 2 is constant without changing the rotational speed of the fan 10g.

  The control device 20 functions as a storage unit that stores a preset relationship between the rotation speed of the fan 10g of the circulation device 10 in the second ripening processing chamber 3 and the elapsed time of the temperature lowering process. The stored rotational speed includes the rotational speed magnitude and the rotational speed direction, and also includes the case where the rotational speed magnitude is zero. This stored relationship is set in advance so that the fruit temperature of the banana approaches the low temperature value as time passes by executing the temperature lowering step. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the stored relationship is set in advance so that the fruit temperature of the banana in the temperature lowering process is maintained within a standard range corresponding to the elapsed time of the temperature lowering process. The control device 20 changes the rotational speed of the fan 10g according to the stored relationship, so that the circulation device 10 is at least around the banana in each of the plurality of regions in the second ripening processing chamber 3 where the circulation device 10 is arranged. It functions as a control means for controlling the atmosphere flow rate circulated by.

In the present embodiment, as the relationship between the rotation speed of the fan 10g and the elapsed time of the temperature lowering process, the driving frequency when driving the driving motor of the fan 10g, the rotation time in one direction of the fan 10g, and the other direction. And the time for which the magnitude of the rotational speed is zero are stored in the control device 20 in association with the elapsed time from the start of the temperature lowering process.
The driving frequency corresponds to the rotational speed of the fan 10g. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, when the elapsed time from the start of the temperature lowering process is taken as the horizontal axis and the drive frequency is taken as the right vertical axis, the drive frequency that changes stepwise as time passes is stored.
In addition, the rotation time in one direction of the fan 10g, the rotation time in the other direction, and the time for which the magnitude of the rotation speed is zero are, for example, 10 minutes for the rotation time in one direction, A value such as 10 minutes for the rotation time to 10 minutes and 10 minutes for the next time for the rotation speed to be zero is stored in association with the elapsed time so as to be sequentially repeated with the passage of time from the start of the temperature lowering process. The
The control device 20 determines whether the fan 10g is driven at that time or the rotation speed is zero according to the passage of time in the temperature lowering process, and if it is driven, the stored drive corresponding to that time is stored. The fan 10g is driven according to the frequency and the stored rotation direction, and when the rotation speed is zero, the fan 10g is stopped. Thereby, from the start of the temperature lowering step, the fan 10g is repeatedly driven in a 10-minute drive in one direction, a 10-minute drive in the other direction, and a 10-minute drive stop operation pattern. The specific drive time and drive stop overtime of the fan 10g are not limited to 10 minutes. Further, the drive stop timing of the fan 10g is not limited to before the reversal of the rotation direction. For example, the fan 10g is driven in one direction for 10 minutes, stopped for 10 minutes, and stopped in one direction for 10 minutes from the start of the temperature lowering process. The operation pattern of driving for 10 minutes in the other direction, stopping driving for 10 minutes, and driving for 10 minutes in the other direction may be repeated. Furthermore, the drive stop time may be substantially eliminated by rotating the fan 10g only in one direction, or by rotating the fan 10g in the other direction immediately after the rotation in one direction.
The time from the start to the end of the temperature lowering process may be determined based on experiments and empirical rules so that aging is not excessively suppressed and the skin is not damaged. By changing the rotation speed of the fan 10g by the control device 20 in accordance with the relationship thus stored, the atmospheric flow rate at least around the banana in the second ripening processing chamber 3 is reduced during the temperature lowering process. It can be controlled to approach the low temperature value over time. In addition, the rotation direction of the fan 10g can be reversed during the temperature lowering process, and a period during which the magnitude of the rotation speed of the fan 10g can be set to zero for a preset time during the temperature lowering process can be provided. Note that the relationship stored in this way does not have to be a single one, and a plurality of different relationships are set in advance according to differences in banana type, flesh firmness, freshness, environmental temperature, period for sale as a product, etc. The relationship used for control according to the difference may be selectable by inputting a selection signal from the input device 21 to the control device 20.

  The standard range of the banana pulp temperature in the temperature lowering process is correlated with the elapsed time of the temperature lowering process based on experiments and empirical rules, for example, so that aging is not excessively suppressed or the skin is not damaged. Are preset. For example, in FIG. 8, a solid line A, an alternate long and short dash line B, a two-dot chain line C, and a three-dot chain line D are in the second ripening processing chamber 3 that is adjusted to have a low temperature value (14 ° C. in this embodiment) The relationship between the pulp temperature (left vertical axis) of different bananas that have been ripened by controlling the atmospheric flow rate according to the present embodiment and the elapsed time from the start of the temperature lowering process is shown. The banana corresponding to the solid line A, the alternate long and short dash line B, the two-dot chain line C, and the three-dot chain line D, and the banana ripened by the conventional method, 25 hours and 49 hours from the start of the temperature lowering process, and the end of the ripening process As a result of comparison, there was no difference between the two, and both were appropriately ripened. In this case, the standard range of the pulp temperature may be between the maximum pulp temperature and the minimum pulp temperature in the solid line A, the one-dot chain line B, the two-dot chain line C, and the three-dot chain line D for each elapsed time of the temperature lowering process. it can. Note that FIG. 8 is an example, and the standard range of the pulp temperature differs depending on the type of banana, the firmness of the pulp, the freshness, the environmental temperature, the period of sale as a product, etc., and the standard range according to the difference Based on the above, the relationship between the rotational speed of the fan 10g and the elapsed time of the temperature lowering process may be set.

  The input device 21 functions as an input unit that inputs an override signal for changing the magnitude of the rotational speed of the fan 10 g during the control by the control device 20 to the control device 20. For example, the driving frequency of the driving motor for the fan 10g, the fluctuation rate of the rotational speed of the fan 10g, and the like are input as the override signal. Thereby, when the measured value of the pulp temperature obtained by the temperature sensor 22 in the temperature lowering process is out of the standard range, the magnitude of the rotational speed of the fan 10g is changed so as to be within the standard range, and the pulp temperature decreasing speed Can be prevented from becoming excessive or insufficient.

  Based on the preset set concentration of carbon dioxide input from the input device 21 and the detected values of the sensors 4a, 5a, 22, 23a, and 23b, the control device 20 circulates the room temperature adjustment devices 4 and 5 and the circulation according to the control program. By controlling the apparatus 10, the ethylene charging apparatus 24, and the output apparatus 25, the ripening process of a banana can be performed as follows.

  First, an immature banana is carried into the first ripening processing chamber 2, and a breathing activation process is performed in the first ripening processing chamber 2 to increase the pulp temperature and activate the respiration of the banana. At this time, the control device 20 controls the first room temperature adjusting device 4 according to the temperature detected by the room temperature sensor 4a, so that the atmosphere temperature in the first ripening processing chamber 2 is at least around the banana in the breathing activation process. Adjust the temperature so that it reaches the above high temperature. Further, the ethylene is charged into the first ripening processing chamber 2 by controlling the ethylene charging device 24 by the control device 20. Furthermore, the control device 20 controls the output device 25 in order to output the detection information of the sensors 22 and 23a. And in order to circulate the atmosphere around a banana in a respiratory activation process, the control apparatus 20 rotates the fan 10g of the circulation apparatus 10. FIG. In the present embodiment, the rotational speed of the fan 10g in the breathing activation process is set to a predetermined constant value. Thereby, the banana accommodated in the carton 11 in the first ripening processing chamber 2 is in contact with the circulating atmosphere, the pulp temperature rises, and the respiration of the banana is activated. If the activation of the respiration of the banana is extracted, the respiration activation process is terminated. Judgment on whether or not the respiration of the banana has been brought out is based on, for example, the detected value of the pulp temperature, the detected value of the carbon dioxide concentration, the elapsed time from the start of the respiration activation process, etc. What is necessary is just to carry out suitably. What is necessary is just to perform the discharge | emission of ethylene in the 1st ripening processing chamber 2, and the adjustment of a carbon dioxide concentration by the ventilation function of the 1st room temperature adjustment apparatus 4. FIG. The first room temperature adjusting device 4 is operated by a control device or a person other than the control device 20, and the atmosphere temperature in the first ripening processing chamber 2 is converted into a signal from a sensor different from the sensor 4a. You may adjust based on.

  After the end of the breath activation process, the respiration activated banana is moved from the first ripening processing chamber 2 to the second ripening processing chamber 3, and the pulp temperature is lowered in the second ripening processing chamber 3 to reduce the banana. A temperature lowering process is performed to suppress the aging of the material. At this time, the control device 20 controls the second room temperature adjusting device 5 according to the temperature detected by the room temperature sensor 5a, so that the atmosphere temperature in the second ripening processing chamber 3 is at least around the banana in the breathing activation process. The temperature is adjusted to the above low value over time. Further, the control device 20 controls the output device 25 in order to output the detection information of the sensors 22 and 23b. And the control apparatus 20 controls the atmospheric flow volume at least around the banana of the 2nd ripening process chamber 3 by changing according to the said relationship which memorize | stored the rotational speed of the fan 10g. As a result, the bananas stored in the carton 11 come into contact with the circulating atmosphere, and the pulp temperature is lowered so as to approach the low temperature value as time passes, so that ripening of the bananas is suppressed. The carbon dioxide concentration in the second ripening processing chamber 3 may be adjusted by the ventilation function of the second room temperature adjustment device 5. The second room temperature adjusting device 5 is operated by a control device or a person other than the control device 20, and the atmosphere temperature of the second ripening processing chamber 3 is converted into a signal from a sensor different from the sensor 5a. You may adjust based on.

  In the present embodiment, the cycle of repeating the temperature lowering step is longer than the cycle of repeating the breathing activation step, and the banana pulp temperature in the region where the atmosphere is circulated by any of the circulation devices 10 in the second ripening processing chamber 3. In the first ripening processing chamber 2, the respiration activation process is performed by activating the respiration of the banana while the respiration is activated, and the respiration is activated by the respiration activation process. The temperature lowering process for lowering the pulp temperature is started in a region where the atmosphere is circulated by any of the remaining circulation devices 10 in the second ripening processing chamber 3. Thus, a banana of another lot was processed in the first ripening processing chamber 2 while being processed in the second ripening processing chamber 3 after being processed in the first ripening processing chamber 2 for a banana of a certain lot. Later, it becomes possible to start the processing in the second ripening processing chamber 3, and the productivity can be improved.

  According to the first embodiment, the pulp temperature is used to activate the respiration of the banana in a state where the atmospheric temperature of the first ripening processing chamber 2 is adjusted to a constant high temperature value at least around the banana. A breathing activation process is performed to raise the blood pressure. After that, in the state where the atmospheric temperature of the second ripening processing chamber 3 is adjusted to be a constant low temperature at least around the banana, the atmospheric flow rate of the pulp temperature of the banana activated by respiration is changed. The temperature-falling process controlled by this is performed. In other words, the flesh temperature of the banana that has been activated for respiration tends to rise due to the heat of breathing, but the flesh temperature is lowered by controlling the atmospheric flow rate adjusted to a constant low temperature value. At this time, when the pulp temperature is high and the difference from the low temperature value is large, ripening can be sufficiently suppressed even if the atmospheric flow rate is small. That is, even if the banana breathing is active and the pulp temperature is high at the beginning of the temperature lowering process, the atmospheric temperature in the second ripening processing chamber 3 is adjusted to a low value, so the actual measurement of the atmosphere in the second ripening processing chamber 3 is performed. The difference between temperature and pulp temperature increases. Therefore, if the atmosphere around the banana can be made to flow, the pulp temperature can be lowered quickly and uniformly in contact with the atmosphere where the banana surface has a constant low temperature value. This eliminates the need for a device that constantly generates a large amount of circulating airflow as in the past, reduces equipment costs required for ripening processing, facilitates equipment maintenance, improves productivity, and adds bananas. Maturation processing costs can be greatly reduced.

  Further, according to the first embodiment, if the relationship between the rotational speed of the fan 10g and the elapsed time is set in advance by experiments, the rotational speed of the fan 10g is simply changed according to the passage of time according to the relationship. Banana ripening can be suppressed appropriately. Furthermore, since the difference between the pulp temperature and the low temperature value is large at the beginning of the temperature lowering step, the pulp temperature can be quickly and uniformly lowered even if the rotational speed of the fan 10g is small. On the other hand, by increasing the rotational speed of the fan 10g as the pulp temperature decreases, the pulp temperature can be lowered uniformly even if the difference between the pulp temperature and the low temperature value is small. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the energy required for driving the fan 10g from increasing unnecessarily, to save energy, and to reduce the ripening cost of the banana. Furthermore, when the measured value of the banana pulp temperature in the temperature lowering step is out of the standard range, the rotational speed of the fan 10g can be changed back to the standard range, and ripening of the banana can be appropriately suppressed. In addition, the rotation direction of the fan 10g is reversed during the temperature lowering process, a period in which the rotation speed of the fan 10g is zero for a predetermined set time is provided, and the rotation speed is increased before the rotation direction is reversed. Since the thickness can be reduced to zero, the flow direction of the atmosphere around the banana can be made uniform, and the pulp temperature can be prevented from dropping unevenly.

FIG. 9 shows a configuration of a ripening processing system 101 according to the second embodiment for carrying out the banana ripening processing method of the present invention. By this system 101, in the first ripening processing chamber 102, a breathing activation process for increasing the pulp temperature is performed to activate the respiration of immature bananas, and in the second ripening processing chamber 103, In order to suppress the ripening of respiration activated bananas, a temperature lowering process is performed to lower the pulp temperature. In this embodiment, the banana storage capacity of the second ripening processing chamber 103 is larger than the banana storage capacity of the first ripening processing chamber 102. The number of the ripening process chamber 102, 103 has a particularly limited.

  The first ripening processing chamber 102 includes a first room temperature adjustment device 104 that adjusts the temperature of air, which is an indoor atmosphere, and ethylene is charged into the chamber by the ethylene charging device 24. A known ethylene charging device may be used. The first ripening processing chamber 102 has a door 102 ′ for taking in and out a carton containing bananas, and constitutes a substantially sealed space that is hardly affected by the outside air temperature by closing the door 102 ′. For example, it can be constituted by a heat insulation warehouse covered with a heat insulating material.

  The first room temperature adjustment device 104 adjusts the atmospheric temperature of the first ripening processing chamber 102 to a constant high temperature value during the breath activation process. The high temperature value is set in advance so as to be a value suitable for activating respiration of the banana, and is preferably selected from a temperature range of 19 ° C. to 24 ° C., and is set to 20 ° C. in this embodiment. The adjustment accuracy of the ambient temperature by the first room temperature adjustment device 104 to a constant high temperature value is only required to activate the respiration of the banana in the respiration activation process, and is adjusted to be a high temperature value. Thus, at least around the banana, it is preferable that the ambient temperature can be maintained within a range of ± 1 ° C. of the high temperature value on a time average over the respiratory activation process. That is, the atmospheric temperature in the first ripening processing chamber 102 may vary somewhat from the high temperature value during ventilation or the like as long as there is no substantial influence on the respiratory activation process. The first room temperature adjustment device 104 is not limited in configuration as long as the atmospheric temperature of the first ripening processing chamber 102 can be adjusted to a high temperature value. For example, the first room temperature adjustment device 104 has an indoor cooling and heating function and is distributed on the ceiling, side walls, and the like. A known air conditioner that blows out the temperature-controlled atmosphere through the opening and also has a ventilation function between the indoor atmosphere and the outside air can be used.

  The second ripening processing chamber 103 includes a second room temperature adjustment device 105 that adjusts the temperature of air, which is an indoor atmosphere. The second ripening processing chamber 103 has a door 103 ′ for taking in and out a carton containing bananas, and constitutes a substantially sealed space that is hardly affected by the outside air temperature by closing the door 103 ′. For example, it can be constituted by a heat insulation warehouse covered with a heat insulating material.

  The second room temperature adjusting device 105 adjusts the atmospheric temperature of the second ripening processing chamber 103 so as to be a constant low temperature value during the temperature lowering process. The low temperature value is set in advance so as to be lower than the high temperature value and suitable for suppressing ripening of bananas, and is preferably selected from a temperature range of 13 ° C. to 16 ° C. In this embodiment, 14 ° C. It is said. The accuracy of adjustment of the atmospheric temperature to a constant low temperature value by the second room temperature adjustment device 105 only needs to be able to control the fruit temperature of the banana only by changing the atmospheric flow rate in the temperature lowering process. The ambient temperature in the second ripening processing chamber 103 may fluctuate during banana loading / unloading and ventilation, but if there is no substantial effect on the temperature lowering process, the banana ripening processing chamber 103 may be unloaded / ventilated. The temperature may vary slightly from the low temperature value. Therefore, in appropriately suppressing the ripening of the banana by controlling the atmospheric flow rate, by adjusting the atmospheric temperature of the second ripening processing chamber 103 so as to be a low temperature at least around the banana, It is preferable to keep the temperature average in the range of ± 1 ° C. of the low temperature value, particularly preferably in the range of 13 ° C. to 15 ° C. The configuration of the second room temperature adjustment device 105 is not limited as long as the atmospheric temperature of the second ripening processing chamber 103 can be adjusted to a low temperature value. For example, the second room temperature adjustment device 105 has an indoor cooling and heating function and is distributed on the ceiling, side walls, and the like. A known air conditioner that blows out the temperature-controlled atmosphere through the opening and also has a ventilation function between the indoor atmosphere and the outside air can be used.

  A circulation device 110 that circulates the atmosphere around the banana is disposed in each of the plurality of regions in each of the ripening processing chambers 102 and 103. Each of the circulation devices 110 of the present embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 to 13 has a suction port 110c formed at the front center of the housing 110a by the rotation of the fan 110b driven about the horizontal axis by a motor built in the housing 110a. The atmosphere sucked in is circulated by exhausting it from exhaust ports 110d formed on the left and right side surfaces of the housing 110a. By changing the rotational speed of the fan 110b, the circulating atmosphere flow rate can be changed. That is, the rotational speed of the fan 110b corresponds to the atmospheric flow rate. In this embodiment, if the motor driving power for rotating the fan 110b is changed according to the driving frequency, the rotational speed changes, and the ripening processing chamber. The atmospheric flow around the bananas 102 and 103 can be controlled. Further, as the rotation speed of the fan 110b, not only the magnitude of the rotation speed but also the rotation direction can be changed, the rotation direction of the fan 110b is reversed, or the rotation speed is reduced to zero for a set time. Can be.

  The circulation device 110 of this embodiment has a cover 110f such as a flexible and airtight vinyl sheet, and is wound around a roll 110e on the top of the housing 110a so as to be drawn out. The cover 110f allows the atmosphere around the banana to be circulated effectively by the circulation device 110. That is, in each of the ripening processing chambers 102 and 103, a plurality of cartons 11 storing bananas as shown in FIG. 11 to FIG. A pair of carton laminates 13 that are stacked without any gaps and arranged on the left and right sides are formed. At least left and right walls of each carton 11 are formed with holes 11a for circulation of the atmosphere. The cover 110 f pulled out from the roll 110 e can cover the upper surface and the front surface of the pair of carton laminates 13 and the upper and front sides of the space between the pair of carton laminates 13. In addition, you may provide the connector 110g which attaches / detaches the front-end | tip of the cover 110f to a pareto. As the fan 110b rotates in one direction, the atmosphere between the pair of carton stacks 13 is sucked from the suction port 110c and exhausted from the exhaust port 110d. As a result, the pressure between the left and right regions of the pair of carton laminates 13 is lower than that of the left and right regions, resulting in some differential pressure. As shown by arrows in FIG. 11, at least the ripening processing chambers 102 and 103 around the bananas The atmosphere circulates. Further, the rotation of the fan 110b in the other direction circulates the atmosphere around the banana in the direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. The circulating atmosphere flow rate changes with a change in the rotation speed of the fan 110b.

  As shown in FIG. 14, each circulation device 110 is connected to a control device 120 mainly constituted by a computer. The control device 120 functions as a storage unit that stores the target value of the banana pulp temperature in the temperature lowering process set in advance corresponding to the elapsed time in association with the elapsed time. The target value is set in advance corresponding to the elapsed time so that the pulp temperature approaches the low temperature value with the passage of time and the ripening of the banana is suppressed in the temperature lowering step. That is, the target value is set so as to be larger than the low temperature value at the beginning of the temperature lowering process and smaller as time passes to approach the low temperature value.

  Furthermore, the control device 120 functions as a storage unit that stores a preset relationship between the rotation speed of the fan 110b of the circulation device 110 in the first ripening processing chamber 2 and the elapsed time of the breathing activation process. This memorized relationship is preset by experiment so that the banana flesh temperature approaches the high temperature value as time elapses by executing the respiration activation process, and the respiration of the banana is appropriately activated. By controlling the rotational speed of the fan 110b according to the stored relationship, the atmospheric flow rate at least around the banana in the first ripening processing chamber 102 is controlled. In the respiratory activation process of this embodiment, the atmospheric flow rate around the banana in the first ripening processing chamber 102 is constant without changing the rotational speed of the fan 110b.

As shown in FIG. 14, the control device 120 includes an input device 121 including a keyboard, a temperature sensor 122 that obtains measured values of the banana pulp temperature in the respiratory activation process and the temperature lowering process in time series, and the first ripening. CO ₂ sensor 123a for obtaining an actual measurement value of carbon dioxide concentration in the processing chamber 102, CO ₂ sensor 123b for obtaining an actual measurement value of carbon dioxide concentration in the second ripening processing chamber 103, and ethylene in the first ripening processing chamber 102. An ethylene charging device 124 to be charged and an output device 125 including a display device, a printer, and the like are connected. The temperature sensor 122 does not need to obtain the pulp temperatures of all the bananas during the ripening process, and only needs to obtain a part of the pulp temperature. In the present embodiment, each of the room temperature adjusting devices 104 and 105 is operated by a control device or a person other than the control device 120, and a sensor (not shown) that obtains the room temperature of the ripening processing chambers 102 and 103 in time series. ) Adjust the ambient temperature based on the signal from). Further, in the case where a heat storage warehouse having various volumes is used as the first ripening processing chamber 102 instead of a chamber dedicated to ripening processing having a certain volume, ethylene for measuring the ethylene concentration in the first ripening processing chamber 102 is measured. A concentration sensor may be connected to the control device 120 so that the ethylene charging device 124 can be controlled so that the ethylene concentration in the first ripening processing chamber 102 does not become higher than necessary.

  Based on the target value input from the input device 121, a predetermined set concentration of carbon dioxide, and the detection values of the sensors 122, 123a, and 123b, the control device 120 follows the control program according to the circulation program 110, the ethylene charging device 124, The output device 125 is controlled, and at this time, the rotation speed of the fan 110b is controlled to function as a control means for controlling the atmospheric flow rate circulated by the circulation device 110. Each of the room temperature adjusting devices 104 and 105 adjusts the ambient temperature of the ripening processing chambers 102 and 103. Thereby, the ripening process of a banana can be performed as follows.

  First, an immature banana is carried into the first ripening processing chamber 102, and a breathing activation process is performed in the first ripening processing chamber 102 to increase the pulp temperature and activate the respiration of the banana. At this time, the first room temperature adjusting device 104 adjusts the atmospheric temperature of the first ripening processing chamber 102 so as to be the above high temperature value during the breath activation process. Further, the ethylene is charged into the first ripening processing chamber 102 by controlling the ethylene charging device 124 with the control device 120. Further, the control device 120 controls the output device 125 in order to output detection information of the sensors 122 and 123a. In order to circulate the atmosphere around the banana in the breathing activation process, the control device 120 rotates the fan 110b of the circulation device 110. As a result, the bananas stored in the carton 11 in the first ripening processing chamber 102 come into contact with the circulating atmosphere, the pulp temperature rises and the banana respiration is activated. If the activation of the respiration of the banana is extracted, the respiration activation process is terminated. Judgment on whether or not the respiration of the banana has been brought out is based on, for example, the detected value of the pulp temperature, the detected value of the carbon dioxide concentration, the elapsed time from the start of the respiration activation process, etc. What is necessary is just to carry out suitably. The ethylene discharge and the carbon dioxide concentration adjustment in the first ripening processing chamber 102 may be performed by the ventilation function of the first room temperature adjustment device 104. In addition, by connecting the first room temperature adjustment device 104 to the control device 120, inputting the high temperature value from the input device 121 to the control device 120, and operating the first room temperature adjustment device 104 by a signal from the control device 120, You may make it perform adjustment of the atmospheric temperature of the 1st ripening processing chamber 102, discharge | emission of ethylene, adjustment of a carbon dioxide concentration, etc.

  After completion of the breathing activation process, the respiration activated banana is moved from the first ripening processing chamber 102 to the second ripening processing chamber 103, and the pulp temperature is lowered in the second ripening processing chamber 103 to reduce the banana. A temperature lowering process is performed to suppress the aging of the. At this time, the second room temperature adjusting device 105 adjusts the atmospheric temperature of the second ripening processing chamber 103 to the above low value during the temperature lowering process. The control device 20 controls the output device 125 in order to output the detection information of each sensor 122, 23b. Then, the control device 120 circulates by the circulation device 110 around the banana in the second ripening processing chamber 103 so that the measured value of the pulp temperature obtained in time series by the temperature sensor 122 follows the stored target value. The atmospheric flow rate is controlled by changing the rotational speed of the fan 110b. Thereby, the banana accommodated in the carton 11 is in contact with the circulating atmosphere, the pulp temperature is lowered, and ripening of the banana is suppressed. If the banana ripening is suppressed, the temperature lowering process is terminated. Whether or not to end the temperature lowering step may be appropriately determined based on experiments and empirical rules so that aging is not excessively suppressed and the skin is not damaged. The adjustment of the carbon dioxide concentration in the second ripening processing chamber 103 may be performed by the ventilation function of the second room temperature adjustment device 105. In addition, by connecting the second room temperature control device 105 to the control device 120, inputting the low temperature value from the input device 121 to the control device 120, and operating the second room temperature control device 105 by a signal from the control device 120, You may make it perform adjustment of the atmospheric temperature of the 2nd ripening processing chamber 103, adjustment of a carbon dioxide concentration, etc.

  In this embodiment, the cycle of repeating the temperature lowering step is longer than the cycle of repeating the breathing activation step, and the banana pulp temperature in the region where the atmosphere is circulated by any of the circulation devices 110 in the second ripening processing chamber 103. In the first ripening processing chamber 102, the respiration activation process is performed by activating the respiration of the banana while the respiration is activated, and the respiration is activated by the respiration activation process. The temperature lowering process for lowering the pulp temperature is started in a region where the atmosphere is circulated by any of the remaining circulation devices 110 in the second ripening processing chamber 103. As a result, a banana of another lot was processed in the first ripening processing chamber 102 while being processed in the second ripening processing chamber 103 after being processed in the first ripening processing chamber 102 for one lot of bananas. Later, it becomes possible to start processing in the second ripening processing chamber 103, and productivity can be improved.

  FIG. 15 shows the ambient temperature around the banana in each of the ripening processing chambers 102 and 103 when the banana is ripened by the system of the second embodiment, the target value of the pulp temperature, the measured value of the pulp temperature, and the elapsed time. Shows the relationship. In FIG. 15, the horizontal axis is time, the vertical axis is temperature, the solid line a is a high temperature value that is the atmospheric temperature of the first ripening processing chamber 102, the solid line b is a low temperature value that is the atmospheric temperature of the second ripening processing chamber 103, one point A chain line c indicates the target value of the pulp temperature, and a broken line d indicates the measured value of the pulp temperature. In FIG. 15, the breathing activation process is started at time t1, the temperature lowering process is started at time t2, and the temperature lowering process is ended at time t3. Note that FIG. 15 is drawn with the banana transfer time from the first ripening processing chamber 102 to the second ripening processing chamber 103 ignored.

  In the portion indicated by region A in FIG. 15, as shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 16A, the measured value d of the pulp temperature in the temperature lowering process is smaller than the target value c by the deviation indicated by δ in the figure. In this case, the atmospheric flow rate circulated by the circulation device 110 around the banana in the second ripening processing chamber 103 is reduced so that the actually measured value d follows the target value c. Increase in pulp temperature due to heat accumulation. In the part indicated by region B in FIG. 15, as shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 16B, the measured value d of the pulp temperature in the temperature lowering process is larger than the target value c by the deviation indicated by δ in the figure. In this case, the atmospheric flow rate circulated by the circulation device 110 around the banana in the second ripening processing chamber 103 is increased so that the actual measurement value d follows the target value c, thereby reducing the pulp temperature. That is, the atmospheric flow rate is controlled so as to eliminate the deviation δ between the target value c and the actual measurement value d of the pulp temperature, and for example, feedback control is performed to change the driving power of the fan 110b in the circulation device 110 according to the deviation δ. The initial value of the atmosphere flow rate may be experimental data or past data when the measured value d of the pulp temperature coincides with the target value c at the start of the temperature lowering process. If the ripening of the banana can be appropriately suppressed, the atmospheric flow rate may not be changed when the deviation δ between the target value c and the actual measurement value d of the pulp temperature is equal to or less than a predetermined set value.

  In the present embodiment, the atmosphere flow rate in the first ripening processing chamber 102 in which the breathing activation process is performed is constant. This is because in the respiration activation process, if the ambient temperature around the banana is adjusted to a high temperature value higher than the low temperature value and the pulp temperature rises, the way of rising over time is not particularly problematic. Even in the process, the atmospheric flow rate may be controlled so that the measured value of the pulp temperature follows the target value. In addition, it is preferable to reverse the rotation direction of the fan 110b in the middle of the temperature lowering process so that the flow direction of the atmosphere around the banana is made uniform and to prevent the flesh temperature from dropping unevenly. Just set it up. In order to uniformly lower the pulp temperature, it is more preferable to provide a period in which the magnitude of the rotation speed of the fan 110b is zero for a predetermined set time, and more preferably, before the fan 110b is reversed. It is sufficient to make the magnitude of the rotation speed zero.

  According to the second embodiment, the pulp temperature is used to activate the respiration of the banana in a state where the atmospheric temperature of the first ripening processing chamber 102 is adjusted to be a constant high temperature value at least around the banana. A breathing activation process is performed to raise the blood pressure. After that, in the state where the atmospheric temperature of the second ripening processing chamber 103 is adjusted to be a constant low temperature value at least around the banana, the atmospheric flow rate of the banana pulp activated by breathing is changed. The temperature-falling process controlled by this is performed. In other words, the flesh temperature of the banana that has been activated for respiration tends to rise due to the heat of breathing, but the flesh temperature is lowered by controlling the atmospheric flow rate adjusted to a constant low temperature value. At this time, when the pulp temperature is high and the difference from the low temperature value is large, ripening can be sufficiently suppressed even if the atmospheric flow rate is small. That is, even if the banana breathing is active and the pulp temperature is high at the beginning of the temperature lowering process, the atmosphere temperature in the second ripening processing chamber 103 is adjusted to a low value, so the actual measurement of the atmosphere in the second ripening processing chamber 103 is performed. The difference between temperature and pulp temperature increases. Therefore, if the atmosphere around the banana can be made to flow, the pulp temperature can be lowered quickly and uniformly in contact with the atmosphere where the banana surface has a constant low temperature value. This eliminates the need for a device that constantly generates a large amount of circulating airflow as before, reduces equipment costs required for ripening processing, facilitates equipment maintenance, improves productivity, and ripens bananas. Processing costs can be greatly reduced.

  The ripening processing system of the above embodiment does not include a dedicated ripening processing chamber and a room temperature adjustment device, and uses a heat storage warehouse or the like having a room temperature adjustment device as the ripening processing chamber. The maturation processing system may include a dedicated ripening processing chamber or a room temperature adjusting device.

  In the ripening process of the banana, a configuration that is not in the above embodiment may be added.For example, a humidifier that increases the humidity in the ripening process chamber and a humidity sensor that detects the humidity in the ripening process chamber are provided in the control device. A configuration may be added in which the humidifier is controlled so that the detected humidity does not fall below the set humidity input from the input device.

2, 3 , 102, 10 3 ... maturation processing chamber, 4, 5 , 104, 10 5 ... room temperature control device, 10, 110 ... circulation device, 10g, 110b ... fan, 20, 120 ... control device (storage means, Control means), 22, 122... Temperature sensor.

Claims (14)

A breathing activation process that raises the pulp temperature to activate the breathing of immature bananas in the ripening chamber;
After the breath-activated step, wherein in the ripening process chamber and different ripening process chamber, add banana and a temperature lowering step of lowering the pulp temperature to suppress the ripening of bananas activated respiration In the mature processing method,
The banana storage capacity of the ripening processing chamber where the temperature lowering step is performed is larger than the banana storage capacity of the ripening processing chamber where the breathing activation process is performed,
Adjust the ambient temperature of the ripening processing chamber where the temperature lowering process is performed, at least around the banana, so as to be a preset constant low temperature value suitable for suppressing ripening of the banana, during the temperature lowering process,
The low temperature value is selected from a temperature range of 13 ° C to 16 ° C,
A banana is arranged in each of the plurality of regions in the ripening processing chamber where the temperature lowering step is performed,
The atmospheric flow rate of the ripening processing chamber where the temperature lowering process is performed is controlled so that the pulp temperature of the bananas arranged in each of the plurality of regions approaches the low temperature value over time at least around the banana during the temperature lowering process. A method for ripening bananas, characterized by:   By adjusting the atmospheric temperature of the ripening processing chamber where the temperature lowering process is performed, so as to be the low temperature value at least around the banana, the time average over the temperature lowering process is within a range of ± 1 ° C. of the low temperature value. The ripening processing method of the banana of Claim 1 hold | maintained. In the ripening processing chamber where the temperature lowering step is performed, a circulation device that circulates the atmosphere around the banana by rotation of the fan is arranged,
The standard range of the banana pulp temperature in the temperature lowering process is preset in association with the elapsed time of the temperature lowering process,
The relationship between the rotation speed of the fan and the elapsed time of the temperature lowering process is set in advance so that the pulp temperature of the banana is maintained within the standard range corresponding to the elapsed time of the temperature lowering process,
The ripening processing method of the banana of Claim 1 or 2 which controls the atmospheric flow volume at least around the banana of the said ripening processing chamber in which a temperature-falling process is performed by changing the rotational speed of the said fan according to the said relationship. Obtain the measured value of the banana pulp temperature in the temperature lowering process in time series,
The method for ripening a banana according to claim 3 , wherein when the obtained actual measurement value is out of the standard range, the magnitude of the rotation speed of the fan is changed so as to be in the standard range. The target value of the fruit temperature of the banana in the temperature lowering process is set in advance corresponding to the elapsed time so that the aging of the banana is suppressed as the pulp temperature approaches the low temperature value over time,
Obtain the measured value of the banana pulp temperature in the temperature lowering process in time series,
The ripening processing method of the banana of Claim 1 or 2 which controls the atmospheric flow volume around the banana of the said ripening processing chamber in which a temperature fall process is performed so that the said actual value may track the said target value. The ripening processing method of the banana of any one of Claims 3-5 which reverses the rotation direction of the said fan in the middle of a temperature fall process. The ripening processing method of the banana of Claim 6 which provides the period which makes the magnitude | size of the rotational speed of the said fan zero for the preset setting time, before reversing a rotation direction. The ripening processing method of the banana of any one of Claims 3-6 which provides the period which makes the magnitude | size of the rotational speed of the said fan zero only for the preset set time. Preset constant suitable for activating the respiration of the banana higher than the low temperature value during the respiration activation process, at least around the banana, at the ambient temperature of the ripening processing chamber where the respiration activation process is performed adjusted to be in a high temperature value,
The method for ripening a banana according to any one of claims 1 to 8 , wherein the high temperature value is selected from a temperature range of 19 ° C to 24 ° C. By adjusting the atmospheric temperature of the ripening processing chamber where the respiratory activation process is performed at least around the banana so as to be the high temperature value, the time average over the respiratory activation process is ± 1 of the high temperature value. The ripening processing method of the banana of Claim 9 hold | maintained in the range of ° C. A ripening processing system used for carrying out the banana ripening processing method according to any one of claims 1 to 10 ,
In the ripening processing chamber where the temperature lowering step is performed, a circulation device that circulates the atmosphere around the banana by rotation of the fan,
A banana ripening processing system comprising: a control unit that controls an atmospheric flow rate circulated by the circulation device by changing a rotation speed of the fan. Storage means for storing a preset relationship between the rotation speed of the fan and the elapsed time of the temperature lowering step;
The system for ripening banana processing according to claim 11 , wherein the rotation speed of the fan is controlled by the control means in accordance with the relationship stored in the storage means. A temperature sensor that obtains the measured value of the banana pulp temperature in the temperature lowering process in time series;
The system for ripening banana processing according to claim 12, further comprising an input unit that inputs an override signal that changes the magnitude of the rotational speed of the fan during the control by the control unit to the control unit.
A temperature sensor that obtains the measured value of the banana pulp temperature in the temperature lowering process in time series;
A storage means for storing the target value of the banana pulp temperature in the temperature lowering step set in advance corresponding to the elapsed time in association with the elapsed time;
As the actual value determined by the temperature sensor to the target value stored in the storage means to follow, according to claim 11, atmosphere flow rate is circulated by the circulation device is controlled by the control means System for ripening bananas.

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