NL1036133C - Method for treating containers. - Google Patents

Description

5 Method for treating containers.

The present invention relates to a method for treating containers for flowers, fruits and vegetables, comprising containers for transporting and containers for storing.

10 Under containers are understood the traditional large shipping containers, especially cooled ones, and closed cold storage areas, such as in shops, ships, planes, trucks, warehouses and near auction-rooms.

15 During transport and storage flowers, fruits and vegetables will develop ethylene and in most instances moulds, mushrooms and microbes will cause bad odours at the same time. Thus these containers, also referred to as reefers, usually contain ethylene after use and in most cases also 20 bad odours caused by moulds, mushrooms and microbes. The present invention provides a method for largely or completely removing these undesirable components and a container suitable for use therein.

25 Thus the invention relates to a method for removing undesirable materials from a container, wherein an ozone generating unit is positioned inside the container, and after closing the container activating said unit during a period of time, sufficient for removing ethylene.

30

The ozone generating unit may be on the basis of one or more ozone generating lamps, but preferably consists of ozone generating plates, such as of the type as described 1036133 2 in U.S. No. 6,024,930, as the latter are far better shock-resistant than lamps, especially in relation to the shocks during loading and unloading of containers.

5 As in most instances undesired odours have developed during transport it is desirable to remove these odours. Scrubbing is one way of disposing of remaining waste and odiferous material, but it is preferred to use a deodorizer unit, capable of delivering grains, such as clay-10 grains, containing a suitable odour binder or capable of delivering, preferably spraying a gel for encapsulating undesired odiferous materials, such as molecules. Such a deodorizer unit is preferably used simultaneously with the ozone generating unit. Subsequent venting of the container 15 for an adequate period of time prior to allowing entrance to the container is highly recommended.

Accordingly the present invention also relates to a container with a built-in ozone generating unit. Such an 20 ozone generating unit may consist of one or more lamps, but lamps are vulnerable for the heavy shocks during loading and unloading. Therefore it is preferred that the ozone generating unit is on the basis of ozone generating plates. Most convenient the unit can be activated on a 25 plug-in basis.

As in most instances it will be necessary, at least highly desirable to combat unpleasant odours it is prefered that the container comprises a built-in a deodorizer unit, ca-30 pable of delivering grains, such as claygrains, containg a suitable odour binder or capable of delivering, preferably spraying a gel for encapsulating undesired odiferous materials, such as molecules. Thus the total operation is sim- 3 plified in that for the next treatment it will suffice to put a new load of grains or a new gelcapsule into the deodorizer unit prior to activating the deodorizer unit.

In addition simultaneous activation of both units, i.e.

5 the ozone generating unit and the deodorizer unit, is thus made possible, which provides considerable saving in time.

The invention is further elucidated without limitation by the accompanying drawing, showing a crosssection of a com-10 bined ozone generator and deodorizer unit for use in a container. In the drawing a gas mixture 4 is drawn in by means of fan 2 and is propelled from there through an ozone generator 1 on the one hand and a deodorizer unit 3. The gas mixture thus treated is expelled back into the 15 container atmosphere 5.

The unit as described above can be used independently for treating a number of containers successively, or be built-in inside a container, if desired in combination with the 20 refrigerating unit present therein.

Having thus described the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that variations and modifications can be effected in the described embodiments 25 without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

30 1036133

Claims (14)

Method for removing unwanted materials from a container, characterized in that an ozone-forming unit is or is arranged in the container, and which is subsequently used for a period of time sufficient to achieve the desired result. to gain. 2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the material to be removed is ethylene. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the ozone-forming unit is based on one or more ozone-forming lamps. 15 The method of claim 1, wherein the ozone-forming unit is based on ozone-forming plates. 5. Method as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein moreover an odorless unit is or is placed in the container. 6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an odorless unit capable of delivering a gel for encapsulating unwanted smelling molecules is or is placed in the container. 7. Method as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the container is ventilated in a final step for sufficient time. 8. Container with a built-in ozone-forming unit. 1036133 The container of claim 8, wherein the ozone-forming unit is based on one or more lamps. 10. Container as claimed in claim 8, wherein the ozone-forming unit is based on ozone-forming plates. Container according to any of claims 8 to 10, also comprising an odorless unit. The container of claim 11, wherein the odorless unit comprises a gel for encapsulating unwanted smelling materials, such as molecules. 13. Container as claimed in claim 11, wherein the odorless unit comprises granules, which contain a binder for undesirable smelling materials. 14. Ozone-forming unit in combination with an odorless unit for placement in a container. 20 --- 25 30 1036133