WO2018227236A1

WO2018227236A1 - Produce display

Info

Publication number: WO2018227236A1
Application number: PCT/AU2018/050554
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gary North
Original assignee: TechFresh Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2017-06-16
Filing date: 2018-06-05
Publication date: 2018-12-20
Also published as: CN110996728A; AU2018286478A1; EP3638082A4; EP3638082A1; US20200352357A1

Abstract

A produce display station assembly including a carriage for carrying produce to be displayed. A display station receives the carriage. Preferably, the display station defines an open front for the carriage to enter into the display station. Advantageously, the produce to be displayed can be conveniently carried between the display station and the cool room, without the need to transport the produce individually.

Description

PRODUCE DISPLAY TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention generally relates to a produce display for displaying fresh produce such as flowers, vegetables, fruit or other botanical products or fungi such as mushrooms.

BACKGROUND

[0002] The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

[0003] Florists display flowers for sale. The flowers are typically located in buckets to keep them fresh. However, environmental conditions such a dry air, hot air and direct sunlight can be particularly damaging to blooms.

[0004] AU 2013 206 779 discloses a fixed produce display to mitigate detrimental environmental effects on the produce. In practice, it is awkward to move the produce display between a cool room at the beginning and end of each day, and the produce must instead be transported in individual containers.

[0005] The environment created by the device disclosed in AU 201 3 206 779 may provide some increased shelf life however the shelf life may still create significant wastage on the part of a produce retailer. In a typical supermarket scenario, up to 30% of fresh flowers may be withdrawn from sale due to spoiling below merchantable quality.

[0006] A preferred embodiment may increase the useful merchantable life of produce on display in a retail setting.

[0007] Another significant move amongst retailers is the use of open boxes on their original pallets from transportation in a retail setting. Produce is displayed in the open boxes that form the delivery package to the retailer with the pallet itself maneuvered to a position on the retail floor by, for example, a small forklift or pallet jack. [0008] A preferred embodiment also provides an improved means for moving produce between display and a cool room at the beginning and end of each day.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a produce display station assembly including:

a carriage for carrying produce to be displayed; and

a display station for receiving the carriage. Preferably, the display station defines an open front for the carriage to enter into the display station.

[00010] Advantageously, the produce to be displayed can be conveniently carried between the display station and the cool room, without the need to transport the produce individually.

[00011 ] The preferred embodiment improves shelf life over that of AU 2013 206 779 by creating a unique environment and air flow over the produce.

[00012] The display station may include an environmental control system for controlling the environment of the assembly. The environmental control system may include electrical equipment located behind the carriage. The environmental control system may include solenoid valves (e.g. SMS valves). The environmental control system may be fully self-contained in the display station requiring only external electricity to power.

[00013] The environmental control system may include a cooling system for cooling the assembly. The cooling system may ustilise an ozone friendly refrigerant. The refrigerant may include R290 hydrocarbon refrigerant. The cooling system may cool a rear wall of the display station.

[00014] The environmental control system may include a humidifier for humidifying air passing to the carriage. The humidifier may be an ultrasonic humidifier. The humidifier may include an ozone generator.

[00015] The environmental control system may include a fogger for providing a fog to the carriage to protect the produce from harsh light. [00016] The carriage may include a trolley. The display station may include an air outlet configured to provide air from the environmental control system to the carriage. The carriage may include at least one air inlet to receive the air which, in turn, is passed back to the environmental control system. The carriage may include stepped holders for holding the produce, each holder including an inlet. Each holder may include a series of receptacles for receiving buckets.

[00017] The assembly may further include a light assembly for lighting the produce. The light assembly may include at least one arm extending from the display station, and a light supported by the arm. The light may be located above and beyond the produce.

[00018] The display station may be substantially U-shaped and form an open cabinet with the produce still remaining well refrigerated. The display station may have transparent or translucent sides between which the carriage is located. The display station may include wheels to facilitate relocation.

[00019] The assembly may include an outlet for a temperature controlled air stream positioned above an outlet for a humidity controlled air stream so the cold air forces the humidified air into a mix and tumbles over the face of the produce. The temperature controlled stream may have a temperature between 1 5°C and 1 °C, and preferably below 7°C (say between 4°C and 2°C).

[00020] The trolley may include a pallet trolley. The carriage may include a pallet upon which the produce is loaded. The display station may be wide enough to receive two side-by-side pallets.

[00021 ] The display station may include a coupler for coupling to an external environmental control system for controlling the environment of the assembly.

[00022] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a produce display station for a produce display assembly, the station configured to receive a carriage carrying produce to be displayed

[00023] According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a produce display station for receiving and displaying produce in which the environment is controlled to provide an air stream over the produce having a temperature of between 15°C and 1 °C, humidity of greater than 90% and including ozone.

[00024] According to a yet further aspect of the invention, there is provided a produce display system having a display portion for the display of produce and two outlets for environmentally controlled air streams above the display portion, the two air streams comprising one temperature controlled stream having a temperature between 15°C and 1 °C and another air stream having humidity of greater than 90%.

[00025] Preferably, the outlet for the temperature controlled air stream is positioned above the outlet for the humidity controlled air stream.

[00026] Preferably the humidified air stream includes ozone.

[00027] According to a yet further aspect of the invention, the invention may comprise a method of displaying produce including containing the produce on display in an environmentally controlled atmosphere in which the temperature is retained at between 15°C and 1 °C, the humidity is greater than 90% and ozone is present.

[00028] Any of the features described herein can be combined in any combination with any one or more of the other features described herein within the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[00029] Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows:

[00030] Figure 1 is a side sectional view of produce display station assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[00031 ] Figure 2 is a front view of a produce display station of the assembly of Figure 1 with a carriage removed; [00032] Figure 3 is a front view of the produce display station assembly of Figure 1 ;

[00033] Figure 4a is a perspective view of a produce display station assembly in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

[00034] Figure 4b is a plan view of the produce display station assembly of Figure 4a; and

[00035] Figure 4c is a side view of the produce display station assembly of Figure 4a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[00036] According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a produce display station assembly 1 00 as shown in figure 1 . The assembly 100 includes a carriage 102 for carrying flower produce 104 in buckets to be displayed. A display station 106 is provided for receiving the carriage 102 which takes the form of the trolley.

[00037] Advantageously, the produce 104 to be displayed can be conveniently carried between the display station 106 and a cool room, without the need to transport the produce 104 individually.

[00038] The display station 106 includes an environmental control system 108 for controlling the environment of the assembly 100. The environmental control system 108 includes electrical equipment located behind the carriage 1 02 and is fitted with solenoid valves (e.g. SMS valves). Further, the environmental control system 108 is fully self- contained in the display station 106, requiring only external electricity to power it.

[00039] The display station 106 includes an upper air outlet 1 10 configured to provide conditioned air 1 12 from the environmental control system 108 over the face of the carriage 102. The carriage 102 includes at least one air inlet 1 14 to receive the downward flowing air 1 1 2 which, in turn, is passed back to the environmental control system 1 08. In one embodiment, an outlet for a temperature controlled air stream is positioned above an outlet for a humidity controlled air stream so the cold air forces the humidified air into a mix and tumbles over the face of the produce 104 on display. The temperature controlled stream has a temperature between 15°C and 1 °C, and preferably below 7°C (say between 5°C and 1 °C). This is the temperature as it leaves the upper air outlet 1 10. In this embodiment, the cooled air will mix with some air around the display creating a temperature within the cabinet approximately between 4°C and 8°C.

[00040] Turning to figure 2, the environmental control system 108 includes a cooling system 200 for cooling the assembly 100. The cooling system 200 ustilises an ozone friendly refrigerant such as R290 hydrocarbon refrigerant.

[00041 ] In one embodiment, the display station 106 can be connected to an external source of cool air. In this configuration, the display may not utilise its own cooling system but instead source cool air from a building or cool store system. For example, in some retail outlets, the store uses a centralised cooling system for multiple refrigerated cabinets and the display station 1 06 of the present invention may utilise that centralised cooling system rather than provide a stand alone self contained system,

[00042] The environmental control system 108 also includes an ultrasonic humidifier 202 for humidifying the air 1 12 passing to the carriage 102. The air 1 12 is saturated and can contain 95% relative humidity. The humidity controlled stream is kept at above 90%, preferably between 93 and 98%, more preferably 94-95% The humidifier 202 includes an ozone generator for providing less than 1 % ozone.

[00043] The environmental control system 108 also includes a fogger 204 for providing a fog to the carriage 102 with the air 1 12 and to protect the produce 104 from harsh light.

[00044] The assembly 100 further includes an upper light assembly 206 for lighting the produce 104. The light assembly 206 includes a pair of arms 208 extending from the display station 1 06, and a light 210 supported by the arms 208. The light 210 is located above and beyond the produce 104.

[00045] The display station 106 is substantially U-shaped and forms an open cabinet. The display station 1 06 has transparent or translucent sides 212 between which the carriage 102 is located. The display station 106 also includes castor wheels 214 to facilitate relocation. [00046] Turning to Figure 3, the carriage 102 includes stepped holders 300 for holding the buckets containing produce 104. Each holder 300 including an inlet 1 14, 302 for providing air back to the environmental control system 108 for recirculation . Each holder 300 also includes a series of hole receptacles 304 for receiving buckets 306.

[00047] The 100 assembly can hold produce 104 in a fresher state and up to four times longer than that of AU 201 3 206 779.

[00048] Figure 4 shows a produce display station assembly 100' in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. Like reference numeral refer to like features previously described.

[00049] The carriage 102' includes a pallet 400 upon which the produce 104 is loaded.

[00050] As can best be seen in Figure 4b, the carriage 102' also includes a pallet trolley 402 for transporting the pallet 400 in and out of the display station 106'. The display station 106' is wide enough to receive two side-by-side pallets 400.

[00051 ] As can be seen in Figures 4a and 4c, the rear of the display station 106' does not include the environmental control system 108, and instead has a planar and flat back to accommodate the pallets 400. The display station 106' includes a coupler for coupling to an external environmental control system, provided by a store, for controlling the environment of the assembly 100'. In some retail settings, the retail store itself uses a centralised refrigeration system for providing cooling to large banks of refrigerated cabinetry. In such circumstances, one preferred embodiment utilizes this centralised system for providing at least a temperature controlled atmosphere of the display station assembly 100'.

[00052] The outlet for the air provided by the environmental control system is typically provided by an upper outlet 1 10' similar to that shown as outlet 1 10 in Figures 1 and 3. Again, the cooler air from the outlet 1 10' cascades down the front of the display unit 106' and reduces the temperature of the environment of the produce 104.

[00053] An air inlet 404 to draw the cooled air back through the environmental control system may be provided at the base of the rear panel of the display unit 106'. [00054] The air inlet 404 is aligned at a suitable height and position in the rear panel of the display unit 106' to substantially align with the channels through a pallet 400 for the forks of a lift 402. Typical pallets 400 are deposited into the unit 106' by a lift 402 that will approach the unit 106' with the forks of the lift 402 aligned to extend from the front of the unit 106' to the back. This is the only manner in which the pallet 400 can be positioned by a lift 402 into the unit 106'. Hence positioning of the air inlet 404 can be determined by the position of the fork channels in the pallet 400 to allow the cooled air from the outlet 1 10' above to be drawn back into the environmental control system through the pallet 400 itself. This improves the exposure of the produce 104 to the cooled air.

[00055] The display unit 106' shown in Figures 4a to 4c, is otherwise the same as the display unit 106 shown in Figures 1 to 3 .

[00056] In a variation of the apparatus of Figure 2, the cold air stream provided by a compressor and similar equipment may be dispensed with and connected to the centralised temperature controlled stream of the retail store. Additional environmental control to provide the humid airstream as described previously may still be within the local cabinet display 106.

[00057] Alternatives encompass all, some or none of the atmospheric controlled airstreams being generated within the dimensions of the cabinet display 106. The distinction being the variants being determined by efficiency for the particular retail location.

[00058] A person skilled in the art will appreciate that many embodiments and variations can be made without departing from the ambit of the present invention.

[00059] The dimensions of the produce display station assembly in Figure 1 are in millimeters, and can be varied to suit the application. Typically the assembly has either 1250mm or 2400mm frontage.

[00060] [PijThe display station 106 in which the carriage 102 snugly docks can include locks for locking the docked carriage 102 securely in place. [00061 ] The holders 300 can be varied and can, for example, be configured to hold RPC crates rather than buckets. The produce can include any one or more of flowers, vegetables, fruit or other botanical products or fungi such as mushrooms

[00062] The lower shelves extend further forward than the upper ones to allow the cold humidified air to tumble down the exposed surfaces of the produce. In another embodiment, the shelves may be in vertical alignment.

[00063] In one embodiment, the valves controlling the air streams may be

programmable over an internet, wireless or similar system to allow control off site.

[00064] A trial of an embodiment of the invention including the display station 1 06 shown in Figure 2 was conducted with the unit 106 being placed in a warehouse for produce 104, in this instance predominately flowers. It was noted that the warehouse for such produce 104 already provided some environmental control and the results of the trial are provided in Appendix I. Given the nature of the environmental control in the warehouse, the additional benefit of the display cabinet 1 06 was expected to be reduced. In this sense "ambient" in Appendix I still benefits from some controlled conditions in the warehouse that are better than those in most retail settings. Appendix I shows the results for "fridge" relating to produce in the display station 106, and

"ambient" relating to produce in the warehouse for different produce types.

[00065] Referring to Appendix I, the results show that the produce 102 kept in the display station 1 06generally lasted the 12 days of the trial for the vast majority of produce 102. Only 2 of 12 exquisite roses were considered to have deteriorated to a quality to suggest they were not suitable for use in a vase over an extended 13 day trail for that variety.

[00066] In contrast, the trail data for the produce 102 held in the ambient warehouse conditions suggested a significant number of many varieties had a limited vase life of between 7 and 12 days (i.e. lesser than the produce in the display station 1 06).

[00067] In no instances in the trial did the controlled atmosphere of the display station 106 perform worse than the ambient conditions of the warehouse. [00068] The display unit 106 provided for the trial controlled the atmosphere suggests the following desirable parameters for production units 106 for most retail settings:

• Air off temp 2-4°c off cycle / 4-6°c differential. Rating at 24°c 65%R.H store

conditions simulated environment.

• Pulse valve setting variable, summer / winter

• Humidity, 87% to 96% at 2-4°c air off.

• Ozone O3 generator, OPPM TO 2PPM. variable

• Running cycle, average 14 - 16hrs a day,

• Display units 1 06 having an 8 foot frontage and and a power supply providing 1 2 amps 240V single phase

• Display units 106 having a 4 foot frontage may only require a power supply

providing 8.2 amps, 240V single phase

• Ultra sonic humidifier, Variable burn off and as required

[00069] All of these foregoing parameters are controlled by a control unit to accommodate the variable settings.

[00070] In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect.

[00071 ] Reference throughout this specification to One embodiment' or 'an embodiment' means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases 'in one embodiment' or 'in an embodiment' in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more combinations.

APPENDIX

Claims

The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1 . A produce display station assembly including:

a carriage for carrying produce to be displayed; and

a display station for receiving the carriage, the display station defining an open front for the carriage to enter into the display station.

2. A produce display station assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said display station further includes at least one outlet operatively connected to an environmental control system wherein said outlet provides at least a stream of temperature controlled air, at a temperature less than ambient for a retail store, and said at least one outlet is provided above the carriage for carrying produce.

3. A produce display station as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said display station includes at least one air inlet to draw air back into an environmental control system, the air inlet positioned on the display station adjacent a lower edge of said carriage.

4. A produce display station according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the carriage includes a pallet.

5. A produce display station according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the carriage is on wheels to accommodate entry and removal of the carriage from the display station.

6. A produce display station according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the environmental control system produces an atmosphere around said carriage of reduced temperature and increased humidity compared to ambient.

7. A produce display system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the environmental control system includes an ozone generator to place ozone into the atmosphere around the produce.

8. A produce display system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the environmental control system outputs a controlled atmosphere through two outlets above the carriage, an outer outlet providing cooled air that falls onto the produce and an inner outlet providing the air of increased humidity.

9. A produce display station as claimed in claim 8, wherein the ozone is placed in the humidified air stream.

10. A produce display station as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein an environmental control system is incorporated in the display station.

1 1 . A produce display station as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein at least a portion of an environmental control system is provided external of the display station and the display station includes connections to connect to the external environmental control system.

12. A produce display system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the atmosphere around the produce is maintained at a temperature of less than 8° C and a humidity of over 90%.

13. A produce display station as claimed in claim 12, wherein the atmosphere further includes less than 1 % ozone.

14 A method of preserving produce in a display station in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, comprising the step of:

creating an atmosphere within the display, the atmosphere having a temperature is less the 8°C, a humidity over 90% and including ozone.

15. A method of preserving produce in a retail display as claimed in claim 14, wherein the quantity of ozone in the atmosphere within the display is less than 1 %.

16. A produce display station for receiving and displaying produce in which the environment is controlled to provide an air stream over the produce having a temperature of between 1 5°C and 1 °C, humidity of greater than 90% and including ozone.

17. A produce display system having a display portion for the display of produce and two outlets for environmentally controlled air streams above the display portion, the two air streams comprising one temperature controlled stream having a temperature between 15°C and 1 °C and another air stream having humidity of greater than 90%.

18. A produce display system as claim in claim 17, wherein the outlet for the temperature controlled air stream is positioned above the outlet for the humidity controlled air stream.

19. A method of displaying produce including containing the produce on display in an environmentally controlled atmosphere in which the temperature is retained at between 15°C and 1 °C, the humidity is greater than 90% and ozone is present.

20. A produce display station assembly including:

a carriage for carrying produce to be displayed; and

a display station for receiving the carriage.