Device for fresh produce

Abstract

An apparatus for fresh produce, particularly fruit, comprises a container having a cavity (4) surrounded by a generally cup-shaped wall (3) and capable of receiving fresh produce. The apparatus includes a regulating device for influencing the environmental climate of the fresh produce within the cavity, comprising a cooling device (30) and optionally a sprayer device (50) for introducing a cooled airflow, optionally in combination with an aerosol, into the cavity. An air passage outlet / aerosol inlet (58) is provided at or near the outer edge of the wall (3), openly communicating with an outlet of the sprayer device (50). The aerosol inlet here points towards the interior of the cavity.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for regulating the storage environment of fresh produce (particularly fruit), comprising a container having a cavity in a substantially cup-shaped form, and a regulating device intended and configured to regulate the climate within the cavity, wherein the cup-shaped cavity is surrounded by a wall and can receive fresh produce therein, the wall including an inner wall adjacent to the cavity defining a bottom of the cavity and a peripheral edge away from the bottom of the cavity. [Previous Technology]

[0002] Such a device can be obtained, for example, from Chinese Utility Model Patent Publication No. CN 203028768. The device shown therein includes a water reservoir at the bottom of the container, which is connected to a central mast. The mast extends above the cavity and includes a set of spray arms with a sprayer device for dispersing an aerosol above the cavity. The purpose of this is to moisten the fruit contained in the cavity to prevent it from drying out, thereby keeping the fruit fresh for a longer period.

[0003] It has been found that fruits can thus remain fresh and edible for a significantly longer period. The mist dispersed over the fruit provides saturated humidity around it, thereby limiting evaporation to a minimum. However, a drawback of this known device is that a considerable portion of the aerosol is dispersed into the area surrounding the device, resulting in substantial water consumption. The water storage compartment has a limited volume, therefore requiring regular refilling. Furthermore, this known device lacks a control mechanism for optimizing the conditions for specific fresh produce based on its type. [Summary of the Invention]

[0004] One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a device of the type described above that does not consume liquid or consumes less liquid and / or thereby can more effectively cater to the nature of the fresh agricultural products to be stored.

[0005] To achieve the aforementioned objective, the device of the previously described type has the following features according to the invention: the wall includes at least one second wall that maintains an intermediate cavity with the inner wall, wherein the regulating device includes at least one cooling device and at least one air displacing device, wherein the air displacing device is capable of and configured to optionally intermittently generate and maintain a forced airflow during operation, wherein the cooling device is capable of and configured to enter into heat exchange contact with the airflow on one of its cold sides and extract heat therefrom, wherein the cavity includes at least one air passage that is openly communicated with the air displacing device to at least partially guide the forced airflow, and the inner wall is provided with perforations at the bottom that maintain open communication between the cavity and at least one of the at least one air passage.

[0006] An embodiment of the device has the following features according to the invention: at least one second wall includes the outer shell layer of the device; the inner wall and the outer shell layer are maintained relative to each other at the outer periphery with an air gap pointing toward the cavity; and the at least one air passage leads to the air gap.

[0007] Another embodiment has the following feature according to the invention: the at least one second wall includes an intermediate wall located between the outer shell layer and the inner wall of the device, and the intermediate wall, together with the bottom of the inner wall, defines a cavity in open communication with the outlet of the air displacement device. A preferred embodiment of the device has the following feature: the intermediate wall includes a heat conductor, particularly formed of metal, which is in heat exchange contact with the cold side of the cooling device.

[0008] The air exchange device and cooling device together provide a cooling air circulation through the cavity that holds the fresh produce. By cooling the air and guiding it through the cavity, a cooler atmosphere can be established within the cavity than in the surrounding area, thereby increasing the relative humidity and inhibiting the ripening process of the product. This airflow is guided into the container cavity via at least one air passage in the cavity wall. Therefore, the double walls not only provide insulation but also actively contribute to maintaining a cool climate within the container, thereby inhibiting the degradation process and protecting the fresh product from spoilage for a longer period.

[0009] A preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention is characterized in that: at least one of the inner wall and at least one second wall is spatially separated from each other by a plurality of spacers extending laterally between them and defining a plurality of individual cavity channels; and each cavity channel includes an air passage through which airflow is maintained, at least during operation. This at least partially lateral closure of the airflow between the flanking spacers prevents excessive divergence of the airflow, thereby maintaining a substantially forward-directed airflow that will be able to penetrate sufficiently into the cavity and will require a smaller air displacement (power) from the air displacement device.

[0010] The device provides continuous air ventilation within the cavity and is capable of discharging and / or limiting any excess moisture that may be present within the cavity. Temperature and humidity sensors of an electronic control unit coupled to the device are particularly provided in the circulating airflow. Thus, if necessary, the internal climate management of the device can be actively intervened. The airflow carried through the cavity and onto the fresh produce by means of the air displacement device particularly provides for the dissipation of a relatively humid boundary layer between the fresh produce and the surrounding air. This has been found to particularly inhibit or at least hinder the development of *Botrytis* fungi (fungal damage) on the fresh produce.

[0011] The fresh produce here is particularly vegetables and fruits. Fruits can be categorized into climacteric fruits and non-climacteric fruits. Climacteric fruits continue to ripen to full maturity even after harvesting and separation from the plant. These fruits produce additional flavor by converting starch into sugar, even after harvest. However, non-climacteric fruits ripen only on the plant. Once harvested, non-climacteric fruits will no longer ripen. The device according to the invention can accommodate this distinction by adapting the climate within the cavity to the type of fresh produce, for example, in the case of climacteric fruits, accelerating or decelerating the ripening process according to the user's preference.

[0012] It has been found that many fresh produce, especially fruits, both ripen and evaporate, leading to their deterioration. In a particular embodiment, the device according to the invention therefore has the following features: the regulating device includes at least one sprayer device capable of and configured to generate an aerosol from a liquid and deliver it to an airflow during operation and optionally intermittently, wherein the at least one air passage is openly connected to the outlet of an air displacement device. The ripening process is significantly slowed down due to the cooling of the air. By thus also distributing the aerosol on the fresh produce, the relative humidity of the air surrounding the fresh produce can be increased, thereby also reducing excessive evaporation. This further extends the shelf life of the produce.

[0013] The relative humidity of the air within the cavity typically plays a crucial role in the condition and shelf life of many fresh produce items. On the one hand, low air humidity leads to increased evaporation, ultimately causing the product to dry out or shrivel. On the other hand, excessively high air humidity, especially condensation, can lead to rot and fungal growth. The device according to the invention also provides a solution, for example, by selecting a suitable balance and increasing the air humidity to a maximum of 85-95%, which seems like a suitable compromise for tomatoes, for example. However, strawberries can be prevented from drying out for a longer period if a thin layer of condensation is present on them at a storage temperature between 8 and 18°C, which is possible in the device according to the invention by controlling the cooling device and the sprayer device to maintain a cool climate and saturated air humidity within the cavity. A similar approach applies to peppers, although in this case, the relative air humidity is maintained at a minimum of 10% below the saturation level to create a vapor pressure deficit within the cavity that prevents rot.

[0014] The aerosol device sprays liquid mist on the blow-out side of the air displacement device. The resulting mist is then entrained by the generated airflow and introduced into the cavity via the outlet of at least one air channel. The aerosol is thus carried into the cavity particularly effectively and efficiently, preventing the aerosol from escaping into the area surrounding the device. This limits waste caused by liquid escaping into the environment. Although the device already largely controls the air humidity within the cavity due to constant air ventilation, in this embodiment, the device is also able to, for example, periodically and briefly increase the air humidity or even form condensation to prevent over-drying of agricultural products. It has been found that, due to this combination of air and aerosol inlets, a particularly uniform, effective, and efficient distribution of the aerosol throughout the cavity can be achieved, resulting in relatively low liquid consumption.

[0015] Sprayer devices exist in various forms and sizes, and are in principle suitable for use in the device according to the invention. They all share the characteristic of forming a fine mist or vapor from a liquid, for example, in this case, the liquid is particularly, optionally, pure water, and the mist or vapor, regardless of how it is generated, is referred to herein as an aerosol. In this respect, particularly good results have been obtained through a specific embodiment of the device according to the invention, characterized by an ultrasonic nozzle with an electromechanical transducer (particularly a piezoelectric transducer) designed and configured to act on a liquid (particularly water) together with a nozzle member that can be ultrasonically excited, and to form an aerosol from the liquid. An air displacement device is configured such that the airflow is carried over the liquid at the location of the nozzle member. In this embodiment, the liquid is sprayed through an ultrasonically vibrating member, and the resulting mist is then entrained by the airflow into the air passage and the air or aerosol inlet of the cavity. This piezoelectric nozzle is characterized by producing a relatively large amount of mist.

[0016] In another embodiment, the device according to the invention is characterized in that the atomizer device comprises at least one jet atomizer having a spray nozzle with at least one continuous spray orifice, and is intended and configured to receive liquid (particularly water) at an inlet under increased pressure and to spray the liquid as an aerosol at the outlet of the spray orifice. The application of one or more such jet atomizers allows for a particularly compact structure and integration in the device, which can be small enough that the nozzle can be readily accommodated in or near the peripheral edge of the air passage outlet leading to the cavity. Thus, another particular embodiment of the device is characterized in that the spray nozzle is arranged in or near the peripheral edge and oriented such that the outlet faces toward the interior of the cavity.

[0017] The device can optionally be connected to a fixed water supply main, and in this case, a fixed water pipe connector is provided for this purpose. However, for more autonomous operation, another preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention features a reservoir forming a removable portion of the container and permanently or alternately connected to the sprayer device. A preferred embodiment of the device here features a liquid conduit connecting the sprayer device to the reservoir, and the liquid conduit extends within a cavity between the inner wall and the at least one second wall. Although the reservoir must be filled when the liquid level drops below a minimum, relatively long periods of continuous operation can still be achieved due to the particularly effective and thus lower water consumption according to the invention. Furthermore, the container can therefore be arranged in almost any suitable location. Preferably, the reservoir is a water reservoir and can be directly accessed and removed from the outside of the container for filling. The capacity of the reservoir is sufficient to allow the device to operate for at least several days.

[0018] In another specific embodiment, the device according to the invention has a water recovery device capable of and configured to cause water vapor from the air to settle and be collected as condensate. This condensate can then be used in a sprayer device, whereby the sprayer device can selectively (with or without a fixed water pipe connection or a removable water reservoir) regulate its moisture balance by carefully controlling the relative humidity within the chamber. This relative humidity around the evaporated product can be adjusted upwards or downwards by increasing or decreasing the airflow through the chamber, and spraying this condensate can provide an additional boost to it. The cooling device and / or the components thereby cooled advantageously form part of this condensate recovery device.

[0019] A specific embodiment of the device according to the invention has the following features: the cooling device includes a heat exchanger thermally coupled to a cooling body having cooling ribs that are in heat exchange contact with an airflow. The airflow is guided between and along the cooling ribs, resulting in a particularly efficient and effective heat transfer from air to the cooling body. The cooled air provides a reduction in the ambient temperature within the cavity, thereby allowing the ambient temperature within the cavity to be maintained specifically below or near the dew point. Because cold air contains less water vapor than warm air, it saturates more quickly, i.e., contains less water vapor than warm air. Therefore, the cooled air limits the potential water consumption required to generate and maintain optimal relative humidity within the cavity.

[0020] A preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention enables exceptionally quiet cooling, characterized in that the heat exchanger comprises at least one Peltier element. A Peltier element is a thermoelectric solid-state semiconductor element used herein to extract heat from the airflow. Other names for a Peltier element include: Peltier cooler, Peltier heater, thermoelectric heat pump, Peltier diode, solid-state cooler, semiconductor cooler, and thermoelectric cooler. The Peltier element functions as an active heat pump, transferring heat against the temperature gradient, i.e., from cold to hot; in the case of the invention, from the airflow to the area surrounding the container. This achieves a heat pump without moving parts or liquid. Consequently, the pump has very low maintenance costs and, in principle, is completely silent and vibration-free.

[0021] One embodiment of the device, which is particularly attractive from both a practical and aesthetic point of view, features the following: the container comprises a bowl supported on a hollow base, and the regulating device is at least substantially housed within the base. The base thus specifically houses the cooling device and the air displacement device (both forming part of the regulating device), as well as optional other electronic equipment of the container, such as a control unit and optional accessories, such as a microphone / speaker and / or a telecommunications module. Therefore, the present invention provides a fully functional device, which can be particularly embodied in a user-friendly tabletop size, thereby allowing for at least significant control of the climate surrounding fresh produce.

[0022] To further enhance the operation of the container, another specific embodiment of the device according to the invention features at least one light source therein for the purpose of visibly displaying illumination effects, particularly a ring light source, and more particularly a light source in the form of one or more LEDs. Such a light source may, for example, be located at an edge, particularly a ring light source extending at least substantially completely around the edge, but may also, for example, be a ring extending around an operation button. The light source may here emit light continuously or only illuminate or change color to indicate, for example, a specific operating state, such as in the event of a malfunction (e.g., to indicate that the reservoir needs to be filled), or, for example, when a spray device optionally present therein is turned on.

[0023] The light source can also be provided with a signaling function via intelligent software, which provides feedback to the user regarding the status of the equipment. In addition to information regarding malfunctions (e.g., indicated by a static red light), the light source can, for example, illuminate in blue during active cooling, where the dynamic variation of light, for example, moving along a ring at an adjustable speed, further indicates the intensity of cooling or other operating conditions. For example, a counter-clockwise light variation can indicate adjustment as a sign that the spoilage process is delayed. This will also clearly serve as a motivation for users to more consciously consume fresh produce regularly, for example, by having the light source illuminate in a specific color, such as violet, hourly or in portions of that time, as a reminder. Combinations are also possible, where both operation and motivation are represented by color changes. This produces a particularly attractive aesthetic effect in all cases.

[0024] Another preferred embodiment of the device has the following features according to the invention: the container includes one or more sensors from a set of sensors capable of and configured to record relative air humidity and / or temperature inside the cavity or around the container, the one or more sensors being coupled to a control unit of the container. These sensors continuously record the (relative) air humidity and / or temperature inside and outside the cavity, respectively. Aerosol delivery can be optimally adapted to this to prevent over-discharge and further limit water consumption of the container. To this end, the container provides a control unit that controls the sprayer device, cooling device, and / or air displacement device based on these measurements.

[0025] One embodiment of the device, particularly for subjecting fresh produce to a cooling airflow, preferably has the following feature according to the invention: the perforations are in open communication with an outlet of the air displacement device and at least one air passage having its inlet. Cooled air is thus blown directly into the cavity through the perforations, thereby achieving optimal cooling. To achieve a uniform distribution of cooling air on the fresh produce, another embodiment of the device according to the invention has the following feature: the perforations comprise a perforation system extending from the bottom over a portion of the height of the inner wall, particularly over at least one-third of that height, and more particularly over at least substantially half of that height. This portion of the inner wall is preferably surrounded laterally by at least one second wall of a heat conductor, particularly a metal wall, which defines at least one air passage with the inner wall and is in thermal contact with the cold side of the cooling device. This significantly enhances the uniform cold distribution at the bottom of the cavity.

[0026] Significantly good results have been achieved in this respect using another preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, characterized in that the perforation system comprises a regular perforation pattern, particularly each perforation located at a mathematically defined position, and more particularly along a mathematical curve. This mathematical approach and the resulting curve optimize the distribution of airflow within the cavity.

Implementation Method

[0028] The device shown in Figures 1-4 includes a hollow base 1 on which a cup-shaped bowl 2 rests. The bowl 2 includes a cavity 4 surrounded by a wall 3 of the bowl, and in this cavity 4, fresh produce, in this case, fruit, can be received. For this purpose, the cavity 4 can be accessed on its upper side through an opening 5 across its entire cross-section, the opening 5 being defined by an edge 6 of the wall 3 of the bowl 2. On a front side, referring to Figure 1A, the bowl includes a removable or detachable water reservoir 7 that supplies water to a sprayer device (which will be further described below), which releases an aerosol into the cavity 4 through an aerosol inlet 58 in the edge 6. Advantageously, the bowl is constructed at a relatively low cost from a component made of a suitable plastic material (e.g., ABS) by injection molding. If desired, the outer shell of the bowl can be, for example, provided with a metallic coating or a high-gloss coating to give the device a luxurious appearance. For the same purpose, the outer shell of the bowl 2 may also be partially or entirely formed or covered by metal or natural products (e.g., wood or textiles). To allow direct visual inspection of the liquid level, the liquid reservoir 7 may be formed of transparent plastic (e.g., polycarbonate), or a transparent window may be provided in the liquid reservoir.

[0029] The base 1 includes a main control switch 9 on the front side, through which the device can be turned on or off. A power connector for the device is provided on the rear side (see Figure 1B). In this example, a standard port 10 is used for this purpose as the plug for a standard external power transformer that provides 12 volts DC power to the device. A status indicator 11 in the form of an LED ring 11 is provided on the front side, which indicates the current status of the device by illuminating with a specific color, for example, green for normal operation, and orange or red for the liquid level in the reservoir approaching or having reached the minimum level, respectively. The LED ring 11 is arranged around the main switch 9. If needed, the continuous operation of the LED ring can be turned off by a switch provided for this purpose or by a separate user interface (e.g., a smartphone), wherein the LED ring will always be lit when a status warning occurs. For an attractive aesthetic effect, as shown in Figure 2, an LED ring 8 is also housed in the edge 6 around the opening 5 of the cavity 4, and this ring can be controlled to have different colors. The LED ring 8 can also be set via a switch provided for this purpose or via an application (app) on a smartphone.

[0030] The interior of the base 1 is hollow to provide space for the various operating components of the device, as will be further explained below. A wide-gap air inlet 13 (see Figure 2) located on the front side of the base bottom provides air to the cavity, while the supplied air escapes through a set of air outlets 15 on the rear side (see Figure 1B). Like the bowl 2, the base 1 can advantageously be constructed from suitable plastic (e.g., ABS) components at a relatively low cost, but a more luxurious finish can also be chosen by providing at least a metallic or high-gloss coating to the outer shell of the base 1. For the same purpose, the outer shell of the base 1 can also be partially or even entirely formed or covered from metal or natural products such as wood or textiles.

[0031] The construction of the device is further illustrated in the cross-section of Figure 2. The bowl 2 is double-walled, comprising an inner wall 21 and a second wall 22, the second wall 22 hanging around the inner wall and maintaining a common cavity 25 relative to the inner wall 21. The inner wall 21 defines a cavity 4 for containing fresh produce, while in this example, the second wall 22 also forms the outer shell of the device. The two bowls 21, 22 are held apart from each other by a set of spacers 24, which divide the cavity into a plurality of adjacent cavity channels 25. At the bottom of the container 2, the inner wall 21 is supported by a set of metal cooling ribs 33 (see also Figure 3), which extend from a cooling body 35 and are formed together with it by a good thermal conductor. In this example, the cooling body 35 and the cooling ribs 33 are formed as a single integral piece in the form of an aluminum casting.

[0032] The cooling ribs 33 not only support the inner wall 21, but also primarily serve as heat sinks for the cooling body 35, which is thermally coupled to the cold side of an active heat exchanger. For this purpose, in this example, it is made of a set of Peltier elements 30. The Peltier elements 30 have a radiator 60 with a fan 16 on their warm side (see also FIG. 4) to adequately dissipate the heat extracted from the cavity 25 through the cooling body 35 and the cooling ribs 33. For this purpose, one or more fans 16 in the base 1 maintain an airflow 14 from the air inlet 13 to the air outlet 15 to release heat to the surrounding area. Temperature sensors at the Peltier elements 30 record the temperature of the cooling body 35 in situ and exchange this information with the central control unit 40 in the base 1.

[0033] The control unit 40 specifically controls the sprayer device 50 placed in the center of the base. The sprayer device includes an ultrasonic electromechanical nozzle equipped with a piezoelectric transducer that supplies water from the water storage unit 7 via a liquid conduit 52 provided for this purpose. A switchable valve or reversible (peristaltic) pump coupled to the control unit 40 and controlled by it to supply water immediately upon request from a water bath in the spray device 50 may be optionally disposed in a liquid conduit 52 . For such a pump, it is better to choose a peristaltic pump or gear pump that operates quietly, with a pumping volume of 100-200 ml / min. The water storage unit is provided with an electronic level sensor that is also coupled to the control unit 40 and generates a warning when the water in the water storage unit 7 is to be depleted. For example, this is a reed contact (Reed contact), which is arranged adjacent to the reservoir and is in communication with the float in the reservoir 7 .

[0034] The piezoelectric element of the spray device acts on the liquid in an ultrasonic manner to form a fine mist. An air displacement device 55 in the form of a central fan is arranged adjacent to a spray device 50 , the air displacement device 55 maintains an air flow into which the formed aerosol is entrained. The airflow carries the aerosol along the cooling rib 33 and through an air channel formed by the cavity channel 25 to the air inlet 58 , which also forms the aerosol inlet 58 and points to the interior of the cavity 4 . A thin mist formed and cooled is spread over the cavity and on fresh agricultural products (e.g., especially fruit) located within it. Thereby, the optimal air humidity and temperature that can prevent premature drying of fresh agricultural products and thereby keep them longer under edible conditions will always prevail in the cavity. The airflow is returned to the spray device through the fan 55 via an outlet at the bottom of the bowl body 2, thereby maintaining continuous air circulation in the cavity 4 .

[0035] Sensors (not shown further), such as air humidity sensors and temperature sensors, are provided inside and outside the container 2. These sensors continuously record the climate within the cavity 4 and share it with the control unit 40. Furthermore, the control unit 40 receives measurement data from optional additional sensors, such as a temperature sensor for the Peltier cooler 30, a temperature sensor for the cooler 35, a power sensor for the fan indicating the current exhaust volume, and a level sensor for the liquid level in the reservoir 7. Based on the measurement data exchanged with the control unit, the controller can monitor the process and adjust it as necessary to maintain optimal conditions for the fresh produce in the cavity. The temperature and air humidity within the cavity are specifically monitored by the control unit 40, which is affected by the fresh produce, and adjusted as necessary in conjunction with optimal air circulation over the fresh produce. In this regard, the following table provides example values ​​for ideal air humidity and storage temperature for various vegetables and fruits: agricultural products Storage conditions temperature Air humidity (Rv) Air circulation apple lowest 95% continuous apricot lowest 85-95% continuous Grape lowest 85-95% continuous Avocado 7℃ 85-95% continuous tomato 8-15℃ 85% continuous Lemon, grapefruit, orange 13℃ 85-90% continuous strawberry 8-15℃ 100% regular Mandarin orange 7℃ 85-90% continuous Eggplant (Aubergine) 7℃ 90-95% continuous Pepper 8-18℃ 90% regular radish 13℃ 85-91% continuous Leafy vegetables lowest 100% continuous dried fruit lowest 55-60% continuous Courgette 7℃ 95% continuous

[0036] A light source in the form of an LED ring 8 is disposed near the aerosol inlet 58, extending around the entire aerosol inlet and adding a light effect to the incoming mist as an additional aesthetic effect. If desired, the base 1 also provides space for various accessories (not shown further), such as a speaker / microphone combination, enabling the device to function as an audio player and recorder. Combined with a telecommunications module for this purpose, such as a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi chip and antenna, it can be connected to, for example, a smartphone or (tablet) computer. This further provides a means for communicating the current status of the device and the storage conditions within the cavity to a user via an application (app) for this purpose, wherein the application is installed on an electronic device for this purpose and provides control over the device.

[0037] The range of sensors can also be expanded, and may include, for example, a weight sensor that measures the weight of the actual fresh produce contents within the cavity 4 and generates a value for the control device. Based on this, the delivery of mist can be adjusted and selectively limited, thereby also providing the user with current information about his / her fruit inventory and allowing for the selective automatic placement of orders to replenish supplies.

[0038] Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a second embodiment of the device according to the invention. This device is largely similar to the device of the first exemplary embodiment. However, unlike the first exemplary embodiment, this is a device that maintains the cooling airflow only within the cavity. Therefore, there is no removable liquid storage section, and no sprayer device is provided therein. This provides additional space for construction in the base 1, and the dimensions of the cavity 4 for containing fresh produce (e.g., particularly fruit) can be designed more fully to be the same as the external dimensions of the container.

[0039] An important difference is that, in this case, the air displacement device in the form of a powerful fan 55 gives the airflow an opposite direction. For illustrative purposes, the flow direction is shown by arrows in the figure. In addition to the second wall in the form of an outer shell 22, in this example, the cavity wall also includes a second wall in the form of an intermediate wall 23. Both walls surround the inner wall 21 for at least a portion of its height and define an air passage 25, 27. The cup-shaped inner wall 21, from its bottom and covering most of its height, has a system of perforations 28 that openly communicate with the outlet of the air displacement device 55 to receive a cooling airflow from it. Furthermore, for the purpose of greater efficiency, the fan 55 responsible for this is placed downstream of the cooling device 30. The cooling airflow is received within the cavity 27 between the inner wall 21 and the intermediate wall 23. The intermediate wall here is preferably formed of metal, for example, by deep drawing a single piece, and is thermally coupled to the cold side of the cooling device 30. Therefore, the conductive inner wall provides a uniform heat distribution in the intermediate cavity 27, so that the cooling airflow will enter the cavity through the perforations at substantially the same temperature.

[0040] The cavity 27 thus created between the bottom of the intermediate wall 23 and the inner wall 21 also provides a chamber in which pressure increases and balances between the air exchange device on one side and the perforation on the other side. This serves as a pressurization chamber through which the airflow through the different perforations will be substantially the same, regardless of their position relative to the air exchange device.

[0041] In this example, the perforated system occupies approximately half the height of the inner wall, and these perforations are arranged mathematically as points on a mathematical curve FC, in this example according to the Fibonacci sequence. Thus, these curves spiral radially outward from the center, thereby creating an optimal flow pattern. Furthermore, because the airflow reaches the fresh produce directly from the cooling device through the bottom of the container, energy loss (i.e., heating of the airflow) is minimized. These two effects together ensure a longer shelf life for the fresh produce and allow it to remain in good condition for an extended period.

[0042] Any condensation in the bowl will also be offset because excess water vapor will be entrained in the forced airflow. It can escape into the environment above the bowl instead of being sent back into the device. Fresh airflow is drawn in at the outer edge of the bowl and delivered to the inlet side of the cooling device and air displacement device through the air passage in the cavity.

[0043] On the upper side of the cavity, the cooled airflow is at least partially captured in the gap between the inner wall 21 and the outer shell layer 22, where fresh air can also be drawn in. The airflow that enters hereby is transported (returned) to the air replacement device through the cavity 25 between the outer shell layer 22 and the inner wall 21 or the intermediate wall 23.

[0044] In summary, the present invention provides an interactive device for fresh agricultural products (e.g., fruit in this example), whereby the user will keep the product fresh for a longer period of time and will be able to understand and control the storage conditions of the product.

[0045] Although the invention has been further illustrated above with reference to only a single exemplary embodiment, it is obvious that the invention is by no means limited thereto. Rather, many variations and embodiments may be found within the scope of the invention by those skilled in the art. The exemplary embodiments are therefore based on a container that opens completely from the top, but the cavity therein may also be completely or partially covered with a lid or optionally a framed insect-proof mesh to further cover the fresh produce contained therein. [Simplified Explanation of the Diagram]

[0027] Figures 1A and 1B show front and rear isometric views of a first exemplary embodiment of the device according to the present invention, respectively; Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the device of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a top cross-sectional view of the cooling device in the device of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a bottom cross-sectional view of the device of Figure 1; Figure 5 shows an isometric view of a second exemplary embodiment of the device according to the present invention; and Figure 6 shows a partial cross-sectional side view and section of the device of Figure 5.

Claims

1. An apparatus for fresh agricultural products, the apparatus comprising a container having a generally cup-shaped product cavity, and a regulating device designed and configured to regulate the environmental climate within the product cavity; wherein, The product cavity of the container is surrounded by a wall and can receive fresh produce therein; the wall includes an inner wall adjacent to the product cavity, defining a bottom and a peripheral edge of the product cavity away from the bottom; the wall includes at least one second wall that maintains an intermediate cavity with the inner wall; the regulating device includes at least one cooling device and at least one air displacement device; the air displacement device is capable of and configured to optionally intermittently generate and maintain a forced airflow during operation; the cooling device is capable of and configured to enter into heat exchange contact with the airflow on its cold side and extract heat therefrom; the intermediate cavity includes at least one air passage that is openly communicated with the air displacement device to at least partially guide the forced airflow; the inner wall is provided with perforations at the bottom, which maintain open communication between the product cavity and at least one of the at least one air passage; the perforations include a perforation system that extends from the bottom over a portion of the height of the inner wall; and... The at least one second wall includes an intermediate wall located between an outer shell layer and an inner wall of the device, and the intermediate wall, together with the bottom of the inner wall, defines an air cavity in open communication with the outlet of the air displacement device.

2. The equipment as described in claim 1, wherein, The at least one second wall includes an outer shell layer of the device, the inner wall and the outer shell layer are maintained relative to each other at their peripheral edges by an air gap pointing toward the product cavity, and the at least one air passage leads to the air gap.

3. The equipment as described in claim 2, wherein, The intermediate wall includes a thermal conductor that exchanges heat with the cold side of the cooling device.

4. The equipment as described in claim 1, wherein, The cooling device includes a heat exchanger thermally coupled to a cooling body having cooling ribs that are in heat exchange contact with the airflow.

5. The equipment as described in claim 4, wherein, The heat exchanger includes at least one Peltier element.

6. The equipment as described in claim 1, wherein, The air exchange device includes at least one electrically driven fan.

7. The equipment as described in claim 1, wherein, The inner wall and at least one of the at least one second wall are spatially spaced apart from each other by a plurality of spacers that extend laterally between them and define a plurality of separate cavity channels, and each of the cavity channels includes an air passage through which the airflow is maintained at least during operation.

8. The equipment as described in claim 1, wherein, The regulating device includes at least one sprayer device capable of and configured to optionally intermittently generate an aerosol from a liquid and deliver it to the airflow during operation, wherein the at least one air passage is openly connected to the outlet of the air displacement device.

9. The equipment as described in claim 8, wherein, The atomizer device includes an ultrasonic nozzle having an electromechanical transducer designed and configured to act on a liquid together with an ultrasonically actuated nozzle component and form the aerosol thereon.

10. The equipment as described in claim 8, wherein, The sprayer device includes at least one sprayer having a nozzle with at least one continuous spray port and is intended and configured to receive a liquid at an inlet under increased pressure and to spray the liquid as an aerosol at an outlet of the spray port.

11. The equipment as described in claim 10, wherein, The spray nozzle is disposed at or near the outer edge and oriented such that the outlet faces the interior of the product cavity.

12. The equipment described in any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein, A liquid conduit connects the sprayer device to a liquid reservoir, and the liquid conduit extends within the intermediate cavity between the inner wall and the at least one second wall.

13. The equipment as described in claim 12, wherein, The liquid reservoir forms a removable part of the container and is permanently or interchangeably connected to the sprayer device.

14. The equipment as described in claim 1, wherein, The container includes a bowl supported on a hollow base, and the adjusting device is at least largely housed in the base.

15. The equipment as described in claim 1, wherein, At least one light source is disposed therein in the form of one or more LEDs for displaying the lighting effect in a visible manner.

16. The equipment as described in claim 1, wherein, The perforation is openly connected to an outlet of the air exchange device and the at least one air passage having its inlet.

17. The equipment as described in claim 1, wherein, The perforation includes a regular pattern formed by multiple perforations, in which each perforation is located at a mathematically defined position on a mathematical curve.

18. The equipment as described in claim 1, wherein, The container includes one or more sensors from a set of sensors that are capable of and configured to record relative air humidity and / or temperature inside the product cavity or around the container, the one or more sensors being coupled to a control unit of the container.

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