Deformable Enclosure for Uniform Fruit Treatment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for treating fruits and vegetables packaged in small boxes are inefficient and time-consuming, as they fail to uniformly treat points of contact between items, leading to uneven treatment and potential spoilage.
Innovation Solution
A process involving a compact block of packaging within a deformable-walled enclosure, treated with a temperature-controlled composition flowing at specific rates to ensure uniform exposure, particularly using phosphorous acid and thermotherapy to enhance fungicidal activity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional sprinkling or immersion methods are used to treat fruits and vegetables packaged in small boxes, then the treatment process is simple to implement, but the treatment is uneven and points of contact between items cannot be treated
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosure walls are made deformable and can be dynamically adjusted between engagement and release configurations. During treatment, the walls deform to engage with the packaging, ensuring intimate contact with all surfaces of the fruits and vegetables including points of contact between items, thereby achieving uniform treatment distribution
Solution Approach 2:
The treatment composition is maintained at elevated temperatures (30-60°C) and specific flow rates (20-150 m³/h) to enhance penetration effectiveness. These parameter optimizations ensure thorough treatment of all surfaces including difficult-to-reach contact points between packaged items
2Manufacturing precision
If each box is treated individually by immersing and moving back and forth, then uniform treatment is achieved, but the processing time becomes very long and tedious
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple packaging units containing fruits and vegetables are brought together in a substantially compact block configuration within a single enclosure. The deformable walls engage with the entire block simultaneously, allowing all packages to be treated together in one continuous flow process, thereby achieving both uniform treatment and high productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The treatment composition flows continuously through the enclosure at optimized rates, maintaining constant contact with the fruits and vegetables throughout the treatment zone. This continuous flow process eliminates the need for repeated immersion and movement operations, significantly reducing processing time while ensuring uniform treatment
3Duration of action of stationary object
If storage periods are extended before market placement, then logistics and distribution are facilitated, but deterioration from fungi, bacteria, and scalding increases rapidly
Solution Approach 1:
Fruits and vegetables receive thermotherapy treatment with phosphorous acid-containing composition immediately after harvest and before extended storage. This preliminary treatment establishes protective effects that prevent fungal and bacterial proliferation, as well as scalding, thereby maintaining quality throughout extended storage periods
Solution Approach 2:
The treatment composition is applied at elevated temperatures (30-60°C) which enhance the fungicidal and protective efficacy of phosphorous acid. This temperature optimization creates long-lasting protective effects that maintain fruit and vegetable quality during extended storage, preventing deterioration from fungi, bacteria, and scalding
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method allows for rapid, uniform, and effective treatment of fruits and vegetables, even in small boxes, reducing spoilage and maintaining organoleptic qualities by synergistically potentiating the fungicidal effect of phosphorous acid with thermotherapy, while reducing residue levels and avoiding resistance issues.
Implementation Method 1
thermotherapy which consists of the application of a hot treatment composition, for example water
Implementation Method 2
pass through the housing longitudinally by a treatment composition having a temperature between 30°C and 60°C, with a flow rate of between 20 and 150m³/h
Implementation Method 3
at least one of the walls side walls being deformable between an engagement configuration and a release configuration of the block
Implementation Method 4
the treatment composition contains phosphorous acid, the concentration of phosphorous acid in the treatment composition is between 200 ppm and 10,000 ppm
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The process for treating fruits or vegetables, comprises collecting a conditioning means (33) containing the fruits or vegetables in a block (35) significantly compact in a housing (8) bounded by a belt on the side walls (9, 11) inside an enclosure (3), bringing each deformable side wall in its thread configuration of the block, and longitudinally passing the housing by a treating composition having a temperature of 48-52[deg] C with a flow of 50-100m 3>/m 2>/h and a duration of 2-3 minutes. The sidewalls extend according to a longitudinal direction. The process for treating fruits or vegetables, comprises collecting a conditioning means (33) containing the fruits or vegetables in a block (35) significantly compact in a housing (8) bounded by a belt on the side walls (9, 11) inside an enclosure (3), bringing each deformable side wall in its thread configuration of the block, and longitudinally passing the housing by a treating composition having a temperature of 48-52[deg] C with a flow of 50-100m 3>/m 2>/h and a duration of 2-3 minutes. The sidewalls extend according to a longitudinal direction, where one of the side wall is deformable between a thread configuration and release configuration of the block. The treating composition contains phosphorous acid, which has a concentration of 2000-4000 ppm. The treating composition is applied at a rate of 3000-10000 liters for 100-300 ton of fruits or vegetables to be treated. An independent claim is included for an installation for treating fruits or vegetables.