Container Surface DMN Injection for Potato Sprout Inhibition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for preventing potato sprouting during shipment, such as using CIPC residues or DMN vapors, face challenges like consumer resistance to synthetic chemicals and inconsistent vapor distribution in tight containers, leading to inefficiencies and potential damage to potatoes.
Innovation Solution
A system that applies a predetermined quantity of volatile crop preservative chemicals like DMN directly to the interior surfaces of containers before filling, ensuring vapor generation without direct contact with the crops, using a controlled injection mechanism integrated with a filling station to adjust the chemical quantity based on the weight of potatoes and transit time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If DMN vapor is used to prevent sprouting during shipment, then sprout inhibition is effective, but vapor circulation is insufficient in tightly packed containers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the preliminary action principle by treating the container interior surfaces with DMN liquid before filling with potatoes. This pre-treatment allows the container surfaces to act as vapor sources during transit, ensuring adequate vapor circulation throughout the shipment without requiring active vapor generation during transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the container interior surfaces as an intermediary between the DMN chemical and the potatoes. By applying DMN to the container surfaces rather than introducing vapor directly into the container, the surfaces mediate the release of vapor at controlled rates, improving circulation in tightly packed containers.
2Reliability
If CIPC water-based formulation is applied directly to potatoes, then sprout inhibition is achieved, but consumer acceptance decreases due to chemical residue concerns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the treatment application location from the potato surface to the container interior surfaces. By removing the direct contact between chemical and crop, the harmful residue factor is eliminated while maintaining the sprout inhibition effectiveness through vapor phase action.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces container interior surfaces as an intermediary that carries the DMN chemical in liquid form, which then volatilizes to treat the potatoes without leaving residues on the crop. This intermediary approach separates the chemical application from direct crop contact.
3Reliability
If aerosol containers with DMN are placed in trucks, then vapor treatment is provided, but operators frequently fail to install them correctly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the DMN treatment application with the existing container filling operation. The treatment is applied during the normal container preparation process at the filling facility, eliminating the separate installation step that operators must perform with aerosol containers, thereby ensuring consistent and reliable treatment application.
4Reliability
If liquid volatile chemical is applied to container interior surface, then vapor generation occurs, but direct contact with crop may cause surface damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by treating only the container interior surfaces with the liquid volatile chemical, creating localized vapor sources at specific locations (container walls and surfaces) rather than applying liquid directly to the entire crop. This ensures vapor generation while preventing widespread crop contact and damage.
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 effectively prevents sprouting and dehydration by maintaining a controlled vapor environment within containers, reducing the risk of chemical residue issues and ensuring consistent treatment, while maintaining potato quality and safety.
Implementation Method 1
Use of a volatile chemical such as DMN, especially 1,4-DMN, results in its subsequent volatilization to provide a contained-vapor of DMN
Data Source
AI summary
A method for treating a substrate with a volatile liquid, crop-preservative formulation includes transporting a predetermined quantity of the formulation from a reservoir to an injection device and applying the predetermined quantity to the substrate. The substrate may thereafter be in proximity to a crop to be treated by the vapor from the formulation. The substrate is most conveniently a portion of a container in which the crop is stored or shipped.