| 摘要 |
A produce ripening chamber is described which comprises an air conditioning system for circulating air through the chamber and regulating the air temperature and a doping system for regulating the concentration of a ripening agent in the recirculated air. The chamber 10 has a floor 12, a ceiling 14 and side walls 16 extending between the floor 12 and the ceiling 14. At least one kerb 20 is arranged on the floor for spacing a pallet 24 resting on the floor 12 from a side wall 16 and a duct 18 arranged is at the ceiling end of the latter side wall 16 to seal against the side facing the latter side wall of an upper produce box supported by the pallet. In this way, an air flow channel 30, 32 is defined between the boxes 20 stacked on the pallet 24 and the side wall 16. An air blower 42 and a heat exchanger 40 of the air conditioning system are housed within the duct 18 to force air at a controlled temperature to circulate through the air flow channel 30, 32, through the produce boxes 20 supported by the pallet 24 and through a clearance volume 36 lying between the stack of boxes and the ceiling of the chamber. No part of any duct extends laterally beyond the associated kerb so as not to overlie produce boxes supported on a pallet, thereby allowing the full height of the chamber to be used for stacking produce boxes. |
