A VEGETABLE BOX CAPABLE OF PRESERVING THE PRODUCTS IN A FRESH STATE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME BY EXCHANGING THE AIR COMPOSITION IN THE BOX

Abstract

The invention relates to a vegetable box which is capable of preserving the products in the box in a fresh state and for an extended period of time by exchanging the air composition inside the box via the respiration and photosynthesis of the fresh fruits/vegetables, and thus ensuring the oxygen and/or carbon dioxide to reach the target partial pressure and stabilizing the same at these values. The invention is characterized by comprising a lock sensor (6) which is arranged in the internal portion of the body (1) at the section where the body (1) contacts with the cover (2) and which senses the opening/closing of the cover (2); a gas sensor (7) which is disposed inside the body (1) and which measures the partial pressure of the oxygen and/or carbon dioxide gases inside said body (1), and then informs the control unit (9) of the obtained pressure values; and an electronic control unit (9) which, using the information from the lock sensor (1) and gas sensor (7), activates/deactivates the lighting unit (8) and which is disposed in the body (1).

Claims

1. An air tight vegetable box comprising: a lighting unit (8) mounted in at least one wall of the body (1) and providing the products with the required energy in order that they will photosynthesize, characterized in that it further comprises: a gas sensor (7) which is disposed inside the body (1) and which measures the partial pressure of the oxygen and/or carbon dioxide gases inside said body (1), and then informs the control unit (9) of the obtained pressure values, and an electronic control unit (9) which, using the information from the lock sensor (6) and gas sensor (7), activates/deactivates the lighting unit (8) and which is disposed in the body (1).

2. A vegetable box according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an air tight cover (2) which can be tightly closed by means of the lock hinge (3) disposed thereon and the punches (4) present on the body (1) corresponding to the lock hinge (3).

3. A vegetable box according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a lock sensor (6) which is arranged in the internal portion of the body (1) at the section where the body (1) contacts with the cover (2) and which senses the opening/closing of the cover (2).

4. A vegetable box according to claim 2, characterized that it comprises a rubber gasket (5) in the body (1) at the section where the body (1) is coupled to the cover (2).

5. A vegetable box according to claim 1, characterized that it comprises a fan (10) which is operated by the information from the electronic control unit (9) and allows a homogeneous distribution of the air in the body (1), said fan being mounted in the body (1).

6. A vegetable box according to claim 1, characterized in that the body (1) is made of a metal, plastic, or a glass material, the oxygen and carbon dioxide permeability amount of which is lower than 100 cm.sup.3/m.sup.2/day.

7. A vegetable box according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a lighting unit (8) using LED lights having 300-700 nm wavelength and scattered on the walls of the body (1).

8. A vegetable box according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a lighting unit (8) using OLED lights having 300-700 nm wavelength and scattered on the walls of the body (1).

9. A vegetable box according to claim 1, characterized in that it can be used in any kind of cooling appliance.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] The vegetable box which is capable of preserving the products in a fresh state for an extended period of time by modifying and maintaining the atmosphere at a desired composition inside the box is illustrated in the drawings.

[0019] In which;

[0020] FIG. 1 is the schematic view of the vegetable box according to the invention.

[0021] FIG. 2 is the partial schematic view of the vegetable box according to the invention from a different angle.

[0022] FIG. 3 is the graphical representation of the operating cycle of the vegetable box according to the invention.

[0023] The parts shown in the drawings are enumerated individually and the corresponding reference numerals thereto are given below. [0024] 1. Body [0025] 2. Cover [0026] 3. Lock hinge [0027] 4. Punch [0028] 5. rubber gasket [0029] 6. Lock sensor [0030] 7. Gas sensor [0031] 8. Lighting unit [0032] 9. Control unit [0033] 10. Fan

[0034] The vegetable box according to the invention comprises: [0035] a cover (2) which can be tightly closed by means of the lock hinge (3) disposed thereon and the punches (4) present on the body (1) corresponding to the lock hinge (3), [0036] a lock sensor (6) which is arranged in the internal portion of the body (1) at the section where the body (1) contacts with the cover (2) and which senses the opening/closing of the cover (2), [0037] a gas sensor (7) which is disposed inside the body (1) and which measures the partial pressure values of the oxygen and/or carbon dioxide particles inside said body (1), and then informs the control unit (9) of the obtained pressure values, [0038] a lighting unit (8) mounted in at least one wall of the body (1) and providing the products with the required energy in order that they will photosynthesize, and [0039] an electronic control unit (9) which, using the information from the lock sensor (6) and gas sensor (7), activates/deactivates the lighting unit (8).

[0040] The vegetable box according to the invention comprises a rubber gasket (5) in the body (1) at the section where the body (1) is coupled to the cover (2).

[0041] The vegetable box according to the invention comprises a fan (10) which is operated by the information from the electronic control unit (9) and allows a homogeneous distribution of the air in the body (1), said fan being mounted in the body (1).

[0042] Once the vegetables and/or fruits are laced in the vegetable box, the cover (2) is closed tightly by means of the at least one lock hinge (3) disposed on the cover (2) and the punches (4) corresponding thereto. A rubber gasket (5) is provided at the section where the cover (2) is coupled to the body (1) such that the air tightness will be ensured when the cover (2) is closed. Disposed at the section where the body (1) contacts with the cover (2) is the lock sensor (6). This lock sensor (6) communicates with the electronic control unit (9) upon the opening of the cover (2) and informs it of the opening/closing of the cover (2).

[0043] Also provided is a gas sensor (7) that senses the partial pressure of the oxygen and/or carbon dioxide gases inside the vegetable box. The gas sensor (7) informs the control unit (9) when the partial pressure of the environment oxygen gas is 0.5 kPa less than the target value. The control unit (9) communicates with a plurality of lighting units (8) using lights having 300-700 nm wavelength such as LEDs-OLEDs scattered on the side walls of the body (1) and the body (1) is illuminated. Thus, the required energy for the fruit and/or vegetables inside the body (1) to photosynthesize is supplied.

[0044] During such photosynthesis, the amount of oxygen in the environment increases while the amount of carbon dioxide decreases. The gas sensor (7) communicates with the electronic control unit (9) when the partial pressure of the oxygen gas inside the body (1) is 0.5 kPa more than the target value and the control unit (9) informs the lighting units (8) of it, thereby deactivating them. As a consequence, the required energy for the photosynthesis of the fruit and/or vegetables is interrupted and they start to respire normally.

[0045] In case the gas sensor (7) is a carbon dioxide, the operating principle of the vegetable box will be as follows: the amount of oxygen in the environment decreases while the amount of carbon dioxide increases during the respiration of the fruits and/or vegetables. The gas sensor (7) communicates with the electronic control unit (9) when the pressure of the carbon dioxide gas inside the body (1) is 0.5 kPa more than the target value and the control unit (9) informs the lighting units (8) of it, thereby activating said lighting units (8). Thus, the required energy for the products inside the body (1) to photosynthesize is supplied. Afterwards, the partial pressure of the carbon dioxide inside the vegetable box decreases depending on photosynthesis. The gas sensor (7) communicates with the electronic control unit (9) when the decrease in the partial pressure of the carbon dioxide is 0.5 kPa lower than the target value and the control unit (9) informs the lighting units (8) of it, thereby deactivating them. As a consequence, the required energy for the photosynthesis of the fruit and/or vegetables is interrupted and they start to respire normally. Thus, the air composition inside the body (1) is constantly stabilized at the desired target values.

[0046] This cycle continuously occurs as long as the cover (2) is closed, depending on the partial pressure of the oxygen or carbon dioxide gases. At the same time, a fan (10) is present in the body (1). This fan (10) is operated by the information from the electronic control unit (9) and allows a homogeneous distribution of the air in the body (1) prior to the measurement of the gas sensor (7).

[0047] With the present invention, the products in the vegetable box preserve their freshness for an extended period of time without requiring the use of additional equipment such as gas generator, gas flushing unit or vacuum pump.