Refrigeration – Automatic control – Humidity sensor
Reexamination Certificate
2003-01-09
2004-09-21
Doerrler, William (Department: 3744)
Refrigeration
Automatic control
Humidity sensor
C236S04400R
Reexamination Certificate
active
06792768
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a low temperature physical distribution system, specifically a low temperature physical distribution system having a purchase and sale system aside from the distribution system for handling perishable foods including hauled fishes of which storage management is absolutely necessary when keeping the objects to be distributed in storage for maintaining the quality thereof, and a method and an apparatus for maintaining the quality thereof in an auction market of marine products.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are two types of systems of distributing perishable foods including hauled fishes, i.e., a conventional distribution system in which merchandise are gathered in a market and traders trade while ascertaining the quality according to their experiences and five senses; and a distribution system utilizing information technology, wherein the trade is done in a virtual market, that is, the low temperature distribution system is separated from the purchase and sale system.
In the case of a distribution system where the trade is completed on a ship and the distribution target place is already determined when hauled fishes are landed, there is no problem as the temporary storage thereof is not necessary. However, in both systems mentioned above, problems have been indicated concerning the temporary storage at the step of trade in the market, and improvements have been proposed.
In Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.2000-14315 is disclosed an apparatus and method of displaying and storing hauled fishes in storage capable of hygienic storage aiming to solve the problems which arise from the sale at auction on floor concerning hygiene and quality of the hauled fishes.
Namely, a display and storage apparatus which is composed of a cooling section having a brine passage provided inside a cooling plate capable of displaying hauled fishes on the surface thereof and a thermal insulation section provided at the bottom of the cooling section, a brine for food use being supplied to the brine passage, is provided in a fish market, and the distribution process of hauled fishes is done on the display and storage apparatus.
Said display and storage apparatus is surrounded by an enclosure wall of appropriate height to keep the temperature of the hauled fishes at a uniform temperature by preventing the diffusion of cold air. It is claimed that the whole temperature of the hauled fishes is maintained stable and uniform by properly adjusting the height of the surrounding wall and the quantity of air introduction in accordance with the condition and state of display of the hauled fishes.
This proposal is satisfying in regard to temperature control, however, much time and effort are needed to replace the hauled fishes onto the cooling plate, as the cooling plate is fixed on the floor. Besides, no concrete mention is made of the construction of the surrounding wall.
Moreover, as no control means for humidity control of the low temperature region, the space for displaying the hauled fishes is provided, the problem of deterioration in quality due to transfer of water from the surface of the hauled fishes and drying thereof arises.
In Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.2000-201618 is proposed an improvement of a drainboard for placing fish thereon used in a sale at auction of tuna fish. The proposal is intended to provide a hygienic, durable, and lightweight drainboard which, at the same time, is improved in the easiness in handling with a hook and does not damage the skin or body of the fish when tuna fish is placed on or removed from the drainboard. Aluminum is used for the material of the plates and crosspieces composing the drainboard, and a sloped face is formed along the side of the plate in full length to prevent the damage of the skin of the fish.
Comparatively simple apparatuses such as the hook and the drainboard are used in a fish market, as cited in the disclosure.
This is because there is a characteristics situation of a fish market that the fish market has a public function to cope with emergency cases in addition to its proper function.
It is assumed that the market is used for disaster relief using ships and as an emergency shelter for people, as it is located adjacent to a wharf. Therefore, an equipment which would become obstacle in such an emergency is not allowed to be installed or placed in the market other than when it is used as an auction market. The equipment for trading is demanded to be installed and removed speedily. The fact that equipment of which the installation requires much expense of time and effort is not accepted and hooks and drainboards are used conveniently is thought to be due to the circumstance mentioned above.
When handling frozen tuna fish, condensation of moisture in the surrounding air on the surface of the fish or frosting occurs. The condensation heat or heat of solidification due to the phase-change of water effects thawing of the frozen fish, which causes the problem that the skin of the fish is damaged and in its turn the quality is deteriorated.
Therefore, the control of humidity of the surrounding air of hauled fishes is also an important factor for maintaining quality.
Recently, a greater number of distribution systems have become separated from a purchase and sale system owing to the development of information technology. So, a purchase and sale system based on objective data such as, in the case of hauled fishes, production region, name of fishing boat, history of storage temperature, analysis data of freshness and so on has become increasingly adopted instead of a system in which traders trade based on their experience and mutual reliance while observing the products of trade closely and ascertaining the quality of them.
It is probable that the products of trade landed on a market in Okinawa can be traded in a market in Hokkaido. Therefore, in a system requiring temperature control, more severe temperature control and disclosure of data have become necessary.
By the way, the quality change due to microorganisms is the cause which induces problems the most frequently among the causes of the deterioration of food quality. Microorganisms such as bacteria, mold, and yeast cause the quality change.
Among them, enteritis Vibrio is the one on which prime importance is put as food poisoning microbe in Japan. This microbe is comparatively weak in low temperature, its growth is suppressed at temperatures below 5° C., and its multiplication is impossible at temperatures below 10° C. However, enteritis Vibrio can live in seawater and attaches to the body surface or gill of fish and shellfish.
A sanitation management system according to HACCP which is composed mainly of Hazard Analysis (HA) and Critical Control Point (CCP) has been introduced for the establishment of measures against deterioration of food. From the point of view of said HACCP, the first step for the prevention of the deterioration in quality of marine products is also to maintain the quality thereof in the auction market which is the first channel of trade. Therefore, establishment of preferable sanitation management method based on the prevention of multiplication of harmful microorganisms including said enteritis Vibrio and the equipment for maintaining the quality of hauled fishes, the objects of auction, are strongly demanded.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention was made in the light of the problems mentioned above. The object of the invention is to provide low temperature zone forming equipment having a storage function capable of effective control of temperature and humidity and a method and equipment for maintaining the quality of hauled fishes in an auction market of marine products such as fishes, shellfishes, for constituting a low temperature distribution system closely linked with a purchase and sale system in consideration of the characteristics of the market.
The low temperature distribution system according to the present invention is characterized in that, in a
Hirao Yasuhiro
Murakami Masaru
Ali Mohammad M.
Crowell & Moring LLP
Doerrler William
Mayekawa Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
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