Apparatus for preserving food by generating preservative gas

An apparatus for the preservation of perishable food products such as fruits and vegetables contained in a storage and/or transport receptacle formed by a stack of superposed crates or trays, comprising:

• (a) a gas-tight wrapping comprising a plastic sheet adapted to be pierced and enclosing the said receptacle containing the food products;
• (b) a device for the generation of preservative gas or gas mixtures, said device being located at the interior of said receptacle enclosed by said wrapping, said device comprising:
• a main container (1) comprising a basin-like, water-impervious container closed at the top by a pierceable cover lid (5) in a non-gas-tight manner, said main container having a solid chemical reagent substance therein;
• an auxiliary container (4) supported at the interior of said main container (1) at a pre-determined distance from the bottom thereof by support surfaces (3, 103) in the sides of the main container (1), said auxiliary container (4) being completely sealed in a liquid-tight manner and adapted to be pierced, and containing a liquid chemical reagent substance which upon contact with the solid chemical reagent causes a chemical reaction which generates the preservative gas or gas mixtures;
• said device for the generation of preservative gas being located at the interior of said receptacle in such a position that the said cover lid (5) of the main container (1) and the said auxiliary container (4) can be pierced, from the outside of the wrapping enclosing the receptacle, by one single piercing operation which allows the liquid chemical reagent to contact the solid chemical reagent.