Transport box and method for transporting chilled products

Abstract

Transport box ( 1 ) that, in an empty state, includes a storage compartment ( 8 ) for products ( 20 ) and includes at least one channel ( 9 ) that is suitable for air transport, that is separated from the storage compartment ( 8 ) by a partition ( 10 ), and which forms a connection between the top of the transport box ( 1 ) and its underside, whereby the transport box ( 1 ) is arranged such that when forming a stack of at least two such transport boxes ( 1 ), a channel ( 9 ) of a lower transport box ( 1 ) connects with a channel ( 9 ) of an upper transport box ( 1 ).

1 . Transport box ( 1 ) that, in an empty state, comprises a storage compartment ( 8 ) for products ( 20 ) and comprises at least one channel ( 9 ) that is suitable for air transport, that is separated from the storage compartment ( 8 ) by a partition ( 10 ), and which forms a connection between the top of the transport box ( 1 ) and an underside of the transport box. 
     
     
         2 . Transport box according to  claim 1 , wherein the transport box ( 1 ) is arranged such that when forming a stack of at least two such transport boxes ( 1 ), a channel ( 9 ) of a lower transport box ( 1 ) connects with a channel ( 9 ) of an upper transport box ( 1 ). 
     
     
         3 . Transport box according to  claim 1 , wherein the storage compartment ( 8 ) is accessible from the top of the transport box ( 1 ). 
     
     
         4 . Transport box according to  claim 1 , wherein the transport box is provided with at least two such channels ( 9 ), whereby these channels ( 9 ) are not directly open towards one another. 
     
     
         5 . Transport box according to  claim 1 , wherein the partition ( 10 ) is provided with one or more holes ( 10 ) through which air can flow. 
     
     
         6 . Transport box according to  claim 1 , wherein the transport box is provided with an upright edge on the top and/or underside of the transport box that fits around the underside or top respectively of an identical transport box ( 1 ) in order to stabilise the stack when stacking two or more identical transport boxes ( 1 ). 
     
     
         7 . Transport box according to  claim 1 , wherein there is a channel ( 9 ) between a side wall ( 2 ) of the transport box ( 1 ) and the storage compartment ( 8 ) and which extends over the entire dimension (L,B) of this side wall ( 2 ), whereby the channel is defined by three side walls ( 2 ) and the partition ( 10 ). 
     
     
         8 . Combination of at least one transport box ( 1 ) according to  claim 1  and a cooling device ( 14 ), whereby the cooling device is arranged to blow cooled air from an outlet nozzle ( 17 ) and the outlet nozzle ( 17 ) and a channel ( 9 ) of the transport box ( 1 ) are arranged to connect with one another. 
     
     
         9 . Combination according to  claim 8 , wherein the bottom of the transport box ( 1 ) and the top of the cooling device ( 14 ) are of such a shape that the transport box ( 1 ) can be placed stably on the cooling device ( 14 ), whereby, in this position, the outlet nozzle ( 17 ) and an end ( 13 ) of the channel ( 9 ) are oriented towards one another such that the outlet nozzle ( 17 ) discharges into the channel ( 9 ). 
     
     
         10 . Combination according to  claim 8 , wherein the outlet nozzle ( 17 ) is arranged to connect with a channel ( 9 ) of each of two transport boxes ( 1 ) that are placed against one another with their respective channels ( 9 ) turned towards one another. 
     
     
         11 . Combination according to  claim 10 , wherein the outlet nozzle ( 17 ) is provided with a closure that can partially close off the outlet nozzle ( 17 ), so that when using the cooling device ( 14 ) with one transport box ( 1 ) or one stack of transport boxes ( 1 ), the part of the outlet nozzle ( 17 ) not connecting with a channel ( 9 ) can be closed. 
     
     
         12 . Method for cooling or freezing products ( 20 ) or for keeping them cool or frozen, wherein use is made of a transport box ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , whereby the products ( 20 ) are placed in the transport box ( 1 ) and whereby cooled air is generated and guided through a channel ( 9 ) of the transport box ( 1 ). 
     
     
         13 . Method for transporting chilled or frozen products ( 20 ) in a vehicle, wherein the method comprises a method according to  claim 12 , whereby the cooled air is generated in the vehicle and guided through the channel ( 9 ) of the transport box ( 1 ). 
     
     
         14 . Method for transporting chilled or frozen products ( 20 ) in a vehicle, wherein the method comprises a method for cooling or freezing products ( 20 ) or for keeping them cool or frozen, and wherein use is made of a transport box ( 1 ) that, in an empty state, comprises a storage compartment ( 8 ) for products ( 20 ) and comprises at least one channel ( 9 ) that is suitable for air transport, that is separated from the storage compartment ( 8 ) by a partition ( 10 ), and which forms a connection between the top of the transport box ( 1 ) and an underside of the transport box, whereby the products ( 20 ) are placed in the transport box ( 1 ) and whereby cooled air is generated and guided through a channel ( 9 ) of the transport box ( 1 ), whereby the cooled air is generated in the vehicle and guided through the channel ( 9 ) of the transport box ( 1 ), and wherein use is made of a combination according to  claim 7 , whereby the cooling device ( 14 ) is placed in the vehicle and connected to a source of electric power and whereby the transport box ( 1 ) or transport boxes ( 1 ) are placed on the cooling device ( 14 ) or on one another in such a way that a channel ( 9 ) of each transport box ( 14 ) connects with the outlet nozzle ( 17 ) or with a channel ( 9 ) of a lower transport box ( 1 ). 
     
     
         15 . Method for transporting chilled or frozen products ( 20 ) and for their temporary chilled or frozen storage, whereby the products ( 20 ) are transported by means of a method according to  claim 14 , whereby the products ( 20 ) are temporarily stored chilled or frozen directly after transport or vice versa, whereby cooled air is generated during the temporary storage and guided through a channel ( 9 ) of the transport box ( 1 ) and whereby during storage and during transport the products ( 20 ) are in the same transport box ( 1 ). 
     
     
         16 . Method for transporting chilled or frozen products ( 20 ) and for their temporary chilled or frozen storage, whereby the products ( 20 ) are transported by means of a method according to  claim 14 , whereby the products ( 20 ) are temporarily stored chilled or frozen directly after transport or vice versa, whereby cooled air is generated during the temporary storage and guided through a channel ( 9 ) of the transport box ( 1 ) and whereby during storage and during transport the products ( 20 ) are in the same transport box ( 1 ), whereby use is also made of the combination during storage and whereby the combination, during the transfer from a use during transport to a use during storage or vice versa, is moved from a storage location to the vehicle or vice versa, whereby the transport box ( 1 ) or transport boxes ( 1 ) that are on the cooling device ( 14 ) stay in this position during the transfer. 
     
     
         17 . Transport box according to  claim 2 , wherein the storage compartment ( 8 ) is accessible from the top of the transport box ( 1 ). 
     
     
         18 . Transport box according to  claim 2 , wherein the transport box is provided with at least two such channels ( 9 ), whereby these channels ( 9 ) are not directly open towards one another. 
     
     
         19 . Transport box according to  claim 3 , wherein the transport box is provided with at least two such channels ( 9 ), whereby these channels ( 9 ) are not directly open towards one another. 
     
     
         20 . Transport box according to  claim 2 , wherein the partition ( 10 ) is provided with one or more holes ( 10 ) through which air can flow.