	US 12,402,639 B2
	Modular produce drying tunnel and methods of use
Lorin Reed, Kingsburg, CA (US); and Jim Moshier, Visalia, CA (US)
Filed by PACKLINE TECHNOLOGIES, INC., Kingsburg, CA (US)
Filed on Oct. 22, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/507,817.
Application 17/507,817 is a continuation of application No. 16/575,383, filed on Sep. 18, 2019, granted, now 11,166,482.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/732,581, filed on Sep. 18, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0039438 A1, Feb. 10, 2022
Int. Cl. A23L 3/40 (2006.01); A23B 2/90 (2025.01); F26B 3/04 (2006.01); F26B 15/18 (2006.01); F26B 21/10 (2006.01)

CPC A23B 2/90 (2025.01) [F26B 3/04 (2013.01); F26B 15/18 (2013.01); F26B 21/10 (2013.01)]

20 Claims

1. A method of drying produce, comprising:

a. loading at least one piece of produce in a loading module at a proximal end of a modular tunnel;

b. using a conveyor to advance said at least one piece of produce through at least one module having at least one access door that can be opened to allow access to an interior of said at least one module, wherein said at least one access door comprises a heat transfer chamber;

c. passing a liquid through a coil in said at least one module to change a temperature in said at least one module;

d. an end module operable to discharge said produce;

e. at least one conveyor passing through said modules; and

f. an electronic controller operable to continuously monitor and adjust individual environmental conditions of each of said modules independently.