Patent Publication Number: US-2021161312-A1

Title: Cell and method for storing a set of products, with creation of an air flow through the set of products

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to the storage of a set of products in a storage cell comprising improved sealing means, with creation of an air flow circulating through the set of products, and in particular, but not exclusively, a reversible air flow. In particular, it can be used for the temporary storage of a set of food products, for example, but non-exhaustively, dairy or non-dairy food products, such as fermented yoghurts, farm-made yoghurts, other yoghurt products, dessert creams, cheeses, fruits, vegetables, and ready meals, with a modification or maintenance of the temperature and/or humidity of the products by means of said air flow. 
     PRIOR ART 
     In the agri-food sector, it is known to use storage cells, such as the one described in international patent application WO99/11141 or in French patent application FR2871222, for the temporary storage of a set of food products, and in particular dairy or non-dairy products, such as yoghurts, cheeses, etc., packaged and positioned on a storage medium, in particular of the pallet, rack or trolley type, with the creation of a flow of conditioned air through this set of products in order to adjust the temperature and/or humidity of the products. 
     This air flow, for example, may be a flow of cold air having a controlled temperature and, where appropriate, a controlled relative humidity, so as to allow cooling or low-temperature storage of the products, such as fermented yoghurts, other yoghurt products, and cheeses, where appropriate with controlled product humidity. 
     This air flow may also be a flow of hot air having a controlled temperature and, where appropriate, a controlled relative humidity, so as to allow heating of the products, where appropriate with controlled product humidity. This type of hot air flow is, for example, used to store fermentable products, such as farm-made yoghurts, by heating them so that they ferment during their time in the cell with a controlled fermentation period. 
     This air flow may also be an air flow at product temperature, where appropriate with controlled relative humidity, so as to enable the products to be maintained at a temperature for the duration of storage in the cell, where appropriate with controlled product humidity. 
     In international patent application WO99/11141, the air flow is created by means of at least one fan, which is positioned at the rear of the storage cell and which, in operation, makes it possible to blow an air flow from the rear to the front of the cell. In order to channel and force the air flow through the set of products positioned in the storage cell, seals on the top and on both sides of the set of products are created, respectively, by means of three sealing tarpaulins, which inflate under the action of the air pressures in the storage cell when the fan is operating and which, upon inflation, come to rest against the set of products so as to create a seal on the top and on both sides of the set of products. This seal forces the air flow to circulate from the rear to the front of the cell through the set of products. 
     French patent application FR2871222 describes a storage cell of the same type as that described in international patent application WO99/11141, but which has been improved by using a counterweight for the upper sealing tarpaulin, which counterweight is fixed to the rear end of the upper sealing tarpaulin, and by using a rotatable deflection bar supporting the rear part of the upper sealing tarpaulin, and a movable bar which is integral with the upper sealing tarpaulin, in particular by being incorporated in a sheath of the upper sealing tarpaulin. This movable bar pivots in rotation about a fixed horizontal axis. When the upper sealing tarpaulin inflates, it drives the movable bar forward from its rest position, shown in  FIG. 1  of this publication, to an active position, which is shown in  FIG. 2  of this publication and in which a fixed stop prevents the bar from rotating. The function of this movable bar is, in its active position shown in  FIG. 2 , to block the upper sealing tarpaulin to the front relative to the upper wall once said sealing tarpaulin is inflated. Thus, in its active position, this movable bar exerts a force on the upper sealing tarpaulin which is directed inwards and towards the rear of the storage cell and which enables the upper tarpaulin to be retained in relation to the upper wall. 
     The storage cells described in international patent application WO99/11141 and in French patent application FR2871222 make it possible, most of the time, to obtain a very good sealing and to channel the rear-to-front air flow in an efficient way through a set of products positioned in the storage cell. 
     However, the first disadvantage is that, as the seal is only ensured by the inflation of the sealing tarpaulins under the action of the rear-to-front air flow, there is a risk of a more or less significant loss of sealing, especially in the event of a fan malfunction, for example in the event of an accidental drop in the air flow rate of the fan or an unintentional shutdown of the fan. This first disadvantage is aggravated in the case of the storage cells described in French patent application FR2871222, due to the use of the counterweight at the rear portion of the upper sealing tarpaulin. 
     The storage cells described in international patent application WO99/11141 and in French patent application FR2871222 also have the second disadvantage of being unidirectional, i.e. of being designed and being able to operate only with an air flow circulating in the direction allowing the inflation of the sealing tarpaulins, in this case an air flow circulating in the storage cell from the rear to the front of the storage cell. However, in many cases it is desirable to be able to operate the storage cell also with a reverse air flow circulating from the front to the rear, and in particular, but not exclusively, to be able to operate the storage cell by alternating an air flow in one direction (for example from the rear to the front of the cell) with an air flow in the opposite direction (for example from the front to the rear of the cell). 
     OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION 
     The main objective of the present invention is to propose a new storage cell, which is of the type described in international patent application WO99/11141 or in French patent application FR2871222, and which has been improved so as to overcome the first above-mentioned disadvantage and/or the second above-mentioned disadvantage. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the invention, the storage cell for at least one set of products and in particular for a set of products arranged on at least one storage medium, and more particularly on at least one storage medium of the pallet, trolley or rack type, has the following technical features. 
     The storage cell comprises two side walls facing each other and spaced apart from each other and an upper wall delimiting, with the two side walls, a housing for the set of products; said housing comprises, on the front side, an opening for the introduction and/or removal of the set of products; said cell also comprises ventilation means for creating a rear-to-front air flow (A) circulating in the housing from the rear to the front of the housing or for creating a front-to-rear air flow (B) circulating in the housing from the front to the rear of the housing, and at least one first sealing device comprising a first flexible sealing element that is inflatable in relation to one of the walls of the cell and towards the inside of the housing under the effect of an air pressure which is generated in the housing by said air flow (A or B) created by the ventilation means; said first sealing device comprises at least one second sealing element that can be actuated between an inactive configuration and an active configuration in which it exerts a mechanical pressure on part of the first flexible sealing element, said mechanical pressure being oriented towards the inside of the housing and allowing said first flexible sealing element to be distanced from said wall of the cell in relation to which said first flexible sealing element is inflatable; the cell comprises actuating means that allow the second sealing element to be actuated into its active configuration. 
     In contrast to the above-mentioned movable bar described in French patent application FR2871222, the second sealing element according to the invention does not have the function, in its active configuration, of blocking said first flexible sealing element towards the front, but on the contrary exerts mechanical pressure on part of the first flexible sealing element that is oriented towards the inside of the housing and in the direction opposite said cell wall in relation to which said first flexible sealing element is inflatable, and thus allows said first flexible sealing element to be distanced from said cell wall in relation to which said first flexible sealing element is inflatable. This mechanical pressure, which is oriented towards a set of products positioned in the housing of the cell, allows at least part of the corresponding first flexible sealing element to be applied or held against said set of products. 
     More particularly, and optionally, the storage cell according to the invention may include the optional features of any one of claims  2  to  43 , taken alone or in combination with each other. 
     The invention also relates to an above-mentioned storage cell containing a set of products, as defined in claim  44 , and in particular a set of products arranged on at least one storage medium, and more particularly on at least one storage medium of the pallet, trolley or rack type. 
     More particularly, and optionally, the storage cell containing a set of goods may have the optional features of any one of claims  45  to  49 , taken alone or in combination with each other. 
     The invention also relates to the use of the above-mentioned storage cell for adjusting the temperature and/or humidity of at least one set of products, and more particularly of a set of products arranged on at least one storage support, and more particularly on at least one storage support of the pallet, trolley or rack type. 
     More particularly, the products are packaged or unpackaged food products, and more particularly food products selected from the following list: fermented yoghurts, farm-made yoghurts, other yoghurt products, dessert creams, cheeses, fruits, vegetables, and ready meals. 
     The invention also relates to a method for storing, and more particularly for adjusting the temperature and/or humidity of, at least one set of products by means of an above-mentioned storage cell, said method being defined in claim  52 . 
     More particularly, and optionally, this method may include the optional features of claims  53  to  55 , taken alone or in combination with each other. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The features and advantages of the invention will become clearer on reading the following detailed description of a number of embodiments of the invention, which detailed description is given as a non-limiting and non-exhaustive example of the invention and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric overview of a first embodiment of a standby storage cell in which a set of products on a pallet is positioned; 
         FIG. 2  shows the cell in  FIG. 1  during a first phase of operation; 
         FIG. 3  shows the cell in  FIG. 1  during a second phase of operation; 
         FIG. 4  shows the cell in  FIG. 1  in a third phase of operation; 
         FIG. 5  shows a particular exemplary embodiment of the actuating means of the pivoting flaps of the three storage cell sealing devices in  FIG. 1 , these flaps being in their inactive configuration, positioned respectively against the inner faces of the two side walls and the upper wall of the storage cell in  FIG. 1 , and the flexible sealing elements (sealing tarpaulins or equivalent) associated with these flaps not being shown in this figure; 
         FIG. 6  shows said actuating means of  FIG. 5  in a first actuating step allowing the upper sealing flap to be lowered to its active position towards the inside of the cell; 
         FIG. 7  shows said actuating means of  FIG. 5  in a second actuating step making it possible to complete the descent of the upper sealing flap in the active position and making it possible to deploy the two side sealing flaps in their active position towards the inside of the cell; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic front view of the storage cell in  FIG. 2  loaded with a set of products on a pallet of minimum height and minimum width, with the side and upper tarpaulins inflated and the sealing flaps in the active position; 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic front view of the storage cell in  FIG. 2  loaded with a set of products on a pallet of maximum height and maximum width, with the side and upper tarpaulins inflated and the sealing flaps in the active position; 
         FIG. 10  is a sectional view of a second embodiment of a cell of the invention, the side tarpaulins being inflated and the sealing elements being in an inactive position; 
         FIG. 11  is a sectional view of the cell in  FIG. 10 , the side tarpaulins being inflated and the sealing elements being in an active position; 
         FIG. 12  is a sectional view of a third embodiment of a cell of the invention with inflatable sealing elements, the side tarpaulins being inflated and the inflatable sealing elements being deflated; 
         FIG. 13  is a sectional view of the embodiment of the cell in  FIG. 12 , with the side tarpaulins inflated and the inflatable sealing elements inflated; 
         FIG. 14  is an isometric overview of a fourth embodiment of a cell of the invention, with inflatable sealing elements, during an operating phase in which the side and upper sealing tarpaulins are inflated by a rear-to-front air flow and the inflatable sealing elements are deflated, 
         FIG. 15  is an isometric overview of the cell in  FIG. 13 , during another operating phase in which the air flow has been reversed (front-to-rear air flow), the side and upper sealing tarpaulins are deflated and the inflatable sealing elements are inflated using part of the front-to-rear air flow. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a preferred embodiment of a storage cell  1  in which a set  2  of products  20  packaged in packages is positioned on a support  3  of the pallet type. 
     This storage cell  1  is particularly, but not exclusively, suitable for the storage of food products (dairy or non-dairy), such as fermented yoghurts, farm-made yoghurts, other yoghurt products, dessert creams, cheeses, fruits, vegetables, ready meals, etc., and can be used to adjust the temperature and/or humidity of the products  20 . 
     This storage cell, however, can also be used with non-food products  20 . 
     This set  2  of products  20  can be handled, for example, by means of a forklift truck, in order to be inserted into the storage cell  1  or removed from the storage cell  1 . 
     Within the scope of the invention, the set  2  of products  20  may also be arranged on at least one storage medium, such as a trolley or rack. 
     In  FIG. 1 , this set  2  of products  20  is shown schematically, it being shown that at least the front  2   a  and rear  2   b  faces of this set  2  of products  20  may allow air to pass through. 
     This storage cell  1  comprises two side walls  10  and  11  opposite and spaced from each other and an upper wall  12  connecting the two side walls  10 ,  11  and delimiting, with the two side walls  10 ,  11 , a housing  14 . This housing  14  has an opening at the front, allowing in particular the introduction of the set  2  of products  20  into the storage cell and/or the removal of the set  2  of products  20  from the storage cell. 
     In  FIG. 1 , the side wall  10  and the upper wall  12  are cut so as to better visualize the inside of the cell; the upper part of the set  2  of products  20  in the form of an approximately rectangular parallelepiped is also cut (see the volume of removed products delimited by the dotted lines in  FIG. 1 ) so as to visualize the products  20 . 
     In this variant, the storage cell  1  also has a rear wall  13 , it being noted that this rear wall  13  is optional and might not exist in another variant. 
     The storage cell has ventilation means  4  at the rear, in the form of at least one fan  40 , which in operation creates a rear-to-front air flow A ( FIG. 2 ) circulating from the rear to the front of the housing  14 . 
     In this preferred embodiment, the ventilation means  4  also make it possible in operation to create, not simultaneously with the rear-to-front air flow A, a front-to-rear air flow B ( FIG. 4 ) circulating from the front to the rear of the housing  14 . 
     Preferably, the ventilation means  4  also include means (not shown) for adjusting the temperature and/or moisture content of the rear-to-front air flow A and, as applicable, the front-to-rear air flow B, before they pass through the cell. 
     This temperature and/or the humidity level of the rear-to-front air flow A and, as applicable, the front-to-rear air flow B, will depend on the nature of the products  20  stored in the cell  1  and the action (in particular cooling or heating or maintaining the temperature of the products  20 ) which is sought to be exerted on these products  20  by means of the rear-to-front air flow A and, as applicable, the front-to-rear air flow B. 
     In one variant, the rear-to-front air flow A and, as applicable, the front-to-rear air flow B can be obtained, for example, from the air in the room in which the storage cell is positioned; in this case the adjustment of the temperature and/or humidity of the rear-to-front air flow A and, as applicable, the front-to-rear air flow B can be obtained by adjusting the temperature and/or humidity of the air inside this room, for example by means of air conditioning using a refrigeration system or by means of a heater for heating the interior of the room. 
     Adjustment of the temperature and/or humidity of the rear-to-front air flow A and, as applicable, of the front-to-rear air flow B, may also be achieved by means of a refrigeration system or heating system that directly treats the room air flow before it passes into the storage cell. Alternatively, the rear-to-front air flow A and, as applicable, the front-to-rear air flow B, may originate from inside the room in which the storage cell is positioned or from outside this room, and the temperature and/or humidity may be adjusted by means of a refrigeration system or heating system, which directly treats the air flow before it passes into the storage cell. In some applications, the rear-to-front air flow A and, as applicable, the front-to-rear air flow B, can also be filtered, with a higher or lower filtration level, depending on the nature of the products  20  and the normative requirements. 
     The storage cell also has three sealing devices  5 ,  6 , i.e. two side sealing devices  5  (in  FIG. 1  only the right-hand side sealing device is visible) and one upper sealing device  6 , the two side seals  5  being identical. 
     Each sealing device  5 ,  6  comprises a first flexible sealing element  50 ,  60  in the form of an airtight flexible sealing skirt which is capable, under the effect of an air pressure, of inflating in relation to the inner face of the corresponding wall  10 ,  11  or  12  of the cell and towards the inside of the housing  14 . 
     This flexible sealing skirt  50 ,  60  is, in the example shown, formed of a blank of flexible, airtight material. 
     In particular, this flexible sealing skirt  50 ,  60  is, for example, formed by a single- or multi-layer airtight sealing tarpaulin or an airtight coated fabric. 
     The material or materials constituting the flexible sealing skirt, the structure of the flexible sealing skirt, and the method for producing this flexible sealing skirt are irrelevant to the invention. 
     The flexible side sealing skirt  50  of each side sealing device  5  is integral with the corresponding side wall  10  or  11  by being, more particularly, fixed at its front edge  50   a  to the front part of the inner face of the corresponding side wall  10  or  11 , in the vicinity of the opening at the front of the housing  14 . 
     The flexible side sealing skirt  50  of each side sealing device  5  is also fixed at its rear edge  50   b  to a vertical edge  51 . This vertical edge  51  is fixed to the floor in the housing  14 , spaced apart from the inner face of the side wall  10  or  11  and positioned laterally as close as possible to the location of the set  2  of products  20 , i.e. as close as possible to the side face  2   c  or  2   d  of the set  2  of products  20  ( FIG. 1 ). 
     The storage cell  1  is designed to receive a set  2  of products  20  on a support  3 , said set  2  of products  20  having a height Hp between a predefined minimum height Hmin ( FIG. 8 ) and a predefined maximum height Hmax ( FIG. 9 ) and having a width Lp between a predefined minimum width Lmin ( FIG. 8 ) and a predefined maximum width Lmax ( FIG. 9 ). 
     The storage cell  1  is also designed to receive a set  2  of products  20  having a predefined maximum depth Pmax ( FIG. 1 ). 
     In this variant, the distance between the two edges  51  of the two side sealing devices  5  defines the maximum width Lmax and the depth positioning of the edges  51  in the cell in relation to the loading or unloading opening at the front of the cell defines the maximum depth Pmax. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , in this particular exemplary embodiment, the height and width of the housing  14  of the cell  1  are denoted as H and L, respectively. 
     Each flexible side sealing skirt  50  extends lengthwise in the depth of cell  1  over at least 50% of the maximum depth Pmax and preferably over at least the entire maximum depth Pmax. 
     Each flexible side sealing skirt  50  preferably extends in height over at least 50% of the height H of the housing  14  of the cell  1 , and even more preferably over at least 75% of the height H of the housing  14  of the cell. 
     In operation, each flexible side sealing skirt  50  preferably extends at least over the full height Hp of the set  2  of products  20 . 
     The use of such a side sealing skirt  50  is, furthermore, already known and described in particular in the applicant&#39;s international patent application WO99/11141, to which reference may be made. 
     The upper flexible sealing skirt  60  of the upper sealing device  6  is integral with the upper wall  12 , more particularly by being fixed at its front edge  60   a  to the inner face of the upper wall  12 . The rear part of the flexible upper sealing skirt  60  is supported by a horizontal deflection bar  64 , which is mounted between the two side walls  10  and  11 , preferably at the same depth in cell  1  as the two vertical edges  51 . Preferably this deflection bar  64  is a rotating bar mounted so as to be freely rotatable. At the free rear edge  60   b  of this flexible upper sealing skirt  60  there is fixed a bar  61  which forms a counterweight allowing a return of the skirt  60  to the waiting position of  FIG. 1 , when the ventilation means  4  are not in operation. 
     This flexible upper sealing skirt  60  extends lengthwise in the depth of the cell preferably over at least the entire maximum depth Pmax when inflated in sealing configuration with respect to the upper wall  12  ( FIG. 2 ). 
     The upper flexible sealing skirt  60  extends preferably over at least 50% of the width L of the housing  14  of the cell  1 , and even more preferably over at least 75% of the width L of the housing  14  of the cell. 
     In operation, each flexible side sealing skirt  50  extends in width preferably over at least 50% of the width Lp of the set  2  of products  20  and preferably over the entire width Lp of the set  2  of products  20 . 
     The use of such an upper sealing skirt with counterweight  61  is, furthermore, already known and described in particular in the applicant&#39;s French patent application FR2871222, to which reference may be made. 
     Each side sealing device  5  also has a second sealing element  52 , which is movable between an inactive position ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) and an active position ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ). 
     More particularly, this second sealing element  52  is not integral with the corresponding side sealing skirt  50 . 
     More particularly, this second sealing element  52  is positioned between the side wall  10  or  11  of the cell to which the side sealing skirt  50  is fixed and the face of the side sealing skirt  50  which is oriented towards said wall  10  or  11 . 
     Preferably this second sealing element  52  of each side sealing device  5  extends in height over at least 50% of the height of the side flexible sealing skirt  50  associated therewith, preferably over at least 75% of the height of the side flexible sealing skirt  50  associated therewith, and more preferably over at least the entire height of the side flexible sealing skirt  50  associated therewith. 
     Preferably this second sealing element  52  of each side sealing device  5  extends in height over at least 50% of the height H of the housing  14  and preferably over at least 75% of the height H of the housing  14 . 
     In the particular variant according to the accompanying figures, this second sealing element  52  has a vertical flap  520 , which is fixed to the inner face of the side wall  10 , in the vicinity of the front opening of the housing  14 , and which is rotatably hinged relative to the side wall  10  or  11  about a vertical axis of rotation  521 . This flap can be equipped with a flexible bead  520   a  to avoid damaging the flexible side sealing skirt  50 . 
     This flap  520  can be rotated in relation to the wall  10  or  11  between:
         an inactive position, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in which it is positioned against the side wall  10  or  11  and is not in contact with side sealing skirt  50 , and   an active position, which is illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , and in which it is distanced from the side wall and exerts a mechanical pressure on a front part of the side sealing skirt  50 , said mechanical pressure being oriented towards the inside of the cell and allowing the side sealing skirt  50  to be distanced from the corresponding said wall  10  or  11  of the cell, so as to keep said front part of the side sealing skirt  50  pressed against the side face  2   c  or  2   d  of the set  2  of products  20 .       

     The upper sealing device  6  also has a second sealing element  62 , which is rotatable relative to the upper wall  12  between an inactive upper position, which is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , and an active lower position, which is shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
     More particularly, this second sealing element  62  is not integral with the upper sealing skirt  60 . 
     More particularly this second sealing element  62  is positioned between the upper wall  12  of the cell to which the upper sealing skirt  60  is fixed and the upper face of the upper sealing skirt  60  which is oriented towards this upper wall  12 . 
     Preferably, this second sealing element  62  of the upper sealing device  6  extends in width over at least 50% of the width of the first upper flexible sealing element  60  (upper sealing skirt  60 ) associated therewith and preferably over at least 75% of the width of the first upper flexible sealing element  60  associated therewith. 
     Preferably this second sealing element  62  of the upper sealing device  6  extends in width over at least 50% of the width L of the housing  14  of the cell  1  and preferably over at least 75% of the width L of the housing  14  of the cell. 
     In the particular variant of the accompanying figures, this second sealing element  62  has a flap  620 , which is attached to the inner face of the upper wall  12 , in the vicinity of or at the front opening of the housing  14 , and which is rotatably hinged relative to the upper wall  12  about a horizontal axis of rotation  621 . This flap  620  is rotatable relative to the upper wall  12  between an inactive position, illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in which it is not in contact with the sealing skirt  60 , and an active position, which is illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , and in which it exerts on a front part of the sealing skirt  60  a mechanical pressure which is oriented towards the inside of the cell and downwards, so as to keep said front part of the sealing skirt  60  applied against the upper face  2   e  of the set  2  of products  20 . 
     This flap  620  can be fitted with a protective bead at the front (not shown) to prevent damage to the flexible upper sealing skirt  60 . 
     In order to control the pivoting of the sealing flaps  520 ,  620  from their inactive position to their active position, and vice versa, the storage cell comprises actuating means  7  acting on the flaps  520 ,  620 . 
     Whatever the embodiment, these actuating means  7  are preferably separate from each flexible sealing element  50  or  60  and therefore do not include each flexible sealing element  50  or  60 . 
     An example of actuating means  7 , to which the invention is not limited, is shown schematically in  FIGS. 5 to 7 . 
     In this particular example in  FIGS. 5 to 7 , these actuating means  7  comprise a bidirectional linear cylinder  70 , of which the rod  70   a  is connected by transmission mechanisms:
         at the front part of the upper sealing flap  620  ( FIG. 6 ), so as to exert on this upper flap  62  a vertical traction making it possible to control its descent ( FIG. 6 ) until its active position is reached ( FIG. 7 ) by controlling the extension of the rod  70   a  of the cylinder  70 , or, conversely, a vertical traction making it possible to raise the upper flap  620  into the inactive position by retracting the rod  70   a  of the cylinder  70  ( FIGS. 1 and 5 ),   at each axis of rotation  521  of the two side sealing flaps  520  so as to simultaneously rotate these flaps  520  into their active position ( FIGS. 3, 4 and 7 ) by controlling the extension of the rod  70   a  of the cylinder  70 , or, conversely, so as to simultaneously rotate these flaps  520  into their inactive position ( FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 ) by controlling the retraction of the rod  70   a  of the cylinder  70 .       

     Specific examples of the realization and operation of the storage cell, to which the invention is not limited, will now be detailed. 
     The storage cell  1  also comprises electronic means for automatic cell control, which electronic means are capable of automatically controlling the ventilation means  4  and the actuating means  7  of the second sealing elements  52 ,  62 . These electronic means for automatic cell control are, for example, implemented in the form of a programmable logic controller, which is capable of automatically executing a program stored in a memory. 
     Specific examples of operating cycles that can be automatically controlled by the electronic means for automatic cell control will now be detailed. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , the ventilation means  4  are stopped and the storage cell is in a loading (or unloading) configuration. The side sealing skirts  50  are not inflated and the upper sealing skirt  60  is not inflated and is stretched towards the rear by the counterweight  61 . The rod  70   a  of the cylinder  70  is retracted ( FIG. 5 ), such that the side sealing flaps  520  are in the inactive position ( FIG. 1 ), positioned against the side walls  10  and  11  respectively, and do not apply mechanical pressure to the side sealing skirts  50 , and the upper sealing flap  620  is in the inactive position ( FIG. 1 ), positioned against the upper wall  12  and does not apply mechanical pressure to the upper sealing skirt  60 . The set  2  of products  20  packed on a carrier  3  of the pallet type is positioned in the storage cell. 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , in a first phase, the electronic means for automatic cell control activate the ventilation means  4 , so that a rear-to-front air flow A is circulated in the cell from the rear towards the front of the cell. 
     The air pressure that is generated by this rear-to-front flow inside the storage cell between each skirt  50 ,  60  and the corresponding wall  10 ,  11  or  12  allows the inflation in the sealing configuration of the sealing skirts  50 ,  60  in relation to their respective walls  10 ,  11  and  12 , so that, with reference to  FIG. 2 :
         the upper sealing skirt  60  inflates towards the inside of the cell by partially abutting the upper face  2   e  of the set  2  of products  20 , so as to provide a seal with respect to the upper wall  12  in the contact area  65  ( FIG. 2 ) between the upper sealing skirt  60  and the upper face  2   e  of the set  2  of products  20 .   each side skirt  50  inflates towards the inside of the cell by pressing over substantially its entire surface against the corresponding side face  2   c  or  2   d  of the set  2  of products  20 , so as to provide a seal with respect to the side wall  10  or  11  in the contact zone  55  between the side sealing skirt  50  and the side face  2   c  or  2   d  of the set  2  of products  20 .       

     A seal is thus created on all three faces (upper face  2   e  and side faces  2   c  and  2   d ) of the set  2  of products  20 , so that the rear-to-front air flow A entering the cell is channeled so that it flows from the rear to the front, through the products  20  in the set  2 . 
     During this first phase of inflation of the sealing skirts  50 ,  60 , the sealing flaps  520  and  620  are preferably, but not necessarily, retracted against the walls  10 ,  11 , and  12  (inactive position), and do not interfere with the inflation of the sealing skirts  50 ,  60 . 
     In this first phase, the inflation of the sealing skirts  50 ,  60  can take place simultaneously or successively, for example with inflation first of the upper sealing skirt  60 , and then inflation of the side sealing skirts  50 . With reference to  FIG. 3 , in a second phase, the electronic means for automatic cell control automatically control the actuating means  7  of the flaps  520  and  620  so as to swivel them into the active position, in which:
         each side flap  520  exerts a mechanical pressure on a front part of the corresponding side sealing skirt  50 , said mechanical pressure being oriented towards the inside of the cell and in a direction opposite said side wall  10  or  11  of the cell in relation to which the side sealing skirt  50  is inflatable; this mechanical pressure makes it possible to distance the side sealing skirt  50  from said side wall  10  or  11  of the cell and thus to keep said front part of the sealing skirt  50  applied against the side face  2   c  or  2   d  of the set  2  of products  20 ,   the upper flap  620  exerts, on a front part of the upper sealing skirt  60 , a mechanical pressure oriented towards the inside of the cell and in a direction opposite the upper wall  12  of the cell (downwards); this mechanical pressure makes it possible to distance the upper sealing skirt  60  from said upper wall  12  and to keep said front part of the sealing skirt  60  applied against the upper face  2   e  of the set  2  of products  20 .       

     During this second phase, the active operation of the flaps  520  and  620  can be performed simultaneously or successively, for example with operation first of the upper flap  620 , and then operation of the side flaps  520 . 
     These mechanical pressures exerted on the sealing skirts  50  and  60  improve the seal, and in this embodiment the sealing skirts  50  and  60  are kept in contact with the set  2  of products  20  at the maximum towards the front of this set  2  of products  20 . In addition, in the event of an accidental drop in the flow rate of the fan  40  or an unintentional stop of the fan  40  for a longer or shorter period of time, each sealing tarpaulin  50 ,  60  is kept in constant contact with the set  2  of products  20 , and in this particular embodiment, in particular, the counterweight  61  is prevented from accidentally pulling the upper sealing tarpaulin  62  backwards. 
     The first and second phases can be carried out successively in any order (first phase then second phase, or conversely, second phase then first phase) or possibly can be carried out simultaneously. It is preferred, however, that the second phase is carried out after the first phase. 
     Nevertheless, at the end of the first phase and the second phase, the products  20  in the front part of the set  2 , which are located between the loading opening of the cell and the contact zones  55 ,  65  of the sealing skirts  50  and  60  with the set  2  of products  20 , may present a lack of homogeneity with regard to temperature and/or humidity as compared to the other products  20  in the set  2 . 
     To overcome this problem, with reference to  FIG. 4 , in a third phase, the electronic automatic control means of the cell automatically control the ventilation means  4  so as to stop the rear-to-front air flow A and to create a reverse air flow B, which flows through the set  2  of products  20  from the front to the rear of the cell and the temperature and/or humidity of which are preferably adjusted as for the rear-to-front air flow A. 
     This reversal of the air flow direction is made possible by the fact that the sealing skirts are held, by the actuating means  7 , in contact with the set  2  of products  20  by sealing flaps  520  and  620  in their active position in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
     At the entry to the cell  1 , this reverse air flow B is channeled so as to pass through at least all the products  20  in the front part of the set  2 , which are located between the cell loading opening and the contact areas  55 ,  65  of the sealing skirts  50  and  60  with the set  2  of products. 
     Where appropriate, this reverse air flow B may improve the homogeneity of the temperature and/or humidity of the products  20  in the set  2 , and may allow a reduction in the duration of the cell&#39;s operating cycles. 
     More particularly, the automatic cell control means can also be programmed to automatically control the ventilation means  4  so as to implement at least a fourth phase, during which they control the ventilation means  4  so as to stop the front-to-rear air flow B and create a reverse rear-to-front air flow A, the sequence of the third phase and fourth phase possibly being repeatable several times. 
     Although the implementation of a reverse air flow B is preferable within the scope of a preferential implementation of the storage cell according to the invention, it is, however, not necessary. In fact, in another variant, the above-mentioned third phase could consist in continuing to operate the ventilation means  4 , in such a way as to maintain, for a given period of time, the rear-to-front air flow A circulating through the products  20  from the rear to the front of the cell. 
     More particularly, within the scope of this other variant, the automatic cell control means can also be programmed to automatically control the ventilation means  4  so as to implement at least a fourth phase, during which they control the ventilation means  4  so as to stop the rear-to-front air flow A and create a reverse front-to-rear air flow B, and possibly a fifth phase, during which they control the ventilation means  4  so as to stop the front-to-rear air flow B and create a reverse rear-to-front air flow A, the sequence of the fourth and fifth phases possibly being repeatable several times. 
     In another embodiment of the method, the second sealing elements  52  and  62  (flaps  520  and  620 ) can only be brought into an active configuration during the operating phase in which a front-to-rear air flow B, which does not allow the side sealing skirts  50  and upper sealing skirt  60  to be inflated, is created in the storage cell. 
     Preferably before unloading the storage cell by removing the set  2  of products  20 , the fan  40  is stopped and the actuating means  7  are used to actuate the second sealing elements  52  and  62  to the inactive position so as to facilitate the unloading of the products  20 . The invention is not limited to the particular exemplary embodiments of a storage cell which have been previously described with reference to the accompanying figures, and other embodiments may also be envisaged within the scope of the invention. Thus, in a non-exhaustive manner, in other embodiments:
         the storage cell may comprise a single sealing device according to the invention, for example only on the top or on one of the sides of the set  2  of products, the sealing on the other sides being able to be provided by using other conventional and known sealing means;   the storage call may comprise only two sealing devices according to the invention for sealing only at the top  2   e  and on one of the sides  2   c  or  2   d  of the set of products, the sealing on the other side  2   d  or  2   c  being able to be provided by using other conventional and known sealing means;   the storage cell may comprise only two sealing devices according to the invention for sealing only on the two sides  2   c  and  2   d  of the set of products, the sealing on the top  2   e  being able to be provided by using other conventional and known sealing means.       

     In addition, the actuating means  7  for the flaps  520  and  620  are not limited to those shown in  FIGS. 5 to 7 . 
     It is also possible, although not exhaustive, to use flaps  520  or  620  which are equipped with elastic return means, of the spring type, making it possible, in the absence of mechanical stress on the flap  520  or  620 , to return it to the active position or, on the contrary in another variant, to return it to the inactive position. 
     In another variant, a flap  520  or  620  can be replaced by any means which can be controlled so as to be configured in an active position, in which it exerts a mechanical pressure on a front part of the flexible sealing skirt or equivalent  52 ,  62 , said mechanical pressure being oriented towards the inside of the cell independently of the air flow (A or B) circulated in the cell, and an inactive position, in which it no longer exerts this mechanical pressure. For example, a rotary sealing flap  520  or  620  can be replaced by a sealing flap which can be moved in translation between its inactive and active positions. 
     The invention is not limited to the use of a cylinder for actuating the sealing flaps  520 ,  620  or equivalent. In another variant, the cylinder may be replaced by one or more motors. It is also possible to use axes of rotation  521 ,  621 , which are magnetically controlled to set the flaps  520 ,  620  in rotation. In addition, the actuating means for the flaps can be independent of each other and allow, in particular, simultaneous or sequential actuation of the sealing flaps. 
       FIGS. 10 and 11  show another embodiment of a cell  1 ′, in which each side sealing device  5  has, at the rear, an additional sealing element  53 , in the form of a rotary flap  530 , which, in the active position, makes it possible to exert a pressure on a rear part of the corresponding side tarpaulin  50 . 
       FIGS. 12 and 13  show an alternative embodiment of a cell  1 ″, in which the rotary sealing flaps  520  and  530  of the variant in  FIGS. 10 and 11  have been replaced by inflatable elements  520 ′ and  530 ′, of the inflatable bag type, which are interposed between the corresponding flexible sealing skirt  50  and the corresponding wall  10 ,  11  of the cell, and, in the inflated state ( FIG. 13 ), make it possible for said mechanical pressure to be exerted on the sealing skirt  50  (active configuration), and which, in the deflated state ( FIG. 12 ), make it possible for no further mechanical pressure to be exerted on the sealing skirt  50  (inactive configuration). In this case the actuating means  7  are means for inflating/deflating this inflatable sealing element. 
     In another variant, the cell  1 ″ in  FIGS. 12 and 13  could be without the rear inflatable bags  530 ′. 
     The air for inflating the inflatable elements  520 ′ and  530 ′, of the inflatable bag type, may be obtained by means of an air source (fan or air compressor) which is independent of the ventilation means  4 , or may be obtained by recycling or diverting part of the air flow produced by the ventilation means  4 . 
     In another embodiment, the ventilation means  4  may be designed or used in such a way as to create only one air flow (rear-to-front A or front-to-rear B) allowing the inflation of the sealing tarpaulins  50 ,  60  or equivalent (i.e. no creation of a reverse air flow). 
     The ventilation means  4  are not necessarily positioned at the rear wall  13  of the cell. In other embodiment, these ventilation means  4  may also be positioned at the rear of the cell on the upper wall  12  or at least one of the side walls  10  or  11  of the cell. 
       FIGS. 14 and 15  show a further variant for producing a storage cell  1 ′″, in which the actuating means  7  of the side inflatable elements  52  and upper inflatable element  62  (forming the second sealing elements) comprise return air pipes  7   a  and  7   b , which allow a part of the front-to-rear air flow B ( FIG. 15 ) to be sucked into these side inflatable elements  52  and upper inflatable element  62 , so as to inflate them when the ventilation means  4  circulate a front-to-rear air flow B through the cell, and allow the air contained in these side inflatable elements  52  and upper inflatable element  62  to be sucked out when the ventilating means  4  circulate a rear-to-front air flow A through the call ( FIG. 14 ) so as to deflate them. 
     With reference to  FIG. 14 , during an operating phase, the ventilation means  4  create, by blowing, a rear-to-front air flow A in the cell, which in particular makes it possible to inflate the side sealing skirts  50  and upper sealing skirt  60 . Under the effect of this rear-to-front air flow A, the tubes  7   a  and  7   b  allow the air contained in the side inflatable elements  52  and upper inflatable element  62  to be sucked out, thus deflating them or keeping them deflated. 
     With reference to  FIG. 15 , in another operating phase, the ventilation means  4  create a reverse, front-to-rear air flow B in the cell by suction, and the tubes  7   a  and  7   b  make it possible for part of this front-to-rear air flow B to be sucked up and blown into the side inflatable elements  52  and upper inflatable element  62 . 
     In this variant, the storage cell comprises automatic control means, which are configured to control the ventilation means  4 , so as to create the rear-to-front air flow A or the reverse, front-to-rear air flow B and thus automatically implement one or other of the two aforementioned operating phases. 
     In a preferred embodiment, these automatic control means are capable of controlling the ventilation means  4 , so as to create, alternately, the rear-to-front air flow A and the reverse, front-to-rear air flow B, and thus automatically implement at least the two above-mentioned operating phases, the order of these operating phases being unimportant.