FOOD RESIDUES PROCESSING EQUIPMENT AND METHOD OF OPERATING FOOD RESIDUES PROCESSING EQUIPMENT

Abstract

Food residues processing equipment having components and systems essential to its fundamental operation, further comprises a classification list of food residues accessible and selectable by means of the interface. A method of operating food residues processing equipment based on the concept of machine learning, determines the main functional parameters of the equipment based on the classification of the food residues to be digested and historical data of target parameters applied in highly energy efficient operations.

Claims

1. A food residues processing equipment, comprising: at least one digestion chamber (1) accessible through at least one opening (11) cooperating with at least one door (12); the cooperation between the opening (11) and the door (12) being monitored by at least one door sensor (13); at least one mixing shaft (2) integrated by multiple mixing blades (21) and driven by at least one electric motor (3) cooperating with at least one transmission mechanism (31); said mixing shaft (2), integrated by multiple mixing blades (21), being arranged inside the digestion chamber (1); at least one water inlet control means (4) cooperating with at least one water inlet route (41); at least one water heating means (5) cooperating with at least one water distribution means (51); the water distribution means (51) being capable of introducing heated water into the digestion chamber (1); at least one load measurement sensor (6) associated with the chassis (61) of the food residues processing equipment; at least one data processing unit (7) comprising at least one data processing core, at least one memory unit, at least one signal input port, at least one signal output port and at least one network connection unit; at least one interface (8) operable by a user; at least one water temperature sensor (10); the data processing unit (7) being capable of sending drive signals to the electric motor (3), the water inlet control means (4) and the water heating means (5); the data processing unit (7) being capable of receiving response signals from the door sensor (13), the load measurement sensor (6), the interface (8) and the water temperature sensor (10); at least one classification list (9) of food residues stored in the data processing unit (7), and accessible and selectable by means of the interface (8); and wherein the data processing unit (7) determines at least one of the functional parameters of the electric motor (3), at least one of the functional parameters of the water inlet control means (4) and at least one of the functional parameters of the water heating means (5) based on the combination of at least the response signals of the load measurement sensor (6) and the classification selection food of residues from the classification list (9) of food residues stored in the data processing unit (7) selected by at least one user by means of the interface (8).

2. The food residues processing equipment according to claim 1, wherein the classification list (9) of food residues stored in the data processing unit (7) originates from an external server, being transmitted to the data processing unit (7) by means of its network connection unit.

3. The food residues processing equipment according to claim 1, wherein the classification list (9) of food residues stored in the data processing unit (7) originates from an external server, being transmitted to the data processing unit (7) by means of a USB memory device.

4. The food residues processing equipment according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the functional parameters of the electric motor (3) is determined by the data processing unit (7) by means of the combination between the difference between the initial weight and the final weight measured by the load measurement sensor (6) and at least one classification selection of food residues from the classification list (9) selected by at least one user by means of the interface (8).

5. The food residues processing equipment according to claim 4, wherein the operation time of the electric motor (3) is determined by the data processing unit (7) by means of the combination between the difference between the initial weight and the final weight measured by the load measurement sensor (6) and at least one classification selection of food residues from the classification list (9) selected by at least one user by means of the interface (8).

6. The food residues processing equipment according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the functional parameters of the water inlet control means (4) is determined by the data processing unit (7) by means of the combination between the difference between the initial weight and the final weight measured by the load measurement sensor (6) and at least one classification selection of food residues from the classification list (9) selected by at least one user by means of the interface (8).

7. The food residues processing equipment according to claim 6, wherein the water intake time controlled by the water inlet control means (4) is determined by the data processing unit (7) by means of the combination between the difference between the initial weight and the final weight measured by the load measurement sensor (6) and at least one classification selection of food residues from the classification list (9) selected by at least one user by means of the interface (8).

8. The food residues processing equipment according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the functional parameters of the water heating means (5) is determined by the data processing unit (7) by means of the combination between the difference between the initial weight and the final weight measured by the load measurement sensor (6) and at least one classification selection of food residues from the classification list (9) selected by at least one user by means of the interface (8).

9. The food residues processing equipment according to claim 8, wherein the temperature of the water controlled by the water heating means (5) is determined by the data processing unit (7) by means of the combination between the difference between the initial weight and the final weight measured by the load measurement sensor (6) and at least one classification selection of food residues from the classification list (9) selected by at least one user by means of the interface (8).

10. The food residues processing equipment according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the functional parameters of the electric motor (3), at least one of the functional parameters of the water inlet control means (4) and at least one of the functional parameters of the water heating means (5) are determined by the data processing unit (7) searching for the optimization of the difference between the initial weight of food residues and the final weight of food residues measured by the load measurement sensor (6).

11. A method of operating food residues processing equipment, said food residues processing equipment as defined in claim 1, wherein: the data processing unit (7) sends at least one control signal to the electric motor (3) based on the classification of the food residues to be digested and based on the history of target times of driving the electric motor (3) for classifying the food residues to be digested; the data processing unit (7) sends at least one control signal to the water inlet control means (4) based on the classification of the food residues to be digested and based on the history of target times of water intake controlled by the water inlet control means (4); and the data processing unit (7) sends at least one control signal to the water heating means (5) based on the classification of the food residues to be digested based on the history of target temperatures of the water controlled by the water heating means (5).

12. The method of operating food residues processing equipment according to claim 11, wherein the classification list (9) of food residues stored in the data processing unit (7) further comprises, in a relational way, the history of target times of driving the electric motor (3), the history of target times of water intake controlled by the water inlet control means (4) and the history of target temperatures of the water controlled by the water heating means (5) for each type or group of food residues.

13. The method of operating residues processing equipment according to claim wherein the processing equipment updates the relational histories present in the classification list (9) of food residues.

14. The method of operating food residues processing equipment according to claim 13, wherein: the processing equipment updates the history of target times of driving the electric motor (3) with the current driving time of the electric motor (3) based on detecting the optimization of the difference between the initial weight of food residues and the final weight of food residues to be digested.

15. The method of operating food residues processing equipment according to claim 14, wherein the history of target times of driving the electric motor (3) is updated locally and on at least one server external.

16. The method of operating food residues processing equipment according to claim 13, wherein: the processing equipment updates the history of target times of water intake controlled by the water inlet control means (4) with the current driving time of the water inlet control means (4) based on the detection of the difference optimization between the initial weight of food residues and the final weight of food residues to be digested.

17. The method of operating food residues processing equipment according to claim 16, wherein the history of target times of water intake controlled by the water inlet control means (4) is updated locally and on at least one external server.

18. The method of operating food residues processing equipment according to claim 13, wherein: the processing equipment updates the history of target temperatures of the water controlled by the water heating means (5) with the current temperature of the water controlled by the water heating means (5) based on the optimization detection of the difference between the initial weight of food residues and the final weight of food residues to be digested.

19. The method of operating food residues processing equipment according to claim 18, wherein the history of target temperatures of the water controlled by the water heating means (5) is updated locally and on at least one external server.

20. The method of operating food residues processing equipment according to claim 13, wherein the processing equipment updates the relational histories present in the classification list (9) of food residues as soon as there is identified a current mechanical digestion rate better than the predecessor mechanical digestion rate.

21. The method of operating food residues processing equipment according to claim 20, wherein the updating of relational histories present in the classification list (9) of food residues is carried out automatically as soon as there is identified a current mechanical digestion rate better than the predecessor mechanical digestion rate.

22. The method of operating food residues processing equipment according to claim 11 wherein the data processing unit (7) searches for, on external servers, updates of the history of target times of driving the electric motor (3), of the history of target times of water intake controlled by the water inlet control means (4), and of the history of target temperatures of the water controlled by the water heating means (5) before sending control signals to the electric motor (3), to the water inlet control means (4) and to the water heating means (5).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0030] The food residues processing equipment and the operation method of food residues processing equipment are best understood by means of the figures listed below, in which:

[0031] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the food residues processing equipment according to the invention in question; and

[0032] FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 illustrate, schematically, the main components that integrate the food residues processing equipment according to the invention in question.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0033] Preliminarily, it should be highlighted that the invention encompasses two objects that, although interdependent, can be individually analyzed.

[0034] In this sense, the first object of the invention in question is a food residues processing equipment, and the second object of the invention in question is the method of operating food residues processing equipment.

[0035] As schematically illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, said food residues processing equipment (which can also be referred to as a biodigester or mechanical digester, these two nomenclatures being widely used in the consumer market of this type of equipment) comprises, in its preferred embodiment, a digestion chamber 1, a mixing shaft 2 integrated by multiple mixing blades 21, a water inlet control means 4, a water heating means 5, four load measurement sensors 6, a data processing unit 7, and water temperature sensors 10.

[0036] It is worth highlighting that, as it is electromechanical equipment, the food residues processing equipment is powered by electrical energy from an external source.

[0037] Evidently, the preferred embodiment of the food residues processing equipment, according to the invention in question, may include other components and subsystems that are common and widely known to those skilled in the subject.

[0038] Still according to the preferred embodiment of the invention in question, the digestion chamber 1, arranged inside the area defined by the chassis 61 of the food residues processing equipment, is closed and accessible through an opening 11, which is cooperative with a door 12. It is important to highlight that, preferably, the cooperation between the opening 11 and the door 12 is monitored by a door sensor 13, which may comprise a magnetic sensor or equivalent.

[0039] The aforementioned mixing shaft 2 integrated by multiple mixing blades 21 is arranged inside the digestion chamber (1), and is driven by an electric motor (3) cooperating with at least one transmission mechanism (31). This means that the rotational movement of the mixing blades 21, inside the digestion chamber (1), is driven by the movement of the rotating axis of the electric motor 3, and, wherein, according to the preferred embodiment of the invention in question, the aforementioned transmission mechanism (31) comprises any known type of rotary movement transmission means capable of associating the rotating shaft of the electric motor 3 with the mixing shaft 2.

[0040] As best illustrated in FIG. 4, the water inlet control means 4 comprises a valve that, electrically controlled, is cooperative with at least one water inlet route 41. Preferably, said water inlet control means 4 comprises a solenoid valve.

[0041] Furthermore, as better illustrated in FIG. 4, the water heating means 5 comprises a heater that, electrically controlled, is cooperative with, at least, a water distribution means 51 and is capable of introducing heated water into the interior of the digestion chamber 1. Preferably, said water heating means 5 comprises a resistive heater or a gas heater, and the water distribution means 51 comprises a pipe having at least one water outlet directed into the interior of the digestion chamber 1.

[0042] According to the preferred embodiment of the invention in question, four load measurement sensors 6 are provided for associated with the chassis 61 of the food residues processing equipment. Preferably, but not limited to, the load measurement sensors 6 comprise load cells.

[0043] Also, according to the preferred embodiment of the invention in question, the water temperature sensors 10 comprise temperature sensors that, arranged in at least one heated water circulation point (preferably, close to the hot water outlets of the water distribution means 51), are capable of converting the measured temperature information into relational electronic signals, as is the case with thermocouple-type temperature sensors.

[0044] The data processing unit 7, according to the preferred embodiment of the invention in question, is provided with a data processing core, a memory unit, a signal input port, a signal output port and a network connection unit. In general terms, said data processing unit 7 comprises a microcomputer or a microcontroller of the type used in electromechanical industrial equipment.

[0045] In general terms, said data processing unit 7 is capable of sending drive signals to the electric motor 3, the water inlet control means 4 and the water heating means 5, and capable of receiving signals response from the door sensor 13, the load measurement sensor 6, the interface 8 and the water temperature sensor 10.

[0046] As can be seen, all the elements mentioned and detailed above comprise, in one way or another, elements already known and already observed in traditional mechanical digesters and belonging to the current state of the art. Thus, it is highlighted that the great inventive merit of the first object of the invention in question lies in the fact that the food residues processing equipment disclosed herein further comprises an interface 8 operable by a user, which is capable of displaying, in addition of general information on the operation of said food residues processing equipment, a classification list 9 of food residues stored in the data processing unit 7. Evidently, the user-operable interface 8, in addition to displaying said classification list 9 of food residues, further allows users to select items from this classified list 9.

[0047] In this way, it can be stated that, even if in an intangible form, the food residues processing equipment, according to the first inventive core of the invention in question, comprises a classification list 9 of food residues stored in the data processing unit 7, which is accessible and selectable by means of the interface 8. Thus, depending on all the features and elements previously described, the data processing unit 7 becomes capable of determining at least one of the functional parameters of the electric motor 3, at least one of the functional parameters of the water inlet control means 4 and at least one of the functional parameters of the water heating means 5 based on the combination of at least the response signals of the load measurement sensor 6 and the classification selection of food residues from the classification list 9 of food residues stored in the data processing unit 7 selected by at least one user by means of the interface 8.

[0048] According to the preferred embodiment of the invention in question, the classification list 9 of food residues stored in the data processing unit 7 originates from an external server, being transmitted to the data processing unit 7 by means of its network connection unit, or even by any other means of transferring digital files, such as, for example, the transfer by means of a USB memory device. This allows qualified users to update the classification list 9 of food residues whenever necessary.

[0049] It is further important to highlight that, although possibly coming from an external source, the aforementioned classification list 9 of food residues should, preferably, always be stored on the memory unit of the data processing unit 7 so that the food residues processing equipment can safely operate even when disconnected from external networks.

[0050] The main objective to be achieved by the food residues processing equipment, as previously described and in accordance with this first inventive core, is to link the main operational variables (functional parameters of the electric motor 3, functional parameters of the water inlet control means 4 and functional parameters of the water heating means 5) of the biodigester process to the input variables of the food residues.

[0051] As a result of this link, the data processing unit 7 becomes capable of changing said operational variables according to more specific data (selection according to the classification list 9 of food residues and weight of the classified food residues). With this, firstly, excellent energy efficiency is achieved, after all, the electrical energy spent on the main operational variables starts to be optimized depending on the specific operation adopted based on the input variables of the food residues.

[0052] Secondly, excellent efficiency in the water use is also achieved, after all, the amount of water used also starts to be optimized depending on the specific operation adopted based on the input variables of the food residues.

[0053] This means that, and according to this inventive core, the food residues processing equipment tends to spend less electrical energy to, for example, perform the mechanical digestion of breakfast disposals than the mechanical digestion of lunch disposals. This result is only possible by using the classification of food residues as input variables.

[0054] In this way, at least one of the functional parameters of the electric motor 3 is determined by the data processing unit 7 by means of the combination between the difference between the initial weight and the final weight measured by the load measurement sensors 6 and the at least one classification selection of food residues from the classification list 9 selected by at least one user by means of the interface 8.

[0055] In this same sense, due to the fact that at least one of the functional parameters of the water inlet control means 4 is determined by the data processing unit 7 by means of the combination between the difference between the initial weight and the final weight measured by the load measurement sensors 6 and at least one classification selection of food residues from the classification list 9 selected by at least one user by means of the interface 8.

[0056] Furthermore, at least one of the functional parameters of the water heating means 5 is determined by the data processing unit 7 by means of the combination between the difference between the initial weight and the final weight measured by the load measurement sensors 6 and at least one classification selection of food residues from the classification list 9 selected by at least one user by means of the interface 8.

[0057] For the purposes of descriptive sufficiency, it is highlighted that, preferably (and not limitingly), the main functional parameter of the electric motor 3 to be determined by the data processing unit 7 (by means of the combination between the difference between the initial weight and the final weight measured by the load measurement sensor 6 and at least one classification selection of food residues from the classification list 9 selected by at least one user by means of the interface 8) is the operation time parameter.

[0058] In this same sense, the main functional parameter of the water inlet control means 4 to be determined by the data processing unit 7 (by means of the combination between the difference between the initial weight and the final weight measured by the load measurement sensor 6 and at least one classification selection of food residues from the classification list 9 selected by at least one user by means of the interface 8) is the water intake time.

[0059] Furthermore, the main functional parameter of the water heating means 5 to be determined by the data processing unit 7 (by means of the combination between the difference between the initial weight and the final weight measured by the load measurement sensor 6 and at least one classification selection of food residues from the classification list 9 selected by at least one user by means of the interface 8) is water temperature.

[0060] As mentioned previously, the functional parameters of the electric motor 3, the functional parameters of the water inlet control means 4 and the functional parameters of the water heating means 5 are determined by the data processing unit 7 seeking the optimization of the difference between the initial weight of food residues and the final weight of food residues measured by the load measurement sensor 6.

[0061] The optimization of the aforementioned difference between the initial weight of food residues and the final weight of food residues, which can also be called mechanical digestion rate, is always the indicator of operational efficiency (which includes the efficiency in electrical energy consumption and water use) of a mechanical digestion process. Therefore, it is a measurable parameter. Of course, optimizing the difference between the initial weight of food residues and the final weight of food residues is also the energy optimization of this process.

[0062] Thus, the constant search for this optimization (optimization of the mechanical digestion rate and energy efficiency) is related to determining the best target time of driving the electric motor 3, the best target time of intake of water controlled by the water inlet control means 4 and the target temperature of the water controlled by the water heating means 5, after all, it is these three variables that have the greatest energy use in a mechanical digestion process.

[0063] Therefore, in a first mode of operation of the food residues processing equipment, the target times of driving the electric motor 3, the target times of water intake controlled by the water inlet control means water 4 and the target temperature of the water controlled by the water heating means 5 may be stored, in a relational way with the combination between the difference between the initial weight and the final weight measured by the load measurement sensors 6 and at least one classification selection of food residues from the classification list 9 selected by at least one user by means of the interface 8, on the memory unit of the data processing unit 7.

[0064] In this first mode of operation, a determined numerical range of the weighing result (difference between the initial weight and the final weight measured by the load measurement sensors 6) combined with a determined classification of food residues is related to determined target times of driving the electric motor 3, target times of water intake controlled by the water inlet control means 4 and target temperature of the water controlled by the water heating means 5.

[0065] Example 1: twenty kilograms of food residues from bread are related to fifteen minutes of electric motor driving, five minutes of water intake and water temperature at fifty degrees Celsius.

[0066] Example 2: two hundred kilograms of food residues from bread are related to two hours of electric motor driving, five minutes of water intake and water temperature at fifty degrees Celsius.

[0067] Example 3: twenty kilograms of food residues from meat are related to fifty minutes of electric motor driving, twenty minutes of water intake and water temperature at two hundred degrees Celsius.

[0068] In this first mode of operation, this relation (relational table) between a determined numerical range of the weighing result (difference between the initial weight and the final weight measured by the load measurement sensors 6) combined with a determined classification of food residues and determined target times of driving the electric motor 3, target times of water intake controlled by the water inlet control means 4 and target temperature of the water controlled by the water heating means 5 is static.

[0069] In a second mode of operation of the food residues processing equipment, the concept of machine learning is introduced to the relation between numerical ranges of the weighing result (difference between the initial weight and the final weight measured by the load measurement sensors 6) combined with classifications of food residues and target times of driving the electric motor 3, target times of water intake controlled by the water inlet control means 4 and target temperature of the water controlled by water heating means 5. Preferably, there is used the concept of reinforcement learning.

[0070] And it is in this second mode of operation of the food residues processing equipment that the second object of the invention resides, as well as the second inventive core, which refers to a method of operating food residues processing equipment, and, more particularly, to the method of operating of the food residues processing equipment previously described and detailed above.

[0071] The main objective of this second inventive core refers, in a very particular way, to the application of the concept of machine learning to carry out the automatic adjustment of the previously mentioned operational variables, aiming at achieving the best rate of efficiency of mechanic digestion based on histories of previously executed processes. With this, there is achieved the lowest use of water and energy resources, as well as less manual intervention when adjusting operational variables.

[0072] To this end, according to the method of operating food residues processing equipment, second object of the invention in question, the data processing unit 7 sends at least one control signal to the electric motor 3 based on the classification of the food residues to be digested and based on the history of target times of driving the electric motor 3 for the classification of the food residues to be digested, at least one control signal to the water inlet control means 4 based on the classification of the food residues to be digested and based on the history of target times of water intake controlled by the water inlet control means 4 and at least one control signal to the water heating means 5 based on the classification of the food residues to be digested based on the history of target temperatures of the water controlled by the water heating means 5.

[0073] Additionally, the data processing unit 7 further updates the relational histories present in the classification list 9 of food residues, so that: [0074] the history of target times of driving the electric motor 3 is always updated with the current time of driving of the electric motor 3 from the detection of the optimization of the difference between the initial weight of food residues and the final weight of food residues to be digested. This update is performed locally and on at least one external server; [0075] the history of target times of water intake controlled by the water inlet control means 4 is always updated with the current driving time of the water inlet control means 4 from the detection of the optimization of the difference between the initial weight of food residues and the final weight of food residues to be digested. This update is performed locally and on at least one external server; [0076] the history of target temperatures of the water controlled by the water heating means 5 is always updated with the current temperature of the water controlled by the water heating means 5 from the detection of the optimization of the difference between the initial weight of food residues and the final weight of food residues to be digested. This update is performed locally and on at least one external server.

[0077] Given that these updates are exported to external servers, it is possible and preferred that the data processing unit 7, before sending control signals to the electric motor 3, the water inlet control means 4 and the water heating means 5, searches, on external servers, for updates to the history of target times of driving the electric motor 3, the history of target times of water intake controlled by the water inlet control means 4, and the history of target temperatures of the water controlled by the water heating means 5.

[0078] Still in relation to these updates, it is important to highlight that, as previously explained, the updates to the relational histories present in the classification list 9 of food residues are carried out whenever there is identified a current mechanical digestion rate (difference between the initial weight of food residues and the final weight of food residues) better than the predecessor mechanical digestion rate. This identification of mechanical digestion rate optimization (difference between the initial weight of food residues and the final weight of food residues) usually occurs when a mechanical digestion process finishes earlier than expected, that is, when a determined value referring to the difference between the initial weight of food residues and the final weight of food residues is reached earlier than expected.

[0079] In these situations, the update of relational histories present in the classification list 9 of food residues is automatically carried out on the memory unit of the data processing unit 7 and sent to an external server, so that all the food residues processing equipment connected to the same data network (which is also connected to the aforementioned external server) can benefit from this histories update.

[0080] With this, the operational efficiency achieved (sometimes by chance, sometimes forced, it is worth mentioning) in a single food residues processing equipment is replicated so that all the food residues processing equipment connected to the same data network also start to function with this operational efficiency.

[0081] Obviously, this search for updates can also be carried out in a manual way (via a user request by means of the interface 8), or in an automated way, with a frequency also determined by the user (by means of the interface 8).

[0082] It is further important to highlight that the food residues processing equipment disclosed herein can uninterruptedly operate (and usually does). In this way, whether in the first mode of operation or in the second mode of operation, the moment of the beginning of the operation, mainly for the purpose of measuring the initial weight (weight of the equipment) and the final weight (weight of the equipment with the addition of the new load of food residues inserted into the digestion chamber 1), is determined by the closing of the door 12 of the digestion chamber 1 combined with the classification selection of food residues from the classification list 9 of residues carried out by a user by means of the interface 8.

[0083] It is important to highlight that the above description has the sole purpose of describing, by way of example, the preferred embodiments of the objects of the invention in question. Therefore, it becomes clear that modifications, variations and constructive combinations of the elements that perform the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results, remain within the scope of protection delimited by the attached claims.