Modular eating aid for food parcels

Abstract

A modular packaged food feeding aid, comprising: i) a body 101 connected to the device and positioned over an open package of an edible foodstuff, wherein the body 101 is constructed with an elongated element 102 configured with a first and a second plate 104 arranged in a V-shaped structure, wherein the body 101 is designed to be placed in contact with the mouth area of ​​the open package; ii) an artificial intelligence-based imaging unit 105, installed on the body 101 and paired with a processor to capture and process multiple images of the environment and / or to capture the dimensions of the package in intervention, whereupon an integrated microcontroller connected to the processor actuates a drawer arrangement integrated into each of the plates to extend / retract in order to increase / decrease the dimensions of the plates in order to properly position the body 101 over the mouth section of the open package; iii) a motorized hinge installed between the element 102 and the second plate 104, wherein the microcontroller processes the input commands and actuates the hinge to tilt the second plate 104 away from the first plate 103 to enable the user to engage the body 101 with the package via a plurality of grooves 201 configured on the inner circumference of each of the plates; iv) an extendable C-shaped gripper 202, which is arranged on the body 101 and is actuated by the microcontroller to extend synchronously with the imaging unit 105 to obtain a grip over the package in order to maintain a stable orientation of the package while the body 101 is engaged with the package; v) a robot arm 107 arranged on the body 101, which is actuated by the microcontroller synchronously with the imaging unit 105 to position a blade 108 integrated on the arm 107 near the package, followed by actuation of a motorized ball joint embedded between the arm 107 and the blade 108 to give the blade 108 an angular movement to cut the package if the user gives voice commands for ingredients from the sealed package via a microphone 109; vi) a motorized sliding unit 110 configured on the first plate 103 and connected to a hollow tube 111, wherein, after successful cutting of the package, which is detected via the imaging unit 105, the microcontroller actuates the sliding unit 110 to move the tube 111 in order to insert the tube 111 into the package through the opening created by cutting the package; and vii) a vacuum-based suction unit 106, which is integrated into the hollow tube 111 and is operated by the microcontroller to remove the edible food from the package, which is also stored in a container mounted above the body 101, allowing the user easy access to the food.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a modular eating aid for food packages, which is capable of opening sealed food packages according to the user's requirements to assist the user in consuming the food stored in the package, as well as detecting the expiration date of the packages and notifying the user to discard the expired food packages. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Many food products like chips, chocolate, and cookies are available in the market in packaged form. To consume these foods, they must be opened. Opening the packages allows moisture and air from the surrounding environment to enter the food, resulting in deterioration of the food's quality. Therefore, airtight packaging of any packaged food is necessary to prevent damage and to preserve the food for a long time for future consumption.

[0003] Traditionally, clips, rubber bands, or manual tying of packages were used to protect food from spillage or exposure to moisture. However, these tools and methods were inefficient, as they did not provide effective protection for the food inside the packages. Manual tying of packages loosens and damages the edible parts of the package. The clips and rubber bands used detach from the packages during storage, compromising the quality of the food. Therefore, there is a need for an invention capable of efficiently protecting the food inside the package.

[0004] US7503696B2 discloses an invention comprising a method and apparatus for sealing packages in which a slitted tubular member is slidably mounted around a wrapped portion of a package (a bag or sleeve made of a different material, having a different size and a different shape), which portion of the package is wrapped around a rod member near an opening of the package in a state where a different liquid, gaseous, and solid material or object is introduced into the package through the opening. The rod member is firmly attached to the inner or outer surface of the package or detached from the package. If the package is a zippered package, the zipper functions as the rod member.While US'696 may provide a tubular shield wrapped around the package to prevent spoilage of the packaged food, the device fails to monitor the hardness of the package during sealing, resulting in damage to the food's plastic packaging.

[0005] US6877601B1 discloses an invention comprising a packaging system for preserving perishable, moisture-containing items, comprising a shrinkable barrier bag having at least one chamber and a one-way valve disposed in the wall of the barrier bag, a sealing device for closing the barrier bag, a carbon dioxide gas disposed within the barrier bag as a gas source, a clear, transparent, oxygen-permeable container disposed within the barrier bag for containing perishable, moisture-containing items, and a water-containing cushion disposed within the barrier bag for providing moisture within the barrier bag. While US601 is capable of packaging and sealing the packages and protecting the food from various gases, the device cannot detect the expiration date of the food packages to remove the packages from consumption.

[0006] Conventionally, there are many devices on the market, as disclosed in the prior art, that assist the user in sealing food packages. However, the devices mentioned in the prior art lack monitoring of the package's hardness during the closing process, which results in damage to the plastic food packaging, and the device also fails to detect the expiration of the food packages.

[0007] To overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages, there is a need in the art to develop a device capable of monitoring the hardness of the package while the packages are being closed, which would aid in package maintenance. Furthermore, the device is also capable of detecting the expiration date of edible packages, protecting the user from consumption. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The main object of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.

[0009] An object of the present invention is to develop a device capable of opening a sealed food package according to the user's requirements in order to assist the user in consuming the food contained in the package.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to develop a device capable of detecting the expiration dates of the packages and notifying the user to discard the expired packages of food.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to develop a device that is portable and reliable.

[0012] The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent upon closer examination of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The present invention relates to a modular food package eating aid capable of opening a sealed food package according to the user's need to assist the user in consuming the food stored in the package, as well as detecting the expiration date of the packages and notifying the user to discard the expired food packages.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a modular eating aid for food packages comprises a body connected to the device and positioned over an open package of edible food, the body being constructed with an elongated element configured with a first and a second plate arranged in a V-shaped structure, an artificial intelligence-based imaging unit installed on the body to capture the dimensions of the engaged package, a drawer assembly integrated into each of the plates to extend / retract to increase / decrease the dimensions of the plates, an OCR (Optical Character Recognition) module installed on the housing to detect the expiration date of the food package, a motorized hinge installed between the element and the second plate to allow the user toengaging the body with the package via a plurality of grooves configured on the inner periphery of each of the plates, and an extendable C-shaped gripper disposed on the body for gaining a grip over the package to maintain stable alignment of the package while engaging the body with the package.

[0015] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the proposed device further comprises a robotic arm arranged on the body for positioning a blade integrated on the arm near the package, a tactile sensor integrated on the blade for monitoring the hardness of the food package, a motorized ball joint embedded between the arm and the blade for imparting angular movement to the blade to cut the package, a microphone that provides voice commands for ingredients from the sealed package, a motorized sliding unit configured on the first plate and connected to a hollow tube for imparting movement to the tube for inserting the tube into the package through the opening created by cutting the package, an extendable member integrated on the outer periphery of the tube for being extended to fill an inflatable bag integrated on the tube,to position, and a vacuum-based suction unit integrated with the hollow tube to remove the edible food from the package, which is further stored in a container attached above the body.

[0016] While the invention has been described and shown with particular reference to the preferred embodiment, it will be apparent that variations are possible which would fall within the scope of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a modular packaged food eating aid; and Fig. Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the proposed device showing grooves and a C-shaped gripper connected to the device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] The following description contains the preferred best mode for carrying out an embodiment of the present invention. From this description of the invention, it will be apparent that the invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments, but that the invention also includes a variety of modifications and embodiments thereto. Therefore, the present description should be considered as illustrative and not restrictive. While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, it should be understood that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but on the contrary, the invention is intended to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

[0019] In any embodiment described herein, the open-ended terms “comprising,” “comprises,” and the like (which are synonymous with “including,” “with,” and “characterized by”) may be replaced by the respective partially closed terms “consisting essentially of,” “consists essentially of,” and the like, or the respective closed terms “consisting of,” “consists of,” and the like.

[0020] As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” refer to both the singular and the plural unless it is expressly stated that only the singular is meant.

[0021] The present invention relates to a modular food package eating assistance device capable of opening a sealed food package according to the user's requirements to assist the user in consuming the food stored in the package, as well as detecting the expiration date of the packages and notifying the user to discard the expired food packages.

[0022] Referring to the Fig. 1 and Fig.Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a modular device for eating food from packages and a perspective view of the proposed device showing grooves and a C-shaped gripper connected to the device, each comprising a body 101 positioned over an open package, the body 101 being constructed with an elongated element 102 configured with a first plate 103 and a second plate 104 arranged in a V-shaped structure, an artificial intelligence-based imaging unit 105 installed on the body 101, a plurality of grooves 201 configured on the inner periphery of each of the plates, an extendable C-shaped gripper 202 arranged on the body 101, a robotic arm 107 arranged on the body 101, a blade 108 integrated on the arm 107, a microphone 109 integrated on the body 101,a motorized sliding unit 110 configured on the first plate 103 and connected to a hollow tube 111, a vacuum-based suction unit 106 integrated with the hollow tube 111, and a speaker 112 mounted on the body 101.

[0023] The proposed device comprises a body 101 connected to the device and positioned over an open package of an edible food product. The body 101 is constructed with an elongated member 102 configured with first and second plates 104 arranged in a V-shaped structure designed to be placed in contact with the mouth area of ​​the open package. An artificial intelligence-based imaging unit 105 is installed on the body 101 and paired with a processor to capture and process multiple images of the surrounding environment, respectively, and to detect the dimensions of the engaged package.

[0024] The artificial intelligence-based imaging unit 105 is equipped with a camera lens and a processor. The camera lens is designed to capture a series of images of the package's surroundings. The processor performs a series of image processing operations, including preprocessing, feature extraction, and classification. The image captured by the artificial intelligence-based imaging unit 105 is a real-time image of the package's surroundings. The artificial intelligence-based imaging unit 105 transmits the captured image signal in the form of digital bits to the microcontroller. After receiving the digital bit signal, the microcontroller analyzes the signal and extracts images of the package, which help in detecting the dimensions of the occupied package.

[0025] Based on the detected dimension of the package, the microcontroller actuates a drawer assembly integrated with each of the plates to extend / retract them in order to increase / decrease the dimensions of the plates. The drawer assembly has a carriage assembly and a DC motor that work together to extend and retract the plates. The carriage assembly is equipped with two rails on which the plates slide up and down. The opening for the plates is located at the end of the rail and is provided with two clamps that serve to secure the plates to the chassis 101. To extend the drawer, the drawer is pushed open and the carriage assembly is pushed outward. This creates an opening that allows the assembly to extend and retract to slide the plates and thus increase or decrease the dimensions of the plates.which helps to properly accommodate the body 101 over the mouth area of ​​the open package.

[0026] After the body 101 is placed over the mouth of the opened package, an OCR (Optical Character Recognition) module is installed on the body 101. This module operates in synchronization with the imaging unit 105 and recognizes the expiration date of the food package. The OCR (Optical Character Recognition) module converts the expiration date printed on the package into a machine-readable format. The OCR module uses the pattern recognition protocol to identify the data on the package on which the device is housed.The module processes the data captured by the imaging unit for the date on the package and compares it with the current day's date linked to the module, which is retrieved using an internet module linked to the microcontroller for verifying the data, and if it is found that the expiration date exceeds the current date, the microcontroller activates a speaker 112 attached to the housing 101 to notify the user to discard the food package to avoid health problems for the user.

[0027] The speaker 112 used here works by converting electrical energy into sound energy. When the microcontroller sends the electrical current, a coil mounted on a magnet of the speaker 112 generates a magnetic field. This causes a diaphragm to move back and forth, creating pressure waves in the air that the user perceives as sound, alerting the user to discard the food package to avoid health problems.

[0028] Continuously, a motorized hinge is installed between the element 102 and the second plate 104, which is actuated by the microcontroller after processing the input commands to tilt the second plate 104 away from the first plate 103 to allow the user to engage the body 101 with the package via a plurality of grooves 201, ranging from 6 to 8, configured on the inner periphery of each of the plates.

[0029] The motorized hinge joint is a metal piece that connects the second plate 104 to the element 102 and allows it to be opened or closed by rotating it along its longitudinal axis. The operation is controlled by a bidirectional motor connected to the microcontroller. When the bidirectional motor rotates clockwise, the bidirectional motor imparts movement to the hinge, causing the second plate 104 to also rotate clockwise. When the bidirectional motor rotates counterclockwise, the bidirectional motor imparts movement to the hinge, causing the second plate 104 to also rotate counterclockwise. When the bidirectional motor is actuated, the bidirectional movement of the second plate 104 allows the second plate 104 to be tilted away from the first palate, allowing the user to engage the body 101 with multiple grooves 201.

[0030] Furthermore, an extendable C-shaped gripper 202 is arranged on the body 101, which extends synchronously with the imaging unit 105 to gain a grip over the package to maintain stable alignment of the package while the body 101 is engaged with the package. Here, the imaging unit 105 captures images of the package, confirming the inclusion of the package within the plates, which causes the microcontroller to actuate the extendable C-shaped gripper 202 to assume grip over the package.

[0031] The extendable C-shaped grippers 202 are driven by a pneumatic extension-to-grip unit, which includes a compressor filled with compressed air that controls the orientations such as the extension and retraction of the C-shaped gripper 202. The pneumatic unit also includes air valves and a piston connected to the C-shaped gripper 202. The piston is connected to the C-shaped gripper 202 and forces the compressed air delivered by the compressor through the C-shaped gripper 202. The valves used here are air valves installed between the compressor and the piston. When actuated, they allow the compressed air to be released through the piston, resulting in the extension and retraction of the C-shaped gripper 202, which allows a grip to be obtained over the package to maintain a stable orientation of the package while the body 101 is engaged with the package.

[0032] Furthermore, a robot arm 107 is arranged on the body 101, which is operated by the microcontroller in synchronization with the imaging unit 105 to position a blade 108 integrated into the arm 107 near a package. The robot arm 107 consists of three parts: the shoulder, the elbow, and the wrist. All three parts are connected to the microcontroller. The elbow is located in the middle part of the arm 107, so that the upper part of the arm 107 can move the lower part independently. Finally, the wrist is located at the tip of the upper arm 107 and is connected to the end effector, which serves as a hand for holding the blade 108 and for placing the blade 108 near the package.

[0033] When the user gives the command for the ingredients in the sealed package via a microphone 109, the microcontroller actuates a motorized ball joint embedded between the arm 107 and the blade 108 to cause the blade 108 to move angularly, thus cutting the package. The microphone 109 is an electronic unit that converts sound vibrations in the air into an electronic signal and transmits it to a microcontroller. The microphone 109 consists of a diaphragm and a magnet wound with a coil. When the user gives voice commands regarding the ingredients in the sealed package, the sound wave strikes the diaphragm. This causes the coil to move back and forth in the field of the magnet, generating an electric current. The electric current is transmitted to the microcontroller, which processes the signal, extracts the user's voice commands, and actuates the ball joint to position the blade 108.

[0034] The ball joint, installed between the arm 107 and the blade 108, includes a DC motor driven by a microcontroller to generate electrical current and consists of a spherical element and a socket. The ball is freely movable within the socket. The motor rotates the ball in various directions controlled by the microcontroller, which also instructs the motor to precisely position the ball. The microcontroller also controls the motor to generate electrical current, which rotates the joint and moves the blade 108 to cut the package.

[0035] A tactile sensor is integrated into the blade 108 to monitor the hardness of the food package. The tactile sensor works by converting the external physical changes of the packages into electrical voltages. These electrical voltages are proportional to the change in physical pressure exerted on the package. The signals are then transmitted to the microcontroller, converted into digital bit signals. The transmitted signals are processed by the microcontroller to determine the hardness of the sealed package. Based on the determined hardness of the sealed package, the microcontroller controls the operation of the blade 108 to cut the package without tearing the edges of the package.

[0036] After the successful cutting of the package, which is detected by the imaging unit 105 based on the images captured of the packages after the operation of the cutting blade 108, the microcontroller actuates a motorized sliding unit 110, configured on the first plate 103 and connected to a hollow tube 111, to impart movement to the tube 111 with a view to inserting the tube 111 into the interior of the package through the opening created by the cutting of the package. The motorized sliding unit 110 includes the sliding rack and rail, such that the tube 111 is mounted over the racks, which are electronically operated by the microcontroller to move along the rails. The sliding unit is driven by a DC motor, which is actuated by the microcontroller by providing the necessary electrical current to the motor.The motor consists of a coil that converts the received electrical current into mechanical force by generating a magnetic field so that the mechanical force supplies the rack with the energy required to cause the sliding unit 110 to slide so that the tube 111 can be inserted into the package through the opening created by cutting the package.

[0037] Furthermore, a vacuum-based suction unit 106 is integrated into the hollow tube 111, which is actuated by the microcontroller to remove the edible food from the package stored in a container mounted above the body 101. The vacuum-based suction unit 106, when pressed over the food, creates a vacuum within the unit, forcing the air out of the unit by creating a negative pressure in the suction area. In doing so, the atmospheric pressure outside the unit presses on the negative pressure area within the unit to create a negative pressure that adheres the edible food and pulls it out of the package, which is still stored in a container mounted above the body 101, allowing the user to easily access the food.

[0038] In the event that the holes in the package are present due to the opening for accessing the food, upon inserting the hollow tube 111 into the package, the microcontroller actuates an extendable member integrated on the outer periphery of the tube 111 to extend and position an inflatable bag integrated on the tube 111. The members used here are extended by the operation of the pneumatic unit attached to the extendable members. When the bag is placed in the opening of the package, the bag is inflated and conforms to the opening to cover the opening and temporarily seal the package. The inflatable bag consists of an air compressor that applies air pressure to the inflatable bag, which inflates to form a layer fitted inside the package to protect the edibles from environmental changes.

[0039] Finally, a battery is installed in the device which is connected to the microcontroller that supplies power to all the electrically operated components that require a certain amount of electrical energy to perform their functions and operation in an efficient manner. The battery used here is usually a dry battery, which is made of lithium-ion material and provides the device with a long lifespan along with an efficient direct current that helps all the components to function properly and efficiently. Since the device is battery-operated, it does not require any electrical voltage for its operation. The presence of a battery leads to the mobility of the device, meaning the user can carry and move the system from one place to another as per their need.

[0040] The present invention works best in the following manner, where the body 101 is positioned over an open package of an edible food item, and with the elongated member 102, the first and second plates 104 arranged in the V-shaped structure that the body 101 is designed to be placed in contact with the mouth portion of the open package. The artificial intelligence-based imaging unit 105 detects the dimensions of the engaged package, whereupon the drawer assembly enlarges / reduces the dimensions of the plates to properly accommodate the body 101 over the mouth portion of the open package. The OCR (Optical Character Recognition) module detects the expiration date of the food package, and if the expiration date exceeds the current date, the speaker 112 alerts the user to discard the package.The motorized hinge tilts the second plate 104 away from the first plate 103 to allow the user to engage the body 101 with the package via a plurality of grooves 201. The extendable C-shaped gripper 202 extends and takes over the grip over the package to maintain the stable alignment of the package while the body 101 is engaged with the package.

[0041] The robot arm 107 also positions the blade 108 near the package. The motorized ball joint provides angular movement of the blade 108 to cut the package according to the hardness of the package detected by the tactile sensor when the user gives voice commands for ingredients from the sealed package via a microphone 109. The motorized pusher unit 110 provides movement of the tube 111 to insert the tube 111 into the package through the opening created by cutting the package. The vacuum-based suction unit 106, integrated into the hollow tube 111 and actuated by the microcontroller, removes the edible food from the package, which is stored in a container mounted above the body 101, allowing the user to easily access the food. When the food is removed, the inflatable bag is inflated to temporarily seal the package and protect it from the environment.

[0042] Although the scope of the invention has been described herein with limited reference to specific embodiments, this description is not intended to be limiting. Various modifications to the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments of the invention, will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the description of the invention. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] US 7503696B2

[0004] US 6877601B1

[0005]

Claims

[1] A modular packaged food eating aid device comprising: i) a body 101 connected to the device and positioned over an open package of edible food, the body 101 being constructed with an elongate member 102 configured with first and second plates 104 arranged in a V-shaped structure, the body 101 being designed to be placed in contact with the mouth region of the open package; ii) an artificial intelligence-based imaging unit 105 installed on the body 101 and paired with a processor to capture and process multiple images of the surrounding environment and the dimensions of the engaged package, respectively, whereupon a built-in microcontroller connected to the processor actuates a drawer assembly integrated into each of the plates to extend / retract to increase / decrease the dimensions of the plates to properly accommodate the body 101 over the mouth portion of the open package; iii) a motorized hinge installed between the element 102 and the second plate 104, wherein the microcontroller processes the input commands and actuates the hinge to tilt the second plate 104 away from the first plate 103 to allow the user to engage the body 101 with the package via a plurality of grooves 201 configured on the inner periphery of each of the plates; iv) an extendable C-shaped gripper 202 disposed on the body 101 and actuated by the microcontroller to extend synchronously with the imaging unit 105 to gain a grip over the package to maintain a stable alignment of the package while the body 101 is engaged with the package; v) a robotic arm 107 arranged on the body 101, which is actuated by the microcontroller synchronously with the imaging unit 105 to position a blade 108 integrated on the arm 107 near the package, followed by the actuation of a motorized ball joint embedded between the arm 107 and the blade 108 to impart an angular movement to the blade 108 to cut the package in case the user gives voice commands for ingredients from the sealed package via a microphone 109; vi) a motorized pusher unit 110 configured on the first plate 103 and connected to a hollow tube 111, wherein, after successful cutting of the package, which is detected via the imaging unit 105, the microcontroller actuates the pusher unit 110 to move the tube 111 to insert the tube 111 into the package through the opening created by cutting the package; and vii) a vacuum-based suction unit 106 integrated into the hollow tube 111 and actuated by the microcontroller to extract the edible food from the package, which is further stored in a container mounted above the body 101, allowing the user to easily access the food. [2] The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a tactile sensor is incorporated into the blade 108 to monitor the hardness of the food package, whereupon the microcontroller controls the operation of the blade 108 to cut the package without tearing the edges of the package. [3] The device of claim 1, wherein, after inserting the hollow tube 111 into the package, the microcontroller actuates an extendable member on the outer periphery of the tube 111 to extend it to position an inflatable bag incorporated into the tube 111, followed by actuation of the bag to inflate and fit over the opening to cover the opening and temporarily seal the package. [4] The device according to claim 1, wherein an OCR (Optical Character Recognition) module is installed on the housing 101, which operates in synchronization with the imaging unit 105 to recognize the expiration date of the food package, and if the expiration date is determined to be beyond the current date as retrieved through an internet module integrated in the microcontroller, the microcontroller activates a speaker 112 mounted on the housing 101 to notify the user to discard the food package to avoid any health risks to the user. [5] The device of claim 1, wherein the device is associated with a battery used to power the electrical and electronically operated components of the device.

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