Recovery system and recovery method

Abstract

To provide a recovery system and recovery method that enable stable recovery of waste cooking oil.SOLUTION: A recovery system of the present disclosure includes a container set including a heat-resistant pot-type container in which oil can be poured for frying, a lid that can seal the pot-type container filled with oil, and recovery equipment configured to enable the container set to be recovered upon user authentication and to provide a new container set after the container set has been recovered.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a recovery system and a recovery method. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a system for collecting used cooking oil from households. In this system, collection facilities are set up in supermarkets and convenience stores that can only be used by users who have registered using a card system or the like. Users can place used cooking oil in sealable containers (such as PET bottles) and place it in the collection stand at the collection facility. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-226007 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Conventional technology requires the effort of transferring used cooking oil into PET bottles at home. PET bottles have small openings, making it difficult to transfer oil directly from a pot. Tools such as funnels can be used to transfer oil directly from a pot, but if oil gets on the tools, they need to be washed, which adds to the effort. As a result, used cooking oil is often solidified with a coagulant or soaked in newspaper or cloth, and then disposed of as combustible waste, making it difficult to ensure stable collection of used cooking oil. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The collection system of the present disclosure comprises a container set including a heat-resistant pot-type container in which oil can be poured for frying, a lid that can seal the pot-type container filled with oil, and collection equipment configured to enable the container set to be collected upon user authentication and to provide a new container set after the container set has been collected.

[0006] The collection method disclosed herein is a collection method in a collection system comprising a heat-resistant pan-shaped container in which oil can be poured for frying, a container set including a lid capable of sealing the pan-shaped container containing the oil, and collection equipment configured to be able to collect the container set, in which oil is poured into the pan-shaped container for frying, the pan-shaped container containing the oil is sealed with the lid, and the pan-shaped container sealed with the lid is taken to the collection equipment, and with user authentication, the collection equipment becomes able to collect the pan-shaped container sealed with the lid, and the collection equipment collects the pan-shaped container sealed with the lid and provides a new container set after collection. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a recovery system and recovery method that enable stable recovery of waste cooking oil. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a pot-type container and a lid according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a recovery facility according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a method for retrieving a container according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the distribution path of the container. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the sales and distribution channels for containers containing edible oil. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, specific embodiments to which the present invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. In addition, the following description and drawings have been simplified as appropriate for clarity of explanation.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a pot-type container and a lid according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. A set of a pot 10 and a lid 12 can be used in the recovery system described herein. The pot 10 is made of heat-resistant metal. The pot 10 has an opening at the top. As shown in FIG. 1(a), the pot 10 containing oil 20 is placed on a stove 50 (or cooking heater) and heated. A user can fry food in the pot 10.

[0011] As shown in FIG. 1(b), after the pot-shaped container 10 has cooled, the user can attach the lid 12 to the opening of the pot-shaped container 10. The lid 12 may be made of metal or plastic. The inside of the lid 12 is made of sealing rubber (resistant to cooking oil) and can be crimped to ensure a tight seal. Claw-shaped attachment portions 121 are provided on both sides of the lid 12, allowing the pot-shaped container 10 to be folded and tightly sealed. As shown in FIG. 1(c), even if the pot-shaped container 10 sealed with the lid 12 is tilted, the oil 20 inside the pot-shaped container 10 will not leak. Therefore, the pot-shaped container 10 with the lid containing the oil 20 can be transported and collected to a collection facility (details will be described later) installed in a supermarket or other location. After the pot-shaped container 10 with the lid containing the oil 20 is collected, the collection facility provides a new pot-shaped container with the lid 10, as shown in FIG. 1(d). That is, after frying food in the pot-type container 10, the user does not discard the oil 20 in the pot-type container 10, but simply seals the pot-type container 10 containing the oil 20 with the lid 12, and can collect the entire container as it is.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a recovery facility according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The collection facility 500 may be installed in a supermarket or the like. The collection facility 500 includes an input port 501, a display unit 502, a code reader 503, and a withdrawal port 505. A user completes registration for the collection system in advance using an application on a smartphone 400 (also referred to as a user terminal). For example, the user uses the application on the smartphone 400 to register personal information such as date of birth, name, family composition, and address to a management server on the cloud. The management server manages each user's personal information and collection facility information (e.g., installation information, number of container sets), etc. Furthermore, users can use the collection system by paying a so-called subscription service fee, such as a monthly fee or an annual fee. In this way, users can use the collection facility 500 using the app on the smartphone 400. The collection system may include the collection facility 500, the smartphone 400, several sets of lids 12 and pot-shaped containers 10 (sometimes simply referred to as containers or container sets), and the like.

[0013] In the following description, the user terminal is a smartphone, but is not limited to this and may be a computer that the user can carry, such as a tablet terminal, a head-mounted display device, a smart watch, etc. The user terminal has a code reader (such as a camera) and a display unit.

[0014] The user takes the lidded pot-type container 10 containing oil to the collection facility 500 located in a nearby supermarket. The user starts the app on the smartphone 400, displays an identification code (e.g., a QR code (registered trademark)) on the display of the smartphone 400, and has the code reader 503 of the collection facility 500 read the code. This causes the collection facility 500 to open the door (not shown) of the insertion port 501, making it possible to collect the container. Note that the identification code (e.g., a QR code (registered trademark)) temporarily issued after the app is started may have an expiration date.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 2, a user places a lidded pot-type container 10 containing oil directly into an inlet 501 of a recovery facility 500. The recovery facility 500 then displays an identification code 512 (e.g., a QR code (registered trademark)) on a display unit 502, and the user reads the identification code 512 with the camera (i.e., a code reader) of the smartphone 400. The recovery facility 500 then provides a new lidded pot-type container 10 (empty), which the user can take out from an outlet 505. Note that the identification code temporarily issued after the container is placed in may have an expiration date.

[0016] The illustrated recovery facility is merely an example, and various modifications that would be apparent to one skilled in the art are possible. For example, in FIG. 2, containers containing cooking oil can be provided or sold from the outlet 505. In this case, the user can receive the containers containing cooking oil from the recovery facility 500 by paying the price equivalent to the cooking oil using a smartphone, such as through code payment or electronic money. Furthermore, if the subscription service fee includes the regular cost of the cooking oil, the user can receive the containers containing cooking oil from the recovery facility after user authentication. The user authentication method is not limited to an identification code, and various methods apparent to one skilled in the art (e.g., fingerprint authentication, facial authentication, iris authentication, etc.) can be used. In this case, the user's fingerprint information, facial image, etc. can be registered in advance in the management server via the user terminal.

[0017] 3 is a flowchart showing a container collection method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In this example, code authentication using a smartphone will be used as an example of user authentication. A user uses a smartphone (or other computer) to register personal information required to use the collection system (S101). At this time, the user may also pay a subscription service fee for the collection system. The user then picks up the set of pot-shaped container and its lid at a supermarket store or collection facility (S102). When picking up the set of pot-shaped container and its lid at collection facility 500, the user can use the app on their smartphone to verify their identity through code authentication, as described above. Similarly, when picking up the set of pot-shaped container and its lid at a store, the user can also use the app on their smartphone to verify their identity through code authentication.

[0018] The user takes the set of the pot-type container and its lid home, pours oil into the pot-type container 10, and begins frying (S103). After a predetermined time has passed and the pot-type container 10 containing the oil has cooled, the user seals the container with the lid 12 (S104). The user then takes the sealed container from home to a collection facility 500 at a nearby supermarket (S105). As described above, the user authenticates the code using an app on their smartphone, activates the collection facility 500 to enable collection, and collects the container at the collection facility's drop-off point (S106). After collecting the container, the user uses the smartphone camera to scan the identification code displayed on the display of the response facility 500 for receiving the next container (S107). The user then collects a new container from the collection facility 500's drop-off point or from the store (S102). In some cases, the user may receive the container containing oil from a store clerk or other person.

[0019] As described above, in the collection system, a user can exchange a used set of a pot-type container and its lid for a new set of a pot-type container and its lid.

[0020] The collection company collects the pot-shaped container and its lid set from each collection facility (S110), and then removes the waste cooking oil from the container (S111). The removed waste cooking oil can be processed into biodiesel or other products for reuse (S112).

[0021] The collection company washes the set of the empty pot-shaped container and its lid (S113). The collection company takes the washed container to collection facility 500 such as a supermarket and stores it in collection facility 500 (S114).

[0022] In this way, the used pot and its lid set can be cleaned and reused in the collection system, and the used waste cooking oil can be processed into biodiesel and reused.

[0023] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the distribution path of the container. Household 200 receives or purchases a container set, i.e., a set of a pot-shaped container and its lid, from supermarket 205. Meanwhile, supermarket 205 (its collection facility 500) collects containers containing used cooking oil from household 200. Collection company 220 collects multiple containers containing used cooking oil together from collection facility 500 of supermarket 205. Collection company 220 removes the used cooking oil from the containers, washes them, and provides the washed containers to supermarket 205.

[0024] The cooking oil wholesaler 210 provides the cooking oil to the restaurant 215. The restaurant 215 uses the cleaned container set to cook food and provides the containers containing the waste cooking oil to the collector 220. The collector 220 removes the waste cooking oil from the containers, cleans them, and provides the cleaned containers to the restaurant 215.

[0025] The collector 220 provides the waste cooking oil removed from the container to a biodiesel manufacturer 230. The biodiesel manufacturer 230 processes the waste cooking oil into biodiesel and provides it to a biodiesel user 240.

[0026] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the sales and distribution channels for containers containing edible oil. Household 300 purchases a container set containing cooking oil, i.e., a set of a pot-shaped container containing cooking oil and its lid, from supermarket 305. Meanwhile, supermarket 305 (its collection facility 500) collects containers containing used cooking oil from household 300. Collection company 320 collects multiple containers containing used cooking oil from supermarket 305's collection facility 500 at once. Collection company 320 removes the used cooking oil from the containers, washes the containers, and provides the washed containers to cooking oil manufacturer 315. Collection company 320 may also remove the used cooking oil from the containers and provide the unwashed containers to cooking oil manufacturer 315. Cooking oil manufacturer 315 washes the washed containers or unwashed containers, fills them with cooking oil, and provides the containers containing cooking oil to supermarket 305.

[0027] The cooking oil wholesaler 310 puts cooking oil into the washed container or containers and provides the containers containing the cooking oil to the restaurant 315. The restaurant 315 uses the cooking oil container set to cook food and provides the containers containing the waste cooking oil to the collector 320. The collector 320 removes the waste cooking oil from the containers, washes the containers, and provides the washed containers to the cooking oil wholesaler 310. The collector 320 may also remove the waste cooking oil from the containers and provide the containers before washing to the cooking oil wholesaler 310.

[0028] The collector 320 provides the waste cooking oil removed from the container to a biodiesel manufacturer 330. The biodiesel manufacturer 330 processes the waste cooking oil into biodiesel and provides it to a biodiesel user 340.

[0029] In some embodiments, a collection system is provided that includes a container set including a heat-resistant pot-type container in which oil can be added for frying, a lid that can seal the pot-type container containing oil, and collection equipment that allows the container set to be collected upon user authentication and is configured to provide a new container set after the container set has been collected.

[0030] In some embodiments, the collection system further includes a user terminal that is registered to use the collection system, the user terminal including a code reader and a display unit, the collection equipment including a code reader and a display unit, and the collection equipment configured to be able to collect the container set by reading the identification code displayed on the user terminal with the code reader of the collection equipment, and to collect the container set, display the displayed identification code on the display unit of the collection equipment after collection, and provide a new container set by having the displayed identification code read by the code reader of the user terminal.

[0031] In another embodiment, the recovery facility may be configured to provide a new set of containers containing oil by having the code reader of the user terminal read the displayed identification code. The user may also pay a monthly or annual fee in the form of a contract, such as a subscription or lease. In this case, the user may also display an identification code indicating the contract type on the user terminal and have the recovery facility read the code.

[0032] In some embodiments, the collection method is a collection method for a collection system including a heat-resistant pan-type container in which oil can be poured for frying, a container set including a lid capable of sealing the pan-type container containing the oil, and a collection facility configured to collect the container set. The collection method involves pouring oil into the pan-type container to fry food, sealing the pan-type container containing the oil with the lid, bringing the pan-type container sealed with the lid to the collection facility, and upon user authentication, enabling the collection facility to collect the pan-type container sealed with the lid. The collection facility then collects the pan-type container sealed with the lid and provides a new container set after collection.

[0033] In some embodiments, the method of recovering the oil comprises removing the oil from the recovered pot; The extracted oil can be processed and reused, and the recovered pot and lid can be washed.

[0034] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] 10 pot-shaped container, 12 lid, 20 oil, 50 stove, 121 mounting part, 200 household, 205 supermarket, 210 cooking oil wholesaler, 215 restaurant, 220 collection company, 230 biodiesel manufacturer, 240 biodiesel user, 300 household, 305 supermarket, 310 cooking oil wholesaler, 315 cooking oil manufacturer, 315 restaurant, 320 collection company, 330 biodiesel manufacturer, 340 biodiesel user, 400 smartphone, 500 collection equipment, 501 input port, 502 display unit, 503 code reader, 505 output port, 512 identification code

Claims

1. a container set including a heat-resistant pot-type container into which oil can be poured for frying and a lid capable of sealing the pot-type container containing the oil; and a collection facility configured to enable the container set to be collected through user authentication and to provide a new container set after the container set is collected. Collection system.

2. Further provided is a user terminal that is registered for use of the collection system, the user terminal includes a code reader and a display unit; the collection facility includes a code reader and a display unit; The recovery facility includes: The container set can be collected by reading the identification code displayed on the user terminal with the code reader of the collection facility, recovering the container set, and displaying the identification code displayed after recovery on the display unit of the recovery equipment; The collection system according to claim 1 , configured to provide a new set of containers by reading the displayed identification code with the code reader of the user terminal.

3. The recovery facility includes: The recovery system according to claim 2 , configured to provide a new set of containers containing oil by reading the displayed identification code with the code reader of the user terminal.

4. a container set including a heat-resistant pot-type container into which oil can be poured for frying and a lid capable of sealing the pot-type container containing the oil; A recovery method in a recovery system including recovery equipment configured to be able to recover the container set, Oil is poured into the pot-shaped container to fry food, The pot-shaped container containing the oil is sealed with the lid, Bringing the pot-shaped container sealed with the lid to the recovery facility; Upon user authentication, the collection equipment is put into a state in which the pot-shaped container sealed with the lid can be collected, The recovery method includes the recovery facility recovering the pot-shaped containers sealed with the lids and providing a new set of containers after the recovery.

5. Removing oil from the recovered pot-shaped container; The extracted oil is processed and reused; The recovery method according to claim 4 , further comprising washing the recovered pot-shaped container and lid.

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