Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A FOOD RECYCLER HAVING A
BUCKET AND GRINDER FOR PROCESSING FOOD
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to food recyclers and particularly to a
design or system
that includes a novel bucket and grinder system for processing waste food.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Organic whole foodstuffs can include edible components, edible non-
palatable
components, and inedible components. Edible components can include the
palatable portion
of the foodstuff that, in general, makes up the serving portion. Edible non-
palatable
components generally consists of the foodstuff portion that is not served,
such as: trimmings,
off-cuts, leaves, peels, skins, rinds, pulp, stems, seeds, oxidized foods
(e.g., avocados, apples,
etc.), limp or wilted vegetation, bone components, connective tissues, fibrous
components,
poorly textured foods, malformed foods, discolored foods, previously cooked
foods, expired
foods, or any other foodstuff that, while safe for consumption, may not be
palatable. Inedible
components can include foodstuff components that are not fit for consumption
due to an
unpleasant taste, poor nutritional value, or are a hazard to the health of
those that would
consume these components (e.g., apple seeds, foodstuffs infested or infected
by non-
beneficial components, toxins, or pathogenic materials).
[0003] In traditional culinary arts, a high value is placed on precious
foodstuffs. For instance,
traditional techniques often call for maximizing consumable nutritional value
and flavor
while minimizing waste. In classic French cooking, for example, the nutrients
and flavor of
unpalatable foods are transferred to a liquid to create stock orfond de
cuisine, the treasured
underpinning of broths, soups, and sauces. Stock making is a core culinary
skill of the saucier
or sauce chef, the highest line cook position in the traditional French
Brigade restaurant
kitchen. In such a kitchen, a hierarchy of foodstuffs as described in the
previous paragraph
supplies the core flavor and nutritional elements to the saucier for infusion
into a water
solvent to form suspended solutions of stocks or broths. Flavor and nutrient
rich stocks and
broths form the foundational input elements for sauces, soups, and stews.
Further, these
stocks and broths serve as poaching liquids to enhance the flavor of sauté
cooking methods.
The contributory nutritional and flavor elements of bones, trimmings and
vegetable discard
can best be measured against the high regard French cuisine places on
remouillage, a stock
made by re-simmering bones a second time. However, over time, food
entertainment has
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turned food ingredients into aesthetic elements that are specifically selected
for their pleasant
appearance rather than for its nutritional value and flavor. This shift in
focus has led to an
abundance of food waste.
[0004] Food waste accounts for one-third of garbage that is deposited in
landfills. This
presents a growing environmental issue due to the anaerobic production of
methane and other
greenhouse gases via the decomposition of such organic food waste. Thus,
various entities
have opted to compost food waste in order to divert such food waste away from
landfills and
to reduce the production of methane and other greenhouse gases.
[0005] Composting is most effective for low density waste management and in
rural areas,
where there is no scarcity of land for composting large amounts of food waste.
However,
composting can be logistically complex and costly in urban environments, where
the majority
of organic food waste is created. While consumer behavioral change and
voluntary
compliance can result in the reduction of food waste, this traditionally has
not been sufficient.
Additionally, composting solely focuses on waste management and does not
present an
avenue for re-using edible components that would otherwise be discarded. In
light of this, it
would be advantageous to provide a kitchen-based organic food conversion
process and
apparatus that would extract flavor and nutrients for reuse in the kitchen and
for conversion
of organic food waste into nutrient preserved grow media for reintroduction
into the food
cycle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and other
advantages and
features of the disclosure can be obtained, a more particular description of
the principles
briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments
thereof which
are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings
depict only
exemplary embodiments of the disclosure and are not, therefore, to be
considered to be
limiting of its scope. The principles herein are described and explained with
additional
specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
[0007] FIG. 1 illustrates an example system configuration, according to an
aspect of the
present disclosure;
100081 FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate a first example of a food recycler;
100091 FIG. 2C illustrates an example method;
[0010] FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate a second example of a food recycler;
[0011] FIG. 3C illustrates an example method for operating a food recycler;
[0012] FIGS. 4A ¨ 4E illustrates an example grinding component;
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[0013] FIGS. 5A ¨ 5C illustrate example alternate grinding component
configurations;
[0014] FIGS. 6A ¨ 6B illustrate alternate grinding component configurations;
[0015] FIG. 7 illustrates a stopper configuration;
[0016] FIG. 8 illustrates an example method related to using a grinding
component:
[0017] FIGS. 9A ¨ 9D illustrate an RF component example;
[0018] FIG. 10A illustrates an Internet of Things example configuration for
the food recycler
appliance;
[0019] FIG. 10B illustrates an example method associated with an Internet of
Things
example of the food recycler appliance;
[0020] FIGS. 11A ¨ 11F illustrate various aspects of using a replaceable
filter in a food
recycler appliance;
[0021] FIG. 12 illustrates a method example;
[0022] FIG. 13 illustrates an example of a food recycler comprising a set of
sensors to detect
a type of vessel inserted into the food recycler for either infusion of flavor
and nutrients from
surplus food to create a foodstuff or conversion of food waste into nutrient
preserved stable
granular media;
[0023] FIG. 14 illustrates an example method associated with infusion of
flavor and nutrients
from surplus food to create a foodstuff;
[0024] FIG. 15 illustrates an example method associated with conversion of
food waste into
nutrient preserved stable granular media;
[0025] FIG. 16A illustrates a front view of an example food recycler;
[0026] FIG. 16B illustrates a side view of an example food recycler;
[0027] FIG. 16C illustrates some of the internal components of an example food
recycler;
[0028] FIG. 16D illustrates some of the internal components of an example food
recycler;
[0029] FIG. 16E illustrates some of the internal components of an example food
recycler;
[0030] FIG. 16F illustrates a bottom view of an example food recycler;
[0031] FIG. 16G illustrates a top view of an example food recycler;
[0032] FIG. 16H illustrates a side and rear view of an example food recycler;
[0033] FIG. 17A illustrates various modular components of an example food
recycler;
[0034] FIG. 17B illustrates in more detail the filter system;
[0035] FIG. 17C illustrates in more detail the filter itself;
[0036] FIG. 18A illustrates a top view of an example food recycler and a cross-
sectional
view of some of the components;
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[0037] FIG. 18B illustrates a top view of an example food recycler and a cross-
sectional
view of some of the components;
[0038] FIG. 18C illustrates a side view of an example food recycler;
[0039] FIG. 19 illustrates an internal air flow pathway through an example
food recycler;
[0040] FIG. 20A illustrates a side view of another example food recycler;
[0041] FIG. 20B illustrates a side and rear view of another example food
recycler;
[0042] FIG. 20C illustrates a side view of another example food recycler;
[0043] FIG. 21A illustrates a side view of another example food recycler;
[0044] FIG. 21B illustrates a top view of an example food recycler and a cross-
sectional view
of some of the components;
[0045] FIG. 22A illustrates an example blade structure for a food recycler;
[0046] FIG. 22B illustrates example cutting components for a food recycler;
100471 FIG. 22C illustrates example cutting components for a food recycler;
[0048] FIG. 22D illustrates an example blade structure in a cross sectional
view of a bucket
structure for a food recycler;
[0049] FIG. 22E illustrates an example blade structure from a top view for a
food recycler;
[0050] FIG. 22F illustrates an example blade structure from a side view for a
food recycler;
[0051] FIG. 22G illustrates an example blade structure from a top view for a
food recycler;
[0052] FIG. 22H illustrates an example blade structure from a top view for a
food recycler;
[0053] FIG. 221 illustrates various views of an example blade structure for a
food recycler;
[0054] FIG. 22J illustrates various views of an example blade structure for a
food recycler;
[0055] FIG. 23 illustrates various views of an example blade structure for a
food recycler;
[0056] FIG. 24 illustrates a view of another example blade structure for a
food recycler;
[0057] FIG. 25 illustrates a view of another example blade structure for a
food recycler;
[0058] FIG. 26A illustrates a view of a bucket for a food recycler;
100591 FIG. 26B is a cross sectional view of the bucket and a grinder
mechanism for a food
recycler;
[0060] FIG. 26C illustrates another view of a bucket and grinder structure for
a food recycler;
[0061] FIG. 27A illustrates another bucket design with an offset handle;
100621 FIG. 27B illustrates a sectional view of the interior structure of the
bucket in FIG.
27A;
[0063] FIG. 27C illustrates a top view of the bucket, grinding mechanism and
blade
structures for the bucket shown in FIG. 27A;
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[0064] FIG. 27D illustrates another top view of the bucket of FIG. 27A with
the handle in a
different position relative to FIG. 27C;
[0065] FIG. 27E illustrates a side view of the bucket with the handle in a
different position
than in FIG. 27A;
[0066] FIG. 27F illustrates an emptying position of the bucket and the use of
the handle;
[0067] FIG. 28A illustrates a bottom view of the bucket of FIG. 27A;
[0068] FIG. 28B illustrates a perspective view of the bottom of the bucket of
FIG. 27A;
[0069] FIGs. 29A-C illustrate various views of an example grinding mechanism;
[0070] FIGs. 30A-C illustrate various view of another example grinding
mechanism; and
[0071] FIGs. 31A-F illustrate various round objects used to illustrate a
curvature of the
grinding mechanism at various locations.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0072] Various embodiments of the disclosure are discussed in detail below.
While specific
implementations are discussed, it should he understood that this is done for
illustration
purposes only. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other
components and
configurations may be used without parting from the spirit and scope of the
disclosure.
OVERVIEW
[0073] Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be set forth
in the
description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description,
or can be learned
by practice of the herein disclosed principles. The features and advantages of
the disclosure
can be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations
particularly
pointed out in the appended claims. These and other features of the disclosure
will become
more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or can
be learned
by the practice of the principles set forth herein.
100741 The following description is organized around a number of different
technologies. It
is noted that this is not meant to imply that the present application is
focused on particular
separate embodiments. Any of the features described in any of the examples
below can be
combined with any other feature in order to arrive at an improved food
recycling appliance.
The features are generally organized in terms of an example that focuses on
volumetric
efficiency, another example that focuses on energy efficiency, yet another
example that
focuses on a grinding tool configured within a bucket of the food recycling
appliance, another
example focusing on an Internet of Things (IoT) aspect of this disclosure
which enables
identification of contents within a bucket of a food recycling appliance, a
communication of
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that identification to a central server and for other control mechanisms, as
well as an example
focusing on an improvement with respect to odor control by introducing a
replaceable filter
and various configurations for utilizing replaceable filters within the
context of the food
recycling appliance, and another example focusing on a design which enables
infusion of
foodstuffs to a liquid food solution and desiccation of food waste into
granular media. As
noted above, various features could be combined to arrive at particular
examples. For
example, a food recycling appliance could include one of the described new
grinding
components in connection with a replaceable filter contained within the lid of
the food
recycling appliance. Another example improvement could include an improved
size of the
bucket with the components configured internally to enable for a larger bucket
in the
horizontal XY direction, with the addition of an RF heating component
configured within the
lid of the food recycling appliance.
100751 This disclosure now turns to an introductory description of the various
new features
associated with an improved food recycling appliance. One feature introduced
in this
continuation in part patent application is a new bucket design_ In this
regard, a food recycler
can include a housing having a housing volume, a motor in electrical
communication with a
controller and a bucket configurable in the housing. The bucket can include an
interior
surface having thereon a set of projections. The set of projections can
include at least a first
projection at a first level and a second projection at a second level, wherein
a first position of
the first projection is horizontally offset from a second position of the
second projection. A
grinding mechanism can be in mechanical communication with the motor and
configured
within the bucket.
[0076] The grinding mechanism can include a first arm connected to a
rotational member, the
first arm having a first distal end adjacent to the interior surface of the
bucket and that has a
first height covering at least the first level and the second level, the first
distal end of the first
arm can include a first arm first notch complementary to the first projection
and a first arm
second notch complementary to the second projection and a second arm connected
to the
rotational member. The second arm can have a second distal end adjacent to the
interior
surface of the bucket and that has a second height covering at least the first
level and the
second level. The second distal end of the second arm can include a second arm
first notch
complementary to the first projection and a second arm second notch
complementary to the
second projection. FIGs. 26A-26C illustrates this new bucket and grinding
mechanism
feature.
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[0077] The interior surface can be cylindrical in shape or other shapes as
well. The first
position of the first projection in one aspect does not overlap horizontally
the second position
of the second projection or the first position of the first projection
partially overlap
horizontally the second position of the second projection.
[0078] The food recycler can include a drying component configured to remove
water from
waste food items placed within the bucket.
[0079] The bucket further can include a third projection at a third level,
wherein a third
position of the third projection is horizontally offset from the second
position of the second
projection. The bucket further can further include a fourth projection at a
fourth level,
wherein a fourth position of the fourth projection is horizontally offset from
the third position
of the third projection. The first position, the second position, the third
position and the
fourth position do not overlap in a vertical direction in one aspect, while in
other aspects, they
could overlap at least in part.
[0080] The first distal end of the first arm further can include a first arm
third notch
complementary to the third projection and the second distal end of the second
arm further can
include a second arm third notch complementary to the third projection. The
first distal end
of the first arm further can include a first arm fourth notch complementary to
the fourth
projection and the second distal end of the second arm further can include a
second arm
fourth notch complementary to the fourth projection. The first arm and the
second arm can
each extend in a curving structure from the rotational member to have the
first distal end and
the second distal end respectively adjacent to the interior surface.
[0081] As the motor causes the grinding member to rotate, waste food is ground
via
interaction with the first projection and the first arm first notch and the
second projection and
the first arm second notch. As the motor causes the grinding member to rotate,
the waste
food is ground via interaction with the first projection and the second arm
first notch and the
second projection and the second arm second notch.
[0082] In another example, a bucket configured for use in a food recycler can
include an
interior surface and a plurality of sets of projections configured on the
interior surface. Each
set of projections of the plurality of sets of projections can include at
least three projections in
which each of the at least three projections is horizontally offset from each
other and a
grinding mechanism.
[0083] The grinding mechanism can include a first arm with first notches
matching a number
of projections in each set of projections, the first notches in the first arm
complementary to a
configuration of the projections in each set of projections and a second arm
with second
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notches matching the number of projections in each set of projections, the
second notches in
the second arm complementary to the configuration of the projections in each
set of
proj ections.
[0084] Each set of projections can include in one example four projections.
The first notches
can include four notches in the first arm and the second notches can include
four notches in
the second arm. The interior surface can be configured on a first portion of
the bucket. The
bucket further can include a second portion of the bucket connected to the
first portion of the
bucket, wherein the second portion is higher than the first portion. The
second portion of the
bucket can include a second interior surface, a top surface, and an exterior
surface of the
bucket. The first portion of the bucket can include a bottom surface having an
opening for a
rotational member to connect a motor to the grinding mechanism. A base member
can
connect a distal end of the exterior surface of the second portion of the
bucket to the bottom
surface of the first portion of the bucket.
[0085] The first arm of the grinding mechanism can be attached to a rotational
member at a
first arm first end, the first notches in the first arm can be configured in a
first arm second
end, the second arm of the grinding mechanism is attached to the rotational
member at a
second arm first end and the second notches in the second arm can be
configured in a second
arm second end.
[0086] In one aspect, the first arm first end has a first height and the first
arm second end has
a second height which is larger than the first height and the second arm first
end has the first
height and the second arm second end has the second height. The first arm
second end can
include the first notches and the second arm second end can include the second
notches.
FIGs. 26A-26C illustrate the further details of the bucket design.
[0087] Another feature needed in the art is a food recycler that has a certain
volumetric
efficiency. A food recycler in this regard can include a housing having a
housing volume, a
motor in electrical communication with a controller, a grinding mechanism in
mechanical
communication with the motor and a bucket having a bucket volume, the bucket
being
configured with the grinding mechanism contained therein. A ratio of the
bucket volume to
the housing volume can be between 0.0717 and 0.2857, inclusive. The motor can
be
configured within the housing adjacent, at least in part, to the bucket. The
food recycler can
include a drying component configured to remove water from waste food items
placed within
the bucket.
[0088] The food recycler can further include a controller including a set of
indicators and at
least one user interface component usable to at least initiate food recycling
and a gearbox
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configured below the bucket and in mechanical communication with the motor and
the
grinding mechanism. In one aspect, the bucket volume can include between 2.51
and 10
liters, inclusive. The food recycler may consume 0.1 kilowatt hours of energy
per 100 grams
of the waste food items. The housing volume can include between 8.79 liters
and 35 liters.
[0089] In another aspect, a food recycler can include a case having a case
volume between
8.79 liters and 35 liters, a control system, a user interface in electrical
communication with
the control system, a bucket being configured with a bucket volume, a motor in
communication with the control system, the motor being configured adjacent at
least in part
to the bucket, a gearbox configured below the bucket and in mechanical
communication with
the motor, a filter system and a drying component configured to remove water
from waste
food items. The user interface is usable to cause the control system to
initiate a food recycling
cycle. In one aspect, a ratio of the bucket volume to the case volume can be
between 0.0717
and 0.2857.
[0090] In one example, a bucket can have a 5 liter size within a 28.9 liter
housing or vessel
size. These values can vary up to 20% up or down in either direction when the
values are
described as being approximate values or when a size is described as
approximately. In one
aspect, the bucket can be approximately 5 liters in size or larger and the
housing size can be
approximately 28.9 liters or smaller. In order to obtain these ratios of a
larger bucket size
within a smaller housing volume, the engineering of the interior recycling
components is
important to enable this volumetric efficiency.
[0091] Another feature that is needed in the art is an improved system that is
reconfigured
and reengineered to enable infusion of foodstuffs to a liquid food solution
and desiccation of
food waste into granular media. In one aspect, different buckets can have a
particular
structural component that indicates whether the food items contained within
the respective
bucket are to be prepared as a liquid food solution or processed to be
compost. The unit can
be capable of identifying the structure and purpose of each of the buckets
that can be inserted
into the unit in order to determine whether a user desired to infuse
foodstuffs to a liquid food
solution or desiccate food waste into granular media, such as compost. Thus,
the unit is to
perform the primary functions of infusing nutrients and flavors from waste
food into a liquid
food solution and of desiccating food waste into granular media, as requested
by a user of the
unit. Accordingly, the following description provides an improved
configuration for a food
recycler designed for home use and which performs these functions. In another
aspect, the
bucket can be the same and the user interface can confirm from the user which
mode to
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operate in. A graphical interface can present options or buttons or other
interactive features
can enable the user to choose the mode.
[0092] To enable improved desiccation of waste food items, the unit is
reconfigured to
include vacuum accelerated dryers. Vacuum accelerated dryers have a long
industrial history
of accelerated desiccation covering a wide spectrum of material drying
processes. For
instance, such vacuum accelerated dryers have been used for low temperature
vacuum freeze
drying of food stuffs, ambient temperature desiccation of pharmaceutical
compounds,
medium temperature desiccation of feed and foodstuffs (e.g., fruits,
vegetables, meats, etc.),
and high-temperature industrial desiccation for the creation of polymer and
ceramic
materials. The unit uses a combination of heat and vacuum to accelerate
desiccation of
organic materials, thus reducing the amount of time required to desiccate food
waste and
improving the overall energy efficiency of the unit.
100931 The improved food recycling unit further includes two classes of
vessels that may be
inserted into the unit: a pot vessel for the collection of foodstuffs
appropriate for processing
into a food solution (e.g., stocks, broths, etc.) and a bucket vessel for the
collection of organic
waste that is to be processed into dry, granular media. Both vessels are
distinct in appearance
and purpose, but share a dual function as receptacle and processing
environment. For
instance, the pot vessel and the bucket vessel can both serve as receptacles
for organic food
and organic food waste at the point of creation. Once filled, the bucket
vessel or the pot
vessel is placed in the unit for processing using the appropriate function for
the contents and
for the desired outcome. In some examples, placement of a vessel into the unit
causes the unit
to mechanically identify the structure and purpose of the vessel. This causes
the unit to
determine which function to perform for the contents and for the desired
outcome.
[0094] If a user introduces a pot vessel into the unit, the user can select,
via a user interface
on the unit, a program that when executed by the unit identifies the contents
and desired
outcome. The program can include a formula and/or recipe that the unit can use
to produce a
specific stock or broth by grinding, heating, holding at a specified
temperature, stirring and
holding at safe temperatures the organic food items introduced into the
vessel. During this
process, the unit can provide, to the user, feedback and alerts.
100951 If a user introduces a bucket vessel into the unit, the user can
select, via the user
interface, from a variety of different processing profiles, which can be based
on the desired
time to complete the desiccation of the contents, desired energy usage, or
other factors
external to the unit (e.g., temperature, odor, etc.). The unit, during the
desiccation cycle can
perform various operations such as grinding, stirring, mixing, heating, using
vacuum, using
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air movement, condensing, using air filtration, and humidity and temperature
sensing to
create a specified granular media output.
[0096] In addition to the vessels, the unit can include a bucket vessel lid
with odor control
features, a pot vessel lid with fluid containment features, a pot vessel dual
concentric strainer
to create a clear liquid column void of solids and non-aqueous fats and
containment of solids
and fats for separation and diversion to appropriate waste streams, filters,
additional pot
vessels and bucket vessels, external thermostat interface, food ingredients
supporting the
infusion process, dry bacterial culture to recolonize beneficial bacteria in
dry granular media
when used as soil or as a soil supplement.
[0097] In an example, the food recycler includes a housing, a pot vessel that
includes a first
feature that serves to indicate a request to execute an infusion cycle using
the contents within
the pot vessel, a bucket vessel that includes a second feature that serves to
indicate a request
to execute a desiccation cycle using the contents within the bucket vessel,
and an interior wall
that forms a cavity within the housing and that is configured to receive the
pot vessel and the
bucket vessel. The food recycler further includes a controller within the
housing that includes
a set of indicators and one or more user interface (UI) components that can be
used to
configure the cycles. The food recycler also includes a set of sensors
positioned within the
interior wall to detect when the pot vessel or the bucket vessel are inserted
into the cavity, a
motor in electrical communication with the controller, and a set of components
within the
housing that can perform the infusion cycle and the desiccation cycle as
needed.
[0098] In an example, the pot vessel is constructed from a ferromagnetic
material to allow for
generation of heat within the pot vessel while in an electromagnetic field.
[0099] In an example, the set of components of the food recycler include a
vacuum and purge
air pump that produces a negative pressure within the bucket vessel during the
desiccation
cycle and removes moisture laden air resulting from the desiccation cycle.
101001 In another example, the food recycler further includes a hall effect
sensor that is
configured to detect a jam within the food recycler resulting from either the
desiccation cycle
or the infusion cycle.
101011 In an example, the food recycler further includes an RF component that
is used to
control the temperature within the pot vessel during an infusion cycle and
within the bucket
vessel during a desiccation cycle.
[0102] In an example, the food recycler further includes a humidity sensor
that is used by the
controller to obtain humidity readings within the bucket vessel during a
desiccation cycle to
determine whether the desiccation cycle has been completed.
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[0103] In another example, the interior wall that forms the cavity within the
food recycle is
constructed to include a thermal layer and an acoustic insulation layer to
reduce heat transfer
from the pot vessel and the bucket vessel and to reduce acoustic transmission
resulting from
the infusion cycle and the desiccation cycle, respectively.
[0104] In yet another example, the bucket vessel includes a rotor that is used
to pulverize the
contents within the bucket vessel and generates a mix flow of these contents
in the bucket
vessel during the desiccation cycle.
101051 In an example, the set of sensors within the food recycler include a
first sensor
positioned to a first side of the interior wall and configured to detect the
unique feature of the
pot vessel and a second sensor positioned to a second side of the interior
wall and configured
to detect the unique feature of the bucket vessel.
101061 In an example, a method is implemented that includes the steps of
detecting insertion
of a vessel into a food recycler, determining a cycle to be performed to
convert the contents
within the vessel into a product based on one or more features of the vessel,
identifying the
contents within the vessel, initiating one or more components of the food
recycler to perform
the cycle based on the contents within the vessel, detecting completion of the
cycle, and
indicating the completion of the cycle and providing the product resulting
from the cycle. The
cycle is one of a desiccation cycle to generate granular material and an
infusion cycle to
generate an edible food solution.
[0107] In an example, the one or more features of the vessel correspond to the
desiccation
cycle. As such, the method further includes identifying, based on these
features, that the
desiccation cycle is to be performed. In an alternative example, the one or
more features of
the vessel correspond to the infusion cycle. Thus, for the purpose of this
alternative example,
the method further includes identifying, based on these features, that the
infusion cycle is to
be performed.
101081 In an example, the method further includes determining the volume and
water content
of the contents within the vessel. Based on the contents, the volume of these
contents, and the
water content, the duration of the cycle is determined and set.
101091 In an example, once the final product has been produced at the end of
either the
infusion or desiccation cycle, the temperature within the vessel is maintained
at a specific
temperature to ensure stable storage of the product.
[0110] In another example, the method further includes detecting a jam within
the vessel,
stopping the one or more components of the food recycler, initiating a rotor
within the vessel
in a particular direction to eliminate the jam, detecting that the jam has
been cleared from the
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vessel, and re-initiating the one or more components of the food recycler to
resume
performance of the cycle.
[0111] In yet another example, the method includes obtaining, via a UI of the
food recycler,
one or more parameters for converting the contents in the vessel into the
product, and
identifying, based on these parameters, the one or more components of the food
recycler that
are to be used in order to perform the cycle in accordance with the obtained
parameters.
[0112] In an example, the method further includes monitoring agitation of the
contents, heat
application within vessel, and the temperature within the vessel to generate a
temperature
hysteresis range, and maintaining, based on this temperature hysteresis range,
a cycle
temperature within the vessel to produce the product.
[0113] In an example, the method includes monitoring the humidity within the
vessel during
the cycle to determine whether the cycle has been completed. If the humidity
within the
vessel falls below a minimum threshold value, the cycle is complete.
[0114] Another example structure for an updated food cycler can include a base
component
including and a base rim, at least one air intake opening, a gearbox, and a
motor component
having a motor and a top surface, the motor being in mechanical communication
with the
gearbox, an airflow component configured to be positioned on the top surface
of the motor
component, a fan component including a fan and positioned on an intake port of
the airflow
component and a filter component having an air filter configured therein. The
filter
component can be configured on an output port of the airflow component.
[0115] The food cycler can further include a bucket receptacle configured on
the gearbox of
the base component and configured to receive a bucket, wherein the fan
component and the
filter component are configured adjacent to an upper portion of the bucket
receptacle, a
casing having a lower rim complimentary to the base rim and configured such
that the casing
sits on the base rim, the casing having a first interior volume complimentary
to the bucket
receptacle, a second interior volume complimentary to the fan component, and a
third interior
volume complimentary to the filter component, a control switch configured in
the casing, a
lid configured with a hinge to the casing such that access to the bucket
receptacle is provided
by opening the lid and a controller configured to be in electrical
communication with the
motor, the fan and the control switch for operating the food recvcler.
101161 The motor can be configured in the base component to be at least in
part to a side of a
lower portion of the bucket receptacle. The lid can further be configured to
enable air to flow
from a top portion of the bucket receptacle through the lid and down to the
fan component. A
control switch and a lid latch can be configured in a front surface of the
casing and further
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can be configured adjacent to each other with the latch on top and the control
button within 2
mm of and below the latch. A benefit to the control button and latch
configuration is that the
user interaction with the system is focused on a single area of the system and
is simplified for
the user.
[0117] Upon an operation of the fan, air can be drawn into the casing via the
at least one air
intake opening in the base component, up an interior wall of the bucket
receptacle, into the
lid, down through the fan component, through the airflow component, and up
through the
filter component.
[0118] The air can flow from the filter component into the lid and the lid
further can include
an exhaust opening in a top of the lid and optionally at a rear portion of the
lid. The exhaust
opening can be configured on the top of the lid and within 2 cm of a hinge.
The system can
also be configured such that air can flow from the filter component to an
exhaust opening on
a rear surface of the food recycler, the exhaust opening being either in the
lid or below the lid.
[0119] A ratio of a first volume of the bucket relative to a second volume
including an
overall volume of the food recycler can be between 0.0717 and .2857.
[0120] In one aspect, the control switch can be tilted and configured on a
front surface of the
casing. The food recycler further can include a latching mechanism configured
to open the
lid upon a user interacting with the latching mechanism, wherein the latching
mechanism is
configured above and adjacent to the control switch. The control switch can
have a front
surface configured in a first plane that is at a 5-30 degree angle relative to
a second plane
defined by the front surface of the casing. The casing can include a rear
surface that is
configured at an angle and the rear surface of the casing can include an
exhaust opening. The
angle can be defined between a vertical plane and a rear surface plane
associated with the rear
surface of the food recycler. In one aspect, the exhaust opening in the rear
surface of the
casing is configured at a top portion of the rear surface.
101211 The bucket can include a cutting blade system having a central column,
at least one
cutting member each extending at a different level from the central column and
at least one
cross blade attached to opposite sides of the bucket, the at least one cross
blade configured
between two of the at least one cutting member. Where there is only one
cutting member, it
can pass above or below the cross-blade. The blade system can include a first
cross blade
and a second cross blade, and even a third cross blade. These blades can be
configured in an
arc shape, partially circular or can be configured as shown in the figures.
Other
configurations are contemplated as well.
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[0122] The first cross blade can be configured between a first cutting member
and a second
cutting member, and the second cross blade is configured between the second
cutting member
and a third cutting member.
[0123] In one aspect, the air filter can be a compostable filter and have a
side wall configured
not to allow air to travel therethrough, a bottom opening, a top opening, and
a handle for
removing the air filter from the filter component.
[0124] A food recycler in another aspect can include a casing having a casing
front surface
and a lid, a motor configured in mechanical communication with a gearbox, the
motor
configured within the casing, and a tilted switch in communication with a
control system for
turning the food recycler on and off. The tilted switch can be configured in
the casing front
surface of the food recycler and has a switch front surface configured in a
first plane that is 5
¨ 30 degrees relative to a second plane defined by the casing front surface
and a latch
positioned adjacent to and above the tilted switch. The latch can be
configured to open the
lid upon a user operating the latch.
[0125] An example method of recycling food in a food recycler includes drawing
air, via a
fan, through an air intake opening at a base of the food recycler according to
a first air path,
drawing the air, via the fan, from the first air path across a motor
compartment according to a
second air path, drawing the air, via the fan, from the second air path across
a gearbox and up
through a channel between a bucket and a bucket receptacle of the food
recycler according to
a third air path, drawing the air, via the fan, from the third air path and
into the bucket
according to a fourth air path, drawing the air, via the fan, from the fourth
air path out of the
bucket and into a lid of the food recycler according to a fifth air path,
drawing the air, via the
fan, from the fifth air path to a filter component according to a sixth air
path and drawing the
air, via the fan, from the sixth air path to away from the food recycler
according to a seventh
air path. The bucket receptacle can have a heater or heating component built
in to provide
heat to the bucket.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0126] The present disclosure addresses the issues raised above. In this
disclosure, a food
recycler will be presented that covers different types of re-configurations of
internal
components such that the food recycler can process organic food waste to
generate either
nutrient preserved stable granular media via desiccation of the food waste or
a nutrient and
flavor infused foodstuff (e.g., stocks, broths, etc.). As noted above, an
important feature of
the new food recycler disclosed herein is that it is able to detect and
identify which process,
either for desiccation of food waste or for infusion of the nutrients and
flavors of the food
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waste into a foodstuff, that is to be performed based on the placement of an
appropriate
bucket into the food recycler. Accordingly, the new configurations present
innovative
solutions to enable either process through a single device that is sized to
permit use in the
home, particularly on a kitchen counter top, for example.
[0127] One aspect of this disclosure will relate to the control system that is
used to manage
and control the recycling process. Part of this disclosure can include changes
or
improvements to the control system such that the food recycling process takes
less time or is
performed in a more energy efficient manner. The disclosure provides a system,
method and
computer-readable storage device related to the control system. As will be
described in more
detail herein, the control system will manage the various components such as
the motor, a
heater, a dehumidification system, a fan, and the user interface.
[0128] First, a general example computer system shall be disclosed in FIG. 1,
which can
provide some basic hardware components making up a server, a node, a
controller, or other
computer system or system for controlling cycles and processing of waste food
according to
the concepts disclosed herein. FIG. 1 illustrates computing system
architecture 100,
according to an aspect of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 1, the
components of the
system architecture 100 (or simply system 100) are in electrical communication
with each
other using a connector 105. Exemplary system 100 includes a processing unit
(CPU or
processor) 110 and a system connector 105 that couples various system
components
including the system memory 115, such as read only memory (ROM) 120 and random
access
memory (RAM) 125, to the processor 110. The system 100 can include a cache of
high-speed
memory connected directly with, in close proximity to, or integrated as part
of the processor
110. The system 100 can copy data from the memory 115 and/or the storage
device 130 to the
cache 112 for quick access by the processor 110. In this way, the cache can
provide a
performance boost that avoids processor 110 delays while waiting for data.
These and other
modules/services can control or be configured to control the processor 110 to
perform various
actions. Other system memory 115 may be available for use as well. The memory
115 can
include multiple different types of memory with different The processor 110
can include any
general purpose processor and a hardware module or software module/service,
such as
service 1 132, service 2 134, and service 3 136 stored in storage device 130,
configured to
control the processor 110 as well as a special-purpose processor where
software instructions
are incorporated into the actual processor design. The processor 110 may be a
self-contained
computing system, for example, containing multiple cores or processors, a bus
(connector),
memory controller, cache, etc. A multi-core processor may be symmetric or
asymmetric.
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[0129] To enable user interaction with the computing device 100, an input
device 145 can
represent a variety of input mechanisms, such as a microphone for speech, a
touch-sensitive
screen for gesture or graphical input, a keyboard and/or mouse, e.g., for
motion input and so
forth. An output device 135 can also be one or more of a number of output
mechanisms
known to those of skill in the art. In some instances, multimodal systems can
enable a user to
provide multiple types of input to communicate with the computing device 100.
The
communications interface 140 can generally govern and manage the user input
and system
output. There is no restriction on operating on any particular hardware
arrangement and
therefore the basic features here may easily be substituted for improved
hardware or firmware
arrangements as they are developed.
[0130] Storage device 130 is a non-volatile memory and can be a hard disk or
other types of
computer readable media which can store data that are accessible by a
computer, such as
magnetic cassettes, flash memory cards, solid state memory devices, digital
versatile disks,
cartridges, random access memories (RAMs) 125, read only memory (ROM) 120,
and/or
hybrids thereof
[0131] The storage device 130 can include software services 132, 134, 136 for
controlling the
processor 110. Other hardware or software modules/services are contemplated.
The storage
device 130 can be connected to the system connector 105. In one aspect, a
hardware module
that performs a particular function can include the software component stored
in a computer-
readable medium in connection with the necessary hardware components, such as
the
processor 110, connector 105, display 135, and so forth, to carry out the
function.
[0132] FIG. 2A illustrates one example configurations for food recycler. It is
noted that in the
various examples shown, that any particular feature shown in any example can
be combined
with any other example and that the discussion around the respective figures
is not intended
to describe separate embodiments that are not interchangeable with respect to
individual
features.
[0133] FIG. 2A shows one optional example in which the internal configuration
of the food
recycler 200 is shown such that the motor and gearbox layout positions are
changed as well
as the configuration of the air filters in the same overall volume size. A
goal of this example
is to provide more space in the horizontal or Z direction that can enable an
increase of the
debt of the bucket to be larger than existing configurations. The food
recycler 200 includes a
lid 204 that can be twisted into an open and unlocked position from a closed
and locked
position. A handle is shown on the lid with a concave surface to enable user
to be able to grab
the handle.
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[0134] A top supporting structure 202 is shown in FIGs. 2A and 2B. FIGs. 2A
and 2B do not
show the exterior surface of a cover to the food recycler 200, only the
supporting structure.
Indicators can be provided to the user on the cover of the food recycler 200.
The user
interface for the food recycler 200 can include a number of different types of
user interface.
Typically, a button is pressed by the user to start the cycle. Lights can be
presented to the user
to identify the status of a cycle. The user interface could also be graphical
in nature or
through a touch sensitive screen that can present data about the status of the
cycle and enable
the user to initiate or stop the cycle.
[0135] The configuration of components within FIGs. 2A and 2B are as follows.
The motor
218 is positioned low in the food recycler and to the side of the expanded
bucket 206. The
bucket 206 is within a bucket container 208. A fan 214 and an air duct 216
connect through
another air duct 212 with one or more air filters 210. The air filters contain
a material through
which the air flows for deodorizing. An exhaust port can be configured at one
end of the air
filters 210 for releasing the odorless air into the room.
[0136] A transfer case 220 is positioned also next to the motor 218 and to the
side of the
bucket container 208. The transfer case enables mechanical energy to be
transferred from the
motor 218 to the gearbox 222. The gearbox is connected to a grinding mechanism
that is
configured within the bucket. The grinding component can be of any
configuration.
[0137] A controller 224 is electrically connected to the various components so
as to control
the cycle of operation for drying waste food, grinding waste food, heating
waste food,
infusing nutrients and other elements of waste food into a liquid food
solution, and the like.
[0138] The volumetric size of the food recycler 200 is preferably a width of
approximately
270 mm 328, a length of approximately 310 mm 326, and a height of
approximately 360 mm
330. The height is an important component as the food recycler 300 is designed
to be a
countertop in a kitchen or some other home environment. Typically, if there
are cupboards
above the countertop in a kitchen, there is approximately 18 inches of space
between the
countertop and the covered. Accordingly, providing a countertop appliance of
approximately
14 inches is preferable for enabling the user to access the bucket 206 through
removing the
lid 204.
101391 In one aspect, this disclosure may refer to an approximate measurement
or an
approximate length. In this scenario, the measurement can be +/- 20% of the
given height.
Thus, providing a height of a food recycler 200 of approximately 360 mm and
can include a
range of 324mm ¨ 396mm. As described above, the components within the food
recycler 200
are redesigned and reconfigured such that a ratio of a first volume of a
bucket 206 that
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receives waste food relative to the overall volume of the food recycler case
is between 0.0717
and 0.2857. Further, as noted above, as a result of this redesign and
reconfiguration of the
components of the food recycler 200, the bucket 206 can have a capacity to
receive waste
food of between 2.51 liters to 10 liters, resulting in a possible volumetric
capacity of the food
recycler 300 being between 8.79 liters and 35 liters.
[0140] While the height of the food recycler 200 can be of approximately 360
mm and can
include a range of 324mm ¨ 396mm, the approximate length and width of the food
recycler
200 can vary in accordance with the volumetric capacity of the bucket 306
(e.g., 2.51 liters to
liters) and of the food recycler 200 (e.g., 8.79 liters to 35 liters), subject
to the ratio
between the volumetric capacity of the bucket 306 and the volumetric capacity
of the food
recycler 200. This can result in each of the length and width of the food
recycler 200 being
within a range of 165mm ¨ 329mm.
101411 Accordingly, the food recycler 200 includes a housing that is
configured with: a
height between 324mm and 396mm, a length between 165mm and 329mm, and a width
between 165mm and 329mm. Further, the food recycler 200 includes a controller
224 that
includes a set of indicators and at least one user interface (U1) component
that can be used to
initiate a food recycling cycle. The controller 224 can be located within a
first interior side of
the housing and the UI component is configured to be accessible from the
exterior of the
housing. The UI component can include one or more of tactile buttons,
touchscreens, dials,
knobs, and the like. The food recycler 200 further includes a motor 218 that
is in electrical
communication with the controller 224 and is also located within the first
interior side of the
housing. Along with the motor 218, the food recycler 200 includes a grinding
mechanism in
mechanical communication with the motor 218. As noted above, the food recycler
200
includes a bucket 206 that has a volumetric capacity between 2.51 liters and
10 liters. This
bucket 306 is positioned to a second interior side of the housing and opposite
the first interior
side where the motor 218, controller 224, and UI component are located.
[0142] As shown in FIGs. 2A and 2B, the air filters 210 are configured in the
upper portion
of the internal volume of the food recycler 200. The motor 218 is positioned
in the lower
portion of the food recycler 200 with at least a portion of the motor
overlapping the bucket
container 208.
101431 In one aspect, the user could download an app on a mobile device 250 or
a desktop
device that can be used to control the food recycler 200. The controller 224
can include an
antenna or a controlled connection with an antenna configured within the food
recycler 200
such that the user device 250 can communicate with the device 200 wirelessly.
Any wireless
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protocol such as Wi-Fi, cellular, Bluetooth, near Field communication, and so
forth, are
contemplated as being potential to medication protocols between a device 250
and the food
recycler 200. In this regard, the user could remotely, either within the same
building or from
any location outside the building, either initiate a cycle, receive status
reports on the progress
of the cycle, receive error reports, and so forth through communication with
the food recycler
200.
[0144] For example, in one aspect, the food recycler 200 could include in the
lid 204 or some
other location within the food recycler 200, a light and a camera (not shown)
which can
enable the user to view the contents of the bucket 206. Images or video to be
received by the
camera and transmitted as instructed by the controller 224 to a network node
such that the
user could retrieve those images through an app or through a website to
visually see the
progress of the cycle and the state of the waste food in the recycle process.
101451 FIG. 2C illustrates a method example of processing waste food. The
method includes
receiving waste food within a bucket contained within a food recycling
appliance (250),
heating the waste food within the bucket (252), drying the waste food within
the bucket
(254), and grinding the waste food with a grinding component contained within
the food
recycling appliance, wherein the food recycling appliance includes a
controller, a motor in
communication with the controller, a grinding mechanism in mechanical
communication with
the motor, a bucket contained within the food recycler appliance that is
configured to contain
the grinding mechanism and configured to receive waste food and a drying
component
configured to remove water from the waste food, and wherein the food recycler
is configured
to have an overall appliance volume of 35 liters or less and wherein the
controller, the motor,
and the drying component are configured within the food recycler to enable the
bucket to
have a capacity to receive waste food of between 2.51 liters to 10 liters,
inclusive (256). The
volume of the bucket can be between 2.51 liters or 10 liters, in size.
101461 FIGs. 3A and 3B illustrate other example configurations for a food
recycler 300. FIG.
3A shows a food recycler 300 having a lid 304 and a supporting structure 302
for a cover (not
shown) of the food recycler 300. This configuration seeks to improve the
volumetric
efficiency in the XY direction for the bucket contained within the bucket
container 306. In
this example, the fan 314 and air filters 316, air duct 318 and second air
duct 320 are
positioned near the top of the unit. The motor 312 is positioned below the
bucket and along a
side, and even approaching a corner of the unit. The transfer case 322 is also
positioned
below the bucket and adjacent to the motor 418. The controller 310 is also
configured below
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the bucket as well as the gearbox 308. Using this configuration, the bucket
diameter can be
increased.
[0147] Another aspect of this disclosure relates to an improvement in the
chopping
component or the grinding component. There are a variety of different improved
configurations that will be discussed. One of the problems with other chopping
or grinding
components is that these may not adequately chop or grind all of the different
types of waste
food that are possible. For example, bones from animal waste can be difficult
to chop or grind
and other configurations currently used may not be sufficient to handled
bones.
[0148] FIG. 3C illustrates an example method of operating a food recycling
appliance. A
food recycling method includes receiving waste food within a bucket contained
within a food
recycling appliance (350), heating the waste food within the bucket using an
RF heating
component (352), drying the waste food within the bucket (354) and grinding
the waste food
with a grinding component contained within the food recycling appliance (356).
[0149] FIGs. 4A ¨ 4E illustrate the improved configuration. With reference to
FIG. 4A, a
chopping component or grinding component 400 is disclosed. The component
includes a
primary column 401 that is mechanically attached to the motor system 424 of
the food
recycler. The controller described herein provides instructions to the motor
for rotating the
primary column 401 and a first direction as part of a cycle and then in a
second direction as
part of the food recycling cycle. A first arm 418 extends from the primary
column 401. A
first end of the first arm can be characterized as the end that attaches to
the primary column
401. A first vertical surface 403 is shown as being part of or near the first
and of the first arm
418. A second vertical surface 402 is shown at a distal end of the first arm
418. The overall
curved vertical surface 410 extends along the entire length of the first arm
418. A top surface
417 can be flat such that the first arm 418 travels below a fixed chopping
projection 414
which is connected to a supporting structure 408 that is attached 407 to a
wall of a bucket 430
(See FIG. 4B). The first arm 418 extends at a certain elevation such that it
travels below the
fixed chopping projection 414.
[0150] The first arm 418 includes a blade 416 that is configured to extend
from the top
surface 517 of the first arm and in a direction opposite the curve surface
410. The blade 416
can be straight or curved and is configured to be complementary to a portion
of the chopping
projection 414 such that food can be chopped by the action of the first arm
418 rotating in a
counterclockwise direction and moving beneath the chopping projection 414.
[0151] A second arm 404 extends at a higher elevation, relative to the certain
elevation
associated with the first arm 418 from the primary column 401. The second arm
404 has a
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flattop surface 412 and a curved vertical surface 411 and a flat vertical
surface 421. The
second arm 404 includes a first curved vertical surface configured near the
primary column
401 where the second arm 404 attaches to the primary column 401. At a distal
end, there is a
second curved vertical surface that, in one aspect, can include teeth 422 or
another configured
surface that can be used to grip or grind waste food. The second arm 404 can
have a first
component 420 and a second component 423 that are configured such that the
first
component 420 travels over the chopping projection 414 as the component 400
rotates as part
of a food recycling cycle. The second component 423 can be configured to
travel adjacent to
the chopping projection 414 as the component rotates.
[0152] FIG. 4B shows a top view of the grinding component 400. The first arm
has a first
distance 432 configured between a first end of the first arm 418 and a wall of
the bucket 430.
The curved nature of the first arm 418 results in the distance 432 being
greater than a second
distance 434 which is identified as the distance between a second end or a
second portion of
the first arm 418 that is distal to the first end. In this regard, as the
grinding component 400
rotates in the clockwise direction, waste food can be compressed inasmuch as
the relative
distance between a vertical edge 410 (shown in FIG. 4A) of the first arm 418
and the wall of
the bucket become shorter as the first arm 418 rotates. Thus, food can be
compressed against
the wall of the bucket in an improved manner over the prior grinding
component.
[0153] Similarly, the second arm 404 includes a curved vertical surface 411
such that a first
distance 436 between the wall of the bucket and a first end of the second
curved arm 404 is
greater than a second distance 438 between a distal vertical surface of the
second curved arm
404 and the wall of the bucket. Again, food can be compressed between the
curve surface 411
and the wall of the bucket as the grinding component 400 rotates in a
clockwise direction.
[0154] A top surface 406 of the primary column can have a sloped surface as
shown in the
figures such that waste food does not remain or settle on top of the primary
column 401 or
can have other configurations.
[0155] A shape of the chopping projection 414 can include a flat upper surface
and a flat
lower surface and a first curved vertical edge with a second curved vertical
edge each
meeting at a distal end with a flat vertical edge as shown in the figures.
Other configurations
are contemplated as well. Generally speaking, the configuration of the
chopping projection
414 is complementary to the first arm 418 and the second arm 404.
[0156] FIG. 4C illustrates a view from below the grinding component 400. The
first
component 420 and the second from component 423 of the second arm 404 are
shown in
more detail. The teeth 422 are shown as part of the distal end of the second
arm 404. The
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exterior vertical surface 450 of the second arm is also shown. Feature 456
shows the vertical
surface of the distal end of the first arm 418. In this figure, a slight
variation on the
configuration of the curved surfaces 450 and 456 are shown. In one aspect, the
surfaces may
be flat or may have a portion of the vertical surface extending further than
another portion of
the vertical surface as shown in FIG. 4C. These services may also include
additional grinding
teeth similar to the teeth 422 shown distributed in various positions along
the surface. For
example, teeth 422 may be configured along the entire vertical surface or in
portions of the
vertical surface for strategic grinding capabilities. The teeth 422 can also
be characterized as
proj ections.
[0157] FIG. 4C also shows the blade 416 which can be beneficial for cutting
high fiber food
waste. The blade 416 is generally configured as an extension of the top
surface of the first
arm 418. A vertical surface 453 is also shown as part of the curved first arm
418. The blade
416 can be an extension of this surface and could be considered also as a
further extension of
the top surface 417 (Shown in FIG. 4A) of the first arm 418.
[0158] FIG. 4D illustrates another view of the grinding component 400. Shown
are some
example structures for mechanically attaching 424 the grinding component 400
to a motor
system. The chopping projection 414 is shown with its supporting mechanism
408. Some
example distances between arm components and the interior wall 431 of the
bucket 430 are
shown. For example, a distance 460 between the vertical surface of the distal
and of the first
arm 418 can be approximately lmm. A distance 462 between the distal end of the
second arm
404 and the wall 430 can be approximately 15mm. These are example distances
and a range
of distances may be employed.
[0159] FIG. 4E illustrates yet another view of the grinding component 400 with
the various
features shown including an end vertical surface 454 of the first arm 418. The
distance 462
between the distal end of the second arm 404 and the wall of the bucket is
shown as well.
This figure also shows the relative positions of the second arm 404 with its
first component
420 positioned above the chopping projection 414 upon rotation. The second
component 423
is shown as being adjacent to the distal end of the chopping projection 414.
[0160] The particular configurations of the arms extending from the primary
column can also
vary in several respects. For example, FIG. 5A illustrates a different
configuration 500 in
which the upper arm 502 extends further towards the wall of the bucket than
the lower arm
504. The chopping projection 508 in this configuration is shown as being
beneath the upper
arm 502. Note the partial overlap between the upper arm 502 and the lower arm
504. A
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supporting structure 506 for the chopping projection 508 is shown as well. A
primary column
510 is used to attach the arms.
[0161] FIG. 5B illustrates another alternate example 520 in which an upper arm
524 is
configured to have a substantial amount of overlap with a lower arm 526. The
chopping
projection 528 is configured such that upon rotation a portion of the upper
arm 524 passes
above a portion of the chopping projection 528 while simultaneously a portion
of the lower
arm 526 passes below the chopping projection 528. A supporting structure 530
enables the
chopping projection 528 to be configured in the wall of the bucket. A primary
column 522 is
used to attach the arms.
[0162] FIG. 5C illustrates yet another example 540 which shows a first upper
arm 544
partially overlapping a lower extending arm 548. A chopping projection 550 is
shown with a
horizontal portion that first extends from the supporting structure 552, a
second portion that is
vertical and the last distal portion that again is horizontal. The lower arm
548 is configured to
rotate below the entire chopping projection 550 and the upper arm 544 is
configured to rotate
adjacent to an above the distal horizontal portion of the chopping projection
550.
[0163] FIG. 6A illustrates yet another example configuration 600 which
includes a chopping
projection supporting structure 604 from which a first horizontal segment
projects 606 which
connects to a vertical portion 608 and a final horizontal distal projection
610. A primary
column 602 includes an extension arm 612 which includes a vertical cutting
wheel 614. The
configuration of the arm 612 is such that a first portion of the arm is
configured to be
complementary to and rotate below the distal horizontal projection 610 of the
chopping
projection. A distal end of the arm 612 is configured to hold the vertical
cutting wheel 614
and also to travel under the first portion of the chopping projection 606 upon
rotation of the
grinding component 600. While the arm 612 is shown generally to be straight in
FIG. 6A, the
configuration could also be curved as well in a similar nature to the other
structures disclosed
herein.
[0164] FIG. 6B illustrates another example structure 620 in which a chopping
component
supporting structure 622 provide support for an example chopping projection
624. A primary
column 630 supports a first leg 628 which is a straight projection from the
column 630. A
second leg 632 projects from the column 630 and includes a distal end 634
which has a
vertical projection which is complementary to a lower surface of the chopping
projection 624.
A third leg 636 extends from the lower portion of the column 630 and includes
a horizontal
cutting wheel 638. In this example, the horizontal cutting wheel 638 is
configured to travel
below the chopping projection 624 upon rotation of the grinding component 620.
A bucket
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626 is shown as supporting the chopping projection 624 and supporting
structure 622. The
arm 628 is configured to pass above the chopping projection 624 in this
example.
[0165] FIG. 7 illustrates another variation in which the traditional arms 706,
708 and 710 can
be used as projecting from a primary column 704 but that a modified stopper
702 is provided.
In this scenario, the distal end of the arm 710 travels above the stopper 702
while the distal
end of leg 706 and the distal end of leg 708 each travel underneath the
stopper 702. The
modified stopper has a first curve surface 714 on a first side of the stopper
702 as well as a
second corresponding and similar curve surface (not numbered) on an opposite
side of the
stopper 702. A distal end of the stopper 712 can have a curved or straight
surface. The
services described herein can, in one example, be sharpened such that as waste
food is
brought into contact with the stopper 702 it can be cut via the movement of
one or more of
the arms 706, 708, 710 against the stopper 702. It is also noted that while
the traditional arms
are included in FIG. 7, any of the arm structures disclosed herein could be
applied to this
example. This is a general principle as well that any of the stopper or
chopper projection
structures could be combined with any of the leg configurations disclosed
herein.
[0166] FIG. 8 illustrates an example method of using a chopping or grinding
component for
processing waste food. The method includes receiving the waste food in a
bucket of a food
recycling unit (802) and chopping the waste food in the bucket using a
chopping component
as part of a food recycling process, wherein the chopping includes rotating
the chopping
component in a first direction as part of the food recycling process and in a
second direction
as part of the food recycling process (804).
[0167] The chopping component, by way of example, includes one or more of: (1)
a primary
column, (2) a first curved arm extending from the primary column at a first
elevation and
having a first vertical surface and a second vertical surface, the first
curved arm having a first
end connected to the primary column and having a first arm distance between a
first end
vertical surface at the first end and a wall of the bucket containing the
grinding component,
the first curved arm having a second end that is distal from the primary
column and having a
second arm distance between a second end vertical surface at the second end
and a wall of the
bucket, the first curved arm having a flat top surface that is configured to
travel beneath a
fixed chopping projection from the wall of the bucket when the primary column
rotates as
controlled by the motor system, and the first curved arm having a sharp edge
projecting from
the flat top surface on a side of the first curved arm that is opposite the
first vertical surface
and (3) a second curved arm extending from the primary column at a second
elevation and
having a first curved vertical surface and a second flat vertical surface, the
second curved arm
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configured to travel above the fixed chopping projection from the wall of the
bucket when the
primary column rotates as controlled by the motor system (806).
ENERGY SAVINGS
[0168] Another aspect of this disclosure relates to providing an alternate
form of heat which
differs from current configurations. The existing food recyclers utilize a
heat plate which
causes heat to be transferred to the bucket and which heats the food as part
of the food
recycling process. This disclosure now introduces a new approach to heating
waste food as
part of the recycling process. This disclosure first introduces microwaves and
microwave
ovens and then applies some of these principles to a new context and a new
structure with
respect to utilizing an RF component to at least, in part, heat waste food as
part of the food
recycling process.
[0169] FIGs. 9A-9D illustrate examples of introduction of an RF component into
a food
recycling appliance. Microwaves have a frequency that can penetrate water, fat
and sugar
molecules and excite them. For molecules to be excited, the electrons orbiting
the nucleus
have to jump up into a higher energy level. When this occurs, the atom starts
to vibrate faster
than normal. When this happens in a glass of water, for example, all the atoms
that make up
the water start to move and run into each other and create friction. When
friction is created,
energy is given off in the form of heat. The generation of heat using
microwave technology is
part of the dehydration process in connection with food recycling. The food
recycling process
preferably heats the waste food as part of the process. Previously, a heat
plate was deployed
within the food recycling appliance that was physically connected to the
bucket and, when
heated, would transfer heat from the heat plate to the bucket and thereby heat
the waste food.
The introduction of an RF component ,in whole or in part, to heat the food
results in a more
efficient food recycling process in comparison to just heating the food via of
heat plate.
[0170] FIG. 9A illustrates a food recycler 900 that includes an air
circulation components
902, a waveguide 904, and RF component 906, a fan 908 connected to the air
circulation
component 902, a control system 918, an air guide 912, an airflow path 916 and
the filtering
system 914. FIG. 9B further shows the food recycler system 900 with the bucket
910, the fan
908, and a heated plate 920. A grinding system 922 is also shown which
includes a motor,
transfer case, and gearbox for controlling the motion of a grinding component
within the
bucket 910.
[0171] FIG. 9C further shows details of the waveguide 904 within the food
recycling system
900. Air ducts 902 are shown for retrieving air from the interior portion of
the bucket 910.
The heated plate 930 is in electrical communication with the control system
918 such that
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heating of the bucket 910 can occur at the appropriate time within the food
recycling process.
The RF component can be a magnetron 906 which can provide microwaves to the
waveguide
904 for introduction 932 into the interior of the bucket 910. Heat can be
generated from the
heat plate and introduced 934 also into the interior of the bucket 910 to heat
food.
[0172] FIG. 9D illustrates another example of a food recycling appliance 900
which includes
an RF component 944 configured within a lid 942 of the appliance. The food
recycling case
940 is shown containing the bucket 946 and other various components.
[0173] Shielding can also be provided such that the lid 942 includes a seal in
connection with
the food recycler case 940 such that as microwaves are introduced into the
interior of the
bucket 946, the microwaves do not leak out of the contain space. Given the
shape of the
bucket 910, 946 and given the use of the grinding component or stirrer
configured within the
bucket for grinding and stirring the waste food, the waveguide 904 is
configured so as to
evenly heat the waste food and to avoid hot spots.
[0174] In one aspect, the present system can include a camera system or other
sensor system
in connection with the use of the RF component such that a configuration of
the waste food
can be determined in preparation for microwave heating of the waste food. For
example, a
sensor system, in communication with the control system, can determine sensor
data which
can include one or more of a shape of the waste food, an amount of the waste
food, a weight
of the waste food, a type of the waste food, a density of the waste food, and
so forth and
make adjustments with respect to any aspect of the system which participates
in the food
recycling process. For example, the waveguide 904 might be dynamic or
adjustable such that
depending on the sensor data, a particular waveguide configuration may be
selected or
configured in order to evenly heat the waste food and avoid hot spots. In
another aspect, the
system may utilize the sensor data to determine how to run the various stages
of the food
recycling process. For example, sensor data may be utilized to determine
whether to start a
grinding component in a clockwise direction or counterclockwise direction. The
sensor data
may be utilized to determine, as indicated by the control system, what type of
microwave
heating to perform, how much, how long, and under what configuration of the
waveguide, to
implement heating the waste food as part of the food recycling process. The
sensor data can
further be utilized to manage an air circulation system, the use of filters
for filtering the air,
the use of the heat plate, the combination of the use of the heat plate and
the RF component
for heating the waste food, a speed of the grinding component, a period of
time in which any
of these features are applied as part of a food recycling process, and so
forth.
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[0175] In one aspect, the RF component is an RF emitter element that is
directionally
oriented to induce RF energy into the food waste mass during a desiccation
cycle so as to
create heat within the food waste. The RF emitter element includes, either
separate or in
combination, an RF transmitter, an RF transmission line, and an RF radiating
antenna
possessing a high front-to-back radiation pattern oriented toward the food
waste mass so as to
create heat within the food waste mass when energized. In one aspect, a flat
or parabolic
reflective element is located behind the radiating element so as to reflect
the back energy
toward the food waste mass, so as to increase the front-to-back transmission
ratio of the
energy radiating element.
[0176] In one aspect, the RF transmitter emits at a frequency of 2.45 GHz
coupled to an
antenna tuned to radiate at a 12.2cm wave length. In an alternate aspect, the
RF transmitter
emits at a frequency of 915 MHz coupled to an antenna tuned to radiate at a
32.7 cm wave
length. The RF transmitter is configured within the lid and integrated into
the antenna array
on a planar circuit assembly. In one aspect, the RF transmitter and radiating
antenna are
separate elements connected via an RF interconnection cable with the RF
transmitter located
in the lid assembly or within the food recycler case 940. In another aspect,
the RF emitter
element is replaced by an electrically-heated infrared heater element includes
a carbon
material or other suitable material optimized to emit a wavelength of 3000 nm
for targeted
absorption of the food waste water component and untargeted reflection by the
bucket
material components.
[0177] It should be noted that the disclosed frequencies and wavelengths are
offered for
reference to allow the food recycling appliance to operate within Institution
of Electrical
Engineers (TEE) and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
standards.
However, the application of RF energy to a food waste mass as part of the
described
conversion process should not be restricted by frequency or wavelength.
101781 In one aspect, within the cavity of the food recycling appliance 900
that is configured
to receive the vessels, the food recycling appliance 900 includes a set of
wires configured to
induce electro-magnetic energy into the vessel within the cavity once the
wires are energized.
[0179] The cost of input energy can be managed through user program selection
of an
external contact switch dry contact closure to an external thermostat to draw
heat from an
external source or mechanical connection to a contact relay for time of use
energy
management. Costs can also be reduced through operator-selected time of day
cycle selection
via the operating application which can be programmed to time of day energy
costs and offer
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user selectable batch energy costing and alternatives based on batch
prioritization and time of
use energy input costs.
[0180] FIG. 10A illustrates another example configuration of the system 1000
and includes
an "Internet of Things" concept with respect to a food recycling appliance.
This configuration
includes a food recycling appliance 1002 that is configured with some of the
components
discussed above. In general, the following improvements to the traditional
food recycling
appliance enables the appliance to identify types of waste food and amounts of
waste food
and communicate such data to a network server for analysis and processing. By
adding
technical elements to the food recycling appliance that enables this type of
analysis, and
connecting one or more food recycling appliances to a network-based server, an
overall
ecosystem can be developed in which business intelligence data can be gleaned
and evaluated
for the purpose of providing opportunities for gamification, social media
interactions,
promotions, advertising, sales opportunities, regional or geographic-based
communications,
and so forth.
[0181] For example, the food recycling appliance 1002 includes a bucket 1004
contained
within a food recycling appliance case. A gearbox 1006 communicates with a
transfer case
1008 and the motor 1010. A control system 1014 communicates with the motor
1010 and
other components as well, such as a wireless communication module 1016 and a
sensor 1017.
Feature 1006 can also represent a scale which can be used to weigh or
determine the weight
of the waste food 1015 placed within the bucket. A user interface 1011 is
included which
enables the user to provide input to the system in connection with performing
a cycle of
processing waste food. The filter system 1012 is also shown in connection with
an air
circulation system.
[0182] Waste food 1015 is placed within the bucket 1004 by a user of the
system. This
advanced version of the food recycling appliance 1002 has some additional
features which
provide increased usability and efficiency of the system. Generally speaking,
including a
sensor component 1017 and an enhanced user interface 1011 into the food
recycling
appliance 1002 can enable the system to determine the characteristics of the
waste food 1015
placed within the bucket 1004. The sensor component 1017 can also sense a
temperature of
the waste food 1015 and determine whether it is hot or cold, whether it is
frozen, and so forth.
Either manually or automatically, by determining the characteristics of the
waste food, sensor
data can be communicated via a wireless communication module 1016 with an
access point
1018 either in a user's home, or via a cell tower, or any kind of wireless
component which
can receive the data from the food recycling appliance 1002. The node 1018
will
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communicate a data through a network such as the Internet 1020 to a server
1024 associated
with the food recycling appliance 1002. The server 1024 can communicate data
to social
media network 1026, which can also represent an advertising entity, game
application entity,
communication entity, and so forth. The server 1024 can communicate data
through the
Internet 1020 back to a device 1022 of the user. The alternate entity 1026 can
also
communicate data to the device of the user 1022.
[0183] The wireless communication component 1016 can communicate via WiFi,
cellular
technologies, 5G. Bluetooth, or any communication protocol that is desirable.
The particular
wireless protocol is not necessarily material to the present disclosure. With
the capability of
sensing characteristics of the waste food 1015, coupled with the capability of
communicating
data wireless lead to a network server 1024, the disclosed infrastructure
enables new
capabilities particularly with respect to the user experience in recycling
waste food.
101841 For example, the following scenario is enabled by virtue of the system
disclosed in
FIG. 10A. The food recycling appliance 1002 senses using the sensor component
1017 that
the user of the recycling appliance has thrown away or consumed approximately
10
grapefruits within a one-week period of time. Either on a per cycle basis, or
on an aggregated
basis over a period of time, the food recycling appliance 1002 transmits
sensor data or
manual data provided by the user via a wireless communication component 1016
to network
server 1024. The network server 1024 can evaluate the sensor data and apply,
in one
example, machine learning algorithms to evaluate and determine characteristics
associated
with the waste food of the user.
[0185] For example, a machine learning algorithm can be trained on visual data
of typical or
expected waste food. Banana peels, chicken bones, bread, grapefruit rinds, and
so forth, can
all be used to train a machine learning algorithm such that when new waste
food is placed
within the bucket 1004, the system can retrieve images of the waste food and
make a
classification decision or determination regarding the type of waste food that
has been placed
within the bucket 1004. The sensor 1017 can include a camera for taking
images, video, a
light for eliminating the contents of the bucket 1004, and so forth. The
controller 1014 can
include also machine learning data such that an evaluation of the contents of
the bucket 1004
can be performed locally on the food recycling appliance 1002. For example,
the machine
learning algorithm can be trained on clean chicken bones and identify where
there might be
edible meat left on a chicken bone. By training the machine learning algorithm
on what are
known to be clean chicken bones as well as chicken bones that have some edible
meat left
thereon, the system can learn how to characterize edible portions of waste
food and non-
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edible portions. This process can apply to any type of food in which there is
a combination of
an edible component and a non-edible component. For example, an apple may have
remaining edible portions. A grapefruit might have some sections that are not
eaten and can
be identified as edible, etc. In another example, a machine learning algorithm
can be trained
and developed to learn about generally what good waste is in the appliance.
The output of
such a model could be, for example, 5% bone, 20% fat, 25% meat, 30% vegetable,
10%
bread, and 10% water.
[0186] However, in general, the computer processing that is described herein
can be
performed either locally on the food recycling appliance 1002 or remotely on a
server 1024.
The processing may also be partially performed on a local basis and partially
be performed
remotely. The system may also balance the computational location based on
factors such as
bandwidth availability, energy consumption, speed or a timing of when
computational results
are necessary, and so forth.
[0187] The machine learning training can also be based on moisture within
particular foods.
Thus, in addition to a visual representation of waste food, a machine learning
algorithm can
also be trained on the amount of moisture that is extracted from the waste
food. For example,
half-eaten grapefruit will have more moisture than a fully eaten grapefruit.
The system can
ultimately report to the user on a per cycle basis how much food waste has
been processed
and can provide a more particular report which can include an estimate of the
edible food that
was processed relative to the non-edible food that was processed.
[0188] In another aspect, the system, when sensing the contents or the
characteristics of the
waste food 1015, may cause the motor to rotate the bucket 1004 such that the
sensor
component 1017 can receive different views of the contents of the bucket 1004.
Sensor data
can thereby include multiple angles of use of the waste food 1015. The system
could include
a scale 1006 that also provides data with respect to a weight of the waste
food 1015. The user
may also provide additional intelligence regarding the waste food the
communication with
the food recycling appliance 1002 via a user interface 1011. For example, the
food recycling
appliance 1002 can include an automatic speech recognition system as part of
its controller
1014 such that the user can open a lid, place several grapefruit halves into
the bucket, and
merely say "grapefruit-. The additional simplified user input can enable user
data to be
coupled with the sensor data to improve the likelihood or the probability of
successfully
characterizing the waste food placed within the bucket.
[0189] The server 1024 can receive the various kinds of sensor data, user
data, waste food
weight, temperature of waste food, and/or any combination of such data and use
that data to
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drive further communications with the user. For example, the system could
coordinate with
other network entities to determine a location of the user device 1022. If the
user goes into
their standard grocery store, for example, the system could utilize an
analysis of the received
data which provides insight into the characteristics of the waste food 1015
that the user has
been placing within their food recycling appliance 1002, and could present
either in advance
or in real time food purchasing suggestions on a user device 1022. For
example, because the
system knows that the user has been eating a relatively high volume of
grapefruit, the system
could suggest to the user that they need to purchase additional grapefruit.
The system could
present recipes to the user which are coordinated with the type of food they
are eating, or in
one aspect, the type of food they should be eating, which might be more
healthy than the food
that has been identified as part of the waste food. For example, the system
may evaluate one
or more of the types of food that is recycled, an amount of moisture that is
extracted from
recycled food, a time associated with the recycled food, an amount of energy
used to recycle
the food, and so forth, and based on this data as well as optionally user
profile data or
aggregated data associated with a social networking group, to present
suggested recipes or
food items to the user for future purchases. The recipes could be tailored for
improving food
efficiencies. For example, the recipes might indicate a shift in the type of
food that the user is
eating or may focus on the types of foods that the user or household eats more
of In other
words, if the first type of food is recycled with a relatively large
proportion of still edible
food, a recipe my focus on a second type of food that is recycled within the
household, but
that has a less amount of edible food remaining on average.
[0190] In another example, the system could be fine-tuned to identify which
aisle the user is
in within grocery store and can suggest items for purchase within that aisle.
This aspect of the
disclosure would include coordination with a server associated with a
particular grocery store
which identifies a location of respective items within the store. Knowing the
food recycling
history for a particular user, the system can make more tailored and specific
advertisements
or promotions for specific foods which are physically near the user in an in-
store shopping
experience. Such items can be suggested in connection with a recipe or just
general items that
the user is likely to desire to purchase.
101911 The system 1024 can also generate a database of user profiles that can
be based on the
waste food data received from the food recycling appliance 1002. This data
could be coupled
with other data such as social networking data, data input from the user, and
so forth to
provide business intelligence that can drive advertising decisions to the
user, friends or
relatives of the user, and so forth.
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[0192] The user could download an "app- from a server 1024 onto their mobile
device 1022
which can also be used to communicate with the food recycling appliance 1002.
For example,
via a Bluetooth connection, the communication between the appliance 1002 and
the user
device 1022 could result in the following scenario. Assume that the food
recycling appliance
1002 has received a new input of waste food 1015 into the bucket 1004. A
preliminary
analysis indicates that there is a relatively high likelihood that the waste
food 1015 is
grapefruit. However, the probability of classification has not reached an
appropriate
threshold. The appliance 1002, to communicate its pulmonary findings to the
user device
1022, which could launch the app and simply request a 1-Click or simplified
confirmation
from the user of what the food waste consisted of. The user could receive a
notification
asking them to click on "1" if the food waste is grapefruit or "2" if the food
waste represents
oranges. The system could utilize the top N best list of possible options to
present data to the
user for disambiguating purposes. Furthermore, the user could of course enter
or speak into
their mobile device 1022 the waste food items as they are placing them into
the appliance
1002 at the proper coordination between the user device 1022 and one or more
of the
appliance 1002, the server 1024, or end or entity can occur to coordinate the
analysis of the
waste food 1015 with the intelligence gained from the user input.
[0193] Further machine learning can be achieved by training models based on
user profiles
which can combine data regarding user characteristics (age, sex, hobbies,
social media habits,
purchasing habits, athletic activity, family circumstances, etc.) and food
waste characteristics
obtained by the food recycling appliance 1002. The machine learning data can
also include
aspects of timing. For example, given the particular user profile, and given
the known timing
associated with food recycling cycles that runs in connection with the type of
food waste that
the user is throwing away, the system can determine when a best time to
advertise a particular
food, or a particular recipe, or to make some other type of communication to
the user. For
example, an evaluation of the wasted food can lead to a suggestion that the
user needs to
exercise or workout given the fat content of the food that they are recycling.
[0194] Intelligence gained and stored by the server 1024 can also be
coordinated with sales
of food products. For example, the server 1024 to receive information from a
grocery store
chain the grapefruits are on sale for the next 2 days or that a large amount
of grapefruit have
been received at several locations and needs to be moved to the public and
thus will have the
price reduced. The system could select, based on the various user profiles,
which users have
been eating some or a lot of grapefruit and which are probable targets who
would act upon a
grapefruit sale.
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[0195] Advertisements and information could be distributed either directly to
the user device
1022 or through social media networks such as FaCebOOkTM or InstagramTM. Any
social
media outlet is contemplated as potentially receiving such data.
[0196] It is noted that the food recycling appliance 1002 is of the type and
size that are
disclosed herein rather than a larger commercial model. Accordingly, the
intelligence that is
gained is based on a bucket size typically between 2.51 Liters and 10 Liters a
volume and
within the confined space of an appliance case of approximately a total volume
of 35 Liters
or less. The reason for this restriction is that the food recycling appliance
1002 is designed for
home use on a countertop. Configuring such a system requires additional
innovations with
respect to the size and positioning of the internal components and the
business intelligence
that can be obtained for such a system is more tailored to individual or
family use within the
home and the type of waste food and the amount of waste food which is
processed in a single
recycling cycle.
[0197] Currently, it is predicted that the average household wastes $2200 in
food per year.
One application of the technology disclosed herein includes the ability to
train or notify users
regarding the characteristics of their waste food, particularly with respect
to an amount of
edible food contained within the waste food relative to the non-edible food
within the waste
food. The information presented to the user device 1022 from the server 1024
can include
such details as an estimate of the amount of edible chicken that has been
thrown away over
the past 2 months. For example, the system could determine that $30 of edible
chicken was
left on the bones that were recycled within the system over the last several
months. A
notification can include information of that analysis which could be presented
to the user on
the user device 1022 which can encourage them to be more efficient with
respect to cleaning
the chicken bones as they eat. The system could evaluate the edible/nonedible
components of
the waste food, arrive at a dollar value of the edible component, and provide
aggregate
reports on the amount of food waste for the household.
[0198] In one aspect, the app operating on the user device 1022 would enable
an opt in
feature in which the user could control the sensing and transmission of data
regarding the
waste food to the server 1024. The user would have control over privacy issues
and be able to
disengage the sensor 1017 as desired. Any control of the system could also be
performed
remotely by the user 1022 such as turning the device on, starting a cycle,
controlling the use
of the sensing component 1017, turning off the cycle, and so forth.
[0199] Another aspect of the system includes competition. For example, a group
of users
could start a game in which they were competing for some reward. The
competition could be
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related to healthy foods eaten, the least amount of edible food wasted, the
amount of wasted
food, and so forth. Assume, for example, that 5 individuals signed up for a
given competition
project in which a six-month period will be evaluated with respect to their
waste food and a
prize will be given to the individual who wastes the least amount of food. Of
course a trust
factor is built-in in which the users are trusted to properly place their
waste food into the food
recycle appliance 1002. The system can then evaluate and track the
characteristics of the
waste food of the individuals over the predetermined period of time. Running
data can be
provided to each individual as well as to the individuals in the group with
respect to how well
they are doing and comparison to others in the group. A prize might be a gift
certificate at a
local grocery store or at a restaurant. At the end of the period of time, the
center data
retrieved from each of the food recycling appliances 1002 of the respective
users is evaluated
and compared to identify a winner in the particular category as it is defined.
Such
competitions can be also communicated through social media networks or
individuals can be
connected with other individuals with similar interests in improving their
health or the type of
food that they eat. The ability to understand and evaluate the food that is
recycled within
particular homes enables this type of game application. In general, a
gamification concept
includes receiving data from at least 2 independent food recycling appliances
1002 each with
a respective individual, comparing and evaluating the respective data and then
providing
incentives or game application options to the individual users in ways that
can encourage
them to engage in particular behaviors which are beneficial to their health or
improves the
efficiency of their food intake.
[0200] In one aspect, the determination of edible food, nonedible food, a
classification of
food, and so forth can be determined by a detection of an amount of humidity
that is within
the bucket or within the food. For example, if one were to put an apple in the
bucket and run
a food recycling cycle, the system could evaluate how much humidity was
withdrawn from
the apple and thereby calculate or determine that it was an apple that was
recycled. Thus, the
amount of moisture that the system extracts from waste food is one aspect of
how the system
can determine or classify a type of the waste food. From such calculations,
the system can
determine how much food waste weight can be saved. The food recycling
appliance 1002
can, for example, include the amount of humidity or moisture extracted from
the waste food
as part of the center data that is transmitted to the server 1024. Visual
sensor data, user input
data, and so forth can be supplemental data which can further refine the
probability of
successfully categorizing or characterizing the waste food.
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[0201] Another aspect of sensing the type of waste food that is placed within
the bucket can
include sensing the waste food as it is being placed within the bucket. The
sensing module
1017 can be included in a lid that is lifted to an open position as waste food
is entered into the
bucket. Atop portion of the food recycling appliance 1002 could also include a
camera
sensor. The system could begin to evaluate a food type as the user brings the
food to the
bucket. For example, if the user has one half of a grapefruit that is being
placed within the
bucket, the system could begin to capture images of the half grapefruit as the
user is holding
the half grapefruit above the appliance and is moving towards placing the half
grapefruit in
the bucket. The system could even provide feedback to the user to show a
different side of the
food items or to rotate the food item and then provide a light or an audible
beep when the
system has properly identified the item. This could be helpful particularly
where multiple
items are placed within the bucket and the sensory system might have
difficulty
characterizing the food within the bucket if, for example, there is a
combination of a
grapefruit and a chicken bone. Where multiple items might be placed within the
bucket,
having the system sense the items as they are being placed within the bucket
can be helpful.
Again, the user could also simultaneously say -chicken" or -grapefruit" or -
soup" as they
place items within the bucket which data would further be coordinated with the
machine
learning algorithms to quickly identify the waste food.
[0202] In another aspect, the user could utilize the app on the user device
1022, to take
pictures of the food that is going to be recycled. For example, if a couple
has finished their
meal and is going to recycle the food on their plates, they could simply take
a picture of the
food on their plates via the app or via their camera app. That image could be
coordinated with
other sensory data from the food recycling appliance 1002 (humidity, weight,
other images,
other user input, and so forth), to classify or characterize the waste food.
[0203] In one aspect, the server 1024 can store profiles based on individual
users,
households, groups of users, and so forth. The data can be aggregated and/or
anonymous and
be sold to advertising entities or other entities that might be interested in
such business
intelligence data. For example, restaurant advertisers or grocery store
advertisers might be
able to utilize the data for targeting a particular demographic which is
known, via the center
data gathered herein from the food recycling appliances, for eating a certain
amount of food.
The system could also provide geographic business intelligence data. For
example, if a
number of individuals in a city utilize the food recycler appliance 1002, the
system could
identify that the amount of grapefruit recycled in a given neighborhood or a
given portion of
the city, has spiked in the last month. This information could be utilized to
drive an
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advertising campaign by a grocery store for a discount on grapefruit which
could be targeted
to that geographic region.
[0204] Another aspect of this disclosure involves prediction algorithms.
Historical usage of
food recycling appliances 1002 can be processed and evaluated for prediction
purposes. For
example, advertising, gamification, or other notifications can be provided to
users based on a
predictive algorithm that in the following month, the amount of grapefruit or
chicken that is
recycled is likely or predicted to spikes. Discounts, coupons, rebates, and so
forth can be
provided to users on a profile basis, geographic basis, and so forth,
according to or based on
predicted food waste.
[0205] The sensor data associated with waste food can also be received and
coordinated with
other data regarding shopping habits, whether online or in store. For example,
users might be
able to coordinate data regarding their grocery store purchases and make such
data available
to the app under device 1022 or to the server 1024 such that an overall global
view of their
purchasing habits as well as their disposal or recycling habits can be
evaluated. In this regard,
reports might be presented to the users which can help to identify the fact
that they purchased
a certain amount and type of food, but did not recycle as much of that food as
was predicted
or that should have happened. In this regard, the system can provide reports
to users which
present a comparison of food purchased by a household relative to food
recycled by the
household, with the appropriate estimation of timing or an expectation of
recycled food
relative to food purchase. For example, the system can take into account
perishables relative
to canned food. Thus, by tapping into food purchases, the server 1024 can give
an even a
better picture for individual households with respect to potential additional
food recycling,
which can occur.
[0206] Advertisements can also be presented directly on the user interface
1011 of the food
recycling appliance 1002. A graphical interface can include a touchscreen,
like the
touchscreen of an iPhone for example, that users can access and accept offers
or promotions.
Such offers and promotions can be coordinated with an app on their device 1022
for
redemption.
[0207] Any subsystem (motor, air circulation, filtering system, heating
system, sensor, etc.)
can have its status remotely checked from the server 1024. For example, a
central control
operated from the server 1024 can report that 10 filters in a particular
region need to be
replaced. The central control 1024 can coordinate and aggregate status data of
a plurality of
distributed appliances 1002. In another aspect, the filters 1012 on the
appliance 1002 can be
removable. For example, a removable filter might be expected to function in
removing odor
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from the air for a period of 6 months. The system could sense the
effectiveness of the filters
based on air data, number of cycles used, amount of waste food processed in
the plurality of
cycles, amount of humidity extracted from waste food, and so forth. The
appliance 1002
could report to a centralize server 1024 the status of the subsystem, such as
the filter system,
and could provide a notice to the user via the user interface 1011, an app or
user interface on
a device 1022 or in some other fashion to notify them to change their filter
in a certain
amount of time, such as 2 weeks. In one aspect, the server 1024 could
coordinate with a
merchant site represented by 1026, such as Amazon.com, to pre-order or
preconfiguring an
order, which can be presented to the user, simply to confirm the purchase. For
example, if a
new filter should be delivered within 2 weeks to the user, the system 1024
could
communicate the data to the merchant site 1026, who could configure a
presentation of a user
interface through which a purchase of the needed filter could easily occur.
The user could
simply confirm the purchase via a fingerprint. The system could then access
their user
address information such that no manual entry would be needed for the
purchase. The user
interface 1011 could also include a biometric reader for facial recognition or
fingerprint
recognition or the like.
[0208] The user interface 1011 can include a touchscreen with menu-driven user-
selectable
options and visual and/or sonic user feedback. Further, the user interface
1011 can include a
wireless interface to provide for external input, feedback, and control for
the various features
described above. Through the user interface 1011, a user can select the
particular function
and/or cycle for performing either desiccation of food waste present within a
bucket vessel
inserted into the appliance 1002 or for creating stocks and broths through an
infusion process.
[0209] FIG. 10B illustrates an example method according to an aspect of this
disclosure. A
method includes receiving, over a network, at a server and from a food
recycling appliance,
sensor data obtained from a sensor component configured within the food
recycling
appliance, the sensor component obtaining data associated with characteristics
of waste food
placed within a bucket of the food recycling appliance (1050), applying a
machine learning
algorithm to the sensor data to determine a first amount of edible food within
the waste food
and the second amount of nonedible food within the waste food, to yield an
analysis (1052)
and, based on the analysis, communicating food-related data to a device
associated with a
user of the food recycling appliance (1054).
[0210] The food-related data can be one of associated with a gamification
process which
encourages the user to purchase certain foods, a social media campaign in
which the user is
compared to other users in a social media group with respect to food recycling
practices. The
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method can further include communicating data to a social networking platform
which, based
on the data, presents information to the device associated with the user
within the social
networking platform.
[0211] The sensor data can relate to one or more of an amount of humidity
withdrawn from
the waste food, a temperature of the waste food, a weight of the waste food,
and a type of the
waste food. In another aspect, the machine learning algorithm can be trained
on example
waste food items having a first known amount of an edible component and the
second known
amount of non-edible component.
[0212] The method can include receiving user input data received at the food
recycling
appliance, the user input data characterizing the waste food. The method can
also include
generating, based on the analysis, a value of an amount of edible food that
was contained
within the waste food and presenting the value of the amount of edible food
was contained
within the waste food to the device. In another aspect, the system can
calculate the value of
the amount of edible food that was contained within the waste food as
associated with a
plurality of food recycle cycles over a given period of time. In another
aspect,
communicating the food-related data to the device associated with the user of
the food
recycling appliance can further include indicating a recipe to the device
based on the sensor
data.
[0213] In another aspect of this example, the network-based server 1024 could
provide
control over a group of food recycling appliances. For example, energy usage
per cycle could
be evaluated for one or more food recycling appliances and a corresponding
cost of energy on
a geographic basis could be evaluated such that the network-based server 1024
could transmit
a modification of part of the food recycling process for a particular group of
food recycling
appliances, which causes them to use less energy per cycle. A service level
agreement is to be
provided to individual users which could maintain a certain cost of energy,
were certain
energy usage on average for cycles. In another aspect, for example, a food
recycling process
could be modified based on the detection of a temperature of the waste food
deposited within
the bucket. If hot food is deposited within the bucket, then less energy might
be needed in the
cycle to heat the food as part of the recycling process. Such modifications to
a standard food
recycling cycle can be handled locally based on sentenced data, could be
controlled remotely
from a network-based server 1024, or may be coordinated between the two
entities in which
final modifications to a food recycling process can be determined in a
coordinated effort.
[0214] The network-based server 1024 can retrieve an aggregate data about the
waste food
processed in a plurality of respective food recycling appliances and process
this data to
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enable both business intelligent reports which can provide intelligence with
respect to the
type of food that is being recycled, an amount of energy required to recycle a
purchase
particular amount of food, and so forth. In one example, predictive algorithms
can be used
which can predict for an individual, a social networking group, a geographic
region, and so
forth, what type of food is expected to be processed in the food recycling
appliances. Based
on this prediction, the network-based server 1024 could communicate a revised
food
recycling cycle to particular food recycling appliances. For example, if it is
expected over the
next month given the weather, holiday seasons, events and the news, economic
conditions, or
so forth, that more of a particular type of food will be recycled, and less
energy per cycle
might be required for that particular type of food. The network-based server
1024 could cause
an adjustment to the food recycling cycle in preparation for the expected type
of food. For
example, if less waste food containing bone is expected, then less grinding
and chopping
would be required to process such food. Similarly, if a greater amount of
energy might be
expected, then an increased cycle might be communicated to food recycling
appliances.
Again, this process could also occur locally where the amount of energy used
per cycle could
be adjustable based on a sentencing or detection, or through user input, of
the type of food
that is in a given bucket and ready to be recycled. Using these techniques,
the overall system
can improve and tailor the amount of energy used per cycle to be more closely
aligned with
the type of food that is placed within the bucket to be recycled. This can
provide an overall
improvement in energy usage.
[0215] Claims can be directed exclusively to steps that occur in the examples
set forth above
on one or more of the food recycling appliance, a device separate from the
food recycling
appliance and which is operated by the user, a network-based server that
communicates with
the food recycling appliance, or a separate network-based entity that receives
data from the
network-based server and provides advertisements, discounts. medications, or
other data to a
user or a group of users. The separate network-based entity can be a social
media network as
set forth above. All of the transmissions, requests, responses, analysis of
data, the graphical
user presentations, and so forth are included as within the scope of this
disclosure from the
standpoint of each separate node or entity disclosed herein. In other words,
one claims that
could be directed to a social media network that receives the type of data
that is gathered
from the analysis of waste food at a food recycling appliance of the type
disclosed herein, and
wherein the social media network performs certain actions by way of postings,
promotions,
advertisements, or coordinated communications to users in a particular social
media group or
to individuals. Other claims could be directed to actions purely performed by
the food
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recycler appliance and data that it receives through its analysis of the waste
food as well as
other inputs from the user and processes, transmissions, data received,
control information it
receives, and so forth.
[0216] Another aspect of this disclosure relates to odor control. In the
previous version of the
food recycler, the filters are built into the food recycler case and are
essentially permanent.
There is no easy mechanism of replacing the filters. Where a technician may
need to go in
and replace the filters, the filters are hardened cylindrical objects. FIG.
11A illustrates or
another aspect of this disclosure in which a new food recycler appliance 1100
is provided
with the ability to receive a replaceable filter. The food recycler appliance
1100 includes the
bucket 1102, waste food shown as feature 1112, an air circulation system 1110
which
retrieves air 1114 from the bucket and provide the air 1116 to a filter 1108
which includes a
replaceable filter bag 1104. A door 1106 opens to reveal a filter receiving
structure 1108 that
receives the filter bag 1104. The filter is configured to have a structure
with an air permeable
outer covering or mesh which contains active carbon or any other type of
filter material. A
handle can be configured on the filter bag 1104 as well. The location of the
filter receiving
structure can be anywhere within the case of the food recycler appliance 1100.
The air
circulation system 1110 only needs to be able to be configured to cause air to
flow through
the replaceable error filter 1104.
[0217] FIG. 11B illustrates an aspect of this disclosure in which a filter
1126 is configured
within a lid 1132 of a food recycler appliance 1120. The lid 1132 is typically
configured
above the bucket 1122. The filter 1126 can be ring-shaped, circular and can,
in one aspect,
include slits or complimentary structures to barriers or structures within the
lid 1132. One
benefit of positioning a replaceable filter 1126 within the lid 1132 is an
efficient use of space
within the food recycler appliance 1120. The current lid in the recycler shown
in FIGs. 2A
and 2B is essentially just plastic with no other structural use. A lid which
contains a
replaceable filter is restructured such that an intake opening 1128 is
provided to receive air
from the interior of the bucket 1122 such that the air can flow through the
filter 1126. A
barrier 1134 is provided in which the airflow can move through the filter 1126
and out and
exhaust opening 1130 and into the atmosphere. An interior portion 1124 of the
lid 1132 is
reconfigured to enable air flow through the lid and ultimately out into the
atmosphere. In one
scenario, an upper portion of the food recycling appliance 1120 is also
reconfigured to
provide the air circulation system which will draw air from the interior of
the bucket 1122
and guide it through air ducts to the lid for filtering.
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[0218] Another aspect of FIG. 11B includes the ability to open a panel either
on the top of
the lid or below the lid for accessing and replacing the replaceable filter
1126.
[0219] FIG. 11C illustrates a top view of the lid 1132 position within the
food recycling
appliance 1120. The bucket is shown 1122 and an arrow 1131 representing
airflow from the
bucket 1122 into the intake opening 1128 which represents air being received
from the air
circulation system for processing through the air filter 1126. The barrier
1132 is also shown
which can be used to guide or control the flow of air through the lid having
the filter 1126.
[0220] The arrow 1134 illustrates generally the airflow path through the
filter and which
ultimately leads to the exit port opening 1130 and the arrow 1133 representing
the exit of air
into the atmosphere. As can be appreciated, the air filter 1126 shown in this
figure can be
generally pancake shaped with a slit built into the filter which is
complementary to the barrier
1136. Other structures within the interior 1124 of the lid 1132 can also be
adjusted to manage
or control the airflow through the interior of the lid in the space which is
designed to receive
the replaceable error filter 1126. It is noted that arrow 1131 and arrow 1133
only generally
represents the flow of air into the lid for filtering and the flow of filtered
air from the lid. The
air circulation system can be configured within the interior of the food
recycler appliance
1120 in any manner for retrieving the air from the bucket 1122, and
controlling the flow of
the air into the lid 1128, through the filter 1126, and through an exit port
1130.
[0221] In one example, while FIG. 11C shows the entrance port 1128 adjacent to
the exit port
1130, the positioning of the entrance port 1128 in the exit port 1130 can be
at any location
within the lid. For example, the lid 1132 may consist of an entrance port
generally in the
position of port 1128, and include no barrier 1136, but have an exit port on
the side opposite
the entrance port 1128. The overall air circulation system can be adjusted to
provide the air at
any position of the lid and to retrieve the filtered air from any position of
the lid. A brief
reference to FIG. 3A notes the position of an opening 360 on a side of the lid
304. The upper
portion of the food recycler 300 in that figure has been removed and some of
the internal
structure of the casing is shown. In this example where in the lid 304 is
reconfigured to
receive a replaceable filter, the air intake or air export openings can be
configured on a side
of the lid as is shown by feature 360. As other internal air circulation
system, air ducts can be
connected to such side openings configured within the lid.
102221 FIG. 11D shows another aspect of the air circulation system. The bucket
1122 is
shown with air flow from the bucket 1140 to a fan 1148 that is part of an air
circulation
system 1142. The heirs directed to the intake port 1128 which causes the air
to flow through
the filter 1126 and a pattern or pathway shown by feature 1134. The barrier
1136 is shown in
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this example as well. The exit port 1130 can direct the air to another air
duct 1144 which
ultimately directs the air 1146 to the exterior of the food recycler appliance
1120. As noted
above, the position of the air intake port 1128 in the air export port 1130
can be anywhere in
the lid. It is preferable that these ports be configured on a side portion of
the lid. It is also
preferable that the fan 1141 is configured within the food recycler appliance
1120 outside of
the lid and the bucket 1122. However, in other configurations, the fan 1141
could be
configured within the lid with an air intake opening 1128 on the underside of
the lid so as to
draw air directly from the bucket 1122 into the lid for filtering. In other
words, one opening
could be on and under side of the lid and another opening could be on a side
portion of the
lid, or even on a top portion. For example, lid configuration could include a
fan structure for
drawing air directly from the bucket 1122 through an opening underneath the
lid, the interior
of the lid could be configured to force airflow over a sufficient amount of
the necessary
filtering material, and the lid could be configured with an exit port that is
on top of the lid
which causes the filtered air to exit the food recycling appliance 1120. In
this configuration,
one benefits of this approach is the elimination of a need for an air
circulation system within
other parts of the food recycling appliance 1120 which can enable an increase
in the size of
the bucket 1122 for improved efficiency.
[0223] FIG. 11E illustrates another aspect of this disclosure and which a
filter configured for
the lid is generally pancake shaped, but wherein the lid includes additional
barriers 1152,
1154, 1156, 1158 and 1160. These are example barriers which cause a particular
path 1166 of
the air to flow from an intake port 1162 through the filter 1150 around the
various respective
barriers and to an exit port 1164. This example shows how a particular airflow
could be
designed within the lid of the food recycling appliance 1120. With this
design, the air intake
opening 1162 and the air exit opening 1164 could similarly be configured on a
side of the lid,
or on a respective top and bottom portion of the lid, and so forth. The lid in
this scenario
could also include one or more fans which could be configured at any location
along the path
1166 and for drawing air from the interior of the bucket, through the filter
1150 and to the
exterior of the food recycling appliance 1120. The pathway 1166 can
essentially be
configured as a maze in which the path of the air is controlled to move
through the maze in a
particular order as one would traverse through a maze.
102241 The above examples of a replaceable filter typically contemplate a
generally pancake
shaped filter that fits within the lid or a filter that might be shaped like a
tea bag and that has
positions within a filter receptacle within an interior of the food recycler
appliance 1120. FIG.
11F illustrates another approach in which the lid 1170 is shown with an
interior portion in
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which a filter 1176 is provided in which a spiraling effect with respect to
airflow 1178 can be
experienced. In this scenario, the filter can be considered not shaped like a
pancake, but more
as a stack of pancakes or, more generally, like threads of the screw. In this
mariner, air would
flow into the air intake port 1172 at one elevation and the air would travel
along a path 1178
in which it might travel numerous times around a central structure 1180 in a
spiral fashion
and ultimately exit and exit port 1174 at a higher elevation than the intake
port 1172. One
benefit of this type of approach is that it can enable air to flow over more
active carbon
material (relative to the pathway envisions in FIG. 11D) and thus improve the
filtering of the
air. In this case, the structure of the filter 1176 is modified such that it
may include its own
barriers between layers of the filter such that some aspects of the control of
the path of the air
is built into the filter itself Shapes of the filters described herein are
generally considered to
be circular, but they can be square shaped, rectangular shaped, arbitrarily
shaped, oval-
shaped, and so forth.
[0225] In one aspect, the lid 1170 is configured to receive more than one
filter such that
multiple filters processed the air within the lid 1170. Access to the interior
cavity can be from
atop of the lid, a bottom of the lid, or even from a side portion of the lid
for a user to access
the interior filter cavity and for removing all filter and inserting a
replacement filter.
[0226] In another aspect, it is generally assumed that the amount of active
carbon within the
filter is uniformly applied across the filter. In other aspects, the amount of
active carbon
within the filter could vary, particularly along a complicated pathway. For
example, the filter
1126 shown in FIG. 11D can have a larger or thicker component near the intake
opening
1128 and be thinner or have less active carbon near the exit port 1130.
Included within this
disclosure is the concept of varying the thickness or the physical amount of
active carbon
within the filter either up or down along the pathway of airflow through the
filter. In one
aspect, for example, an overall filtering system might include one filter
configured within the
lid of the food recycling appliance 1120, but also include another filter at
another location
within the food recycling appliance case prior to the air exiting into the
atmosphere. This may
be a requirement where additional filtering is needed to properly control for
odor. This
approach still increases the available space within the food recycling
appliance 1120 for an
enhanced bucket size. In this respect, the overall air circulation system and
filtering operation
could include a first filter having a first shaped and configured within a lid
of a food
recycling appliance 1120, which would process first air to yield first
filtered air. The air
circulation system could then communicate the first filtered air to a second
filter contained
within the food recycling appliance 1120 that is contained within the interior
portion of the
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food recycling appliance 1120, but external to the lid. The air circulation
system could also
first cause the air to flow through a first filter that is external to the lid
and then complete the
filtering process by forcing the filtered air through a filter configured
within the lid. It is
contemplated within this disclosure that these various air circulation systems
could be
configured in which each of the filters is replaceable and easily accessible
by a user.
[0227] In another example aspect, the lid of the food recycling appliance 1120
includes a
sealing gasket to seal in the presence of vacuum to a pot vessel rim so as to
facilitate the
generation of a vacuum or otherwise low pressure environment within the pot
vessel during
operation of the food recycling appliance 1120. A port with a connecting tube
that
communicates to the low pressure side of the vacuum pump located in the main
body of the
food recycling appliance 1120 via a flexible connection is provided so as to
allow the lid of
the appliance 1120 to open and close. The port includes a liquid check valve
which prevents
liquid water from entering the port tube and stops condensate from dripping
from the vent
hole when the lid is open. The lid can also include an infrared laser
temperature sensor probe
aperture and probe positioned so as to allow for thermal visualization of the
food mass during
processing. The lid can also include additional and/or alternative sensors,
such as a sonic
proximity sensor to detect the presence of food waste, a negative pressure
sensor, an exhaust
air humidity sensor, and a lid closure and safety latch sensor.
[0228] In one aspect, the lid further includes an emergency over-vacuum relief
valve set that
is triggered at a pre-set safety factor. A vacuum relief interphase between
the lid operating
handle and the vacuum relief valve is provided to release vacuum and to allow
the food
cycler lid to be safely opened in the event of a power interruption or cycle
failure condition
such as in the case of required operator intervention to clear a jam.
[0229] FIG. 12 illustrates a method example with respect to using replaceable
filters in a food
recycling appliance. The method includes receiving waste food in a bucket
contained within a
food recycling appliance (1202), receiving a replaceable filter bag in a
receiving cavity of the
food recycling appliance (1204), initiating a food recycling process to
recycle the waste food
(1206), extracting moisture from the waste food to yield humid air (1208) and
channeling the
humid air through an air duct through the receiving cavity containing the
replaceable filter
bag (1210). As noted above, channeling the humid air can include directly
receiving the air
into the lid from the interior of the buckets for filtering or through a
separate air circulation
system. Replaceable filter bag can represent a replaceable filter position
within the food
recycling appliance exterior to both the bucket and the lid structure or if it
can include a filter
configured to be position within the lid.
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[0230] A ratio of a volume of the bucket relative to an overall volume of the
food recycler
can be between 0.0717 and 0.2857. The food recycler can, in one aspect, have
particular
dimensions which are beneficial for a home appliance. As noted above, the food
recycler is
configured to have an overall appliance volume of 35 liters or less and the
bucket has a
capacity to receive waste food of between 2.51 liters to 10 liters, inclusive.
Thus, the volume
of the bucket can be between 2.51 liters or 10 liters, in size. Based on the
ratio of the first
volume of the bucket relative to the overall volume of the food recycler, the
overall volume
of the food recycler can be between 8.79 liters and 35 liters. In some
instances, the
configuration can include one or more of a height of approximately 380
millimeters, a width
of approximately 270 millimeters and a length of approximately 310
millimeters.
[0231] The replaceable filter bag can be one of ring-shaped, circular, square
or configured to
fit within the receiving cavity contained with the lid. The replaceable filter
bag can have a
structure which enables a spiral airflow through the replaceable filter bag
within the lid of the
food recycler appliance. An air circulation system can be configured to pass
air received from
the bucket through an air channel to an intake opening in the lid, through the
receiving cavity
containing the replaceable filter bag, and out an exit opening in the lid. The
air, as it travels
through the receiving cavity containing the replaceable filter bag, can move
in one or more of
a spiral configuration, a circular configuration, a maze-shaped configuration,
and a multi-
layered configuration. The method can include receiving a first replaceable
filter and a
second replaceable filter within the food recycling appliance.
[0232] FIG. 13 illustrates an example of a food recycler 1300 including a set
of sensors 1302,
1304 to detect a type of vessel 1310, 1320 inserted into the food recycler
1300 for either
infusion of flavor and nutrients from surplus food to create a foodstuff or
conversion of food
waste into nutrient preserved stable granular media. In one aspect, the food
recycler 1300
includes a series of wires configured so as to induce electro-magnetic energy
into a vessel
1310, 1320 when the vessel 1310, 1320 is placed within the cavity 1306 of the
food recycler
1300 and the wires are energized.
[0233] In one aspect, placement of a vessel 1310, 1320 into the cavity 1306 of
the food
recycler 1300 causes the food recycler 1300 to identify the structure and
purpose of the
particular vessel inserted into the cavity 1306. For instance, the vessels
1310, 1320 may be
distinct in appearance and purpose, each including one or more distinct
features that, upon
being detected by the food recycler 1300, cause the food recycler 1300 to
determine whether
to perform a desiccation or infusion cycle. For example, as illustrated in
FIG. 13, a pot vessel
1310 can include a lip feature 1312 that has a unique shape or configuration
that, if detected
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by the food recycler 1300, causes the food recycler 1300 to recognize the pot
vessel 1310 as
an indication that a user wishes to initiate an infusion cycle to produce a
stock or broth. A
bucket vessel 1320 can include a different lip feature 1322 or other component
that has a
unique shape or configuration that is distinct when compared to the lip
feature 1312 of the pot
vessel 1310. In some aspects, the bucket vessel 1320 additionally has a
different shape or
form factor compared to that of the pot vessel 1310. The food recycler 1300
may detect these
features of the bucket vessel 1320 and recognize the bucket vessel 1320 as an
indication that
a user wishes to initiate a desiccation cycle to produce a granular material.
[0234] In one aspect, the food recycler 1310 includes, within the cavity 1306,
one or more
sensors 1302, 1304 that are usable to detect the distinct features of the pot
vessel 1310 and of
the bucket vessel 1320. The one or more sensors 1302, 1304 may be positioned
within the
cavity 1306 such that, when a vessel 1310, 1320 is inserted into the cavity
1306, at least one
sensor detects the unique features of the inserted vessel 1310, 1320. For
example, if a pot
vessel 1310 is inserted into the cavity 1306, the sensor 1302, as a result of
its positioning
within the cavity 1306, may detect the lip feature 1312 of the pot vessel
1310. The sensor
1302 may transmit a signal to the controller of the food recycler 1300 to
indicate presence of
the pot vessel 1310 within the cavity 1306. If a bucket vessel 1320 is
inserted into the cavity
1306, another sensor 1304, as a result of its positioning within the cavity
1306, may detect
the lip feature 1322 of the bucket vessel 1320. Similar to the sensor 1302,
the sensor 1304
may transmit a signal to the controller of the food recycler 1300 to indicate
presence of the
bucket vessel 1320 within the cavity 1306.
[0235] The sensors 1302, 1304 may include pressure sensors, proximity sensors,
infrared
sensors, flex sensors, or any other type of sensor that is capable of
detecting differing features
of the vessels 1310, 1320 that may be inserted into the cavity 1306. These
sensors 1302, 1304
are in electrical communication with the controller to enable the transmission
of signals to the
controller upon detection of a vessel 1310, 1320 within the cavity 1306 or of
removal of a
vessel 1310, 1320 from the cavity 1306. In one aspect, the sensors 1302, 1304
are
microswitches contacts that can detect the presence of a mechanical-coded tab
which
indicates, to the controller, whether a vessel is present and, if so, whether
the vessel is a pot
vessel 1310 or a bucket vessel 1320.
102361 The controller, based on the signals obtained from the sensors 1302,
1304, may
update a user interface of the food recycler 1300 to present a user with
various options for the
cycle to be performed using the vessel 1310, 1320 inserted into the cavity
1306. For instance,
if the user has inserted a pot vessel 1310 into the cavity 1306, the user, via
the user interface,
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may be presented with one or more programs (e.g., functions, recipes, etc.)
that may be
executed to produce a desired stock, broth, or other food item using the food
present within
the pot vessel 1310. In one aspect, in response to detecting the presence of a
pot vessel 1310
within the cavity 1306, the controller may activate one or more other sensors
of the food
recycler 1300 to identify the contents of the pot vessel 1310. This data
garnered through
identification of the contents can be used to further identify the programs
that may be
executed to infuse the contents of the pot vessel 1310 into a liquid solution
to produce a
desired food item. Upon user selection of a program via the user interface,
the controller may
engage one or more components of the food recycler 1300 to grind, shear, hold
at a specific
and/or safe temperature, stir, or otherwise perform operations for creation
and maintenance of
the desired food item within the pot vessel 1310. The controller, via the user
interface, may
provide the user with feedback and alerts during the infusion process.
102371 If the user has inserted a bucket vessel 1320 into the cavity 1306, the
user, via the user
interface, may be presented with a variety of different desiccation cycle
profiles that can be
used to create different types of granular media These different desiccation
cycles may differ
based on the time required for completion of the cycle, the energy use for the
cycle, and other
factors that are external to the food recycler 1306 (e.g., exhaust
temperature, noise levels,
etc.). Similar to the example described above, in one aspect, the controller
may activate one
or more other sensors of the food recycler 1300 to identify the contents of
the bucket vessel
1320, as well as the volume and water content of these contents. This data may
be used to
determine the different factors for the different cycle profiles, which can be
presented to the
user via the user interface. Based on the user selection of a particular
desiccation cycle, the
controller may engage one or more components of the food recycler 1300 to
grind, stir, mix,
heat, vacuum, move air, condense, filter air, control and monitor humidity and
temperature,
and the like in accordance with the cycle profile. In one aspect, the food
recycler 1300, via
the user interface, provides users with modes of a rapid condensing cycle to
produce a liquid
condensate or a normal cycle to produce a moist warm air exhaust.
[0238] In one aspect, the pot vessel 1310 is manufactured or constructed from
a
ferromagnetic material, such as a ferromagnetic stainless steel material or a
cast alloy
including ferromagnetic elements. This ferromagnetic material is utilized in
order to generate
heat within the pot vessel 1310 in an induced electromagnetic field.
[0239] In one aspect, the bucket vessel 1320 includes a lower inlet port that
is configured to
allow incoming warm air to rise through a food waste column to provide surface
dissociation
of the waste material. Further, the bucket vessel 1320 provides a negative
atmospheric
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pressure environment to create a positive intercellular pressure differential
to facilitate
passage of water vapor through the cellular membrane of waste material to
accelerate
desiccation and to lower the water boiling point within the cell to elevate
vapor pressure. The
bucket vessel 1320 can be depressurized and returned to atmospheric pressure
in a repeating
pulsatile cycle following a program prescribed sequence of time and negative
pressure
delivered by the vacuum and purge pump and operation of negative pressure
release valves.
The pulsatile vacuum process accelerates rupture of the cellular membrane of
the waste
material and provides a drive force for intercellular moisture to evacuate the
cell, thereby
accelerating cellular desiccation.
[0240] The vacuum and purge air pump is an electrically powered air pump
capable of
producing low air flow rates but high negative front-end pressure and is so
designed as to
permit passage of condensate laden air either above or below the dew point. In
one aspect, the
pump is a positive displacement pump with the attribute of being able to act
as a closed
valve in the non-running state so as to maintain a negative pressure forward
of the pump in
the enclosed bucket vessel 1320. Alternate embodiments include, but are not
limited to, axial
flow or turbine compressors with a one way valve. The vacuum and purge air
pump serves
dual functions of producing a negative pressure environment within the
enclosed bucket
vessel 1320 during the draw down and hold function and to remove moisture
laden air during
purge cycles. In the vacuum phase the pump is capable of producing sustained
negative
pressure to 30 inHg and in to purge phase capable of displacing four times the
cavity volume
per minute at ambient pressure.
[0241] The food recycler 1300, at a prescribed position of rotation, auger air
ports align with
corresponding air ports located on the auger bearing support tube to allow an
air
communication between the interior of the bucket vessel 1320 and an exterior
of the bucket
vessel 1320. This facilitates neutralization of a contained negative pressure
by permitting free
passage of air into the bucket vessel 1320 to equalize the contained negative
pressure to the
external environmental pressure.
[0242] In another aspect, the bucket vessel 1320 includes a vacuum relief port
that is located
in the bucket vessel body. The vacuum relief port is a valve that can be
activated by
mechanical or electrical communication so as to create communication between
the interior
of the bucket vessel 1320 and the exterior of the bucket vessel 1320 in a
location in the lower
regions of the bucket vessel 1320 so as to create an airflow through the waste
media.
[0243] In one aspect, the bucket vessel 1320 further includes a port located
in the base of the
bucket vessel 1320. This port includes a valve which serves as a seal to
render the bucket
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vessel 1320 water tight for the storage of food waste. The valve can also
serve as a seal for
the creation of a negative pressure atmosphere within the bucket vessel 1320
when vacuum is
applied, which can be externally operated to open and provide drainage for
liquid condensate
or can be opened to provide an inflow of air so as to neutralize the internal
negative pressure
within the bucket vessel 1320. The valve is so positioned to allow external
operation, and the
port is so located as to provide air communication to a region under the waste
media so as to
create air flow through the waste media with air inflow.
[0244] In one aspect, the bucket vessel 1320 further includes a rotor that can
perform various
functions. For instance, via clockwise rotation, the rotor produces material
reduction through
shearing and pulverization between the rotor arm blades and a stationary
macerator blade. A
close clearance between the agitator arms and the bucket vessel bottom
provides a scouring
action and the rotor shape is such as to provide uplift for waste material
from the bottom,
toward the macerator blade to provide the described mechanical reduction
through shearing
and pulverization. The swept shape of the blade is such as to provide a hold
and shear action
between the rotor and the stationary macerator blade. In the counter-clockwise
rotation, the
swept blade design forces waste material outward to the bucket vessel wall
where it engages
with a plurality of uplifting protrusions that are so placed as to create an
upward mix flow in
non-aqueous materials through their upward facing planar shape, and in aqueous
materials by
the creation of vortex currents.
[0245] In one aspect, the food recycler 1300, through the controller, measures
the motor
current in combination with a Hall effect position sensor to determine
agitator rotation speed
versus current or motor winding phase delay. This is performed to determine a
rotor over
torque or rotor stall condition created by a waste food jam between the rotor
and macerator
blade. The food recycler 1300 will stop clockwise rotation of the rotor and
enter into a
clearing cycle by reversing to counter-clockwise rotation following a
prescribed clearing
cycle. In the event the food recycler 1300 is unable to autonomously clear the
jam, it will
enter into a safe shut down mode and produce an alarm.
[0246] In one aspect, the food recycler 1300 further includes a Hall effect
sensor near an
input coupler between the food cycler 1300 and the bucket vessel 1320. The
bucket vessel
rotor includes a magnet to communicate to the Hall effect sensor and indicate
to the food
recycler 1300 the relative position of the rotor assembly to the controller,
thus allowing the
operation of the rotor so as to provide opening and closure of the rotor air
inlet port for the
pulsatile vacuum.
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[0247] In another aspect, instead of the Hall effect sensor and the rotor
port, the food recycler
1300 includes a vacuum relief port. The vacuum relief port is located in the
base of the
bucket vessel 1320 so as to provide relief air under the mass within the
bucket vessel 1320.
The valve is normally closed so as to provide a liquid barrier for the storage
of wet waste and
provide a seal to facilitate the creation of vacuum within the bucket vessel.
The valve can be
externally operated by applying a magnetic field or via solenoid plunger
located within the
cavity 1306.
[0248] The pot vessel 1310 may also include a rotor. Similar to the rotor of
the bucket vessel
1320, the rotor of the pot vessel 1310 rotates in both a clockwise and counter-
clockwise
fashion. Its wedge shape provides lift of solids from the bottom to a vertical
rising central
fluid vortex in the clockwise direction, with its close tolerance to the pot
vessel bottom
creating a scouring action. In the counter-clockwise direction, solids are
pushed to the outside
of the pot vessel 1310 to create a rising column of solids and fluids along
the pot vessel
interior sides to facilitate even heating of the solution to promote infusion
while minimizing
temperature differential within the solutions entity.
[0249] In both the pot vessel 1310 and the bucket vessel 1320, agitation,
proportionate heat
application, and active mass temperature feedback are under the control of the
controller to
create a narrow temperature hysteresis range. Within the pot vessel 1310, this
creates a
preferred infusion temperature. Within the bucket vessel 1320, this creates a
preferred
desiccation temperature without carbonization. Thus, the controller can use
the temperature
hysteresis range to maintain an ideal temperature within the pot vessel 1310
or the bucket
vessel 1320 based on the corresponding cycle being performed.
[0250] With regard to the pot vessel 1310, at the end of an infusion cycle,
the pot vessel 1310
may contain solids that have a higher density than water and sink to the
bottom, infused
aqueous liquid mid-layer at a relatively equal density to water, and floating
fats which are
generally at a lower density than water. Fats can vary from a liquid state
above their melting
temperature to a solid state below their melting temperature. However, these
fats generally
remain at a lower density than water. The melting point of these fats may vary
based on their
composition. The bottom layer is a waste stream, the mid later is a desired
product, and the
top layer is a fat-based waste stream.
102511 The food recycler 1300, in one aspect, includes a dual concentric
separator that
facilitates separation of these three layers. The dual concentric separator
includes two filter
plates, a lower filter mesh plate with a metal backer that allows the lower
filter mesh plate to
act as a plunger/filter, separating the solids from the infused solution,
forcing the solid waste
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to the bottom of the pot vessel 1310 and holding it in the lower region of the
pot vessel 1310.
The upper filter is similarly constructed with the addition of an upward
facing outer
containment ring for the containment of solidified fats and is attached to a
concentric shaft so
as to allow independent movement of the shaft of the lower plate filter and
its shaft, both of
which communicate upward to operated.
[0252] In use, upon completion of an infusion cycle, the food recycler 1300
holds the
contents of the pot vessel 1310 at a specified temperature so as to facilitate
safe food storage
and to allow the fats to be held in a liquid state above their melting
temperature. The operator
places the dual concentric separator into the pot vessel 1310 passing through
the liquid fat
layer with both the upper and lower filter plates. The lower filter plate
forces the solids to the
bottom, and the second filter plate rests on top of it. The solution is
permitted to cool below
the melting point of the fats which undergo a state change from liquid to
solid. The operator
elevates the upper filter plate through the liquid solution and is able to
capture and remove
the fat solids from the pot vessel 1310 for disposal. The infused solution
product may be
poured from the pot vessel 1310 with the waste solids restrained by the lower
filter plate.
Upon completed extraction of the infused solution product, the waste solids
can be transfused
to the bucket vessel 1320 for processing as food waste. The fats can be
retained as sanitized
fats for use or disposal. The infused solution is stored and used as foodstuff
[0253] In one aspect, for a desiccation cycle, the critical end-of-cycle
parameter is the
moisture content within the waste material. Process sensing inputs are
available to the
controller from a humidity sensor located in the lid and in the outbound air
stream from the
compressor of the food recycler 1300. Thus, based on the amount of humidity
detected using
the humidity sensor, the controller can determine whether the desiccation
cycle has been
completed. For instance, the controller may evaluate the humidity level within
the vessel to
determine whether this humidity level is below a minimum humidity threshold.
If the
humidity level is below the minimum humidity threshold, the controller may
determine that
the desiccation cycle is complete.
[0254] In one aspect, the food recycler 1300 includes an external cycle
controller contact
connector, which provides a contact interface between the controller and an
external
environment to provide coordination of exothermic machine cycles with external
environmental needs. The interface, in one aspect, is a dry contact closure at
24 VDC current
limited to interface with a standard thermostat.
[0255] In one aspect, the food recycler 1300 includes an external air duct
interface to couple
the food recycler 1300 to an external duct system using a 2 or 3-inch round
duct suitable for
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HVAC exhaust air. This can provide optional ducting of the exhaust air to an
external
environment.
[0256] During a desiccation cycle, air exhaust can be directly vented to an
exhaust air stream
or internally diverted through a condenser. In one aspect, the condenser is a
two-stage process
with the first stage being a venturi condensate separator and the second stage
being a pressure
vessel with an end-of-cycle condensate purge. In an alternate aspect, the
condenser is a
Peltier chiller condenser, wherein the condenser uses the cool side of the
Peltier circuit bridge
and the heat side produces a warm air stream for reintroduction into the
bucket vessel 1320
via the air makeup port during the purge portion of the pulsatile cycle.
[0257] In one aspect, within the wall of the cavity 1306 is a thermal and
acoustic insulation
layer to reduce heat transfer from the pot vessel 1310 or bucket vessel 1320
to the interior of
the food recycler 1300 and to reduce acoustic transmission resulting from the
mechanical
operations performed therein. The outer case of the food recycler 1300 can
include an
acoustic damping material layer to reduce acoustic transmission from the
internal mechanical
processes to the outside environment, thereby reducing noise. In one aspect,
within the air
exhaust port of the food recycler 1300, the food recycler 1300 includes a
series of acoustic
baffles tuned to the operating frequency of the air pump compressor output.
These acoustic
baffles are used to dampen pulsatile noise transmission from the exhaust air.
[0258] FIG. 14 illustrates an example method 1400 associated with infusion of
flavor and
nutrients from surplus food to create a foodstuff The method 1400 may be
performed by a
controller of the food recycler. The method 1400 includes detecting insertion
of a pot vessel
for infusion of flavor and nutrients from foodstuff into an aqueous solution
(1402),
identifying the contents of the pot vessel and the desired outcome of the
infusion (1404), and
initiating various food recycler components to perform infusion according to
the desired
outcome (1406). Upon initiating the various food recycler components to
perform infusion
according to the desired outcome, the controller may monitor the infusion
cycle to determine
whether the infusion cycle has been completed (1408). If the infusion cycle
has not been
completed, the controller may continue to monitor the infusion cycle. However,
if the
infusion cycle is complete, the controller shuts down the food recycler
components and
maintains the product at a stable temperature (1410). Further, the controller
indicates, via a
user interface or through other indicators of the food recycler, that the
infusion cycle is
complete (1412).
[0259] FIG. 15 illustrates an example method 1500 associated with conversion
of food waste
into nutrient preserved stable granular media. The method 1500 may be
performed by a
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controller of the food recycler. The method 1500 includes detecting insertion
of a bucket
vessel into the food recycler for desiccation of food waste (1502). A user of
the food recycler
may be required to remove the bucket vessel lid so as to facilitate closure of
the food
recycler. In an aspect, closure of the food recycler results in an enclosed
atmosphere in which
the bucket vessel is encapsulated. In an aspect, upon receiving a start
command to initiate a
desiccation cycle, the food recycler performs a system diagnostic check to
ensure that the
desiccation cycle can be initiated. Further, the food recycler may confirm
that the lid has been
closed.
[0260] The method 1500 further includes determining a recycling profile,
volume of food
waste, and water content of the food waste (1504), determining the duration of
the
desiccation cycle based on the recycling profile, volume of food waste, and
water content of
the food waste (1506), and initiating the food recycler components to perform
desiccation of
the food waste (1508).
[0261] In an aspect, the food recycler begins a grind cycle by activating the
bucket vessel
auger to apply a torque to the food waste within the bucket vessel. This may
cause the food
waste mass to engage against a stationary feature shaped to reduce the food
waste mass by
mechanical compaction, laceration, and pulverization. In the event of a torque
stall, the food
recycler can perform a blade clearing cycle, whereby the auger is rotated in
an opposite
direction to push the food waste mass into the stationary mixing elements. If
the torque stall
is cleared, the grind cycle is activated to continue the desiccation cycle. In
an aspect, if the
food recycler is unable to resolve the torque stall or a maximum number of
torque stall events
is reached, the food recycler halts the desiccation cycle and produces an
alarm or other
indication of the issue. A user may be required to manually clear the jam
within the bucket
vessel to resolve the torque stall issue.
[0262] Upon completion of the grind cycle, the food recycler commences a heat
phase in
which the lid-mounted radiant heat array is activated to raise the temperature
of the food
waste mass to a climax desiccation temperature. The climax desiccation
temperature, in some
aspects, is 115 degrees Celsius. During this heat phase, the bucket vessel
auger turns counter-
clockwise at a reduced speed. The counter-clockwise rotation agitates the food
waste mass
and forces the food waste mass into a set of stationary features so shaped as
to create upward
material flow and create mixing to facilitate even heating of the food waste
mass.
[0263] When the food waste mass desiccation cycle set point temperature is
reached, the
process is advanced to the desiccation cycle at which time the radiant lid
heater is
deactivated. The desiccation cycle commences with the inductive heater
elements coming
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under the control of the infrared lid sensor and being cyclically activated or
modulated to
maintain the set desiccation temperature of the food waste mass. Further, the
bucket vessel
auger is activated to turn the food waste mass in a counter-clockwise
direction and is brought
to a stop at the vacuum relief port closed position. Once in position, the
vacuum draw down
cycle commences.
[0264] During the vacuum draw down cycle, the vacuum pimp is engaged to draw
down
bucket vessel within the food recycler to a vacuum pressure set by the pump
displacement
and speed in full cycle mode. Full vacuum is held for a set time with the
purpose of creating
hemorrhagic fractures in the cellular membranes of the waste material so as to
accelerate
moisture transmission from within the cell through the cellular membrane
fractures.
[0265] Upon completion of the vacuum draw down cycle, the auger resumes
rotation in the
counter-clockwise direction at a speed set as to open and close the vacuum
relief port at a
particular cycle as to create a pulsatile vacuum cycle rising to atmospheric
pressure and
falling to 1.5 mbar and creating air flow within the bucket vessel from the
vacuum relief port
location at the bottom of the food waste mass to the top of the bucket vessel
in a convective
air stream moving toward the low pressure source. In an aspect, an alternate
rapid cycle
option can be selected at the time of start up, and a secondary process is
engaged where a
Peltier process recycle accelerator condensing cooler/heater is engaged.
[0266] Air output is measured by hygrometers located in the lid and exudate
air tube. Using
these measurements, the controller determines whether the desiccation of the
contents within
the bucket vessel is complete (1510). When a series of consecutive readings or
a period of
time that concur and confirm that the food waste mass has reached a
predetermine moisture
content, the cycle is complete and the food recycler is transitioned into a
cool down phase.
The controller may shut down various food recycler components as part of the
cool down
phase (1512). For instance, in the cool down phase, all heat sources are shut
down. The auger
is moved to the port open position and the vacuum pump continues to run at a
reduced speed
so as to create air movement within the bucket vessel so as to provide
cooling.
[0267] When temperature sensors in the lid and air exudate tube produce a
series of
concurrent readings over time that concur and confirm that the bucket vessel
and its contents
have reached a predetermined temperature, the food recycler machine moves to
the ready to
open state, indicating that the desiccation cycle is complete (1514) and
moving the food
recycler to a standby mode.
[0268] FIG. 16A illustrates a front view of an example food recycler 1600. The
food
recycler 1600 can have a side housing or casing 1602 which on the left side
and a right side
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can be generally flat and on the front portion of the food recycler 1600 can
have rounded
edges. A lid 1604, which can form atop surface of the food recycler 1600, can
be part of the
lid structure and can include an exhaust vent 1606. This exhaust vent 1606 can
be typically
configured within 2 cm from a hinge associated with the lid 1604 or from the
top rear edge of
the lid 1604. The lid 1604 can be released by the user interacting with a
latch 1612
configured in a front portion of the housing 1602. Right below the latch 1612
can be
configured a control button 1610. The positioning of the latch 1612 and the
control button
1610 are designed to be adjacent to one another such that the user only needs
to go to one
particular area of the food recycler 1600 in order to interact with or control
the food recycler
1600. The user can open the lid 1604 or turn the food recycler 1600 on or off
by focusing on
one location of the system. To turn the food recycler 1600 on or off, the user
only needs to
depress the button 1610. The positioning of these two control components
simplifies the user
interaction with the food recycler 1600. The latch 1612 and the control button
1610 can be,
for example, within 2mm of each other physically. While the latch 1612 is
shown as
configured above the control button 1610, they could also be configured side
by side or with
the latch 1612 below the control button 1610.
[0269] Air intake vents 1608 are positioned along an angled lower surface of
the food
recycler 1600. In one aspect, the vents 1608 are configured in some or all of
the angled
surface which is defined between a bottom surface (not shown in FIG. 16A) and
a vertical
side housing 1602. The air intake vents 1608 are used to draw the air into the
food recycler
1600 such that the air follows a particular path around components, a bucket
containing food
waste, and air filter, and ultimately into the lid 1604 and out an exhaust
vent 1606. There are
several configurations for the location of the exhaust vent disclosed herein.
[0270] FIG. 16B illustrates a side view of the food recycler 1600. In this
view, the air intake
vents 1608 are shown as being configured along the angled surface near the
bottom of the
food recycler 1600. In one aspect, the rear surface 1614 is vertical such that
the food recycler
1600 can be leaned up or positioned against a wall. With a vertical rear
surface 1614, it is
expected that the exhaust vent 1606 would be configured to cause air to flow
out a top
surface of the lid 1604.
102711 A side profile of the latch 1612 and the control button 1610 are
provided. It is noted
that the control button 1610 extends away from the front surface of the food
recycler 1600.
[0272] FIG. 16C illustrates some of the internal components of an example food
recycler.
The lid 1604 and exhaust vent 1606 are shown as being separated from the rest
of the food
recycler 1600. Component 1622 represents a cover or motor housing that
contains a motor
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that will drive a gear system configured within the component represented by
feature 1630.
Air vents 1624 in the motor housing 1622 can enable air received via air vents
1608 to flow
through the motor housing 1622. The entire airflow through the unit will be
described in
more detail below.
[0273] A bucket 1628 is shown as being configured within a bucket housing
1626. The
bucket 1628 is removable by a user and is configured to be complementary to
and fit within
the bucket housing 1626. Generally speaking, the motor contained within the
motor housing
1622 will drive a gear system in compartment 1630 which will cause a blade
system to rotate
within the bucket and process the waste food. Heat will also be provided
through a heating
plate or other component as part of the base unit 1708 such that the food can
both be chopped
up and heated. The heater can be configured in or part of compartment 1630.
Component
1616 contains a fan that draws the air from a top region of the bucket 1628
either directly or
through an air channel configured within the lid 1604. The airflow will draw
moisture from
the bucket area 1628 and ultimately out of the food recycler 1600. The fan
will pull air down
through component 1616 and through an open channel in compartment 1620. Filter
component 1618 includes a compostable filter which will filter the air and
which is easily
removable. The filter component 1618 it can be a compostable filter system. An
example
height of the filter system might be approximately 144mm. In one aspect, a
screen cover
1615 can be used to cover the fan component 1616 and a screen cover 1619 can
be used to
cover a top portion of the filter component 1618.
[0274] FIG. 16D illustrates some of the internal components of an example food
recycler
1600. In this figure, more details about the lid 1604 are provided. For
example, air flowing
up from the bucket 1628 can enter into an airflow region 1634 in the lid 1604.
The
configuration of the lid 1604 can control the airflow to an exit region 1636
that causes the air
to flow down into component 1616 which contains the fan. The fan forces air
into component
1620 and up through the filter component 1618 back into the lid through the
region 1638.
These airflow regions 1634, 1636, 1638 can be created by forming a number of
small
openings or holes in a bottom surface of the lid 1604 and configuring internal
airflow
channels within the lid 1604 to control the flow of air to and from the lid
1604. A locking
component 1632 is shown as part of the lid 1604 and which is complementary to
and interacts
with the latch 1612. The locking component 1632 can be used to either lock or
release the lid
1604 upon interaction with the latch 1612 by a user.
[0275] FIG. 16E illustrates some of the internal components of an example food
recycler
1600. In this figure, the bucket 1628 is shown as being separated from the
bucket housing or
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bucket receptacle 1626. The bucket 1628 is removable and is configured with a
complementary sidewall with sidewall extensions 1629 that can be complementary
to interior
wall indentations 1631 in the bucket housing 1626. In this manner, the bucket
1628 can be
easily placed into the bucket housing 1626 and seated properly for use. FIG.
16E also shows
a compartment 1638 that can be configured to store the power cord for powering
the food
recycler 1600.
[0276] FIG. 16F illustrates a bottom view of an example food recycler 1600. A
bottom
surface 1640 is shown as well as a bottom view of the control button 1610 and
the latch 1612.
In this figure, the air intake vents 1608 are shown as encompassing the lower
portion of the
food recycler 1600 except for the rear surface 1614. To further control the
airflow into the
food recycler 1600, the air intake vents 1608 could be positioned
intermittently or in specific
regions of the surface in which the air intake vents 1608 are configured.
102771 FIG. 16G illustrates a top view of an example food recycler 1600. The
exhaust vent
1606 is shown as well as a top view of the latch 1612. The top view of FIG.
16G illustrates
the angled nature of the left and right edges of the food recycler 1600. These
are provided by
way of example but illustrate a preferred shape of the housing of the food
recycler 1600.
Other configurations are contemplated as well and are discussed below.
[0278] FIG. 16H illustrates a side and rear view of an example food recycler
1600.
Configured within the rear surface 1614 of the food recycler 1600 can be
several features. An
exhaust vent 1640 is shown by way of example. It is preferable that the
exhaust vent be
configured within the lid 1604 as is shown by feature 1606. However, an
alternate channeling
of air from the food recycler 1600 can include a structure that channels air
out of the rear
surface 1614. In one aspect, the exhaust vents 1606 are configured within the
lid to cause the
air to be channeled out a top portion of the lid, and preferably in a back
region of the lid.
Other regions could be used as well. In this aspect, air is not vented out of
a back wall of the
food recycler 1600. In yet another aspect, the air is not vented out of a back
surface of the lid
1604 but is channeled out of a top surface of the lid 1604.
[0279] Feature 1642 represents generally the configuration of the electrical
components
which are used to operate the food recycler 1600. Compartment 1638 is shown as
storing an
extension cord 1629.
102801 FIG. 17A illustrates various modular components of an example food
recycler 1700.
One aspect of the food recycler 1700 is that its components can be accessed
and replaced in a
modular fashion. The various components can be swapped in and swapped out.
FIG. 17A
shows the various modules that can be easily removed and replaced. For
example, the system
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1700 can include configuring the various components such that they can easily
be accessed
and replaced. For example, a base component 1708 can include a motor housing
1622, and a
gear casing 1630 which can be configured with air intake vents 1608 and motor
compartment
air intake vents 1624. This configuration can be generated such that an outer
casing 1602
can easily sit on or attach to the base component 1708. A bucket container
1626 can be
configured to sit on the gear housing 1630. The bucket container 1626 can be
configured to
receive a bucket 1628.
[0281] Sitting on top of the motor housing 1622 can be a component 1620 that
is configured
to receive air flowing from a fan component 1616 and cause the air to flow
through the
component 1620 and into a filter component 1618. The housing 1602 is shown
with a volume
or an interior cavity 1704 which is complementary to and can receive the fan
component
1616. Another volume or cavity 1702 is shown within the housing 1602 and which
is
complementary to a configuration of the filter component 1618. Below the
cavity 1704 and
the cavity 702, and built into the structure of the casing 1602, can be
another cavity that is
complimentary to the airflow component 1620. Another component 1714 is shown,
which is
at least part of the configuration of a rear surface of the system 1700. This
component 1714
can include a cavity 1638 for holding an extension cord and another portion
1642 that can
contain a control system and other electrical components. The housing 1602 can
also include
an interior cavity or volume 1706 which is configured to enable the bucket
container 1626 to
be positioned inside the housing 1602. The lid 1604 is shown as well as an
exhaust vent
1606 as part of the lid structure.
[0282] The bucket container 1626 and/or the base 1708 shown in FIG. 17A can
also be
characterized as a bucket receptacle. A heating element or heat can be
provided either within
the region 1630 of the base 1708 or in the bucket container 1626 to transfer
heat to or cause
the bucket 1628 to be heated as part of the processing of the waste food
placed within the
system.
[0283] The electrical control system and the communication of power and
control signals to
the motor, heating elements, the fan, or other elements are not shown but
would be
understood to one of skill in the art.
102841 The latch 1612 is shown as well as the control button 1610 configured
on the front
portion of the exterior surface of the housing 1602. The various components
shown in FIG.
17A are configured such that the accessibility and removability of various
components is
easy for an end user. For example, the system can be configured such that the
user could
access the fan component 1616 from a top portion of the cavity 1704 and remove
the fan
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component and replace it with a new fan component in case the original fan
stopped working.
Not shown in this figure, but included within the structure, would be the
proper electrical
connections that would power the fan and provide control data from the control
system
housed in the component 1642. In another aspect, the user may remove the
housing element
1602 and thus reveal the fan component 1616 that could then be removed and
easily replaced
by the user.
[0285] Similarly, the user could access and replace the filter component 1618
either from the
opening 1702 and a top portion of the casing 1602 or upon accessing the filter
1618 after
lifting the housing component 1602 off of the base component 1708.
[0286] FIG. 17B illustrates in more detail the filter system 1720. The filter
container 1618 is
positioned with a base structure 1710 into an opening or configuration
represented as feature
1712. Feature 1712 is part of the component 1620 which receives air from the
fan and which
directs the air through the interior portion of the component 1620 to the
opening or output
port 1712 so that the air can be filtered using filter 1722. The filter 1722
is compostable and
is configured to be removably inserted into the filter component 1618. A
handle 1724 can be
configured with the filter 1722 for easy insertion and removal from the
component 1618. A
top cover or filter screen 1619 can have many air flow vents or openings to
enable air to flow
through the filter and out the top. Replacing the air filter 1722 can be
achieved by opening
the lid 1604, removing the top cover or filter screen 1619, and utilizing the
handle 1724 to
pull the filter 1722 out of the component 1618. The user can then replace the
old filter with a
new filter in a similar manner.
[0287] FIG. 17C illustrates the filter 1722 with more detail. The filter 1722
can be configured
with cylinder walls 1728 that are non-porous and can be made from a material
such as
pasteboard or heavy paper. The design controls the flow of air through the
filter and not out
the side walls of the filter. A bottom surface 1730 and a top surface 1732 can
be made from a
permeable filter material to allow airflow while containing the internal
charcoal pieces 1726
that filter the warm moist air. Other materials can be used as well for the
filter. Note that
using pasteboard or heavy paper can enable the entire filter to be
compostable. Other
materials can be used as well to maintain the functionality of the filter 1722
and remain
compostable as an entire unit.
102881 FIG. 18A illustrates a top view 1800 of an example food recycler and a
cross-
sectional view of some of the components. This figure illustrates atop view of
the lid
component 1604 including the exhaust vent 1606. A top view of the latch 1612
is also
provided. A cross-sectional line A-A illustrates the location of the view of
system 1802.
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[0289] As shown with system 1802 in FIG. 18A, various features are shown which
further
illustrate aspects of this disclosure. The lid 1604 is shown with a first
cavity 1808. The
cavity 1808 generally represents a channel or volume in which air would flow
from a top of
the bucket (not shown) through the cavity 1808 to the fan component 1616. A
fan 1804 is
shown that can be used to cause the air to flow or to be drawn from the region
1808 and into
the fan component 1616. The fan 1804 forces the air down through a final
channel 1814 into
the cavity or channel defined by component 1620. The air then flows to the
filter component
1618 in which a compostable filter is positioned in region 1812. In one
aspect, the filter 1812
includes a particular structure for improving the performance of the filter.
For example, non-
permeable sidewalls 1813 can be configured in connection with the filter 1812
for the
purpose of maintaining the airflow through a middle portion of the filter
1812. Airflow
shown by arrow 1816 illustrates a flow through the component 1620 and into the
filter 1812.
A casing can be provided for the filter component 1618 into which removable
compostable
filter can be positioned. For example, the user may access the filter
component 1618 through
the opening 1702 discussed above and shown in FIG. 17A. The removable filter
1812 can
include sidewalls that do not have openings but are closed and which can force
air through
the middle portion of the filter 1812.
[0290] As air will be moving in the direction shown by arrow 1816, it may also
be important
for the filter 1812 to be properly seated in position and prevented in some
degree from
moving or being pushed upward by the flow of air. Thus, one aspect of this
disclosure,
includes a configuration of the filter 1812 with a seating structure and a
material that properly
adheres to a base of the filter component 1618. For example, tape, Velcro or
other hook-
and-loop fasteners, or a magnetic structure might be used to help firmly seat
a filter 1812 into
the filter component 1618. The element 1710 is representative of a seating
structure which
can be used to seat a filter on to a receiving structure 1712 shown in FIG.
17A.
102911 FIG. 18A further shows example gearing components 1806, electrical
control
components 1642 and a motor 1818.
[0292] FIG. 18B illustrates a top view 1800 of an example food recycler and a
cross-
sectional view 1820 of some of the components. In a top view, the lid 1604 is
shown with a
line A-A illustrating the location of the cross-sectional view through the
system 1820. In
system 1820, a cavity 1622 is shown in the lid 1604. The cavity 1622 can be
used to draw
moist air through the air vents 1634 (as shown in FIG. 16D) and into the
region 1622. Cavity
1622 can connect with cavity 1808, as shown in FIG. 18A, to cause the air to
flow through
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the air vents 1636 into the fan component 1616 (as shown in FIG. 16D) as
controlled by the
fan 1804.
[0293] FIG. 18B also illustrates the latch 1612 and the control button 1610 as
well as the
front portion of the air intake vents 1608. An interior cavity of the bucket
is shown as feature
1824. A blade structure is shown by way of example. A central column 1826
supports a
number of different cutting blades such as blade 1827, blade 1830 and blade
1832. Cross
blades 1828, 1834 are attached to a wall of the bucket 1628 and can be further
deployed to
improve the chopping capability of the blade system. Further example details
of the gearing
and heating mechanisms are shown as features 1836, 1838.
[0294] FIG. 18C illustrates a side view of an example food recycler 1850. Food
recycler
1850 includes exterior housing 1856, air intake vents 1858, a lid 1854, and a
control button
1852. In one example, exhaust vents could be configured near region 1862. In
an alternate
embodiment in which the exhaust is configured to flow out the back of the food
recycler
1850, an issue might arise where the food recycler 1850 is positioned against
a wall. It would
be undesirable for the heated and moist air to be forced out of a rear surface
of the food
recycler 1850 and immediately impact the wall. Accordingly, this figure
illustrates a tilted or
angled rear wall or surface 1860 of the system 1850. The angle of the tilted
surface 1860 can
be anywhere from between 10 and 30 relative to a vertical line. The purpose
of the tilted
surface 1860 is to maintain a desirable profile associated with the system
1850 as well as
provide sufficient space between the region 1862 and the wall behind the
system 1850. Moist
and heated air can be vented from openings in region 1862 and would not damage
the wall or
be forced to some degree back into the system 1850 because the exhaust vents
1862 are too
close to the wall.
[0295] Note that interior airflow channels can be modified such that the air
flowing through
the filter 1618 described above would properly be directed to the exhaust
vents 1862. Such an
airflow may or may not be caused to travel through the lid 1854. In other
words, the region
1862 could be configured within the housing 1856 of the system 1850. In
another aspect, the
region could be configured as part of the lid 1854 such that the interior
structure of the lid
1854 causes the air to flow out a back portion of the lid rather than a top
portion of the lid as
is shown in other figures.
102961 FIG. 19 illustrates an internal air flow pathway through an example
food recycler
1900. In this example, cold air is drawn into the air intake vents 1608 on a
bottom portion of
the housing of the system 1900. In one example, the entire structure of the
system 1900 can
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also be reversed where the bucket is configured on the right side and the air
intake vents 1608
are configured on the left side.
[0297] The initial airflow is shown by way of example through the A arrows in
FIG. 19.
Once inside the housing, the air can flow through vents 1624 (not shown in
FIG. 19) and into
the motor housing 1622. The B arrows represent the cool air flowing over the
motor and
other components towards a region configured below the bucket container 1626
and bucket
1628. The air can cool the motor as the cool air is heated by the motor. The C
arrows
represent the flow of the air from the region of the gear system 1630 and up
through channels
represented by the D arrows that are configured between the bucket 1628 and
the bucket
container 1626. The C arrows represent lightly warmed air traveling between
the gears and
the heat plate and can be used to cool the gears as well. The D arrows show
the flow of air,
which might be slightly heated by the motor and the gearing system, up the
side of the bucket
1628 to further heat the air. At the top of the bucket 1628, the E arrows
illustrate the flow of
the air from the channel between the bucket 1628 and the bucket container 1626
and down
into the interior portion of the bucket 1628. The air inside the interior
portion of the bucket
1628 will be further heated and receive moisture from the waste food. The
blade system
represented by feature 1826 is used to chop the waste food.
[0298] The F arrow represents the air flowing from the interior of the of the
bucket 1628 up
through air vents 1634 configured within the lid 1604 and defined by cavity
1822 over into
cavity 1808 also configured in lid 1604. From cavity 1808, the G arrow
represents the flow of
air through air vents 1636 and to the fan 1804. The H arrow illustrates the
flow of air from
the fan 1804 and through component 1616 and into the filter component 1618.
One aspect of
the component 1616 is that it can be considered a cold pan where some of the
moisture in the
air condenses. In one aspect, not shown, condensed moisture from the component
1616 can
remain in the component 1616 and generally evaporate or can be removed via
another
channel or exhaust port configured in a rear wall or elsewhere within the
housing of the
system 1900. The I arrow shows the air flowing from component 1616 and through
the filter
component 1618 and into the cavity 1810 configured within the lid 1604. In one
aspect, the
filter component 1618 includes an active charcoal filter that filters the warm
moist air. The J
arrows show the flow to the cavity 1810 and to the exhaust port 1606. The K
arrows illustrate
the flow of the air out the top rear portion of the lid 1604.
[0299] As noted above, the channel 1810 can be reconfigured to cause the
heated and moist
air to exit exhaust port and a back wall or back facing portion of the lid
1604. In another
aspect, a channel can be configured to cause the air to flow out an exhaust
vent 1640
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configured, for example, in an upper portion of the housing represented by
feature 1862 of
FIG. 18C.
[0300] FIG. 20A illustrates a side view of another example food recycler 2000.
In this
example, the general configuration of the system 2000 differs. Note that the
exterior housing
2002 is generally curved along the entire front and side portion of the
housing. A rear surface
can be flat and vertical or can be angled similar to the angled rear wall
discussed above. An
opening 2008 can receive a bucket for processing waste food. A lid 2006 can
include similar
components discussed above for receiving moist air and communicating moist air
through to
a filter system and to support the release of the filtered air out into the
environment. Lower
intake air vents 2010 are shown as well. The purpose of this figure is to
illustrate that another
shape of the overall system 2000 that can be provided with other interior
components and
structures being similarly situated. An on/off control button 2004 is also
shown.
103011 FIG. 20B illustrates a side and rear view of another example food
recycler 2000. In
this example, a rear surface 2014 is shown as generally being flat and can be
vertical or can
be tilted as is shown in the figure. In one aspect where the exhaust vent is
configured in
region 2012, the interior fan and channels designed to control the airflow
through the system
would cause the heated moist air described above to be vented out of the
exhaust vents 2012
in the rear wall 2014 of the system 2000. The closed lid 2006 is shown as well
as a portion of
the control button 2004.
[0302] FIG. 20C illustrates a side view of another example food recycler 2020.
In this
example, the exterior housing wall 2024 is circular on all sides. In this
example, the lid 2028
is also circular and as is shown, the exhaust vents 2022 are shown as
configured within a rear
portion of the lid 2028. The intake vents 2026 are shown as well along the
bottom portion of
the system 2020. The on/off control button 2004 is also shown.
[0303] FIG. 21A illustrates a side view of another example food recycler 2100.
In this
alternate embodiment, the bucket 2106 is configured to be placed on a surface
2108 for
processing waste food. Rather than placing the bucket 2106 completely inside
the units, in
this alternate embodiment, the bucket 2106 sits mostly on the outside of the
unit. The handle
of the bucket 2112 is shown as well as a lid 2102. The bucket is positioned on
a platform
2108 that would include at least a portion of the components described above.
A portion of
the system 2112 is shown which would contain at least some of the components
described
above, such as the motor, a fan, a filter system, and so forth. A region 2110
can be configured
to be positioned at least in part over the lid 2102 of the bucket 2106 to help
maintain the
bucket on the system while the food recycling process occurs. A top region
2104 is shown of
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the system 2100 which can include some of the cavities described above for
receiving moist
air and communicating the moist air through a fan and filter system for
exhausting out of the
system either through a top portion or rear portion of the system 2100.
[0304] FIG. 21B illustrates a top view of an example food recycler 2114 and a
cross-
sectional view 2120 of some of the components. System 2114 illustrates a top
view having a
top portion of the bucket 2102, the handle 2112 and atop portion of the system
2104. Line
A-A illustrates the position of the cross-sectional view of system 2120. With
system 2120,
the user can position the bucket 2122 with a top portion 2102 at least
partially underneath a
top portion of the system 2104. The region 2124 generally represents the
location where the
various components are configured in order to process the waste food through
heating and
chopping and to enable airflow through the system as part of the recycling
process. The
bucket is a double wall bucket allowing heated air to travel between the inner
wall 2126 and
outer wall 2128 of the bucket. This double wall bucket eliminates the need for
a bucket
compartment within the food recycling unit.
[0305] FIG. 22A illustrates an example blade structure 2200 for a food
recycler. As shown,
a cutting blade system 2204 is configured in interior portion 2222 of the
bucket 2202.
Various cutting blades are shown as extending from a central column 2216. A
top cutting
blade 2206, a middle cutting blade 2214 and a lower cutting blade 2212 extend
from the
central column 2216 at different levels. These cutting blades are configured
to extend from
the column 2216 and configured such that there is vertical space between the
respective
blades such that cross blade members 2208, 2210 can be configured and attached
to a
respective attachment components 2218, 2220. The attachment components 2218,
2220 are
configured on the interior portion 2222 of the bucket 2202. In this manner, as
the blade
Assembly 2204 is caused to rotate by the motor and gearing mechanism of the
system (not
shown), the waste food can be property chopped up by the motion of the blade
system 2204
and the respective cutting blades with their movement with respect to the
cross blade
members 2208, 2210.
[0306] A bucket can include a blade system 2204. In one aspect, the blade
system 2204
includes a central column 2216, at least one cutting member 2206, 2212, 2214
each extending
at a different level from the central column 2216 and at least one cross blade
2208, 2210
attached to opposite sides (or different sides that are not necessary
positioned opposite of
each other) of the bucket. The at least one cross blade 2208, 2210 can be
configured between
two of the at least one cutting member 2206, 2212, 2214 as is shown in FIG.
22A. Three
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cutting members are shown but the disclosure is broad enough to encompass just
one cutting
member as well as more than one as illustrated.
[0307] FIG. 22B illustrates example cutting components 2230 for a food
recycler. A top
cutting blade 2208 is shown as being configured above the bottom cross blade
member 2210.
The attachment components 2218, 2210 are shown in more detail. FIG. 22C
illustrates
example cutting components 2230 for a food recycler. This figure illustrates
the removable
nature of the cross blades 2208, 2210 and how they can be removed from
attachment
components 2218, 2220.
[0308] FIG. 22D illustrates an example blade structure in a cross sectional
view 2200 of a
bucket structure 2202 for a food recycler. The blade system 2204 includes a
central column
2216 with a top plate 2206, a middle blade 2214 for a lower blade 2212. The
vertical spacing
of these blades is illustrated in this figure to allow proper space for the
upper cross blade
member 2208 and the lower cross blade member 2210 which are attached to the
attachment
components 2218, 2220 to the sidewall of the bucket 2202.
[0309] FIG. 22E illustrates an example blade structure 2240 from a top view
for a food
recycler. In the earlier described structures, the cross blade components
2208, 2210 each
were generally configured on top of one another and having the same shape. In
this figure, a
top blade 2242 is not configured to be over a bottom blade 2244 but they are
configured to be
mirror images of each other such that they do not overlap. This different
configuration can
cause a different kind of chopping operation as the blade system 2204
operates. The various
cutting blades 2214, 2206, 2212 are also shown in this figure as part of the
blade system of
bucket 2246.
[0310] FIG. 22F illustrates an example blade structure 2240 from a side view
for a food
recycler. In this view, the top blade 2242 is seen from a different angle with
respect to the
bottom blade 2244. The top cutting member 2206 extends from the central column
2216 and
is configured to travel above the upper blade 2242. The middle cutting member
2214 is
configured to travel between the upper blade 2242 and a lower blade 2244. The
lower cutting
member 2212 is configured to rotate from the central column 2216 such that it
is configured
below the lower blade 2244.
103111 FIG. 22G illustrates an example blade structure 2260 from a top view
for a food
recycler. In this structure, a bucket 2262 includes a blade system 2204 and a
cross blade
member 2264 which is attached to attachment components 2266, 2268. The
respective cutting
blades 2214, 2212, 2206 can travel above or below the cutting member 2264. The
cutting
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member 2264 shown in this figure may also represent stacked cutting members as
is shown in
FIG. 22D.
[0312] FIG. 22H illustrates an example blade structure 2204 from a top view
for a food
recycler 2270. In this example, the cutting member 2208 is shown in connection
with the
blade structure 2204 with its cutting arms 2206, 2214, 2212. The attachment
components
2218, 2220 (shown as 2227 on the drawing) are also shown. In this top view,
the lid 1604 is
open and the various air flow channels 1634, 1636, 1638 are shown as part of
the lid structure
1604. A top view of the fan component 1616 is shown as well as a top view of
the filter
component 1618 and the latch 1612.
[0313] FIG. 221 illustrates various views of an example blade structure for a
food recycler.
For example, blade structure 2280 illustrates the central column 2216 with the
top cutting
blade 2214, middle cutting blade 2206 and lower cutting blade 2212 to each
extending from
the central column 2216. Blade system 2282 illustrates another angle of the
central column
2216 and the top cutting blade 2214, central cutting blade 2206 and lower
cutting blade 2212.
This view illustrates the different structures of the respective cutting
blades 2214, 2206, 2212.
For example, atop portion of the cutting blade 2214 is angled or curved. Atop
surface of
cutting blades 2206, 2212 are not curved but are shown as flat. The bottom
portion or bottom
surface of each cutting blade 2214, 2206, 2212 is shown as being flat. Each
cutting blade is
shown as curved as well. The curved nature of each blade is illustrated by
cutting blade 2284
that illustrates a top view of the cutting blades 2214, 2212, 2206.
[0314] FIG. 22J illustrates various views of an example blade structure for a
food recycler.
Feature 2286 represents an example blade structure 2204 with a central column
2216, a top
cutting member 2206, a middle cutting member 2206 and a lower cutting member
2212. The
cross sectional indicator A-A illustrates the cross-sectional view for feature
2288. An interior
cavity 2290 is shown by way of example for the cutting blade structure 2204 as
well as a
cross sectional view of lower cutting member 2212 and the top cutting member
2206.
[0315] FIG. 23 illustrates various views 2300 of an example blade structure
for a food
recycler. In one example, a bucket 2302 is shown with a blade structure 2310.
A top cutting
member 2312 is shown as well as a middle cutting member 2314 and lower cutting
member
2306. Another cutting member 2322 is also shown on the lower level. Thus, the
blade
structure 2310 in this example includes four cutting blades extending from the
central column
2311. While the lower level is shown as having two cutting blades 2322, 2306,
the other
layers of cutting blades could be configured with more than one blade as well.
Cross cutting
blade 2308 is shown having a different shape from earlier cutting blades 2208,
2210.
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Similarly, cross cutting blade 2318 is also shown which is of a different
shape than the earlier
cutting blade 2208, 2210. A supporting bracket 2304 is also shown for cross
cutting blade
2308.
[0316] A top view is shown as feature 2320. The blade structure 2310 is shown
as well as
cutting blades 2312, 2314, 2306 and 2322. Note the different shapes of the
cross cutting
blades. For example, cross cutting blade 2318 has a curved shape from point A
to point B in a
clockwise direction. At point B, the cross cutting blade 2318 makes a sharp
turn back to point
C forming a -V" shape with the point B at the vertex. Cross cutting blade 2308
has a similar
shape, although the shape does not have to be the same. From point X on the
cutting blade
2308 to point Y, the cutting blade has a circular shape but it point Y the
cross cutting blade
2308 turned sharply towards point C such that the point Y becomes a vertex.
Note that the
position of cross cutting blades 2318, 2308 are such that point B of cross
cutting blade 2310
is configured near to point X of cross cutting blade 2308. Cross cutting
blades 2308, 2318
can be configured and other positions on the interior of the bucket 2320.
Similarly, the shape
and extending configuration of each of the cutting blades 2312, 2314, 2306,
2322 can also
vary. For example, the cutting blade shown with feature 2320 are generally
straight whereas
others disclosed herein are generally curved. The cutting blade could be
configured such that
some or curved and somewhere straight. In one example, cutting blade 2322,
2306 generally
extend in opposite directions from the central column 2311. However, they can
also extend in
different directions as do cutting blades 2312, 2314. Thus, there are a number
of variations to
the example configuration shown in FIG. 23 in the other figures as well.
[0317] Feature 2340 illustrates a bucket having a cutting blade structure 2310
with a central
column 2311 and a top cutting blade 2312, essential cutting blade 2314, and a
lower cutting
blade 2306 as well as a secondary lower cutting blade 2322. Structure 2342 is
used to engage
with components of a motor and gearing system to drive the rotation of the
cutting blade
structure 2310. A first cross cutting blade 2308 is shown as well as a portion
of a second
cross cutting blade structure 2318. A supporting bracket 2304 is shown as an
example of the
kind of structure which can be configured on a side wall of the bucket 2340 to
support in a
removable fashion the cross cutting blades 2308 and 2318.
103181 FIG. 24 illustrates a view of another example blade structure in a
bucket 2400 for a
food recycler. In this example, a central column 2402 is the support for a
first cutting
member 2404 and a second cutting member 2412. The first and second cutting
members
2404, 2412 each are attached along an angled surface 2410 of the column 2402.
The first and
second cutting members 2404, 2412 are each angled at least in part. A front
surface 2414 is
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shown on member 2412. A back surface 2414 is also shown in an upper region or
top portion
of the member 2412. Member 2404 has aback surface 2406 and atop edge 2408.
While two
cutting members are shown with their structure in FIG. 24, the system may
include one or
more of such members.
[0319] In one example, the cutting members 2406, 2412 rotate in a
counterclockwise
direction such that the first and second cutting members 2404, 2412 pass by
wall cutting
members 2436, 2416, 2418, 2420. The wall cutting members 2436, 2416, 2418,
2420 are
shown by way of example in a triangular shape with the base of the triangle at
a bottom
portion of the bucket 2400. The wall cutting members 2436, 2416, 2418, 2420
extend
inwardly from an interior surface of the bucket 2400 such that the rotation of
the cutting
members 2412, 2404 causes a distal end of each cutting member 2412, 2404 to
pass close to
an interior surface of each of the wall cutting members 2436, 2416, 2418,
2420. The close
interaction can trap food waste components and cause them to be cut or crushed
in an
efficient manner.
[0320] At a bottom portion of the bucket 2400 are base cutting members 2422,
2424, 2426,
2428. The base cutting members 2422, 2424, 2426, 2428 extend from a base
surface 2430,
2432 of the bucket 2400 and provide other areas where food waste can be cut or
processed as
the a lower portion of the cutting members 2412, 2404 passes over the base
cutting members
2422, 2424, 2426, 2428. A wall cutting member 2434 is shown at a different
height than the
other wall cutting members 2436, 2416, 2418, 2420 showing that the wall
cutting members
2436, 2416, 2418, 2420 can have a varying height. The wall cutting members
2436, 2416,
2418, 2420 can also have different configurations such as rectangular, circle,
trapezoid,
square, or a combination of different shapes.
[0321] An attachment component 2440 mechanically connects the central column
2402 of
the cutting blade system with a gearing component and motor shown in other
figures.
103221 FIG. 25 illustrates a view 2500 of another example blade structure for
a food recycler.
A central column 2502 supports a first cutting member 2504 and a second
cutting member
2510. The first cutting member 2504 has a first surface 2506 and a second
surface 2508. A
connecting member 2516 connects the central column 2502 with an upper portion
of the first
cutting member 2504. A second connecting member 2518 connects an upper portion
of the
second cutting member 2510. A surface 2512 is shown of the second cutting
member 2510. A
top surface 2514 is also shown of the second cutting member 2510. The first
and second
cutting members 2504, 2510 are primarily angled and connected to the central
column 2512
along as much as the entire column. Wall cutting members 2524, 2526, 2528 are
shown by
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way of example. These can represent thin cutting strips that extend a distance
from an interior
surface of the bucket 2500. In one aspect they are smooth, and another aspect
they can be
serrated or have gaps or sharp edges configured along the member. A distal end
of the first or
second cutting members 2504, 2510 can be configured to pass closely by each
respective wall
cutting member 2524, 2526, 2528 in order to cut food waste as the blade
structure rotates.
The blade structure can rotate in a clockwise or counterclockwise manner as
with any
example cutting structure disclosed herein.
[0323] A bottom portion of the bucket 2500 can have rounded edges and along
the bottom
additional base cutting members 2522, 2520 are shown by way of example. These
base
cutting members extend from a portion of a base surface 2530 of the bucket
2500. The base
cutting members 2520, 2522 are shown as being serrated or having notches
therein and also
shown as having a thin structure. In one example, a base cutting member 2522
is extended to
be connected to a wall cutting member 2524 with one portion being serrated or
having
notches in the other portion not having such features. This is an example
structure which
could be duplicated for the other wall and base cutting members as well. The
general
configuration of the wall cutting members and base cutting members is
complementary to
surfaces of the first cutting member 2504 and the second cutting member 2510
such that a
rotation of the central column 2502 causes the first and second cutting
members 2504, 2510
to rotate and cause waste food to be chopped up or cut via interaction between
the first and
second cutting member 2504, 2510 and the respective wall cutting members and
base cutting
members.
[0324] FIG. 26A illustrates a view of a bucket 2600 for a food recycler. The
bucket 2600 can
include a lid 2602, a handle 2604, an outer surface 2606, a lower portion of
the outer surface
2607 and a base member 2609. In one example, the lid 2602 and outer surface
2606 are
made of a metal and the base member 2609 can be attached at the lower portion
of the outer
surface 2607 and can be metal or made from another material such as a plastic
or rubber.
[0325] FIG. 26B is a cross sectional view of the bucket and a grinder
mechanism for a food
recycler. The bucket 2600 is shown with the handle 2604 and the outer surface
2606. In this
cross sectional view, the outer surface 2606 is contiguous with a top surface
2610 and an
interior surface 2608. Note that the interior surface 2608 connects to a lower
portion 2614 at
a junction 2612. The lower portion 2614 of the bucket 2600 can be made from a
different
material from the interior surface 2608. The lower portion of the outer
surface 2607 connects
to the base member 2609 which can also connect to a base portion 2630 of the
lower portion
2614 of the bucket 2600. In terms of manufacturing, the bucket 2600 can be
made from a
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first portion that includes the exterior surface 2606, the top surface 2610
and the interior
surface 2608. A second portion can include the lower bucket portion 2614 with
its base
portion 2630. A third portion can be a component or base portion 2609 that
connects the
lower portion 2607 of the exterior surface 2606 to the base portion 2630 of
the bucket. These
three portions can be connected or attached to arrive at the overall design of
the bucket 2600.
103261 A motor connecting portion 2632 is provided in a central position or
axis of the
bucket 2600. This can connect mechanically to a motor as disclosed herein. A
supporting
member 2636 can be configured around a central shaft 2634 that can be used to
support the
grinding mechanism 2624. A top portion 2640 of the shaft can further be
configured to
secure the grinding mechanism 2624. One or more of the components 2634, 2636,
2638,
2640 can be considered a rotational member to which the first leg 2623 (and
the second leg
2642 in FIG. 26C) are attached.
103271 The grinding mechanism 2624 can have a first leg 2623 that is connected
at a first end
2628 to the supporting member 2636 and/or other components of the shaft 2634.
An initial
direction for the first leg 2623 as it extends from the supporting member 2636
is indicated by
a first vector 2627. Note that the first leg 2623 curves to the left from the
initial direction
2627 until at its distal or second end 2626 it has a direction indicated by a
second vector
2629. In one example, the direction of movement of the grinding mechanism 2624
is shown
by arrow 2631. Note however, that the direction of the rotation of the
grinding mechanism
2624 can be in either direction is does not have to be as indicated by arrow
2631. The
curvature or shape of the grinding mechanism 2624 in coordination with the
position of the
projectiles discussed below can be utilized to trap and grind waste food in an
efficient
manner. Note the shape of the first leg 2623 of the grinding mechanism 2624
can vary and
does not have to curve in the direction shown. It can curve in the opposite
direction, can be
straight, or other shapes.
103281 Note that a first height associated with the first end 2628 of the
first leg 2623 of the
grinding mechanism 2624 is shorter than a height of the second or distal end
2626 of the
grinding mechanism 2624. This can also be adjustable but the flaring or
expanding of the
height along the length of the first leg 2623 enables the higher distal end
2626 to have the
appropriate length or height, to include notches introduced next, and to
interact with the sets
of projections.
[0329] The lower portion 2614 of the bucket includes a series of sets of
projections. Each
projection extends into the interior portion of the bucket 2600 from an
interior wall of the
lower portion 2614 of the bucket 2600. The shape of each projection can be as
shown in FIG.
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26B and can be consistent across the sets of projections, or the projections
can have different
shapes across sets or across any projection.
[0330] A set of projections 2616, 2618, 2620, 2622 is shown as well as a
second set of
projections 2616A, 2618B, 2620C, 2622D. Note that the projections have in one
example a
certain pattern with respect to the positions of individual projections.
Projection 2616 is
configured such that projection 2618 is above and offset from projection 2616.
Projection
2620 is configured such that projection 2620 is above and offset from
projection 2618. This
is similar for projection 2622. The number of projections in a set can vary
and can be one or
more. The number is not limited to four but each set can have one or more
projections.
[0331] A housing of the bucket 2600 can include one or more of the exterior
surface 2606,
the top surface 2610, the interior surface 2608, and the lower portion 2614 of
the interior
surface. In one example, the interior surface 2608 can be generally
cylindrical in shape.
103321 Furthermore, the example configuration of the sets of projections can
also vary. They
can be stacked on top of each other, or some can be offset to the right of the
one below a
respective projection, while another may be offset to the left of the one
below it. The number
of sets of projections can also vary. In the example shown, three sets are
configured on the
half of the lower portion 2614 of the bucket. Another three sets can be
configured in the
other half not shown. However, any number of sets of one or more projections
can be
utilized.
[0333] Although no projections are shown on a bottom surface 2628 of the
bucket, one or
more projections could also extend from that surface as well.
[0334] FIG. 26C illustrates another view of a bucket and grinder structure for
a food recycler.
In this figure, the first leg 2623 of the grinding mechanism 2624 includes a
first notch 2650, a
second notch 2652, a third notch 2654 and a fourth notch 2656. Note that these
notches are
complementary to the sets of projections shown in FIG. 26B. Projection 2620A
is shown as
being configured within the notch 2654. This approach enables waste food to be
crushed or
processed as the grinding mechanism 2624 rotates around the central axis.
Notches 2662,
2664, 2666, 2668 are shown in a second leg 2642 of the grinding mechanism
2624.
Projection 2620 is shown as being complementary or configured within the notch
2664. As
with the first end 2628 and the second end 2626 of the first leg 2623, a first
end 2658 of the
second leg 2642 is attached to the central shaft 2640 and a second or distal
end 2660 of the
second leg 2642 has a greater height relative to the height of the first leg
2658 at the first end
2658. The second or distal send 2660 includes the notches 2662, 2664, 2666,
2668 that are
complementary to the sets of projections. Note that if there are projections
configured within
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the bottom surface 2628 shown in FIG. 26B, then there could be corresponding
notches in a
bottom portion 2625 of the first leg 2623 and/or a bottom surface or portion
2643 of the
second leg 2642 shown in FIG. 26C. Typically, the bottom portions 2625, 2643
of the
grinding mechanism 2624 will be complementary to the bottom surface 2628
configuration
so that waste food is circulated or processed as the grinding mechanism 2624
rotates.
[0335] The second end 2626 of the first leg 2623 and the second end 2660 of
the second leg
2642 can be configured to rotate at a position adjacent to the interior
surface 2614 of the
bucket 2600.
[0336] Generally, the curvature or shape of the first leg 2623 will be the
same as the
curvature or shape of the second leg 2642, although the two shapes do not have
to be the
same. The shapes of the two legs 2623, 2642 could have opposite curvatures,
for example, or
one could be curved and the other straight. Each projection is at its own
level and the distal
or second ends of the legs of the grinding mechanism 2624 can be tall enough
to cover all of
the levels of the projections so that there is interactions between the
notches in the grinding
mechanism 2624 and the projections.
103371 The respective positions of a respective projection can be horizontally
offset from
another position of another projection. In one example, none of the
projections in a set of
projections overlap in a vertical direction.
[0338] The following figures and discussion introduces another bucket design
which can be
utilized in a food recycler. FIG. 27A illustrates a bucket 2700 with a handle
2702 that is
attached via a screw 2703 at a position that is offset 2705 from a center line
of the bucket
2700. The purpose of the offset 2705 as shall be seen is to enable the user to
more easily
grasp the bucket 2700 and turn it over to remove the recycled food therein.
Note the space
(2743 in FIG. 27C) between the far left distal end of the handle 2702 and the
bucket 2700.
When the handle is moves over to the right side of the bucket 2700 in FIG.
27A, the distal
end of the handle 2702 will be adjacent to an exterior wall of the bucket 2700
(see space 2757
in FIG. 27E). A structure 2704 at the bottom of the bucket also improves the
ability of the
bucket to be set within a complementary base component of the food recycler.
The structure
2704 can be a cavity which is complementary to a projection on a base of a
food recycler.
The structure 2704 can also aid in providing something for a user to grab as
they empty the
bucket 2700.
[0339] Note section B-B in FIG. 27A. The sectional view of FIG. 27B is along
the B-B line.
FIG. 27B shows a number of different internal structures of the bucket 2700.
The bucket
2700 can be made from die cast aluminum or some other material. The handle
2702 is shown
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as well as an interior screw 2703 or other attachment mechanism shown in FIG.
27A. For
example, a stainless tubular rivet could be used as feature 2703. An interior
wall 2738 of the
bucket 2700 is shown with a top portion of the bucket 2700 generally vertical
extending
down to a majority of the height of the bucket 2700. The lower portion of the
bucket has a
series of steps 2716, 2718, 2720, 2722 down to a floor level 2737. Each of
these steps can
have configured thereon a respective circular blade 2708, 2710, 2712, 2714.
For example, a
first circular blade 2708 is configured on a first or highest step 2716. A
first diameter of the
first circular blade 2708 on the first step 2716 is larger than a second
diameter of a second
circular blade 2710 on the second step 2718. A third diameter of a third
circular blade 2712
is smaller than the second diameter of the second circular blade 2710. The
third circular
blade 2712 is configured on a third step 2720. A fourth circular blade 2714 is
configured on
a fourth step 2722 and has a fourth diameter that is smaller than the third
diameter. Each of
the circular blades 2708, 2710, 2712, 2714 has a series of teeth of
projections (2756 in FIG.
27C) that extend laterally inward as is shown in FIGs. 27C, 28A and 28B.
[0340] A cross sectional view of an example grinding mechanism 2706 is shown
with a near
end 2726 connected to a base 2730 and a distal end 2724 that is configured
with notches
(shown elsewhere) that are complementary to the teeth or projections
projecting inward from
the respective circular blades 2708, 2710, 2712, 2714. Within the base 2730
are a number of
different structures that enable the grinding mechanism 2706 to be controlled
or moved by
the motor disclosed herein. For example, a rubber washer 2733 can be used to
protect an axle
screw 2728 from getting wet from the moisture in waste food. A washer 2732 can
be made
from a material such as a coated steel for enabling the base 2730 to be fit
onto a raised
portion 2735 of the bucket 2700. A rubber seal 2739 can be configured between
the base
2730 and an interior structure under the base 2730. A bucket axle portion 2734
can be made
from a machine stainless steel or other material. A bucket base portion 2740
can be made
from a plastic or rubber molding. A second bucket base portion 2742 can also
be made from
a plastic or rubber molding. These bucket base portions are configured to
maintain the
general shape of an exterior surface 2705 of the bucket 2700 as the bucket
2700 transitions
(as point 2707) from an aluminum material to the base portions 2740, 2742
which can be a
different material such as rubber or plastic. A rubber washer can be provided
in connection
with the axle screw 2728. Other configurations can be provided as well for
attaching the base
2730 to an axle which can enable a mechanical connection to a motor for
driving the grinding
mechanism 2706. The washers, seals, and other components are provided by way
of example
only.
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[0341] FIG. 27C illustrates a top view of the bucket 2700, grinding mechanism
2706 and
blade structures for the first through the fourth circular blades 2708, 2710,
2712, 2714 of the
bucket 2700 shown in FIG. 27A. Screws 2742, 2744 can be used to attach each
respective
circular blade 2708, 2710, 2712, 2714 to a respective shelf 2716, 2718, 2720,
2722 of the
bucket 2700. Note that other attachment mechanisms can be used as well. FIG.
27C from
the top view shows an example of the different diameters of the respective
circular blades
2708, 2710, 2712, 2714. The bottom level 2737 is shown as well.
[0342] The grinding mechanism 2706 is shown with a first grinding arm 2707 and
a second
grinding arm 2709. As shown for the first grinding arm 2707, the near end 2726
is at the
base 2730 and the distal end 2724 is adjacent to the interior wall 2738 of the
bucket 2700.
FIG. 27C illustrates the shape of each respective grinding arm 2707, 2709 and
how it curves
to the left. The purpose of the curve or shape of each respective grinding arm
2707, 2709, as
the grinding arm moves in a clockwise direction, is to trap food items against
the interior wall
2738 and against the respective teeth or projections 2756 of the circular
blades 2708, 2710,
2712, 2714 to chop or process the food waste efficiently. Note a third arm
2754 which is
configured at a base portion of the grinding mechanism 2706 as well. The shape
of this third
arm differs from the shape of the first and second grinding arms 2707, 2709.
[0343] Note that on the fourth circular blade 2714 is a large tooth 2746
protruding into the
central area of the bucket 2700. This tooth 2746 will be shown in more detail
in FIG. 27D.
The second grinding arm 2709 includes a first notch 2748 that is complementary
in shape
with the first circular blade 2708 such that food being recycled is crushed or
chopped by the
interaction of the second grinding arm 2709 and the first circular blade 2708
as well as the
interior wall 2738 of the bucket 2700.
[0344] Similarly, a second notch 2750 is complementary to the second circular
blade 2710
and a third notch 2752 is complementary to the third circular blade 2712. The
space 2743 is
shown between the handle 2702 and the bucket 2700 due to the offset position
of the
attachment mechanism 2703 for the handle 2702 to the bucket 2700. The notches
2748, 2750
and 2752 are also are complementary to the teeth or projections 2756 of the
circular blades.
[0345] FIG. 27D illustrates another top view of the bucket of FIG. 27A with
the handle in a
different position relative to FIG. 27C. In this figure the tooth 2746 of the
fourth circular
blade 2714 is shown with its different shape and size relative to the other
teeth or projections
on the respective circular blades 2708, 2710, 2712, 2714. In this example,
there is a single
larger tooth or projection 2746 configured on the fourth circular blade 2714
that is much
larger than the other teeth and that is used to enable or force the food items
to church or rotate
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with the rotation of the grinding mechanism 2706. Note as well that this
figure illustrates the
handle 2702 on the opposite side of the bucket 2700 in which the space 2757
between the
handle 2702 and the bucket 2700 is much smaller than what is shown in FIG.
27A.
103461 A surface of a respective grinding arm 2711, 2713 is shown which can be
curved in a
particular way to assist in forcing food waste against the interior wall 2738
of the food
recycler and against the respective circular blades 2708, 2710, 2712, 2714.
FIGs. 31A-F
illustrate more specifically the shape or curvature of the surface 2711, 2713.
103471 FIG. 27E illustrates a side view of the bucket 2700 with the handle
2702 in a different
position than in FIG. 27A. In this view, the space 2757 is much smaller
between the handle
2702 and the bucket 2700 relative to the distance 2743 when the handle 2702 is
on the
opposite side. The structure or cavity 2704 at the base of the bucket 2700 is
also shown in
this figure.
103481 FIG. 27F illustrates an emptying position of the bucket 2700 and the
use of the handle
2702. In this example, a user could grab the structure or cavity 2704 and hold
on to the lower
portion of the bucket 2700 and also grip the handle 2702 with the spacing 2743
to enable the
user to grip the handle 2702. In this manner, the structure makes it easier to
hold and to
empty the bucket 2700.
[0349] FIG. 28A illustrates a bottom view of the bucket 2700 of FIG. 27A. In
this bottom
view, the structure or cavity 2704 is shown as well as a recessed hex axle
drive 2802 and a
series of ribs 2804. The recessed hex axle drive 2802 provides a novel change
in the
structure in which the bucket weight is reduced (as the drive opening is
recessed rather than
protruding) and the height of the bucket is reduced as well. The food recycler
can have a
male hex drive configured in mechanical communication with the motor that fits
into the
recessed hex axle drive 2702. The ribs 2804 can be used to aid the bucket 2700
in being
locked into a heat plate (which can have a complementary structure) to prevent
the bucket
from turning under the high torque created by the rotating grinding mechanism
2706 pushing
food waste against the interior wall of the bucket 2700 and the respective
circular blades
2708, 2710, 2712, 2714.
[0350] FIG. 28B illustrates a perspective view of the bottom of the bucket
2700 of FIG. 27A.
The recessed hex axle drive 2802 is shown with the ribs 2804 and the structure
or cavity
2704. A screw 2806 can be used to attach the base portion to other portions of
the bucket
2700. The space 2743 between the bucket 2700 and the handle 2702 is shown as
well.
[0351] FIGs. 29A-C illustrate various views of an example grinding mechanism.
FIG. 29A
shows a grinding mechanism 2900 with a base 2902 and a first grinding arm 2901
and a
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second grinding arm 2903. At a first end 2906 attached to the base 2902 and a
second distal
end 2904 of the first grinding arm 2901. Note that the distal end 2904 is
higher than the first
send 2902. Thus the height of the grinding arm 2901 at the first end 2906 is
shorter than the
height at the distal end 2904. Along the distal end are a series of notches
2908, 2910, 2912,
2914 that are each a difference distance from the base 2902 in which each
successive notch is
recessed and positioned closer to the base 2902 than the one above it. The
shape of the
notches 2908, 2910, 2912, 2914 is complementary to the teeth 2756 protruding
from each
circular blade. A protrusion 2916 also extends from the base 2902 along the
bottom portion
of the grinding mechanism 2900. In one example, the notch 2914 is
complementary to the
tooth 2746 shown in FIG. 27D.
[0352] A protrusion 2918 extends from a lower portion of the base 2902. This
protrusion
2918 can be used in connection with the tooth 2754 to cause chum of the food
waste in the
bucket 2700 as the grinding mechanism 2900 rotates.
[0353] FIG. 29B illustrates further details of the grinding mechanism 2900. In
this figure, a
first edge 2942 is shown between a top of the first grinding arm 2901 and the
first notch
2908. A second edge 2928 is shown between the first notch 2908 and the second
notch
2910. A third edge 2930 is between the second notch 2910 and a third notch
2912. A fourth
edge 2932 is between the third notch 2912 and the fourth notch 2914.
[0354] On the second grinding arm 2903 shows a first edge 2940 is shown
between a top of
the second grinding arm 2903 and a first notch 2924. A second edge 2925 is
shown between
the first notch 2924 and the second notch 2922. A third edge 2936 is between
the second
notch 2922 and a third notch 2920. A fourth edge 2938 is between the third
notch 2920 and
the fourth notch 2926. The shape of the grinding arm 2903 is complementary to
the stepped
configuration of the circular blades and their protruding teeth 2756.
[0355] FIG. 29C illustrates a bottom view of the grinding mechanism 2900. The
protrusion
2914 is shown as well as notches 2908, 2910, 2912, 2914, 2920, 2922, 2924. A
connection
mechanism 2942 is shown which can connect mechanically the grinding mechanism
2900 to
the motor.
[0356] FIGs. 30A-C illustrate various view of another example grinding
mechanism 3000. A
base 3002 has a first grinding arm 3001 extending from the base 3002 and a
second grinding
arm 3003 extending from the base 3002. A near end 3006 connects the first
grinding arm
3001 to the base 3002. A distal end 3004 of the first grinding arm 3001 has a
height greater
than the height of the first grinding arm 3001 at the near end 3006. The first
grinding arm
3001 has a first edge 3008 of the first grinding arm 3001 that attached to a
notch 3010 that
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attaches to a second edge 3012. The second edge 3012 connects to a second
notch 3014.
Below the second notch 3014 is a third edge 3016. A third notch 3018 connects
to a fourth
edge 3020. Note that the notches 3010, 3014, 3018 differ in shape from the
other notches
shown in FIG. 29A-B. A protrusion 3024 is at a bottom portion of the grinding
mechanism
3000. A second grinding arm 3003 has a first edge 3026 that connects to a
first notch 3028.
A second edge 3030 connects to a second notch 3032 and a third edge 3034
connects to a
third notch 3036. A third edge 3038 connects to a fourth notch 3024. A
protrusion 3040
extends from the base portion 3002 to cause churn with the tooth 2754 as the
grinding
mechanism 3000 rotates. FIG. 30A illustrates the curvature and shape of the
first grinding
arm 3001 and the second grinding arm 3003. Note that the various notches are
complementary to the teeth 2756 and the tooth 2746 of the various respective
circular blades
2708, 2710, 2712, 2714.
103571 FIG. 30B illustrates a side view of the grinding mechanism 3000. The
various edges
and notches are shown with a different profile from what is shown in FIG. 29B.
FIG. 30C
illustrates a bottom view of the grinding mechanism 3000 including a recessed
connection
3042 for mechanically connecting the grinding mechanism 3000 to the motor.
103581 FIGs. 31A-F illustrate various round objects used to illustrate a
curvature of the
grinding mechanism at various locations. In FIG. 31A, the bucket 2700 includes
the grinding
mechanism 2706 and shows the surface 2711 of the arm 2707. A ball 3100 having
a diameter
of approximately 5 mm is used where one part of the ball 3100 touches the
surface 2711 and
the other part of the ball touches the interior wall 2738. The angle 3102 can
be
approximately 123 degrees, +11 20% of this value. The angle is defined from a
line
orthogonal to a tangential line at the point where the ball 3100 touches the
surface 2711 and
another line orthogonal to a tangential line where the ball touches the
interior wall 2738.
[0359] Also shown is a tangential line 3104 to the interior wall 2738 at a
point where the arm
2709 is closest to the interior wall 2738. Another tangential line 3106 is
shown associated
with the curvature of the surface 2713 of the arm 2709. The angle 3108 in this
case is
approximately 50 degrees +/- 20% of this value in the horizontal direction.
When the term
approximately is used, it include the value (e.g., 50 degrees or some other
value as well) +/-
20% of this value. These angles are shown by way of example. The values can
vary and
have been shown however to be advantageous for forcing food items against the
interior wall
2738 and the respective circular blades 2708, 2710, 2712, 2714 as the grinding
mechanism
2706 moves in a clockwise direction.
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[0360] FIG. 31B illustrates a ball 3110 having a diameter of approximately 10
mm and that
makes an angle 3112 of approximately 126 degrees +11 20% of this value at the
respective
position on the surface 2711 of the arm 2707.
[0361] FIG. 31C illustrates a ball 3114 having a diameter of approximately 20
mm and that
makes an angle 3116 of approximately 131 degrees +11 20% of this value at the
respective
position on the surface 2711 of the arm 2707.
[0362] FIG. 31D illustrates a ball 3118 having a diameter of approximately 30
mm and that
makes an angle 3120 of approximately 138 degrees +11 20% of this value at the
respective
position on the surface 2711 of the arm 2707.
[0363] FIG. 31E illustrates a ball 3122 having a diameter of approximately 40
mm and that
makes an angle 3124 of approximately 145 degrees +11 20% of this value at the
respective
position on the surface 2711 of the arm 2707.
103641 FIG. 31F illustrates the ball 3114 having a diameter of approximately
30 mm from a
side view. This view shows the angle of the surface 2711 relative to the
ground. The angle
3130 of the ball is relative to a vertical line 3128 and the surface 2711.
Also shown is a line
representing the surface 3132, another vertical line 3130 and an angle 3134
which is
approximately 10-15 degrees +/- 20%. Note that this is in the vertical
direction. As the
surface 2711 of the arm 2707 curves, the use of the balls shown gives a
general idea of the
curvature at a number of different points along the surface 2711 of the arm
2707. These
values are given by way of example and other values could be used as well.
[0365] In some embodiments, the computer-readable storage devices, mediums,
and/or
memories can include a cable or wireless signal containing a bit stream and
the like.
However, when mentioned, non-transitory computer-readable storage media
expressly
exclude media such as energy, carrier signals, electromagnetic waves, and
signals per se.
[0366] Methods according to the above-described examples can be implemented
using
computer-executable instructions that are stored or otherwise available from
computer
readable media. Such instructions can include, for example, instructions and
data that cause
or otherwise configure a general purpose computer, special purpose computer,
or special
purpose processing device to perform a certain function or group of functions.
Portions of
computer resources used can be accessible over a network. The computer
executable
instructions may be, for example, binaries, intermediate format instructions
such as assembly
language, firmware, or source code. Examples of computer-readable media that
may be used
to store instructions, information used, and/or information created during
methods according
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to described examples include magnetic or optical disks, flash memory, USB
devices
provided with non-volatile memory, networked storage devices, and so on.
[0367] Devices implementing methods according to these disclosures can include
hardware,
firmware and/or software, and can take any of a variety of form factors.
Typical examples of
such form factors include laptops, smart phones, small form factor personal
computers,
personal digital assistants, rackmount devices, standalone devices, and so on.
Functionality
described herein also can be embodied in peripherals or add-in cards. Such
functionality can
also be implemented on a circuit board among different chips or different
processes executing
in a single device, by way of further example.
[0368] The instructions, media for conveying such instructions, computing
resources for
executing them, and other structures for supporting such computing resources
are means for
providing the functions described in these disclosures.
103691 Although a variety of examples and other information was used to
explain aspects
within the scope of the appended claims, no limitation of the claims should be
implied based
on particular features or arrangements in such examples, as one of ordinary
skill would he
able to use these examples to derive a wide variety of implementations.
Further and although
some subject matter may have been described in language specific to examples
of structural
features and/or method steps, it is to be understood that the subject matter
defined in the
appended claims is not necessarily limited to these described features or
acts. For example,
such functionality can be distributed differently or performed in components
other than those
identified herein. Rather, the described features and steps are disclosed as
examples of
components of systems and methods within the scope of the appended claims.
Moreover,
claim language reciting "at least one of a set indicates that one member of
the set or multiple
members of the set satisfy the claim.
[0370] It should be understood that features or configurations herein with
reference to one
embodiment or example can be implemented in, or combined with, other
embodiments or
examples herein. That is, terms such as "embodiment-, "variation", -aspect",
"example",
"configuration", "implementation", "case", and any other terms which may
connote an
embodiment, as used herein to describe specific features or configurations,
are not intended
to limit any of the associated features or configurations to a specific or
separate embodiment
or embodiments, and should not be interpreted to suggest that such features or
configurations
cannot be combined with features or configurations described with reference to
other
embodiments, variations, aspects, examples, configurations, implementations,
cases, and so
forth. In other words, features described herein with reference to a specific
example (e.g.,
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embodiment, variation, aspect, configuration, implementation, case, etc.) can
be combined
with features described with reference to another example. Precisely, one of
ordinary skill in
the art will readily recognize that the various embodiments or examples
described herein, and
their associated features, can be combined with each other.
[0371] A phrase such as an "aspect- does not imply that such aspect is
essential to the subject
technology or that such aspect applies to all configurations of the subject
technology. A
disclosure relating to an aspect may apply to all configurations, or one or
more
configurations. A phrase such as an aspect may refer to one or more aspects
and vice versa. A
phrase such as a "configuration- does not imply that such configuration is
essential to the
subject technology or that such configuration applies to all configurations of
the subject
technology. A disclosure relating to a configuration may apply to all
configurations, or one or
more configurations. A phrase such as a configuration may refer to one or more
configurations and vice versa. The word "exemplary- is used herein to mean
"serving as an
example or illustration." Any aspect or design described herein as -exemplary"
is not
necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or
designs.
[0372] Moreover, claim language reciting "at least one of' a set indicates
that one member of
the set or multiple members of the set satisfy the claim. For example, claim
language reciting
"at least one of A, B, and C- or "at least one of A, B, or C- means A alone, B
alone, C alone,
A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B and C together.
FOOD RECYCLER BANK OF STATEMENTS
[0373] The following disclosure provides various claims
covering concepts related to
food recyclers. A corresponding application, Provision Application number
62/844,421,
Docket No. 190-0010P, filed on May 7, 2019, includes further underlying
technology and
figures. That application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirely.
The following
provides a listing of various claim sets focusing on different aspects of
improvements to food
recyclers. The claims, in connection with the incorporated disclosure, cover
various
embodiments or examples configurations, methods, algorithms, and structures
related to the
improvements defined herein. Furthermore, features may be mixed between the
various claim
sets. For example, a volumetric efficiency concept might be combined with an
energy
efficient method to provide an improved energy usage in a food recycler that
also has
volumetric efficiency. According, the various concepts covered in these claims
that can be
integrated into different embodiments.
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[0374] The statement sets below are organized into different concepts.
However, each
statement can be combined with any other statement provided below. References
to "any
previous statement" expressly extend beyond just the particular subset of
statements but
refers to any of the statements below.
FOOD RECYCLER HAVING VOLUMETRIC EFFICIENCY
[0375] Statement 1. A food recycler comprising:
a controller;
a motor in communication with the controller;
a grinding mechanism in mechanical communication with the motor;
a bucket contained within the food recycler that is configured to contain the
grinding
mechanism and configured to receive waste food; and
a drying component configured to remove water from the waste food, wherein the
food recycler is configured to have an overall appliance volume of 35 liters
or less and
wherein the controller, the motor, and the drying component are configured
within the food
recycler to enable the bucket to have a capacity to receive waste food of
between 2.51 liters
to 10 liters, inclusive.
[0376] Statement 2. The food recycler of statement 1, wherein the food
recycler has a
height of 395 millimeters or less.
[0377] Statement 3. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
food
recycler has a height of approximately 360 millimeters, a width of
approximately 270
millimeters and a depth of approximately 310 millimeters.
[0378] Statement 4. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
motor is
configured to not be below the bucket within the food recycler.
[0379] Statement 5. The food recycler of any previous statement, further
comprising:
a gear box configured below the bucket, and wherein at least a portion of the
motor is
adjacent to a side of the bucket in the food recycler.
[0380] Statement 6. The food recycler of any previous statement, further
comprising:
a gear box configured below the bucket, and wherein the motor is positioned to
a side
and below the bucket in the food recycler.
103811 Statement 7. The food recycler of any previous statement, further
comprising:
at least one air filter configured to a side of the bucket and near a top
portion of the
food recycler.
[0382] Statement 8. The food recycler of any previous statement, further
comprising:
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a gear box configured below the bucket, wherein the controller is configured
below
the gear box.
[0383] Statement 9. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
drying
component comprises a fan, a filter system, and a heating component.
[0384] Statement 10. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein a
ratio of a first
volume of the bucket relative to a second volume comprising an overall volume
of the food
recycler is between 0.0717 and .2857.
[0385] Statement 11. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein a
filter system is
built into a lid of the food recycler.
[0386] Statement 12. A food recycler comprising:
a food recycler case that contains a controller;
a motor in communication with the controller and configured within the food
recycler
case;
a bucket contained within the food recycler case that is configured to receive
waste
food; and
a drying component configured to remove water from the waste food, wherein the
food recycler case has an overall volume and wherein a ratio of a first volume
of the bucket
relative to the overall volume of the food recycler case is between 0.07 and
.29.
[0387] Statement 13. The food recycler of statement 12, wherein the overall
volume
comprises 30-35 liters.
[0388] Statement 14. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
ratio
comprises between 0.8 and .33.
[0389] Statement 15. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
first volume
of the bucket comprises 2.51 liters to 10 liters.
[0390] Statement 16. The food recycler any previous statement, wherein a
height of the food
recycler case is approximately 370 millimeters or less.
[0391] Statement 17. The food recycler any previous statement, wherein the
food recycler is
configured to be used on a countertop.
[0392] Statement 18. The food recycler of any previous statement, further
comprising:
a grinding mechanism configured within the bucket and mechanically connected
to
the motor.
[0393] Statement 19. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
overall
volume comprises a height of approximately 360 millimeters, a width of
approximately 270
mm and a depth of approximately 310 mm.
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[0394] Statement 20. The food recycler any previous statement, wherein this
food recycler
case includes an opening on a top surface of the food recycler and wherein the
opening
receives a removable lid.
[0395] Statement 21. The food recycler of any previous statement, further
comprising a
heating component for heating the waste food and the drying component for
drying the waste
food.
FOOD RECYCLER OPERATING WITH IMPROVED HEATING EFFICIENCY
[0396] Statement 1. A food recycler comprising:
a controller;
a motor in communication with the controller;
a grinding mechanism in mechanical communication with the motor;
a bucket contained within the food recycler that is configured to contain the
grinding
mechanism and configured to receive waste food; and
a heating component, in electrical communication with the controller, the
heating
component configured to provide heat into the bucket for heating the waste
food as part of a
food recycling process, wherein the food recycling process consumes .1
kilowatt hours of
energy or less per 100 grams of waste food.
[0397] Statement 2. The food recycler of statement 1, wherein the heating
component
comprises at least one of an RF heating element configured within a lid of the
food recycler
and an induction heating component heating the bucket.
[0398] Statement 3. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
food
recycling process is controlled by controlling instructions provided from a
machine learning
algorithm or an artificial intelligence algorithm based on sensor data from
one or more
sensors which identifies one or more of a type of waste food in the bucket, a
temperature in
the bucket, humidity in the bucket and/or density of the waste food.
[0399] Statement 4. The food recycler any previous statement, further
comprising:
a sensor configured to sense a type of waste food is contained within the
bucket to
yield sensor data; and
a computer-readable storage device storing instructions which, when executed
by the
controller, cause the controller to control one or more of the motor, the
grinding mechanism,
and the heating component to manage a heating and grinding process according
to the sensor
data.
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[0400] Statement 5. The food recycler any previous statement, wherein the
computer-
readable storage device stores additional instructions which, when executed by
the controller,
cause the controller to control one or more of the motor, the grinding
mechanism, and the
heating component to manage a heating and grinding process according to a
machine learning
algorithm trained to operate the food recycler to use a determined amount of
energy tailored
to different types of waste food in the bucket.
[0401] Statement 6. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
heating
component comprises a cavity magnetron.
[0402] Statement 7. The food recycler of any previous statement, further
comprising:
a sensor configured to sense a type of waste food is contained within the
bucket to
yield sensor data;
a communication module configured to transmit the sensor data to a network-
based
server, wherein the network-based server generates controlling instructions
based on the
sensor data; and
a computer-readable storage device storing instructions which, when executed
by the
controller, cause the controller to control one or more of the motor, the
grinding mechanism,
and a heating component to manage a heating and grinding process according to
controlling
instructions received from the network-based service.
[0403] Statement 8. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
controlling
instructions represent results from a machine learning algorithm or an
artificial intelligence
algorithm trained to optimize or improve energy use by the food recycler
according to one or
more of a type of waste food, a temperature in the bucket, humidity in the
bucket and/or a
density of the waste food.
[0404] Statement 9. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
heating
component is configured in a top portion of the food recycler separate from a
lid configured
in the food recycler for access to the bucket.
[0405] Statement 10. The food recycler of any previous statement, further
comprising:
an air circulation system that comprises a fan and an exhaust duct that
removes air
from the bucket and passes the air through an air filter system to an exhaust
port such that the
air exits the food recycler into a surrounding environment.
104061 Statement 11. The food recycler of any previous statement, further
comprising:
a sensor configured to sense a type of waste food is contained within the
bucket to
yield sensor data; and
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a computer-readable storage device storing instructions which, when executed
by the
controller, cause the controller to control one or more of the motor, the
grinding mechanism,
the air circulation system and the heating component to manage a heating and
grinding
process according to the sensor data.
[0407] Statement 12. The food recycler of any previous statement, further
comprising:
a drying component configured to remove water from the waste food,
[0408] Statement 13. The food recycler of any previous statement, further
comprising:
a sensor configured to sense a type of waste food is contained within the
bucket to
yield sensor data; and
a computer-readable storage device storing instructions which, when executed
by the
controller, cause the controller to control one or more of the motor, the
grinding mechanism,
the drying component and the heating component to manage a heating and
grinding process
according to the sensor data.
[0409] Statement 14. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein a
machine
learning algorithm provides instructions to the controller to manage how much
energy is used
in the food recycling process according to data generated by a machine
learning algorithm
trained on types of waste food.
[0410] Statement 15. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
machine
learning algorithm operates on one of the food recycler or a network-based
server.
[0411] Statement 16. The food recycler of any previous statement, further
comprising:
a sensor configured to sense a type of waste food is contained within the
bucket to
yield sensor data, wherein the controller receives controlling instructions
for managing the
food recycling process of the food recycler according to a machine learning
algorithm
operating on the sensor data.
[0412] Statement 17. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
sensor data
identifies a first type of waste food and a second type of waste food in the
bucket.
[0413] Statement 18. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
sensor data
identifies a first percentage of the first type of waste food within the
bucket and a second
percentage of the second type of waste food within the bucket
104141 Statement 19. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
air
circulation system comprises a variable speed controller for the fan to manage
fan usage for
heating efficiency.
[0415] Statement 20. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
controller
provides instructions to the variable speed controller for managing the fan
usage.
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[0416] Statement 21. A food recycler comprising:
a food recycler case that contains a controller;
a motor in communication with the controller and configured within the food
recycler
case;
a bucket contained within the food recycler case that is configured to receive
waste
food;
a drying component configured to remove water from the waste food; and
a heating component that heats the bucket for heating the waste food as part
of a food
recycling process, wherein the food recycling process consumes .1 kilowatt
hours of energy
or less per 100 grams of waste food.
[0417] Statement 22. The food recycler of statement 21, wherein the food
recycler process is
managed by the controller according to controlling instructions provided from
a machine
learning algorithm trained on managing energy usage of a food recycler per
cycle and based
on a one or more of a type of waste food being recycled, a temperature,
humidity and a
density of the waste food.
[0418] Statement 23. The food recycler of any previous statement, further
comprising a fan
run by a variable speed fan controller which receives instructions from the
controller for
managing usage of the fan in a food recycling process.
[0419] Statement 24. The food recycler of any previous statement, further
comprising
insulation configured to reduce heat loss from the bucket.
[0420] Statement 25. A food recycling method comprising:
receiving waste food within a bucket contained within a food recycling
appliance;
heating the waste food within the bucket using a heating component;
drying the waste food within the bucket; and
grinding the waste food with a grinding component contained within the food
recycling appliance, wherein the food recycling method consumes .1 kilowatt
hours of energy
or less per 100 grams of waste food.
[0421] Statement 25. The food recycling method of statement 24, wherein the
heating of the
waste food, the drying of the waste food and the grinding of the waste food
are managed by a
controller operating on controlling instructions generated by an algorithm
trained on energy
usage by a food recycler according to a type of waste food being recycled.
[0422] Statement 26. The food recycling method of any previous statement,
wherein the
food recycling method comprises one or more of generating controlling
instructions from an
algorithm trained on energy efficient use of a food recycler according to a
type of waste food,
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wherein the controlling instructions cause a controller to manage an
application of heat via
the heating component, manage air flow rates in a venting system, and optimize
of one or
more of a timing of various stages of the food recycling method, temperatures
applied to the
waste food, and a continuous or non-continuous nature of an application of
heat to the waste
food.
FOOD RECYCLER HAVING A GRINDING TOOL
[0423] Statement 1. A grinding component within a food recycler, the grinding
component
comprising:
a primary column mechanically attached to a motor system;
a first curved arm extending from the primary column, the first curved arm
having a
first structure; and
a second curved arm extending from the primary column, the second curved arm
having a second structure, wherein the first structure differs from the second
structure and
wherein the first structure and the second structure are configured such that
movement of the
primary column in a first direction and then in a second direction causes a
grinding by the
grinding component a large food waste item and a hard food waste item.
[0424] Statement 2. The grinding component of statement 1, wherein the first
curved arm
extends from the primary column at a first elevation and wherein the first
structure comprises
a first vertical surface and a second vertical surface, the first curved arm
having a flat top
surface that is configured to travel beneath a fixed chopping projection from
the wall of the
bucket when the primary column rotates as controlled by the motor system, and
the first
curved arm having a sharp edge projecting from the flat top surface on a side
of the first
curved arm that is opposite the first vertical surface.
[0425] Statement 3. The grinding component of any previous statement, wherein
the
second curved arm extending from the primary column at a second elevation,
wherein the
second structure comprises a first curved vertical surface and a second flat
vertical surface,
the second curved arm configured to travel above the fixed chopping projection
from the wall
of the bucket when the primary column rotates as controlled by the motor
system.
[0426] Statement 4. The grinding component of any previous statement, wherein
the
second curved arm is configured with a plurality of teeth configured in the
first curved
vertical surface at a distal end of the second curved arm.
[0427] Statement 5. The grinding component of any previous statement, further
comprising:
the second curved arm having an upper component and a lower component.
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[0428] Statement 6. The grinding component of any previous statement, wherein
the upper
component of the second curved arm comprises the plurality of teeth.
[0429] Statement 7. The grinding component of any previous statement, wherein
the upper
component extends further from the primary column and over the fixed chopping
projection
and wherein the lower component travels adjacent to a grinding component
vertical side of
the grinding component when the primary column rotates as controlled by the
motor system.
[0430] Statement 8. The grinding component of any previous statement, wherein
the large
food waste item comprises a bone, a fruit, a potato, or other food item,
generally have a
diameter of greater than 2 inches.
[0431] Statement 9. The grinding component of any previous statement, wherein
the first
curved arm has a first end connected to the primary column and having a first
arm distance
between a first end vertical surface at the first end and a wall of a bucket
containing the
grinding component, the first curved arm having a second end that is distal
from the primary
column and having a second arm distance between a second end vertical surface
at the second
end and the wall of the bucket, and wherein the first arm distance is greater
than the second
arm distance.
[0432] Statement 10. The grinding component of any previous statement, wherein
the first
curved vertical surface of the second curved arm has a first end connected to
the primary
column and has a first curved arm distance between a first end vertical
surface at the first end
and the wall of the bucket containing the grinding component, the second
curved arm having
a second end that is distal from the primary column and having a second curved
arm distance
between a second end vertical surface at the second end and the wall of the
bucket.
[0433] Statement 11. The grinding component of any previous statement, wherein
the hard
food waste item comprise a bone.
[0434] Statement 12. The grinding component of any previous statement, wherein
the
second curved arm is further configured to have a first portion that travels
above the fixed
chopping projection from the wall of the bucket and a second portion that
travels adjacent to
the fixed chopping projection when the primary column rotates as controlled by
the motor
system.
104351 Statement 13. A food recycler comprising:
a food recycler case;
a motor system configured within the food recycler case;
a bucket configured within the food recycler case; and
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a grinding component configured within the bucket and mechanically connected
to
the motor system, wherein the grinding component comprises:
a primary column;
a first curved arm extending from the primary column, the first curved arm
having a first structure; and
a second curved arm extending from the primary column, the second curved arm
having a
second structure, wherein the first structure differs from the second
structure and wherein the
first structure and the second structure are configured such that movement of
the primary
column in a first direction and then in a second direction causes a grinding
by the grinding
component of a combination of large food waste items and hard food waste
items.
[0436] Statement 14. The food recycler of statement 13, wherein the first
curved arm
extends from the primary column at a first elevation and has a first vertical
surface and a
second vertical surface, the first curved arm having a flat top surface that
is configured to
travel beneath a fixed chopping projection from the wall of the bucket when
the primary
column rotates as controlled by the motor system, and the first curved arm
having a sharp
edge projecting from the flat top surface on a side of the first curved arm
that is opposite the
first vertical surface.
[0437] Statement 15. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
second
curved arm extends from the primary column at a second elevation and has a
first curved
vertical surface and a second flat vertical surface, the second curved arm
configured to travel
above the fixed chopping projection from the wall of the bucket when the
primary column
rotates as controlled by the motor system, and wherein the grinding component
further
comprises the second curved arm having an upper component and a lower
component.
[0438] Statement 16. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
large food
waste items comprise bones, fruit items, potatoes, or other food items having
a diameter of at
least 2 inches.
[0439] Statement 17. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
upper
component extends further from the primary column and over the fixed chopping
projection
and wherein the lower component travels adjacent to a chopping component
vertical side of
the grinding component when the primary column rotates as controlled by the
motor system.
104401 Statement 18. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
hard food
waste items comprise bones.
[0441] Statement 19. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
first curved
arm has a first end connected to the primary column and having a first arm
distance between
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a first end vertical surface at the first end and a wall of a bucket
containing the grinding
component, the first curved arm having a second end that is distal from the
primary column
and having a second arm distance between a second end vertical surface at the
second end
and the wall of the bucket, and wherein the first arm distance is greater than
the second arm
distance.
[0442] Statement 20. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
first curved
vertical surface of the second curved arm has a first end connected to the
primary column and
has a first curved arm distance between a first end vertical surface at the
first end and the wall
of the bucket containing the grinding component, the second curved arm having
a second end
that is distal from the primary column and having a second curved arm distance
between a
second end vertical surface at the second end and the wall of the bucket.
[0443] Statement 21. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
first curved
arm distance is greater than the second curved arm distance.
[0444] Statement 22. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
second
curved an-n is further configured to have a first portion that travels above
the fixed chopping
projection from the wall of the bucket and a second portion that travels
adjacent to the fixed
chopping projection when the primary column rotates as controlled by the motor
system.
[0445] Statement 23. A method of recycling waste food, the method comprising:
receiving waste food in a bucket of a food recycling unit;
chopping the waste food in the bucket using a chopping component as part of a
food
recycling process, wherein the chopping comprises rotating the chopping
component in a first
direction as part of the food recycling process and in a second direction as
part of the food
recycling process, and wherein the chopping component comprises:
a primary column;
a first curved arm extending from the primary column, the first curved arm
having a first structure; and
a second curved arm extending from the primary column, the second curved
arm having a second structure, wherein the first structure differs from the
second structure and wherein the first structure and the second structure are
configured such that movement of the primary column in a first direction and
then in a second direction causes a grinding by the grinding component of
large food waste items and hard food waste items.
[0446] Statement 24. The method of recycling waste food of statement 23,
wherein the first
curved arm extends from the primary column at a first elevation and wherein
the first
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structure comprises a first vertical surface and a second vertical surface,
the first curved arm
having a flat top surface that is configured to travel beneath a fixed
chopping projection from
the wall of the bucket when the primary column rotates as controlled by the
motor system,
and the first curved arm having a sharp edge projecting from the flat top
surface on a side of
the first curved arm that is opposite the first vertical surface.
[0447] Statement 25. The method of recycling waste food of any previous
statement,
wherein the second curved arm extending from the primary column at a second
elevation,
wherein the second structure comprises a first curved vertical surface and a
second flat
vertical surface, the second curved arm configured to travel above the fixed
chopping
projection from the wall of the bucket when the primary column rotates as
controlled by the
motor system.
[0448] Statement 26. The method of any previous statement, wherein the large
food waste
items comprises bones having a diameter of at least 2 inches.
FOOD RECYCLER HAVING AN RF COMPONENT
[0449] Statement 1. A food recycler comprising:
a food recycler case;
a control system configured within the food recycler case;
a bucket configured within the food recycler case and for receiving waste
food; and
an RF component configured within the food recycler case and in communication
with the control system, wherein the RF component transmits microwaves into
the bucket as
part of a food recycling process.
[0450] Statement 2. The food recycler of statement 1, further comprising a
heating plate
configured below the bucket and within the food recycler case.
[0451] Statement 3. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
RF
component is configured within a lid of the food recycler that provides access
to the bucket.
104521 Statement 4. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
lid comprises
an electro-mechanical connection to the control system.
[0453] Statement 5. The food recycler of any previous statement, further
comprising
shielding to prevent microwave leaking.
104541 Statement 6. The food recycler any previous statement, further
comprising a wave
guide which receives microwaves from the RF component and which guides the
microwaves
into the bucket.
[0455] Statement 7. The food recycler any previous statement, wherein the RF
component
comprises a magnetron.
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[0456] Statement 8. The food recycler any previous statement, further
comprising a heat
plate which communicates heat to the bucket, wherein the waste food is heated
by a
combination of heat from the heat plate and heat from microwaves generated by
the RF
component.
[0457] Statement 9. The food recycler any previous statement, wherein the food
recycling
process comprises heating the waste food at least in part using microwaves
from the RF
component, without burning the food.
[0458] Statement 10. The food recycler any previous statement, further
comprising an air
circulation system which comprises a fan for drawing air from the bucket and
communicating
the air through a filtering system as part of the food recycling process.
[0459] Statement 11. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
fan is
controlled by a variable speed fan controller.
104601 Statement 12. A method of heating waste food in a food recycling
appliance, the
method comprising:
receiving waste food in a bucket of the food recycling appliance;
receiving an indication from a user of the food recycling appliance to begin a
food
recycling process;
heating, as directed by a control system, the waste food by an RF component to
yield
heated waste food; and
grinding the heated waste food to yield recycled food.
[0461] Statement 13. The method of statement 12, further comprising:
initiating a further heating of the waste food via a heat plate in connection
with the bucket to
yield the heated waste food.
[0462] Statement 14. The method of any previous statement, further comprising:
retrieving air from the bucket via an air circulation system;
104631 Statement 15. The method of any previous statement, wherein the air
circulation
system further comprises filters through which air flows.
[0464] Statement 16. The method of any previous statement, when the RF
component
further comprises a wave guide configured to control an introduction of
microwaves into the
bucket.
104651 Statement 17. The method of any previous statement, wherein the wave
guide further
controls the introduction of microwaves into the bucket such that the waste
food will be
evenly heated.
[0466] Statement 18. The method of any previous statement, further comprising:
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grinding the heated waste food utilizing a grinding component in mechanical
communication with a motor system of the food recycling appliance.
[0467] Statement 19. The method of any previous statement, wherein the RF
component is
configured within a lid of the food recycling appliance.
[0468] Statement 20. The method of any previous statement, wherein the lid
comprises an
electro-mechanical connection to the control system.
[0469] Statement 21. The method of any previous statement, where the heating
further
comprises using a heat plate which communicates heat to the bucket, wherein
the waste food
is heated by a combination of heat from the heat plate and heat from
microwaves generated
by the RF component.
[0470] Statement 22. The method of any previous statement, further comprising
retrieving air from the bucket via an air circulation system which includes a
fan for
drawing air from the bucket and communicating the air through a filtering
system as part of
the food recycling process.
[0471] Statement 23. The method of any previous statement, wherein the air
circulation
system comprises a fan having a variable speed controller for efficiently
controlling air flow.
AN INTERNET OF THINGS DEVICE AS A FOOD RECYCLER
[0472] Statement 1. A food recycler comprising:
a controller;
a motor in communication with the controller;
a grinding mechanism in mechanical communication with the motor:
a bucket contained within the food recycler that is configured to contain the
grinding
mechanism and configured to receive waste food;
a drying component configured to dehydrate the waste food in the bucket;
a sensor component that senses a characteristic of waste food being recycled
in the
food recycler to yield sensor data; and
a communication component connected to the controller which communicates with
an
external device, wherein the sensor data is transmitted to the external device
via the
communication component and wherein the sensor data characterizes the waste
food.
104731 Statement 2. The food recycler of statement 1, wherein the sensor
component
further comprises a one or more of a torque sensor associated with the motor
and/or an air
velocity sensor.
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[0474] Statement 3. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
sensor
comprises one or more of a humidity sensor, a temperature sensor, a pressure
sensor, a
microphone, a camera, a scale, and an infrared sensor.
[0475] Statement 4. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
food recycler
is configured to have an overall appliance volume of 35 liters or less and
wherein the
controller, a motor, and a drying component are configured within the food
recycler to enable
a bucket to have a capacity to receive the waste food of between 2.51 liters
to 10 liters.
[0476] Statement 5. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
food recycler
has a height of 395 millimeters or less.
[0477] Statement 6. The food recycler of any previous statement, further
comprising:
a user interface that enables a user to provide data regarding the waste food.
[0478] Statement 7. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
user interface
comprises a microphone that receives audible input from the user to describe
the waste food.
[0479] Statement 8. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
communication component transmits a status of a subsystem of the food recycler
to the
external device.
[0480] Statement 9. A method comprising:
receiving, over a network, at a first device and from a food recycling
appliance,
sensor data obtained from a sensor component configured within the food
recycling
appliance, the sensor component obtaining data associated with characteristics
of waste food
placed within a bucket of the food recycling appliance;
analyzing the sensor data to determine a characteristic of the waste food, to
yield an
analysis; and
based on the analysis, communicating food-related data to a second device
associated
with a user of the food recycling appliance.
104811 Statement 10. The method of statement 9, wherein the sensor component
comprises
one or more of a humidity sensor, a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a
microphone, a
camera, a scale, a torque sensor, an air velocity sensor and an infrared
sensor.
[0482] Statement 11. The method of any previous statement, wherein the sensor
data
identifies a first portion of a first type of food within the waste food and a
second portion of a
second type of food within the waste food.
[0483] Statement 12. The method of any previous statement, wherein the sensor
data relates
to one or more of an amount of humidity withdrawn from the waste food, a
temperature of
the waste food, a weight of the waste food, and a type of the waste food.
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[0484] Statement 13. The method of any previous statement, further comprising
receiving
user input data received at the food recycling appliance, the user input data
characterizing the
waste food.
[0485] Statement 14. The method of any previous statement, wherein
communicating the
food-related data to the device associated with the user of the food recycling
appliance further
comprises indicating a recipe to the device based on the sensor data.
[0486] Statement 15. The method of any previous statement, wherein
communicating the
food-related data to the device associated with the user of the food recycling
appliance further
comprises indicating a recipe to the device based on the sensor data.
[0487] Statement 16. A method comprising:
obtaining, via a sensor component configured within a food recycling
appliance,
sensor data, the sensor component obtaining data associated with
characteristics of waste
food placed within a bucket of the food recycling appliance;
transmitting, over a network and to an external device, the sensor data,
wherein the
external device analyzes the sensor data to determine a characteristic of the
waste food to
yield an analysis and communicates the analysis to a second device associated
with a user of
the food recycling appliance.
[0488] Statement 17. The method of statement 16, wherein the sensor component
comprises
one or more of a humidity sensor, a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a
microphone, a
camera, a scale, a torque sensor, an air velocity sensor and an infrared
sensor.
A FOOD RECYCLER HAVING ODOUR CONTROL
[0489] Statement 1. A food recycler comprising:
a receiving cavity which is configured to receive a replaceable filter bag,
wherein the
replaceable filter bag contains an odor control material and wherein the
replaceable filter bag
is made from a non-plastic and flexible material; and
an air circulation system configured to circulate air from a bucket through
the
receiving cavity containing the replaceable filter bag.
[0490] Statement 2. The food recycler of statement 1, wherein the non-plastic
and flexible
material comprises a compostable and biodegradable material.
104911 Statement 3. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
replaceable
filter bag is shaped to fit within the receiving cavity.
[0492] Statement 4. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
replaceable
filter bag is shaped like a tea bag.
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[0493] Statement 5. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
air
circulation system is further configured to pass air received from the bucket
through an air
channel to an intake opening in the food recycler, through the receiving
cavity containing the
replaceable filter bag, and out an exit opening in the food recycler.
[0494] Statement 6. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
air, as it
travels through the receiving cavity containing the replaceable filter bag,
moves in one or
more of a spiral configuration, a circular configuration, a maze-shaped
configuration, and a
multi-layered configuration.
[0495] Statement 7. The food recycler any previous statement, wherein the odor
control
material comprises an active carbon.
[0496] Statement 8. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
replaceable
filter bag comprises one or more of an air permeable outer mesh that contains
an activated
carbon for absorbing odor from the air, is made of a compostable material, is
made from a
non-compostable material, is recyclable, and/or is proccessable in the food
recycler.
[0497] Statement 9. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
receiving
cavity is one or more of accessible from a side wall of the food recycler,
configured to
receive two replaceable filter bags and accessible from a lid configured on a
top portion of
the food recycler.
[0498] Statement 10. The food recycler of any previous statement, further
comprising:
a controller;
a motor in communication with the controller;
a grinding mechanism in mechanical communication with the motor; and
a bucket contained within the food recycler that is configured to contain the
grinding
mechanism and configured to receive waste food.
[0499] Statement 11. A method comprising:
receiving waste food in a bucket contained within a food recycling appliance;
receiving a replaceable filter bag in a receiving cavity of the food recycling
appliance,
wherein the replaceable filter bag contains an odor control material and
wherein the
replaceable filter bag is made from a non-plastic and flexible material;
initiating a food recycling process to recycle the waste food;
extracting moisture from the waste food to yield humid air; and
channeling the humid air through an air duct through the receiving cavity
containing
the replaceable filter bag.
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[0500] Statement 12. The method of statement 11, wherein the replaceable
filter bag has a
shaped configured to fit within the receiving cavity.
[0501] Statement 13. The method of any previous statement, wherein the non-
plastic and
flexible material comprises one or more of a compostable and biodegradable
material, a
recyclable material and/or a material that can be processed in the food
recycler.
[0502] Statement 14. The method of any previous statement, wherein the
replaceable filter
bag is one of ring-shaped, circular, square, tea-bag shaped or configured to
fit within the
receiving cavity contained with the food recycler.
[0503] Statement 15. The method of any previous statement, wherein an air
circulation
system is configured to pass air received from the bucket through an air
channel to an intake
opening in the food recycler, through the receiving cavity containing the
replaceable filter
bag, and out an exit opening in the food recycler.
105041 Statement 16. The method of any previous statement, wherein the air, as
it travels
through the receiving cavity containing the replaceable filter bag, moves in
one or more of a
spiral configuration, a circular configuration, a maze-shaped configuration,
and a multi-
layered configuration.
[0505] Statement 17. The method of any previous statement, wherein the
replaceable filter
bag comprises an air permeable outer mesh that contains an active carbon for
absorbing odor
from air.
[0506] Statement 18. The method of any previous statement, wherein the
receiving cavity is
accessible from a side wall of the food recycling appliance.
[0507] Statement 19. The method of any previous statement, wherein the
receiving cavity is
configured to receive two replaceable filter bags.
[0508] Statement 20. A filter bag package configured for a food recycler, the
filter bag
package comprising:
an outer filter bag made from a non-plastic and flexible material; and
an odor control material contained within the outer filter bag, wherein the
filter bag
package is replaceable and is configured to be placed within a food recycler
comprising:
a controller;
a motor in communication with the controller;
a grinding mechanism in mechanical communication with the motor;
a bucket contained within the food recycler that is configured to contain the
grinding
mechanism and configured to receive waste food;
a receiving cavity which is configured to receive the filter bag package; and
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an air circulation system configured to circulate air from the bucket through
the
receiving cavity containing the filter bag package.
[0509] Statement 21. The filter bag package of statement 20, wherein the non-
plastic and
flexible material is compostable and biodegradable.
A FOOD RECYCLER HAVING ODOR CONTROL IN A LID COMPONENT
[0510] Statement 1. A food recycler comprising:
a controller;
a motor in communication with the controller;
a grinding mechanism in mechanical communication with the motor;
a bucket contained within the food recycler that is configured to contain the
grinding
mechanism and configured to receive waste food;
a sensing component to provide data on the food recycling process;
a drying component configured to dehydrate the food waste in the bucket
including an
air circulation system configured to circulate air from the bucket through a
receiving cavity
containing a filter bag;
a lid that mounts food recycler and covers a cavity containing the bucket, the
lid
having a receiving cavity which is configured to receive the replaceable
filter bag; and
an air circulation system configured to circulate air from the bucket through
the
receiving cavity containing the replaceable filter bag.
[0511] Statement 2. The food recycler of statement 1, wherein the replaceable
filter bag
contains an odor control material and wherein the replaceable filter bag is
made from a
compostable and biodegradable material.
[0512] Statement 3. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
food recycler
has one or more of a height of approximately 380 millimeters, a width of
approximately 270
millimeters and a depth of approximately 310 millimeters.
[0513] Statement 4. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
replaceable
filter bag is one of ring-shaped, circular or configured to fit within the
receiving cavity
contained with the lid.
105141 Statement 5. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
air
circulation system is further configured to pass air received from the bucket
through an air
channel to an intake opening in the lid, through the receiving cavity
containing the
replaceable filter bag, and out an exit opening in the lid.
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[0515] Statement 6. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
air, as it
travels through the receiving cavity containing the replaceable filter bag,
moves in one or
more of a spiral configuration, a circular configuration, a maze-shaped
configuration, and a
multi-layered configuration.
[0516] Statement 7. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
replaceable
filter bag comprises an air permeable outer mesh that contains an active
carbon for absorbing
odor from the air.
[0517] Statement 8. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
receiving
cavity is accessible from a side wall of the lid.
[0518] Statement 9. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
receiving
cavity is configured to receive two replaceable filter bags.
[0519] Statement 10. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
lid is
configured in one of a top portion of the food recycler or a side wall of the
food recycler.
[0520] Statement 11. A method comprising:
receiving waste food in a bucket contained within a food recycling appliance;
receiving a replaceable filter bag in a receiving cavity of a lid configured
in the food
recycling appliance;
initiating a food recycling process to recycle the waste food;
extracting moisture from the waste food to yield humid air; and
channeling the humid air through an air duct through the receiving cavity
containing
the replaceable filter bag.
[0521] Statement 12. The method of statement 11, wherein the replaceable
filter bag
contains an odor control material and wherein the replaceable filter bag is
made from a
compostable and biodegradable material.
[0522] Statement 13. The method of any previous statement, wherein the food
recycling
appliance has one or more of a height of approximately 380 millimeters, a
width of
approximately 270 millimeters and a depth of approximately 310 millimeters.
[0523] Statement 14. The method of any previous statement, wherein the
replaceable filter
bag is one of ring-shaped, circular, square or configured to fit within the
receiving cavity
contained with the lid of the food recycler appliance.
105241 Statement 15. The method of any previous statement, wherein an air
circulation
system is configured to pass air received from the bucket through an air
channel to an intake
opening in the lid, through the receiving cavity containing the replaceable
filter bag, and out
an exit opening in the lid.
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[0525] Statement 16. The method of any previous statement, wherein the air, as
it travels
through the receiving cavity containing the replaceable filter bag, moves in
one or more of a
spiral configuration, a circular configuration, a maze-shaped configuration,
and a multi-
layered configuration.
[0526] Statement 17. The method of any previous statement, wherein the
replaceable filter
bag comprises an air permeable outer mesh that contains an active carbon for
absorbing odor
from air.
[0527] Statement 18. The method of any previous statement, wherein the
receiving cavity is
accessible from a side wall of the lid of the food recycling appliance.
[0528] Statement 19. The method of any previous statement, wherein the
receiving cavity is
configured to receive two replaceable filter bags.
[0529] Statement 20. The method of any previous statement, wherein the lid is
configured in
one of a top portion of the food recycler and a side wall of the food
recycler.
BUILT-IN FOOD RECYCLING APPLIANCE
[0530] Statement 1. A food recycler configuration within a cabinet, the food
recycler
comprising:
a removable bucket contained within the food recycler that is configured to
contain a
grinding mechanism and configured to receive waste food;
a drying component configured in the food recycler to remove water from the
waste
food; and
a venting system that vents humidity generated by the food recycler to one of
an
outside of the cabinet via a port or pipe, wherein the food recycler is
mounted in the cabinet
to an electrical receptacle and the drying component vents air from the
cabinet via a port or
pipe and the removable bucket is accessible by a user.
[0531] Statement 2. The food recycler of statement 1, wherein the port or pipe
vents the air
to an area outside a building containing the cabinet, to a drainage system or
to a plumbing
system.
[0532] Statement 3. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
food recycler
is further configured with a sliding mechanism to enable the food recycler to
slide out of the
cabinet.
105331 Statement 4. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein
sliding the food
recycler out of the cabinet enables access by the user to the bucket for
inputting the waste
food.
[0534] Statement 5. The food recycler of any previous statement, further
comprising:
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an extension mechanism that enable a user to move the food recycler out from
underneath the counter-top of the cabinet.
[0535] Statement 6. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
venting
system further comprises:
a flexible port which enables the venting system to continue to vent humidity
from the
food recycler.
[0536] Statement 7. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein, the
venting
system further comprises:
tubing which disconnects while the food recycler is moved out from underneath
a
counter-top of the cabinet and reconnects when the food recycler is moved back
underneath
the counter-top.
[0537] Statement 8. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
drying
component comprises a fan, a filter system, and a heating component, wherein
the filter
system is one of configured within the food recycler or is mounted in the
cabinet separate
from the food recycler.
[0538] Statement 9. The food recycler any previous statement, wherein the
removable
bucket is attached to an underside of a counter of the cabinet.
[0539] Statement 10. The food recycler any previous statement, wherein a
counter-top in the
cabinet comprises an opening through which the food recycler can be accessed
for receiving
waste food.
[0540] Statement 11. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
food recycler
further comprises:
a controller, wherein the controller is positioned independently of the bucket
and not
under a counter-top of the cabinet.
[0541] Statement 12. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
food recycler
further comprises:
a controller; and
a motor in communication with the controller, wherein one or more of the
controller,
the motor and the drying component are positioned independent of a location of
the bucket
under the counter.
105421 Statement 13. A method comprising:
receiving food waste at a food recycler that is configured within a cabinet,
wherein
the food recycler comprises:
a controller;
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a motor in communication with the controller;
a grinding mechanism in mechanical communication with the motor;
a bucket contained within the food recycler that is configured to contain the
grinding
mechanism and configured to receive waste food; and
a drying component configured to remove water from the waste food;
processing the food waste in the food recycler to generate humidity; and
transmitting the humidity through a port that vents the humidity to one of an
exterior
area of a building containing the cabinet, into ambient air in a room
containing the cabinet
and in the building, a drainage system, a duct, a plumbing system in the
building.
[0543] Statement 14. The method of statement 13, wherein receiving the food
waste at the
food recycler that is configured within a cabinet further comprises:
enabling the food recycler to slide out from the cabinet to provide access to
the bucket
for receiving the food waste.
[0544] Statement 15. The method of any previous statement, wherein the venting
system
further comprises a flexible tube that enables the food recycler to slide out
from the cabinet.
[0545] Statement 16. The method of any previous statement, wherein the bucket
of the food
recycler is mounted under a counter-top of the cabinet.
[0546] Statement 17. The method of any previous statement, further comprising:
extending the food recycler out from underneath a counter-top of the cabinet
to
receive the waste food.
105471 Statement 18. The method of any previous statement, wherein, when the
food
recycler is moved out from underneath the counter-top, the venting system has
tubing which
is flexible and enables the vending system to continue to vent humidity from
the food
recycler.
[0548] Statement 19. The method of any previous statement, wherein, when the
food
recycler is moved out from underneath the counter-top, the venting system has
tubing which
disconnects while the food recycler is moved out from underneath the counter-
top and
reconnects when the food recycler is moved back underneath the counter-top.
[0549] Statement 20. The method of any previous statement, wherein the drying
component
comprises a fan, a filter system, and a heating component.
105501 Statement 21. The method any previous statement, wherein the port vents
air outside
the cabinet but within a building containing the cabinet through a piping
system.
[0551] Statement 22. The method any previous statement, wherein receiving the
waste food
in the food recycler is performed through an opening in a counter-top.
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[0552] Statement 23. The method of any previous statement, wherein the food
recycler is
accessible to a user through a door in the cabinet.
FOOD CYCLER
[0553] Statement 1. A food recycler, comprising:
a housing;
a pot vessel comprising at least a first feature that, as a result of being
detected,
indicate a first request to execute an infusion cycle using first contents
within the pot vessel;
a bucket vessel comprising at least a second feature that, as a result of
being detected,
indicate a second request to execute a desiccation cycle using second contents
within the
bucket vessel;
an interior wall that forms a cavity within the housing and configured to
receive the
pot vessel and the bucket vessel;
a controller within the housing, the controller comprising:
a set of indicators; and
at least one user interface component usable to at least configure the
infusion cycle or
the desiccation cycle, the at least one user interface component being
accessible from an
exterior of the housing;
a set of sensors positioned within the interior wall, the set of sensors in
electrical
communication with the controller and configured to detect presence of the pot
vessel or the
bucket vessel within the cavity;
a motor in electrical communication with the controller and within the
housing; and
a set of components in mechanical communication with the motor and within the
housing, the set of components configured to perform the infusion cycle in
response to the
first request or the desiccation cycle in response to the second request.
[0554] Statement 2. The food recycler of statement 1, wherein the pot vessel
is constructed
from a ferromagnetic material to allow generation of heat within the pot
vessel in an
electromagnetic field.
[0555] Statement 3. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
set of
components include a vacuum and purge air pump that produce a negative
pressure within the
bucket vessel during the desiccation cycle and remove moisture laden air
resulting from the
desiccation cycle.
[0556] Statement 4. The food recycler of any previous statement, further
comprising a Hall
effect sensor in electrical communication with the controller, the Hall effect
sensor
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configured to detect a jam within the food recycler resulting from the
desiccation cycle or the
infusion cycle.
[0557] Statement 5. The food recycler of any previous statement, further
comprising an RF
component in electrical communication with the controller, wherein the
controller utilizes the
RF component to control a temperature within the pot vessel during the
infusion cycle and
within the bucket vessel during the desiccation cycle.
[0558] Statement 6. The food recycler of any previous statement, further
comprising a
separator configured to separate waste and fats from an infused solution
within the pot vessel
resulting from the infusion cycle.
[0559] Statement 7. The food recycler of any previous statement, further
comprising a
humidity sensor in electrical communication with the controller, wherein the
controller
obtains inputs from the humidity sensor to determine completion of the
desiccation cycle.
105601 Statement 8. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
interior wall
comprises a thermal layer and an acoustic insulation layer to reduce heat
transfer from the pot
vessel and the bucket vessel and to reduce acoustic transmission resulting
from the infusion
cycle and the desiccation cycle.
[0561] Statement 9. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
bucket vessel
includes a rotor that, when in mechanical communication with the motor,
pulverizes the
second contents in the bucket vessel and generates a mix flow of the second
contents in the
bucket vessel during the desiccation cycle.
[0562] Statement 10. The food recycler of any previous statement, the set of
sensors
comprise:
a first sensor positioned on a first side of the interior wall, the first
sensor configured to detect
the at least first feature of the pot vessel; and
a second sensor positioned on a second side of the interior wall, the second
sensor configured
to detect the at least second feature of the bucket vessel.
[0563] Statement 11. A method, comprising:
detecting, within a food recycler, insertion of a vessel;
determining, based on one or more features of the vessel, a cycle to be
performed to
convert contents within the vessel into a product;
identifying the contents within the vessel;
initiating, based on the contents within the vessel, one or more components of
the
food recycler to perform the cycle;
detecting completion of the cycle; and
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as a result of the completion of the cycle, indicating the completion of the
cycle and
providing, within the vessel, the product resulting from the cycle.
[0564] Statement 12. The method of statement 11, wherein the cycle is one of a
desiccation
cycle to generate granular material and an infusion cycle to generate an
edible food solution.
[0565] Statement 13. The method of any previous statement, wherein:
the one or more features of the vessel correspond to the desiccation cycle;
and
the method further comprises identifying, based on the one or more features of
the vessel,
that the desiccation cycle is to be performed.
[0566] Statement 14. The method of any previous statement, wherein:
the one or more features of the vessel correspond to the infusion cycle; and
the method further comprises identifying, based on the one or more features of
the vessel,
that the infusion cycle is to be performed.
105671 Statement 15. The method of any previous statement, further comprising:
determining a volume and water content of the contents within the vessel; and
determining, based on the contents, the volume of the contents, and the water
content
of the contents, a duration of the cycle.
[0568] Statement 16. The method of any previous statement, further comprising
maintaining
the product resulting from the cycle at a specific temperature.
[0569] Statement 17. The method of any previous statement, further comprising:
detecting, within the vessel, a jam;
stopping the one or more components of the food recycler;
initiating a rotor within the vessel in a particular direction to eliminate
the jam;
detecting, within the vessel, that the jam has been cleared; and
re-initiating the one or more components of the food recycler to perform the
cycle.
[0570] Statement 18. The method of any previous statement, further comprising:
obtaining, via a user interface of the food recycler, one or more parameters
of the
cycle for converting the contents of the vessel in to the product; and
identifying, based on the one or more parameters, the one or more components
of the
food recycler to perform the cycle in accordance with the one or more
parameters.
105711 Statement 19. The method of any previous statement, further comprising:
monitoring, during performance of the cycle, agitation of the contents, heat
application within the vessel, and a temperature within the vessel to generate
a temperature
hysteresis range; and
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maintaining, based on the temperature hysteresis range, a cycle temperature
within the
vessel to produce the product.
[0572] Statement 20. The method of any previous statement, further comprising
monitoring
humidity within the vessel to detect the completion of the cycle, whereby the
cycle is
complete as a result of the humidity within the vessel being below a minimum
threshold
value.
UPDATED FOOD CYCLER
[0573] Statement 1. A food recycler comprising:
a base component comprising a base rim, at least one air intake opening, a
heater, a
gearbox, and a motor component having a motor and a top surface, the motor
being in
mechanical communication with the gearbox;
an airflow component configured to be positioned on the top surface of the
motor
component;
a fan component comprising a fan and positioned on an intake port of the
airflow
component;
a filter component having an air filter configured therein, the filter
component
configured on an output port of the airflow component;
a bucket receptacle configured on the gearbox of the base component and
configured
to receive a bucket, wherein the fan component and the filter component are
configured
adjacent to an upper portion of the bucket receptacle;
a casing having a lower rim complimentary to the base rim and configured such
that
the casing sits on the base rim, the casing having a first interior volume
complimentary to the
bucket receptacle, a second interior volume complimentary to the fan module,
and a third
interior volume complimentary to the air filter component;
a control switch configured in the casing;
a lid configured with a hinge to the casing such that access to the bucket
receptacle is
provided by opening the lid; and
a controller configured to be in electrical communication with the motor, the
fan and
the control switch for operating the food recycler.
105741 Statement 2. The food recycler of statement 1, wherein the motor is
configured in
the base component to be at least in part to a side of a lower portion of the
bucket receptacle.
[0575] Statement 3. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
filter
component receives air and passes the air through the air filter.
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[0576] Statement 4. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
lid is further
configured to enable air to flow from a top portion of the bucket receptacle
through the lid
and down to the fan component.
[0577] Statement 5. The food recycler of any previous statement, further
comprising a
bucket configured within the bucket receptacle.
[0578] Statement 6. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein upon
an
operation of the fan, air is drawn into the casing via the at least one air
intake opening in the
base module, up an interior wall of the bucket receptacle, into the lid, down
through the fan
module, through the airflow component, and up through the filter component.
[0579] Statement 7. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
air flows
from the filter component into the lid and wherein the lid further includes an
exhaust opening
in a top of the lid.
105801 Statement 8. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
exhaust
opening configured on the top of the lid and within 2 cm of the hinge.
[0581] Statement 9. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
air flows
from the filter component to an exhaust opening on a rear surface of the food
recycler, the
exhaust opening being below the hinge.
[0582] Statement 10. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein a
ratio of a first
volume of the bucket relative to a second volume comprising an overall volume
of the food
recycler is between 0.0717 and .2857.
[0583] Statement 11. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
air flows
from the filter component to an exhaust opening on a rear surface of the lid
of the food
recycler, the exhaust opening being above the hinge.
[0584] Statement 12. The food recycler of any previous statement, further
comprising:
a tilted control switch configured on a front surface of the casing: and
a latching mechanism configured to open the lid upon a user interacting with
the latching
mechanism, wherein the latching mechanism is configured above and adjacent to
the tilted
control switch.
[0585] Statement 13. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
tilted control
switch has a front surface configured in a first plane that is at a 5-30
degree angle relative to a
second plane defined by the front surface of the casing.
[0586] Statement 14. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein a
top edge of the
tilted control switch is less than 2 mm from a bottom portion of the latching
mechanism.
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[0587] Statement 15. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
casing
comprises a rear surface that is configured at an angle and wherein the rear
surface comprises
an exhaust opening.
[0588] Statement 16. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
angle is an
angle defined between a vertical plane and a rear surface plane associated
with the rear
surface of the food recycler, and wherein the angle comprises between and
including 2
degrees and 30 degrees.
[0589] Statement 17. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
exhaust
opening in the rear surface of the casing is configured at a top portion of
the rear surface.
[0590] Statement 18. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
bucket
further comprises a blade system, the blade system comprising:
a central column;
at least one cutting member each extending at a different level from the
central
column; and
at least one cross blade attached to opposite sides of the bucket, the at
least one cross
blade configured between two of the at least one cutting member.
[0591] Statement 19. The food recycler of claim 18, wherein the blade system
comprises a
first cross blade and a second cross blade.
FOOD CYCLER SWITCH AND LATCH MECHANISM
[0592] Statement 1. A food recycler comprising:
a casing having a casing front surface and a lid;
a motor configured in mechanical communication with a gearbox, the motor
configured within the casing;
a fan that draws air through the casing and into the lid;
a filter system that filters the air and communicates, via operation of the
fan, the air to
an exhaust opening;
a control system that controls the motor and the fan;
a bucket configured in the casing that receives food waste for recycling;
a tilted switch in communication with the control system for turning the food
recycler
on and off, wherein the tilted switch is configured in the casing front
surface of the food
recycler and has a switch front surface configured in a first plane that is 5
¨ 30 degrees
relative to a second plane defined by the casing front surface; and
a latch positioned adjacent to and above the tilted switch, wherein the latch
is
configured to open the lid upon a user operating the latch.
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[0593] Statement 2. The food recycler of statement 1, wherein upon a user
depressing the
tilted switch, when the food recycler is in an off mode, the control system
turns the food
recycler to an on mode, and when the food recycler is in the on mode, the
control system
turns the food recycler to the off mode.
[0594] Statement 3. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
latch is
adjacent to the tilted switch.
[0595] Statement 4. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
tilted switch
is configured at an upper portion of the casing front surface of the food
recycler.
[0596] Statement 5. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
latch is in
mechanical communication with a flange on a lower surface of the lid, such
that upon
interacting with the latch, the latch disengages with the flange and enables
the lid to open.
[0597] Statement 6. A food recycler comprising:
a casing having a casing front surface and a lid;
a motor configured in mechanical communication with a gearbox, the motor
configured within the casing;
a tilted switch in communication with a control system for turning the food
recycler
on and off, wherein the tilted switch is configured in the casing front
surface of the food
recycler and has a switch front surface configured in a first plane that is 5
¨ 30 degrees
relative to a second plane defined by the casing front surface; and
a latch positioned adjacent to and above the tilted switch, wherein the latch
is
configured to open the lid upon a user operating the latch.
[0598] Statement 7. The food recycler of statement 6, further comprising:
a fan that draws air through the casing and into the lid.
[0599] Statement 8. The food recycler of any previous statement, further
comprising:
a filter system that filters the air and communicates, via operation of the
fan, the air to an
exhaust opening.
[0600] Statement 9. The food recycler of any previous statement, further
comprising:
a control system that controls the motor and the fan.
[0601] Statement 10. The food recycler of any previous statement, further
comprising:
a bucket configured in the casing that receives food waste for recycling.
FOODCYCLER AIRFLOW METHOD
[0602] Statement 1. A method of recycling food in a food recycler, the method
comprising:
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drawing air, via a fan, through an air intake opening at a base of the food
recycler
according to a first air path;
drawing the air, via the fan, from the first air path across a motor
compartment
according to a second air path;
drawing the air, via the fan, from the second air path across a gearbox and up
through
a channel between a bucket and a bucket receptacle of the food recycler
according to a third
air path;
drawing the air, via the fan, from the third air path and into the bucket
according to a
fourth air path;
drawing the air, via the fan, from the fourth air path out of the bucket and
into a lid of
the food recycler according to a fifth air path;
drawing the air, via the fan, from the fifth air path to a filter component
according to a
sixth air path; and
drawing the air, via the fan, from the sixth air path to away from the food
recycler
according to a seventh air path.
[0603] Statement 2. The method of recycling food in the food recycler of
statement 1,
wherein drawing the air, from the fifth air path to a filter component
according to a sixth air
path further comprises drawing the air through the fan, wherein the fan is
configured within a
fan component.
[0604] Statement 3. The method of recycling food in the food recycler of any
previous
statement, wherein the fan is configured between the fifth air path and the
sixth air path.
[0605] Statement 4. The method of recycling food in the food recycler of any
previous
statement, wherein the seventh air path is configured through the lid.
[0606] Statement 5. The method of recycling food in the food recycler of any
previous
statement, wherein air is exhausted out the food recycler through an air vent
in the top of the
lid according to the seventh air path.
[0607] Statement 6. The method of recycling food in the food recycler of any
previous
statement, wherein air is exhausted out the food recycler through an air vent
in a top portion
of a rear surface of the food recycler according to the seventh air path.
106081 Statement 7. The method of recycling food in the food recycler of any
previous
statement, wherein the rear-surface of the food recycler is tilted inward to
enable space for
the air to be exhausted out the rear surface when the food recycler is placed
against a wall.
[0609] Statement 8. A method of recycling food in a food recycler, wherein the
food
recycler comprises a an air intake vent, a motor, a gearbox, a bucket
container, a bucket, a lid,
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a fan, a filter and an exhaust vent, the method comprising drawing the air
through various
components of the food recycler using the fan according to a method
comprising:
drawing air through the air intake vent to yield first air;
drawing the first air across the motor to yield second air;
drawing the second air across a gearbox and up through a channel between the
bucket
and the bucket container to yield third air;
drawing the third air into the bucket to yield fourth air;
drawing the fourth out of the bucket and into the lid to yield fifth air;
drawing the fifth air from the lid through the fan and thereafter through a
filter
component to yield sixth air; and
drawing the sixth air away from the food recycler through an exhaust vent.
[0610] Statement 9. The method of recycling food in a food recycler of
statement 8,
wherein the exhaust vent is one or more of (1) configured within the lid to
exhaust the sixth
air out a top of the lid; (2) configured within the lid to exhaust the sixth
air out a back surface
of the lid; and (3) configured within a top portion of a rear surface of the
food recycler to
exhaust the sixth air out the rear surface of the food recycler.
[0611] Statement 10. The method of recycling food in a food recycler of any
previous
statement, wherein the air intake vent is configured in a base portion of the
food recycler.
[0612] Statement 11. The method of recycling food in a food recycler of any
previous
statement, wherein the second air includes heat drawn from the motor.
[0613] Statement 12. The method of recycling food in a food recycler of any
previous
statement, wherein the third air includes heat drawn from the gearbox.
[0614] Statement 13. The method of recycling food in a food recycler of any
previous
statement, wherein the third air includes heat drawn from the bucket.
[0615] Statement 14. The method of recycling food in a food recycler of any
previous
statement, wherein the fifth air includes heat drawn from heated waste food in
the bucket.
[0616] Statement 15. The method of recycling food in a food recycler of any
previous
statement, wherein the fifth air includes moisture drawn from heated waste
food in the
bucket.
106171 Statement 16. The method of recycling food in a food recycler of any
previous
statement, wherein the third air further includes heat drawn from the gearbox.
[0618] Statement 17. The method of recycling food in a food recycler of any
previous
statement, wherein when the exhaust vent is configured within the top portion
of the rear
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surface of the food recycler to exhaust the sixth air out the rear surface of
the food recycler,
the rear surface of the food recycler is angled inward.
[0619] Statement 18. A food recycler comprising:
a base component comprising and a base rim, at least one air intake opening, a
gearbox, and a motor component having a motor and a top surface, the motor
being in
mechanical communication with the gearbox;
an airflow component configured to be positioned on the top surface of the
motor
component;
a fan component comprising a fan and positioned on an intake port of the
airflow
component;
a filter component having an air filter configured therein, the filter
component
configured on an output port of the airflow component;
a bucket receptacle configured on the gearbox of the base component and
configured
to receive a bucket, wherein the fan component and the filter component are
configured
adjacent to an upper portion of the bucket receptacle;
a casing having a lower rim complimentary to the base rim and configured such
that
the casing sits on the base rim, the casing having a first interior volume
complimentary to the
bucket receptacle, a second interior volume complimentary to the fan module,
and a third
interior volume complimentary to the air filter component;
a lid configured with a hinge to the casing such that access to the bucket
receptacle is
provided by opening the lid; and
an exhaust vent, wherein the food recycler is configured such that an airflow
path
through the food recycler comprises a first path in through the air intake
opening and across
the motor followed by the gearbox, a second path from the gearbox through a
first channel
between the bucket and the bucket receptacle, a third path from the first
channel and into the
bucket, a fourth path from the bucket through a second channel in the lid, a
fifth path from
the second channel in the lid through the fan component to a filter component,
and a sixth
path from the fan component through the filter component and out the exhaust
vent.
[0620] Statement 19. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
exhaust vent
is one of (1) in a top surface of the lid, (2) in a rear surface of the lid,
and (3) in a rear surface
of the food recycler, and (4) at a top portion of the rear surface of the food
recycler.
[0621] Statement 20. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the
rear surface
of the food recycler is tilted inwards to make room of air to flow out the
exhaust vent when
the food recycler is positioned next to a wall.
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MODULAR FOOD RECYCLER
[0622] Statement 1. A modular food recycler comprising:
a base module comprising and a base rim, at least one air intake opening, a
heater, a
gearbox, and a motor component having a motor and a top surface, the motor
being in
mechanical communication with the gearbox;
an airflow module configured to be positioned on the top surface of the motor
component;
a fan module configured to be removably positioned on an intake port of the
airflow
module;
a filter module having an air filter configured therein, the filter module
configured to
be removably positioned on an output port of the airflow module;
a bucket receptacle configured on the gearbox of the base module and
configured to
receive a bucket;
a casing having a lower rim complimentary to the base rim and configured such
that
the casing sits on the base rim, the casing having a first interior volume
complimentary to the
bucket receptacle, a second interior volume complimentary to the fan module,
and a third
interior volume complimentary to the air filter module; and
a lid configured with a hinge to the casing such that access to the bucket
receptacle is
provided by opening the lid.
[0623] Statement 2. The modular food recycler of statement 1, wherein the
motor is
configured in the base module to be at least in part to a side of a lower
portion of the bucket
receptacle.
[0624] Statement 3. The modular food recycler of any previous statement,
wherein the
filter module receives air and passes the air through the filter.
[0625] Statement 4. The modular food recycler of any previous statement,
wherein the lid
is further configured to enable air to flow from a top portion of the bucket
receptacle through
the lid and down to the fan module.
[0626] Statement 5. The modular food recycler of any previous statement,
wherein upon a
user removing the casing from being positioned on the base rim, a user can
replace one or
more of the base module, the airflow module, the fan module, the filter module
and the
bucket receptacle without needing a tool.
[0627] Statement 6. The modular food recycler of any previous statement,
further
comprising:
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a controller, wherein in an assembled configuration, the controller is in
electrical
communication with one or more of the motor, a heating component and the fan.
[0628] Statement 7. The modular food recycler of any previous statement,
further
comprising a bucket configured within the bucket receptacle.
[0629] Statement 8. The modular food recycler of any previous statement,
wherein upon an
operation of the fan, air is drawn into the casing via the at least one air
intake opening in the
base module, up a side wall of the bucket receptacle, into the lid, down
through the fan
module, through the airflow module, and up through the filter module.
[0630] Statement 9. The modular food recycler of any previous statement,
wherein the air
flows from the filter module into the lid and wherein the lid further includes
exhaust openings
in one of a top of the lid.
[0631] Statement 10. The modular food recycler of any previous statement,
wherein the air
flows from the filter module to an exhaust opening on a rear surface of the
modular food
recycler, the exhaust opening being below the hinge.
[0632] Statement 11. The modular food recycler of any previous statement,
wherein a ratio
of a first volume of the bucket relative to a second volume comprising an
overall volume of
the food recycler is between 0.0717 and .2857.
[0633] Statement 12. A modular food recycler comprising:
a controller;
a motor in communication with the controller;
a grinding mechanism in mechanical communication with the motor:
a bucket contained within the food recycler that is configured to contain the
grinding
mechanism and configured to receive waste food;
a modular fan component configured to move air through an internal structure
of the
module food recycler, the modular fan component being removable by a user
through a fan
top opening in a top surface of the modular food recycler upon which a lid
sits; and
a modular filter component, the modular filter component being removable by
the
user through a filter top opening in the top surface of the modular food
recycler upon which
the lid sits, wherein the food recycler is configured to have an overall
appliance volume of 35
liters or less and wherein the controller, the motor, the modular fan
component, and the
modular filter component are configured within the food recycler to enable the
bucket to have
a capacity to receive waste food of between 2.51 liters to 10 liters,
inclusive.
[0634] Statement 13. The modular food recycler of statement 12, wherein the
food recycler
has a height of 395 millimeters or less.
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[0635] Statement 14. The modular food recycler of any previous statement,
wherein the
food recycler has a height of approximately 360 millimeters, a width of
approximately 270
millimeters and a depth of approximately 310 millimeters.
[0636] Statement 15. The modular food recycler of any previous statement,
wherein the
motor is configured to not be below the bucket within the modular food
recycler.
[0637] Statement 16. The modular food recycler of any previous statement,
further
comprising:
a gear box configured below the bucket, and wherein at least a portion of the
motor is
adjacent to a side of the bucket in the modular food recycler.
[0638] Statement 17. The modular food recycler of any previous statement,
further
comprising:
a gear box configured below the bucket, and wherein the motor is positioned to
a side and
below the bucket in the modular food recycler.
[0639] Statement 18. The modular food recycler any previous statement, wherein
a ratio of a
first volume of the bucket relative to a second volume comprising an overall
volume of the
modular food recycler is between 0.0717 and .2857.
[0640] Statement 19. A modular food recycler comprising:
a food recycler case that contains a controller;
a motor in communication with the controller and configured within the food
recycler
case;
a bucket contained within the food recycler case that is configured to receive
waste
food; and
a modular drying component configured to remove water from the waste food,
wherein the food recycler case comprises a fan component opening that enable a
user to
replace a fan component and a filter component opening that enables the user
to replace a
filter component, wherein the food recycler case has an overall volume and
wherein a ratio of
a first volume of the bucket relative to the overall volume of the food
recycler case is
between 0.07 and .29.
[0641] Statement 20. The modular food recycler of statement 19, wherein the
overall volume
comprises 30-35 liters.
106421 Statement 21. The modular food recycler of any previous statement,
wherein the ratio
comprises between 0.8 and .33.
[0643] Statement 22. The modular food recycler of any previous statement,
wherein the first
volume of the bucket comprises 2.51 liters to 10 liters.
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[0644] Statement 23. The modular food recycler any previous statement, wherein
a height of
the food recycler case is approximately 370 millimeters or less.
[0645] Statement 24. The modular food recycler any previous statement, wherein
the food
recycler is configured to be used on a countertop.
[0646] Statement 25. The modular food recycler of any previous statement,
further
comprising:
a grinding mechanism configured within the bucket and mechanically connected
to
the motor.
[0647] Statement 26. The modular food recycler of any previous statement,
wherein the
overall volume comprises a height of approximately 360 millimeters, a width of
approximately 270 mm and a depth of approximately 310 mm.
[0648] Statement 27. The modular food recycler any previous statement, wherein
this food
recycler case comprises an opening on a top surface of the food recycler and
wherein the
opening receives a removable lid.
[0649] Statement 28. The modular food recycler of any previous statement,
further
comprising a heating component for heating the waste food and the drying
component for
drying the waste food.
FOOD CYCLER FILTER SYSTEM
[0650] Statement 1. A filter component comprising:
a filter wall made from a nonporous material;
a filter configured within the filter wall;
atop surface of the filter, the top surface comprising a permeable filter
material to
allow air flow through the top surface while containing filter material of the
filter; and
a bottom surface of the filter, the bottom surface comprising the permeable
filter
material to allow air flow through the bottom surface while containing the
filter material of
the filter.
[0651] Statement 2. The filter component of statement 1, wherein the bottom
surface of the
filter further comprises an attachment component to seat the filter on a
filter base component.
[0652] Statement 3. The filter component of any previous statement, wherein
the filter
comprises charcoal pieces.
106531 Statement 4. The filter component of any previous statement, wherein
the
nonporous material comprises one of pasteboard or paper.
[0654] Statement 5. The filter component of any previous statement, further
comprising:
a handle configured at a top portion of the filter.
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FOOD CYCLER BUCKET SYSTEM
[0655] Statement 1. A food recycler, comprising:
a housing having a housing volume;
a motor in electrical communication with a controller;
a bucket configurable in the housing, wherein the bucket comprises an interior
surface
having thereon a set of projections, the set of projections comprising at
least a first
projection at a first level and a second projection at a second level, wherein
a first
position of the first projection is horizontally offset from a second position
of the
second projection;
a grinding mechanism in mechanical communication with the motor and configured
within the bucket, wherein the grinding mechanism comprises:
a first arm connected to a rotational member, the first arm having a first
distal end
adjacent to the interior surface of the bucket and that has a first height
covering at
least the first level and the second level, the first distal end of the first
arm comprising
a first arm first notch complementary to the first projection and a first arm
second
notch complementary to the second projection; and
a second arm connected to the rotational member, the second arm having a
second
distal end adjacent to the interior surface of the bucket and that has a
second height
covering at least the first level and the second level, the second distal end
of the
second arm comprising a second arm first notch complementary to the first
projection
and a second arm second notch complementary to the second projection.
[0656] Statement 2. The food recycler of Statement 1, wherein the interior
surface is
cylindrical in shape.
[0657] Statement 3. The food recycler of Statement 1, wherein the first
position of the first
projection does not overlap horizontally the second position of the second
projection or the
first position of the first projection partially overlap horizontally the
second position of the
second projection.
[0658] Statement 4. The food recycler of Statement 1, further comprising:
a drying component configured to remove water from waste food items placed
within
the bucket.
106591 Statement 5. The food recycler of statement 1, wherein the bucket
further comprises
a third projection at a third level, wherein a third position of the third
projection is
horizontally offset from the second position of the second projection.
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[0660] Statement 6. The food recycler of statement 5, wherein the bucket
further comprises
a fourth projection at a fourth level, wherein a fourth position of the fourth
projection is
horizontally offset from the third position of the third projection.
[0661] Statement 7. The food recycler of statement 6, wherein the first
position, the second
position, the third position and the fourth position do not overlap in a
vertical direction.
[0662] Statement 8. The food recycler of statement 7, wherein the first distal
end of the first
arm further comprises a first arm third notch complementary to the third
projection and the
second distal end of the second arm further comprises a second arm third notch
complementary to the third projection, and wherein the first distal end of the
first arm further
comprises a first arm fourth notch complementary to the fourth projection and
the second
distal end of the second arm further comprises a second arm fourth notch
complementary to
the fourth projection.
106631 Statement 9. The food recycler of statement 1, wherein the first arm
and the second
arm each extend in a curving structure from the rotational member to have the
first distal end
and the second distal end respectively adjacent to the interior surface.
[0664] Statement 10. The food recycler of statement 1, wherein as the motor
causes the
grinding member to rotate, food is ground via interaction with the first
projection and the first
arm first notch and the second projection and the first arm second notch.
[0665] Statement 11. The food recycler of statement 10, wherein as the motor
causes the
grinding member to rotate, the food is ground via interaction with the first
projection and the
second arm first notch and the second projection and the second arm second
notch.
[0666] Statement 12. A bucket configured for use in a food recycler, the
bucket comprising:
an interior surface;
a plurality of sets of projections configured on the interior surface, wherein
each set of
projections of the plurality of sets of projections comprises at least three
projections in
which each of the at least three projections is horizontally offset from each
other;
a grinding mechanism having:
a first arm with first notches matching a number of projections in each set of
projections, the first notches in the first arm complementary to a
configuration of the
projections in each set of projections; and
a second arm with second notches matching the number of projections in each
set of
projections, the second notches in the second arm complementary to the
configuration
of the projections in each set of projections.
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[0667] Statement 13. The bucket of statement 12, wherein each set of
projections comprises
four projections, the first notches comprise four notches in the first arm and
the second
notches comprise four notches in the second arm.
[0668] Statement 14. The bucket of statement 12, wherein the interior surface
is configured
on a first portion of the bucket, wherein the bucket further comprises:
a second portion of the bucket connected to the first portion of the bucket,
wherein the
second portion is higher than the first portion.
[0669] Statement 15. The bucket of statement 14, wherein the second portion of
the bucket
comprises a second interior surface, a top surface, and an exterior surface of
the bucket.
[0670] Statement 16. The bucket of statement 15, wherein the first portion of
the bucket
comprises a bottom surface having an opening for a rotational member to
connect a motor to
the grinding mechanism.
106711 Statement 17. The bucket of statement 15, further comprising:
a base member that connects a distal end of the exterior surface of the second
portion
of the bucket to the bottom surface of the first portion of the bucket
[0672] Statement 18. The bucket of statement 12, wherein:
the first arm of the grinding mechanism is attached to a rotational member at
a first
arm first end;
the first notches in the first arm are configured in a first arm second end;
the second arm of the grinding mechanism is attached to the rotational member
at a
second arm first end; and
the second notches in the second arm are configured in a second arm second
end.
[0673] Statement 19. The bucket of statement 18, wherein:
the first arm first end has a first height and the first arm second end has a
second
height which is larger than the first height; and
the second arm first end has the first height and the second arm second end
has the
second height.
[0674] Statement 20. The bucket of statement 19, wherein the first arm second
end
comprises the first notches and the second arm second end comprises the second
notches.
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