EP3311129A1 - Dispositif et procédé pour le traitement et la surveillance de portions alimentaires dans une chaîne de service de repas - Google Patents

Dispositif et procédé pour le traitement et la surveillance de portions alimentaires dans une chaîne de service de repas

Info

Publication number
EP3311129A1
EP3311129A1 EP15896235.7A EP15896235A EP3311129A1 EP 3311129 A1 EP3311129 A1 EP 3311129A1 EP 15896235 A EP15896235 A EP 15896235A EP 3311129 A1 EP3311129 A1 EP 3311129A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
food
cold
storage space
food portions
storage
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP15896235.7A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP3311129A4 (fr
Inventor
Pekka Hautala
Jukka Penttinen
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Menumat Oy
Original Assignee
Menumat Oy
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Menumat Oy filed Critical Menumat Oy
Publication of EP3311129A1 publication Critical patent/EP3311129A1/fr
Publication of EP3311129A4 publication Critical patent/EP3311129A4/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01K—MEASURING TEMPERATURE; MEASURING QUANTITY OF HEAT; THERMALLY-SENSITIVE ELEMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G01K1/00—Details of thermometers not specially adapted for particular types of thermometer
    • G01K1/02—Means for indicating or recording specially adapted for thermometers
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D25/00—Charging, supporting, and discharging the articles to be cooled
    • F25D25/02—Charging, supporting, and discharging the articles to be cooled by shelves
    • F25D25/024—Slidable shelves
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D29/00—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
    • F25D29/003—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for movable devices
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D31/00—Other cooling or freezing apparatus
    • F25D31/005—Combined cooling and heating devices
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01K—MEASURING TEMPERATURE; MEASURING QUANTITY OF HEAT; THERMALLY-SENSITIVE ELEMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G01K3/00—Thermometers giving results other than momentary value of temperature
    • G01K3/02—Thermometers giving results other than momentary value of temperature giving means values; giving integrated values
    • G01K3/04—Thermometers giving results other than momentary value of temperature giving means values; giving integrated values in respect of time
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q10/00—Administration; Management
    • G06Q10/08—Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
    • G06Q10/083—Shipping
    • G06Q10/0832—Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B1/00—Details of electric heating devices
    • H05B1/02—Automatic switching arrangements specially adapted to apparatus ; Control of heating devices
    • H05B1/0227—Applications
    • H05B1/0252—Domestic applications
    • H05B1/0258—For cooking
    • H05B1/0261—For cooking of food
    • H05B1/0263—Ovens
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D2700/00—Means for sensing or measuring; Sensors therefor
    • F25D2700/06—Sensors detecting the presence of a product
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D2700/00—Means for sensing or measuring; Sensors therefor
    • F25D2700/16—Sensors measuring the temperature of products
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01K—MEASURING TEMPERATURE; MEASURING QUANTITY OF HEAT; THERMALLY-SENSITIVE ELEMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G01K2207/00—Application of thermometers in household appliances
    • G01K2207/02—Application of thermometers in household appliances for measuring food temperature
    • G01K2207/04—Application of thermometers in household appliances for measuring food temperature for conservation purposes

Definitions

  • the object of the invention is an arrangement as defined in the preamble of claim 1 and a method as defined in the pre ⁇ amble of claim 13 for the processing and monitoring food portions in a meal service chain.
  • the processing of foodstuffs comprises a shopping trip to a store, the storing of the foodstuffs in a refrigerator or deep- freezer, and the preparation of food e.g. on a cooker ring, in an oven or in a microwave oven.
  • a lot of time is spent on collecting foodstuffs and correspondingly the processing of foodstuffs for preparing food requires a lot of different apparatuses and utensils that take a lot of space and also form complex entities that are, among other things, difficult to maintain owing to their different na ⁇ tures.
  • people such as elderly people, handicapped people and also children, who are unable or incompetent to prepare their food portions themselves using current methods and apparatuses.
  • apparatuses according to prior art in which the storage, transport and heating of food portions is integrated into one, thus have as a problem the magnitude of the manufacturing costs of the apparatuses and consequently an expensive purchase price, and also that the technical operating reliability has, in practice, been poor owing to the complex construction.
  • One problem in prior art has been the monitoring of condition of food portions in the delivery chain from the factory to the end user. If the temperature of the frozen food por ⁇ tions increases too high the quality may suffer and even if the temperature is not cold enough in some phase, cold chain breaks and food portions may spoil. So, one important char ⁇ acteristic to monitor is the temperature of food portions in different phases.
  • the data from monitoring can be later used for different actions related to the food portions.
  • the different phases include for example production of food portions, transportation of food portions from a factory to storages, storage of food portions, transportation of food portions from storages to customers and storage of food portions in a cold-storage space of a food automat of a customer .
  • the object of the present invention is to eliminate the aforementioned drawbacks and to achieve an operationally reliable, and as service-free as possible, arrangement and method for the storage and heating of food portions as well for enabling the serving of them.
  • Daily food portions can be prepared with the apparatus according to the invention in both homes and institutions as well as in small offices where food is eaten, thereby considerably reducing the amount of work needed. Preparing daily food portions will be easier and will also become possible for people who cannot prepare their food themselves, or are unwilling or incompe ⁇ tent to do so.
  • Another object of the present invention is to be able to monitor different characteristics about food portions, such as temperature, in different phases of food portions' way from a producer to customers.
  • the arrangement of the invention is characterized by what is disclosed in the characteriza- tion part of claim 1.
  • the method according to the invention is characterized by what is presented in the characterization part of claim 13.
  • Other preferred embodiments of the invention are characterized by what is presented in the other claims.
  • Another advantage of the solution according to the invention is that monitoring of the nutrition level is easy to imple- ment, in which case users can themselves regulate the most pleasing and healthy diet for them.
  • Nutrition intake, consumption habits, costs and other related aspects can be regularly monitored using the information collected in the database of the apparatus, and if desired reports can be printed with a printer connected to the apparatus.
  • the solution according to the invention comprises the possibility, depending on the application, to maintain a connection via a telecommunication network or other suitable communication network with a supplier of foodstuffs or with some other organizations or persons, such as relatives, and also to monitor the user of the apparatus via information network.
  • different instructions can be given and a program, e.g. as entertainment, can also be sent via the network.
  • Yet another advantage of the solution according to the invention is that food portions can be monitored in all phases in the chain from a producing factory to heating of food portions for a meal. By monitoring food portions it can be noticed if, for example, some food portions have not been in cold enough temperature during transportation or some other phase in the chain. Monitoring also makes it possible to notice if wrong food portions are accidentally delivered to a customer and many other things, such as an expiration day of the food portion.
  • Fig. 1 diagrammatically presents different phases of food portions' way from a producing factory to custom- ers
  • Fig. 2 diagrammatically presents a total solution according to the invention
  • Fig. 3 presents a partly simplified front view of the cold- storage space of the arrangement according to the invention with the door removed,
  • Fig. 4 presents an oblique top view of the oven of the arrangement according to the invention
  • Fig. 5 presents an oblique top view of a storage shelf intended for a food portion of the arrangement ac ⁇ cording to the invention
  • Fig. 6 presents a top view of the storage shelf according to Fig. 5 when empty and
  • Fig. 7 presents a top view of the storage shelf according to Fig. 5 with a food portion.
  • Fig. 1 presents different phases in the delivery chain of food portions from a manufacturing factory to customers or end users.
  • Food portions are produced in factories 101 where they are equipped with an identification code such as a barcode or alike.
  • the identification code of a food portion contains information of the food portion. This information can include an identification name or number of the food portion, ingredients of the food portion, a manufacturing date and an expiration date of the food portion, heating instructions for the food portion and other useful informa ⁇ tion.
  • This information is also saved in a central database 105 of the meal service company, for example through inter ⁇ net .
  • Food portions are freezed at the factory 101 and transported to delivery cold-storages 103 with transportation vehicles 102, such as trucks.
  • transportation vehicles 102 such as trucks.
  • the identification code is used to send information about this phase to the central database 105 of the meal service company.
  • Food portions are kept cold also in transportation vehicles 102. Temperature in a cold room of transportation vehicles is monitored continuously or time-to-time so that it is noticed either in essentially real time or after the deliv ⁇ ery if for some reason temperature is or has been too high during the transportation and the cold chain has broken.
  • identification codes of the food portions are read and in ⁇ formation about the food portions and their condition is updated to the central database 105. This information in ⁇ cludes for example the identification name or number of the food portion, the arrival date of the food portion, tempera- ture of the food portion during transportation, etc. If temperature has been too high, cold chain has broken.
  • the identification codes of each food portion are read with the reader means of the food automat and information of each food portion and also a location of each food portion in the cold-storage space 1 are saved to the memory of the food automat's control system 3. Also information from the datalogger's memory is read. This way it is noticed if temperature inside the icebox has been too high and the cold chain has broken in some phase. This information is updated also to the central database 105.
  • the datalogger can also be equipped with a transmitter means to send its measuring data automatically to the cen ⁇ tral database 105 during the transportation and/or thereaf ⁇ ter .
  • the control system 3 identifies the food portion with help of the sensors in the cold-storage space 1. After that the customer should put the food portion to the oven 2 of the arrangement for heating. When the cold food portion is put to the oven 2, a temperature sensor in the oven 2 notices that temperature inside the oven 2 de ⁇ creases and the control system 3 turns the oven 2 on auto- matically. If the customer for example takes a food portion from the cold-storage space 1 but forgets to put it to the oven 2, the control system 3 notices this and may, for exam ⁇ ple, remind the customer to put the food portion to the oven 2. The oven 2 is not turned on before the food portion is placed inside the oven 2.
  • Information about food portions is updated to the central database 105 in different phases with help of identification codes of food portions. This makes it possible to monitor a location and temperature the food portions and possibly also some other information concerning the food portions at the customer's cold-storage space 1. When monitoring the tem ⁇ perature of the food portions all the time from the factory 101 to the oven 2 of the customer it is easy to notice if the cold chain has broken in some phase.
  • the food automat belonging to the invention presented in Fig. 2 comprises at least a deep-freezer or refrigerator that functions as a cold-storage space 1, a circulating-air oven or corresponding that functions as a heating means 2, a control system 3 comprising at least a computer or microprocessor, one or more user interfaces 4, and also a system server 5.
  • the central database 105 can be stored in the system server 5 or it can be in a separate unit, which is connected to the system server 5.
  • the ready, pre-frozen food portions are placed for storage into the deep-freezer that functions as a cold-storage space 1, which deep-freezer is at a suitably low temperature for deep-frozen storage.
  • the ready, pre-cooled food portions are placed for storage into the refrigerator that functions as a cold-storage space 1, which refrigerator is at a suitable temperature for refrigerated storage.
  • all the food por ⁇ tions in the apparatus are stored at the same temperature, but there can also be differences in the storage tempera ⁇ tures.
  • the circulating-air oven that functions as a heating means 2 is fitted to heat a food portion to an even tempera ⁇ ture that is suitable from the viewpoint of the user either by means of resistance heating technology, microwave heating technology, or a combination of these, or by means of some other heating technology suited to the purpose.
  • the user interface 4 is e.g. in connection with the heating means 2, via which heating means 2 the user interface 4 is connected to the control system 3 of the apparatus according to the arrangement, which control system comprises the pro ⁇ grams and actuators needed by the apparatus.
  • the control system 3 which functions as the data processing part, is connected to the cold-storage space 1 in order to e.g. track, monitor and control the functions and temperature of the cold-storage space 1.
  • the control system 3 is further connected to the heating means 2, in order to e.g. track, monitor and control the functions and temperature of the heating means 2.
  • the control system 3 is also connected to a public telecommunication or data network, such as e.g. the internet, and possibly also to a data communications net ⁇ work.
  • the control system 3 comprises at least a processor part, a data communication part, which comprises the neces ⁇ sary data communication functions, a control part, which comprises the necessary control functions, monitoring func ⁇ tions and regulation functions, and also connection means for receiving and sending information.
  • Telecommunications can be used for ordering new foodstuffs from the foodstuffs supplier. This function can be auto ⁇ matic, in which case a new order is placed when the food- stuffs decrease below the minimum set quantity. The order can also be manual, in which case the user defines the quan ⁇ tity and type of the foodstuffs by means of the user inter ⁇ face 4 of the apparatus.
  • the network interface it is also possible to transmit fault information about any defects that possibly occur in the apparatus and alerts about depletion of the food, and also to send data to be heard from the loudspeaker 6 of the apparatus, which is placed in connection with the heating means 2, e.g. on the base of the heating means 2.
  • a phone can be used, by means of text messages, or a second computer, from which also the content and quantity of food portions of an apparatus in the placement location can be viewed.
  • This type of external computer can be e.g. a system server 5 connected to the network.
  • the control system 3 further offers the possibility of con ⁇ trolling the nutritional amounts and quality of the food ⁇ stuffs, either automatically or by guiding the user. Moni- toring of the nutrition level can be easily implemented, in which case if the user needs a diet the control system 3 ensures that it is implemented.
  • the deep-freezer or refrigerator that functions as a cold- storage space 1 can be freely positioned, even in another space with respect to the heating means 2, because the con ⁇ nection between the control system 3 of the cold-storage space 1 and the heating means 2 is wireless, e.g. a Blue ⁇ tooth, infrared, radio or some other corresponding wireless connection.
  • Both the control system 3 of the cold-storage space 1 and the heating means 2 comprise appropriate connec ⁇ tion means for the connection.
  • the connection between the control system 3 of the cold-storage space 1 and the heating means 2 can also be wired.
  • Fig. 3 presents the cold-storage space 1 of the arrangement according to the invention, as viewed from the front and with the door removed.
  • the cold-storage space 1 is in prin ⁇ ciple a conventional deep-freezer, inside which is fitted a shelving structure 7 provided with side walls and rear walls, which shelving comprises a plurality of shelf spaces 9a provided with support means 8 and guide means 9, in which shelf spaces are stored shelves 13 that are empty or that contain food portions 14 and that function as the storage means of food portions 14.
  • Fig. 3 some of the shelf spaces 9a are left empty for the sake of clarity and a food portion 14 is visible on only one topmost shelf 13.
  • a switch 10 At the point of each shelf space 9a on the rear wall of the shelv ⁇ ing structure is a switch 10, which is fitted to indicate whether a food portion 14 is on the shelf 13 or not.
  • the cold-storage space 1 also comprises a door switch 12, which is fitted to monitor the opening and closing of the door, as well as a temperature sensor 11 for monitoring the tempera ⁇ ture of the cold storage of the cold-storage space 1.
  • a door switch 12 which is fitted to monitor the opening and closing of the door
  • a temperature sensor 11 for monitoring the tempera ⁇ ture of the cold storage of the cold-storage space 1.
  • at least the main components of the control system 3 are disposed in the compressor part of the cold-storage space, where they are in a safe place and out of the way.
  • Fig. 4 presents the circulating-air oven that functions as the heating means 2 of the arrangement according to the invention.
  • the oven comprises a frame part 15 and a hood 16 that is open at its base and hinged to the frame part with a hinge 17, which hood is fitted to turn to the open position from the front upwards by lifting it with the handle 18.
  • the heating elements of the oven are inside the hood 16.
  • the frame part of the oven com- prises a plurality of parallel connectors 19, which can be e.g. USB connectors or corresponding connectors.
  • a barcode reader 4a can be connected as one user interface to one connector 19 and e.g. also a USB memory stick 4b can be connected as a user interface to a second connector 19.
  • the frame part comprises a signal lamp 20, a pushbutton 21 and an iButton reader 22 that in a way also function as a user interface.
  • the signal lamp 20, e.g. a LED light indicates the functioning of the oven.
  • the pushbutton 21 which is an information button, can be pressed at any time whatsoever, in which case the apparatus announces in speech what it is doing or when it will be ready or what the situation is. For example, when pressing the pushbutton 21 in the heating phase the apparatus an ⁇ nounces in speech how much heating time remains. In another phase the apparatus announces the information of the phase in question.
  • an iButton reader is connected to escort memories, into each of which some code, e.g. the letters and numbers Al, A2, B3, etc, is programmed.
  • Commands can be transmitted to the control system 3 with the escort memory and via the control system to the system server 5, in which case different commands are given with escort memories of different colors.
  • escort memories a person can listen to his/her own voice mailbox, can choose whether to listen to radio broadcasts or not, and also can send a call request e.g. to his/her relative, in which case the system sends a call request by text message to a pre ⁇ selected mobile phone number, etc.
  • Fig. 5 presents a storage shelf 13 intended for a food por ⁇ tion 14 of the arrangement according to the invention.
  • the shelf 13 is essentially the shape of a right-angled box and it contains an essentially flat base 23, sidewalls 24, a front wall 25 forming a handle, and a rear wall 26, which extends from the second side edge of the shelf 13 to ap ⁇ proximately the midpoint of the shelf 13 in the width direc ⁇ tion.
  • the outer surface of one sidewall 24 comprises a guide rail 33, which can be fitted into the guide means 9 in the shelving structure 7.
  • a mechanical, spring-like sensing means 28 is fixed to the rear wall 26 of the shelf 13, which sensing means comprises at least a fix ⁇ ing part 31, a presser part 30 disposed in connection with it, and a sensor part 29 disposed in connection with the presser part 30, which sensor part is at an angle of essentially 90° with respect to the presser part.
  • the sensing means 28 together with the parts are a spring element that is a flat bar in its shape, the presser part 30 of which is disposed at the point of the open rear end of the shelf 13, where there is no rear wall 26.
  • At the bottom of the shelf 13 there is also a limiting means 27, which is fitted to support a food portion 14 disposed on the shelf 13 and to keep the food portion in the front part of the shelf.
  • FIG. 6 and 7 present a top view of the storage shelf ac ⁇ cording to Fig. 5.
  • the shelf 13 is empty, in which case the spring-like sensing means 28 is free and turned under the force of the spring force to such a position that the sensor part 29 is in the at least partly empty place of the food portion, i.e. in the middle of the front part of the shelf.
  • the presser part 30 is turned towards the inside of the shelf 13 such that when the empty shelf 13 is in its position in the shelf space 9a, the switch 10 on the rear wall of the shelv ⁇ ing structure 7 is in the pushed-out position, in which case the control system 3 has received information that the shelf 13 that was pushed inside is empty.
  • the food portion 14 is placed on the front part of the shelf 13.
  • the sensing means 28 is implemented such that when placing a food portion 14 into its position, the sensor part 29 of the sensing means 28 must be turned to the side towards the second sidewall 24, in which case it remains between the food portion 14 and the sidewall 24.
  • the presser part 30 turns backwards so much that when pushing the shelf 13 into its position after filling the presser part 30 presses the switch 10 to the inner position, in which case the control system 3 of the guide receives infor ⁇ mation that the shelf 13 that was pushed inside contains a food portion 14.
  • a barcode 34 is on the lid of the food portion 14 for identifying the food portion.
  • deep-frozen food portions 14 are filled into the cold-storage space 1 of the apparatus e.g. such that at first a memory stick 4b and a barcode reader 4a are fixed into the USB connectors 19 for entering information relating to the food portions into the control system 3 of the apparatus.
  • the memory stick 4b con ⁇ tains, among other things, the identification code of each food portion 14, both the written and the spoken name of the food portion, and also the heating instruction of the food portion.
  • the barcode 34 of the food portion 14 is read with the reader 4a of the barcode before placing the food portion into the shelf space 9a of the cold-storage space 1.
  • the food portion 14 is put on any empty shelf 13 whatsoever, which is then pushed into its position in an empty shelf space 9a of the shelving structure 7.
  • the switch 10 triggers and the guide of the apparatus detects that a food portion came into the shelf space 9a.
  • the control sys ⁇ tem 3 of the apparatus receives information about into which shelf space 9a the food portion came, and at the same time information at least about what the name and the heating instruction of the food portion 14 are.
  • the front edge of the shelves 13 comprise corresponding numbers and the user starts the apparatus by opening the door of the cold-storage space 1, in which case the door switch detects that the door has opened and sends information about it to the control system 3 of the apparatus.
  • the user pulls the shelf 13 that is provided with the number he/she selected out of the shelf space 9a takes the food portion from the shelf 13, pushes the shelf 13 back into its posi ⁇ tion and closes the door of the cold-storage space 1, in which case the door switch 12 of the apparatus again reacts.
  • Pulling out the shelf 13 simultaneously causes triggering of the switch 10, in which case the control system 3 receives information about the taking of the food portion 14 and announces the name of the food portion aloud via the loud- speakers 6.
  • the control system 3 has infor ⁇ mation about the taking of the food portion from the cold- storage space 1, so the control system 3 monitors that the food portion is put into the heating means 2 within an ap ⁇ muscularte time.
  • the heating space of the heating means 2 comprises a temperature sensor, by means of which the appa ⁇ ratus measures the internal temperature of the oven of the heating means 2. If the temperature starts to decrease owing to the cold deep-frozen portion, the apparatus infers that a food portion is in the oven and starts automatically to warm the food portion in connection with the provision of the food portion according to the heating instruction it receives, simultaneously monitoring the internal temperature of the oven by means of the temperature sensor.
  • a number of food portions can be heated with the oven at the same time.
  • the system is able to change the heating program according to need. If a food portion 14 is not detected in the oven of the heating means 2, i.e. the temperature in the oven does not decrease sufficiently, the apparatus does not start the heating function at all. In that case the apparatus of the user detects a malfunction, in which the food portion 14 is removed from the cold space 1 of the apparatus, but it is not put into the oven of the heating means 2. This is regis ⁇ tered as an event in the total system, from where informa ⁇ tion can be transmitted onwards to the system server 5. Also in this case the apparatus of the user, among other things, prompts with speech to put the food portion 14 into the oven and gives other instructions. This is a good safety solution e.g. for demented people.
  • the control system 3 of the apparatus notifies this in speech, in which case the food portion 14 can be moved out of the oven of the heating means 2 by hand.
  • different services including telecommunication connections, e.g. via the internet
  • the services comprise e.g. various alarms when the user does something wrong.
  • An example that can be given in this case is that the customer has not placed the food portion into the oven or has not taken a meal by a certain time. Other necessary alarms can also be given.
  • the pro ⁇ viders of a service or e.g. relatives provided with user passwords and user rights can record reminders and send them via the internet to the apparatus of the user and tell in the user interface of the browser of their own computer at what time and on what day the reminder is to be sent and also whether the reminder is of a non-recurring or recurring nature.
  • Reminders sent as speech messages can concern cater ⁇ ing, the taking and dosage of medicines and other necessary matters.
  • the reminder and the instructions must be acknowl ⁇ edged via the pushbutton 21 of the apparatus of the user.
  • the apparatus of the user is provided with means, by the aid of which it also functions as a media means, such as e.g. a radio, to which a program can be sent via the internet.
  • a media means such as e.g. a radio
  • bingo-playing and corre ⁇ sponding entertainment games can be sent via the apparatus.
  • the arrangement and method according to the invention it is essential to the arrangement and method according to the invention to have sufficient means and processes to monitor the condition of the food portions 14 in their delivery chain from the factory 101 to the end user. If the temperature of the frozen food portions 14 increases too high the quality may suffer and even if the temperature is not cold enough in some phase, cold chain may break and food portions 14 may spoil. So, one important characteristic to monitor is the temperature of the food portions 14 in dif- ferent phases of the delivery chain.
  • the different phases include for example production of the food portions 14, transportation of the food portions 14 from the factory 101 to storages, storage of the food portions 14, transportation from storages to customers and storage of the food portions 14 in the cold-storage space 1 of the food automat of the customer.
  • the data from monitoring can be later used for different actions related to the food portions 14.
  • Another essential feature of the arrangement according to the invention is that the food portion 14 and its heating instruction are paired with each other such that the apparatus knows which food portion 14 is on which shelf 13 and which heating instruction is connected to which food portion 14. This is important because the heating instructions of different food portions differ considerably from each other, in which case only with correctly performed heating is it possible to receive good-quality home-cooked food as the end result .
  • the spring-like sensing means on the shelf can be structurally different to what is described above. It can be a rod, or corresponding, provided with a spring, which pushes a food portion towards the rear end of the shelf when the food portion is placed onto the shelf.
  • a detent on the rear end of the rod triggers the switch on the rear wall of the shelving structure in the same way as the presser part of the spring-like sensing means when placing a shelf back into its position.
  • the spring pushes the rod forwards, as far as the point where the detent of the rod triggers the switch when placing an empty shelf back into its position.
  • the sensing means can thus be any structure whatsoever that detects a food portion on the shelf and that also identifies into which shelf space the shelf is being placed. It is also obvious to the person skilled in the art that the name, heating instruction and other possible identification information of a food portion can be given to the control system of the apparatus of the user in another manner than by means of a memory stick connected to the USB connector in connection with the input of a food portion. All the identi ⁇ fication information together with the names and heating instructions can be e.g. pre-entered in the memory of the control system beforehand. In this case only updating of the information in the memory when new food portions, which have not previously been used in the arrangement, come into use is sufficient.
  • all the identification in- formation together with the names and heating instructions of food portions can also be pre-entered in advance in the server of the service provider, from where they are downloaded in connection with the input of a food portion, e.g. via the internet or other suitable data transfer net- work or communication network, to the apparatus of the user.
  • a food portion can be identified e.g. in connection with placement in the oven using RFID technology or using some other corresponding identification technology. In this case the heating instruction corresponding to the latest food portion is given to the control system.
  • the alarms, reminders and instructions in the arrangement can be sent also by text messages and by e-mail.
  • the identification of food por ⁇ tions can be based on another solution, such as on a magnetic stripe or corresponding, by means of which the markings about food portions brought to the cold-storage space are made adequately clear.

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Abstract

L'objet de la présente invention concerne un agencement et un procédé de traitement et de surveillance de portions alimentaires dans une chaîne de service de repas, lesdites portions alimentaires étant fabriquées dans une usine (101) et équipées d'un code d'identification, et transportées vers des clients. L'agencement comprend un espace de stockage réfrigéré (1) pour des portions alimentaires et un moyen de chauffage (2), et également un système de commande (3) pourvu d'une interface utilisateur, et une base de données centrale (105) de la société de service de repas. L'agencement comprend des moyens pour surveiller la température des portions alimentaires dans la chaîne de distribution à partir de l'usine (101) jusqu'aux clients, et des moyens pour connecter les données de température au code d'identification (34) de la portion alimentaire, et des moyens pour transmettre à la base de données centrale (105) les données de température surveillée.
EP15896235.7A 2015-06-22 2015-06-22 Dispositif et procédé pour le traitement et la surveillance de portions alimentaires dans une chaîne de service de repas Withdrawn EP3311129A4 (fr)

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PCT/FI2015/050458 WO2016207472A1 (fr) 2015-06-22 2015-06-22 Dispositif et procédé pour le traitement et la surveillance de portions alimentaires dans une chaîne de service de repas

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EP3311129A1 true EP3311129A1 (fr) 2018-04-25
EP3311129A4 EP3311129A4 (fr) 2019-03-27

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CN108803747A (zh) * 2018-06-29 2018-11-13 中车石家庄车辆有限公司 一种用于保温运输链的控制系统
CN109187618B (zh) * 2018-09-21 2020-11-20 杭州纳戒科技有限公司 物流箱监测机构及系统
CN110881608A (zh) * 2019-11-13 2020-03-17 诺庆制辊（上海）有限公司 一种食品烘焙方法及装置

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JP3767817B2 (ja) * 2002-10-25 2006-04-19 松下電器産業株式会社 温度測定装置
JP4569738B2 (ja) * 2003-11-21 2010-10-27 東洋製罐株式会社 物品温度管理システム
US7764183B2 (en) * 2005-04-22 2010-07-27 Infratab, Inc. Apparatus and method for monitoring and communicating data associated with a product
JP2006209382A (ja) * 2005-01-27 2006-08-10 Keiichi Kato 献立供給システム
US10133992B2 (en) * 2005-04-07 2018-11-20 Mgs Modular Galley Systems Ag System and method for monitoring manufactured pre-prepared meals
FR2907939B1 (fr) * 2006-10-27 2009-01-30 Microcomposants De Haute Secur Etiquette electronique pour le suivi et le controle de la chaine du froid et procede de controle de temperature associe
IT1398383B1 (it) * 2010-01-27 2013-02-22 Penelope S P A Sistema e mezzi per il tracciamento di prodotti, dall'origine al consumo.
JP2012171733A (ja) * 2011-02-21 2012-09-10 Honko Mfg Co Ltd 物品配送システム
KR101308620B1 (ko) * 2011-10-05 2013-09-23 한국식품연구원 실시간 물품 품질 모니터링 시스템
WO2014087041A1 (fr) * 2012-12-03 2014-06-12 Menumat Oy Agencement et procédé pour des services de nutrition et de soins à distance

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WO2016207472A1 (fr) 2016-12-29

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