EP3681336B1 - Domestic robot for preparing cosmetic products - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of so-called domestic robots or equipment for producing cosmetic products. 'Domestic' means in the usual sense of the term, that is to say implemented in a private setting by unqualified persons, without particular skills.

STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

The present invention is dedicated to the elaboration, preparation, formulation and/or manufacture of specific products, in small quantities, in a simple way. The field of cosmetic products is particularly targeted by the invention.

The document FR 2 930 458 illustrates an apparatus for heating mixtures or products capable of melting. This is a fairly simple device essentially comprising a heating support on which rests a removable cup; other elements making it possible to control the temperature of the product, to handle the apparatus, to easily pour out the product are also provided.

We still know the patent EP 1 561 409 B1 which protects a kitchen appliance of the type described above and equipped with several microprocessors, non-volatile memory and a remote interface which cooperate in order to improve the functions of this kitchen appliance.

In this type of apparatus, therefore, the combination of heating, mixing and weighing of the ingredients necessary for preparing a cooked dish is known. However, this type of device cannot be used in the field of cosmetics, in particular because of the hygienic conditions, in particular sterilization, which is not possible; moreover, the volumes treated are not the same and the precision of the dosage of the ingredients is not as decisive in the culinary field as in the cosmetics field. In general, in the culinary field, no instruction or alert is provided during the preparation of a dish, if one of the ingredients is present in unacceptable proportions.

We also know from the document EP 2 042 066 A1 another kitchen appliance.

In Parallel, we know from the document EP 1 647 217 A1 a household appliance for producing cosmetic products which comprises in particular a heating container for cooking, kneading, grinding, chopping, beating and preparing creams.

The US patent US 6,516,245 B1 describes a method and an apparatus capable of personalizing cosmetic products, for a given user who initially chooses parameters such as the color, the texture, the type of product that he wishes to see produced. A microprocessor then calculates the optimal proportions to obtain the chosen product; the ingredients being present in different cartridges, the final product is then delivered on an appropriate support. This system is therefore based on the use of cartridges or bases of formulated cosmetic products which necessarily contain preservatives and are sold by specialized companies. The end user therefore does not have full control over the ingredients used. In addition, this type of device has a relatively high cost and is therefore not suitable for private use, both because of the ingredients required and the quantities that can be delivered.

Numerous other solutions capable of personalizing cosmetic products are known, all intended for professional use, in stores visited by customers who wish to purchase personalized cosmetic products there.

In industry, systems are also known that allow communication between a computer application that stores data—recipes, for example—and the robot performing the preparation. The applications relate to cooking or painting at the industrial level.

Closer to the invention, the existing materials on the market allow manual preparation of homemade cosmetics with a multiplicity of tools and containers.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The invention aims to remedy the drawbacks of the state of the art and in particular to propose a device or domestic robot for producing cosmetic products consisting of several ingredients, produced by a non-expert person, in small volumes. The aim is to prepare cosmetic products from natural (and non-chemical) ingredients, under conditions of significant hygiene, safety and reliability. The robot according to the invention makes it possible to produce a wide variety of types of products (for example emulsions, gels, waxes, balms) in a single tank with a single tool, i.e. in a simple and effective way.

To do this, the invention relates to a domestic robot for producing cosmetic products consisting of several ingredients, comprising: a tank for mixing said ingredients; means for weighing the ingredients present in the tank; means for heating said ingredients; a motorized paddle-type mixing means with variable and controlled speed; an outer protective shell.

According to the invention, the robot further comprises a cover adaptable to the upper surface of the protective shell and provided with at least one opening placed directly above the mixing tank, for the passage of the mixing means and at least one second ingredient; a means of thermal insulation between the heating means of the tank and the weighing means; a microprocessor cooperating with an external interface and arranged so as to process input data from said weighing means and/or said heating means and arranged so as to control the motor of the mixing means and/or the heating means.

The user thus has total control over the ingredients used; and he can customize the products he manufactures in an almost unlimited way because he is not limited by the choice and/or the availability of the ingredients used. The robot according to the invention allows in particular the preparation of cosmetic products by a non-expert person, from natural ingredients available in non-specialized stores—instead of formulated products sold by industrial cosmetic companies. The consumer thus has complete control over the ingredients used.

Preferably, said tank comprises a tank for a first ingredient cooperating with a pump and supply means opening into said mixing tank; the reservoir may have a sloping bottom. By 'sloping bottom' we mean a non-horizontal flat bottom.

Preferably, the motorization of the mixing means comprises a motor inserted in a part of the lid, preferably in a handle of said lid. It is understood that this characteristic relates to small motors (in terms of power and volume) adapted to a small robot, that is to say 'domestic'.

Preferably, said heating means comprises a thermal resistor in contact with the outer wall of said mixing tank.

Furthermore, the thermal insulation means comprises a disk made of an insulating material such as silicone, placed between the bottom of the tank and the weighing means, and/or a filling material of the airgel or insulating foam type.

Interestingly, said external interface comprises modes for producing cosmetic products and/or alerts and/or recommendations for obtaining a product endowed with determined characteristics. Advantageously, said interface cooperates with a regularly updated server.

In addition, the domestic robot can comprise a temperature sensor arranged close to the weighing means, and associated with the microprocessor in order to carry out a correction of the temperature of the heating means, by using the thermal coefficient of the weighing means.

According to another feature, the robot can include an electrical connection for powering the motor of the mixer, said connection being preferably placed in the connecting element between the lid and the outer protective shell.

Preferably, said display means is provided for the input/output data of the microprocessor and/or for the control data of the microprocessor and/or the output data of the measuring elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

• la figure 1, une vue schématique du robot selon un mode préféré de réalisation de l'invention ; et
• la figure 2, un schéma fonctionnel de l'environnement du robot.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent on reading the following description, with reference to the appended figures, which illustrate:

• the figure 1 , a schematic view of the robot according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; and
• the picture 2 , a block diagram of the robot's environment.

For greater clarity, identical or similar elements are identified by identical reference signs in all of the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

The figure 1 schematically shows the main components of the robot according to one embodiment of the invention. More specifically, we see a tank 1 for mixing the ingredients, here in the form of an upwardly open bowl which is preferably made of metal. The tank 1 is externally surrounded by a heating means 2, preferably in the form of a resistance in direct contact with the outer wall of the tank 1. A means 3 for weighing the ingredients present in the tank 1 is connected and arranged below the tank 1. The weighing means is a precision scale making it possible to measure precisely (to the nearest gram) the weight of the ingredients deposited in the tank 1. A probe or temperature sensor 4 is functionally associated with the means weighing 3 and a microprocessor 10; the aim is thus to perform a temperature correction of the measurement, a posteriori, by using the thermal coefficient of the precision balance 3.

There is also provided a blade type mixing means 5 preferably motorized, variable and controlled speed, placed above the tank 1, provided with a vertical axis and appropriate blades. A rigid protective shell 6 serves as protection vis-à-vis the external environment and as support for the various components of the robot. The shell is chosen from a preferably sterilizable plastic material of the ^Tritan® type or from PEEK (acronym for PolyEtherEtherKetone); most of the rigid and structural components of the robot are chosen from this material.

Interestingly, the robot according to the invention further comprises a tank 7 for a first ingredient, which cooperates with a pump 8 and means 9 for supplying the tank 1 with the first ingredient. Of course, the supply means open above the mixing tank 1. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the tank 7 has the shape of a portion of a ring and its bottom is sloping with a point low near the pump 8 in order to ensure easy flow towards the pump 8. The portion of the ring can represent approximately one third of the total circumference of the tank 1. The tank can be equipped with a handle for handling it . It is advantageously graduated in volume. A non-return valve is provided, so as to prevent any leakage when the tank is removed from its location in the robot, and to allow the flow of the first ingredient to the pump 8 when the tank is in place on its support at the interior of the robot. A coping or rim 11 is notably provided in the internal wall of the shell in order to support the reservoir 7. In addition, it is possible to fill the reservoir 7 before the robot is started, so that the pump 8 ensures the transfer of the first ingredient to tank 1 once the lid is closed and preferably in a given sequence. Usually, but not limitingly, the first ingredient is water.

According to a variant embodiment, the pump is positioned at the bottom of the robot according to the invention. In another alternative embodiment, the tank is positioned vertically within the protective shell 6, along the tank.

Above the protective shell 6, a cover 12 is fitted which is for example articulated by a hinge 13 on the shell. The cover 12 can be flat and made of a plastic of the same type as the protective shell 6. According to another characteristic of the invention, the cover is equipped with a handle in which is housed a motor (not visible) for the activation of the blade 5. An electrical safety device is provided at the level of the hinge 13 and it allows the electrical supply of the motor housed in the handle, when the cover closes the protective shell 6. Thus the blades 5 can only be activated when the lid is fully closed. A gearbox can be provided in order to modulate the speed of rotation of the blades 5 and in particular in order to fix the maximum speed of rotation of the motor, for example at 500 revolutions per minute. A Mosfet type field effect transistor is provided at the level of an electronic card in order to control the effective speed of rotation of the motor.

Furthermore, the lid 12 is provided with at least one central opening 14 to allow in particular the passage of the shaft of the blades 5. The opening 14 also allows the passage by pouring other ingredients into the tank 1, in the form liquid or solid. According to a variant embodiment, the cover 12 is bordered by a seal 120 arranged so as to retain the steam inside the robot, in particular during the sterilization phase.

According to a variant embodiment of the robot according to the invention, the shaft of the blades 5 is articulated by a first hinge and a part of the cover, corresponding to the opening 14, is articulated by a second hinge: this makes it possible to only open than this part of the lid to allow the passage by pouring of other ingredients through the opening 14 into the tank 1, without having to manipulate the shaft of the blades 5.

Regarding thermal insulation, this function is important given the intended application. In particular, the thermal insulation between the heating means 2 of the tank 1 and the weighing means 3 is finely designed; this is to ensure reliable weighing with high accuracy. On the one hand, thermal insulation is ensured by the choice of materials that conduct heat poorly, such as specific plastics. On the other hand, the thermal insulation is achieved by a silicone disk 110 and/or by a highly insulating filling material 111, of the airgel or insulating foam type. The silicone disc provides a seal between the tank 1 and the inside of the protective shell 6. More specifically, the silicone disc is placed between the tank 1 and the weighing means 3; it is a flexible and thin element. It is designed so as to achieve a uniform distribution of the vertical forces on the weighing means 3, forces included in the tare of the weighing means 3. This makes it possible not to affect the accuracy of the measurement of the weighing means 3.

The picture 2 shows the management of the robot's functionalities which is operated thanks to a microprocessor 10 from which the input data come essentially the temperature sensor 4 and the weighing means 3. A trigger element 15 such as a push button makes it possible to trigger or stop actions controlled by the microprocessor 10. A display screen 16 is also controlled by the microprocessor 10. The display screen 16 is placed on the shell 6 as seen on the figure 1 . The microprocessor 10 communicates with an external interface such as a mobile application 17 bidirectionally. Of course, the mobile application 17 can store diverse and varied data such as recipe-type operating modes, alert levels, operating recommendations. The external interface 17 allows traceability of the manufacture and in extenso of the result, that is to say of the product obtained; this is essential for the development of cosmetic products, since it is a question of guaranteeing a follow-up of the manufacture: date, ingredients used, quantities, admissible temperature limits, admissible concentration limits, the mobile application allows a such control.

The output data of the microprocessor 10 relate to the control of the motor of the blades 5, of the heating means 2, of the pump 8 or else of the display means 16.

Bluetooth type communications 18 can be envisaged for the exchange of data between the microprocessor 10 and the mobile application 17. An internet connection 19 can be provided for the exchange of data between the mobile application 17 and an appropriate server 20 which receives data from the mobile application 17 and sends updates to it, via the internet.

In a new and inventive way, the robot according to the invention allows the manufacture of cosmetic products directly at the end user and in small quantities which directly meets his own consumption needs. This therefore avoids the use of powerful chemical preservatives which are necessary in a commercial activity because of the long storage times, at the manufacturer, the retailer and also at the user (bottle with fixed quantity sometimes too large compared to the use). These preservatives may be associated with health risks and are therefore perceived as undesirable.

Furthermore, the robot in accordance with the invention allows the manufacture of cosmetic products 'at home' under acceptable hygienic conditions despite the absence of a controlled industrial production environment. The main preparation tools (bowl 1 and blades 5) can be sterilized in-situ, and the preparation is done in a closed environment, protected from external contamination.

Furthermore, the external interface of the mobile application type 17 meets quality and safety needs by producing alert messages in the event of a health risk or in the event of a quality risk, for example to protect the natural properties of ingredients by avoiding overheating or excessive mixing force or excessive air suction into the mixture, or by controlling the preparation sequence to ensure successful mixing (emulsions in particular). This application also records the operations carried out, ensuring essential traceability (tracking book) for cosmetic products.

Claims (10)

1. A home robot for preparing cosmetic products made of several ingredients, comprising: a mixing tank (1) for mixing said ingredients; a heating means (2) for heating said ingredients; a weighing means (3) for weighing the ingredients present in the tank; a mixing means (5) of the variable controlled speed motorised blade type; an external protective shell (6); the home robot further comprising a lid (12) which can be fitted to the upper surface of the protective shell (6) and provided with an opening (14) vertically aligned with the mixing tank, for passing the mixing means (5) and at least one second ingredient; a heat insulating means (110, 111) between the heating means (2) of the tank and the weighing means (3); a microprocessor (10) cooperating with an external interface (17) and arranged so as to process input data from said weighing means and said heating means and arranged so as to control the motor of the mixing means and/or the heating means.
2. The home robot according to claim 1, characterised in that it further comprises a reservoir (7) for a first ingredient cooperating with a pump (8) and supply means (9) opening into said mixing tank (1).
3. The home robot according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the motor unit of the mixing means (5) comprises a motor inserted into a part of the lid (12), preferably into a handle of said lid.
4. The home robot according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that said heating means (2) comprises a heater resistor in contact with the external wall of said mixing tank (1).
5. The home robot according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the heat insulating means comprises a disc made of an insulating material (110) such as silicone, placed between the bottom of the tank and the weighing means, and/or a filling material (111) of the aerogel of insulating foam type.
6. The home robot according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that said external interface (17) comprises modes for preparing cosmetic products and/or alerts and/or recommendations to obtain a product with determined characteristics.
7. The home robot according to claim 6, characterised in that said interface (17) cooperates with a regularly updated server (20).
8. The home robot according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises a temperature sensor (4) disposed in proximity to the weighing means (3), and associated with the microprocessor (10) in order to perform correction of the temperature of the weighing means by using the thermal coefficient of the weighing means.
9. The home robot according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises an electrical connection for powering the motor of the mixer, said connection being placed into the connection element (13) between the lid (12) and the external protective shell (6) .
10. The home robot according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that said display means (16) is provided for input/output data of the microprocessor and/or for control data of the microprocessor (10) and/or output data of the measurement elements.

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