FR3049059A1 - IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO DOSE RECEPTACLES - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and a measuring device for measuring one or more substances, the measuring device comprising a measuring receptacle comprises: a scale or a gauge on one side of the receptacle, the scale comprising a plurality of lights adapted to illuminate to indicate a the level required for a predetermined quantity of a predetermined substance; and a module for calculating the number of lights to be illuminated to represent the required level.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to metering containers, particularly but not exclusively electronic metering containers.

There are many ways to measure a quantity of liquid or food product, for example sugar or flour. Measurements can be based on weight or volume. The weight is rather measured thanks to a scale. The volumes are rather measured thanks to the graduation on the side of a receptacle which indicates the different volumes. The graduations can be different for different products that are measured, based on the density of the product. Some devices that measure volumes are often included with a scale under the receptacle and therefore measure a weight rather than a volume per se.

A problem that exists with measuring receptacles when the user wants to measure several products or ingredients. Which is very difficult to achieve with conventional measuring receptacles.

If the user wants to measure 100ml of milk; 125ml of water and 100g of sugar, it must first align the milk level with the correct graduation, then calculate the level required for water. This requires a mental calculation to determine the level of the next graduation. It is often difficult to be precise and therefore the measurement may be inaccurate, especially with different materials or substances having different densities. After adding milk and water, if the user wants to add 100g of sugar, he will have to use a different measurement mechanism because it would be impossible to measure the liquid and sugar at the same time. If sugar was added first, there would still be a problem. When milk or water is added, the sugar could dissolve, so the measurements would be inaccurate.

Currently the measuring receptacles can be used only for measuring solids, in powder form or in the form of granules, or only in the form of liquid. A combination of both is not possible. Therefore two measuring devices are needed.

A need exists for a measuring device that can be used to measure all the materials or substances in a sequential manner, in other words one ingredient after another, without having to calculate mentally the next level of graduation.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device and measuring method for measuring one or more substances, the measuring device comprising a measuring receptacle comprises: a scale on one side of the receptacle, the scale comprising a plurality of lights adapted to illuminate to indicate a level required for a predetermined amount of a predetermined substance; and a module for calculating the number of lights to be illuminated to represent the required level.

Advantageously, the required levels are calculated and based on the quantity of the substance, the type of substance and the units of measurement.

Advantageously, the module calculates a new level required for a second substance.

Advantageously, the scale is illuminated between the level required for the first substance and a second illuminated segment which represents the new level required.

Advantageously, the device is connected to an electronic device on which one or more applications can operate.

Advantageously one or more applications includes a recipe application and contains ingredients necessary for the recipe.

Advantageously, the application sends the ingredients and quantities to the module and for each successive ingredient a successive required level is calculated and successively indicated on the scale by the illumination of the appropriate lights.

Advantageously the device comprises a base which supports the receptacle and provides a power and electrical signals on the receptacle to control the required level.

Advantageously the base and the receptacle wirelessly communicate Advantageously the base and the receptacle are connected by means of a wired manner.

[0017] Advantageously, the scale comprises a linear array of LEDs arranged to illuminate one after the other until the number of lights are on to indicate the required level.

Reference will now be made with the example of the drawings which will accompany it, wherein: [0019] Figure 1 is a view of a measuring device, according to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a view of the measuring receptacle of the slide of Figure 1, according to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 is a view of a recipe displayed on the screen, according to one embodiment of the invention.

Referring to Figure 1 a measuring device 100 is shown. The measuring device comprises a base 102 and a measuring receptacle 104. The base comprises a control panel 106 and an electrical connection for connecting the measuring receptacle to the base.

The base includes a control panel 106. The control panel is ideally a touch control panel, but other types are also valid. The control panel allows the user to enter a necessary amount of a specified ingredient. The control panel has a plurality of parameters, these including the measurement volume; units; substance to be measured and a number of functional characteristics which will be described in more detail below. The volume is entered as a numeric value. Units are selected from at least: g, ml, lb, oz, fl, oz, etc. The substances can be chosen from a drop-down menu of possible substances stored in a memory and accessible through the control panel. The control panel may also include a function to reset; an overflow alarm; Battery indicator or any other suitable functions. The base may also include a battery chamber and an on / off switch.

The base may comprise a signal transmitting coil from the base to the measuring receptacle. The coil makes it possible to communicate with a similar coil on the base of the measuring receptacle. The coils can be used to allow the base to power the measurement receptacle and send a signal to indicate the level required to scale or a gauge.

For this technology to work it will put a coil in the base and another below the container. The receptacle may be powered by a mode other than wireless power transmission. These are two connectors that touch when the receptacle is laid on the base so that the current can flow from the base to the receptacle to feed the scale or gauge.

In the preferred embodiment, the base is powered and activated by the measuring receptacle when the measuring receptacle is located on the base. This can also be done in a wireless way. In another embodiment of the measuring receptacle, it may contain a power source and a means for communicating with a smartphone, computer or the like via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or any other means of wired or wireless communication. In this embodiment of the compartment, the battery should be waterproof to ensure that the batteries or the battery are not damaged when the measuring receptacle is washed.

Referring now to Figure 2, the measuring receptacle is shown. The measuring receptacle includes a scale 108 on the side of the receptacle. The scale is in the form of an LED gauge that can be turned on incrementally from the bottom up to indicate a required level of ingredient. The gauge may include a plurality of individual light emitting diodes each of which is sequentially illuminated to the required level. The scale includes a linear array of LEDs arranged to illuminate one after the other until the number of lights is turned on to indicate the required level. The number of LEDs that must be lit for a specific volume of a specific ingredient can be pre-calibrated and stored in a memory in the base or measuring receptacle depending on the location of the intelligent elements of the system. Alternatively, a processor may be used to calculate the number of lights turned on from a predetermined value of illuminated lights for a predetermined reference volume of an ingredient multiplied by the actual measured volume. It should be noted that there are many other ways in which the required level can be calculated.

The measuring cup is powered by batteries or a battery or by a wire that is connected to the mains. It may include an electronic card which is inside the base and which is connected to the touch screen and to the scale or gauge. The scale can be connected to a wireless electronic card.

The electronic card can manage the touch screen and the scale or the gauge, the LED will more or less light to indicate the level of ingredients to pour into the receptacle. Depending on the quantity, unit and ingredient chosen, the electronic board will light the LEDs on the scale so that the required quantity of ingredients is obtained by filling the receptacle the last LED of the ladder lit.

[0030] Once a first ingredient has been added to the measuring receptacle, the "zero" level of the scale becomes the point at which the scale or gauge is illuminated. If another ingredient is added, the light scale will be lit between the new "zero" level and the new required level. Figure 2 shows the first set of LEDs lit since the first ingredient 110 and the second LED series lit for the second ingredient 112. It is obvious that if there are more ingredients, there will be a different level required for each of them.

After the measurement of the first ingredient has been completed, the second level required for the second ingredient may be indicated in a number of different ways. LEDs can be lit from the first level required for the second level required; the second level required may be indicated by LEDs being illuminated from the bottom to the second level required; of different colors can be used for different levels required.

The measuring cup makes it possible to measure a very large number of ingredients with numerous units. Regardless of the information entered by the user on the screen, the computer program will set the LED scale to the correct height.

The base, the receptacle or both may include a processing module that operates with the electronic card to perform the calculation of the required level. Substances, units and quantities can be entered as described below and the module calculates the required level, ie the number of LEDs to be illuminated.

The operation of the measuring device can occur as below: • Press the on / off button; • The touch screen lights up; • You select a quantity with the keys numbered from (0 to 9); • You select the unit of the measurement you want to perform with the keys (cl, ml, L, Grams, etc ...); • You select what you want to measure using the keys (Liquid, Flour, Milk, Sugar, etc ...); • Press VALIDATE; • Once the information is entered, the circuit board will process the information and transmits to the LED scale; • The scale will adjust to the correct height to indicate the level of ingredients to be filled.

If, for example, an amount of 750 ml of water is desired, the following steps may be carried out: • Pressing on: 7 5 0; • press: ml; • press on: water; • press OK; • the scale will be adjusted to the correct height; • Water is poured into the receptacle until the last LED on the scale is lit. • 750ml of water will be in the receptacle.

The first mode of use is the manual mode, where the user will enter himself the information he wants on the screen.

The second mode of use is additional, it works with a smartphone or tablet. The user will have to download an application on their smartphone or tablet. This application includes many recipes that the user can select. The application communicates with the measuring device of the invention, as follows: • The application is connected to the doser via WiFi or Bluetooth; • We search for a recipe in the application; • Once the recipe is chosen, press "send to doser"; • Each step of the recipe will be displayed on the meter screen; • For example, a cookie recipe was selected on the application and sent to the doser.

We will see on the screen of the dispenser a recipe as shown in Figure 3.

As soon as there is a measure of ingredients to perform, it will simply press "run" and the scale will be adjusted automatically without having to enter the information manually. It will only remain to fill the receptacle with the indicated ingredient as soon as the scale has settled.

The invention makes it possible to measure an amount of ingredients using a scale or the electronic gauge and not thanks to graduations which are often in a single unit and source of error.

The invention allows to weigh the ingredients with a scale that is integrated into the base.

The invention displays on the meter screen each step of a recipe sent from an application.

The invention has a timer function to manage for example the time of a cooking and display the time.

It will be appreciated that the examples presented are not only that and that different alternatives within the scope of the invention can be envisaged.

For example, the receptacle may be of any shape or size. It may comprise a lid and / or a handle or a spout. In embodiments where the base is used, the base may also be any shape or size. The connection between the base and the measurement receptacle could be via the coils described above or any other wire or wireless connection. Likewise, the connection between the receptacle and a tablet, smartphones or the like can be wire or wireless.

The calculation means of the required level can be modified as needed. The module can include processors, memory and any other appropriate functions.

The different processors and memories may be located in any suitable location depending on the embodiment.

Claims (12)

Claims: A measuring device for measuring one or more substances, the measuring device comprising a measuring receptacle comprises: a scale on one side of the receptacle, the scale comprising a plurality of lights adapted to illuminate to indicate a level required for a quantity predetermined of a predetermined substance; and a module for calculating the number of lights to be illuminated to represent the required level. The measuring device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the required levels are calculated and based on the quantity of the substance, the type of substance and the units of measurement. 3. The measuring device according to any one of the preceding claims, the module calculating a new level required for a second substance. The measuring device according to claim 3, wherein the scale is illuminated between the level required for the first substance and a second illuminated segment which represents the new level required. 5. The measuring device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device is connected to an electronic device on which applications can operate. The measuring device according to claim 5, wherein the applications comprises a recipe application and contains ingredients necessary for the recipe. 7. The measuring device according to claim 6, wherein the application sends the ingredients and the quantities to the module and for each successive ingredient a successive required level is calculated and successively indicated on the scale by the illumination of the appropriate lights. The measuring device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device comprises a base which supports the receptacle and provides power and electrical signals on the receptacle to control the required level. 9. The measuring device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the base and the receptacle communicate in a wireless manner. 10. The measuring device according to claims 1 to 8, wherein the base and the receptacle are connected in a wired manner. The measuring device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the scale comprises a linear array of LEDs arranged to illuminate one after the other until the number of lights are turned on to indicate the required level. 12. Method for measuring one or more substances using the device according to one of the preceding claims.