GB2481862A

GB2481862A - Food management device having a label printer

Info

Publication number: GB2481862A
Application number: GB201011659A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Jason O'brien
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-07-10
Filing date: 2010-07-10
Publication date: 2012-01-11
Also published as: GB201011659D0

Abstract

A food management device 100 comprises an actuator 108 that is responsive to operation by a user to generate an actuation signal; a clock module (106, Fig.1) configured to output a clock signal indicative of the current date; a printer (110, Fig.1) for printing the current date on an adhesive label 121 and to dispense that printed label 121 to a user; and a controller (104, Fig.1) coupled to the actuator 108, the clock module (106, Fig.1) and the printer (110, Fig.1). The controller (104, Fig.1) is configured to determine the current date from said clock signal, and is responsive to the actuation signal from the actuator 108 to control the printer (110, Fig.1) to print the current date on an adhesive label 121 and dispense said printed adhesive label 121 to the user. The user can then affix the label to a partially consumed food item so that they subsequently know exactly when that food item was opened. The device 100 may be mounted onto a refrigerator or freezer via magnets (126, Fig.3).

Description

*::r: INTELLECTUAL . ... PROPERTY OFFICE Application No. GB 1011659.8 RTM Date:7 November 2011 The following terms are registered trademarks and should be read as such wherever they occur in this document: Velcro Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office www.ipo.gov.uk

FOOD MANAGEMENT DEVICE

Field

The present invention relates to food management devices, particularly but not exclusively to a refrigerator-mountable food management device.

Background

It has been commonplace for many years for food items to carry a "best before" date that indicates the date before which the food item in question should be consumed.

Indeed, as a direct result of these dates UK consumers discard many millions of pounds Although there is some discussion as to whether these dates are critical dates or merely a mechanism to protect retailers and encourage consumption, it remains the case that some food packaging warnings should be heeded. In particular, warnings indicating that an item (such as a pot of yoghurt, for example) should be consumed within "x" days of opening are generally regarded as being important, as the items concerned typically require refrigeration and there is a real danger of the items going bad if left open for too long before being consumed.

To that end, it is usual for all but the hardiest (or perhaps, most foolish) consumers to throw away food items that have been open for more than the recommended amount of time indicated on the packaging.

However, a problem subsists in that it is often difficult to tell just how long a given item in a refrigerator has been open, and as a result a significant proportion of the food items that are currently discarded may not actually have been open for more than the recommended amount of time.

Given the amount of waste generated every year, it would clear be advantageous if a means could be devised for addressing this problem.

Summary

To that end, a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention provides: a food management device comprising: an actuator that is responsive to operation by a user to generate an actuation signal; a clock module configured to output a clock signal indicative of the current date; a printer for printing the current date on an adhesive label and to dispense that printed label to a user; and a controller coupled to the actuator, the clock module and the printer; wherein the controller is configured to determine the current date from said clock signal, and is responsive to the actuation signal from the actuator to control the printer to print the current date on an adhesive label and dispense said printed adhesive label to the user.

In one envisaged implementation, the device may further comprise a housing within which said clock module, printer and controller are provided, the actuator being mounted in a face of the housing for actuation by a user.

The device may comprise a screen for displaying the current date as determined by said controller. The clock module may be configured to generate a time signal indicative of the current time.

The controller may be configured to determine the current time from said time signal and to control said printer, in response to operation of the actuator by a user, to print the current time and the current date on said adhesive label.

The device may further comprise a display that is responsive to said controller to display the current date. The display may be responsive to said controller to display the current time. The device may comprise a store for adhesive labels.

In a preferred arrangement, the device comprises means for attaching the housing to a support surface. The attachment means may comprise one or more magnets suitable for coupling the housing to a refrigerator or freezer.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a refrigerator-mountable food management device, comprising: a housing; one or more magnets for attaching the housing to a refrigerator; an actuator mounted in the housing for operation by a user, the actuator being responsive to operation by a user to generate an actuation signal; a clock module provided within the housing, said clock module being configured to output a clock signal indicative of the current date; a printer provided within the housing, said printer being configured for printing the current date on an adhesive label and to dispense that printed label to a user through an opening in the housing; and a controller provided within the housing, the controller being coupled to the actuator, the clock module and the printer; wherein the controller is configured to determine the current date from said clock signal, and is responsive to the actuation signal from the actuator to control the printer to print the current date on an adhesive label and dispense said printed adhesive label to the user through the opening in the housing, said label being affixable to an opened partially consumed food item to indicate the date on which said food item was opened.

Other features, embodiments and advantages of aspects of the invention will be

apparent from the following detailed description.

Brief Descrirtion of the Drawings Various aspects of the teachings of the present invention, and arrangements embodying those teachings, will hereafter be described by way of illustrative example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of the components of an illustrative food management device; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a front side of the device in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a rear side of the device in Fig. 1.

Detailed Descrirtion Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of the components of a food management device 100 that includes a housing 102 (Fig. 2). A controller 104 is provided within the housing 102 and is connected to a clock module 106, an actuator 108 (such as a button), a printer 110, and a clock module setting interface 112 (e.g. one or more buttons). A screen 113 is connected to the controller 104 and is mounted in a front face 119 (Fig. 2) of the housing 102 so that it can be viewed from outside of the housing 102 by a user. The housing 102 also contains a power source interface 114 for coupling a power source to the components of the device. In one envisaged arrangement, the power source interface 114 may be configured to receive a power source (such as a battery) for powering the device 100.

With reference to Fig. 2, the screen 113 is coupled to the controller 104 and is responsive to instructions from the controller 104 to display the current date (and optionally the time) as determined by the controller from a signal output by the clock module 106.

The controller 104 is responsive to operation of the actuator 108 by a user to control the printer 110 to print the current date, and optionally the current time, on an adhesive label 121 and to dispense that label through an opening 122 in the housing 102, for example in the front face 119 of the housing 102.

In a particularly preferred arrangement, a plurality of such adhesive labels are provided on a backing strip 120 from which they can readily be peeled, the strip (and attached labels) being stored on a roll inside the housing 102. The labels are each coupled to the strip by an adhesive that is suitable for use in colder temperatures of the type that one might find in a conventional refrigerator or freezer (for example, for use in ambient temperatures from -20 to +5 degrees centigrade). In an alternative arrangement, the strip of labels could be z-folded within the housing.

In an envisaged implementation of the teachings of the invention, a rear face 128 of the housing 102 is provided with an attachment device 126 for enabling the housing to be attached to the door of a refrigerator. In a particularly preferred arrangement, the attachment device may comprise one or more magnets 126 that are fixed to the rear side 128 of the housing 102. As an alternative (or indeed, in addition to) one or more magnets 126, the attachment device could comprise a sucker or one part of a complementary hook and look attachment mechanism (such as Velcro1M) -the other part of the mechanism being attached to the refrigerator or freezer to which the device is mounted.

The housing 102 preferably comprises two parts which may be disconnected from one other to enable access to be had to the components contained therein (for example, to enable a roll of stickers to be replenished). Opening the housing 102 in such a manner enables a user to load a battery cell into the power source interface 114, to load a strip of labels and/or ink into the printer 110, and set the clock module 106 by manipulating the clock module setting interface 112. The two parts of the housing 102 may then be re-connected with one another to close the housing 102 before mounting the device 100 to a refrigerator or freezer by means of the aforementioned attachment device.

When a user has opened and partially consumed a food item that has been retrieved from the refrigerator, for example, they engage the actuator 108 to cause the actuator 108 to signal the controller 104. The controller 104 is responsive to the signal from the actuator 108 to control the printer 110 to print the current date (and optionally the current time) on one of the aforementioned adhesive labels 121, and to dispense the label 121 through the opening 122 in the housing 102. The user can then attach the printed adhesive label 121 to the partially consumed food item before putting it back in the refrigerator or freezer.

By virtue of this arrangement, a user is subsequently readily able to determine exactly when a given partially consumed food item (such as a pot of yoghurt for example) was opened merely by looking at the attached adhesive label, and hence is readily able to determine if that food item has been open for longer than the recommended amount of time. This means that users no longer have to try to remember how long a given food item has been opened, and can avoid throwing away items that have been open for less than the recommended time or eating items that have been open for more than the recommended time.

It will be appreciated that whilst various aspects and embodiments of the present invention have heretofore been described, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the particular arrangements set out herein and instead extends to encompass all arrangements, and modifications and alterations thereto, which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

For example, the screen 113 need not necessarily be provided (although it is clearly advantageous for a screen to be present), and if provided may be configured to display time digitally or in analogue form. The housing 102 need not necessarily be configured for attachment to a refrigerator or freezer, and may instead be configured for attachment to any support surface. The power source interface 114 may be configured for coupling to alternative power sources, for example to a solar panel (which panel may be integrated into the housing 102 or be external thereto).

It should also be noted that whilst the accompanying claims set out particular combinations of features described herein, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the particular combinations hereafter claimed, but instead extends to encompass any combination of features herein disclosed.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A food management device comprising: an actuator that is responsive to operation by a user to generate an actuation signal; a clock module configured to output a clock signal indicative of the current date; a printer for printing the current date on an adhesive label and to dispense that printed label to a user; and a controller coupled to the actuator, the clock module and the printer; wherein the controller is configured to determine the current date from said clock signal, and is responsive to the actuation signal from the actuator to control the printer to print the current date on an adhesive label and dispense said printed adhesive label to the user.
2. A device according to Claim 1, further comprising a housing within which said clock module, printer and controller are provided, the actuator being mounted in a face of the housing for actuation by a user.
3. A device according to Claim 1 or 2, comprising a screen for displaying the current date as determined by said controller.
4. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein said clock module is configured to generate a time signal indicative of the current time.
5. A device according to Claim 4, wherein said controller is configured to determine the current time from said time signal and to control said printer, in response to operation of the actuator by a user, to print the current time and the current date on said adhesive label.
6. A device according to any preceding claim, further comprising a display that is responsive to said controller to display the current date.
7. A device according to Claim 6 when dependent on Claim 5, wherein said display is responsive to said controller to display the current time.
8. A device according to any preceding claim, comprising a store for adhesive labels.
9. A device according to any of Claims 3 to 8 when dependent on Claim 2, further comprising means for attaching the housing to a support surface.
10. A device according to Claim 9, wherein said attachment means comprises one or more magnets suitable for coupling the housing to a refrigerator or freezer.
11. A refrigerator-mountable food management device, comprising: a housing; one or more magnets for attaching the housing to a refrigerator; an actuator mounted in the housing for operation by a user, the actuator being responsive to operation by a user to generate an actuation signal; a clock module provided within the housing, said clock module being configured to output a clock signal indicative of the current date; a printer provided within the housing, said printer being configured for printing the current date on an adhesive label and to dispense that printed label to a user through an opening in the housing; and a controller provided within the housing, the controller being coupled to the actuator, the clock module and the printer; wherein the controller is configured to determine the current date from said clock signal, and is responsive to the actuation signal from the actuator to control the printer to print the current date on an adhesive label and dispense said printed adhesive label to the user through the opening in the housing, said label being affixable to an opened partially consumed food item to indicate the date on which said food item was opened.
12. A food management device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.