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Title:
SMART FOOD TROLLEY AND ASSOCIATED SMART KIT
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2023/180851
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
Smart food trolley (100) adapted to improve the line of services and products and optimize the distribution/supply performances, by constantly monitoring the amount of food and beverages contained therein and provided with passive RFID labels; comprising: body (10), adapted to be easily transported by means of a system of wheels (24), engaged in the lower part; said body (10) being internally divided into a plurality of compartments (20); central server adapted for containing the information of the offered products; central server provided with a database containing the 3D renderings of said products; compartments (20) acting as support surface for the products; said compartments (20) being internally provided with a Lidar camera (30) and a RFID reader (31); Lidar camera (30), being connected to the Raspberry Pi computer and to the database of the central server, adapted for scanning the products contained within said compartments (20) in a manner such to identify the precise product and the respective quantity.

Inventors:
SANSUINI DENIS (IT)
Application Number:
PCT/IB2023/052262
Publication Date:
September 28, 2023
Filing Date:
March 09, 2023
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
CIMAS S R L (IT)
International Classes:
B62B3/00
Domestic Patent References:
WO2018092119A12018-05-24
Foreign References:
US20140333190A12014-11-13
US20140316916A12014-10-23
US11195159B12021-12-07
GB2561527A2018-10-24
JP5918950B22016-05-18
CN210942303U2020-07-07
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
FIAMMENGHI, Eva et al. (IT)
Download PDF:
Claims:
LEIBO./2e2023 Claims 1. A smart food trolley (100) for improving the line of services and products and for the optimization of distribution/supply performances, by constantly monitoring the amount^ of food and beverages contained therein, which are equipped in advance with passive RFID labels, said smart food trolley (100) being characterized in that it comprises: - at least a body (10) whose shape is inscribable in a parallelepiped, which is preferably made of metal and is adapted for containing and protecting the products inside it; said body (10) being adapted to be easily transported thanks^ to a system of wheels (24) engaged in the lower part; said body (10) being internally divided into a plurality of compartments (20); - at least a Raspberry Pi computer, engaged inside said body (10) and connected to the electrical components, which is configured to allow network connections and/or Bluetooth connections to additional external devices and/or^ to a central server; - said central server adapted for containing information about the products positioned on said smart food trolley (100); said central server being provided with a database including the 3D renderings of said products; - said compartments (20) adapted to act as a support surface for one or more of^ said products, and said compartments (20) are internally provided with a Lidar camera (30) and an RFID reader (31); - said Lidar camera (30), which is connected to said Raspberry Pi computer and to said central server database, is adapted for scanning the products contained in said compartments (20), in such a way as to identify a precise product and^ the respective quantity, i.e. the number of product items, by using the 3D data from said database; wherein said Lidar camera (30) is adapted for sending a restocking request to said central server, through said Raspberry Pi computer, LEIBO./2e2023 in the case it determines the lack of a certain product and/or when the latter is close to being out of stock, so as to provide useful data for quickly planning restocking actions; - said RFID reader (31) is adapted for reading said passive RFID labels applied^ on said products when these are introduced and/or taken out of said compartments (20), thereby increasing the detection precision of said products contained in the compartments; wherein said RFID reader (31) being adapted to store the data related to the product expiration date in such a way as to warn, by means of said Raspberry Pi computer, said central server, in order to^ allow the planning of a possible replacement of the product; - a plurality of LED strips (32) engaged in proximity to each said compartments (20) and connected to said Raspberry Pi computer, which are adapted for indicating, by means of different colors, the state of the products contained, such as the presence/absence of specific products; ^ - at least a closure system (12), which is engaged and hinged on said body (10) and is adapted for hermetically sealing the compartments (20); - at least a removable tray (11), which is engaged in the upper part of said body (10) by means of a magnetic system and is adapted to allow the transportation/delivery of said products to the respective consumer after their^ removal from the compartments (20); - at least a refrigeration system engaged inside said compartments (20) and configured to preserve freshness of the products contained therein and guarantee their correct preservation; - at least a microwave compartment (21) engaged inside said body (10),^ accessible through an openable and reclosable door (25), and adapted for heating certain products; said microwave compartment being equipped with a shelf (22) for the products, on which said products to be heated are put, and LEIBO./2e2023 being further equipped with an air intake system (23) so as to insure a correct operation; - at least an energy supply system engaged on said body (10) and connectable to electric outlets, adapted for supplying energy to the electrical components;^ wherein said energy supply system is adapted for recharging an auxiliary battery; - at least an auxiliary battery, as already mentioned, which is internally engaged in said body (10), suitable to provide, when charged, electric energy to the electrical components when the energy supply system is disconnected. ^ 2. A smart food trolley (100) according to the preceding claim 1, characterized in that said system of wheels (24) is implemented with a locking system configured to stop the movement of said wheels (24), and in that said locking system can be activated manually, and in that said locking system is configured to be automatically activated^ when said wheel system (24) is subjected to a sudden and abrupt movement, such as an emergency breaking and/or in case of turbulences. 3. A smart food trolley (100) according to the preceding claims 1 and 2, characterized in that it comprises a fingerprint reader engaged on the surface of said body (10) and^ connected to said Raspberry Pi computer, which is adapted for allowing the release/unlocking, and the closing, of said closure system (12) and of said openable and reclosable door (25), using a fingerprint registered in advance; wherein said fingerprint reader collects biometric data that have been registered in advance in said Raspberry Pi computer and/or in the central server. ^ 4. A smart food trolley (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a removable waste compartment, which is engaged on the surface LEIBO./2e2023 of said body (10), and adapted for containing any waste that results from the consumption of said products. 5. A smart food trolley (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized^ in that said Lidar camera is configured to implement and to update said central server database, through a 3D scanning of the products which are still not present in the database and which are introduced for the first time in the compartments (20). 6. A smart food trolley (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized^ in that said removable tray (11) is shaped in such a way to have an upper antislip surface, adapted to allow safe transport of said products. 7. A smart food trolley (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said removable tray (11) is shaped in such a way that it can receive further^ removable trays (11), stacked on each other. 8. A smart food trolley (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shape of said body (10) allows putting smart food trolleys (100) side-by- side, in series, thereby optimizing the storage space. ^ 9. A smart food trolley (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it can be stacked with other additional smart food trolleys (100) after removing said removable tray (11), thereby optimizing still further the storage space. ^ 10. A kit associated with a smart food trolley (100) characterized in that it comprises: - at least a smart food trolley (100) according to any one of the preceding claims; LEIBO./2e2023 - at least a smart menu (200) connected to the Raspberry Pi computer of said smart food trolley (100) and supplied to the clients, comprising a plurality of pages (201), wherein said pages (201) contain information items and QR codes (203) related to the products contained in said smart food trolley (100)^ and at least a LED (201) for each of said information items, in order to indicate, based on different colors, the availability or non-availability of said products; - at least a reader (300) supplied to an operator and connected to said Raspberry Pi computer, said reader being adapted for scanning said QR codes (203) of^ the products and being suited to send a signal to said LED strips (32), in order to activate the LED strip associated with the compartment (20) containing the product that has been scanned, thereby allowing the operator to immediately identify the product to be served. ^ 11. A kit associated with a smart food trolley (100) according to the preceding claim 10, characterized in that said QR codes (203) are scanned by means of mobile devices which were previously connected to said Raspberry Pi computer, in such a way as to permit to immediately order the scanned products.
Description:
LEIBO./2e2023 “Smart food trolley and associated smart kit” Description ^ Field of the art The present invention operates in the field of production of food trolleys for the transport food and beverages, specifically a trolley that uses smart technologies which improve the line of services and products and optimize the distribution performances. Still more specifically, the present invention proposes a smart food trolley formed by a plurality of^ shelves, which receive the offered products, provided with a Lidar camera and a RFID reader adapted to constantly monitor the amount of food and beverages present at the interior. Prior art In recent years, with the continuous development of the transportation industry, vehicles,^ such as airplanes and trains, became increasingly part of the daily life of each of us. Such large-size vehicles not only make the transfer of people more comfortable, but they also allow ensuring the offered services, presenting products that can satisfy widely-varying tastes. The meals of the passengers and crew members, of airplanes and trains, are entirely prepared^ by the personnel of the food supplier company on the ground, and then they are distributed and restocked each time, by means of suitable food trolleys. Up to today, numerous technological evolutions have been proposed, which improve several components of the same trolley. One example is that provided by the patent application JP5918950B2. The patent claims a^ food-warmer trolley for the transport of food and beverages, formed by a plurality of shelves adapted to receive food and beverages, and provided with heating means for heating food and beverages on each shelf. The device then provides for a microwave irradiation system, LEIBO./2e2023 used as heating means, while the internal surface of each shelf is formed by a microwave reflecting material. In particular, the microwave irradiation system, installed in each shelf, is arranged at the center and on the left and right sides of each of these. Another example is provided by the patent application CN210942303U by WANG^ WEIZHANG, CHEN SHAODONG, CHEN YUE and FU YONG. This patent implements the trolley with a device for waste collection. The trolley comprises a body, a trolley, a lifting mechanism and a catering cabinet. According to the utility model, the meal deposit area, in this case of the airplane, and the waste recycling device are arranged in the catering cabinet and the dividing plate is arranged in a fixed manner between the waste recycling^ device and the meal deposit area of the airplane; the movable doors are hinged to the front end and to the rear end of the waste recycling device. A rubber seal ring is arranged in a fixed manner at the contact part of the movable door and of the waste recycling device; the waste recycling device can be effectively separated from the introduction area for the airplane meal; in this manner, the waste is prevented from coming into contact with the^ aircraft air; at the same time, a negative pressure fan is positioned in a fixed manner in the upper part of the waste recycling device; the odor generated by the waste can be discharged after having been subjected to triple filtration and removal of the odors, due to: an active carbon filter, a PP cotton filter for the odor removal and a HEPA filter, in a manner such that it forms an independent air circulation system assembly. Such invention ensures food safety^ and facilitates disclosure and promotion. Such technological advancements are in any case far from the great problem that afflicts such systems, especially with regard to the restocking and the freshness of the offered products. Object of the present patent application is that of overcoming the abovementioned problems,^ by proposing an innovative smart food trolley, connected to a central server containing all the information regarding the products, capable of exploiting the Lidar technology of the camera and the RFID systems in combination in order to have a constant updating on the LEIBO./2e2023 products contained in the trolley and program in real time the precision of the restocking operations, saving considerable time and ensuring the absolute freshness of the offered products. ^ Description of the According to the present invention, an innovative food trolley is provided with multiple smart functions which advantageously improves the line of services and products and optimizes the distribution/supply performances, due to the real-time monitoring of the amount of food and beverages contained therein and equipped in advance with passive RFID^ labels. The invention still more advantageously reduces the times tied to the distribution logistics programming due to the presence of a Raspberry Pi computer, installed at the interior and connected with a central server of the company. Such central server not only contains all the basic information of the products offered by the^ smart food trolley, but it is further implemented by a database containing the 3D renderings of the products. This implementation is advantageously useful for the operation of the Lidar cameras, engaged within the compartments of the device of the present patent application: each Lidar camera, being connected to the Raspberry Pi computer and, consequently, to the database of^ the central server, effectively scans the products contained at the interior in a manner such to identify the precise product and the respective quantity by using the 3D data contained in said database. Still more advantageously the Lidar camera has as function that of sending a restocking request to the central server in the case it determines the lack of a certain product and/or when this is out of stock, in a manner so as to provide useful data for quickly^ planning the restocking actions. In one of the preferred embodiments, the Lidar cameras can implement and update said database by means of the 3D scanning of products still not present in the same database and LEIBO./2e2023 inserted for the first time in the compartments of the trolley. In detail, the invention has a body, with the shape of a parallelepiped and made of resistant metal, which contains and protects the products at the interior, since it is internally divided into a plurality of compartments. Due to a system of wheels, engaged in the lower part, the^ body can be easily maneuvered and transported. In one of the preferred embodiments, the system of wheels is preferably implemented with a locking system configured to stop the movement of said wheels: said system can be manually activated or, still more advantageously, be automatically activated when said system of wheels sustains a sudden and abrupt movement, such as an emergency breaking^ and/or in case of turbulences. The particular shape of the body also allows the flanking in series of multiple smart food trolleys, thus optimizing the storage space. The abovementioned compartments inside the body act as support surface for one or more products and are each internally provided with not only the Lidar camera, discussed above,^ but also with a RFID reader. The RFID reader reads the passive RFID labels previously placed on the products, as soon as these are introduced and/or taken out of said compartments, considerably increasing the detection precision of the contained products; in addition, simultaneously, the RFID reader effectively stores the data relative to the expiration date of said products in such a way as to^ warn, by means of said Raspberry Pi computer, said server allowing the company to plan the possible replacement of the product. In proximity to each compartment, a LED strip is engaged, and such LEDs indicate, by means of different colors, the state of the contained products, such as the presence/absence of specific products by using the data collected by means of the Raspberry Pi computer.^ Within the compartments, a refrigeration system is engaged that is configured to preserve freshness and guarantee the correct preservation of the contained products. Due to a closure system, engaged and hinged on said body at the compartments, the hermetic LEIBO./2e2023 sealing thereof is ensured. Within the body, a microwave compartment is also engaged, accessible by means of an openable and reclosable door, which allows, according to the requirements, heating certain products. ^ The invention is completed with a removable tray, preferably engageable in the upper part of the body by means of a magnetic system. The tray allows the transportation/delivery of said products selected by the client, once taken out of said compartments; the tray is effectively shaped in a manner such to have an upper antislip surface allowing a safer transport of the products. In one of the preferred embodiments, the tray is preferably shaped such to receive,^ on the upper part, further said removable trays stacked on each other. Upon removal of said removable tray, the invention can be stacked with further smart food trolleys, further optimizing the storage space. The electricity necessary for the operation of the invention and the recharging of an auxiliary battery are advantageously ensured by an energy supply system, engaged on the body and^ connectable to electric outlets; in addition, due to an auxiliary battery, engaged inside, the electrical components are power supplied therefrom when the energy supply system is not connected and the battery is charged. In one of the preferred embodiments, the invention comprises a fingerprint reader, engaged on the surface of the body and connected to said Raspberry Pi computer, which can^ preferably allow the release/unlocking of said closure system and said openable and reclosable door by means of fingerprint registered in advance; said fingerprint reader obtains the biometric data registered in advance by said Raspberry Pi computer and/or said central server. Finally, the invention can be advantageously provided with a removable waste compartment,^ engaged on the surface of the body, adapted for containing possible waste obtained from the consumption of the products. The advantages offered by the present invention are evident in light of the description made LEIBO./2e2023 up to now and will be even clearer due to the enclosed figures and to the relative detailed description. ^ The invention will be described hereinbelow in at least a preferred embodiment by way of a non-limiting example with the aid of the enclosed figures, in which: - FIGURE 1 shows a section illustrating the internal components of a smart food trolley 100 according to one embodiment of the present patent application; - FIGURE 2 illustrates a perspective view of a smart food trolley 100 according to one^ embodiment of the present patent application; - FIGURE 3 shows a perspective view of a kit associated with a smart food trolley 100 according to one embodiment of the present patent application, composed of a smart menu 200 and a reader 300. ^ Detailed description of the invention The present invention will now be illustrated as a merely exemplifying and non-limiting or non-binding embodiment, with reference to the figures which illustrate several embodiments relative to the present inventive concept. With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the components of smart food trolley 100 according to the^ present invention are shown, adapted to improve the line of services and products and optimize the distribution/supply performances, by constantly monitoring the amount of food and beverages contained therein, which have been equipped in advance with passive RFID labels. In particular, FIG. 1 shows the internal components of the smart food trolley 100 according to the present invention; FIG. 2 shows all the components of the smart food trolley^ 100, when the closure system 12 is partially open. The invention comprises a body 10, with the shape of a parallelepiped and made of metal, adapted for containing and protecting the products at the interior. Due to the presence of a LEIBO./2e2023 system of wheels 24, engaged in the lower part, the body 10 is easily transportable on any surface. In addition, the body 10 is internally divided into a plurality of compartments 20. Within the body 10, a Raspberry Pi computer is engaged, which is connected to the electrical components of the invention, and allows network connections and/or Bluetooth connections^ with other external devices and/or with a central server. The central server of the company contains all the information regarding the offered products and present within the smart food trolley 100. The central server is also provided with a database containing the 3D renderings of said products. The previously-mentioned compartments 20 not only act as support surface for one or more^ of said products, but are also internally provided with a Lidar camera 30 and a RFID reader 31 each. The Lidar camera 30, being connected to said Raspberry Pi computer and to said database, scans the products contained within the compartments 20 in a manner such to identify the precise product and the respective quantity by using the 3D data of said database; in the case^ it determines the lack of a certain product and/or when this is out of stock, said Lidar camera 30 sends a restocking request to said central server, by means of said Raspberry Pi computer, in a manner so as to provide useful data for quickly planning the restocking actions. The precision of the quantitative data is implemented by the RFID reader 31, which reads the passive RFID labels applied on said products, when these are introduced and/or taken out of^ said compartments 20. The RFID reader 31 also allows storing data relative to the expiration date of said products in such a way as to warn, by means of said Raspberry Pi computer, said central server in order to allow the planning of a possible replacement of the product. In proximity to each of the compartments 20, and engaged on the surface of the body, LED strips 32 are present which - being connected to the Raspberry Pi computer - by means of^ different colors indicate the state of the contained products, such as the presence/absence of specific products. Engaged and hinged on said body 10, there is a closure system 12, adapted for hermetically LEIBO./2e2023 sealing said compartments 20: this allows optimizing the operation of the refrigeration system, the latter engaged internally in said compartments 20, and configured to preserve freshness and guarantee the correct preservation of said contained products. Above said body, by means of a magnetic system, a removable tray 11 is engaged which^ allows – according to the requirements - the transportation/delivery of said products, once taken out of said compartments 20. The invention also comprises a microwave compartment 21, engaged inside the body 10 and accessible by means of an openable and reclosable door 25, which allows heating certain products. The microwave compartment 21 is characterized by a shelf for the products (22),^ on which the products to be heated are to be placed, and an air intake system (23) so as to ensure a correct operation. An energy supply system, engaged on said body 10 and connectable to electric outlets, power supplies the electrical components and recharges an auxiliary battery. The latter, engaged inside said body 10, supplies – when charged - electrical energy to the electrical^ components when said energy supply system is not connected, ensuring the operation of all the components even when the trolley is transported. FIG. 3 shows the components relative to a kit associated with the smart food trolley 100 according to the present patent application. Such kit comprises at least a smart menu 200, connected with the Raspberry Pi computer of^ the smart food trolley 100 described above, which is supplied to the clients. The smart menu 200 is formed by a plurality of pages 201 containing information and QR codes 203 relative to the products contained and displayed in said smart food trolley 100, and an LED 201 for each said information piece adapted to identify, based on different colors, the availability or non-availability of said products. ^ Further component of the associated kit is a reader 300, supplied to the to the Raspberry Pi computer. Such reader 300 is adapted for scanning said QR codes 203 of the products and for sending a signal to the LED strips 32 of the smart food trolley 100, LEIBO./2e2023 activating that associated with the compartment 20 in which the scanned product is contained, allowing the operator to have an immediate identification of the product to be served. The QR codes 203 can also be scanned through mobile devices, previously connected with said Raspberry Pi computer, in such a way as to permit to immediately order^ said scanned products. Finally, it is clear that modifications, additions or variations that are obvious for the man skilled in the art can be made to the invention described up to now, without departing from the protective scope that is provided by the enclosed claims.