Patent Publication Number: US-2020288906-A1

Title: Semiautonomous apparatus for distribution of edible products, and respective operation process

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention refers to the field of semiautonomous systems comprising own locomotion means, for preparing edible products, in particular beverages, and distribution of other food products. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There are known systems of distribution of edible products, notably beverages, by means of apparatuses adapted for processing portions, in particular in the form of capsules comprising a precursor edible substance. Said systems comprise fluid pressurization means, optionally also fluid heating means, and portion collection devices so as to inject a pressurized flow and to collect a beverage downstream of said portion. 
     Moreover, the prior art includes several solutions relating to mobile devices adapted for distribution of edible products. 
     Documents WO 2008/063403 A2 and EP 2868243 A1 disclose trolleys for distribution of food and beverages. Said trolleys require exterior locomotion power, in particular being pushed by users thereof. 
     There are further known solutions of autonomous systems for distribution of edible products. 
     Documents EP 1946684 B1 and WO 2015/120384 A1 discloses autonomous machines for distribution of food and beverages that include self-propulsion and locomotion means. 
     In case of document EP 1946684 B1 there is disclosed an autonomous mobile robotic device that comprises a coffee machine integrated in autonomous manner and that operates automatically without requiring any external influence, with exception of a beverage request by a consumer. 
     In case of document WO 2015/120384 A1, the system comprises at least one self-propelled apparatus and a set of sensors operatively related with the control system of apparatus and for interacting with a user. In particular, said control is configured so that can position a self-propelled apparatus at a given geographic position within a geographic limit boundary, observing by means of a set of sensors at least one consumer within the autonomy range of the apparatus, moving towards the location of user where an interaction between the apparatus and the consumer is facilitated. 
     However, none of the documents in the prior art discloses a solution that improves the conditions of ergonomic use with relation to the self-propelled displacement movement and cycles of preparation of edible products based upon single portions. 
     Moreover, there is a need for providing a favourable operation manner of this type of autonomous systems for distribution of edible products, in particular with casual intervention by the users both in the displacement process and in the process of preparation of edible product. That is, for example, without resource to systems for automatically loading capsules into beverage brewing devices. 
     General Description of the Invention 
     The objective of the present invention is to provide a semiautonomous apparatus for preparation and distribution of edible products, in particular beverages, comprising pressurized flow circulation means and a product preparation device, for example a device adapted for brewing coffee and other aromatic beverages, adapted for collecting a portion of edible substance, for example provided in a capsule or similar, and providing a more efficient and more ergonomic operation. 
     The aforementioned objective is attained according to the present invention by means of an apparatus according to claim  1 . 
     The semiautonomous apparatus according to the present invention can move automatically by means of autonomous propulsion and locomotion means, supplied by energy storage means, and includes a control device adapted so that only actuates at least one of: pressurized circulation means and said product preparation device, in case having data relating to the non-operation of said autonomous propulsion and locomotion means, so that said apparatus cannot start a cycle of preparation of product if it is moving, and vice-versa. 
     Moreover, the semiautonomous apparatus according to the present invention presents said propulsion and locomotion means that comprise at least one of: two driving wheels adapted so as to propel the locomotion of at least another wheel, preferentially of two other wheels; at least one and at most four omnidirectional wheels, so that the apparatus can rotate on itself at a location and can reverse the displacement direction or change the displacement direction without needing to do curves. 
     According to a preferred embodiment, said control device is adapted so that can exchange data by means of at least one of: a short-range communications device, such as for example of type Bluetooth, or similar, and a long-range communications device, of the type 3G, 4G, or similar. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to provide a process of preparation and distribution of edible products including at least one semiautonomous apparatus in more efficient manner. 
     The aforementioned objective is attained according to the present invention by means of a process according to claim  13 . 
     In a preferred embodiment of the process, data relating to the determination by a control device of the energy supply to each one of said subsystems are collected by means of surroundings recognition means including image recognition means. 
     It is further preferred when each cycle of preparation of edible product, further comprises at least one of the steps:
         introduction by the user of a to be used portion through first opening;   optionally, selection by the user of a to be used portion, preferentially by means of said use interface;   selection by the user of at least one beverage parameter, preferentially by means of said use interface.       

     It is preferred when the process according to the invention further includes the steps:
         placement by the user of a beverage recipient upon said second opening;   retention of said beverage recipient on a previously defined position upon said second opening.       

     It is further preferred when the process further includes the steps:
         actuation by the user of said use interface, preferentially of a “start”-type command, so that the propulsion and locomotion means provide movement and the semiautonomous apparatus moves.       

    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       The present invention shall now be explained in greater detail based upon preferred embodiments and upon the attached figures. 
       The Figures show, in schematic representations: 
         FIG. 1 : side view of a first embodiment of an apparatus ( 1 ) according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2 : top view of the apparatus ( 1 ) according to  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3 : side view of a second embodiment of an apparatus ( 1 ) according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 4 : top view of the apparatus ( 1 ) according to  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5 : top view of a first operation space for an apparatus ( 1 ) according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 6 : top view of a second operation space for an apparatus ( 1 ) according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 7 : flux diagram of a first embodiment of a process of operation of an apparatus ( 1 ) according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 8 : flux diagram of a second embodiment of a process of operation of an apparatus ( 1 ) according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     A semiautonomous apparatus ( 1 ) according to the present invention basically comprises, in the case of a first embodiment (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ), a subsystem for preparation of edible products and a subsystem for autonomous propulsion and locomotion, whereby the operation of both of said subsystems is controlled by a control device ( 8 ), or by respective control devices ( 8 ) in operative connection with each other. 
     A casing ( 3 ) presents a general parallelepiped-like form that confines inside thereof at least one brewing device ( 4 ) adapted so that can collect a portion ( 2 ) of edible substance. Besides of said brewing device ( 4 ), the subsystem for preparation of edible products further comprises fluid heating and pressurization means ( 9 ) that supply a pressurized flow to said brewing device ( 4 ). 
     Moreover, said semiautonomous apparatus ( 1 ) presents autonomous propulsion and locomotion means ( 5 ), surroundings recognition means ( 6 ) and use interface means ( 7 ) provided in operational connection with a control device ( 8 ). 
     According to an inventive aspect, said control device ( 8 ) is provided so that the operation of said brewing device ( 4 ) and of said propulsion and locomotion means ( 5 ) is mutually exclusive, so that said apparatus ( 1 ) cannot provide edible products while being moved by respective propulsion and locomotion means ( 5 ). 
     Moreover, it is preferred when said control device ( 8 ) is provided so that the start of operation of at least one of said pressurized flow circulation means and said brewing device ( 4 ), requires an input external to said semiautonomous apparatus ( 1 ) and a confirmation of the state of immobilization of said semiautonomous apparatus ( 1 ). 
     It is preferred when said control device ( 8 ) is provided so that a start of operation of at least one of said pressurized flow circulation means and brewing device ( 4 ), and of said propulsion and locomotion means ( 5 ), requires the actuation by a user of a respective start command by means of said use interface ( 7 ). 
     It is preferred when said semiautonomous apparatus ( 1 ) further comprises surroundings recognition means ( 6 ) provided in data connection with a control device ( 8 ), whereby said surroundings recognition means ( 6 ) present an optical recognition disposition, preferentially a digital camera, oriented along at least one observation direction so that can optically recognize at least one of: a surrounding space and a user, preferentially previously defined, and provide respective recognition data to said control device ( 8 ). 
     It is further preferred when said control device ( 8 ) is configured so that said autonomous propulsion locomotion means ( 5 ) can move the semiautonomous apparatus ( 1 ) if there is at least one of:
         request of edible product by a consumer received through wireless communication means, and   recognition of a previously defined user, preferentially by means of facial recognition, by means of said surroundings recognition means ( 9 ).       

     According to a preferred embodiment, said propulsion and locomotion means ( 5 ;  51 ,  52 ) comprise at least one of:
         two drive wheels adapted so as to propel locomotion to at least another wheel, preferentially to two other wheels;   at least one and up to four omnidirectional wheels, so that the apparatus can turn on itself on the same location and can reverse the displacement direction or change the displacement direction, without needing to make curve.       

     According to another inventive aspect (see  FIG. 2 ), said casing ( 3 ) presents a first and second service regions ( 31 ,  32 ) on its top region, whereby said first service region ( 31 ) presents a first opening ( 11 ) configured so that provides the introduction of said portion ( 2 ), as well as a second opening ( 12 ) adapted so that provides discharge of resulting edible product. Said first and second openings ( 11 ,  12 ) are preferentially provided on a continuous plane, preferentially devoid of cavities and projection, that extends along at least most part, preferentially the totality of said top region. 
     Said second service region ( 32 ) develops in the vicinity of said first region ( 31 ), preferentially in the front region of said casing ( 3 ), and presents at least one use interface ( 7 ), preferentially provided as a tactile interactive screen and including at least the control commands of the subsystem of preparation of edible products, including a “start” command. 
     It is preferred when said second service region ( 32 ) further presents surroundings recognition means ( 6 ) provided as optical means adapted for image recognition ( 6 ), whereby at least two of said surroundings recognition means are preferentially provided in side regions of said second service region ( 32 ). 
     It is preferred when said first and second service regions ( 31 ,  32 ) develop along a parallel plane, preferentially along a substantially common plane, or at an angle that does not exceed 45°, preferentially does not exceed 30°. 
     Said casing ( 3 ) can further present a third service region ( 33 ) adapted for storage of other edible products, preferentially with supply connection to said product preparation device ( 4 ), whereby said third service region ( 33 ) is provided with a physical separation from said first and second service regions ( 31 ,  32 ), preferentially a physical separation adapted so that reduces the heat transfer to said third service region ( 33 ). 
     It is preferred when said third service region ( 33 ) develops on a second portion of casing ( 3 ) in-between and in the vicinity of said first and second service regions ( 31 ,  32 ), so that results an easier use of the semiautonomous apparatus ( 1 ). 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  represent a second preferred embodiment of semiautonomous apparatus ( 1 ) according to the present invention. 
     As represented, said casing ( 3 ) in this case comprises a first module that presents said first and second service regions ( 31 ,  32 ) and a second module separated but physically connected with said first module, and that presents said third service region. 
     Moreover, said first module of casing ( 3 ) in this case confines all the elements relating to the subsystem of preparation of edible products based upon single portions ( 2 ) of edible substance, for example provided in capsules, as well as a first and second energy storage devices ( 14 ,  16 ). 
     Said propulsion and locomotion means ( 5 ) comprise propulsion device ( 51 ), preferentially electric motors, and locomotion elements ( 52 ), preferentially wheels, whereby at least part of said locomotion elements ( 52 ) is directly associated to a respective propulsion device ( 51 ). 
     Said autonomous propulsion and locomotion means ( 5 ;  51 ,  52 ) are adapted so that can be supplied with energy from energy storage means ( 14 ,  16 ), whereby said energy storage means ( 14 ,  16 ) are provided physically separated, preferentially in liquid-tight manner, from said subsystem of preparation of edible products, and in at least one of: in-between and at a lower level than said collection container ( 13 ) for used portions and fluid supply container ( 15 ). 
     It is preferred when said energy storage means ( 14 ,  16 ) are provided so that can be accessed through a lateral region of said casing ( 3 ), preferentially by means of a door-like element, or similar, provided on said casing ( 3 ). 
     As previously referred, the semiautonomous apparatus ( 1 ) according to the present invention can present a casing ( 3 ) that comprises a first module of casing ( 3 ) provided physically separated from, and physically connectable to, a second module of casing ( 3 ), whereby said first and second modules of casing ( 3 ) present a similar general configuration, preferentially of parallelepiped type, and whereby said first and second service regions ( 31 ,  32 ) are provided on said first module of casing ( 3 ), and said third service region ( 33 ) is provided on said second module of casing ( 3 ). 
     Said casing ( 3 ) can comprise a first module of casing ( 3 ) that presents all autonomous propulsion means ( 51 ), whereby said first and second modules of casing ( 3 ) present respective locomotion means ( 52 ). 
     Said casing ( 3 ) can comprise a first module of casing ( 3 ) that presents all said energy storage means ( 14 ,  16 ), said fluid supply disposition ( 9 ) and said brewing device ( 4 ). 
     It is preferred when said first and second energy storage means ( 14 ,  16 ) are provided in a physically separated compartment that develops underneath and contained within the vertical projection of said first and second service regions ( 31 ,  32 ). 
     According to a preferred embodiment, said product discharge ( 12 ) is provided on said first service region ( 31 ), and adapted so that can discharge a product flow along a generally vertical upwards direction, whereby it is preferred when said product discharge ( 12 ) provided a cavity adapted for actionable retention of a beverage recipient, preferentially a beverage recipient with a configuration adapted so that can be retained on said product discharge ( 12 ). 
     It is further preferred when said fluid supply disposition ( 9 ) is arranged at a lower level with relation to said service regions ( 31 ,  32 ) and above said autonomous propulsion and locomotion means ( 5 ;  51 ,  52 ). 
     The semiautonomous apparatus according to the present invention includes a casing ( 3 ), said casing ( 3 ) further confines a fluid supply disposition ( 9 ) provided flow upstream with relation to said brewing device ( 4 ), whereby said fluid supply disposition ( 9 ) comprises at least one of: a fluid heating device, for example of thermobloc type, boiler, and a fluid pressurization device, for example of the pump type. 
     Said casing ( 3 ) can present a generally parallelepiped, cylindrical shape, or other, configuring a top area that extends at all width and all length at the highest level of said casing ( 3 ), said top area comprising a plurality of service regions ( 31 ,  32 ) distributed in coherent manner in the top area of said casing ( 3 ). 
     Said service regions ( 31 ,  32 ) can include a first service region ( 31 ) adapted for preparing a beverage and that presents at least one first opening ( 11 ) configured so that provided the introduction of said portion ( 2 ) and supply thereof to said brewing device ( 4 ), and at least a second opening ( 12 ) configured for beverage discharge along a vertical upwards direction, through a base region and inside of a beverage recipient, and a second service region ( 32 ) adapted for support of said use interface ( 7 ), whereby said service regions ( 31 ,  32 ) are provided adjacent and so that define a continuous surface, preferentially without presenting projections. 
     It is preferred when at least one of, preferentially both of, said first and second service regions ( 31 ,  32 ) develop in the highest plane of said semiautonomous apparatus ( 1 ). 
     It is preferred when at least one of said first and second service regions ( 31 ,  32 ) develop along at least one of: a substantially horizontal plane and an oblique plane presenting an inclination smaller than 45° relative to the horizontal. 
     Moreover, said first and second service regions ( 31 ,  32 ) can develop along a parallel plane, preferentially along a substantially common plane, or at an angle that does not exceed 45°, preferentially that does not exceed 30°. 
     It is preferred when at least one of said first and second service regions ( 31 ,  32 ) develops on a top region at least in the proximity of a first edge of said casing ( 3 ). 
     It is further preferred when the vertical projection of said first and second service regions ( 31 ,  32 ) develops above a collection compartment ( 13 ) for used portions and, preferentially at least partially above of a fluid supply container ( 15 ), whereby both of said containers ( 13 ,  15 ) are provided so that can be removed and placed from a lateral face of said casing ( 3 ). 
     Said casing ( 3 ) can further present a third service region ( 33 ) adapted for storage of other edible products, whereby said third service region ( 33 ) is provided with a physical separation from said first and second service regions ( 31 ,  32 ), preferentially a physical separation that reduces the heat transfer to said third service region ( 33 ). 
     It is preferred when said third service region ( 33 ) develops on an region of said casing ( 3 ) opposite to that of said first and second service regions ( 31 ,  32 ). 
     It is preferred when said second ( 32 ), first ( 31 ) and third ( 33 ) service regions develop successively along the longitudinal extension of the top region of said casing ( 3 ). 
     It is preferred when said casing ( 3 ) further presents a fourth service region ( 34 ) adapted for storage of said portions ( 2 ), whereby said fourth service region ( 34 ) is provided as at least one of: as a region on the top surface of said casing ( 3 ) and as an interior space, with lateral or frontal access through said casing ( 3 ). 
     According to another inventive aspect, schematically represented in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , said control device ( 8 ) is provided so that can register product requests without requiring the actuation of a stop command of said propulsion and locomotion means through said use interface ( 7 ). Moreover, said control device ( 8 ) is further provided so that the semiautonomous apparatus ( 1 ) moves in at least one of:
         with a previously defined trajectory along an operation path (A), preferentially in closed circuit,   within a previously defined operation space (B), whereby it is preferred when there is provided a base station ( 10 ) on said operation path (A) and/or operation space (B), or in the proximity thereof. Said base station ( 10 ) is adapted so that can provide charging of said energy storage means ( 14 ,  16 ).       

     This type of disposition provides advantages in terms of operation efficiency and reliability, adjusted to the needs of distribution of edible products in different types of situations. 
     According to another inventive aspect (see  FIG. 7 ), a process of operation further includes for each displacement of the semiautonomous apparatus ( 1 ):
         previous confirmation by a control device ( 8 ) that a cycle of preparation of edible product is not on-going, for example that energy is not being supplied to said subsystem of preparation of edible products;   energy supply to said propulsion and locomotion means ( 5 ;  51 ,  52 );       

     and, for each cycle of preparation of edible product, includes the steps:
         previous confirmation by a control device ( 8 ) that a displacement of said semiautonomous apparatus ( 1 ) is not on-going, for example that energy is not being supplied to said subsystem of propulsion and locomotion;   insertion by the user of to be used portion ( 2 ) through a first opening ( 11 );   actuation by the user of said use interface ( 7 ), preferentially of a “start”-like command, so that the brewing device is actuated ( 4 ) and the supply of resulting edible product through a second opening ( 12 ) is concluded.       

     According to a preferred embodiment (see  FIG. 8 ), stopping said semiautonomous apparatus ( 1 ) is attained upon user&#39;s request, including by recognition by said surroundings recognition means ( 6 ) of a previously defined user, or recognition of previously defined data. 
     It is further preferred when each cycle of preparation of edible product, in particular a beverage, requires manual placement of the beverage recipient on a respective beverage discharge ( 12 ) provided on said first service region ( 31 ), followed by an automatic retention of the beverage recipient on said beverage discharge ( 12 ), so that beverage discharge upwards through the base of said beverage recipient can be initiated thereafter. After conclusion of the beverage discharge, the mechanic retention of the beverage recipient can be automatically removed so that a user can remove it. 
     Lisbon, 12 Oct. 2018