SMART FREEZER FOR ORGANIZING BREAST MILK STORAGE BAGS
An apparatus and method for organizing breast milk storage bags, comprising a refrigerated enclosure, a vertical carousel automated conveyor having a plurality of racks rotating around it vertical axis with such racks partitioned in a plurality of compartments wherein the breast milk storage bags are placed, a main door that allows access to the whole arrangement and a secondary door that allows easy access to one rack for retrieving or storing breast milk storage bags, such secondary door includes a load sensor and a plurality of light sources that indicates in which slot the desired bag is located. The apparatus further includes a control panel with a User Interface and employs an algorithm that selects the breast milk storage bags according to the desired ounces sorting them by nearest expiration date and keeping track of the breast milk inventory database which is able to be accessed through a mobile app.
This application is being filed as a non-provisional patent application under 35 U.S.C. §111(b) and 37 CFR §1.53(c). This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §111(e) to U.S. Provisional Pat. Application Serial No. 63/232,947 filed on Aug. 13, 2021, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention generally relates to the field of perishable food storage systems. More in particularly, but not exclusively, to an automated storage and retrieval system that freezes and organizes breast milk storage bags inside a refrigerated compartment.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONBreast milk provides the ideal nutrition for infants. It has a nearly perfect mix of vitamins, protein, and fat, and it’s all provided in a form more easily digested than infant formula. Breast milk contains antibodies that help the infant fight off viruses and bacteria, it also lowers the risk of having asthma or allergies and overall hospitalizations and visits to the doctor.
In recent times, new trends have emerged to facilitate the task of breastfeeding and ensure the availability of breast milk whenever the infant needs it. Among these alternatives, the main method available to modern parents are milk banks, which consist of storing manually expressed breast milk in disposable bags in a general purpose freezer.
The main benefit of this method is to guarantee a permanent stock of breast milk for the infant, which allows the mother to comply with work, social and even medical commitments with the peace of mind that the infant will receive the valuable nutrients it needs for its proper growth.
However, this storage method means having to sacrifice a lot of freezer space and even, in most cases, it’s necessary to acquire a dedicated freezer for only storing the breast milk bags. Each bag takes up an average of six ounces of breast milk, and can be kept frozen for up to four months. On average, a newborn consumes between 19 to 30 ounces of breast milk per day, which means that, for a week of breastfeeding, it is necessary to store more than 30 bags, an amount that takes up almost all of the freezer space of most consumer refrigerators.
Furthermore, each breast milk bag needs to be manually labeled with the date it was filled. This means that the user must spend time reviewing each bag until the desired number of ounces with the closest expiration date is found. This frustrating process can take several minutes, is time consuming for the user, draws attention from the infant, and wastes energy keeping the freezer open.
Currently, there are no commercial solutions that provide a smart storage system for breast milk bags, forcing millions of mothers and fathers around the world to devise improvised solutions to make it easier to organize the breast milk bags and cope with the frustrating process of sorting them manually.
Given this problem, there is a need for a smart freezer with an automated storage and retrieval organization system that facilitates the daily task of feeding the infant, providing a simple and fast interface that allows to select the amount of ounces of breast milk desired and carry a precise tracking of the available stock based on the breast milk bags closest to expiring, getting to a solution that involves not sacrificing refrigerator space, protecting breast milk bags from tearing, and being space and energy efficient.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is generally directed to an apparatus and method for organizing breast milk storage bags. More particularly, the design and implementation of a smart freezer with an automated storage and retrieval system is provided. The apparatus contains a refrigerated enclosure with a vertical carousel automated conveyor having a plurality of racks rotating around it vertical axis with such racks partitioned in a plurality of compartments wherein the breast milk storage bags are placed. An algorithm selects the breast milk storage bags according to the desired amount sorting them by the nearest expiration date and keeping track of the breast milk inventory.
The general design of the smart freezer and organizer apparatus will determine the efficacy of the invention and thus a basic statement of the main features and design attributes is warranted.
In one embodiment of the invention a smart freezer apparatus for organizing breast milk storage bags is provided, comprising a refrigerated enclosure able to reach freezing temperatures with a main insulated door that seals the refrigerated compartment, further including a vertical carousel type automated conveyor having a plurality of racks rotating around it vertical axis, with such plurality of racks partitioned in a plurality of compartments wherein the breast milk storage bags are placed in a vertical, horizontal or side position.
Furthermore, the invention optionally comprises a pivot mechanism with a pivot hub located offset from the center of mass on both lateral sides of the racks wherein a scissor links assembly is embedded and a guide link with a roller on it end is attached to the distal end of the hub.
The invention also optionally includes a drive mechanism on both lateral sides of the vertical carousel type automated conveyor comprising a set of drive roller chains wherein the scissors links are attached in specific links at a fixed distance, a set of driver sprockets connected through a shaft wherein the drive roller chains engages, a set of driven sprockets wherein the drive roller chains are supported and an electric motor with a reduction ratio assembly that powers the unit.
Moreover, the invention also optionally comprises a motion guide mechanism comprising a fixed track guide on both lateral sides of the vertical carousel type automated conveyor wherein the guide links engages preventing the racks to swing back and forth.
The invention also optionally includes a secondary insulated door located at the front face of the apparatus comprising a drop-down mechanism that allows limited access to the insides of the refrigerated enclosure, further including a load sensor for weighting the breast milk storage bags and a plurality of light sources that indicates in which rack’s compartment the desired breast milk storage bag is located.
Also, the invention optionally comprises a built-in control panel with a Flat-Panel Display comprising a user interface for controlling the apparatus.
In another embodiment of the invention a smart freezer apparatus for organizing breast milk storage bags is provided, comprising a refrigerated enclosure able to reach freezing temperatures with a main insulated door that seals the refrigerated compartment, including a vertical carousel type automated conveyor having a plurality of racks rotating around it vertical axis, wherein the breast milk storage bags are stacked in a vertical, horizontal or side position.
The apparatus also optionally includes a pivot mechanism comprising a pivot hub located on the center of mass on at least one of the lateral sides of the racks wherein a scissor links assembly is embedded and at least one guide link with a roller on it end is attached to the distal end of the hub.
Moreover, the invention optionally comprises a drive mechanism on at least one of the lateral sides of the vertical carousel type automated conveyor comprising a set of drive roller chains wherein the scissors links are attached in specific links at a fixed distance, a set of driver sprockets connected through a shaft wherein the drive roller chains engage, a set of driven sprockets wherein the drive roller chains are supported and an electric motor with a reduction ratio assembly that powers the unit.
In addition, in this embodiment the invention optionally includes a motion guide mechanism comprising a fixed track guide on at least one of the lateral sides of the vertical carousel type automated conveyor wherein the guide links engages preventing the racks to swing back and forth.
This embodiment further optionally comprises a secondary insulated door located at the front, rear or lateral faces of the apparatus comprising a swing mechanism that allows limited access to the inside of the refrigerated enclosure, further including a load sensor for weighting the breast milk storage bags and a plurality of light sources that indicates in which rack’s compartment the desired breast milk storage bag is located. The apparatus also includes, in this embodiment, a built-in control panel with a Flat-Panel Display comprising a user interface for controlling the apparatus with a touchscreen function.
In another embodiment of the invention, the apparatus comprises a sliding secondary insulated door. Also, in another embodiment of the invention provided is a built-in control panel with a display comprising a user interface for controlling the apparatus with a plurality of physical action buttons, or touch-enabled virtual buttons.
In another embodiment of the invention a protective window (transparent, semi-transparent, or opaque) that prevents the user from reaching inside the refrigerated enclosure when the vertical carousel automated conveyor is operating is provided. Conversely, in another embodiment of the invention a protective cover (transparent, semi-transparent, or opaque) for the plurality of compartments partitions in each rack is included.
Furthermore, in another aspect of the invention, a method for retrieving breast milk storage bags from the smart freezer apparatus is provided, comprising the steps (a) initializing the processor, sensors, controllers, compressor and motors of the apparatus, (b) user selecting to retrieve a breast milk storage bag from the control panel, (c) user indicating the desired ounces (d) selecting the desired breast milk storage bags according to the nearest expiration date (e) vertical carousel automated conveyor rotating until the rack that contains the desired breast milk storage bag is exposed to the secondary door, (f) notifying user that the secondary door can be opened, (g) activating the plurality of light sources indicating in which slot the desired breast milk storage bag is located, (h) waiting for user to close the secondary door as confirmation of breast milk storage bag retrieval, (i) evaluating if all breast milk storage bags where retrieved, (j) If not, repeating de process, (k) if yes, notifying the user the retrieval process is done, (1) finalizing the method.
In another aspect of the invention, a method for storing breast milk storage bags from the smart freezer apparatus is provided, comprising the steps (a) initializing the processor, sensors, controllers, compressor and motors of the apparatus, (b) user selecting from the control panel to storage a breast milk storage bag, (c) asking user if decides to manually input the ounces of the breast milk storage bag, (d) If yes, user proceeding to indicate how many ounces does the breast milk storage bag contains, (e) if not, placing the breast milk storage bag on the load sensor, (f) vertical carousel automated conveyor rotating until a rack that contains an empty slot is exposed to the secondary door, (g) notifying user that the secondary door can be opened, (h) turn on light sources indicating the empty slot where the desired breast milk storage bag can be placed, (i) waiting for user to close the secondary door as confirmation of breast milk storage bag being placed, (j) evaluating if all breast milk storage bags where stored, (k) if not, repeating de process, (l) if yes, notifying the user the storing process is done, (m) finalizing the method.
Finally, in another aspect of the invention, the disclosed apparatus further comprises one or more processors, sensors, drivers and controllers adapted to control the overall function of the electromechanical components of the apparatus, a memory adapted to store a data base of the breast milk storage bags inventory and consumption rates and the algorithm, a communication module that enables the data sharing between the apparatus and the built-in control panel or external devices, an algorithm that saves the location of each breast milk storage bag and selects them by ounce requirement sorting them by nearest expiration date and a user interface for directing the one or more processors, drivers and controllers to perform the breast milk storage bags storage or retrieval procedures in accordance with the preset instructions and the algorithm stored in the memory.
Additional details regarding the operation of the disclosed apparatus and method are included in the following description which includes non-limiting embodiments of certain aspects of the invention.
The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are schematic, and not to scale, wherein:
The following table provides, for ease of reference, a listing of all reference numbers shown in the accompanying figures and the corresponding elements.
This description illustrates certain aspects of the invention, and specific embodiments thereof, in greater detail. This description is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather to inform and teach the person of skill in the art who will come to appreciate more fully other aspects, equivalents, and possibilities presented by the invention. The scope of the invention is set forth in the claims, which alone limit its scope.
The embodiments are set forth in the following description and in the attached figures. One skilled in the art will understand that the present invention may be practiced without using all of the details described herein. Moreover, in the description that follows, it is understood that the figures related to the various embodiments are not to be interpreted as conveying any specific or relative physical dimension, and that specific or relative dimensions related to the various embodiments, if stated, are not to be considered limiting unless recited in the claims.
Provided is an electromechanical device that comprises an automated vertical carousel type storage and retrieval system operating inside a refrigerated enclosure able to reach freezing temperatures for organizing breast milk storage bags. The present invention is described in detail in the following examples, which may represent more than one embodiment of the invention. A main representation of the smart freezer apparatus for organizing breast milk storage bags is shown in
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In another aspect of the invention,
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It will be apparent to one with skill in the art that the smart freezer apparatus for organizing breast milk storage bags of the invention may be provided using some of all of the mentioned features and components without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It will also be apparent to the skilled artisan that the embodiments described above are specific examples of a single broader invention which may have greater scope than any of the singular descriptions taught. There may be many alternations made in the descriptions without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The scope of the present invention should, therefore, be determined only by the following claims
Claims
1. A freezer for organizing breast milk storage bags comprising:
- a refrigerated enclosure adapted to reach freezing temperatures that further includes a compressor, an evaporator, a blowing fan, one or more temperature sensors, a controller configured to control the start and shut down of the compressor and a main insulated door that seals the refrigerated compartment;
- a vertical carousel type conveyor having two sides and a plurality of racks rotating around its vertical axis, each of the plurality of racks partitioned into a plurality of compartments adapted to receive breast milk storage bags;
- at each rack, a pivot mechanism comprising a pair of pivot hubs located offset from the center of mass on each side of the rack, an embedded scissor links assembly on each hub, and a guide link with a roller on it end is attached to the distal end of each hub;
- a drive mechanism in the vertical carousel type conveyor, the drive mechanism comprising two or more drive roller chains each comprising a plurality of chain links, wherein the scissors links are attached to chain links at a fixed distance, two or more driver sprockets connected through a shaft wherein the drive roller chains engages the two or more driver sprockets, and an electric motor assembly that drives the driver sprockets;
- a motion guide mechanism comprising a fixed track guide on both sides of the vertical carousel type conveyor adapted to engage the guide links to preventing the racks from swing back and forth.
- a secondary insulated door comprising a drop-down mechanism adapted to provide access to the inside of the refrigerated enclosure, further including a load sensor adapted to weighing the breast milk storage bags;
- a plurality of light sources that indicates in which of the plurality of compartments a selected breast milk storage bag is located; and
- a control panel with a display adapted to provide a user interface for controlling the apparatus.
2. The freezer for organizing breast milk storage bags of claim 1, further comprising:
- an enclosure protective cover that prevents a user from reaching inside the refrigerated enclosure when the vertical carousel conveyor is rotating.
3. The freezer for organizing breast milk storage bags of claim 2, further comprising:
- One or more compartment protective covers adapted to prevent a user from reaching inside a corresponding compartments partitions.
4. The freezer for organizing breast milk storage bags of claim 3, further comprising:
- one or more processors, sensors, drivers, and controllers adapted to control the overall function of the electromechanical components of the apparatus;
- a memory adapted to store preset instructions, and a database of breast milk storage bag contents, filling date, expiration date, and/or weight;
- a communication module adapted to enable sharing of data with one or more external devices;
- a user interface for directing the one or more processors, drivers and controllers to perform breast milk storage bags retrieval or storage procedures in accordance with the preset instructions.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 12, 2022
Publication Date: Aug 10, 2023
Inventors: David Gruszka de los Rios (Sunny Isles Beach, FL), Gilberto Antonio Román Balcone (Barcelona), José Gerardo de Jesús Sánchez Marín (Lecheria), Simón Antonio Díaz Abad (Barcelona), Jósedavid Manzanares Arroyave (Puerto la Cruz)
Application Number: 17/819,363