Oh, patents! 3D printed pizza

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

How do you feed astronauts for five years, the approximate time it takes to travel to planet Mars, and back to earth?

This is the kind of problem that NASA strives to address with 3D printed food. 3D printed food is regularly prepared food that is dehydrated, and subsequently rehydrated into a paste. The paste is then used as ink for 3D printing food. 

Nothing tastier than 3D printed gummy bears and pizza in outer space! 

Tasty down on earth also…. This is the case for the NASA-funded research at Beehex, Inc., where CEO Anjan Contractor has recycled his space 3D printing technology into a 3D food printer that extrudes pizza dough, tomato sauce, and cheese, to print pizza --on earth, for commercial purposes.

Nozzles of different sizes extrude different amounts of molten food ink under pressurized air. The food prepared with 3D printers is prepared very fast – 3 minutes to extrude, 6 minutes to cook. The process is “cleaner, quicker, more efficient and consistent…”  than non-printed food. Finally, the food is customizable in ways previously unparalleled. It can be printed in any shape, using any number of customizable ingredient pastes.  

The various components of the Beehex Inc., food printer invention are recited in three recently filed US patent applications:

• US20170259482A1 - Apparatus for performing three-dimensional printing

This patent discloses the essential components of a 3D printer that can extrude various viscous materials, including edible materials like melted chocolate -- without dripping from the nozzles. The 3D printer comprises a printer cartridge, an extruder, multiple rods and screws designed to guide the extrusion of materials, and a control system designed to control both the extruder and the pneumatic (air compressor) system.

• US20180020683A1 - 3D-print system with integrated cnc robot and automatic self-cleaning mechanism

This patent addresses the issue of customizing pizza printing according to dietary health and safety constraints (e.g.; printing gluten-free crusts), and more specifically the issue of cleaning without leaving traces of micro-organisms, such as allergens or bacteria, which could contaminate food preparation. In the prior art of food systems, parts coming in contact with food are all disposable, but this is very expensive. The invention thus consists in providing a permanent and automated means of cleaning the 3D food printer, in view of preventing the formation of biofilms, and removing food residues in the tubing and on the nozzles, in a cost-effective manner.

• US20180042245A1 - System, apparatus and method for customizing and generating a 3D printed food

This patent specifically discloses the customization of pizza printing shapes and ingredients, including means for mobile communication with the 3D pizza printer. The mobile communication means enable users to send the specifics of their orders to the 3D pizza printer.

Figure 1B of the Beehex 3D food printer, extracted from the patent US20170259482A1, is included below, together with an image of the marketed Beehex 3D food printer.

References

Beehex Inc. 

http://beehex.com/

Oh, patents! Spyce’s robotic kitchen

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann 

Healthy, gourmet-quality, fast food?

Yes,  a selection of vegetarian/pescatarian, gluten-free, vegan and regular bowls, prepared fresh à la carte in three minutes or less, at Spyce’s robotic kitchen, a Boston restaurant founded by four MIT graduates. Four water-polo playing “robotics-obsessed mechanical engineers” who built the prototype of the Spyce kitchen in the basement of their fraternity house, fueled by the dream of tempting meals, served fresh daily by a robot!

At Spyce, “at the intersection of technology and hospitality”, customers select a bowl and its customization from a touchscreen menu, coaching appropriate pairings. Ingredients are then dispensed from a hopper, into a wok, where they are sautéd (tumbled and seared), and then tipped into a bowl. The bowl is then pleasantly garnished by a human employee, for an affordable sum of $7.50. After delivering a bowl, the wok is automatically sanitized clean, ready to receive the ingredients of the next order.

  

Spyce bowls not only contain fresh-sourced ingredients, elevated by robotics, the whole process is supervised by the finest chefs. Indeed, Chef Daniel Boulud is Spyce’s Culinary Director and Investor.  Likewise, Chef Sam Benson, Spyce’s  Executive Chef,  trained at the flagship Café Boulud, the award-winning, Michelin-starred, fine-dining restaurant, with locations in Boston, NY,  Washington DC, Palm Beach, Miami, Toronto, Montréal, London, and Singapore!

 

Spyce's robotic kitchen

Spyce’s robotic kitchen is disclosed in the US patent application US20170172350A1, titled Automated meal production system and apparatus. The patent recites an apparatus and automated system designed to prepare up to 300 meals per day, without human intervention. The system requires human servicing and refilling of the apparatus only once every 24 hours. The automated system comprises ingredient-holding and dispensing assemblies, including precise measuring means, and separate modules for liquids such as oil, sauces, and creams; preparation assemblies including rotating and gimbaling means, for receiving, mixing and pouring the ingredients; and convection elements for each of the preparation assemblies, designed to heat the ingredients.  Automated transfer assemblies ensure that the right ingredients from the holding and dispensing assemblies find their way to the right preparation assemblies. The preparation assemblies are also each preferably lined with Teflon™, and comprise an interior fin to facilitate mixing when the assembly rotates. The apparatus is controlled by a computer program, receiving input from the touchscreen terminals, mobile apps, or a more central system. The system also comprises weight and heat sensors to ensure consistent and safe cooking.

The abstract of the patent is included below, together with Figure 12, showing the robotic kitchen with the ingredient-holding and dispensing assemblies (204), and different positions of the gimbaled preparation assemblies (100), below the holding and dispensing assemblies (204). A picture of the actual Spyce restaurant robotic kitchen is included above, also showing the hoppers and the open face woks beneath, so that customers can see how the meals are cooked and prepared, without human intervention.

An automated kitchen system having multiple cooking and/ or mixing pots and having containers and dispensers for multiple ingredients. A customer or other person or system selects or creates a meal or other food product and the ingredients for the meal or other product are transferred from dispensers to the cooking and/or mixing pots which simultaneously cook and/or mix the ingredients. After cooking, the meal or other product is served and the cooking pot is cleaned and sanitized and oriented to receive the ingredients for the next meal or other product [Abstract US20170172350A1]. 

References

Spyce - Culinary excellence elevated by technology 

https://www.spyce.com/

Spyce bowl menu

https://www.spyce.com/menu/

Café Boulud
https://www.cafeboulud.com/

Chef Daniel Boulud

https://www.danielboulud.com/

Michelin Guide 

https://guide.michelin.com/us/chicago/dining-out/spyce-robotic-kitchen-boston-opening/news

Oh, patents! Chowbotics salad robot

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

 Her name is Sally. Sally is the Chowbotics salad-making robot!

Using a 3 x 3 footprint, Sally the Salad robot allows users to select their salad ingredients, or pre-designed salads on a touchscreen menu, prepares the user’s salad using the freshest seasonal ingredients -- previously selected and loaded into the robot’s canisters by Chef Charlie Ayers-- and dispenses the user’s salad in a bowl, at work or anywhere else where the robotic vending machine has been installed and the program implemented.

The dispensing technology is recited in the US patent application  US2017172351,  titled  Automated food making apparatus, an invention that seeks to minimize human intervention in the preparation of food, while retaining the known health benefits of a balanced and nutritious diet. 

The patent recites a carousel with a plurality of canisters, equipped with an ingredient-dispensing paddle, and the robotic mechanism designed to rotate the ingredient-dispensing paddle. The canisters are designed to dispense liquid or solid ingredients. They are also equipped with inventive sealing means, temperature control means, and inventive clips for securing and releasing them, to and from the carousel.

The abstract for Sally the Salad robot invention is included below, together with the patent figure drawing, Fig 27, showing the salad dispensing canisters with their paddle, and the mechanisms actuating the paddles. The close-up image of the marketed product shows the green dispensing paddle within two canisters filled with salad ingredients.

An automated food making apparatus is described. An automated food making apparatus can include: a carousel; a dispensing apparatus shared among a plurality of canisters on the carousel, wherein at least one canister includes a paddle; and wherein the dispensing apparatus is configured to rotate the canister's paddle to dispense ingredients stored in the canister. A dispensing mechanism for an automated food making apparatus can include: an actuator arm; a motor that is adapted to rotate the actuator arm; one or more magnets embedded in the actuator arm; and one or more sensors configured to detect position of the actuator arm; wherein the actuator arm dispenses ingredients by rotating a pin located on a canister. [Abstract US2017172351]

References

Chef Charlie Ayers

https://chefcharlieayers.com/

Chowbotics - Robots for food service

http://www.chowbotics.com/

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)*

Copyrights © Françoise Herrmann

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), is the single most widely translated document. It has been translated into 500 languages. -- including such languages as Nahuatl, Tzotzil,  Maori and Hausa.

Adopted by the United Nations Assembly on Dec. 10, 1948, The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) outlines  30 basic human rights. For example, Article 26 reads as follows:

In English

1. Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit. 2. Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace. 3. Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.

En français

1. Toute personne a droit à l'éducation. L'éducation doit être gratuite, au moins en ce qui concerne l'enseignement élémentaire et fondamental. L'enseignement élémentaire est obligatoire. L'enseignement technique et professionnel doit être généralisé; l'accès aux études supérieures doit être ouvert en pleine égalité à tous en fonction de leur mérite. 2. L'éducation doit viser au plein épanouissement de la personnalité humaine et au renforcement du respect des droits de l'homme et des libertés fondamentales. Elle doit favoriser la compréhension, la tolérance et l'amitié entre toutes les nations et tous les groupes raciaux ou religieux, ainsi que le développement des activités des Nations Unies pour le maintien de la paix. 3. Les parents ont, par priorité, le droit de choisir le genre d'éducation à donner à leurs enfants.

En español 

1. Toda persona tiene derecho a la educación. La educación debe ser gratuita, al menos en lo concerniente a la instrucción elemental y fundamental. La instrucción elemental será obligatoria. La instrucción técnica y profesional habrá de ser generalizada; el acceso a los estudios superiores será igual para todos, en función de los méritos respectivos. 2. La educación tendrá por objeto el pleno desarrollo de la personalidad humana y el fortalecimiento del respeto a los derechos humanos y a las libertades fundamentales; favorecerá la comprensión, la tolerancia y la amistad entre todas las naciones y todos los grupos étnicos o religiosos; y promoverá el desarrollo de las actividades de las Naciones Unidas para el mantenimiento de la paz. 3. Los padres tendrán derecho preferente a escoger el tipo de educación que habrá de darse a sus hijos.

Check out the 500 languages here. Choose an article and record yourself reading for the Database of voices reading the UDHR. To date (Aug 19, 2018)  1391 videos have been uploaded, in 76 languages, from 144 countries. 

References

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)

http://www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights/  

Translated into 500languagess

https://www.ohchr.org/EN/UDHR/Pages/SearchByLang.aspx

Add your voice, in your language and share the video

https://www.un.org/en/udhr-video/

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (French)

https://www.ohchr.org/EN/UDHR/Pages/Language.aspx?LangID=frn

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Spanish)

https://www.ohchr.org/EN/UDHR/Pages/Language.aspx?LangID=spn

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Nahuatl)

https://www.ohchr.org/EN/UDHR/Pages/Language.aspx?LangID=nhn

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Maori)

https://www.ohchr.org/EN/UDHR/Pages/Language.aspx?LangID=mbf

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Tzotzil)

https://www.ohchr.org/EN/UDHR/Pages/Language.aspx?LangID=tzc

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Hausa)

https://www.ohchr.org/EN/UDHR/Pages/Language.aspx?LangID=gej

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*In commemoration of World Humanitarian Day (Aug, 19, 2018 )

Oh, patents! Wueste's princess cut diamond

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

The princess cut diamond is sometimes referred to as a square/rectangular modified brilliant-cut diamond, per the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) grading reports. It may be cut as a square or a rectangle. In general, square/rectangular princess cut diamonds use more of the rough diamond than round brilliant-cut diamonds. In turn, the amount of rough diamond waste that is generated impacts pricing. 

The princess cut diamond is recited in US6745596B2, titled Princess cut diamond, granted to Robert J. Wueste. Within the long prior art of diamond cutting, where round brilliant diamond cutters are always seeking the perfect diamond geometry in view of enhancing the diamond’s most prized properties, its essential brilliance, fire and scintillation, Wueste seeks to do likewise for the princess cut. Wueste seeks to find the perfect balance of the diamond’s essential properties, increasing the number of facets, recombining the shape of the crown, girdle and pavilion and their characteristic dimensions.

Wueste’s princess cut diamond has 101 facets (including the table) as summarized in the following abstract of the patent:

A princess cut gemstone having a pavilion, a girdle, and a crown. In the presently preferred embodiment, the princess cut gemstone is a diamond with 101 facets: a pavilion of 64 facets, a girdle of 4 facets, and a crown with 33 facets (including the table). [Abstract US6745596B2]

More specifically, in the preferred embodiment,  Wueste’s princess cut diamond  “comprises 8 side crown facets, 24-star crown facets, and a table facet. The pavilion comprises 20 side pavilion facets and 44-star pavilion facets. The girdle comprises 4 girdle facets".

Typical dimension ranges of a princess cut diamond are recited per the following table, extracted from the patent. Wueste’s preferred, and recited dimension ranges, for the patented princess cut diamond, are added in a fourth column --just in case you are wondering what the differences might be.

Name	Dimension	Value range	Wueste value range
Crown height  (percentage)	Percentage of crown's height to the overall width of the diamond	-5%-15%	8%  - 14%
Table percentage	Percentage of table's, vidth to the overall width of the diamond	-56%--82%	65%-85%
Depth percentage	Ratio of the overall depth of the diamond to the overall width of the diamond	-53%--85%	62%-75%
Length-to-Width Ratio	Ratio of the overall length of the diamond to the overall width of the diamond	-1:1-1.5:1	1:1-1 – 1:3-1

The patent also recites all the preferred angles for each of the crown, girdle and pavilion facets. Wueste also notes that since these are preferred dimensions and geometries, many variations, known to those skilled in the art, also fall within the scope of the invention.

The patent figure 3B is included above. It shows a bottom view of the invention square princess cut diamond, with the 44-star cut pavillion, according to the specifications of the patent. Figure 2B of the prior art is also included below it for you to see the bottom view differences in cut between the prior art 50-faceted (table included) conventional square princess cut, and the present invention reciting Wueste's 101-faceted princess cut diamond. An image of a marketed square princess cut diamond is also included above. 

Terminology: Blood diamonds

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

The United Nations defines blood diamonds -- also termed conflict diamonds or war diamonds -- as diamonds that  "originate from areas controlled by forces or factions opposed to legitimate and internationally recognized governments, and are used to fund military action in opposition to those governments, or in contravention of the decisions of the Security Council”. 

In Resolution 55/56, dated Dec.1 2000, the UN General Assembly explicitly condoned the role that rough diamonds play in fuelling armed conflict, while clearly recognizing the critical contribution of diamonds to economic development in many countries, and the legitimacy of rough diamond production in the majority of cases. In response, the UN General Assembly committed to actively promote the Kimberley Certification Process, an African producing countries initiative to self-regulate the diamond production industry with certificates of origin.

Almost 20 years later, and at various junctions in between, the UN General Assembly has resolved to further support and strongly increase its participation in the Kimberly Certification process. According to Brilliant Earth, a well-known player in the diamond business, committed to ethically sourced fine jewelry: “seven African countries have endured brutal civil conflicts fueled by diamonds: Sierra Leone, Liberia, Angola, the Republic of Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, the Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of Congo."  

In the 2018 report titled The hidden costs of jewelry, the international NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) Human Rights Watch (HRW) examined the diamond and gold supply chain for 13 of the largest jewelry companies. HRW suggests that while large jewelry companies provide assurance that their diamonds are responsibly sourced, the companies do not generally provide information on the actual mines of origins. Indeed, the report uncovers that rough diamonds are traded many times before they are purchased by large jewelry companies. 70% are cut and polished in India due to lower costs.

Médecins sans frontières (Doctors without borders), the Nobel prize-winning nonprofit, is instrumental in documenting the devasting impact of insurgency conflicts, mentioned in UN Resolution 55/56, for example in the Kasai Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Included below, final touches to the Year 2015-2016 billboard for the Brilliant Earth Mobile Elementary School, founded by the Brilliant Earth jewelry company. The Brilliant Earth Mobile Elementary School is designed to provide an alternative to diamond seeking at the Lungudi diamond mine, for children of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kasai West Province, Lungudi Village.

Brilliant Earth Elementary Mobile School
 Lungudi Village, Kasai Province,  Democratic Republic of  Congo

References

Armstrong, P. (Dec. 5, 2011). What are “conflict diamonds? CNN https://www.cnn.com/2011/12/05/world/africa/conflict-diamonds-explainer/index.html

Brilliant Earth

www.brilliantearth.com

Brilliant Earth - Conflict diamonds - Violence

https://www.brilliantearth.com/conflict-diamond-trade/

Brilliant Earth Elementary School (Democratic Republic of Congo) 2015

https://www.brilliantearth.com/news/as-brilliant-earth-school-opens-a-surprisevisit-from-time-magazine/

Campbell, G. (2012) Blood Diamonds: Tracing the deadly path of the world’s most precious stones. NY. NY: Basic Books

Collins, N. (2010) What are blood diamonds? The Telegraph [UK]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/7928039/What-are-blood-diamonds.html

DiamondFacts.org

 http://www.diamondfacts.org/conflict-diamonds/

Human Rights Watch: The Hidden costs of Jewelry (Feb 2018)

https://www.hrw.org/report/2018/02/08/hidden-cost-jewelry/human-rights-supply-chains-and-responsibility-jewelry

Médecins sans frontières - Doctors without Borders: Testimonies from Kasai (Oct. 2017)

https://www.msf.org/democratic-republic-congo-testimonies-kasai

Time.com The fight against Blood diamonds continues (2015)

 http://time.com/blood-diamonds/ 

UN Resolution to increase participation in Kimberly Process to prevent conflict diamonds from entering the market (2017)

 https://www.un.org/press/en/2017/ga11887.doc.htm

UN General Assembly Reaffirms Strong, Ongoing Support for Kimberley Process Targeting Global Trade in ‘Blood Diamonds’, by One of Four Resolutions (2010)

 https://www.un.org/press/en/2010/ga11039.doc.htm

UN: The role of diamonds fueling conflict

 http://www.un.org/en/ga/62/plenary/diamonds/bkg.shtml

UN General Assembly urges states to implement measures to weaken link between diamond trade and weapons for rebel movements (Dec.1, 2000)

 https://www.un.org/press/en/2000/20001201.ga9839.doc.html

UN General Assembly Resolution 55/56 (Jan 29, 2001): The role of diamonds in fuelling conflict: breaking the link between the illicit transaction of rough diamonds and armed conflict as a contribution to prevention and settlement of conflicts

 http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/55/56

Oh, patents! Wueste's brilliant-cut diamond

Copyright Françoise Herrmann

Robert J. Wueste's brilliant-cut diamond invention is recited in the lapsed US utility patent US6698239, titled Brilliant-cut diamond and method of forming thereof. 

The Wueste brilliant-cut diamond patent recites a varying number of facets. Per the abstract of the patent, the number of facets depends on how the facets are counted -- including or excluding the table;  in reference to the crown, or to both the pavilion and the crown.  Thus, for example, the brilliant-cut patent recites a preferred embodiment comprising a crown with 56 facets (excluding the table), and 114 facets including the pavilion. Whereas in another preferred embodiment, the patent recites a crown comprising with 64 facets (excluding the table) and 122 facets including the pavilion, per the following:

A brilliant-cut gemstone having a pavilion, a girdle, and crown is disclosed. The pavilion of the gemstone has 56 facets: specifically, 8 lower diamond-shaped facets, 16 middle kite-shaped facets, and 32 upper triangular facets. The girdle and table may be formed of one or more facets. In one preferred embodiment, the total number of crown facets (excluding the table) is 56, making a total of 114 facets (including the table). In another preferred embodiment, the total number of crown facets (excluding the table) is 64, making a total of 122 facets (including the table). [Abstract US6698239]

According to Wueste, the brilliant-cut sets the standard for diamond cuts, and accounts for 75% of diamonds sold worldwide. The brilliant-cut is also used for different sorts of gemstones, but it is specifically recited for diamonds in this patent.  

The patent discloses the significance of a diamond cut, which impacts the diamond’s appearance, giving it brilliance, fire and scintillation. Thus, the number of facets of a diamond is significant because facets can increase the brilliance of a diamond. The brilliance of a diamond is “how much it shines”. Brilliance is a function of the refractive index of diamonds, which is the highest of all gemstones, and of the geometry of the cut, which can maximize the amount of light reflected back out through the crown of the diamond, after it has entered the pavilion, through the table. Once light is reflected, it disperses into the seven rainbow colors of the visible light spectrum, resulting in what is called the fire of a diamond, also facilitated by the angle of the facets. Scintillation is the glittering effect of reflected light, when there is movement (of the diamond or the observer), in turn, a function of the size, cut, polish, and angle accuracy of the facets.

The theory of diamond optics, or of the impact of diamond cutting on the desirable characteristics of brilliance, fire and scintillation, is usually traced back to Marcel Tolkowsky’s Ideal Cut.  An Ideal Cut whose proportions were presented, in 1919, in a book titled Diamond Design:  A Study of the Reflection and Refraction of Light in a Diamond, itself part of Tolkowsky’s doctoral dissertation on diamond grinding, at the University of London. A book, which in turn would inform the American Gem Society (AGS) Standards for grading and evaluating diamonds, according to 4Cs: Cut, Color, Clarity and weight in Carats.

Notwithstanding the scientific optical foundation of diamond cutting, with explicit proportions and an Ideal Cut standard, diamond cutters are always striving to exceed the Tolkowsky-inspired AGS standards -- increasing the number of facets, and varying the angles at which the facets are cut, using new tools to streamline the process.  Robert J. Wueste’s brilliant-cut, as recited in US6698239, is no exception.  An ever more brilliant, scintillating and fiery diamond will always be needed.


The included extracted patent figures show a top view of the crown (fig. 3B) and a bottom view of the pavilion (fig. 2A) of one embodiment of Wueste's brilliant-cut diamond, together with the image of a brilliant-cut diamond. 

Reference

Tolkowsky, M. (1919) Diamond design: A Study of the Reflection and Refraction of Light in a Diamond.

http://www.folds.net/diamond_design/index.html

Oh, patents! My girl™ diamond cut

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Yair Shimansky's 8-sided square-cut diamond with a diamond-shaped table, and a faceted pavilion which also reflects light, is trademarked the My girl™ diamond cut.

The Shimansky My girl™ diamond cut was granted US Design patent USD490741, titled Gemstone. As a reminder :

“a utility patent” protects the way an article is used and works (35 U.S.C. 101), while a “design patent” protects the way an article looks (35 U.S.C. 171) [MPEP Chapt. 1502.01; [R-07.2015]].

The included patent figure 1 shows a top view of the diamond-shaped table. The patent Figure 2 shows the faceted edges of the pavilion from the bottom of the gemstone. Included below, the image of a marketed My girl™ cut diamond. 

References
Shimansky

http://www.shimansky.com/

MPEP – Chapt. 1502-01 – Distinction between design and utility patent

https://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpep/s1502.html