US-20260127558-A1 - NETWORK-CONNECTED APPARATUS PROMOTING ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE PROCESSING AND DISPOSITION OF ORGANIC MATTER

Abstract

Embodiments disclosed herein provide various systems and methods for obtaining organic matter data related to the processing of food matter and mixed organics in an organic matter processing apparatus. The organic matter data can include, for example, mass values, water content values, timestamps, account numbers, other quantifiable metrics, and other identifying information. The organic matter data can be used according to many different embodiments. For example, in one embodiment, the organic matter data can be provided to a central system that processes the data for use by a third party such as a matter collector or an end user of output produced by the organic matter processing apparatus. In another embodiment, organic matter data can be presented to a user of the organic matter processing apparatus.

Inventors

• Matthew Lee Rogers
• Harry E. Tannenbaum
• Adam Mittleman
• Scott Smithline
• Jaideep Singh Chavan
• Saket Vora
• SHAYAN SAYADI
• Alyssa Noelle Pollack
• Geoffrey Becker Hill

Assignees

• Mill Industries, LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20251230

Claims (18)

1. 1 . A method for operating an organic matter processing apparatus (OMPA) comprising a bucket, a mass sensing system, communications circuitry, and a processor, the method comprising: initially calibrating the mass sensing system in response to a bucket insertion event such that bucket mass is tared; and after the bucket is inserted into the OMPA and the mass sensing system has been initially calibrated: measuring mass of the bucket with the calibrated mass sensing system in response to a lid open event; adding the measured mass to the total mass added value; executing organic matter processing to convert OMPA input contained in the bucket into OMPA output; obtaining mass values of the bucket with the calibrated mass sensing system during an active cycle of the organic matter processing or at an end cycle of the organic matter processing; obtaining water content values within the OMPA during the active cycle of the organic matter processing or at the end cycle of the organic matter processing; performing calculations based on the mass values and the water content values; incorporating the calculations, mass values, and water content values into an organic matter data set; and transmitting the organic matter data set to a central system.
2. 2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: temporarily stopping at least one component of the active cycle of the organic matter processing; obtaining mass values of the bucket with the calibrated mass sensing system during temporary stoppage of the least one component; obtaining water content values within the OMPA during temporary stoppage of the least one component; wherein the performing calculations is based on mass values and water content values obtained during temporary stoppage of the least one component; wherein the organic matter data set comprises the mass values, water content values, and calculations obtained during temporary stoppage of the least one component; and restarting the stopped at least one component.
3. 3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the at least one component comprises a grinding mechanism.
4. 4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein after the bucket is inserted into the OMPA and the mass sensing system has been initially calibrated, the method further comprising: in response to a lid open event, temporarily stopping the active cycle of the organic matter processing prior to measuring the mass value of the bucket.
5. 5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: monitoring conditions within the OMPA; and adjusting calibration of the mass sensing system based on the monitored conditions.
6. 6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: transmitting the organic matter data set at period intervals to the central system.
7. 7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: transmitting the organic matter data set in response to a request from the central system or a remote device communicating with the OMPA via the communications circuitry.
8. 8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: selectively resetting a total mass added value and a total water removed value when the bucket is removed from and re-inserted into the OMPA; adding the mass values to the total mass added value; using water values to determine the total water removed value; and including the total mass added value and the total water removed value in the organic matter data set.
9. 9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: obtaining an end mass value from the mass sensing system when all OMPA output has been converted to OMPA output and the bucket is ready for removal from the OMPA; obtaining an end water content value when the bucket contains OMPA output and is ready for removal from the OMPA; including the end mass value and the end water content value into the organic matter data set.
10. 10 . A method for operating an organic matter processing apparatus comprising a bucket, a mass sensing system, communications circuitry, and a processor, the method comprising: determining a tare weight of the bucket when the bucket is re-inserted into the organic matter processing apparatus; using the tare weight to calibrate the mass sensing system; recording a mass value of the bucket using the mass sensing system in response to an open lid event; starting an active cycle of organic matter processing; during the active cycle of organic matter processing: recording mass values using the mass sensing system; and recalibrating the mass sensing system to compensate for sensor drift of the mass sensing system; and stopping the active cycle of organic matter processing.
11. 11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising: performing an initial calibration of the mass sensing system at a factory with the bucket installed; and storing calibration settings in the memory of the OMPA.
12. 12 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising: detecting whether inorganic matter has been added to the OMPA; stopping the active cycle of the organic matter processing when inorganic matter is detected; alerting a user of the presence of the inorganic matter in the OMPA.
13. 13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the sensor drift is caused by heat generated by the OMPA during the active cycle.
14. 14 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising: including the recorded mass values in an organic matter data set; and transmitting the organic matter data set to a central system via the communications circuitry.
15. 15 . A method for operating an organic matter processing apparatus (OMPA) comprising a lid, a bucket, a mass sensing system, communications circuitry, and a processor, the method comprising: monitoring weight of the bucket using the mass sensing system; and in response to detecting a step change loss of weight of the bucket: locking the lid; and alerting a user of the OMPA that the step change loss of weight was detected.
16. 16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein in response to detecting the step change loss of weight of the bucket, the method further comprises stopping operation of an active cycle of organic matter processing.
17. 17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the step change loss in weight is caused by a tip over event that causes the OMPA to begin tipping over or has tipped over.
18. 18 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising: detecting whether the OMPA is standing on an uneven surface; and alerting the user when the OMPA is detected to be standing on the uneven surface.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/897,457, filed Aug. 29, 2022, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/239,852, filed Sep. 1, 2021, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/314,087, filed Feb. 25, 2022, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein in their entireties. TECHNICAL FIELD This patent specification relates to systems and methods for communicating organic matter data, and more particularly to obtaining organic matter data from an organic matter processing apparatus and communicating the organic matter data. BACKGROUND The terms “waste management” and “matter disposal” may be used to refer to the activities required to manage generation, transport, treatment, and disposal of waste loads or matter, together with monitoring the process to ensure compliance with related ordinances, rules, and laws. Waste loads can include any combination of matter such as food matter, mixed organics, yard waste, recyclables, and inorganics. Landfills represent the oldest form of waste management. When food matter is deposited in landfills, the food matter degrades into methane—a powerful greenhouse gas—without oxygen. These harmful emissions can be avoided by diverting food matter from landfills. Some countries have even made legislative efforts to reduce the amount of food matter that ends up in landfills. South Korea, for example, passed a law in 2013 that not only required food matter be discarded in biodegradable bags, but also imposed a fee based on the weight of food matter to be discarded. Collection agencies such as city, municipality, county, or private contractors typically collect waste loads according to a fixed schedule. The collection agencies follow this schedule irrespective of whether bins are full or not. When the waste load is collected, it is weighed in bulk, and assumptions are made as to contents of the waste load. For example, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides percentage estimates for a given load of waste. As a specific example, the EPA states that thirty percent of a waste load may contain organic matter. This is a crude and inaccurate way to measure the composition of a waste load. With promulgation of laws requiring proper disposal of food matter and a general desire to eliminate climate altering gasses such as methane, there is a need for an improved way to determine composition of waste loads and to provide incentives to handle food matter differently. BRIEF SUMMARY Embodiments disclosed herein provide various systems and methods for obtaining organic matter data related to the processing of food matter and/or mixed organics in an organic matter processing apparutus (hereinafter “OMPA”). The OMPA can convert organic inputs into a ground and selectively desiccated product. The organic matter data can include, for example, mass values, water content values, timestamps, account numbers, other quantifiable metrics, and other identifying information. The organic matter data can be used according to many different embodiments. For example, in one embodiment, the organic matter data can be provided to a central system that processes the organic matter data for use by a third party such as a matter collector or an end user of the ground and selectively desiccated product. In another example, the organic matter data can be presented to a user of the OMPA. A further understanding of the nature and advantages of the embodiments discussed herein may be realized by reference to the remaining portions of the specification and the drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1A shows a graphical illustration of a matter generation and remediation cycle according to an embodiment. FIG. 1B shows illustrative matter management flow paths according to an embodiment. FIG. 1 includes a high-level illustration of an OMPA in accordance with various embodiments. FIG. 2A includes a perspective view of an OMPA that includes a lid in a closed position. FIG. 2B includes another perspective view of the OMPA with the lid in an open position. FIG. 3A includes a perspective view of an OMPA without its bezel to illustrate one possible location for the exhaust hood that extends over an intake vent. FIG. 3B illustrates how, when the bezel is installed in the OMPA, air in the processing chamber can flow underneath the bezel into a space above the edge of the receptacle and then downward through the used-air intake vent. FIG. 4A includes isometric front and rear perspective views of an OMPA processor where the durable housing is transparent to show additional details. FIG. 4B includes a conceptual diagram that identifies possible locations for different types of sensors. FIG. 5 includes a perspective view of a processing chamber that comprises a receptacle (also referred to as a “bucket”) designed to fit securely within the durable housing of an organic matter processing apparatus. FIG. 6 in