Claims:CLAIMS
I/We Claim:
1. A method for preparation of a disposable leaf plate (132), wherein the method comprising steps of:
cleaning dry “Palash” leaves (100a-100n) under a tap water by adding a first pre-defined quantity of an available chlorine solution for removing contaminants from the dry “Palash” leaves (100a-100n);
pulverizing the cleaned dry “Palash” leaves (100a-100n) by using a “Palash” leaves pulverizer (102) to obtain a “Palash” leaf powder (114);
adding a second pre-defined quantity of a rice starch (116) and a third pre-defined quantity of a Carboxy Methyl Cellulose (CMC) (118) as a binder to a container (112) having the “Palash” leaf powder (114) to form a first mixture;
adding a fourth pre-defined quantity of neem leaves extract (120) and a fifth pre-defined quantity of Tulsi leaves extract (122) into the first mixture to obtain a second mixture; and
placing a sixth pre-defined quantity of the second mixture into a dishware mould (124) to prepare the disposable leaf plate (132) of a pre-defined shape.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a step of removing an excess water from the cleaned dry “Palash” leaves (100a-100n) by placing the cleaned dry “Palash” leaves (100a-100n) under a fan air for a first pre-defined time interval.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a step of adding a pre-defined amount of water to a jar (106) of the “Palash” leaves pulverizer (102) during a pulverization of the cleaned dry “Palash” leaves (100a-100n).
4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the jar (106) of the “Palash” leaves pulverizer (102) is having a capacity of 1000 grams.
5. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the pre-defined amount of water is 20 percent of a weight of the dry “Palash” leaves (100).
6. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a step of evaluating a moisture content of the second mixture by operating a vacuum oven at a first pre-defined temperature for a second pre-defined time interval.
7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the prepared disposable leaf plate (132) is a wet disposable leaf plate of a first pre-defined thickness.
8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first pre-defined thickness of the prepared disposable leaf plate (132) is in a range of 2.8 Millimeters (mm) to 3.2 Millimeters (mm).
9. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a step of drying the prepared disposable leaf plate (132) by operating a hot air oven (130) at a second pre-defined temperature for a third pre-defined time interval.
10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the disposable leaf plate (132) obtained after the drying, is having a second pre-defined thickness in a range of 1.3 Millimeters (mm) to 1.7 Millimeters (mm).
Date: 24 March, 2021
Place: Noida
Dr. Keerti Gupta
Agent for the Applicant
(IN/PA-1529)
, Description:FORM 2

THE PATENT ACT 1970
(39 of 1970)
&

THE PATENTS RULES, 2003

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10, and rule 13)

METHOD FOR PREPARATION OF DISPOSABLE LEAF PLATES

APPLICANT(S)
NAME: DAMARLA RAMESH BABU
NATIONALITY: INDIAN
ADDRESS: S R ENGINEERING COLLEGE, ANANTHASAGAR (V), HASANPARTHY (M), WARANGAL, TELANGANA 506371

The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed

BACKGROUND
Field of Invention
[001] Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a biodegradable product and particularly to a method for preparation of a disposable leaf plate.
Description of Related Art
[002] Disposable plates made from a plastic such as, a polythene, a polypropylene, a polystyrene, and so forth pose health risks due to a release of toxic chemicals into a food during a usage. The usage of such disposable plates not only depletes fossil fuels, but also causes a microplastic pollution. Therefore, in order to overcome aforementioned issues, the disposable plates made from plant leaves has been used for serving the food in auspicious occasions such as, weddings, temples, pujas, and so forth. Such disposable leaf plates are renewable, biodegradable and enriched with antioxidants.
[003] In a conventional method, the plant leaves such as “Modugaku leaves” were stitched to prepare the disposable leaf plates. Such leaf plates are familiar in earlier days for a consumption of the food, however, due to stitching errors, a thin stick could stick in a mouth of a user, thereby forced the user to stop eating in such plates. Also, such leaf plates are unhygienic due to a non-treatment of the plant leaves before their usage. Moreover, the leaf plates are very light in weight and can break easily, due to which the leaf plates cannot be held by the user in hands while in a buffet system.
[004] There is thus a need for an advanced and more-effective method for the preparation of the disposable leaf plate that can administer the drawbacks faced by the conventional method.
SUMMARY
[005] Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide a method for preparation of a disposable leaf plate, wherein the method comprising steps of: cleaning dry “Palash” leaves under a tap water by adding a first pre-defined quantity of an available chlorine solution for removing contaminants from the dry “Palash” leaves; pulverizing the cleaned dry “Palash” leaves by using a “Palash” leaves pulverizer to obtain a “Palash” leaf powder; adding a second pre-defined quantity of a rice starch and a third pre-defined quantity of a Carboxy Methyl Cellulose (CMC) as a binder to a container having the “Palash” leaf powder to form a first mixture; adding a fourth pre-defined quantity of neem leaves extract and a fifth pre-defined quantity of Tulsi leaves extract into the first mixture to obtain a second mixture; and placing a sixth pre-defined quantity of the second mixture into a dishware mould to prepare the disposable leaf plate of a pre-defined shape.
[006] Embodiments of the present invention may provide a number of advantages depending on its particular configuration. First, embodiments of the present application provide a method that use natural dry leaves as an ingredient for making disposable biodegradable leaf plates, thereby avoiding a use of plastics or synthetic plastics that are not biodegradable.
[007] Next, embodiments of the present invention provide a method for preparation of biodegradable leaf plates that contains anticancer, antidiabetic and anti-oxidant properties.
[008] Next, embodiments of the present invention provide a method for preparation of hygienic leaf plates that is having a heat resistant property that helps in serving a hot food.
[009] Next, embodiments of the present invention provide a method for preparation of hygienic leaf plates that is having a strong breaking strength that enables a user to hold the leaf plates in hands.
[0010] These and other advantages will be apparent from the present application of the embodiments described herein.
[0011] The preceding is a simplified summary to provide an understanding of some embodiments of the present invention. This summary is neither an extensive nor exhaustive overview of the present invention and its various embodiments. The summary presents selected concepts of the embodiments of the present invention in a simplified form as an introduction to the more detailed description presented below. As will be appreciated, other embodiments of the present invention are possible utilizing, alone or in combination, one or more of the features set forth above or described in detail below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The above and still further features and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of embodiments thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and wherein:
[0013] FIG. 1A illustrates dry “Palash” leaves, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 1B illustrates a “Palash” leaves pulverizer, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 1C illustrates a container having food ingredients used in a preparation of a disposable leaf plate, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 1D illustrates a top view of a dishware mould, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 1E illustrates a hot air oven, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0018] FIG. 2 depicts a flowchart of a method for the preparation of the disposable leaf plate, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0019] The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used throughout this application, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words “include”, “including”, and “includes” mean including but not limited to. To facilitate understanding, like reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate like elements common to the figures. Optional portions of the figures may be illustrated using dashed or dotted lines, unless the context of usage indicates otherwise.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] The following description includes the preferred best mode of one embodiment of the present invention. It will be clear from this description of the invention that the invention is not limited to these illustrated embodiments but that the invention also includes a variety of modifications and embodiments thereto. Therefore, the present description should be seen as illustrative and not limiting. While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, it should be understood, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.
[0021] In any embodiment described herein, the open-ended terms "comprising," "comprises,” and the like (which are synonymous with "including," "having” and "characterized by") may be replaced by the respective partially closed phrases "consisting essentially of," consists essentially of," and the like or the respective closed phrases "consisting of," "consists of, the like.
[0022] As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” designate both the singular and the plural, unless expressly stated to designate the singular only.
[0023] FIG. 1A illustrates dry “Palash” leaves 100a-100n (hereinafter referred to as the dry “Palash” leaves 100), according to an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the dry “Palash” leaves 100 may be “Modugaku” leaves. In another embodiment of the present invention, the dry “Palash” leaves 100 may be “Butea monosperma” leaves. The dry “Palash” leaves 100 may be used for preparing a disposable leaf plate 132 (as shown in FIG. 1E) as the dry “Palash” leaves 100 may have anticancer properties and anti-diabetic properties. The disposable leaf plate 132 may be a disposable plate of any pre-defined shape that may be prepared to serve any type of food items such as, but not limited to, a rice, a dal, a curd, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the food items. Further, the pre-defined shape of the disposable leaf plate 132 may be, a round shape, a square shape, an oval shape, a cloud shape, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the shape of the disposable leaf plate 132, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0024] Further, the disposable leaf plate 132 may be a biodegradable leaf plate and may be composed to manure, thereby avoids a wastage. The dry “Palash” leaves 100 may be collected from “Palash” trees, in an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the dry “Palash” leaves 100 may be thoroughly cleaned under a tap water to remove contaminants such as, but not limited to, foreign materials, biological residues, and so forth from the dry “Palash” leaves 100. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the contaminants present on the dry “Palash” leaves 100. In another embodiment of the present invention, the dry “Palash” leaves 100 may be cleaned under the tap water by adding a first pre-defined quantity of an available chlorine solution for removing the contaminants from the dry “Palash” leaves 100. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first pre-defined quantity of the available chlorine solution may be 4% of the available chlorine solution. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the cleaned dry “Palash” leaves 100 may be kept under a fan air for a first pre-defined time interval to remove an excess water from the cleaned dry “Palash” leaves 100.
[0025] FIG. 1B illustrates a “Palash” leaves pulverizer 102, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The “Palash” leaves pulverizer 102 may be a mechanical device that may be used for pulverizing various types of materials to form a powder of the corresponding materials. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the “Palash” leaves pulverizer 102 may be used for pulverizing the dry “Palash” leaves 100 (as shown in the FIG. 1A) to obtain a “Palash” leaf powder 114 (as shown in FIG. 1C). The “Palash” leaves pulverizer 102 may be, but not limited to, a hammer mill blower, a micro pulverizer, a mini pulverizer, and so forth. The “Palash” leaves pulverizer 102 may be made up of a material such as, but not limited to, a mild steel, a stainless steel, a plastic, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the material for the “Palash” leaves pulverizer 102, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies. The “Palash” leaves pulverizer 102 may comprise a frame 104 that may be designed to provide a rigid support to the “Palash” leaves pulverizer 102. The “Palash” leaves pulverizer 102 may further comprise a jar 106 that may be provided to receive the cleaned dry “Palash” leaves 100. In an embodiment of the present invention, the jar 106 may have a capacity of 1000 grams to receive the cleaned dry “Palash” leaves 100. In an embodiment of the present invention, a pre-defined amount of water may also be supplied to the “Palash” leaves pulverizer 102 through the jar 106. In an embodiment of the present invention, the pre-defined amount of water may be 20 percent (%) of a weight of the dry “Palash” leaves 100.
[0026] Further, the “Palash” leaves pulverizer 102 may comprise a control box (not shown), pulverizing hammers 108a-108m (hereinafter referred to as the hammers 108), and screens (not shown). The control box may be designed to control a speed at which the dry “Palash” leaves 100 need to be pulverized. In an embodiment of the present invention, the control box may act as an interface between an operator and the “Palash” leaves pulverizer 102. The hammers 108 may be provided to receive the dry “Palash” leaves 100 from the jar 106 through a gravitational force. In an embodiment of the present invention, the hammers 108 may be mounted on a shaft 110 that may be rotated in one of, a clockwise direction or an anticlockwise direction to pulverize the dry “Palash” leaves 100 to form the “Palash” leaf powder 114. In an embodiment of the present invention, the shaft 110 may be coupled to an electrical engine (not shown) through a belt (not shown). The electrical engine may be rotated at a pre-defined speed to rotate the shaft 110 in the one of, the clockwise direction or the anticlockwise direction. Further, each of the screens may be provided with a set of holes of a pre-defined size to separate smaller particles of the “Palash” leaf powder 114 from larger particles of the “Palash” leaf powder 114.
[0027] FIG. 1C illustrates a container 112 having food ingredients used in the preparation of the disposable leaf plate 132 (as shown in the FIG. 1E), according to an embodiment of the present invention. The container 112 may be a cylindrical container that may be used to mix the food ingredients with the “Palash” leaf powder 114 to prepare a mixture that may be used for preparing the disposable leaf plate 132. The container 112 may be made up of a material such as, but not limited to, a plastic, a glass, a metal, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the container 112, including known, related art, and/or later developed containers.
[0028] The food ingredients may be a rice starch 116, a Carboxy Methyl Cellulose (CMC) 118, neem leaves extract 120, Tulsi leaves extract 122, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the food ingredients that may be capable to satisfy various properties that may be required for the preparation of the disposable leaf plate 132. In an embodiment of the present invention, the food ingredients may be capable to prepare an insect repellant leaf plate 132 due to properties of the neem leaves extract 120 against pests and/or insects.
[0029] In an embodiment of the present invention, a second pre-defined quantity of the rice starch 116 and a third pre-defined quantity of the Carboxy Methyl Cellulose (CMC) 118 may be added to the container 112 having the “Palash” leaf powder 114 for making a first mixture. The first mixture may be a semi solid slurry. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second pre-defined quantity of the rice starch 116 may be 5% of the rice starch 116. The second pre-defined quantity of the rice starch 116 may be obtained by optimizing a quantity of the rice starch 116 a pre-defined number of times during pre-trials, in an embodiment of the present invention.
[0030] Further, in an embodiment of the present invention, the third pre-defined quantity of the Carboxy Methyl Cellulose (CMC) 118 may be added as a binder to the container 112. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the third pre-defined quantity of the Carboxy Methyl Cellulose (CMC) 118 may be 2% of the weight of the dry “Palash” leaves 100. In an embodiment of the present invention, the neem leaves extract 120 may be obtained from dry neem leaves. The dry neem leaves may be cleaned by using the first pre-defined quantity of the available chlorine solution for neutralization of toxic substances from the dry neem leaves. The toxic substances may be occurred due to various factors such as, but not limited to, a bird fecal matter, a dust separation, and so forth.
[0031] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a fourth pre-defined quantity of the neem leaves extract 120 and a fifth pre-defined quantity of the Tulsi leaves extract 122 may be added to the first mixture to obtain a second mixture. In an embodiment of the present invention, the fourth pre-defined quantity of the neem leaves extract 120 may be added to the container 112 upon pulverization of the dry “Palash” leaves 100 for a pre-defined amount of time. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fourth pre-defined quantity of the neem leaves extract 120 may be 2% of the neem leaves extract 120. The pre-defined amount of time may be in a range of 3 Minutes (mins) to 4 Minutes (mins).
[0032] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a moisture content of the second mixture may be evaluated by using a vacuum oven (not shown) that may be operated at a first pre-defined temperature for a second pre-defined time interval. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first pre-defined temperature may be 101-degree Celsius and the second pre-defined time interval may be 16 hours. In another embodiment of the present invention, the moisture content of the second mixture may be evaluated by using the vacuum oven until a weight of the second mixture becomes constant with respect to time.
[0033] FIG. 1D illustrates a top view of a dishware mould 124, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The dishware mould 124 may be a hollowed-out block that may be filled with a sixth pre-defined quantity of the second mixture that may adapt a shape of the dishware mould 124. In an embodiment of the present invention, the dishware mould 124 may be used to provide the pre-defined shape to the second mixture for preparing the disposable leaf plate 132 (as shown in the FIG. 1E). The dishware mould 124 may be made up of a material such as, but not limited to, the steel, the aluminium, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the material for the dishware mould 124, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0034] The dishware mould 124 may comprise a top mould plate 126 that may be configured to clamp a top half of a mold to a moving half of the dishware mould 124. The top mould plate 126 may be made up of a material such as, but not limited to, the mild steel, the stainless steel, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the material for the top mould plate 126, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies. The dishware mould 124 may further comprise a cavity plate (not shown) that may create a cavity that may be filled with the sixth pre-defined quantity of the second mixture to prepare the disposable leaf plate 132. In an embodiment of the present invention, the prepared disposable leaf plate 132 may be a wet disposable leaf plate 132 that may have a first pre-defined thickness in a range of 2.8 Millimeters (mm) to 3.2 Millimeters (mm). In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first pre-defined thickness of the disposable leaf plate 132 may be 3 Millimeters (mm).
[0035] The dishware mould 124 may further comprise a bottom mould plate 128 that may be configured to clamp a bottom half of the mold to a fixed half of the dishware mould 124. The bottom mould plate 128 may be made up of a material such as, but not limited to, the mild steel, the stainless steel, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the material for the bottom mould plate 128, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0036] FIG. 1E illustrates a hot air oven 130, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The hot air oven 130 may be a dry heat sterilization that may be capable of transferring a heat to the disposable leaf plate 132 placed inside the hot air oven 130 to dry the prepared disposable leaf plate 132. The hot air oven 130 may be, but not limited to, a forced air oven, a static air oven, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the hot air oven 130 including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies. In an embodiment of the present invention, the hot air oven 130 may be operated at a second pre-defined temperature for a third pre-defined time interval to dry the prepared disposable leaf plate 132. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second pre-defined temperature may be 60 degree Celsius and the third pre-defined time interval may be 2 hours. In an embodiment of the present invention, a second thickness of the disposable leaf plate 132 after drying may be in a range of 1.3 Millimeters (mm) to 1.7 Millimeters (mm). In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the disposable leaf plate 132 may have the second pre-defined thickness of 1.5 Millimeters (mm).
[0037] Further, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a diameter of the disposable leaf plate 132 may be 6 inches. In an embodiment of the present invention, the moisture content of the disposable leaf plate 132 may be in a range of 1.5% to 2.2% that may be acceptable to avoid a mold growth. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the disposable leaf plate 132 may be capable to hold a pre-defined weight that may be in a range of 0.2 Kilograms (Kg) to 2.3 Kilograms (Kg).
[0038] FIG. 2 depicts a flowchart of a method 200 for the preparation of the disposable leaf plate 132, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0039] At step 202, a user may collect the dry “Palash” leaves 100 from the “Palash” trees.
[0040] At step 204, the user may clean the dry “Palash” leaves 100 under the tap water by adding the first pre-defined quantity of the available chlorine solution for removing the contaminants from the dry “Palash” leaves 100.
[0041] At step 206, the user may remove the excess water from the cleaned dry “Palash” leaves 100 by placing the cleaned dry “Palash” leaves 100 under the fan air for the first pre-defined time interval.
[0042] At step 208, the user may pulverize the cleaned dry “Palash” leaves 100 by using the “Palash” leaves pulverizer 102 to obtain the “Palash” leaf powder 114.
[0043] At step 210, the user may add the second pre-defined quantity of the rice starch 116 and the third pre-defined quantity of the Carboxy Methyl Cellulose (CMC) 118 as the binder to the container 112 having the “Palash” leaf powder 114 to form the first mixture.
[0044] At step 212, the user may add the fourth pre-defined quantity of the neem leaves extract 120 and the fifth pre-defined quantity of the Tulsi leaves extract 122 into the first mixture to obtain the second mixture.
[0045] At step 214, the user may place the sixth pre-defined quantity of the second mixture into the dishware mould 124 to prepare the disposable leaf plate 132 of the pre-defined shape.
[0046] At step 216, the user may place the prepared disposable leaf plate 132 in the hot air oven 130 at the second pre-defined temperature for the third pre-defined time interval for drying the disposable leaf plate 132.
[0047] While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and various embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
[0048] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope the invention is defined in the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements within substantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.