Description:
BACKGROUND
Field of Invention
[001] Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a system for storing garlic bulbs and particularly to a system and method for storing the garlic bulbs under high nitrogen and low oxygen environment.
Description of Related Art
[002] Garlic storage for extending an availability of garlic bulbs along with a satisfactory quality is a multi-dimensional issue. Storing of the garlic bulbs at a room temperature in mesh bags can reduce the problem; however, when stored for too long at the room temperature, then the garlic bulbs might shrivel or begin to sprout which indicates that the garlic is no longer at its peak quality.
[003] To improve the quality of garlic bulbs, various systems have been developed. Conventionally, an Internet of Things based system has been disclosed to monitor and preserve the garlic bulbs. However, such system involves a thermoelectric cooling system for increasing a level of nitrogen in a garlic storage chamber which in turn increases a cost of preserving the garlic bulbs.
[004] There is thus a need for an improved and advanced system and method that can store and preserve the garlic bulbs in a more efficient manner.
SUMMARY
[005] Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide a system for storing garlic bulbs under high nitrogen and low oxygen environment. The system comprising: a garlic storage chamber to receive and store the garlic bulbs. The system further comprising: an oxygen sensor configured to sense a level of oxygen in the garlic storage chamber. The system further comprising: a nitrogen sensor configured to sense a level of nitrogen inside the garlic storage chamber. The system further comprising: a control unit connected to the oxygen sensor and the nitrogen sensor. The control unit is configured to: receive the sensed oxygen level and the sensed nitrogen level from the oxygen sensor and the nitrogen sensor; compare the sensed nitrogen level with a pre-defined level of nitrogen; compare the sensed oxygen level with a pre-defined level of oxygen; open a valve attached at an inlet of a pipe to release liquid nitrogen from a liquid nitrogen cylinder into the garlic storage chamber, when the sensed nitrogen level is less than or equal to the pre-defined level of nitrogen; and open a vent valve attached at a specific area on the garlic storage chamber, to vent out excessive oxygen from the garlic storage chamber when the sensed oxygen level exceeds the pre-defined level of oxygen.
[006] Embodiments in accordance with the present invention further provide a method for storing garlic bulbs under high nitrogen and low oxygen environment. The method comprising steps of: receiving a sensed oxygen level and a sensed nitrogen level in a garlic storage chamber from an oxygen sensor and a nitrogen sensor; comparing the sensed nitrogen level with a pre-defined level of nitrogen; comparing the sensed oxygen level with a pre-defined level of oxygen; opening a valve attached at an inlet of a pipe to release liquid nitrogen from a liquid nitrogen cylinder into the garlic storage chamber, when the sensed nitrogen level is less than or equal to the pre-defined level of nitrogen; and opening a vent valve attached at a specific area on the garlic storage chamber to vent out excessive oxygen from the garlic storage chamber when the sensed oxygen level exceeds the pre-defined level of oxygen.
[007] Embodiments of the present invention may provide a number of advantages depending on their particular configuration. First, embodiments of the present application may provide a system for storing garlic bulbs under high nitrogen and low oxygen environment.
[008] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a system that is having an electronic control of oxygen and nitrogen level in a garlic storage chamber.
[009] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a system that is beneficial for garlic exporters to preserve garlic bulbs for longer period.
[0010] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a system that eliminates a requirement of cooling or refrigeration systems.
[0011] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a system that is simple in operation.
[0012] These and other advantages will be apparent from the present application of the embodiments described herein.
[0013] 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
[0014] 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:
[0015] FIG. 1 illustrates a system for storing garlic bulbs under high nitrogen and low oxygen environment, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 illustrates components of a control unit of the system, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0017] FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart of a method for storing the garlic bulbs under high nitrogen and low oxygen environment, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0018] 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
[0019] 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 scope of the invention as defined in the claims.
[0020] 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.
[0021] 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.
[0022] FIG. 1 illustrates a system 100 for storing garlic bulbs under high nitrogen and low oxygen environment, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the system 100 may be configured for storing the garlic bulbs under the high nitrogen and the low oxygen environment without mechanical refrigeration system. In an embodiment of the present invention, a quality of the garlic bulbs may be checked weekly to remove spoiled garlic bulbs, for avoiding spread of fungal/mold growth.
[0023] According to embodiments of the present invention, the system 100 may comprise a garlic storage chamber 102, a lid 104, a gasket 106, an oxygen sensor 108, a nitrogen sensor 110, a control unit 112, a liquid nitrogen cylinder 114, a nitrogen gas cylinder 116, a pipe 118, a valve 120, and a vent valve 122.
[0024] The garlic storage chamber 102 may be designed to receive and store the garlic bulbs, in an embodiment of the present invention. The garlic storage chamber 102 may be made up of a material such as, but not limited to, a glass material, a plastic material, a stainless-steel material, an iron material, a ceramic material, a fibre material, and so forth. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the garlic storage chamber 102 may be made up of an aluminium sheet having a thickness of 3 Millimeters (mm). Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the material of the garlic storage chamber 102 including known related art and/or later developed technologies.
[0025] In an embodiment of the present invention, the lid 104 may be provided to cover a top portion of the garlic storage chamber 102. The lid 104 may be opened to load and/or unload the garlic bulbs into and/or from the garlic storage chamber 102. The lid 104 may be made up of a material such as, but not limited to, the glass material, the plastic material, the stainless-steel material, the iron material, the ceramic material, the fibre material, and so forth, in an embodiment of the present invention. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the material of the lid 104 including known related art and/or later developed technologies.
[0026] In an embodiment of the present invention, the lid 104 may be sealed with the gasket 106 to prevent a leakage of gases from the garlic storage chamber 102. According to embodiments of the present invention, the gasket 106 may be, but not limited to, an envelope gasket, a flat metal gasket, a ring-type joint gasket, a corrugated metal gasket, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the gasket 106, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies. The gasket 106 may be made up of a material such as, but not limited to, a paper, a rubber, a metal, a fiber glass, a silicon material, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the material of the gasket 106 including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0027] The oxygen sensor 108 may be attached to the garlic storage chamber 102, to sense a level of oxygen in the garlic storage chamber 102, in an embodiment of the present invention. The oxygen sensor 108 may be configured to transmit the sensed level of oxygen to the control unit 112, in an embodiment of the present invention.
[0028] The nitrogen sensor 110 may be attached to the garlic storage chamber 102, to sense a level of nitrogen inside the garlic storage chamber 102, in an embodiment of the present invention. The nitrogen sensor 110 may be configured to transmit the sensed level of nitrogen to the control unit 112, in an embodiment of the present invention.
[0029] In an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 112 may be connected to the oxygen sensor 108 and the nitrogen sensor 110. In an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 112 may be configured to execute computer executable instructions to generate an output. According to embodiments of the present invention, the control unit 112 may be, but not limited to, a Programmable Logic Control unit (PLC), a microprocessor, a computing device, a development board, and so forth. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 112 may be an Arduino Uno Board. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the control unit 112 including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0030] The liquid nitrogen cylinder 114 may be removably attached to the garlic storage chamber 102 through the pipe 118, in an embodiment of the present invention. The liquid nitrogen cylinder 114 may be provided to supply a required amount of liquid nitrogen to the garlic storage chamber 102 based on the output generated by the control unit 112, in an embodiment of the present invention.
[0031] The nitrogen gas cylinder 116 may be removably attached to the garlic storage chamber 102 through the pipe 118, in an embodiment of the present invention. The nitrogen gas cylinder 116 may be filled with nitrogen gas, in an embodiment of the present invention. The nitrogen gas cylinder 116 may be capable to supply a required amount of nitrogen gas in the garlic storage chamber 102 in case the liquid nitrogen gets finished in the liquid nitrogen cylinder 114, in an embodiment of the present invention.
[0032] The valve 120 may be a mechanical valve that may be attached at an inlet of the pipe 118, in an embodiment of the present invention. The valve 120 may be opened or closed to allow or stop the flow of the liquid nitrogen or the nitrogen gas into the garlic storage chamber 102. The valve 120 may be opened or closed to allow or stop the flow of the liquid nitrogen or the nitrogen gas based on the output generated by the control unit 112, in an embodiment of the present invention. According to embodiments of the present invention, the valve 120 may be, but not limited to, a relief valve, a bleed valve, and so forth. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the valve 120 may be a purge valve. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the valve 120, including known related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0033] The vent valve 122 may be provided at a specific area of the garlic storage chamber 102, and may be opened to vent out excessive oxygen from the garlic storage chamber 102, in an embodiment of the present invention. The vent valve 122 may be opened to vent out the excessive oxygen based on the output generated by the control unit 112, in an embodiment of the present invention.
[0034] FIG. 2 illustrates components of the control unit 112 of the system 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The components may be a data receiving module 200, a comparison module 202, and a gas control module 204.
[0035] The data receiving module 200 may be configured to receive the sensed oxygen level and the sensed nitrogen level from the oxygen sensor 108 and the nitrogen sensor 110, in an embodiment of the present invention. The data receiving module 200 may be configured to transmit the sensed oxygen level and the sensed nitrogen level to the comparison module 202, in an embodiment of the present invention.
[0036] In an embodiment of the present invention, the comparison module 202 may be configured to compare the sensed nitrogen level with a pre-defined level of nitrogen. In an embodiment of the present invention, if the comparison module 202 determines that the sensed nitrogen level is less than or equal to the pre-defined level of nitrogen, then the comparison module 202 may be configured to generate a nitrogen gas controlling signal. The comparison module 202 may be configured to transmit the generated nitrogen gas controlling signal to the gas control module 204.
[0037] In another embodiment of the present invention, the comparison module 202 may be configured to enable the data receiving module 200 to continue receiving the sensed nitrogen level from the nitrogen sensor 110, when the sensed nitrogen level exceeds the pre-defined level of nitrogen.
[0038] In an embodiment of the present invention, the comparison module 202 may be configured to compare the sensed oxygen level with a pre-defined level of oxygen. In an embodiment of the present invention, if the comparison module 202 determines that the sensed oxygen level exceeds the pre-defined level of oxygen, then the comparison module 202 may be configured to generate an oxygen gas controlling signal. The comparison module 202 may be configured to transmit the generated oxygen gas controlling signal to the gas control module 204.
[0039] In another embodiment of the present invention, the comparison module 202 may be configured to enable the data receiving module 200 to continue receiving the sensed oxygen level from the oxygen sensor 108, when the sensed oxygen level is less than or equal to the pre-defined level of oxygen.
[0040] In an embodiment of the present invention, the gas control module 204 may be configured to open the valve 120 to release the liquid nitrogen or the nitrogen gas from the liquid nitrogen cylinder 114 or the nitrogen gas cylinder 116 respectively into the garlic storage chamber 102. In such embodiment of the present invention, the gas control module 204 may be configured to open the valve 120 based on the generated nitrogen gas controlling signal.
[0041] Further, in an embodiment of the present invention, the gas control module 204 may be configured to open the vent valve 122 to vent out the excessive oxygen from the garlic storage chamber 102. In such embodiment of the present invention, the gas control module 204 may be configured to open the vent valve 122 based on the generated oxygen gas controlling signal.
[0042] FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart of a method 300 for storing the garlic bulbs under the high nitrogen and low oxygen environment, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0043] At step 302, the system 100 may receive the sensed oxygen level and the nitrogen level from the oxygen sensor 108 and the nitrogen sensor 110.
[0044] At step 304, the system 100 may compare the sensed nitrogen level with the pre-defined level of nitrogen. The method 300 may proceed to a step 308, when the sensed nitrogen level is less than or equal to the pre-defined level of nitrogen. Otherwise, the method 300 may return to the step 302.
[0045] At step 306, the system 100 may compare the sensed oxygen level with the pre-defined level of oxygen. The method 300 may proceed to a step 310, when the sensed oxygen level exceeds the corresponding pre-defined level of oxygen. Otherwise, the method 300 may return to the step 302.
[0046] At the step 308, the system 100 may open the valve 120 to release the liquid nitrogen or the nitrogen gas from the liquid nitrogen cylinder 114 or the nitrogen gas cylinder 116 respectively into the garlic storage chamber 102.
[0047] At the step 310, the system 100 may open the vent valve 122 to vent out the excessive oxygen from the garlic storage chamber 102.
[0048] 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 scope of the appended claims.
[0049] 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 of 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. , C , Claims:CLAIMS
I/We Claim:
1. A system (100) for storing garlic bulbs under high nitrogen and low oxygen environment, the system (100) comprising:
a garlic storage chamber (102) to receive and store the garlic bulbs;
an oxygen sensor (108) configured to sense a level of oxygen in the garlic storage chamber (102);
a nitrogen sensor (110) configured to sense a level of nitrogen inside the garlic storage chamber (102); and
a control unit (112) connected to the oxygen sensor (108) and the nitrogen sensor (110), wherein the control unit (112) is configured to:
receive the sensed oxygen level and the sensed nitrogen level from the oxygen sensor (108) and the nitrogen sensor (110);
compare the sensed nitrogen level with a pre-defined level of nitrogen;
compare the sensed oxygen level with a pre-defined level of oxygen;
open a valve (120) attached at an inlet of a pipe (118) to release liquid nitrogen from a liquid nitrogen cylinder (114) into the garlic storage chamber (102), when the sensed nitrogen level is less than or equal to the pre-defined level of nitrogen; and
open a vent valve (122) attached at a specific area on the garlic storage chamber (102), to vent out excessive oxygen from the garlic storage chamber (102) when the sensed oxygen level exceeds the pre-defined level of oxygen.
2. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a top portion of the garlic storage chamber (102) is provided with a lid (104) to be opened to load and/or unload the garlic bulbs into and/or from the garlic storage chamber (102).
3. The system (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the lid (104) is sealed with a gasket (106) to prevent a leakage of gases from the garlic storage chamber (102).
4. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the liquid nitrogen cylinder (114) is attached to the garlic storage chamber (102) through the pipe (118).
5. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit (112) is configured to open the valve (120) to release nitrogen gas from a nitrogen gas cylinder (116) into the garlic storage chamber (102), when the liquid nitrogen cylinder (114) gets empty.
6. The system (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the nitrogen gas cylinder (116) is attached to the garlic storage chamber (102).
7. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve (120) is a purge valve.
8. A method for storing garlic bulbs under high nitrogen and low oxygen environment, wherein the method comprising steps of:
receiving a sensed oxygen level and a sensed nitrogen level in a garlic storage chamber (102) from an oxygen sensor (108) and a nitrogen sensor (110);
comparing the sensed nitrogen level with a pre-defined level of nitrogen;
comparing the sensed oxygen level with a pre-defined level of oxygen;
opening a valve (120) attached at an inlet of a pipe (118) to release liquid nitrogen from a liquid nitrogen cylinder (114) into the garlic storage chamber (102), when the sensed nitrogen level is less than or equal to the pre-defined level of nitrogen; and
opening a vent valve (122) attached at a specific area on the garlic storage chamber (102), to vent out excessive oxygen from the garlic storage chamber (102) when the sensed oxygen level exceeds the pre-defined level of oxygen.
9. The method as claimed in claim 8, comprising a step of opening the valve (120) to release nitrogen gas from a nitrogen gas cylinder (116) into the garlic storage chamber (102), when the liquid nitrogen cylinder (114) gets empty.
10. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the valve (120) is a purge valve.

Date: November 16, 2022
Place: Noida

Nainsi Rastogi
Patent Agent (IN/PA-2372)
Agent for the Applicant