CN112653814A - Terminal holding device and assembling structure thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided are a terminal holder capable of easily photographing a tag, and an assembly structure thereof. The terminal holder comprises: a placement unit (30) having a placement surface (31) on which a plurality of labels (5) can be placed; and a holding unit (50) configured to be able to hold the terminal (T) at a position where the tag (5) placed on the placement surface (31) of the placement unit (30) can be captured within the imaging range of the camera (T1). Thus, by placing a plurality of tags (5) on the placement unit (30) and holding the terminal (T) on the holding unit (50), the tags (5) can be imaged by the terminal (T). That is, when the tag (5) is photographed, it is not necessary to adjust the relative position between the tag (5) and the terminal (T) and to hold the terminal (T), and therefore, photographing of the tag (5) can be facilitated.

Description

Terminal holding device and assembling structure thereof

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a terminal holder, and more particularly, to a terminal holder capable of easily photographing a tag.

Background

Patent document 1 discloses a restaurant payment system using an order entry terminal 1. An RFID tag 11 is provided on a product tray 10 of this system, and information on food or drink placed on the product tray 10 is stored in the RFID tag 11. Therefore, the order entry terminal 1 can read the information of the RFID tag 11, and can perform payment processing based on the read result.

However, in this payment system, since the RFID tag 11 is attached (fixed) to each product tray 10, several product trays 10 need to be stacked on a table of a customer seat until the information of the RFID tag 11 is read, that is, until the customer finishes eating a meal. Therefore, there is a problem that the table of the customer seat is disorderly, the comfort is lowered, and the table space is reduced.

Prior art documents

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open No. 2008-003926 (for example, 0077-0084 paragraph, FIG. 1)

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem to be solved by the invention

Therefore, the applicant of the present application has conceived a system (not known at the time of filing the present application) in which a tag for displaying information on food or drink on a product tray is configured to be separable from the product tray, and a terminal for imaging the tag is disposed at each customer seat. According to this system, the tag in a state of being separated from the product tray is captured by the camera of the terminal, and the information of the food or drink can be read by performing image recognition on the captured image. In this way, since the payment processing can be performed based on the information of the tag separated from the product tray, the product tray can be removed from the table of the customer seat before the payment processing. Therefore, the table is not disordered or the table space is not reduced due to the commodity tray after meal delivery.

On the other hand, in this system, since the customer photographs the tag with the terminal, the customer needs to perform a task of photographing the tag with the terminal being held in hand and a task of adjusting the relative position between the tag and the terminal in order to perform the photographing. Thus, a problem arises in that the shooting of the tag takes time.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a terminal holder capable of easily photographing a tag.

Means for solving the technical problem

In order to achieve the object, a terminal holder according to the present invention is a terminal holder for placing a terminal having an imaging means for reading information on food or drink from a tag at a customer seat, the terminal holder including: a placement unit having a placement surface on which a plurality of the tags can be placed; and a holding unit configured to hold the terminal at a photographable position where the tag placed on the placing surface of the placing unit falls within a photographing range of the photographing means.

Effects of the invention

A terminal holding device according to a first aspect includes: a mounting part having a mounting surface on which a plurality of labels can be mounted; and a holding unit configured to hold the terminal at a photographable position where the tag placed on the placing surface of the placing unit falls within a photographing range of the photographing means. In this way, by placing a plurality of tags on the placement unit and holding the terminal on the holding unit, the tag can be imaged by the terminal. That is, when shooting the tag, it is not necessary to adjust the relative position between the tag and the terminal and to hold the terminal, and therefore, there is an effect that shooting of the tag can be easily performed.

According to the terminal holding fixture of the second aspect, the following effects are exhibited in addition to the effects exhibited by the terminal holding fixture of the first aspect. Since the label sticking device includes the sticking member configured to stick a plurality of labels and to be detachably mounted on the mounting surface, the plurality of labels can be collected at the same time by detaching the sticking member to which the plurality of labels are attached from the mounting surface. Therefore, the operation of collecting the label from the customer seat can be efficiently performed.

According to the terminal holding fixture of the third aspect, the following effects are exhibited in addition to the effects exhibited by the terminal holding fixture of the second aspect. The sticking member is formed in a plate shape, and the placing section is configured to be able to stack a plurality of sticking members on the placing surface. Thus, when the amount of meals by the customer is large and all the tags cannot be attached to one attaching member, the tags can be imaged by attaching the tags by stacking a new attaching member. Thus, there is an effect that the shooting space of the tag can be reduced.

According to the terminal holding fixture of the fourth aspect, the following effects are exhibited in addition to the effects exhibited by the terminal holding fixture of the second or third aspect. Since the placement portion includes the regulating portion for regulating the rotation of the sticking member placed on the placement surface, it is possible to suppress the orientation and arrangement of the label stuck to the sticking member from changing. Thus, there is an effect that the accuracy of image recognition of the tag can be improved.

According to the terminal holding fixture of the fifth aspect, the following effects are exhibited in addition to the effects exhibited by the terminal holding fixture of any one of the first to third aspects. Since the imaging means is configured such that the plurality of tags can be placed on the placement surface and the optical axis of the imaging means is substantially orthogonal to the placement surface when the terminal is held by the holding portion, the focal point of the imaging means can be easily aligned with each of the plurality of tags placed on the placement surface. This has the effect of improving the accuracy of image recognition of the tag.

According to the terminal holding fixture of the sixth aspect, the following effects are exhibited in addition to the effects exhibited by the terminal holding fixture of the fifth aspect. Since the mounting surface is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction, the effect is that the customer can easily visually recognize the label mounted on the mounting surface. Further, since the terminal is held by the holding portion in a posture in which the mounting surface inclined with respect to the horizontal direction is substantially orthogonal to the optical axis of the imaging mechanism, it is possible to suppress the mounting surface and the terminal from overlapping in the vertical direction. Therefore, since light such as illumination is easily irradiated to the mounting surface, the accuracy of image recognition of the label can be improved.

According to the terminal holding fixture of the seventh aspect, the following effects are exhibited in addition to the effects exhibited by the terminal holding fixture of the sixth aspect. The holding part is provided with: a support surface for supporting the terminal from below; and a restricting portion that is provided upright from an outer edge side of the support surface and is configured to be able to restrict displacement of the terminal toward a lower end side and both sides in a horizontal direction of the support surface, so that the terminal supported by the support surface can be positioned at a photographable position by the restricting portion.

Further, since the support surface is inclined substantially parallel to the placement surface and the restriction portion is not formed on the upper end side of the support surface, the terminal can be placed at the imaging position by sliding the terminal from the upper end side of the support surface. That is, since the terminal can be arranged at the image-capturing position by the inclination of the support surface, the operation of holding the terminal on the holding portion can be easily performed.

According to the terminal holding fixture of the eighth aspect, the following effects are exhibited in addition to the effects exhibited by the terminal holding fixture of any one of the first to third aspects. The device is provided with: a connecting part connecting the loading part and the holding part; and a base member configured to be fixed to a table of the customer seat and to pivotally support the placement portion so as to be rotatable, so that the placement portion and the holding portion connected by the connection portion can be integrally rotated on the table of the customer seat. Therefore, the posture of the terminal holder can be changed to an angle at which the customer can easily place the tag and operate the terminal.

Further, since the restricting mechanism is provided for restricting the rotation of the placement portion with respect to the base member within a predetermined angle, the placement of the tag on the placement surface and the operation of the terminal can be performed in a state where the rotation of the placement portion with respect to the base member (table) is stopped by the restricting mechanism. Therefore, the tag can be easily photographed and the terminal can be easily operated.

According to the terminal holding fixture of the ninth aspect, the following effects are exhibited in addition to the effects exhibited by the terminal holding fixture of the eighth aspect. Since the shaft for pivotally supporting the mounting portion is provided on the base member and the shaft hole into which the shaft is inserted is provided on the mounting portion, the mounting portion can be rotated by the rotation of the shaft with respect to the shaft hole. Further, the mounting portion, the connecting portion, and the holding portion can be integrally removed from the base member (table) by pulling out the shaft from the shaft hole.

Here, for example, if the base member fixed to the table is provided with the shaft hole, dirt such as food and drink may enter the shaft hole, and cleaning thereof becomes difficult. In contrast, in the ninth aspect, since the shaft is provided on the base member, there is an effect that dirt can be easily cleaned even if the dirt adheres to the shaft of the base member. Further, since the shaft hole is provided on the side of the placement portion that can be detached from the base member (table), there is an effect that cleaning can be easily performed even if the inside of the shaft hole is contaminated.

According to the terminal holding fixture of the tenth aspect, the following effects are exhibited in addition to the effects exhibited by the terminal holding fixture of the eighth aspect. Since the placement portion includes the recess formed on the lower surface side of the placement portion, the base member is formed in a shape accommodated inside the recess, and the restriction mechanism is configured by the inner wall surface of the recess abutting against the side surface of the base member, it is not necessary to provide the restriction mechanism for restricting the rotation of the placement portion outside the placement portion. Therefore, the reduction of the table space of the customer seat can be suppressed. Further, since the restricting mechanism is configured by the inner wall surface of the recess and the side surface of the base member, it is not necessary to separately provide a member for restricting the rotation of the placement portion, and therefore, the number of components can be reduced.

According to the terminal holding fixture of the eleventh aspect, the following effects are exhibited in addition to the effects exhibited by the terminal holding fixture of the tenth aspect. Since the mounting portion includes the plate-like body, the upper surface of the plate-like body is configured as the mounting surface, and is inclined downward from the rear end side toward the front end side, the upper surface of the recess is inclined downward from the rear end side toward the front end side along the plate-like body, and the shaft (the rotation axis of the mounting portion) is disposed on the rear end side of the recess, the shaft can be disposed in a large space on the rear end side of the recess. Therefore, the shaft can be formed long, and therefore, the rotation of the mounting portion around the shaft can be stabilized.

According to the terminal holding fixture of the twelfth aspect, the following effects are obtained in addition to the effects obtained by the terminal holding fixture of any one of the first to third aspects. Since the holding portion is configured to hold the terminal at a position above the mounting surface, interference of the holding portion and the terminal with the hand of the customer can be suppressed when the label is mounted on the mounting surface. Therefore, the tag can be easily photographed.

According to the terminal holding fixture of the thirteenth aspect, the following effects are exhibited in addition to the effects exhibited by the terminal holding fixtures of the first to third aspects. Since the holding portion includes the support surface for supporting the terminal from below, and the mounting surface is formed in parallel with the support surface, the optical axis of the imaging mechanism can be made substantially orthogonal to the mounting surface when the terminal is held by the holding portion. Therefore, since the focal point of the imaging means is easily aligned with each of the plurality of labels placed on the placement surface, it is possible to improve the accuracy of image recognition of the labels.

According to the terminal holding fixture of the fourteenth aspect, in addition to the effects exhibited by the terminal holding fixture of the second or third aspect, the following effects are exhibited. Since the sticking member includes a plurality of sticking regions for sticking the labels, and the sticking regions are configured to be able to define the orientations of the labels, it is possible to perform imaging while aligning the orientations of the plurality of labels. Thus, there is an effect that the accuracy of image recognition of the tag can be improved.

According to the terminal holding fixture of the fifteenth aspect, the following effects are exhibited in addition to the effects exhibited by the terminal holding fixture of the fourteenth aspect. Since the sticking region is formed in a shape having no rotational symmetry, the orientation of the plurality of labels can be reliably aligned. Thus, there is an effect that the accuracy of image recognition of the tag can be improved.

According to the terminal holding fixture attachment structure of the sixteenth aspect, the terminal holding fixture includes: a customer seat for a single person to which the terminal holding device of the eighth aspect is arranged; a plurality of the customer seats are arranged in the bar counter side by side; and a transport path arranged adjacent to the bar counter and transporting the tray on which the food and drink and the label are placed to the plurality of customer seats, so that the tray is transported on the transport path positioned on the front side as viewed from the customer seats arranged in the bar counter. Since the terminal holding devices respectively arranged at the plurality of customer seats are arranged at one end side of the customer seat in the conveying direction of the conveying path, when a customer seated at the customer seat takes a tray from the conveying path, the terminal holding devices can be prevented from interfering with the hand of the customer.

The label placed on the tray is placed on the placement portion by the customer, but a connection portion connecting the placement portion and the holding portion is connected to one end side of the placement portion in the conveyance direction of the conveyance path. Thus, when the label is placed on the placement portion, the connection portion can be prevented from interfering with the hand of the customer. Therefore, the tag can be easily photographed.

According to the mounting structure of a terminal holding fixture of the seventeenth aspect, the following effects are obtained in addition to the effects obtained by the mounting structure of a terminal holding fixture of the sixteenth aspect. Since the rotation axis of the placement portion is located on the other end side than the center of the placement portion in the conveyance direction of the conveyance path, the connection position of the connection portion at the placement portion and the rotation axis of the placement portion can be disposed at positions distant from each other in the conveyance direction of the conveyance path. That is, the rotation shaft of the placement unit is disposed at a position away from a position (a connection position of the connection portion at the placement unit) where a force to rotate the placement unit acts when the placement unit is rotated by holding the holding unit (terminal) by hand, thereby providing an effect of enabling the placement unit to be easily rotated.

According to the mounting structure of a terminal holding fixture of the eighteenth aspect, the following effects are exhibited in addition to the effects exhibited by the mounting structure of a terminal holding fixture of the sixteenth aspect. Since the holding unit is configured to hold the terminal in a state where the terminal is positioned closer to one end side of the customer seat than the other end of the placement unit in the conveyance direction of the conveyance path, when the tag is placed on the placement unit, the holding unit and the terminal can be prevented from interfering with the hand of the customer. Therefore, the tag can be easily photographed.

According to the mounting structure of a terminal holding fixture of the nineteenth aspect, the following effects are exhibited in addition to the effects exhibited by the mounting structure of a terminal holding fixture of the eighteenth aspect. Since the holding section is configured to hold the terminal in a posture in which the optical axis of the imaging mechanism is directed to the other end side of the center of the mounting surface in the conveying direction of the conveying path, the amount of displacement of the terminal (holding section) from the mounting section in the conveying direction of the conveying path can be reduced. Therefore, since the arrangement space of the terminal holding device in the transport direction of the transport path can be reduced, the table space of the customer seat can be secured accordingly.

According to the terminal holding fixture mounting structure of the twentieth aspect, the following effects are obtained in addition to the effects obtained by the terminal holding fixture mounting structure of the seventeenth aspect. Since the rotation axis of the placement unit is located closer to the conveyance path than the center of the placement unit in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the conveyance path, when the placement unit is rotated, the holding unit (terminal) can be easily rotated so as to be away from the other customer seat side adjacent to the one end side of the customer seat. Therefore, even when the holding unit (terminal) is disposed close to the other customer seat, the holding unit (terminal) can be easily disposed at a position away from the other customer seat by rotating the placement unit.

According to the mounting structure of a terminal holding fixture of the twenty-first aspect, the following effects are exhibited in addition to the effects exhibited by the mounting structure of a terminal holding fixture of the sixteenth aspect. Since the customer seat includes the cooking device for cooking food and drink and the cooking device is disposed on the other end side of the customer seat in the conveying direction of the conveying path, it is possible to suppress adhesion of water and the like splashed during cooking by the cooking device to the terminal holding device. Therefore, since the adhesion of dirt to the tag and the terminal can be suppressed, the accuracy of image recognition of the tag can be improved and the frequency of cleaning the terminal can be reduced.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an assembly structure of a terminal holding fixture in an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the terminal holding fixture.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the terminal holding fixture at line III-III of fig. 2.

Fig. 4 (a) is a plan view of the base member, and fig. 4 (b) is a sectional view of the terminal holding fixture at the line IVb-IVb of fig. 3.

Fig. 5 (a) is a plan view showing the customer seat in a state before the terminal holder is rotated, and fig. 5 (b) is a plan view showing the customer seat in a state after the terminal holder is rotated.

Detailed Description

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, an assembly structure of the terminal holding fixture 10 will be described with reference to fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an assembly structure of a terminal holding fixture 10 in an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in fig. 1, the terminal holder 10 is a holder for holding a terminal T on a bar 1 provided in a restaurant (in the present embodiment, a hot pot restaurant). The terminal T is a flat plate for ordering the food or drink F and performing payment (settlement) processing based on the meal amount of the food or drink F.

In this restaurant, a customer having a meal at each customer seat 2 provided in the bar 1 takes out the tray 4 from the conveyance path 3, and reads information of the tag 5 placed on the tray 4 together with the food or drink F by the terminal T. Thereby, payment processing corresponding to the meal size is performed.

The bar counter 1 is a table for dining at customer seats 2, and a plurality of customer seats 2 are arranged in parallel in the extending direction of the bar counter 1 (the conveying direction of the conveying path 3). That is, a single customer has a meal at one customer seat 2.

A conveyance path 3 is provided adjacent to the home bar 1 on the front side as viewed from the customer seated in each customer seat 2. The transport path 3 is a conveyor for transporting the tray 4 on which the food or drink F is placed to each customer seat 2, and a known configuration can be adopted, and therefore, a detailed description thereof is omitted.

On the tray 4 conveyed through the conveyance path 3, the food or drink F and the label 5 on which the content of the food or drink F (for example, information on the type and amount of meat) is recorded are placed. The food or drink F is cooked by the cooker 6 provided in the customer seat 2 and then eaten by the customer. On the other hand, in order to read the contents of the food or drink F eaten by the customer through the terminal T, the customer attaches the tag 5 to the attachment plate 20 of the terminal holder 10.

The attachment plate 20 is formed of a metal material into a rectangular plate shape, and a magnet is provided on the back surface of the tag 5. Therefore, by placing the label 5 removed (separated) from the tray 4 on the attaching plate 20, the label 5 is easily attached to the attaching plate 20.

The placement unit 30 for placing the patch board 20 is provided on the terminal holder 10 disposed at each customer seat 2. The connecting portion 40 projects obliquely upward from the placement portion 30 toward the front side (the front side as viewed from the customer) of the terminal holding device 10, and the terminal T is detachably held by a holding portion 50 connected to the upper end of the connecting portion 40. In the following description, when the mounting portion 30, the connection portion 40, and the holding portion 50 of the terminal holding fixture 10 are collectively described, the description as "each portion" of the terminal holding fixture 10 is omitted.

The terminal T is formed in a rectangular plate shape, and a camera T1 (see fig. 3) is provided on the rear surface thereof. In a state where the terminal T is held by the holding portion 50, the upper surface (the surface to which the label 5 is attached) of the adhesive sheet 20 placed on the placement portion 30 faces the lens of the camera T1 of the terminal T. Therefore, the tag 5 attached to the attachment plate 20 can be photographed by the terminal T.

Information showing the contents of the food or drink F placed on the tray 4 is displayed on the surface of the label 5. For example, when the food or drink F placed on the tray 4 is 40g of pork belly, a character string of "pork belly 40 g" and a pattern of "pig" are displayed on the surface of the label 5 (see fig. 2). In addition, for example, in the case where the food or drink F placed on the tray 4 is a 50g taupe, a character string of "taupe tongue 50 g" and a pattern of "taupe" are displayed on the surface of the label 5.

Therefore, by performing image recognition on the display of the tag 5 captured by the terminal T, information on the food or drink F having a customer eat can be recognized (identified). Then, by transmitting the recognition result of the image recognition by the terminal T to the payment apparatus (POS register), the payment processing can be performed based on the image recognition. That is, since the label 5 can be separated from the tray 4 on which the food or drink F is placed and the payment processing can be performed based on the information of the label 5 after the separation, the tray 4 after the meal can be removed from the customer seat 2 before the payment. Therefore, the table (bar 1) of the customer seat 2 is not disturbed by the tray 4 after meal entry, or the table space is not reduced.

In addition, the entire patch 20 is configured to fall within the imaging range of the camera T1 of the terminal T in a state where the patch 20 is placed on the placement portion 30 of the terminal holder 10 and the terminal T is held by the holding portion 50. Thus, only the label 5 is attached to the attachment plate 20 placed on the placement unit 30, and the terminal T can reliably take an image of the label 5. That is, when the tag 5 is photographed, it is not necessary to adjust the relative position between the attachment plate 20 and the terminal T and to hold the terminal T, and therefore, photographing of the tag 5 can be easily performed.

The supporting surface 51a (see fig. 3) of the holding portion 50, which will be described later, is located on the upper side in the vertical direction than the placement surface 31 of the placement portion 30. Therefore, the entire terminal T is positioned above the patch 20 in the vertical direction in a state where the terminal T is held by the holding portion 50. This makes it easy to form an open portion (a space for extending a hand to the attachment plate 20) around the attachment plate 20 to which the label 5 is attached. Therefore, when the label 5 is attached to the attachment plate 20, the holding portion 50 and the terminal T can be prevented from interfering with the hand of the customer, and therefore, the imaging of the label 5 can be easily performed.

Here, since the bar counter 1 extends along the transport direction of the transport path 3 and a plurality of customer seats 2 for one person are arranged side by side in the extending direction of the bar counter 1, the transport path 3 is provided in front of the customers sitting on the customer seats 2. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the terminal holding device 10 is disposed on the right end side of the table of the customer seat 2 so as to facilitate the removal of the tray 4 (food or drink F) from the conveyance path 3. Thus, when a customer sitting in the customer seat 2 removes the tray 4 from the conveyance path 3, the terminal holding device 10 can be prevented from interfering with the hand of the customer. Therefore, the terminal holding device 10 can be prevented from interfering with eating.

Further, since the connection portion 40 of the terminal holding fixture 10 is connected to the right end side of the placement portion 30, an open portion can be formed on the front side (the front side of the customer seat 2) and the left side (the center side of the customer seat 2) of the placement portion 30. This can prevent the coupling portion 40 from interfering with the hand of the customer when the label 5 is attached to the attachment plate 20. Therefore, the tag 5 can be easily photographed.

Note that, in the present embodiment, the coupling portion 40 is formed in a plate shape having the opening 41 at the center, but the opening 41 of the coupling portion 40 may not be formed. By coupling the plate-shaped coupling portion 40, in which the opening 41 is not formed, to the right end side of the placement portion 30, the other customer seat 2 adjacent to the right side of the customer seat 2 can be separated from the placement portion 30 (sticking plate 20) by the coupling portion 40. This can prevent the tag 5 attached to the attachment plate 20 from being seen by other customers, and thus can eat without being conscious of the sight of other customers.

Further, since the cooking utensil 6 is disposed on the side opposite to the terminal holding tool 10 across the center in the left-right direction of the customer seat 2, the terminal holding tool 10 can be disposed at a position distant from the cooking utensil 6. Thus, even if moisture or the like is scattered when the food or drink F is cooked by the cooker 6, the scattered moisture or the like can be prevented from adhering to the terminal holding device 10. That is, since the adhesion of dirt to the tag 5, each part of the terminal holding fixture 10, and the terminal T can be suppressed, the accuracy of image recognition of the tag 5 can be improved. In addition, the frequency of cleaning (maintenance) of the terminal holder 10 and the terminal T can be reduced.

Next, the detailed structure of the tag 5 and the terminal holder 10 will be described with reference to fig. 2 and 3. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the terminal holding fixture 10, and fig. 3 is a sectional view of the terminal holding fixture 10 at the line III-III in fig. 2. Note that, in fig. 2 and 3, the terminal T is illustrated by a two-dot chain line. Arrows U-D, F-B, L-R in fig. 2 and 3 indicate the vertical direction, the front-rear direction, and the left-right direction of the terminal holding fixture 10, respectively, and the same applies to the following figures. Note that the "front side" of the terminal holder 10 refers to the front side as viewed from the customer, and the "rear side" of the terminal holder 10 refers to the rear side as viewed from the customer.

As shown in fig. 2 and 3, the entire label 5 is formed in a substantially disc shape, but a part of the outer edge of the label 5 is formed as a corner portion 5a (the entire label 5 is in a droplet shape). The corner portion 5a is formed in a wedge shape protruding in the radial direction of the label 5, and the corner portion 5a functions as a positioning portion when the label 5 is attached to the attachment plate 20.

A plurality of (nine portions of 3 rows × 3 columns in the present embodiment) attaching areas 21 for attaching the labels 5 are formed on the attaching plate 20. The attachment area 21 is formed by a frame line drawn on the attachment plate 20 in the same shape as the outline of the label 5, and a corner portion 22 is also formed in the attachment area 21 in the same manner as the label 5. The respective sticking areas 21 are arranged on the sticking plate 20 such that the corner portions 22 face the same direction (the front side of the sticking plate 20) (the arrow F side).

By thus attaching the label 5 along the frame line of each attachment region 21, the label 5 can be aligned in the front-rear direction (the direction of arrow F-B) of the terminal holder 10. Therefore, since the terminal T can capture images in a state where the orientations of the character strings and the patterns of the plurality of tags 5 are aligned, image recognition can be easily performed. That is, even in a state where the labels 5 are not attached along the attachment area 21 (the orientation of each label 5 is not matched), the information of the labels 5 can be recognized by image recognition, but by matching the orientation of each label 5, the recognition accuracy and the processing speed of image recognition can be improved.

The upper surface (the surface on the arrow U side) of the placing section 30 is configured as a placing surface 31 (see the enlarged part of fig. 3) on which the sticking sheet 20 is placed, and the sticking sheet 20 is detachably placed on the placing surface 31. Further, since the plurality of labels 5 can be attached to the attachment plate 20, the plurality of labels 5 can be collected at the same time by detaching the attachment plate 20 from the mounting surface 31 of the mounting portion 30. Therefore, since the operation of collecting the tag 5 can be efficiently performed, the burden of the business of the store clerk can be reduced.

A plate-shaped front regulating piece 32 is vertically erected from the front end of the mounting surface 31, and a plate-shaped lateral regulating piece 33 (see fig. 2) is vertically erected from the left end. Further, since the plate-shaped coupling portion 40 is vertically provided from the right end of the mounting surface, displacement of the attachment plate 20 to the front side and both sides in the left-right direction is restricted by the front restricting piece 32, the lateral restricting piece 33, and the coupling portion 40.

The region surrounded by the front regulating piece 32, the lateral regulating piece 33, and the connecting portion 40 is formed to be the same as or slightly (e.g., 1mm) larger than the outer dimension of the rectangular patch plate 20. Therefore, the rotation of the patch 20 can be regulated by the front regulating piece 32, the lateral regulating piece 33, and the coupling portion 40.

That is, since the attachment plate 20 is held by the placement portion 30 so as not to rotate, it is possible to suppress changes in the orientation and arrangement of the labels 5 attached to the attachment plate 20. Therefore, the recognition accuracy and the processing speed of the image recognition of the tag 5 can be improved.

The height at which the front regulating piece 32, the lateral regulating piece 33, and the connecting portion 40 stand from the mounting surface 31 is set to be higher than the plate thickness of the plate-like adhesive sheet 20 (see fig. 3), and a plurality of adhesive sheets 20 can be stacked on the mounting surface 31 of the mounting portion 30. Thus, when the customer has a large meal size and cannot attach all the labels 5 to one sticker sheet 20, a new sticker sheet 20 can be superimposed on the sticker sheet 20. Further, since image recognition can be performed by attaching the remaining tags 5 to the new attaching plate 20, the imaging space of the tags 5 can be reduced. Accordingly, a large table space for the customer seat can be secured.

Further, a plate number 23 for identifying each patch 20 individually is described on the upper surface of the patch 20. By image-recognizing the board number 23 by the terminal T, information of the attached label 5 can be managed for each pasting board 20. That is, even when a plurality of the attachment plates 20 are stacked on the mounting surface 31, it is possible to identify which type of label 5 is attached to which attachment plate 20.

Note that, in the present embodiment, the plate number 23 is displayed only at one position on the upper right of the attachment plate 20, but the plate number 23 may be displayed at a plurality of positions (for example, four corners) of the attachment plate 20. Thus, even when dirt adheres to one plate number 23 and image recognition is difficult, other plate numbers 23 can be recognized.

In addition, the optical axis C of the camera T1 is configured to be perpendicular to the mounting surface 31 of the mounting unit 30 (the upper surface of the patch 20) in a state where the terminal T is held by the holding unit 50. Thereby, even in the case where a plurality of labels 5 are attached to the attachment plate 20, the focal point of the camera T1 is easily aligned with each of the plurality of labels 5. Thus, the accuracy of image recognition of the tag 5 can be improved.

In this case, simply aiming at improving the accuracy of image recognition of the plurality of tags 5, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the mounting surface 31 of the mounting portion 30 is a horizontal surface and the terminal T is horizontally held so that the optical axis C is orthogonal to the mounting surface 31. However, in this configuration, since the placement portion 30 (the attachment plate 20) and the holding portion 50 (the terminal T) easily overlap in the vertical direction, the irradiation of light toward the attachment plate 20 is easily blocked by the terminal T (a shadow is easily generated on the label 5). Further, in the configuration in which the mounting surface 31 is a horizontal surface and the terminal T is held horizontally, it is difficult to visually recognize the state of the label 5 attached to the attachment plate 20 and the screen of the terminal T.

In contrast, in the present embodiment, the mounting surface 31 is formed as an inclined surface inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. More specifically, since the placement surface 31 is inclined downward from the rear end side to the front end side (the front side as viewed from the customer) of the placement portion 30, the label 5 can be easily attached to the attachment plate 20 in addition to the attached state of the label 5 placed on the attachment plate 20 of the placement surface 31.

Further, since the terminal T is held in a posture in which the mounting surface 31 is inclined substantially parallel to the rear surface of the terminal T on which the camera T1 is provided (the support surface 51a of the support terminal T described later is formed substantially parallel to the mounting surface 31), it is possible to suppress the mounting surface 31 (the attachment plate 20) and the holding portion 50 (the terminal T) from being disposed at positions overlapping in the vertical direction. Therefore, since light such as illumination is easily irradiated to the attachment plate 20, the accuracy of image recognition of the label 5 can be improved. Further, the terminal T is inclined downward from the rear end side toward the front end side, whereby the screen of the terminal T can be easily viewed and the operation on the screen (touch panel) of the terminal T can be easily performed. The term "substantially parallel" means that the angle formed by the mounting surface 31 and the rear surface of the terminal T (the support surface 51a of the holding portion 50) on which the camera T1 is provided is in the range of 5 ° or less.

In this way, the terminal T is held in the holding portion 50 in an inclined posture, and therefore, in the present embodiment, the terminal T is slid by the inclination, and the work of holding the terminal T on the holding portion 50 can be easily performed. The detailed structure of the holding portion 50 will be described.

The holding portion 50 includes a plate-shaped support plate 51 fixed to the upper end of the coupling portion 40, and the upper surface of the support plate 51 is configured as a support surface 51a for supporting the terminal T from below. The front stopper 52 is erected from the front end of the support surface 51a, and the front stopper 52 is formed in an L shape in a side view, and includes: a plate-shaped standing portion 52a standing vertically from the support surface 51 a; and a plate-shaped bent portion 52b bent from the distal end of the standing portion 52a toward the center of the support surface 51 a.

Further, a pair of plate-shaped lateral regulating pieces 53 are provided so as to stand vertically from both left and right end portions of the support plate 51. Therefore, in a state where the terminal T is held on the support surface 51a, the displacement of the terminal T in the forward direction and the displacement to both sides in the left-right direction (both sides in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the inclination direction of the support surface 51a) are restricted by the front restricting piece 52 and the pair of lateral restricting pieces 53.

The region surrounded by the standing portion 52a of the front regulating piece 52 and the pair of lateral regulating pieces 53 is formed to be the same as or slightly (e.g., 1mm to 5mm) larger than the outer dimension of the rectangular terminal T. Thus, the rotation of the terminal T can be restricted by the front restricting piece 52 and the lateral restricting piece 53.

On the other hand, since the regulating piece for regulating the displacement of the terminal T is not formed on the rear end side (upper end side) of the support surface 51a, the terminal T can slide from the upper end side of the support surface 51a to the photographable position (the region surrounded by the front regulating piece 52 and the lateral regulating piece 53). Further, since the support surface 51a is inclined downward from the rear end side toward the front end side, even when the terminal T is placed on the support surface 51a at a position deviated from the photographable position by placing the terminal T between the pair of lateral regulating pieces 53, the terminal T is placed at the photographable position by its own weight along the inclined sliding displacement of the support surface 51 a. Thus, the terminal T can be easily held at the photographable position on the holding portion 50.

Further, arc-shaped notches 54 (see fig. 2) protruding toward the center side of the support surface 51a are formed at four corners of the support plate 51, and in the regions where the notches 54 are formed, the end portions of the four corners of the terminal T are configured to be exposed from the support plate 51. Thus, the terminal T can be easily detached from the holding portion 50 by holding the end portion of the terminal T exposed from the support plate 51.

The terminal holder 10 configured as described above may be fixedly disposed on a table of a customer seat, for example, but in the present embodiment, the terminal holder 10 is configured to be rotatable. This structure will be described with reference to fig. 3 and 4. Fig. 4 (a) is a plan view of the base member 60, and fig. 4 (b) is a sectional view of the terminal holding fixture 10 at the IVb-IVb line of fig. 3. Note that, in fig. 4 b, the through-hole 61a (see fig. 4 a) formed in the base portion 61 of the base member 60 is not shown.

As shown in fig. 3 and 4, the mounting portion 30 is formed in a box shape with an open bottom surface. If the box-shaped internal space is defined as the recess 34 recessed from the lower surface of the placement portion 30, the base member 60 is accommodated in the recess 34. The base member 60 is a member for pivotally supporting the placement unit 30 to be rotatable.

The base member 60 includes a plate-shaped base portion 61 and a shaft 62 fixed to the base portion 61. A plurality of (three in the present embodiment) through holes 61a (see fig. 4 a) are formed in the base portion 61, and the base member 60 can be fixed to the table of the customer seat by screwing screws into the female screw holes on the table side while inserting the screws into the through holes 61 a. A cylindrical shaft 62 is vertically erected from the upper surface of the base portion 61.

A tubular cylindrical member 35 having a shaft hole 35a is fixed to the inner wall surface of the recess 34 of the placement portion 30 via a fixing plate 36, and a shaft 62 of the base member 60 is inserted into the shaft hole 35a of the cylindrical member 35. Thereby, the placement unit 30 is pivotally supported so as to be rotatable with respect to the base member 60.

Since the shaft 62 is provided at a position closer to the rear end side than the center in the front-rear direction of the placement portion 30, the shaft 62 can be disposed in a large space on the rear end side of the recess 34. That is, since the upper surface of the recess 34 and the mounting surface 31 are formed by a single plate, the upper surface of the recess 34 is also inclined downward from the rear end side toward the front end side as in the case of the mounting surface 31. Therefore, by disposing the shaft 62 on the rear end side of the placement portion 30 (the recess 34), the vertical dimension of the shaft 62 can be made longer than in the case where the shaft 62 is disposed on the front end side of the placement portion 30. This stabilizes the rotation of the placement unit 30 around the shaft 62.

Thus, the placement unit 30 is rotatable with respect to the base member 60, but the holding unit 50 is coupled to the placement unit 30 via the coupling unit 40. Thus, since the placement unit 30 and the holding unit 50 can be integrally rotated on the table of the customer seat, the posture of the terminal holding device 10 can be changed to an angle at which the placement of the tag 5 and the operation of the terminal T are facilitated.

The rotation of the placement unit 30 with respect to the base member 60 is limited to a predetermined angle by the base member 60. Specifically, the base member 60 has, on a side surface of the base portion 61 thereof: a pair of regulating surfaces 61b and 61c (see fig. 4) that are plane-symmetrical with each other across a plane along the axial center of the shaft 62, and a connecting surface 61d that connects the pair of regulating surfaces 61b and 61c to each other are formed. The pair of limiting surfaces 61b and 61c are flat surfaces whose angle θ 1 is set to 60 °, and the connection surface 61d is a curved surface that smoothly connects the limiting surfaces 61b and 61c to each other at a side where the distance between the pair of limiting surfaces 61b and 61c is narrowed.

On the other hand, the inner wall surfaces (side wall surfaces) of the concave portion 34 of the placement portion 30 are formed by being surrounded by four plate-shaped bodies, and the angle θ 2 formed by the inner wall surfaces of the concave portion 34 is 90 °. That is, the angle θ 1(60 °) formed by the pair of limiting surfaces 61b and 61c of the base portion 61 is set to be 30 ° smaller than the angle θ 2(90 °) formed by the inner wall surfaces of the recess 34.

The tubular member 35 of the placement portion 30 is disposed at a position equidistant from two inner wall surfaces (in the present embodiment, the inner wall surfaces on the rear end side and the left end side of the placement portion 30) of the four inner wall surfaces constituting the recess 34. Therefore, by inserting the shaft 62 into the shaft hole 35a at a position where the connecting surface 61d faces the two inner wall surfaces, the placing portion 30 can be rotated by 30 ° between a first position where the regulating surface 61b of the base portion 61 abuts against the inner wall surface of the recess 34 and a second position where the regulating surface 61c abuts against the inner wall surface of the recess 34.

In other words, the rotation of the placement unit 30 with respect to the base member 60 can be restricted within 30 ° between the first position and the second position by the restriction surfaces 61b and 61 c. Therefore, by setting the stop positions (first position and second position) of the rotation of the placement unit 30 to angles at which the application of the label 5 and the operation of the terminal T are facilitated, the imaging of the label 5 and the operation of the terminal T can be facilitated.

Here, if the purpose is simply to restrict the rotation of the placement unit 30, a configuration may be adopted in which a stopper is provided around the placement unit 30. Examples of the structure in which such a stopper is provided include a structure in which the base portion 61 of the base member 60 is exposed from the placement portion 30 and the stopper is erected from the base portion 61, and a structure in which the stopper, which is a separate member from the base member 60, is erected from a table. However, in this configuration, since the stopper is disposed outside the placement portion 30, the table space of the customer seat is reduced accordingly.

In contrast, in the present embodiment, the base member 60 (base portion 61) is formed in an outer dimension that can be accommodated in the recess portion 34 recessed from the lower surface of the placement portion 30, and the stopper is formed by the inner wall surface of the recess portion 34 abutting against the restriction surfaces 61b, 61c of the base portion 61. Thus, since it is not necessary to provide a stopper for restricting the rotation of the placement unit 30 outside the placement unit 30, it is possible to suppress a reduction in the table space.

Further, since the stopper is formed by the inner wall surface of the recess 34 and the regulating surfaces 61b and 61c of the base member 60, it is not necessary to separately provide a member for regulating the rotation of the placement portion 30, and thus the number of components can be reduced. Further, since the inner wall surface of the recess 34 functions as a stopper surface, the contact area with the regulating surfaces 61b and 61c of the base member 60 can be secured large, and therefore, the rotation of the placement portion 30 can be regulated easily.

Further, since the shaft 62 of the base member 60 is inserted into the shaft hole 35a of the placement portion 30 to be able to rotate the placement portion 30, the placement portion 30 can be rotated with a simple configuration as compared with a case where the placement portion 30 is placed on a rotary table or the like to be rotated, for example. Thus, the product cost of the terminal holding fixture 10 can be reduced. Further, by pulling the shaft 62 out of the shaft hole 35a of the placement portion 30, each portion of the terminal holding device 10 can be integrally detached from the base member 60 (table). Therefore, each part of the terminal holding device 10 can be easily cleaned and replaced.

In this case, the placing portion 30 can also be rotated by providing a shaft hole recessed downward on the base member 60 side (table side) and providing a shaft (protruding downward) that can be inserted into the shaft hole in the placing portion 30. However, since the base member 60 is fixed to the table of the customer seat, in the configuration in which the shaft hole is provided on the base member 60 side, dirt such as food and drink is likely to enter the shaft hole, and cleaning thereof becomes difficult.

In contrast, in the present embodiment, since the shaft 62 is provided in the base member 60, even if dirt adheres to the shaft 62 of the base member 60, cleaning can be easily performed. Further, since the shaft hole 35a is provided on the side of the placement portion 30 that can be detached from the base member 60 (table), cleaning can be easily performed even if the inside of the shaft hole 35a is contaminated.

Next, a case where the terminal holding device 10 is rotated at the customer seat 2 will be described with reference to fig. 5. Fig. 5 (a) is a plan view of the customer seat 2 before the terminal holder 10 is rotated, and fig. 5 (b) is a plan view of the customer seat after the terminal holder 10 is rotated.

As described above, the terminal holding fixture 10 is configured to be rotatable by 30 ° between the first position (the state of fig. 5 (a)) where the restriction surface 61b of the base member 60 abuts against the inner wall surface of the recess 34 (see fig. 4) of the placement portion 30 and the second position (the state of fig. 5 (b)) where the restriction surface 61c abuts against the inner wall surface of the recess 34. In the following description, a state in which the terminal holding fixture 10 is disposed at the first position is defined as an "initial state", and a state in which the terminal holding fixture 10 is rotated to the second position is defined as a "rotated state". Further, a customer seat on which the terminal holding device 10 shown in fig. 5 is placed is denoted by "customer seat 2 a", and other customer seats adjacent to the right side of the customer seat 2a are denoted by "customer seat 2 b".

As shown in fig. 5, the terminal holding device 10 is disposed at the right end side of the table of the customer seat 2a, and in the initial state (the state of fig. 5 a), the front-back direction (the F-B direction in fig. 2 to 4) of the placement portion 30 and the holding portion 50 coincides with the depth direction (the vertical direction of fig. 5 a) of the customer seat 2. In addition, since the rotation of the loading unit 30 and the holding unit 50 is stopped in the initial state, the rotation until the holding unit 50 (terminal T) goes beyond the other customer seat 2b can be suppressed.

On the other hand, in the rotated state (the state of fig. 5 (b)), the front-back direction of the placement unit 30 and the holding unit 50 is inclined with respect to the depth direction of the customer seat 2, and the customer seated on the customer seat 2a is in a state of facing the front side surfaces of the placement unit 30 and the holding unit 50. In this state, the rotation of the placement unit 30 and the holding unit 50 is stopped, whereby the label 5 can be easily attached to the attachment plate 20 and the operation of the terminal T can be easily performed. Further, since the placement unit 30 and the holding unit 50 (terminal T) can be prevented from being excessively rotated to the center side (the left side in fig. 5 (b)) of the customer seat 2a, the reduction in the table space of the customer seat 2a can be suppressed.

In the initial state, the rear end portion of the placement portion 30 is disposed substantially parallel to the wall surface 3a of the conveyance path 3 so as to be adjacent to the wall surface 3a of the conveyance path 3. In this case, for example, if the shaft 62 that supports the bearing unit 30 is disposed on the right end side of the center of the bearing unit 30 in the left-right direction, the bearing unit 30 tends to have a rotational locus close to the wall surface 3a of the conveyance path 3. Therefore, in order to prevent the wall surface 3a of the conveyance path 3 from interfering with the rotation of the placement unit 30, the placement unit 30 must be disposed at a position away from the wall surface 3a of the conveyance path 3.

In contrast, in the present embodiment, since the shaft 62 is located on the left end side of the center in the left-right direction of the placement unit 30, it is possible to suppress the placement unit 30 from having a rotational locus close to the wall surface 3a of the conveyance path 3. Thus, since the placement unit 30 can be disposed close to the wall surface 3a of the conveyance path 3, a table space for the customer seat 2a on the front side of the terminal holding device 10 can be secured.

Further, since the shaft 62 is positioned on the left end side of the center in the left-right direction of the placement unit 30, the placement unit 30 can be easily rotated by holding the terminal T and the holding unit 50 with hands. That is, since the connecting portion 40 connecting the mounting portion 30 and the holding portion 50 is connected to the right end side of the mounting portion 30, when the holding portion 50 and the terminal T are held by hand and the mounting portion 30 is intended to be rotated, a force intended to be rotated acts on the right end portion of the mounting portion 30 (the connecting position of the connecting portion 40).

In contrast, by positioning the shaft 62 on the left end side of the center of the placement unit 30 in the left-right direction, the shaft 62 can be disposed at a position away from the position where the force to rotate the placement unit 30 acts (the position at which the connection unit 40 is connected to the right end portion of the placement unit 30). Accordingly, when the holder 50 and the terminal T are pulled toward the customer side (lower left side of fig. 5 (a)) to rotate the mounting unit 30, the moment about the shaft 62 can be easily increased, and thus the mounting unit 30 can be easily rotated.

Here, the camera T1 of the terminal T of the present embodiment is disposed at the upper left end of the terminal T. In this case, for example, when the terminal T is held in a posture in which the camera T1 is positioned at the lower right end of the holding portion 50, the holding portion 50 needs to be arranged at a position shifted to the left side from the center in the left-right direction of the placement portion 30 (patch 20). With this arrangement, the terminal T (holding portion 50) is likely to interfere with the hand of the customer when the hand is extended from the center side (left side in fig. 5 a) of the customer seat 2a to attach the tag 5 to the placement portion 30 because the terminal T protrudes further toward the center side of the customer seat 2a than the left end of the placement portion 30.

In contrast, in the present embodiment, since the holding unit 50 holds the terminal T in a state where the terminal T is positioned closer to the customer seat 2b than the left end of the placement unit 30, when the tag 5 is placed on the placement unit 30, the terminal T (the holding unit 50) can be prevented from interfering with the hand of the customer. Therefore, the tag 5 can be easily photographed.

In this way, when the camera T1 is disposed at a position offset from the center of the terminal T in the longitudinal direction (the left-right direction in fig. 5 (a)) and the short-side direction (the vertical direction in fig. 5 (a)), the terminal T needs to be held at a position offset from the center of the placement unit 30 (the attachment plate 20). That is, the holding portions 50 need to be arranged offset in the front-rear or right-left direction with respect to the placement portion 30 (the adhesion plate 20). Therefore, the arrangement space of the terminal holding fixture 10 in the front-rear or left-right direction increases accordingly.

In contrast, in the present embodiment, the optical axis C (see fig. 3) of the camera T1 is directed toward the center in the front-rear direction of the mounting unit 30 (the patch 20), but is directed toward the left side in the left-right direction of the mounting unit 30. That is, the placement unit 30 (the sticking plate 20) is disposed at a position shifted to the right side from the center in the left-right direction of the range where the camera T1 can capture images. This makes it possible to bring the patch 20 within the range of the camera T1 while reducing the amount of displacement of the terminal T (holding portion 50) in the left-right direction with respect to the placement portion 30. Therefore, since the arrangement space of the terminal holding device 10 in the left-right direction can be reduced, the table space of the customer seat 2a can be secured accordingly.

In order to secure a larger table space for the customer seat 2a in the left-right direction, the right end of the holding portion 50 is disposed at a position (a position overlapping in the up-down direction) adjacent to a boundary line L (the right end of the customer seat 2 a) between the customer seat 2a and another customer seat 2 b. In this case, for example, if the mounting unit 30 is configured such that the shaft 62 for rotating the mounting unit 30 is disposed on the distal end side of the mounting unit 30, it is difficult for the terminal T (holding unit 50) to draw a rotation locus away from the other customer seat 2b when the mounting unit 30 is rotated. That is, when the shaft 62 is positioned forward of the rear end of the holding portion 50, the terminal T has a rotational locus that extends beyond the other customer seat 2 b.

In contrast, in the present embodiment, since the shaft 62 is located at the end portion on the side of the conveyance path 3 with respect to the center in the front-rear direction of the placement unit 30, the rotation is facilitated so that the terminal T (holding unit 50) is away from the other customer seat 2b side, as compared with the case where the shaft 62 is disposed on the front end side of the placement unit 30. Therefore, even when the holding unit 50 is disposed adjacent to another customer seat 2b, the terminal T (holding unit 50) can be easily disposed at a position distant from the other customer seat 2b by rotating the placement unit 30. That is, the terminal T can be prevented from moving beyond the rotation locus to the other customer seat 2 b.

The present invention has been described above based on the above embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments at all, and it can be easily understood that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

In the above embodiment, the terminal T formed of a flat plate is exemplified as the terminal for reading the information of the tag 5, but the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. As long as the terminal can capture the image of the label 5 (medium showing the contents of the food or drink F) separated from the tray 4, another terminal (for example, a smartphone) may be used.

In the above embodiment, a hot pot restaurant that provides food and drink F such as meat is exemplified as a restaurant in which the terminal holding device 10 is installed, but the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. The terminal holder 10 and the mounting structure of the terminal holder 10 according to the above-described embodiments can be applied to any restaurant that performs payment processing after a travel based on the image taken by the terminal T.

In the above embodiment, the case where the terminal holding device 10 is disposed on the right end side of the customer seat 2 for a single person has been described, but the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. For example, the terminal holding fixture 10 may be disposed on the center side in the left-right direction of the customer seat 2, or the terminal holding fixture 10 may be disposed on the left end side of the customer seat 2. When the terminal holder 10 is disposed on the left end side of the customer seat 2, it is preferably configured to be bilaterally symmetrical to the terminal holder 10 of the above embodiment. This allows the terminal holding device 10 to have the same function as the terminal holding device 10 of the above embodiment.

In the above embodiment, the case where the terminal holding device 10 is installed in the customer seat 2 for a single person has been described, but the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. For example, the terminal holding device 10 may be installed in a customer seat where a plurality of persons sit. As an example of the customer seat on which a plurality of persons sit, there is exemplified a customer seat in which a table protruding in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the conveying path 3 is provided and a plurality of customers sit along the protruding direction of the table (both sides of the table). In the case where the terminal holding device 10 is disposed adjacent to the conveyance path 3 in such a customer seat, the placement unit 30 is preferably pivotally supported at the center portion of the placement unit 30 in the conveyance direction of the conveyance path 3. This makes it possible to easily rotate the placement unit 30 (terminal T) toward customers seated on both sides of the table. In the case of a customer seat in which a plurality of customers are seated, the terminal holding device 10 may be provided at the center of the table.

In the above embodiment, the case where the label 5 is supplied to the customer together with the tray 4 and the food or drink F (article conveyed by the conveyance path 3) has been described, but the supply method of the label 5 is not necessarily limited to the manner of being placed on the tray 4. For example, a salesperson may transport the food or drink F and the label 5 to the customer seat 2.

In the above embodiment, the case where the tag 5 has a plate shape has been described, but the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. For example, the label 5 may be a polyhedron such as a rectangular parallelepiped or a cube, or a sphere. Regardless of the shape of the label 5, recesses or projections capable of suppressing rotation of the label 5 (corresponding to the outer shape of the label 5) may be provided in the attachment plate 20 or attached by magnets as in the above-described embodiments.

In the above embodiment, the case where the label 5 is attached to the attachment plate 20 by the magnet has been described, but the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. For example, as long as the label 5 can be attached to and detached from the attachment plate 20, the method of attaching (fixing) the label 5 to the attachment plate 20 may be set as appropriate.

Therefore, for example, the label 5 may be attached (fixed) by providing a protrusion or a recess, into which the entire label 5 is fitted, on the attachment plate 20 without using a magnet. Further, a through hole may be formed in the label 5, and a projection that can be inserted into the through hole may be formed in the attachment plate 20, so that the label 5 is hooked on the projection of the attachment plate 20. That is, "configured such that the label 5 can be attached to the attachment plate 20 (attachment member)" means "configured such that the label 5 is held in the attachment area 21 of the attachment plate 20 so that the label 5 does not fall off the attachment plate 20 (attachment member)".

In the above embodiment, the case where the label 5 is attached to the attachment plate 20 to perform image recognition has been described, but the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. For example, the label 5 may be directly attached to the mounting surface 31 of the mounting unit 30 without the attachment plate 20 to perform image recognition. Therefore, for example, the placement surface 31 may be provided with projections and depressions for allowing the above-described label 5 to be attached.

In the above embodiment, the content of the food or drink F is recognized by image recognition of the character string or pattern of the label 5, but the present invention is not necessarily limited to this. For example, the content of the food or drink F may be identified based on any one or more of the pattern, color, amount, and menu code (code assigned to each content of the food or drink F and each amount) displayed on the label 5.

In the above embodiment, the case where the sticking regions 21 of 3 rows × 3 columns (multiple rows × multiple columns) are formed on the sticking plate 20 (the sticking regions 21 are regularly formed) has been described, but the present invention is not necessarily limited to this. For example, the plurality of attachment areas 21 may be irregularly distributed on the attachment plate 20, or the attachment areas 21 may be omitted.

In the above embodiment, the case where the plurality of tags 5 are attached to the attachment plate 20, that is, the case where the plurality of tags 5 are simultaneously subjected to image recognition has been described, but the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which image recognition is performed by attaching one label 5 to the attachment plate 20 (fixing one label 5 to the placement surface 31).

In the above embodiment, the case where the label 5 is aligned by forming the attaching area 21 (frame line) on the attaching plate 20 has been described, but the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. For example, the label 5 may be fitted into a recess (protrusion) formed by providing the attachment plate 20 with an attachment region 21 configured as a recess (protrusion) surrounding a part or all of the outline of the label 5, and the orientation may be aligned (rotation is restricted).

In addition, as a shape for easily aligning the orientation of the label 5, a case where the corner portion 5a (corner portion 22) is provided in the label 5 (the attachment region 21 of the attachment plate 20) has been described, but the shape is not necessarily limited thereto. For example, the shape of the label 5 (the sticking region 21) in a plan view may be circular, but the shape of the label 5 (the sticking region 21) in a plan view is preferably a non-circular shape such as a polygon or a shape in which a straight line and a curved line are combined, and more preferably a shape having no rotational symmetry as in the above-described embodiment. That is, it is preferable that the orientation of the label 5 can be limited when the label is attached along the attachment area 21, and for example, even if the shape of the label 5 in a plan view is a regular polygon, the adjustment of the front-back orientation can be performed more easily than in the case of a circle. However, if the label 5 (the application area 21) is a regular polygon, the label 5 (the application area 21) may not be applied in the correct direction. Therefore, by forming the labels 5 (the application region 21) in a shape having no rotational symmetry as in the above-described embodiment, the labels 5 applied to the application region 21 can be reliably aligned in the correct orientation.

In the above embodiment, the case where the attachment plate 20 is formed in a rectangular plate shape has been described, but the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. The attachment plate 20 may be formed in a circular or polygonal plate shape. The attachment plate 20 may be formed of a polyhedron other than a rectangular plate (rectangular parallelepiped). That is, the shape of the sticking plate 20 may be set as appropriate as long as the label 5 can be stuck (fixed) on the upper surface.

In the above embodiment, the case where the attachment plate 20 is held on the mounting surface 31 of the mounting portion 30 so as not to rotate has been described, but the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. For example, the attachment plate 20 may be rotatably held by the mounting portion 30, but it is preferable that a regulating mechanism for making at least the attachment plate 20 difficult to rotate is provided in the mounting portion 30. This can improve the accuracy of image recognition of the label 5 attached to the attachment plate 20.

In the above embodiment, the case where the mounting surface 31 of the mounting portion 30 is parallel to the supporting surface 51a of the holding portion 50 has been described, but the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. For example, the mounting surface 31 of the mounting portion 30 may not be parallel to the supporting surface 51a of the holding portion 50.

In the above embodiment, the case where the mounting surface 31 of the mounting portion 30 and the supporting surface 51a of the holding portion 50 are each a plane inclined with respect to the horizontal direction has been described, but the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. For example, the placement surface 31 and the support surface 51a may be configured to be horizontal surfaces.

In the above embodiment, the case where the placement unit 30 is configured to be rotatable with respect to the base member 60 (the table of the customer seat 2) has been described, but the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. For example, the placement unit 30 may not be rotatable with respect to the base member 60 (the table of the customer seat 2). The placement unit 30 may be configured to be slidably displaceable with respect to the base member 60 (the table of the customer seat 2).

In the above embodiment, the case where the shaft 62 is inserted into the shaft hole 35a to pivotally support the placement unit 30 has been described, but the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. For example, a known rotation mechanism such as a turntable can be used to rotate the placement unit 30. The placing unit 30 may be rotated by a holder such as a bearing.

In the above embodiment, the case where the shaft 62 for rotating the mounting unit 30 is provided at the end (upper left end) of the left end of the mounting unit 30 on the conveyance path 3 side has been described, but the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. For example, the shaft 62 for rotating the placement unit 30 may be appropriately provided at the center of the placement unit 30, at the four corners of the placement unit 30, or the like, but the shaft 62 is preferably disposed at a position closer to the left end side than the center in the left-right direction of the placement unit 30 and closer to the end on the conveyance path 3 side than the center in the front-rear direction of the placement unit 30.

In the above embodiment, the case where the connection portion 40 is formed in a plate shape has been described, but the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. For example, the connection portion 40 may have a cylindrical or prismatic shape (rod shape).

In the above embodiment, the case where the connection portion 40 is connected to the right end of the placement portion 30 has been described, but the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. For example, the connection portion 40 may be connected to the left end, the rear end, the front end of the placement portion 30, or the center side (not the end portion but the center) of the placement portion 30. That is, although the connection position between the connection portion 40 and the placement portion 30 can be appropriately set, it is preferable that the connection portion 40 is connected to an end portion of the placement portion 30 on the side opposite to the customer seated on the customer seat 2, and at least the front side of the placement surface 31 (the upper surface of the patch panel 20) of the placement portion 30 and the center side of the customer seat 2 are open.

In the above embodiment, the case where the placing portion 30 and the holding portion 50 are coupled by the coupling portion 40 has been described, but the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. For example, the mounting portion 30 and the holding portion 50 may be formed separately without the connecting portion 40. That is, the placement unit 30 and the holding unit 50 may be configured to be individually displaceable (rotatable or slidable) with respect to the table and the wall surface 3a of the conveyance path 3. The placement unit 30 and the holding unit 50 may be fixed to the table or the wall surface 3a of the conveyance path 3 separately.

In the above embodiment, the case where the terminal T is configured to be slidable with respect to the support surface 51a of the holding portion 50 (support plate 51) has been described, but the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. For example, the terminal T may be held in a state of being unable to displace relative to the holding portion 50. As an example of such a configuration, a configuration in which the terminal T is elastically held by the pair of lateral regulating pieces 53 that are elastically deformable, and a configuration in which the terminal T is held by pressing the pair of lateral regulating pieces 53 using an elastic body such as a spring can be illustrated. In addition, the terminal T may be fixed to the holding portion 50 by screwing or the like so that the customer cannot substantially attach or detach the terminal T.

In the above embodiment, the case where the terminal T is held by the holding portion 50 in a posture where the optical axis C is directed to the position of the front-rear direction center of the placement portion 30 (patch 20) and the position of the terminal T is shifted to the left end side from the left-right direction center has been described, but the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto.

For example, the terminal T may be held in a posture in which the optical axis C is directed to a position deviated from the center of the mounting portion 30 (the patch 20) in the front-rear direction, the center of the mounting portion 30 in the left-right direction, or the right end side of the mounting portion 30 in the left-right direction. That is, the terminal T may be held at a position where at least the placement unit 30 (the attachment plate 20) falls within the range where the camera T1 can capture images, but it is preferable that the holding position of the terminal T be set according to the arrangement position of the camera T1 on the terminal T.

Therefore, for example, in the above embodiment, the terminal T may be held in a posture in which the optical axis C is directed to a position more toward the rear end side than the center in the front-rear direction of the placement unit 30 (the patch 20). With this configuration, since the placement unit 30 and the holding unit 50 can be disposed close to each other in the front-rear direction, the arrangement space of the terminal holding device 10 in the front-rear direction can be reduced.

That is, when the camera T1 is located at a position offset to one side (upper left side in the above-described embodiment) from the center of the mobile terminal T, it is preferable to hold the terminal T at a position offset to one side (upper left side) from the center of the placement surface 31 (upper surface of the attachment plate 20). This allows the placement surface 31 (the upper surface of the patch 20) to fall within the range of the camera T1, while the placement portion 30 and the holding portion 50 are disposed as close as possible.

In the above embodiment, the case where the shaft 62 is provided on the base member 60 and the shaft hole 35a into which the shaft 62 is inserted is provided on the placement portion 30 has been described, but the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. For example, a shaft hole may be provided on the base member 60 side, and a shaft that can be inserted into the shaft hole may be provided on the placement portion 30 side.

In the above embodiment, the case where the rotation of the placement unit 30 is regulated by the regulating surfaces 61b and 61b of the base portion 61 of the base member 60 has been described, but the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. For example, the stopper may be erected on the base portion 61 exposed from the placement portion 30. Further, a stopper, which is a member separate from the placement portion 30 and the base member 60, may be provided upright on the table, and may be brought into contact with the outer surface of the placement portion 30 and the inner wall surface of the recess 34. Further, a projection may protrude from the placement unit 30 or the base member 60 (table) and a recess (a recess formed along a rotation locus of the projection and capable of restricting a rotation range of the projection within a predetermined angle) into which the projection is fitted may be provided.

Description of the reference numerals

1: bar counter

2. 2a, 2 b: customer seat

3: conveying path

4: tray

5: label (R)

6: cooking device

10: terminal holder

20: pasting board (pasting component)

21: attachment area

30: placing part

31: carrying surface

32: front limit sheet (limiting part of placing part)

33: horizontal limiting piece (limiting part of loading part)

34: concave part

35 a: shaft hole

40: connecting part (limiting part of placing part)

50: holding part

51 a: bearing surface

52: front limit sheet (limit part of holding part)

53: transverse restricting piece (restricting part of holding part)

60: base component (limiting mechanism)

61b, 61 c: limit surfaces (side of base component)

62: shaft (rotating shaft of loading part)

C: optical axis

F: food or drink

T: terminal device

T1: camera (shooting mechanism)

Claims (21)

1. A terminal holder for placing a terminal having an imaging means for reading information on food or drink from a tag at a customer seat, comprising:

a placement unit having a placement surface on which a plurality of the tags can be placed; and

and a holding unit configured to hold the terminal at a photographable position where the tag placed on the placing surface of the placing unit falls within a photographing range of the photographing means.

2. Terminal holding fixture according to claim 1,

the terminal holder includes an attachment member configured to attach the plurality of labels and to be detachably mounted on the mounting surface.

3. Terminal holding fixture according to claim 2,

the attachment member is formed in a plate shape,

the placement portion is configured to be able to stack a plurality of the sticking members on the placement surface.

4. Terminal holding fixture according to claim 2 or 3,

the placement portion includes a restriction portion that restricts rotation of the attachment member placed on the placement surface.

5. Terminal holding fixture according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

when the terminal is held by the holding portion, an optical axis of the imaging mechanism is orthogonal to the mounting surface.

6. Terminal holding fixture according to claim 5,

the mounting surface is inclined with respect to a horizontal direction.

7. Terminal holding fixture according to claim 6,

the holding portion includes:

a support surface for supporting the terminal from below, the support surface being inclined in parallel with the placement surface; and

a regulating portion which is erected from an outer edge side of the support surface and is configured to regulate displacement of the terminal end to a lower end side and both sides in a horizontal direction of the support surface,

the restricting portion is not formed on the upper end side of the support surface.

8. The terminal holding fixture according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the terminal holding fixture comprises:

a connecting portion that connects the placement portion and the holding portion;

a base member configured to be fixable to a table of the customer seat and to pivotally support the placement portion to be rotatable; and

and a restricting mechanism for restricting the rotation of the placement unit with respect to the base member within a predetermined angle.

9. Terminal holding fixture according to claim 8,

the base member is provided with a shaft for pivotally supporting the mounting portion, and the mounting portion is provided with a shaft hole into which the shaft is inserted.

10. Terminal holding fixture according to claim 8,

the placing part is provided with a concave part formed on the lower surface side of the placing part,

the base member is formed in a shape accommodated in the inside of the recess,

the restricting mechanism is configured by an inner wall surface of the recess abutting against a side surface of the base member.

11. The terminal holding fixture according to claim 10,

the mounting portion includes a plate-like body, an upper surface of the plate-like body is configured as the mounting surface and is inclined downward from a rear end side to a front end side,

the upper surface of the recess is inclined downward from the rear end side to the front end side along the plate-like body,

the shaft is disposed on a rear end side of the recess.

12. Terminal holding fixture according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

the holding portion is configured to hold the terminal at a position above the placement surface.

13. Terminal holding fixture according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

the holding portion has a support surface for supporting the terminal from below,

the mounting surface is formed in parallel with the support surface.

14. Terminal holding fixture according to claim 2 or 3,

the attachment member is provided with a plurality of attachment areas for attaching the label,

the attachment area is configured to be able to define an orientation of the label.

15. The terminal holding fixture according to claim 14,

the attachment region is formed in a shape having no rotational symmetry.

16. An attachment structure of a terminal holding device, comprising:

the customer seat for an individual configured with the terminal holding instrument of claim 8;

a plurality of the customer seats are arranged in the bar counter side by side; and

a transport path arranged adjacent to the bar counter and transporting the tray on which the food or drink and the label are placed to the plurality of customer seats,

the terminal holders respectively disposed at the plurality of customer seats are disposed at one end side of the customer seats in the transport direction of the transport path,

the connecting portion is connected to one end side of the placement portion in the conveyance direction of the conveyance path.

17. The fitting structure of a terminal holding fixture according to claim 16,

the rotation axis of the placement unit is located on the other end side of the center of the placement unit in the conveyance direction of the conveyance path.

18. The fitting structure of a terminal holding fixture according to claim 16,

the holding unit is configured to hold the terminal in a state where the terminal is positioned closer to one end side of the customer seat than the other end of the placement unit in the conveyance direction of the conveyance path.

19. The fitting structure of a terminal holding fixture according to claim 18,

the holding unit is configured to hold the terminal in a posture in which an optical axis of the imaging mechanism is directed toward the other end side than a center of the mounting surface in the conveying direction of the conveying path.

20. The fitting structure of a terminal holding fixture according to claim 17,

the rotation shaft of the placement unit is located closer to the conveyance path than the center of the placement unit in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the conveyance path.

21. The fitting structure of a terminal holding fixture according to claim 16,

the customer seat is provided with a cooking device for cooking the food and drink,

the cooking device is disposed on the other end side of the customer seat in the conveyance direction of the conveyance path.

Images