EP2983566B1 - Catering system - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a restaurant system (also: catering system) according to the preamble of claim 1. Such a restaurant system comprises at least one work area for cooking and / or preparing food and / or drinks and at least one guest area. Work area and guest area are connected via a transport system for food and / or drinks. The transport system is designed to transport food and / or drinks from the work area to the guest area. The transport system has at least one first transport section, in which the transport of food and / or drinks from the work area to the guest area takes place at least in sections by means of gravity. Such a restaurant system is out DE 10 2005 059 188 B4 and EP 1 833 331 B1 known. A transport system with a moving extension unit is off WO2011065141 A1 known. The term "restaurant system" is understood to mean not only systems for restaurants in the narrower sense, but rather systems for all types of catering, ie restaurants and restaurants, for example, mobile or permanently installed food stalls, beer gardens, fast food restaurants and drive-in restaurants , Under a restaurant system is also understood a mobile trolley, which can be pushed, for example, in restaurants or children's hotels from table to table to the food and / or drinks spectacular, for example, by a looping driving on or served at the respective table. In general, mobile serving or snack systems, for example, systems designed as trailers or self-propelled devices, are also understood to be restaurant systems in the meaning of the invention.

For example, the workspace is an area that includes the kitchen and / or bar. It may, for example, at a food stall but also just a simple place to prepare or prepare food and / or drinks. Furthermore, the work area can also simply be the area in which food and / or drinks are placed in or on the transport system, as may be the case for example with the serving trolley mentioned above. The guest area is the area in which the guests of the restaurant, food stall, beer garden, etc. stay. Usually there are tables and chairs here. It can also be a bar counter or a drive-in area where guests can get food and / or drinks delivered to their car. Under guest area but also, for example, at a food stall, a simple output range for food and / or drinks, at which the guests receive their food and / or drinks, understood. The transport of food and / or drinks takes place in a first transport section from the work area to the guest area via the transport system at least in sections by means of gravity. This means that neither a waiter brings food and drinks to the guests, nor that the guests have to pick up the food and drinks themselves. Also, in the first transport section no completely electrically driven or otherwise driven transport systems for food and drinks, such as conveyor belts, as is known from some restaurants, especially Japanese restaurants. The out DE 10 2005 059 188 B4 and EP 1 833 331 B1 known transport of food and drink by gravity requires at the beginning of transport in the first transport section a minimum of potential energy of food and / or drinks. Unless the work area is higher than the guest area or not high enough in relation to the guest area to allow food and / or drinks to be transported, at least in sections, by gravity, this leads to the requirement of the restaurant system that the food and / or or beverages can be transported in a relation to the guest area higher position to allow transport in the first transport section by gravity.

The present invention is therefore based on the object of specifying a new restaurant system or a new method for operating a restaurant system, in particular a restaurant system or a method for operating a restaurant system, transported in the food and / or drinks in a relation to the guest area higher position can be.

This object is achieved with regard to the restaurant system by the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are specified in the respective dependent claims.

The restaurant system according to the invention is characterized in that the transport system has a second transport section, which is arranged upstream of the first transport section in a provided transport direction of the food and / or drinks, wherein the second transport section has an elevator which is adapted to the food and / or To transport drinks in a position opposite the guest area. The elevator according to the invention can be designed to transport the food and / or drinks obliquely upwards. However, an embodiment of the elevator is preferred, in which the food and / or drinks are transported substantially upwards parallel to the force of gravity, ie the transport with the elevator takes place substantially vertically upwards, directed against gravity. The food and / or drinks are transported by supplying potential energy to the food and / or drinks in the second transport section, which energy is converted into kinetic energy by acceleration of the food and / or drinks in the first transport section. The food and / or drinks move in this way in the first transport section at least in sections, even without additional drive on. By converting the potential energy supplied into the second transport section into kinetic energy, they can also carry frictional forces and / or during further transport Overcome sections with gradients. The potential energy supplied in the second transport section thus makes it possible for the food and / or drinks in the first transport section to be transported completely or at least in sections by means of gravity.

Not a part of the transport system is considered a manual activity (activity by people). In the proposed restaurant system provides in accordance with a variant of workers in or on the work area only the food and drinks - possibly in suitable containers - in the transport system, in a particularly advantageous variant in special transport aids, such as transport carriage, and the guest removes in the guest area Food and / or drinks from the transport system.
The advantages of the invention are in particular to supply the food and / or drinks by transport in a position opposite the guest area higher potential energy, which can then be converted during transport of food and / or drinks to the guest area at least partially into kinetic energy by the Food and / or drinks in the first transport section are accelerated by gravity. This allows a harmless feeding the food and / or drinks from the work area in the guest area. A further advantage of the restaurant system according to the invention is that the working area and the guest area can be arranged as desired, in particular the working area does not have to be higher than the guest area, for example the working area and the guest area can be at one level. The transportation of the food and / or drinks by the transport system takes place in that the necessary potential energy is supplied to the food and / or drinks by the elevator, which is then at least partially converted into kinetic energy, and which is sufficient to the rest of the transport path completely or at least in sections without further drive and without further energy supply to go through. The kinetic energy is thereby reduced, for example, by performing friction and lifting work, the potential energy obtained by lifting work by means of Gravity at least partially converted back into kinetic energy and thus can be used again to transport the food and / or drinks.

The transport system may consist of a first and a second transport section. But it is also possible that the transport system additionally comprises a third transport section, which is upstream of the second transport section in a planned transport direction of the food and / or drinks and in which the transport of food and / or drinks from the work area to the guest area at least partially by gravity he follows. In the first and third transport section, the transport thus takes place at least in sections by means of gravity, in the second transport section provided between these transport sections by means of an elevator.
It may also be provided that the transport system has two or more first transport sections in series, in which the food and / or drinks are transported from the work area to the guest area at least in sections by means of gravity, wherein the transport system has two or more second transport sections, which in a predetermined transport direction of the food and / or drinks are each preceded by one of the first transport section, wherein the second transport sections each have an elevator which is adapted to transport the food and / or drinks in a relation to the guest area higher position.
Except for the above-mentioned basic embodiment, the different first transport sections and the different second transport sections do not have to correspond to each other, so they may well be configured differently. Such a design of the transport system is particularly advantageous when in a single second transport section the food and / or drinks supplied potential energy is not sufficient to allow complete transport of food and / or drinks from the work area to the guest area by gravity.

This is particularly the case when the height of the position higher in relation to the guest area in a single second transport section is not large enough in relation to the distance from the work area to the guest area to provide enough potential energy.

According to the invention, the elevator is designed to transport the food and / or drinks upwards substantially in parallel to the force of gravity. According to the invention, it is provided that the elevator has at least one movable elevator unit which carries the food and / or drinks during the transport of the food and / or drinks by elevator. According to the invention, it is further provided that the elevator unit can be forwarded between a receiving position in which the food and / or drinks to be transported can be fed to the elevator unit and a transfer position arranged above the receiving position, in which the food or drinks can be forwarded by the elevator unit to the first transport section are, is mobile.
According to one embodiment, the elevator has one or two or more sensors which detect the reaching of the receiving position and / or the transfer position.
For example, these sensors transmit the reaching of the pickup position and / or the transfer position to a control device of the elevator, which stops the movement of the elevator unit. As a result, the feeding of the food and / or drinks in the receiving position of the elevator unit and the forwarding of the food and / or drinks in the transfer position of the elevator unit are made possible. It can also be provided that the sensors monitor the loading state of the elevator unit and transmit to the control device whether food and / or drinks are located on or at the elevator unit. Thus, the control device can release a movement of the elevator unit, provided that in the transfer position the food and / or drinks were forwarded to the first transport section or release a movement of the elevator unit, if a loading of the elevator unit was made in the receiving position. An advantageous development sees in that the elevator unit has at least one barrier which, in a closed state, blocks a movement of the food and / or drinks carried by the elevator unit and, in an open state, a movement of the food and / or drinks carried by the elevator unit, in particular a forwarding the first transport section, releases. Such a barrier is particularly advantageous when the food and / or drinks are inclined on the elevator unit substantially relative to a horizontal. Gravity then acts on the food and / or drinks and would transport them without disability in the direction of inclination. This movement by gravity is prevented by the barrier in the closed state and released by the barrier in the open state, in particular targeted for forwarding to the first transport section. The at least one barrier can be connected to the above-mentioned control device. If, for example, one of the sensors signals the reaching of the transfer position to the control device, it can transfer the barrier from the closed to the open state and thus release the forwarding of the food and / or drinks to the first transport section.
Furthermore, at least one or at least two or more barriers may be provided in the first and / or in the second transport section, which are coupled to sensors and / or the control unit. For example, an upstream second, an upstream first, a downstream second and a downstream first transport sections may be provided in the transport direction of the food and / or drinks, wherein the elevators each have a barrier in the second transport sections and wherein the elevator comprises sensors in the downstream second transport section that recognize the loading status (loaded or free) of the elevator. The information about the loading status is forwarded to the control device, which opens or closes the barrier at the elevator of the upstream second transport section depending on the respective loading status. If the elevator is free in the downstream second transport section, the barrier on the elevator in the upstream second transport section is also released or remains open. Is the elevator loaded in the downstream second transport section, Thus, the barrier on the elevator in the upstream second transport section is not released or remains closed. Furthermore, it may be provided that a barrier remains closed on the elevator in the upstream second transport section as long as the elevator unit of the elevator moves upwards in the downstream second transport section and is reopened as soon as the elevator unit has arrived again at the pickup point.

For example, the barrier is a mechanical coupling mechanism with an L-shaped angle piece, wherein the short side of the angle piece in the closed state forms the attachment point for the transport aids or the food and / or drinks. A development of the invention provides that the elevator comprises one or two or more, preferably substantially vertically arranged, guide rods for guiding the elevator unit during the movement between the receiving position and the transfer position.
Furthermore, it can be provided that the elevator unit for guiding on the guide rod (s) has two or three or more wheels per guide bar arranged such that at least two of the wheels are moved along opposite sides of the guide bars during movement of the elevator unit.

For example, the wheels may be formed in a double-cone shape, wherein the guide rods are guided in a region between the two cones on a cylindrical center piece. Preferably, three wheels per guide rod are provided, wherein the axes of rotation of the wheels are perpendicular to the guide rods and the wheels lie in a plane perpendicular to the axes of rotation. The wheels are arranged in the plane in the form of a triangle, preferably in the form of an isosceles triangle, wherein the guide rods are respectively arranged between the base and the top of the isosceles triangle. Furthermore, it can be provided that the wheels are equipped with a brake against unintentional rapid slipping of the elevator unit, for example, when a tensile element tearing. Furthermore, it can be provided that the Elevator unit has a frame construction preferably with two mounting plates on which the wheels are rotatably mounted.

Preferably, a fixed connecting piece is arranged at or near an upper end of the guide rods such that the food and / or drinks can be forwarded from the elevator unit in its transfer position via the connecting piece to the first transport section.
According to one embodiment variant, the position of the connection piece is adjustable at or near the upper end of the guide rods, in particular one or more attachment means of the connection piece are releasably detachable on one or more of the guide rods and can be refastened to the guide rod (s).
Alternatively or additionally, the position of the fitting may be adjustable at or near the lower end of the guide rods. A particularly advantageous development of the invention provides that the elevator has a drive system with a motor and at least one or at least two traction elements moved by the motor, in particular traction ropes or drawstrings, wherein the elevator unit is connected to the traction element or traction elements in such a way that the Elevator unit is moved by the tension element or the tension elements. Each tension member, such as each pull rope or drawstring, can be stretched circumferentially between a drive roller on the engine and a pulley.
For example, the motor may be arranged with the drive roller at or near the lower end of the guide rods and the deflection roller at or near the upper end of the guide rods. To connect the elevator unit with the one or more tension elements, for example, a tensioning elements clamping mechanical connection can be provided, which ensures a stable and slip-resistant attachment. The provision of two or more tension members has in comparison to the provision of only one tension member the advantage of greater security against accidental slippage of the elevator unit in a failure, such as tearing, the tension members. Should this actually happen, the additional tension member still holds the elevator unit in place.

The elevator may further comprise a base plate at or near the lower end of the guide rods. At this base plate, the guide rods and / or the motor can be attached. Furthermore, a control device of the elevator, which may also include the control devices already mentioned above, may be arranged on or also underneath the base plate. According to a development of the invention, the elevator comprises an emergency stop system, wherein the emergency stop system comprises a number of tension elements corresponding number of contact elements, wherein in normal operation each contact element with one tension element in contact and is interrupted in malfunction of the contact.
Under normal operation, the state of the elevator is understood in which no errors, such as the tearing of a tension element or several tension elements, occur or have occurred. Furthermore, in normal operation, the tension elements between the drive roller and pulley are tensioned.

If there is a malfunction, i. that one or more tension elements break, the contact between the respective tension elements and the contact elements is interrupted and the emergency stop system is triggered, wherein the elevator is stopped by stopping the engine. After the repair of the damaged tension element or the damaged tension elements, the elevator can be restarted by a special key position on the control device. Furthermore, it can be provided that the elevator comprises a braking device with brake elements, wherein the braking elements are hindered in normal operation by the tension elements in their braking effect, however, is made in faulty operation by tearing the tension elements between the brake elements and other parts of the elevator contact, so that the Elevator is slowed down. Preferably, the device can be supported with the brake elements on the tension elements.

In this way it is ensured that a braking effect already occurs when a tensile element tears. For example, the brake device can then be released manually and / or mechanically again become. According to a development of the invention, the elevator has a protective box which surrounds the elevator unit in its receiving position at least laterally and / or the elevator unit has a protective box, which is movable with the elevator unit and surrounds the elevator unit at least laterally.
In the event that the elevator has a protective box which at least laterally surrounds the elevator unit in its receiving position, the protective box is preferably a stationary protective box which is not moved by the elevator unit.
It may be in the protective box to a protective box with four side walls, for example, stand on a floor or on the aforementioned base plate. The upper side of the protective box may be open so as not to obstruct the movement of the elevator unit. Preferably, the walls of the protective box are completely or partially transparent or translucent.
For example, the walls may be formed substantially of Plexiglas. Furthermore, in the case where the elevator unit comprises a protective box which is movable with the elevator unit and at least laterally surrounds the elevator unit, it may be provided that the elevator has one or two or more sensors which intervene in the operator's intervention Track of the elevator unit along the guide rods recognize. For example, an optical or an acoustic warning signal can be emitted or the elevator can be switched off if an operator intervenes in the travel path of the elevator unit. In this way, injuries to the operating personnel can be prevented.

According to a development, the protective box has a loading opening, via which food and / or drinks of the elevator unit can be fed into their receiving position. The loading opening can be provided with a door, in particular with a sliding door. It is advantageous to provide a sensor which detects an approach and automatically opens the door of the loading opening and closes again after feeding the food and / or drinks.

But it can also be provided manual control devices for opening and closing the door. A particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the first transport section of the transport system comprises at least two substantially parallel slide rails and / or roller tracks, in particular at least two in cross-section at least substantially circular or oval or rectangular slide rails and / or roller tracks, on which the food and / or drinks by means of transport aids, in particular sliding pads and / or sliding devices and / or rolling devices, at least partially transported by gravity, and that the elevator unit has a Gleitschienen- or roller conveyor number in the first transport section corresponding number of substantially parallel transfer rails carrying, during the transport of the food and / or drinks by elevator, the food and / or drinks placed or brought into the transport aids, the transfer rails form in the transfer position of the elevator unit a continuation of the slide rails and / or roller conveyors in the first transport section in a direction opposite to the intended transport direction of the food and / or drinks.

The transport aids may comprise, for example, two or more guide components which at least partially surround the slide rails and / or roller tracks, which engage around at least half of the slide rail or roller conveyor circumference, which preferably surround at least two thirds of the slide rail or roller conveyor circumference.
The guide components can be connected to each other, for example, via a ring component, in which a container with the food and / or drinks to be transported is set or mounted, wherein the ring component is preferably movably connected to the guide components. It can be provided that the elevator is designed such that the elevator one or two or more transport aids simultaneously can transport. The transfer rails can, but need not necessarily, directly adjoin the slide rails and / or roller tracks.

For example, as explained below, intermediate rails of a connection piece already described can also be provided between the transfer rails and the slide rails and / or roller tracks. The connecting piece preferably has a number of essentially parallel intermediate rails corresponding to the number of slide rails or roller tracks in the first transport section, which form a continuation of the slide rails and / or roller tracks and in the transfer position of the elevator unit between the slide rails and / or roller conveyors and the transfer rails are arranged.

An advantageous development provides that the transfer rails and / or the intermediate rails in the direction of the intended transport direction of the food and / or drinks down, that is in the direction of gravity, are inclined. This has the advantage that gravity accelerates the transport aids with the food and / or drinks in the intended direction of transport. It can be provided that the transfer rails and / or the intermediate rails are formed from a plurality of successively arranged, rotatably mounted wheels or rollers whose axis of rotation is oriented in each case substantially perpendicular to the transport direction provided at its position. It may alternatively be provided that the transfer rails and / or the intermediate rails are designed as slide rails.
It can be provided that the transport aids are guided by the wheels or rollers along the transfer and / or intermediate rails, in particular - with a corresponding design of the transport aids - on resting on the wheels or rollers guide components of the transport aids. This has the advantage that the frictional forces are significantly lower than when using a slide for the transfer and intermediate rails and thus the acceleration of the transport aids with the food and / or drinks from the stand at much lower Inclination of the rails is possible as with slide rails without wheels or rollers. In the field of transfer rails and / or intermediate rails, the transport aids are accelerated accordingly stronger than when using slides, they are therefore passed with relatively high speed to the slide rails of the first transport section or a further portion of the first transport section and can there by gravity along the slide rails be transported further.

• Positionierung der Aufzugseinheit in ihrer Aufnahmeposition;
  Anschließend Zuführen von Speisen und/oder Getränken zur Aufzugseinheit, insbesondere mittels Einstellen in oder Aufstellen auf die Aufzugseinheit;
• Anschließend Bewegung der Aufzugseinheit mit den zugeführten Speisen und/oder Getränken von der Aufnahmeposition in die Übergabeposition;
• Anschließend Weiterleitung der Speisen und/oder Getränke an den ersten Transportabschnitt;
• Anschließend Transport der Speisen und/oder Getränke über den ersten Transportabschnitt zum Gästebereich, und zwar zumindest abschnittsweise mittels Schwerkraft. Es kann vorgesehen sein, dass anschließend an die Positionierung der Aufzugseinheit in ihrer Aufnahmeposition, ein Sensor das Erreichen der Aufnahmeposition an eine Steuereinrichtung des Aufzugs übermittelt, die die Bewegung der Aufzugseinheit stoppt.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the transport system comprises slide rails in the first transport section and the transfer and intermediate rails in the second transport section are likewise designed as slide rails. Thus, the transport system would have exclusively slide rails in the entire area. It can also be provided that the transport aids comprise rollers which are arranged rotatably on the transport means such that the transport means move on rails by means of the rollers. The rollers can be designed self-braking. The method according to the invention for operating the above-described restaurant system according to the invention comprises the steps:

• Positioning the elevator unit in its receiving position;
  Subsequently supplying food and / or drinks to the elevator unit, in particular by means of setting in or placing on the elevator unit;
• Subsequently, movement of the elevator unit with the supplied food and / or drinks from the receiving position to the transfer position;
• Subsequently forwarding the food and / or drinks to the first transport section;
• Then transport the food and / or drinks over the first transport section to the guest area, at least in sections by gravity. It may be provided that, following the positioning of the elevator unit in its receiving position, a sensor Reaching the receiving position transmitted to a control device of the elevator, which stops the movement of the elevator unit.

Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that, following the movement of the elevator unit with the supplied food and / or drinks from the receiving position into the transfer position, a sensor transmits the reaching of the transfer position to a control device of the elevator, which stops the movement of the elevator unit.
An advantageous development of the method according to the invention provides that prior to the forwarding of the food and / or drinks to the first transport section, at least one barrier which, in a closed state, blocks a movement of the food and / or drinks carried by the elevator unit into an open state in which it releases a movement of the food and / or drinks carried by the elevator unit, in particular a forwarding to the first transport section. With regard to the further design of the restaurant system, for example with regard to rails and rail systems, transport aids and containers for food and / or drinks, reference is made to the in DE 10 2005 059 188 B4 and EP 1 833 331 B1 described restaurant systems.

• Es zeigen FIG 1 ein Ausführungsbeispiel eines erfindungsgemäßen Restaurantsystems in einer schematischen Ansicht;
• FIG 2 ein Ausführungsbeispiel eines Aufzugs eines erfindungsgemäßen Restaurantsystems in einer dreidimensionalen Ansicht;
• FIG 3 einen oberen Abschnitt des Aufzugs nach Fig. 2 in einer vergrößerten Detailansicht;
• FIG 4 einen unteren Abschnitt des Aufzugs nach Fig. 2 in einer vergrößerten Detailansicht;
• FIG 5 den oberen Abschnitt des Aufzugs nach Fig. 2 in einer weiteren vergrößerten Detailansicht;
• FIG 6 den unteren Abschnitt des Aufzugs nach Fig. 2 in einer weiteren vergrößerten Detailansicht.

The features of restaurant systems described in these publications can also be realized in the restaurant system according to the invention. The invention will be explained below with respect to further features and advantages with reference to the description of embodiments and with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings.

• Show it FIG. 1 an embodiment of a restaurant system according to the invention in a schematic view;
• FIG. 2 an embodiment of an elevator of a restaurant system according to the invention in a three-dimensional view;
• FIG. 3 an upper section of the elevator behind Fig. 2 in an enlarged detail view;
• FIG. 4 a lower section of the elevator behind Fig. 2 in an enlarged detail view;
• FIG. 5 the upper section of the elevator behind Fig. 2 in a further enlarged detail view;
• FIG. 6 the lower section of the elevator behind Fig. 2 in a further enlarged detail view.

Corresponding parts and components in FIG. 1 to FIG. 6 , even over the various embodiments, are denoted by the same reference numerals.
FIG. 1 shows a restaurant system according to the invention 1. The restaurant system comprises a work area 2 for cooking and / or preparing food and / or drinks and a guest area 3, wherein work area 2 and guest area 3 are connected via a transport system 4 for food and / or drinks.
The transport system is designed to transport food and / or drinks from the work area 2 to the guest area 3, wherein the transport system 4 has a first transport section 5 in which the transport of food and / or drinks from the work area 2 to the guest area 3 at least in sections by means of gravity he follows. The transport system 4 further comprises a second transport section 6, which is upstream of the first transport section 5 in a provided transport direction A of the food and / or drinks. The second transport section 6 has an elevator 7, which is designed to transport the food and / or drinks to a position opposite the guest area 3. The elevator 7 thus serves to transport the food and / or drinks substantially counter-parallel to the force of gravity, ie the transport with the elevator 7 takes place essentially vertically upwards, directed against the force of gravity.
The elevator has a fixed protective box 24, which laterally surrounds the elevator unit 8 in its receiving position 12, but which is not moved by the elevator unit 8. The protective box 24 comprises four side walls 26 which stand on the base plate 25. The upper side 27 of the protective box 24 is open so as not to hinder the movement of the elevator unit 8.

The first transport section 5 of the transport system 4 comprises two parallel and circular cross-section slide rails 19, on which the food and / or drinks are transported by means of transport aids 20, at least in sections by means of gravity.

FIG. 2 shows the elevator 7 of the restaurant system according to the invention 1. The elevator 7 has a movable elevator unit 8, which carries the food and / or drinks during the transport of food and / or drinks with the elevator 7. The elevator unit 8 is located between a receiving position 12, in which the food and / or drinks to be transported are supplied to the elevator unit 8, and a transfer position 13 arranged above the receiving position 12, in which the food / or drinks from the elevator unit 8 to the first transport section 5 are routable, movable.

The elevator 7 comprises two vertically arranged guide rods 10 for guiding the elevator unit 8 during movement between the receiving position 12 and the transfer position 13. The elevator 7 also has two sensors which detect reaching the receiving position 12 or the transfer position 13. The elevator unit 8 has parallel transfer rails 21 which, during transport of the food and / or drinks with the elevator 7, carry the food and / or drinks set or brought into the transport aid 20. The transfer rails 21 form in the transfer position 13 of the elevator unit 8 is a continuation of the two slide rails 19 in the first Transport section 5 in a direction opposite to the intended transport direction A of food and / or drinks.
The connecting piece 14 has two parallel intermediate rails 22, which form a continuation of the slide rails 19 and are arranged in the transfer position 13 of the elevator unit 8 between the slide rails 19 and the transfer rails 21.

Both the transfer rails 21 and the intermediate rails 22 are inclined in the direction of the intended transport direction A of the food and / or drinks down. The transfer rails 21 and the intermediate rails 22 are further formed of a plurality of successively arranged rotatably mounted rollers 23 whose axis of rotation is oriented in each case perpendicular to the transport direction A provided at its position.

FIG. 3 shows an upper portion of the elevator 7. At the upper end of the guide rods 10, a fixed connector 14 is arranged such that the food and / or drinks are forwarded from the elevator unit 8 in its transfer position 13 via the connector 14 to the first transport section 5. The position of the fitting 14 is adjustable at the upper end of the guide rods 10. A plurality of fastening means 15 of the connecting piece 14 are releasably attached to the guide rods 10.

These can be offset and then rearranged to readjust the position of the fitting 14 at the upper end of the guide rods 10. The elevator unit 8 has two barriers 9, which are in a closed state, in which they block a movement of the food and / or drinks carried by the elevator unit 8. Such a movement would be possible because the food and / or drinks gravity acts, since the elevator unit 8 is inclined relative to the horizontal. The barriers 9 are connected to the control device (not shown in the figures). If one of the sensors signals the reaching of the transfer position 13 to the control device (not shown in the figures), it transfers the barriers 9 from the closed to the open state and thus releases the forwarding of the food and / or drinks to the first transport section 5.
The two barriers are each a mechanical coupling mechanism with an L-shaped angle piece 32, wherein the short side of the angle piece 32 in the closed state forms the attachment point for the food and / or drinks. The elevator unit 8 has for guiding on the guide rods 10 three wheels 11, which are arranged such that each two of the wheels 11 are moved during the movement of the elevator unit 8 on opposite sides of the guide rods 10 along.

The wheels 11 are double-cone-shaped, wherein the guide rods 10 are guided in a region between the two cones on a cylindrical center piece. The axes of rotation of the wheels 11 are perpendicular to the guide rods 10 and the wheels 11 are in a plane perpendicular to the axes of rotation. The wheels 11 are arranged in the plane in the form of an isosceles triangle in the plane, wherein the guide rods 10 are each arranged between the base and the top of the isosceles triangle. The wheels 11 are arranged on a frame construction, each with a mounting plate 31 per guide rod. Each three wheels 11 per mounting plate are rotatably mounted on this. The wheels 11 are equipped with a brake against unintentional rapid slipping of the elevator unit 8, for example, when tearing a drawstring 18.

FIG. 4 and FIG. 6 show a lower portion of the elevator 7. The elevator has a drive system 16 with a motor 17 and two drawstrings 18 moved by the motor, the elevator unit 8 being connected to drawstrings 18 such that the elevator unit 8 is moved by the drawstrings. Each drawstring 18 is between a drive roller 28 on the motor 17 and a guide roller 29 (to see in FIG FIG. 3 ) stretched all around. The motor 17 and the drive rollers 28 are at the lower end of the guide rods 10; the pulleys 29 arranged at the upper end of the guide rods 10. To connect the elevator unit 8 with the drawstrings 18 serves a the drawstrings 18 clamping mechanical connection 30 (to see in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 ), which ensures a stable and non-slip fastening. The elevator 7 comprises a base plate 25 at the lower end of the guide rods 10. On this base plate 25, the guide rods 10 and the motor 17 are fixed.

Furthermore, the control device of the elevator 7 may be arranged below the base plate 25 (not shown in the figures).

FIG. 5 shows the elevator 7 after FIG. 3 in an open state of the barriers 9. In the open state, a movement of the food and / or drinks carried by the elevator unit 8, in particular a forwarding to the first transport section 5, is released.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

• 1 restaurant system
• 2 workspace
• 3 guest area
• 4 transport system
• 5 First transport section
• 6 Second transport section
• 7 elevator
• 8 elevator unit
• 9 barrier
• 10 guide rods
• 11 wheels
• 12 recording position
• 13 transfer position
• 14 connection piece
• 15 fasteners
• 16 drive system
• 17 engine
• 18 tension elements
• 19 slide rails
• 20 transport aids
• 21 transfer rails
• 22 intermediate rails
• 23 rolls
• 24 protective box
• 25 base plate
• 26 side walls
• 27 upper side
• 28 drive roller
• 29 pulley
• 30 Mechanical connection
• 31 mounting plate
• 32 Elbow A Transport direction

Claims (16)

1. Restaurant system (1) comprising
   at least one working area (2) for cooking and/or preparing food and/or drinks and at least one guest area (3)
   wherein the working area (2) and guest area (3) are connected via a transporting system (4) for food and/or drinks and
   wherein the transport system is designed to transport food and/or drinks from the working area (2) to the guest area (3),
   wherein the transport system (4) comprises at least one first transporting section (5) in which the transporting of food and/or drinks from the working area (2) to the guest area (3) takes place at least in sections by means of gravity,
   wherein the transporting system (4) comprises a second transporting section (6) which in an envisaged transporting direction (A) of the food and/or drinks is upstream of the first transporting section (5),
   wherein the second transporting section (6) comprise a lift (7) which is designed to transport the food and/or drinks to a position which is higher in comparison with the guest area (3),
   wherein the lift (7) has at least one movable lift unit (8) which during the transportation of the food and/or drinks with the lift (7) carries the food and/or drinks,
   wherein the lift unit (8) can be moved between a take-up position (12), in which the food and/or drink to be transported can be supplied to the lift unit (8), and a transfer position (13), arranged above the take-up position (12), in which the food and/or drink can be passed on from the lift unit (8) to a first transporting section (5)
   characterised in that the first transporting section (5) of the transporting system (4) comprises at least two essentially parallel slide rails and/or roller conveyors (19), in particular two slide rails or roller conveyors (19) which are at least essentially circular, or oval or rectangular in cross-section, on which the food and/or drinks are transported by way of transporting means (20) in particular slide underlays and/or roller devices at least in sections by means of gravity and
   wherein the lift unit (8) comprises a number, corresponding to the slide rails and/or roller conveyors in the first transporting section (5), of essentially parallel transfer rails (21), which during the transporting of the food and/or drinks with the lift (7) carry the food and drinks placed or introduced into the transporting means (20),
   wherein the transfer rails (21) in the transfer position (13) of the lift unit (8) constitute a continuation of the slide rails and/or roller conveyors (19) in the first transporting section (5) in a direction contrary to the envisaged transporting direction (A) of the food and/or drinks.
2. Restaurant system according to claim 1
   characterised in that
   the lift (7) is designed to transport the food and/or drinks upwards essentially antiparallel to gravity.
3. Restaurant system according to claim 1
   characterised in that
   the lift (7) comprises one or more sensors which detect when the take-up position (12) and/or the transfer position (13) has/have been reached.
4. Restaurant system according to claim 1 or 3
   characterised in that
   the lift unit (8) has at least one barrier (9) which in a closed position blocks a movement of the food and/or drinks being carried by the lift unit (8) and in an open position allows a movement of the good and/or drinks being carried by the lift unit (8), more particularly forwarding to the first transporting section (5).
5. Restaurant system according to any one of claims 1 to 4
   characterised in that
   the lift (7) comprises one or two or more, preferably essentially vertically arranged guide poles (10) for guiding the lift unit (8) when moving between the take-up position and transfer position.
6. Restaurant system according to claim 5
   characterised in that
   for guiding on the guide pole(s) (10) a lift unit (8) has two or three or more wheels (11) which during the movement of the lift unit (8) are moved along on opposite sides of the guide poles (10).
7. Restaurant system according to claim 5 or 6
   characterised in that
   on or close to an upper end of the guide poles (10) a stationary connection piece (14) is arranged in such a way that when the lift unit (8) is in its transfer position (13) the food and/or drinks can be forwarded via the connection piece (14) to the first transporting section (5).
8. Restaurant system according to claim 7
   characterised in that
   the position of the connection piece (14) on or close to the upper end of the guide poles (10) is adjustable, in particular one or more fastening means (15) of the connection piece (14) are detachably fastened on the guide poles (10) and can be refastened to the guide pole(s) (10) after having been displaced.
9. Restaurant system according to any one of claims 1 to 8
   characterised in that
   the lift (7) comprises a drive system (16) with a motor (17) and at least one or at least two tensile elements (18), in particular pull ropes or pull straps, moved by the motor, wherein the lift unit (8) is connected to the tensile element (s) (18) in such a way that the lift unit (8) is moved by the tensile element(s) (18).
10. Restaurant system according to any one of claims 3 to 9
    characterised in that
    the lift (7) comprises an emergency stop system, wherein the emergency stop system has contact elements corresponding in number to the tensile elements (18), wherein in normal operation one contact element is in contact with one tensile element (18) and in the event of a fault the contact is broken.
11. Restaurant system according to any one of claims 3 to 10
    characterised in that
    the lift (7) has a braking device with braking elements, wherein in normal operation the braking effect of the braking elements is prevented by the tensile elements (18) and in the event of faults they brake the lift.
12. Restaurant system according to any one of claims 3 to 11
    characterised in that
    the lift comprises a protective box (24) which at least laterally surrounds the lift unit (8) in its take-up position (12) and/or in that the lift unit (8) comprises a protective box which is movable with the lift unit (8) and at least laterally surrounds the lift unit (8).
13. Restaurant system according to any one of claims 3 to 12
    characterised in that
    the lift (7) comprises one or two or more sensors which detect(s) the intervention of an operator in the travel path of the lift unit along the guide poles.
14. Restaurant system according to claim 1 and claim 7
    characterised in that
    the connection piece (14) comprises essentially parallel intermediate rails (22), corresponding in number to the slide rails and/or roller conveyors in the first transporting section (5), which constitute a continuation of the slide rails and/or roller conveyors (19) and in the transfer position (13) of the lift unit (8) are arranged between the slide rails and/or roller conveyors (19) and the transfer rails (21).
15. Restaurant system according to claim 1 or 14
    characterised in that
    the transfer rails (21) and/or the intermediate rails (22) are inclined downwards in the direction of the envisaged transporting direction (A) of the good and/or drinks.
16. Restaurant system according to any one of claims 1 to 15
    characterised in that
    the transfer rails (21) and/or the intermediate rails (22) are formed of several consecutively arranged, rotationally borne wheels or rollers (23), the axis of rotation of which is essentially orientated perpendicularly to the transport direction (A) envisaged at their position.

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