GB2228863A - Table with rotary food or drink display - Google Patents

Abstract

A table (R) upon which foods and drinks are passed automatically in front of diners so that the diners can take out the foods and/or drinks freely comprises a steam pipe (22) having steam outlets formed in its upper wall surface disposed below a crescent chain (1). Steam is brought into contact with foods and/or drinks placed on slats (11) which constitute the crescent chain (1) through slits formed in the slats, whereby the foods and/or drinks can be kept warm or wet. <IMAGE>

Description

ROTARY EATING TABLE The present invention relates to a rotary eating table particularly of the sort having a construction wherein foods and drinks are conveyed along a counter and in front of diners automatically and circulatively by means of a crescent chain so that the diners can freely select foods and/or drinks.

For the purpose of labour saving in eating houses, eating table equipment utilizing a crescent chain has recently begun to be adopted as equipment for automatic exhibitions and conveyance of foods and drinks for diners sitting in front of a counter. According to an example of construction of such eating table equipment, a conveyance path is formed rectangularly or circularly along a counter, an endless track type crescent chain is disposed along the said conveyance path, food and drinks are put on the crescent chain and in this state the chain is moved circulatively so that the diner sitting in front of the counter can freely select, take out and eat foods and/or drinks being conveyed on the crescent chain.

In part of the above conveyance path there is generally provided a kitchen or the like for the supply of foods and drinks.

Foods and drinks applicable to the above rotary eating table equipment are preferably limited to those flavours not spoiled in a short time. This is for the following reason: Food and drinks moving circulatively on the crescent chain are sometimes taken out by diners after circulation two or three times on the conveyance path, so if they get cold although they should be kept warm, or if changed into dry condition from wet condition, the diners cannot eat or drink with gusto. This is a serious problem. One type of food so suitable for such rotary eating table equipment is sushi (raw fish or shellfish on boiled vinegared rice) which can be eaten at a low temperature, but obviously many others are possible.

According to the present invention there is provided a rotary eating table comprising a crescent chain disposed along a conveyance path formed along part or the whole of a counter, slats being connected to the crescent chain for travel in said conveyance path, said rotary eating table having a steam pipe disposed under said slats, said steam pipe having steam outlets formed in the upper portion thereof, and all or some of said slats having openings for co-operation with said steam outlets.

Preferably, a partition plate is formed above said crescent chain, and an exhaust system is provided in such a manner that an exhaust port is disposed below the partition plate and particularly said exhaust system comprises an exhaust duct communicating with said exhaust port and an exhaust fan mounted in said exhaust duct.

In a preferred embodiment, a supporting rod is fixed onto preselected slats of the crescent chain, and an auxiliary food tray is mounted on the upper end of said supporting rod. In another arrangement, a catch tray for putting thereon a cylindrical body for receiving food required to be kept warm is mounted on each of the slats formed with an opening, said catch tray having an aperture for the passage of steam therethrough formed in a position corresponding to each said opening and a perforated adjusting plate for adjusting the amount of steam to be introduced and the dispersion of steam is provided above each of the slats formed with an opening. Conveniently, said steam pipe is connected to a boiler through connecting pipes and a steam supply pipe, said steam pipe, connecting pipes and steam supply pipe being coated with a heat insulating material.

Preferably, the lower surfaces of the slats not having an opening are each formed with a projecting portion extending in the travelling direction of the slat to close said steam outlets.

In other embodiments a plurality of said exhaust ducts are provided, each extending in the vertical direction so that a space window is formed between adjacent exhaust ducts and said partition plate is divided in two by an opening through which said supporting rod extends.

Some embodiment of the invention will now be described in more detail making reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a partially cut-away plan view showing a typical embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a partially cut-away plan view of a portion above a crescent chain; Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line III-III of Figure Figure 4 is a partially cut-away, explanatory plan view showing a crescent chain driving portion; Figure 5 is an explanatory perspective view showing the relation between the crescent chain and a product receiving cylindrical body; Figure 6 is a partial sectional view taken on line VI-VI of Figure 1; Figure 7 is a sectional view corresponding to Figure 3; showing another embodiment; Figure 8 is a partial side view as seen in the direction of arrow VIII of Figure 7; and Figure 9 is an explanatory plan view corresponding to Figure 4, showing a driving portion in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 7.

A typical embodiment of the present invention is now described below with reference to Figures 1 to 6. As shown in Figure 1, a rotary eating table equipment R is formed rectangularly along the inside peripheral edge of a counter C and is divided into a diner side 4A and a kitchen side 4B through a wall 4. The rotary eating table equipment R comprises a crescent chain 1 adapted to move horizontally along a frame 3 and a steam pipe 22 extending below the crescent chain 1.

The crescent chain 1 is constructed as shown in Figure 4, in which a pair of chains 13a and 13b are connected together through a pin 13c, and a generally semicircular slat 11 is connected pivotably to an upper part of the pin 13c. And a later-described chain driving roller 13d is mounted on the pin 13c. As shown in Figure 3,the roller 13d is fitted in a guide rail 32 disposed along the frame 3.

Each slat is formed semicircularly and, as shown in Figure 2, a plurality of such slats are arranged in a row in the horizontal direction and mounted on chain links 13.

The slats are each formed with a band-like surface which permits the slat to travel curvilinearly along bent portions of the frame. To each alternate slat 11 is attached a catch tray 12 as shown in Figure 5, and in the catch tray 12 is formed a slit 12a, while in the slat 11 located below the catch tray 12 there is formed a slit lia in a position corresponding to the position of the slit 12a. The catch tray 12 and the slat 11 may be formed integrally with each other.

The crescent chain 1 is connected to a driving unit 40 (see Figure 1). The driving unit 40 comprises a driving motor 41 and a sprocket 42 which are interconnected through a chain 43. As shown in Fig. 4, the sprocket 42 comes into mesh with the rollers 13d of the crescent chain 1 and rotates in the direction of arrow K1 to thereby move the chain 1 in the direction of arrow K2.

The outer periphery of the catch tray 12 is provided with an annular flange 12b (see Fig. 5), and a product receiving cylindrical body 14 is brought into engagement with the flange 12b. Inside the cylindrical body 14 is mounted a hurdle 14a so that products M can be put on the hurdle 14a.

On the other hand, below the crescent chain 1 are disposed a steam supply pipe 21 and a steam pipe 22, as shown in Fig. 3. These pipes extend below the chain 1. The steam supply pipe 21 is connected to a boiler 23 through a pressure regulating valve and also connected to the steam pipe 22 through connecting pipes 24. The steam pipe 22 is disposed just under the crescent chain 1. Drain valves for the removal and discharge of water drops are provided in suitable positions of the steam supply pipe 21. Further, steam outlets 22a are formed at predetermined intervals in the upper wall surface of the steam pipe 22 so that the slits lla of the slats 11 pass just above the steam outlets 22a.The steam pipe 22, steam supply pipe 21 and connecting pipes 24 are preferably coated with a heat insulating material 23, and the steam outlets 22a may be formed as slits extending in the longitudinal direction of the steam pipe 22.

As shown in Fig. 3, the frame 3 is formed with base portions 3a and 3b on the outer and inner peripheral sides, respectively, of the crescent chain 1, and a counter C is fixed to the outer peripheral-side base portion 3a. Further, guide frames 31, 31 extend from the base portions 3a, 3b toward the crescent chain 1 side, and a guide rail 32 is formed centrally to guide the rollers 13d of the chain 1. On the upper surfaces of the guide frames 31, 31 there are provided liners 33, 33 in the disposed direction of the crescent chain 1 to support the lower surfaces of the slats 11. The slats 11 are constructed so as to slide horizontally on the liners 33, 33. A drain 34 for the discharge of condensate is connected to the lower portion of the guide rail 32.

The rotary eating table equipment R constructed as above is operated in the following manner.

Upon operation of the driving unit 40 the crescent chain 1 travels along the counter C, and the cylindrical body 14 having products therein is put on each catch tray 12. To the steam pipe 22 is fed warm air or steam from the boiler 25 through the connecting pipe 24 and the steam supply pipe 21. The warm air or steam is blown off upwards from the steam outlets 22a, and where outlets 22a and the slits lla of slats 11 overlap each other, the warm air or steam pass through the slits 12a or the associated catch trays 12 and enters the cylindrical body 14 to warm or humidify the products M.Thus, it is possible to introduce steam into the cylindrical body 14 every time the slits lla and 12a pass through the steam outlets 22a formed at predetermined intervals, so that the products can be supplied to diners for many hours under rotation while maintaining their temperature and moisture just after cooking. As the products M, not only Chinese dishes such as shao-mai and gyo-za which are required to be kept warm, but also Japanese and Western dishes requiring keeping warmth, are employable in this equipment. For cooked foods which must be protected from moisture, the equipment may be constructed so as to supply hot air in place of steam.

A perforated adjusting plate Ile may be mounted above the slit 12a of the catch tray 12 shown in Fig. 5 to adjust the amount of steam to be introduced into the cylindrical body 14 and also adjust the dispersion of steam in the cylindrical body 14. The amount of steam to be introduced can be changed as desired by changing the diameter and area of holes or by changing the angle of the adjusting plate disposed.

Preferably, the lower portion of each slat 11 not provided with the catch tray 12 is formed with a projecting portion llb to close the steam outlet 22a as shown in Fig. 6, thereby preventing the leakage of extra steam from the steam pipe 22. As to the relation between the catch tray 12 and the slat 11, no limitation is made to the illustrated construction in which the catch tray 12 is disposed on each of alternate slats 11.

The catch tray 12 may be disposed at every desired number of slats 11, or both may be disposed in a 1 ; 1 relation.

Figs. 7 to 9 illustrate a rotary eating table equipment according to another embodiment of the present invention which is constructed so that not only the dispersion of steam into the room can be prevented, but also both products M required to be kept warm and products S not required to be kept warm can be conveyed simultaneously in parallel.

A crescent chain 1 and a steam pipe 21 which are disposed along a frame 3 are the same as in the previous embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6. But in this embodiment, a partition plate 60 is mounted to the frame 3 through a support member 64 and exhaust ducts 51 in a position above the crescent chain 1, and an exhaust system 50 is disposed on the side opposite to the counter C. The exhaust system 50 comprises an exhaust port(s) 54 formed continuously or intermittently in the longitudinal direction of the crescent chain 1, and exhaust ducts 51 communicated with the exhaust port 54 and disposed vertically at predetermined intervals while defining space windows Q. In each exhaust duct 51 is provided an exhaust fan 52, and an exhaust hose 53 is connected to the outlet side of the exhaust fan 52.

Therefore, upward movement of the steam leaking from product receiving cylindrical bodies 14 and steam outlets 22a is shut off by the partition plate 60, and by the suction force of the exhaust fans 52, the steam is conducted into the exhaust hoses 53 through the exhaust port 54 and the exhaust ducts 51, then collected by an exhaust remover (not shown) through the exhaust hoses 53 and discharged to the exterior of the room or recycled to a boiler 25 for re-utilization. As a result, the bad influence of steam or hot air being diffused into the room and making the interior temperature high is eliminated completely.

The partition plate 60 may be divided into a counter side 61a and an inner peripheral side 61b on both sides of an opening 65. Flexible seals 65a, 65a are provided in the opening 65. Further, a supporting rod 62 is fixedly erected at every predetermined slat 11 of the crescent chain 1, with an auxiliary food tray 63 being mounted on the upper end of the supporting rod 62.

Therefore, as the crescent chain 1 is driven, the auxiliary food tray 63 can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the counter C above the partition plate 60, so if a dish D is put on each auxiliary food tray 63 and foods S not required to be kept warm are placed thereon, it is possible to effect an upper and lower two-stage conveyance of foods. For example, the foods S not required to be kept warm can be conveyed at the upper stage simultaneously with the conveyance of foods M required to be kept warm at the lower stage. Since the steam blown off on the lower stage side is shut off by the partition plate 60, it will not heat the foods S not required to be kept warm on the upper stage side. The pitch of the slats 11 with the cylindrical bodies 14 put thereon and that of the slats 11 with the supporting rods 62 erected thereon can be set optionally.Further, if the partition plate 60 is formed using a transparent plate such as an acrylic resin plate or a glass plate, it is possible to easily see the foods located inside each cylindrical body 14.

Figure 9 is an explanatory view showing a driving portion of the two-stage rotary eating table equipment described above. Also in this two-stage equipment, like the example shown in Figure 4, a single driving sprocket 42 suffices, whereby foods can be conveyed at upper and lower, two stages.

There is therefore provided a rotary eating table equipment whereby even foods and drinks which must be kept warm or kept wet can be eaten or drunk always in good condition by diners. Also the rotary eating table equipment can supply both foods and drinks required to be kept warm or wet and those not required to be kept warm or wet to diners simultaneously in a parallel manner. In addition the rotary eating table equipment is capable of conveying foods and drinks while keeping them warm or wet which and is constructed so that the heat transfer medium or the moisture retaining medium for keeping warm or keeping wet does not give a bad feeling, eg. uncomfortable feeling to diners.

Claims (11)

1. A rotary eating table comprising a crescent chain disposed along a conveyance path formed along part or the whole of a counter, slats being connected to the crescent chain for travel in said conveyance path, said rotary eating table having a steam pipe disposed under said slats, said steam pipe having steam outlets formed in the upper portion thereof, and all or some of said slats having openings for co-operation with said steam outlets.

2. A rotary eating table according to Claim 1, wherein a partition plate is formed above said crescent chain, and an exhaust system is provided in such a manner that an exhaust port is disposed below the partition plate.

3. A rotary eating table according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein a supporting rod is fixed onto preselected slats of the crescent chain, and an auxiliary food tray is mounted on the upper end of said supporting rod.

4. A rotary eating table according to any of of the preceding Claims wherein a catch tray for putting thereon a cylindrical body for receiving food required to be kept warm is mounted on each of the slats formed with an opening, said catch tray having an aperture for the passage of steam therethrough formed in a position corresponding to each said opening.

5. A rotary eatig table a cording to any of the preceding Claims wherein a perforated adjusting plate for adjusting the amount of steam to be introduced and the dispersion of steam is provided above each of the slats formed with an opening.

6. A rotary eating table according to any of the preceding Claims wherein said steam pipe is connected to a boiler through connecting pipes and a steam supply pipe, said steam pipe, connecting pipes and steam supply pipe being coated with a heat insulating material.

7. A rotary eating table according to any of the preceding Claims wherein the lower surfaces of the slats not having an opening are each formed with a projecting portion extending in the travelling direction of the slat to close said steam outlets.

8. A rotary eating table according to Claim 2, wherein said exhaust system comprises an exhaust duct communicating with said exhaust port and an exhaust fan mounted in said exhaust duct.

9. A rotary eating table according to Claim 2 or Claim 8, wherein a plurality of said exhaust ducts are provided, each extending in the vertical direction so that a space window is formed between adjacent exhaust ducts.

10. A rotary eating table according to Claim 3, wherein said partition plate is divided in two by an opening through which said supporting rod extends.

11. A rotary eating table substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.