JP2000255766A - Bypass conveyer device in circulated conveyer passage - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To sanitarily and stably hold a bypass conveyer body in an unused time and secure a working space in a circulated conveyer passage by swingably journaling one end of the bypass conveyer body in a way to the circulated conveyer passage and swingably holding the other end of the bypass conveyer body to the upper part in being unused. SOLUTION: A bypass conveyer body 1 is so constituted that in busy times of a restaurant, two belt conveyers 1a, 1b are waited and held in vertically upper parts about a drive shaft and a guide gate G guiding sushi dishes S from a circulated conveyer passage 2b to the bypass conveyer body 1 is closed in parallel to the circulated conveyer passage 2b. When customers are reduced, the two belt conveyers 1a, 1b are horizontally positioned, and the guide gate G is opened so that the circulated conveyer passage 2b is diagonally set as crossing thereto. Simultaneously, the guide gate G in an exit side is also opened. This constitution forms the bypass conveyer passage connecting the both circulated conveyer passages 2b, 2d, shorten the distance and the time of the whole circulated conveyer, and improve the conveyance efficiency.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a circulation type transport path for transporting food and drink, particularly sushi, to food and drink customers, in accordance with an increase or decrease in the number of customers entering the store. The present invention relates to a bypass conveying device in a circulating conveying path that can appropriately adjust a conveying distance of a conveying path.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an endlessly formed circulating transporting path for transporting foods and drinks is provided along a dining table such as a counter, and the transporting path includes foods and drinks as transported articles.
For example, a container such as a sushi plate on which sushi or the like is placed is placed, transported, and supplied.

[0003] A food and drink counter having such a circulating transport path allows food and drink or cooking to be performed without moving the food and drink, and the food and drink can select their desired food and drink while sitting at their seats. It is widely used because it can eat and drink while eating.

As described above, the adoption of the circulation type transport path for transporting food and drink, particularly in a large restaurant which accommodates a large number of customers, by setting up the circulation type transport path having a long distance,
Food and drink can be provided effectively.

[0005] However, such a restaurant has a busy period and a closing period depending on the time, and the number of customers entering the restaurant changes in chronological order. If the long circulation transport path is operated even when the number of customers is low, the food placed on the circulation transport path will be transported while going around the food counter where the customers are not seated, With the passage of time, the freshness is reduced and the taste is not only lowered, but also unfavorable in terms of hygiene, and there is a problem that the supply efficiency to a desired customer is significantly reduced.

[0006] To solve such problems,
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 61-44695 has been proposed. This technology forms a bypass circulation path that is shorter than the conventional circulation conveyance path by connecting a bypass conveyor body to a predetermined position on the middle of the circulation conveyance path and on a downstream extension of the circulation conveyance path. The transport distance of the circulation transport path is appropriately changed according to the number of customers.

[0007]

However, the conventional bypass conveyor body has two bypass conveyors using a conveyor belt connected in series, and each of the bypass conveyors swings to the side of both circulating conveyance paths. When used, the tip sides of the bypass conveyor are swung close to each other and held horizontally when not in use, and when not in use, they are swung downward from the shaft support to be held substantially vertically. I have.

However, when the bypass conveyor swings substantially vertically downward, the length of the bypass conveyor needs to be at least shorter than the height of the shaft support from the floor surface. There is a problem that the length is limited to at least a half or less of the distance between the circulation conveyance paths.

Further, when the bypass conveyor is not in use, the front end portion is vertically swung and held close to the floor surface, so that the floor area between the two circulating conveyance paths at that portion is reduced, and the circulating conveyance path is reduced. There is a problem that hinders the work inside the room.

For this reason, for example, when cleaning the floor surface between the circulating transport paths, the scattered dirty cleaning liquid and the like adhere to the transport belt surface, so that it is necessary to clean the transport belt surface each time. However, there is an uncleaned portion on the back side of the transport belt because it is difficult to clean the belt, which presents a problem unfavorable in hygiene.

According to the present invention, when the bypass conveyor body, which is used by appropriately switching the conveyance path in the middle of the circulation conveyance path, is not used, it is kept in a sanitary and stable state on standby. An object of the present invention is to provide a bypass conveyance device in a circulation conveyance path that can secure a work space.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a circulating path in which a shortened bypass circulating path is formed by appropriately connecting a predetermined position on a downstream extension of the circulating conveying path in the middle of the circulating conveying path. In the bypass conveyance device in the conveyance path, the bypass conveyance device is configured such that at least one end of the bypass conveyor body is swingably supported in the middle of the circulation conveyance path, and the other end of the bypass conveyor body swings upward when not in use. It is characterized in that it is configured to be held. According to this feature, when the bypass conveyor body is not used, the other end of the bypass conveyor body swings and stands substantially vertically upward, so that the bypass conveyor body is kept hygienic and both the bypass conveyor bodies are not used when not in use. A work space between the circulating conveyance paths can be secured.

In the bypass conveying device in the circulation conveying path according to the present invention, a lock mechanism is provided on one end of the bypass conveyor body that is pivotally supported, and the lock mechanism is provided with a ratchet gear and a ratchet gear. An engaging claw that is pressed and urged into engagement and prevents downward swinging of the bypass conveyor body. The engaging claw engaged with the ratchet gear is elastically biased by a manual operation. It is preferable that a lock release operation portion that is released against the engagement is provided in association with the engagement claw. By doing so, the bypass conveyor body can be locked at the desired swing position and the locked state can be reliably maintained, so that the standby state can be maintained in a stable state, and the unlocking operation can be performed. Since it can be appropriately released by operating the unit, the safety in the swing operation is ensured.

According to the present invention, there is provided a bypass conveying device in the circulation conveying path, wherein a damper device is provided at one end of the bypass conveyor body which is pivotally supported, and a start end position and an end position of the bypass conveyor body on which the damper device swings. It is preferable to absorb the impact at the time. By doing so, even when inertial force is applied when the bypass conveyor body is rocked, it is possible to buffer the impact at the start end position and the end position of the bypass conveyor body, and prevent the bypass conveyor body from being damaged. In addition, human security can be ensured.

In the bypass conveying apparatus in the circulation conveying path according to the present invention, the bypass conveyor is constituted by a single conveyor, and a driving mechanism which is relatively heavy is disposed at one end supported by the shaft. At the same time, it is preferable that the other end is made lighter. By doing so, the bypass conveyor disposed between the circulating transport paths is constituted by a single conveyor, so that the swinging opening and closing operation is a simple operation of only one operation, and a relatively long transporting operation is performed. Even with a bypass conveyor body having a length, a relatively heavy drive mechanism is disposed at one end supported by the shaft and the tip is lightened, so that the artificial swing operation is facilitated.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the embodiments and the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view of a bypass conveyance device provided in a circulation conveyance path according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the bypass conveyance device, and FIG. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a side view of one of the bypass conveyance devices.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a bypass conveyor which constitutes a part of the bypass conveying device, and reference numeral 2 denotes a circulating conveying path. As shown in FIG. 2, the circulating transport path 2 is configured by a conventionally known endless crescent chain conveyor, and is arranged in a rectangular shape in plan view along a food and drink counter (not shown), and a part thereof is located on the right side of a virtual line. I am in the kitchen 3.

In the kitchen 3, for example, sushi serving as food or drink is artificially or automatically placed on the sushi dish S and placed on the crescent chain conveyor 2,
Various sushi placed on the sushi plate S are sequentially carried out to the counter side.

The circulating transport path 2 includes 2a,
2b, 2c, and 2d, and a pair of opposed circulating transport paths 2 in the circulating transport path 2 provided in the store.
A bypass conveyor body 1 is provided between b and 2d.

The bypass conveyor body 1 is selectively used depending on the number of customers who change in time in the store, and is used by switching when the number of customers is decreasing. In other words, when the number of customers is large, such as during a busy season, the entire circulating transport path 2 is used. However, in the closing period when the number of customers decreases, a part of the path of the circulating transport path 2 becomes an A-A line. This is switched so that the conveyance of the sushi dish S to the downstream side of the circulation conveyance path 2c is stopped.

More specifically, the bypass conveyor body 1
Two belt conveyors 1 arranged in series in the longitudinal direction
a, 1b, and these belt conveyors 1a, 1b are connected between a pair of circulating conveyance paths 2b, 2d facing each other and A
-Along the A line.

Since these belt conveyors 1a and 1b have the same configuration, one of the belt conveyors 1a connected to the upstream circulation conveyance path 2b will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the belt conveyor 1a has a driving roller 7 which is driven to rotate by a driving mechanism D provided at one end, and rotatable at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the frames 6a and 6b. Rollers R1, R2 supported by shaft
, Tension roller RT, and these rollers 7, R1,
R2 and the endless flat belt 4 spanning the RT.

The tension of the endless flat belt 4 is appropriately adjusted by a tension roller RT in order to apply an appropriate tension between the rollers R1 and R2, and the driving roller 7 drives the endless flat belt 4 from one end to the other end. It is to be run.

Next, the driving mechanism D for driving the driving roller 7 is configured as follows. That is, the driving roller 7
The drive shafts 5 at both ends thereof are supported by conveyor frames 6a and 6b via bearings B1 and B2, and the drive shafts 5 through which the bearings B1 and B2 are inserted are provided outside the conveyor frames 6a and 6b. A pair of ratchet gears 8 which constitute a part of a lock mechanism L described later so as to be loosely inserted through the same axis.
a and 8b are fixed.

Both ends of the drive shaft 5 through which the ratchet gears 8a and 8b are inserted are supported by bearings B3 and B4 on brackets 9a and 9b attached to a frame F on the side wall of the circulating conveyance path 2b.

Further, a damper device 10 is fixed to one of the brackets 9a. One end of the drive shaft 5 through which the bracket 9a is inserted is engaged with the damper device 10, and a sprocket 11 is attached to the other end of the drive shaft 5. Fixed.

A motor M is fixed below the frame F constituting the circulating transport path 2b, and the output shaft 1 of the motor M
An endless chain 14 is stretched over the sprocket 13 fixed to 2 and the sprocket 11 at the end of the drive shaft 5.

On the other hand, the lock mechanism L includes an operating shaft 16 rotatably supported through the brackets 9a and 9b.
And a pair of locking claws 15a, 15b which are fixed to the
6, an operation handle H serving as a lock release operation unit, an engagement piece 16a protruding from a substantially intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the operation shaft 16, and an engagement piece protruding inward below the frame F. 16b and a tension spring 17 that is stretched over 16b.

The tension spring 17 is provided with a pair of locking claws 15.
a and 15b are elastically pressed against the outer periphery of both ratchet gears 8a and 8b.
In the state where b is locked by the pawls on the outer periphery of both ratchet gears 8a and 8b, the swinging of the belt conveyor 1a in only one direction (downward) is prevented.

Next, the operation of the bypass conveying device according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The circulating transport path 2 constituted by a conventionally known endless crescent chain conveyor is always driven at the time of opening a store, and a sushi plate S on which various sushi and the like are placed in the kitchen 3 is appropriately replaced with a crescent chain. It is placed on the conveyor 2 and sequentially carried out to the counter side.

The desired sushi plate S is consumed by the customer on the counter side in the process of being transferred through each of the circulation transport paths 2b, 2c and 2d shown in FIG. The sushi plate S is returned to the kitchen side again, and is again circulated to the counter side.

Here, when the restaurant is busy, the counter side is always filled with customers, but when the restaurant is closed, the customers on the counter side become sparse. S is circulated many times,
In a large restaurant, since the food is transported on a long circulation path, the freshness of the food is reduced over time, and the taste is not only lowered. Become.

Therefore, in the closing period, the bypass conveying device 1 of the present invention is employed in order to shorten a part of the circulation conveying path 2.

That is, the chronological change in the number of customers entering and exiting the store is constantly monitored. This monitoring may be performed manually, and the unprocessed sushi plate S returned to the kitchen may be automatically collected. Detected and, for example, compared with a required amount preset by a storage unit of a management computer (not shown),
A part of the circulation conveyance path 2 may be switched to the bypass conveyor body 1 when the value becomes equal to or less than the set value.

The bypass conveyor body 1 during a normal busy season
The two belt conveyors 1a and 1b are vertically held vertically by artificial swing around the drive shaft 5,
The guide gate G for guiding the sushi dish S from the circulation conveyance path 2b to the bypass conveyor body 1 is closed in parallel with the circulation conveyance path 2b.

When it is determined that the number of customers has decreased below a predetermined number by an artificial monitoring or a count signal from the management computer, the two belt conveyors 1a and 1b, which are vertically held above the standby, are artificially moved. By swinging around the drive shaft 5 by operation, the guide shaft G is set horizontally as shown in FIG. 1, and at the same time, the guide gate G in the closed state is opened and set obliquely so as to cross the circulating conveyance path 2b. At the same time, the guide gate G at the outlet of the other belt conveyor 1b is similarly opened and set obliquely so as to cross the circulating conveyance path 2d that is provided oppositely.

Here, the swinging operation of the bypass conveyor body 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, a pair of belt conveyors 1a, 1 constituting the bypass conveyor body 1
Since b has the same configuration and performs the same operation, the swing operation of the belt conveyor 1a of one belt conveyor 1a will be described.

That is, the belt conveyor 1a abuts against a stopper (not shown) at the horizontal position, which is the starting point of the swing, and the vertical position, which is the ending point, and is positioned and held.

In this state, a pair of locking claws 15a, 15
b, the locking state is maintained by the urging force of the tension spring 17 on the pawls on the outer periphery of both ratchet gears 8a, 8b, but the locking mechanism L is configured to be allowed to swing in one direction. Therefore, the horizontal belt conveyor 1a can be artificially swung upward.

The belt conveyor 1a, which is swung upward by a manual operation, can be held in a locked state even if the hand is released during the swing, even if the hand is released. .

Next, when swinging the belt conveyor 1a held in the vertical state to the horizontal position, the operation handle H which is an unlocking operation section is held downward while supporting one end of the belt conveyor 1a. The rocking mechanism L is released by rocking.

In this state, when the belt conveyor 1a is swung until it becomes horizontal, a part of the belt conveyor 1a comes into contact with a stopper (not shown) and is positioned. In the vicinity of the contact position, the swing speed is reduced by the damper device 10 so that the shock is buffered.

When the belt conveyor 1a is set horizontally, the other belt conveyor 1b is also set horizontally by the same operation, thereby forming a bypass conveyance path connecting the circulation conveyance paths 2b and 2d.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2, the guide gates G provided at the entrance of the belt conveyor 1a and the exit of the other belt conveyor 1b are connected to the circulation conveyance paths 2b and 2d.
Is turned to open diagonally across a circle, a shortened circulation conveyance path is formed.

As described above, when the bypass conveyor body 1 is not used, the other end of the bypass conveyor body 1 swings and stands substantially vertically upward. It is possible to secure a working space between the two circulating conveyance paths during use. In addition, since the swinging start and end positions are each held in a locked state by the lock mechanism L, it is possible to hold and stand by in a stable state, thereby ensuring safety in the swinging operation.

Further, by employing the lock mechanism L, the bypass conveyor body 1 can be locked at a desired swing position, and the locked state can be reliably maintained. Can be released as appropriate.

Further, by adopting the damper device 10 in the bypass conveyor body 1, the bypass conveyor body 1
Even when the inertia force is applied when the rocker is swung, the impact at the start position or the end position of the bypass conveyor body 1 can be buffered, thereby preventing the bypass conveyor body 1 from being damaged and improving human safety. Can be secured.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that the same components as those of the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a bypass conveying device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 18 denotes a bypass conveyor body which constitutes a part of a bypass conveyance device. The bypass conveyor body 18 is constituted by a single conveyor body, and a drive mechanism D is provided at one end supported by a shaft. A relatively heavy part is arranged on one end side, and at least a driven roller is arranged on the other end side to reduce the weight.

As described above, the bypass transport device of the present embodiment is configured such that the opposed circulating transport paths 2b and 2d are connected by the single bypass conveyor body 18. The other components are the same as those of the above-described embodiment, and the same operations are performed.

By doing so, the circulation transport path 2
b, 2d, the bypass conveyor body 18 is constituted by a single conveyor body, so that the swing opening and closing operation is a simple operation of only one operation, and the bypass conveyor having a relatively long conveyance length. Even in the case of a body, since a relatively heavy driving mechanism is arranged at one end supported by the shaft and the tip is lightened, an artificial swing operation can be easily performed.

[0054]

The present invention has the following effects.

(A) According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the bypass conveyor body is not used, the other end of the bypass conveyor body swings substantially vertically upward, so that the bypass conveyor body is held in a sanitary manner. In addition, it is possible to secure a work space between the two circulation transport paths when not in use.

(B) According to the second aspect of the present invention, the bypass conveyor body can be locked at a desired swinging position, and the locked state can be reliably maintained. You can also cancel it.

(C) According to the third aspect of the present invention, the bypass conveyor body can be locked at a desired swing position and the locked state can be reliably maintained.
It can be held in a standby state in a stable state, and can be appropriately released by operating the lock release operation unit.
Safety in swing operation is ensured.

(D) According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the bypass conveyor disposed between the circulating transport paths is constituted by a single conveyor, the swing opening / closing operation can be performed only once. Even if the bypass conveyor body has a relatively long transport length, a relatively heavy drive mechanism is arranged at one end supported by the shaft, and the tip is lightened. The swing operation becomes easy.

[0059]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a bypass conveyance device provided in a circulation conveyance path according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a circulation conveyance path provided with a bypass conveyance device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a partly expanded cross section of one bypass conveyance device.

FIG. 4 is a side view of one bypass conveyance device.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a bypass conveyance device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 bypass conveyor body 1a, 1b belt conveyor 2 circulation conveyance path 2a, 2b circulation conveyance path 2c, 2d circulation conveyance path 3 kitchen 4 endless flat belt 5 drive shaft 6a, 6b conveyor frame 7 drive roller 8a, 8b ratchet gear 9a, 9b Bracket 10 Damper device 11 Sprocket 12 Output shaft 13 Sprocket 14 Endless chain 15a, 15b Locking claw 16 Operating shaft 16a, 16b Locking piece 17 Tension spring 18 Bypass conveyor body B1-B4 Bearing D Drive mechanism F Frame G Guide gate H Operation handle (lock release operation part) L Lock mechanism M Motor R1, R2 Roller RT Tension roller S Sushi plate

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Kunio Morishita 5-10-48 Masuizumi, Kanazawa-shi, Ishikawa F-term in Ishino Works (Reference) 3B115 AA23 CB07 CB11 3F070 AA07 BA04 BC07 BD01 BD05 BD10 BE09 BG10 EA02 EA20 EA24 EA33 EB02 EB08 EE07 FA06

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A bypass conveying device in a circulating conveying path which is formed by appropriately connecting to a predetermined position on a downstream extension of the circulating conveying path in the middle of the circulating conveying path to form a shortened bypass circulating path. The bypass conveying device is configured such that at least one end of the bypass conveyor body is swingably supported in the middle of the circulation conveyance path, and the other end of the bypass conveyor body is swingably held upward when not in use. A bypass conveying device in a circulating conveying path. 2. A lock mechanism is provided at one end of the bypass conveyor body that is pivotally supported. The lock mechanism is engaged with a ratchet gear by being elastically pressed and urged to the ratchet gear. An unlocking operation comprising an engaging claw that prevents downward swinging of the bypass conveyor body, wherein the engaging claw engaged with the ratchet gear is released by a manual operation against an elastic urging force. The bypass conveyance device in the circulation conveyance path according to claim 1, wherein the portion is provided in association with the engagement claw. 3. The bypass conveyor according to claim 1, wherein a damper device is provided at one end of the bypass conveyor, and the shock is absorbed at a start end position and an end position of the bypass conveyor body in which the damper device swings. 3. The bypass conveyance device in the circulation conveyance path according to 1 or 2. 4. The bypass conveyor body is constituted by a single conveyor body, a relatively heavy drive mechanism is disposed at one end supported by the shaft, and the other end is reduced in weight. A bypass conveyance device in the circulation conveyance path according to claim 1.