JP2007159806A - Article providing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an article providing system which can present a conveyance situation of dishes, that is, food or drink, on a conveyor simply to a customer etc. <P>SOLUTION: A control part 101 makes a display part 103 display various kinds of information including circulation information etc. in a predetermined format, or makes the display part 103 carry out various kinds of displays which makes it convenient for the customer to operate an operation part 104. A situation display map as the circulation information displayed on the display screen of the display part 103 includes a conveyance path pattern provided in a conveyance part 20, and a location mark corresponding to the food or drink. In the case, the conveyance path pattern expresses a path of the conveyer formed in the conveyance part 20a, that is the conveyance path. The location mark expresses the kind and the rotating position of the food and drink FD on the dishes 10 which is circulated on the conveyance path. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to an article providing system capable of updating and displaying information relating to an article currently being provided when providing an article such as a food or drink to a user.

2. Description of the Related Art There is a food and beverage provision system that is applied to stores such as sushi and provides food and drink by transporting tableware on a conveyor. As one of such food and drink provision systems, there is provided a tableware return port for each meal location for the user, reading means for reading the information held by the tableware for the tableware after the meal, a cumulative amount calculation means, In addition, there is disclosed a device that includes cumulative amount display means and tableware storage means, reads information when tableware passes through the return port, and displays the cumulative amount of food and drinks (see Patent Document 1).
JP 2003-296422 A

However, in the food and drink provision system as described above, the user cannot sufficiently obtain information on food and drink that can be taken into a table or the like for a meal.
In other words, it is not possible for the user to immediately confirm the presence of the tableware on the conveyor that is far away or hidden behind the equipment. Therefore, the customer
If there is no food or drink you want in the visible range, you will not know how long it will come to you or how long you will wait to reach it.

Then, an object of this invention is to provide the article | item provision system which can show the conveyance condition of the tableware on a conveyor, ie, food and drink, easily to a user etc.

In order to solve the above problems, an article providing system according to the present invention includes: (a) a plurality of containers each holding a target article; and (b) identifying a target article attached to each of the plurality of containers and corresponding to the container. A plurality of information holding devices each holding possible information, (c) a transport unit that carries a plurality of containers so that they can circulate, and (c) is attached to all containers that are circulating by the transport unit An information reading unit capable of reading the information written in the information holding device in association with the circulation position of the corresponding container in the conveyance unit, and (d) at least a part of the target articles being circulated in the conveyance unit Is provided with information processing means for creating circulation information for displaying the information corresponding to the circulation position, and (e) display means for displaying the circulation information created by the information processing means so as to be visible from the passenger seat side.

In the article providing system, the information processing means creates circulation information for displaying at least a part of the target article that is circulating in the transport section in correspondence with the circulation position, and the display means visually recognizes the circulation information from the passenger seat side. Since it is possible to display, it becomes easy for the customer waiting at a specific position on the conveyance path to confirm the conveyance status of the desired article, and it is also a material for the customer to judge whether or not the order is necessary, and the article provision system is efficient. Operation can be achieved.

In a specific aspect of the present invention, in the article providing system, the information holding device includes a wireless reading type memory IC, and the information reading unit divides the entire area of the transport unit or a predetermined range into a plurality of partial areas. And a driving unit that operates the antenna to determine whether a memory IC is detected in any of the partial areas. In this case, the information recorded in the small and inconspicuous memory IC can be easily read in a non-contact manner, and the presence and position of the specific target article being conveyed, that is, being circulated, can be grasped at least in a partial area unit. .

In another aspect of the present invention, the information reading unit can read the information from the plurality of memory ICs provided in the plurality of containers arranged in the transport unit without interfering with each other. In this case, information from a plurality of containers being conveyed, that is, a plurality of memory ICs, can be simultaneously read in parallel via the antenna, and the target article being circulated can be reliably grasped without omission. As a technique for preventing interference of information, it is conceivable that the memory IC is of an anti-collision type and the information reading unit is a reader device that reads information from this type of memory IC.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, the display means includes an individual display that is provided in an individual passenger seat and displays the circulation information, and a common display that is provided at a position observable from a large number of passenger seats and displays the circulation information. Including at least one. In this case, the user can confirm the target article that is currently being provided on the conveyance path by using an individual display or a remote common display.

In still another aspect of the present invention, the circulation information includes the type of the target article together with the circulation position of the target article during circulation. In this case, the user can know the circulation position and type of the target article currently being provided on the conveyance path.

In still another aspect of the present invention, the information processing means includes a status display including a transport path pattern provided in the transport section and a location mark of the target article displayed on a corresponding portion of the circulation position on the transport path pattern. The image is displayed on the display means. In this case, the user can clearly know the circulation position and the type of the target article that is currently being provided on the conveyance path by simply looking at the situation display image.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, the information processing means causes the display means to display a status display image in which the color of the location mark corresponding to the designated type of target article is changed. In this case, by designating the type of target article desired by the user, only the corresponding target article can be extracted and displayed in an easily understandable manner.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, the information processing means calculates a waiting time until the specified type of target article arrives at a specific position on the transport path provided in the transport section, and the display means displays the wait time. indicate. In this case, the user can know the waiting time for the desired type of target article to reach his / her seat, and it is convenient to purchase and acquire the target article.

In still another aspect of the present invention, the display means includes a management display for displaying the circulation information so as to be visible on the management side. In this case, the store clerk or the like on the management side can grasp the target article currently being provided in the transport unit via the management display as needed. The article can be supplied to the transport device at an appropriate timing.

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, a food and beverage provision system that is an article provision system according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an application example of the food and drink provision system according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the food and beverage provision system 1 is applied to a so-called conveyor belt sushi store.

As shown in FIG. 1, the present food and beverage provision system 1 includes tableware 10 as a container, a transport unit 20 for transporting tableware, a table 30 for placing tableware 10 selected by the customer, and information to the user. Display unit 103 and an operation unit 104 operated by the user.

The tableware 10 is not limited to a dish, and a cup or a bowl is used. On each tableware 10, a food and drink FD as a target article including sushi and dessert is placed. And IC tag 80 which reads / writes the information of the memory | storage part incorporated using electromagnetic waves as a memory IC is attached inside the bottom face of each tableware 10 as a memory IC. The IC tag 80 functions as an information holding device, and the tableware 1 in a state where information on the food and drink FD is written.
0 is disposed on the transport unit 20 together with 0. The IC tag 80 is an anti-collision type readable / writable wireless tag.

The conveyance part 20 consists of conveyors arranged in a ring in the store, and this conveyor includes mechanical mechanisms such as rollers and belts. As for the conveyance part 20, in the part extended to a kitchen, a store clerk places many dishes 10 along with many audience seats including the table 30 and a counter seat by mounting the tableware 10 which put food and drink FD containing sushi, dessert, etc. The tableware 10 is slowly circulated. That means
The transport unit 20 circulates the tableware 10 on which the food and drink FD are placed, connecting the passenger seat and the kitchen. An antenna 213a is installed above the transport unit 20 along the transport path of the tableware 10, and the antenna 213a includes a plurality of antenna elements 213b periodically arranged at appropriate intervals along the transport path. Is done. Each antenna element 213b can supply electric power to the IC tag 80 provided on the tableware 10 currently being transported by the transport unit 20 and can extract a signal from each IC tag 80. ing.

In addition, the conveyance part 20 can be equipped with not only a general conveyor but the various conveyance mechanisms which can convey the tableware 10 cyclically.

FIG. 2 is a plan view conceptually illustrating position detection by the antenna 213a. Transport unit 2
It can be considered that 0 is divided into a number of partial areas 21 along the conveyance path, and each partial area 21 has a length of about twice the distance between adjacent tableware 10. As already described, a large number of antenna elements 213b constituting the antenna 213a are arranged along the conveyance path of the conveyance unit 20, and each antenna element 213b is a part of the conveyance path arranged immediately below each of the antenna elements 213b. The IC tag 80 existing in the area 21 is a detection target. Note that the detection areas DA that can be detected by the antenna elements 213b overlap each other in the illustrated example, and cover all the conveyance paths of the conveyance unit 20 without omission. However, the detection areas DA can also be separated without overlapping each other, and in this case, by appropriately adjusting the time interval of the periodic detection operation by each antenna 213a according to the transport speed of the tableware 10, etc. The IC tag 80 can be detected by substantially covering the conveyance path without leakage.

Returning to FIG. 1, the table 30 is provided adjacent to the transport unit 20, and has four seats on which a user is seated. An antenna 52 is embedded in the table 30, and this antenna 52 can supply power to the IC tags 80 of the plurality of dishes 10 placed on the table 30, and from each IC tag 80. The signal can be taken out. The table 30 is an extraction place that means that the user has selected and purchased the tableware 10 on which the food and drink FD is placed.

The display unit 103 is an individual display (display unit) including, for example, a liquid crystal monitor, and operates by being driven by a control device (not shown). The display unit 103 displays the result of appropriately processing the information of the IC tag 80, that is, the tableware 10 read through the antennas 52 and 213a, by a customer terminal device or a kitchen terminal device described later. Specifically, the consumption status information of the food and drink FD in the table 30 is displayed in relation to the antenna 52, and the circulation information of the food and drink FD in the transport unit 20 is displayed in relation to the antenna 213a. The former consumption status information includes a fee, nutrition, name, etc., and the total amount, nutrition intake, purchase list, etc. aggregated in units of table 30 are displayed in real time on the display unit 103 in a state that is easy for the user to see. The Moreover, as will be described in detail later, the circulation information includes circulation data including a name, a position, and the like, and the type and circulation position of the food and drink FD arranged on the tableware 10 that is traveling around the transport unit 20 are used. It is displayed in real time on the display unit 103 in a state that is easy for the customer to see.

Note that the display unit 103 is not limited to a liquid crystal monitor, and a display device using an EL (Electro Luminescent) element, a display device using a CRT (CRT), or the like can be used.

The operation unit 104 includes, for example, a plurality of push button switches, and outputs a signal corresponding to a user operation to a control device (not shown). The operation unit 104 is not limited to a push button switch, and various input devices such as a touch panel switch can be used.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system part of the food and drink provision system. The food and drink provision system 1 shown in the figure includes a passenger seat terminal device 100, a kitchen terminal device 200, and a management device 300.
And have. The passenger seat terminal device 100 includes terminal devices 100 (1), 100 (2), 100 (3), 100 (4),... Installed for each table 30 or for each counter seat. It is used in conjunction with the sushi offering service received at 30 and counter seats. The kitchen terminal device 200 is a terminal device that a shop clerk operates and uses at the kitchen. The management device 300 is a device that performs overall control of the food and beverage provision system 1 including the passenger seat terminal device 100 and the kitchen terminal device 200. Note that these devices 100, 200, and 300 are connected to each other by a network system such as a wireless local area network (LAN).

FIG. 4A is a block diagram showing a specific configuration of the passenger seat terminal device 100 (1) of FIG. The passenger terminal device 100 (1) includes a control unit 101, a storage unit 102, a display unit 103, and an operation unit 1.
04, a communication unit 105, a reader / writer main body 51, and an antenna 52.

The control unit 101 is information processing means including a microcomputer chip. The control unit 101 communicates with the reader / writer main body 51 to cause the IC tag 80 provided on the tableware 10 to read the recorded information via the antenna 52. Further, the control unit 101 causes the storage unit 102 to store the record information obtained via the reader / writer main body 51 and the processing result obtained by processing the recorded information. This processing result includes information such as the total amount of food and drinks, nutrition intake, purchase list, etc., consumed as food and beverage consumption status information. In addition, the control unit 101 causes the display unit 103 to display various types of information including the above-described consumption status information and circulation information, which will be described later, in a predetermined format, or to facilitate the operation of the operation unit 104 by the user. Various displays can be performed on the display unit 103. Further, the control unit 101 operates by receiving a signal corresponding to the operation of the customer from the operation unit 104, and performs processing such as start of use and end of use of the system. Note that the control unit 101 can communicate with the kitchen terminal device 200 and the management device 300 via the communication unit 105 to exchange information, and displays a willingness to pay the account to a store clerk who operates the management device 300. It is possible to output a signal to request.

The reader / writer main body 51 and the antenna 52 constitute an information reading unit 50 as a reader / writer for the IC tag 80. The reader / writer main body 51 operates in response to an instruction from the control unit 101. When a tableware 10 on which a desired food or drink is placed is taken from the transport unit 20 and placed on the table 30, the tableware 10 The recorded information written in the IC tag 80 accommodated in is automatically read. The read record information is stored in the storage unit 102 by the control unit 101.

As described above, the IC tag 80 enables anti-collision type reading / writing, and the reader / writer main body 51 includes an antenna 52 set on the table 30.
A plurality of IC tags 80 arranged in the detection area can be identified and detected without interference at the same time, and necessary recording information can be read from each IC tag 80. As a result, table 3
A plurality of tableware 10 placed on 0 can be individually identified in real time. For example, the tableware 10 is held over a reader provided at a specific location on the table 30 every time and embedded in the tableware 10.
Complex operations such as reading the C tag 80 are not required.

FIG. 4B is a block diagram illustrating the structure of the reader / writer main body 51 and the IC tag 80. The reader / writer body 51 includes a control circuit unit 51a and a transmission / reception circuit unit 51b. The IC tag 80 includes an antenna 81, a transmission / reception circuit unit 82, a control circuit unit 83, and a storage unit 84. The transmission / reception circuit unit 51 b of the reader / writer main body 51 transmits a signal on an electromagnetic wave via the antenna 52. On the IC tag 80 side, the transmission / reception circuit unit 8
2 receives the electromagnetic wave from the antenna 52 via the antenna 81. The received electromagnetic wave
The transmission / reception circuit unit 82 of the IC tag 80 generates power by resonance, and this power causes the IC
The control circuit unit 83 and the storage unit 84 of the tag 80 are operated to perform necessary processing.

Specifically, when the reader / writer main body 51 writes data to the IC tag 80, the reader / writer main body 51 performs an operation of writing necessary data in the storage unit 84 by a command or data included in the electromagnetic wave. Do. When the reader / writer main body 51 reads data, that is, recorded information from the IC tag 80, the control circuit unit 83 of the IC tag 80 stores the data stored in the storage unit 84 by a command included in the received electromagnetic wave. Is transmitted through the transmission / reception circuit unit 82 and the antenna 81 on the electromagnetic wave. On the other hand, on the reader / writer body 51 side, the transmission / reception circuit unit 51 b receives the electromagnetic wave from the IC tag 80 via the antenna 52.
Then, the control circuit unit 51a extracts necessary recording information from the signal demodulated by the transmission / reception circuit unit 82. By performing the above operation, the reader / writer main body 51 writes data to the IC tag 80 or reads data stored in the IC tag 80.

The above description relates to the operation between the reader / writer main body 51 and the single IC tag 80, but it is performed between the reader / writer main body 51 and another IC tag (not shown). The signal processing is also the same as described above. As described above, the reader / writer main body 51 uses the anti-collision function to simultaneously write data to and read data from a plurality of IC tags 80 via one antenna 52. The recorded information can be read from each IC tag 80 arranged in the detection area of the antenna 52 without leakage or duplication.

In addition, although the above description was the description about the terminal device 100 (1) provided in the specific table 30, terminal device 100 (2), 100 (3), ... provided in another table.
Has the same structure as that of the terminal device 100 (1). Further, the above description is about the table 30, but a terminal device similar to the terminal device 100 (1) can be provided at a counter seat adjacent to the transport unit 20.

As shown in FIG. 5, the kitchen terminal device 200 includes a control unit 201, a storage unit 202, and a display unit 2.
03, an operation unit 204, a communication unit 205, a writer unit 211, and a reader unit 213.

Here, the control unit 201 is an information processing unit including, for example, an arithmetic processing device that is a computer. The display unit 203 is a management display (display unit) including, for example, a liquid crystal monitor. The operation unit 204 functions as a part of the management side operation unit for inputting information intended by the store clerk.

The writer unit 211 is disposed in the kitchen and is used for writing information when the store clerk places the tableware 10 on the transport unit 20. The writer unit 211 includes an antenna 211a for transmitting and receiving radio waves to and from the IC tag 80, and has the same structure as the information reading unit 50 shown in FIG. The writer unit 211 is an information writing unit for writing food and drink information on the IC tag 80.

The reader unit 213 is an information reading unit for reading recorded information about food and drink from the IC tag 80, and is used for information acquisition when checking the circulation information of the tableware 10, that is, the food and beverage FD in the transport unit 20. For this reason, the reader unit 213 includes a reader main body 213d as a driving unit and the antenna 213a described in FIG. 1, and the latter antenna 213a.
Includes a number of antenna elements 213b arranged along the transport path. Reader body 213d
4 has the same structure as the reader / writer 51 shown in FIG. 4B in terms of a circuit, but here, writing to the IC tag 80 is not performed. The reader body 213d is connected to the control unit 201.
If there is tableware 10 that moves while circling on the conveyance path of the conveyance unit 20, the recorded information written in the IC tag 80 accommodated in the tableware 10 is automatically recorded. Read on. The read record information is stored in the storage unit 202 by the control unit 201. Here, the record information stored in the storage unit 202 is sorted according to which of the multiple antenna elements 213b is read. In other words, for example, the record information of the IC tag 80 detected as described above is sequentially stored in the storage unit 202 in units of areas separately for each detection area DA corresponding to each antenna element 213b, that is, for each partial area 21 (see FIG. 2). Stored.

The IC tag 80 enables anti-collision type read / write as described above, and the reader main body 213d has a plurality of IC tags arranged in the detection area DA of any one of the antenna elements 213b. 80 can be identified and detected at the same time without interference, and necessary recorded information can be read from each IC tag 80. Thereby, the several tableware 10 which moves in each partial area | region 21 on a conveyance path is individually distinguishable in real time. At this time, the reader main body 213d can operate, for example, by switching each antenna element 213b in a time-sharing manner so that there is no interference between the antenna elements 213b. However, it is not necessary to operate all the antenna elements 213b constituting the antenna 213a with a single reader body 213d, and one or more antenna elements 213b with a plurality of reader bodies 213d.
Can also be operated.

As already described with reference to FIG. 2, the detection areas DA of the antenna elements 213b overlap each other. As a result, an IC having the same ID in another adjacent antenna element 213b
It is considered that the tag 80 may be detected. In this case, the control unit 201 may prioritize, for example, the antenna element on the side detected in the previous reading in order to prevent duplicate detection. In addition, for example, priority may be given to one of the two antenna elements 213b on the upstream side or the downstream side of the conveyance. Furthermore, priority may be given to a signal from an antenna element having a higher detected radio wave intensity.

In the kitchen where the kitchen terminal device 200 is installed, a store clerk uses sushi material to hold sushi, and the sushi (food and drink) that is held is placed on the tableware 10. And the tableware 10 which loaded food and drink is mounted in the mounting base which accommodates the writer part 211. FIG. Then, the store clerk performs an operation of writing information on food and drink placed on the tableware 10 with respect to the IC tag 80 housed in the tableware 10 on the mounting table. Specifically, when the control unit 201 reads and executes application software for writing information stored in the storage unit 202, a menu for writing information is displayed on a liquid crystal monitor as the display unit 203. The liquid crystal monitor is provided with a touch panel as the operation unit 204, and the store clerk performs operation input on the touch panel according to the information writing menu displayed on the liquid crystal monitor, and creates information necessary for writing.

Based on an operation input signal from the operation unit 204, the control unit 201 executes information writing application software, drives the writer unit 211, and performs an operation of writing necessary information in the IC tag 80. Information to be written on the IC tag 80 includes, for example, a name (name of sushi material), a type (gripping, hand-rolling, rice cake, etc.), natural or cultured, frozen or raw, and processing methods (sashimi, sake Steamed, pickled, vinegared), price, calorie content, salt content, nutrient content (calcium and magnesium content, vitamins depending on sushi material), production area, date of acquisition of sushi material,
The processing date and time, the person in charge of processing, etc. are mentioned. Thus, the tableware 10 in which the information is written in the IC tag 80 is placed on the conveyor of the transport unit 20 by the store clerk in a state where the corresponding food and drink FD is placed. Note that the control unit 201 transmits the information written in the IC tag 80 to the communication unit 20.
5 to the management device 300.

In addition, the control unit 201 operates the reader unit 213 at an appropriate cycle, and checks the tableware 10 detected by the antenna 213 a disposed above the conveyance path of the conveyance unit 20.
The IC tag 80 embedded in the tableware 10 operates in response to a signal from the antenna 213a, and returns information related to the name of the food or drink FD on the tableware 10 during circulation to any one of the antenna elements 213b. Each antenna element 213b is registered in advance as a coordinate position (one-dimensional position along the conveyance path when the conveyance path is not branched or merged), and is detected by the antenna 213a. The done information includes information on the type of food and drink FD on the tableware 10 and the circulation position of the tableware 10 on the conveyance path. The reader unit 213 sequentially transfers information regarding the type of food and drink FD and the circulation position on the tableware 10 during circulation obtained in this way to the control unit 201. The control unit 201 receives the received information, that is, the type (item name information) of food and drink FD on a large number of dishes 10 in the current conveying unit 20 and the circulation position (
Coordinate information) is temporarily stored in the storage unit 202 as circulation status data. The circulation status data stored in this way is converted into display data in an appropriate format and displayed on the display unit 203.
Is output. That is, the product name of the food and drink FD on the tableware 10 traveling around the transport unit 20 and its coordinate position are displayed in real time on the display unit 203 in a state that is easy to see for the store clerk.

The control unit 201 obtains the circulation status data obtained through the reader unit 213 as described above from the terminal devices 100 (2), 100 (3), and 100 (4) on the customer side through the communication unit 205. ,
Send to… In each terminal device 100 (2), 100 (3), 100 (4),..., The control unit 101 receives the circulation status data via the communication unit 105. The control unit 101 causes the display unit 103 to display, in real time, the product name of the food and drink FD on the tableware 10 that is traveling around the transport unit 20 and the coordinate position thereof based on the circulation status data.

As shown in FIG. 6, the management apparatus 300 includes a control unit 301, a storage unit 302, a display unit 303,
Operation unit 304, communication unit 305, cash drawer unit 306, magnetic card reader unit 307,
And a printing unit 308.

The management device 300 is a device that manages store sales and the like including accounting processing for foods and beverages eaten and consumed by customers. Moreover, the management apparatus 300 is also an apparatus that manages information on foods and drinks that the user has eaten and eaten.

Based on the operation input signal from the operation unit 304, the control unit 301 generates a cash drawer unit 3.
06, the magnetic card reader unit 307 and the printing unit 308 are operated. The management device 30
0 transmits / receives information to / from the passenger seat terminal device 100 and the kitchen terminal device 200 via the communication unit 305. In addition, the management device 300 includes the passenger seat terminal device 100 and the kitchen terminal device 2.
Control over 00.

The store clerk can use the management device 300 to perform accounting processing based on information (data) on the accumulated amount of food and drink that the customer has eaten and received transmitted from the passenger seat terminal device 100. Specifically, the control unit 301 is transmitted from the passenger seat terminal device 100 during the accounting process, and the storage unit 3
The accumulated amount data stored in 02 is read, and the accumulated amount is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor as the display unit 303. A touch panel as the operation unit 304 is installed on the liquid crystal monitor. When the customer pays money corresponding to the accumulated amount to the store clerk, the store clerk operates the touch panel or the like to open the cash drawer unit 306 to exchange money. In addition, the clerk
A receipt printer as the printing unit 308 is operated by operating a touch panel or the like, and a receipt is issued to perform accounting processing. In addition, when a customer performs an accounting process using a credit card or the like, the credit card information can be read and an accounting process can be performed using the magnetic card reader unit 307.

FIG. 7A is a flowchart for explaining the creation of the circulation status data using the reader unit 213 in the kitchen terminal device 200.

First, the kitchen terminal device 200 operates the reader unit 213 as appropriate, and reads the recorded information on the tableware 10 on the conveyance path, that is, the IC tag 80, through each antenna element 213b constituting the antenna 213a above the conveyance unit 20. The recording information obtained is stored in the storage unit 202 (step S11). At this time, by checking which antenna element 213b the IC tag 80 has been read out, the circulation position of the IC tag 80 on the conveyance path can be specified in units of the partial area 21 which is the resolution of the antenna element 213b. it can. It should be noted that an appropriate identification number is assigned to each partial area 21 of the conveyance path, and it is possible to know at which coordinate position of the conveyance unit 20 the IC tag 80 is detected by this identification number.

Next, the control unit 201 creates circulation state data regarding the food FD being circulated on the conveyance path based on the recording information obtained from the IC tag 80 detected in step S11 (step S12). Since each IC tag 80 embedded in the tableware 10 on the transport path has the name of the food and drink FD (for example, the name of the sushi material) on the tableware 10 as recorded information, it is obtained from all the detected IC tags 80. For each name (type) of the food and drink FD on the transport path, the rounded positions on the transport path of the food and drink FD corresponding to those names are combined by counting the recorded information while specifying the antenna element 213b. You can get a table. Specifically, for example, food and drink F that actually exists on the transport path or may be supplied on the transport path.
Circulation situation data is prepared that includes the types of D and the identification numbers of 0 or 1 or more partial areas 21 in which each type of food and drink FD exists.

Next, the control unit 201 updates the lap state data by overwriting the lap state data obtained in step S12 over the old lap state data previously stored in the storage unit 102 (step S13). The circulation status data updated in this way is displayed on the display unit 203 in an appropriate format. Specifically, the type of food and drink FD on the tableware 10 being circulated by the transport unit 20 and its circulation position are displayed on the display unit 203 in real time.

Next, the control unit 201 transmits the circulation status data as a result updated in step S15 to each terminal device 100 (1), 100 (2), 100 (3), 100 (4) via the communication unit 205.
),... (Step S14).

In addition, the control part 201 is each terminal device 100 (1), 100 (2), 100 (3), 10.
0 (4),... Can be communicated, so that the circumstance status data obtained in step S15 can be corrected based on the information from the table 30. That is, the antenna 213a above the transport unit 20
IC detected via the IC tag 80 and IC 52 detected via the antenna 52 on the table 30
If the tag 80 partially matches, it is determined that the matching portion has detected even the tableware 10 on the table 30 by the antenna 213a, and the tableware 10 on the table 30 erroneously detects the circulation status data. It is prevented from being added to.

FIG. 7B is a flowchart for describing a series of processes performed by one terminal device 100 (1) constituting the passenger seat terminal device 100. FIG. 8 is a diagram for specifically explaining a display example by the display unit 103 of the passenger seat terminal device 100 (1).

The control unit 101 provided in advance in the terminal device 100 (1) reads customer application software stored in the storage unit 102 based on an operation input signal from the operation unit 104 or a command signal from the management device 300. Execute. As a result, the designated product input menu is displayed on the display unit 103. The user inputs an operation to the operation unit 104 to specify a desired product, and the control unit 101 receives an operation input signal from the operation unit 104 and stores the type of the product specified by the user. Stored in the unit 102 (step S21).

Next, the control unit 101 communicates with the kitchen terminal device 200 via the communication unit 105, and receives the circulation status data from the control unit 201 (step S22). That is, data or a list in which one or more circulation positions are associated with each type of food and drink FD on the conveyance path of the conveyance unit 20 is temporarily stored in the storage unit 102.

Next, the control unit 101 prepares an image for displaying the circulation status data obtained in step S22. This image is used for rewriting the corresponding portion of the usage status information image displayed in a predetermined format on the display unit 103. That is, the usage status information image displayed on the display unit 103 is rewritten with an updated status display image (step S23). As a result, FIG.
In the situation display map (situation display image) CM displayed on the display screen DPA of the display unit 103, the location mark FM corresponding to the food and drink FD and the food path FD provided in the conveyance unit 20 are illustrated. And are included. Here, the transport path pattern TC represents the path of the conveyor formed in the transport unit 20, that is, the transport path. Also, the location mark FM represents the type of food and drink FD on the tableware 10 that circulates in the transport path and the circulation position. In other words, location mark F
M displays the current position of the target tableware 10 in real time depending on which position on the transport path pattern TC is superimposed and is displayed on the target tableware 10 by characters and symbols included in the mark. The type of food or drink FD is displayed. In the illustrated example, the symbol “A”
The location mark FM including “” indicates the position of the abalone sushi on the transport path, and the location mark FM including “B” indicates the position of the shrimp sushi on the transport path. In this case, only the location mark FM corresponding to the food FD selected in step S21 is displayed, but the food F on all the dishes 10 on the transport path of the transport unit 20 is displayed.
D can be displayed on the transport path pattern TC. In this case, the location mark FM corresponding to the food or drink FD selected in step S21 is displayed in, for example, a relatively bright and conspicuous color, and other food and drink not selected. The location mark FM corresponding to the object FD can be displayed in a relatively dark and conspicuous color. Thereby, it is possible to easily identify only the food and drink FD that the user wants, and by simply looking at the situation display map CM, the circulation position of the desired type of food and drink FD that is currently being provided on the transport path Can know clearly.

The situation display map CM includes a list WL that displays the expected value of the waiting time until the food or drink FD selected in step S21 reaches the seat of the user. The expected value D of the waiting time is the food or drink FD, that is, the difference between the circulation position P1 of the target food or drink FD closest to the table 30 and the position P2 of the partial area 21 on the conveyance path in front of the table 30. Tableware 1
Divided by a conveyance speed V of 0. That means
D = (P2-P1) / V
It becomes.

As illustrated above, by displaying the status display map CM on the display unit 103, the user can check the food FD being circulated at a glance. Therefore, the user can wait for a while if the food FD he / she wants to go around is around, and if the food FD he / she wants is far from the lap, he / she calls the store clerk and picks the food / food FD far away. The table 30 can be carried. In addition, if the food or beverage FD that the user wants is not in circulation, it is sufficient to place an order with the store clerk immediately, so the convenience of customer use can be improved.

Next, the control unit 101 operates the reader / writer main body 51 as appropriate to read the recorded information for the new tableware 10, that is, the undetected IC tag 80, via the antenna 52 provided on the table 30 (step S24). . Note that the IC tag 80 that has been detected once can be left in either the IC tag 80 or the terminal device 100 (1), thus avoiding duplicate detection.

When the recording information can be read from any one of the IC tags 80, the control unit 101 temporarily stores the recording information in the storage unit 102, and stores the accumulated amount obtained by the previous aggregation.
Read from 2. Furthermore, the control unit 101 calculates the current accumulated amount based on the accumulated amount and the unit price of food and drink such as sushi corresponding to the IC tag 80 detected in step S24.
The total result is recorded in the storage unit 102 (step S25). The new IC tag 80
If is not detected, the processing after step S25 is not performed.

Next, the control unit 101 prepares an image for displaying the accumulated table amount obtained in step S25. This image is used for rewriting the corresponding portion of the usage status information image displayed in a predetermined format on the display unit 103. That is, the usage amount information image displayed on the display unit 103 is rewritten to an image in which the accumulated amount column is updated (step S26). As illustrated in FIG. 8, the usage status information displayed on the display screen DPA of the display unit 103 includes a table TC for displaying the table accumulated amount together with the table number.

Next, the control unit 101 prepares a purchase list of the tableware 10 captured so far by reading the record information accumulated in the storage unit 102 so far in step S24, and displays this purchase list, that is, the plate list. Prepare the image. This image is used for rewriting the corresponding portion of the usage status information image displayed in a predetermined format on the display unit 103. That is, the dish list column of the usage status information image displayed on the display unit 103 is rewritten to an updated image (step S27). As a result, in the usage status information displayed on the display screen DPA of the display unit 103, a dish list reflecting the contents of the current order, that is, the purchased item list DL, is displayed.

The operations described in steps S <b> 21 to S <b> 27 are repeated until, for example, the customer presses the operation unit 104 or the store clerk operates the management apparatus 300 to start the accounting process.

[Second Embodiment]
Hereinafter, a food and beverage provision system that is an article provision system according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The article providing system according to the second embodiment is a partial modification of the system according to the first embodiment, and overlapping portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and redundant description is omitted. Further, parts that are not particularly described in the article providing system of the second embodiment are the same as those of the system of the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the kitchen terminal device 200 incorporated in the article providing system. In this case, a bulletin board 209 that operates under the control of the control unit 201 is provided. This bulletin board 209 is a common display (display means) provided at a position that can be seen from a large number of seats, and displays contents corresponding to the status display map CM in the display screen DPA of the display unit 103 shown in FIG. That is, step S2 of FIG.
3 is performed. In this case, the food and drink FD on all the dishes 10 on the transport path of the transport unit 20 can be displayed on the transport path pattern TC as the location mark FM.
Only specific types of food and drink FD can be displayed while gradually changing the type of location mark FM. Note that the bulletin board 209 may be an electronic bulletin board, but the name of the food and drink FD on the conveyance path and the number of the foods and beverages FD may be displayed by an illumination device that only blinks a lamp or the like.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various changes and improvements can be added.

For example, the food and beverage provision system 1 of the above embodiment is for a case where it is applied to a conveyor belt sushi store, but is not limited to sushi, and is applicable to stores that handle various foods and beverages such as cakes and meat for yakiniku. can do.

In the above embodiment, a plurality of IC tags 80 are detected by the antenna element 213b, but only one IC tag 80 is detected by each antenna element 213b by adjusting the sensitivity and arrangement of each antenna element 213b. In this case, it is not necessary to perform anti-collision detection on the IC tag 80 at least in the transport unit 20.

Moreover, in the said embodiment, the display part 10 shows the kind of food / beverage FD on a conveyance path, and its position.
Although it is displayed almost in real time at 3 etc., a time lag can be provided for the display change if it is about several seconds.

Moreover, in the said embodiment, the display part 10 shows the kind of food / beverage FD on a conveyance path, and its position.
Although displayed as the status display map CM in FIG. 3, the display unit 103 can display the shortest distance and waiting time from the user's seat for each food and drink FD arranged in a histogram shape or a bar graph shape. At this time, it is possible to display the shortest distance and the waiting time as an amount by which the number of lamps and bright spots that are turned on gradually decreases.

It is a top view which shows the example of application of the food-and-drink provision system which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view explaining notionally the position detection by an antenna. It is a whole block diagram of the control system of the food and drink provision system. 2A is a block diagram showing a specific configuration of a passenger seat terminal device in FIG. 2, and FIG. It is a block diagram of the block diagram which shows the specific structure of a kitchen terminal device. It is a block diagram of the block diagram which shows the specific structure of a management apparatus. (A), (b) is a flowchart explaining operation | movement of a kitchen terminal device and a passenger seat terminal device. It is a figure explaining the example of a display by the display part of a passenger seat terminal device. It is a top view which shows the food-and-drink provision system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Food-drink provision system, 5 ... Table, 10 ... Tableware, 20 ... Conveyance part, 30
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Table, 50 ... Information reading part, 51 ... Reader / writer main body, 51a ... Control circuit part, 51b ... Transmission / reception circuit part, 52 ... Antenna, 80 ... IC tag, 81 ... Antenna, 82 ... Transmission / reception circuit part, 83 ... Control 1. Circuit unit 84 ... Storage unit 100 ... Passenger terminal device 101 ... Control unit 102 ... Storage unit 103 ... Display unit 104 ... Operation unit 1
05 ... Communication unit, 200 ... Cooking place terminal device, 213 ... Reader unit, 213a ... Antenna, 213b ... Antenna element, 300 ... Management device, FD ... Food and drink

Claims (9)

A plurality of containers each holding a target article;
A plurality of information holding devices respectively attached to the plurality of containers and holding information capable of identifying the target articles corresponding to the containers;
A transport unit for placing the plurality of containers and transporting them in a circulatory manner;
An information reading unit capable of reading the information written in the information holding device attached to all containers in circulation by the conveyance unit in relation to the circulation position of the corresponding container in the conveyance unit;
Information processing means for creating circulation information for displaying at least a part of the target article that is circulating in the transport unit in correspondence with the rotation position;
Display means for displaying the rounding information created by the information processing means so as to be visible from a passenger seat side;
An article providing system comprising: The information holding device includes a wireless reading type memory IC, and the information reading unit divides the entire area of the transport unit or a predetermined range to cover a plurality of partial areas, and operates the antenna. The article providing system according to claim 1, further comprising: a drive unit that makes it possible to determine whether the memory IC is detected in any partial area. The article providing system according to claim 2, wherein the information reading unit can read information from a plurality of memory ICs provided in a plurality of containers arranged in the transport unit without interference. The display means includes at least one of an individual display that is provided in an individual passenger seat and displays the circulation information, and a common display that is provided at a position observable from a large number of passenger seats and displays the circulation information. The article providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The article providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the circulation information includes a type of the target article together with the circulation position of the target article in circulation. The information processing unit displays a status display image including a conveyance path pattern provided in the conveyance unit and a location mark of a target article displayed on a corresponding portion of the circulation position on the conveyance path pattern on the display unit. The article providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the article providing system is displayed. The article providing system according to claim 6, wherein the information processing unit causes the display unit to display the status display image in which a color of the location mark corresponding to a specified type of target article is changed. 2. The information processing unit calculates a waiting time until a specified type of target article arrives at a specific position on a conveyance path provided in the conveyance unit, and the display unit displays the waiting time. The article providing system according to claim 7. The article providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the display unit includes a management display that displays the circulation information so as to be visible on a management side.

Images