JP2008099885A - Food conveying apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a food conveying apparatus capable of efficiently conveying foods from a kitchen to a guest room. <P>SOLUTION: A plurality of conveyers 251, L1-L16 are provided for conveying the foods from the kitchen to tables T1-T12 in the guest room. An identifier provided on a food dish determines a kind of the food conveyed on each of the conveyers 251, L1-L16. A passage of the foods conveyed by the conveyers 251, L1-L16 is switched by switching members S1-S6 and others from order contents on each guest recorded in a database and the kind of the food judged. The change member changes the passage of the foods by being brought into contact with a high-base part of the dish. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a food conveyance device, and more particularly to a food conveyance device that conveys food from a place where food is prepared such as a kitchen to a place where food is provided such as a guest room.

Patent Document 1 below discloses a management system that manages foods delivered by a conveyor. The food is placed on the dish, and the freshness of the food placed on each dish is determined by detecting the identifier that is electronically recorded and read-only on the dish on which the food is placed. Then, based on the determination result, a process for discarding the food is performed.
JP 2003-52519 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide a food transport apparatus that can efficiently transport food from a place where food is prepared such as a kitchen to a place where food is provided such as a guest room.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, a food transport device is a food transport device for transporting food from a kitchen to a guest room, and records a customer's order contents, A plurality of transport means for transporting food from the kitchen to a plurality of locations in the guest room, a switching means for switching the route of the food carried by the transport means, a determination means for determining the type of food carried by the transport means, And a control means for controlling the switching means based on the order contents for each customer recorded in the database and the type of food carried by the conveying means determined by the determining means. Identification means for identifying the identifier provided on the recording medium, and recording means for recording the type of food placed on the plate corresponding to the identifier, the switching means comprising the plateau portion of the plate By contact, switching the path of the food.

  Preferably, the recording means includes a plurality of menu displays, and an association means corresponding to each of the plurality of menu displays and associating the identifier with the type of food indicated by the menu display.

  Preferably, the switching means includes a passage sensor that detects the passage of the dishes, and the dish is provided with a structure that prevents the dishes from overlapping each other.

  Preferably, the database records the order details so that the order before and after each customer is ordered, and the control means controls the switching means so that food is delivered to customers with earlier orders for the same order contents. To do.

  Preferably, the switching means rotates the food when the route of the food conveyed by the conveying means is switched.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a food conveying apparatus that can efficiently convey food.

  FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a configuration of a food conveying apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

  Referring to the drawing, the transfer device is installed across cooking area A1 and guest room A2 in a store such as a restaurant.

  In the cooking area A1, a rotary conveyor 251 that goes around a person who prepares or cooks food is provided. The rotating conveyor 251 conveys the plate placed on the rotating conveyor 251 by rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow in the figure. Food is placed on the plate.

  A plurality of tables T1 to T12 are installed in the guest room A2. In the guest room A2, main conveyors (lanes) L1 to L4 that convey the dishes on the rotary conveyor 251 toward the far side of the guest room, and the dishes on the main conveyor L1 are directed to the tables T1 to T3. Branch conveyors L5 to L7 for conveying, branch conveyors L8 to L10 for conveying the dishes on the main conveyor L2 toward the tables T4 to T6, and branch conveyors for conveying the dishes on the main conveyor L3 toward the tables T10 to T12 L14 to L16 and branch conveyors L11 to L13 that convey the dishes on the main conveyor L4 toward the tables T7 to T9 are provided.

  Switching members S1 to S4 for feeding the dishes on the rotary conveyor 251 to the main conveyors L1 to L4 are provided at locations corresponding to the main conveyors L1 to L4 of the rotary conveyor 251, respectively. The switching members S <b> 1 to S <b> 4 are rod-shaped members, and can be protruded or retracted obliquely with respect to the traveling direction of the rotary conveyor 251 by an actuator.

  For example, when the plate is conveyed to the position of the main conveyor L1 by the rotary conveyor 251, if the switching member S1 protrudes, the plate hits the switching member S1 and is moved toward the main conveyor L1 while changing the course. On the other hand, when the switching member S1 does not protrude (when it is retracted), the dish does not hit the switching member S1 and is carried by the rotary conveyor 251 while leaving the path as it is.

  Switching portions S5 and S6 for feeding the dishes on the main conveyor L1 to the branch conveyors L5 to L7 are provided at locations corresponding to the branch conveyors L5 to L7 of the main conveyor L1, respectively. The basic configuration of the switching members S5 and S6 is the same as that of the switching members S1 to S4. In addition, switching members S8, S9, S11, S12, and S14, S15 are provided in each of the main conveyors L2 to L4 as well as the main conveyor L1.

  Further, guide members G5 and G6 are provided upstream of the position of the main conveyor L1 where the switching members S5 and S6 are installed. The guide members G5 and G6 are used for favorably branching the plate by the switching members S5 and S6 by bringing the plate toward the switching members S5 and S6. In addition, a guide member G7 is provided at the end of the main conveyor L1 for favorably moving the dishes to the branch conveyor L7.

  In each of the main conveyors L2 to L4, as with the main conveyor L1, guide members G8 to G10, G11 to G13, and G14 to G16 are provided.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an appearance of a food type registration device in a cooking place.
A plurality of menu displays 203a to 203d on which the types of food are written are placed in the vicinity of the rotary conveyor 251 and on the rotary conveyor 251 where the dishes that have been prepared or cooked for food are placed. Antenna sensors 207a to 207d are provided in the menu displays 203a to 203d, respectively.

  The dish P is provided with an identifier such as an IC tag (chip). The identifier records a different ID for each dish. Thereby, it is possible to specify one plate.

  Each of the antenna sensors 207a to 207d is associated with a menu display. When a person in the kitchen places a plate on the carousel 251, one of the antenna sensors 207a to 207d detects the ID of the identifier provided on the plate. By recording the ID and information on which antenna sensor the dish has passed (that is, the type of food placed on the dish), it is possible to associate the dish with the type of food placed on the dish. is there.

  That is, when a person in the kitchen places a dish on the carousel 251, it passes the menu display (and antenna sensor) corresponding to the kind of food placed on the dish to input the kind of food for the dish. Is possible. Thereby, information can be input using the operation of placing a dish.

  Instead of the antenna sensor, by providing a writer that writes food information in the identifier, the food type may be written in the identifier and the dish and the food type may be managed.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a dish on which food is placed, and FIG. 4 is a plan view.
As shown in the figure, the plate is provided with a hill (leg part) 300, and an identifier C such as an IC tag is provided at the center thereof. The platen body can be kept floating from the conveyor surface by the hill 300. That is, the hills 300 can provide the gaps SP1 and SP2 between the dish body and the conveyor surface. The course of the dish is changed by passing a rod-shaped switching member through the gaps SP1 and SP2.

  A groove D is provided on the side of the plate body. The groove | channel D is comprised so that the groove | channel of each dish may mesh | engage, when several dishes contact | connect on a conveyor. With this structure, it is possible to prevent one dish from riding on another dish (the dishes overlap each other), and a detection error of the sensor can be avoided. The groove D is provided along the circumference of the side surface of the round dish.

  Here, the medium used for providing food is referred to as “dish”. However, any container serving as a food providing medium such as a bowl, a cup, a glass, and a container is included in the concept of a dish.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a plate branching process in a cooking place.
In the figure, a part of the rotary conveyor 251 and the main conveyor L1 are shown. When the dishes P1 to P3 are being carried by the rotary conveyor 251, the switching member S1 is protruded, so that the switching member S1 can be brought into contact with the dish and the dish can be sent in the direction of the main conveyor L1.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion that performs a branching process in a kitchen.
In the figure, it is shown that the plate P is brought to the position of the plate P ′ by contacting the switching member S1.

  As shown in the figure, the switching member S1 is driven by a drive unit 403a including an actuator. As sensors for the switching member S1, there are provided a passage sensor 411a for detecting the passage of the plateau of the plate and an antenna sensor 413a for detecting the ID in the plate identifier.

  When the plateau P indicated by the dotted circle is detected by the passage sensor 411a, the antenna sensor 413a acquires the ID in the identifier in a non-contact manner. It is determined whether the dish is branched based on the ID. If YES, the drive unit 403a causes the switching member S1 to protrude. Thereby, according to the driving force of the rotary conveyor 251, the dish P is sent to the main conveyor L1 while rotating along the switching member S1.

  Thus, when a rotational force is applied to a dish, even when liquid foodstuffs, such as soup and a drink, are conveyed, it is prevented that a liquid spills. In order to efficiently generate the rotational force, it is preferable that the protruding direction of the switching member S1 has an angle of about 45 ° with respect to the traveling direction of the conveyor.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a plate branching process in a cabin.
Similarly to FIG. 6, the switching members S5, S6, S8, S9, S11, S12, and S14, S15 are provided with drive units 403e to 403l and sensors (not shown). Thereby, based on plate ID, a desired plate can be automatically conveyed to a desired table via a desired branch conveyor.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a portion that performs a branching process in a guest room.
It is assumed that the dishes P1 to P4 are flowing in order on the main conveyor L4. The plate is brought close to the side where the branch conveyor L11 and the switching member S11 are provided by the guide G11. In the figure, the plateau is shown by a dotted circle.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of branching processing in a guest room.
In the state of FIG. 8, when the plate to be branched in the direction of the branch conveyor L11 comes before the position where the switching member S11 protrudes, the switching member S11 is protruded. The switching member protrudes so as to be inserted into the target plate gaps SP1 and SP2 in FIG. That is, the switching member is protruded at a timing when it enters between the target platen portion and the platen portion preceding the plate.

  Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 9, the plate P is brought in the direction of the switching member S <b> 11 by the guide G <b> 11 (the state of FIG. P ′), and then comes into contact with the protruding switching member S <b> 11 at the hill. Thereafter, the dish is conveyed toward the branch conveyor L11 while rotating along the switching member S11 by the driving force of the main conveyor L4 (state of FIG. P '').

  When the plate rides on the branch conveyor L11, it is carried toward the table by the driving force of the branch conveyor L11 (state of FIG. P ′ ″).

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a process of branching a target dish from a plurality of dishes that are continuously conveyed.

  Here, the plate P1 and the plate P2 are in contact with each other and are conveyed by the conveyor. At this time, since the dish is provided with the groove D shown in FIG. 3, the grooves between the dishes and the protrusions around the grooves are engaged with each other (or even if they are not engaged with each other), the dishes P1 and P2 Are prevented from overlapping. The switching member S11 is controlled so as to protrude aiming at a gap between the hills of the two dishes P1 and P2. Thereby, only a target plate can be branched from a plurality of plates that are continuously conveyed.

  In order to prevent an error due to the shifting timing of the protrusion of the switching member S11, the diameter of the hill is made smaller than the diameter of the plate (in FIG. 10, the dotted circle is compared with the solid circle). It is desirable to increase the gaps SP1 and SP2 in FIG. 3 by making it as small as possible.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration of a food transport apparatus.
Referring to the drawing, the food transport apparatus includes a server 500 that constitutes a database, PDAs 700a to 700c that are operated by a store clerk or a customer, and that are associated with table numbers, and PDAs 700a to 700c. The printers 703a to 703c to be connected, the payment apparatus 600, the antenna sensors 207a to 207d shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of drive units 403a, 403b,. For controlling the driving unit and the sensor, including a passage sensor for detecting the passage of the platen provided on the plate and an antenna sensor for detecting the ID in the identifier of the plate. Control unit 401 and a monitor 451 for notifying the person in the kitchen of the order contents.

  The settlement apparatus 600 can obtain a settlement amount for each table number by communicating with the server 500. The payment apparatus 600 includes a control unit 601 for controlling the apparatus, a card reader 603 for reading the table number from the magnetic recording unit of the payment magnetic card, and a display unit 605 for displaying the payment amount.

  The customer of each table is given a magnetic card indicating the table number. By making the card reader 603 read the card at the time of payment, the order history of the table recorded in the server 500 is read. Based on this, the control unit 601 performs settlement and causes the display unit 605 to display the settlement amount.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a data structure for recording table numbers and order contents recorded in the database.

  Here, in accordance with the input of PDAs 700a to 700c, the table on which the order has been placed and the ordered product are recorded in association with each other. In addition, a flag indicating whether or not the product has arrived at the table is also recorded in association therewith.

  By arranging the records in the database in the order received, the order before and after each customer can be managed.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a data structure for recording the dish ID and menu (food type) recorded in the database.

  Here, the type of food placed on the plate is managed in association with the plate ID by the mechanism of FIG.

  By comparing the type of food recorded in FIG. 13 with the order contents recorded in FIG. 12, it is possible to determine which table a certain dish should be transported to.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating processing executed by the food conveyance device.
When the PDA 700a to 700c inputs the number of the table on which the order is placed and the order contents, an instruction is issued to the kitchen 451 for cooking the product corresponding to the order contents. Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the table and the order contents are associated with each other and recorded in the database. At this time, “not yet” is recorded in the arrival flag.

  When cooking is completed, in step S101, the plate ID is associated with the type of product placed on the plate by using the mechanism of FIG. The associated data is recorded in the database as shown in FIG. Further, the order destination is specified by searching for the product type from the data shown in FIG.

  In step S103, the dishes registered in the database are placed on the rotating conveyor 251 of the cooking place. In step S105, an order destination is searched from the ID of the plate to be carried using a plurality of switching members in the cooking area and sensors corresponding to them, and the plate is moved to the corresponding main conveyor.

  In step S107, the order destination is searched from the ID of the plate to be carried using a plurality of switching members in the cabin and sensors corresponding to them, and the plate is moved to the corresponding branch conveyor.

  In step S109, assuming that the dish has arrived at the table, the corresponding arrival flag in FIG.

  In the database of FIG. 12, since the order before and after the order for each customer is managed, the switching member is controlled so that for the same order, the food is transported to the customer who orders earlier. It is desirable.

[Others]
In the above embodiment, the dish ID and the type of food carried by the dish are managed in the database. However, by providing an IC chip or the like as an identifier on the dish, the type of food is written and managed in the identifier. It may be done.

  In addition, two sensors, a passage sensor and an antenna sensor, are provided in the vicinity of the switching member. However, if one sensor can achieve both functions, one sensor is used. Also good.

  Further, as an identifier, an identifier that records electrical and optical information such as an IC chip or a barcode can be used.

  In addition, the switching member is protruded when branching, but conversely, it may be normally protruded and retracted in response to the detection of the dish.

  In addition, the conveyor was taken as an example of the mechanism for transporting dishes, but a mechanism that floats and transports dishes with magnetism such as air injection and electromagnets, a mechanism that transports dishes with a moving body equipped with a motor, etc. You may make it use.

  The processing in the above-described embodiment may be performed by software or by using a hardware circuit.

  In addition, a program for executing the processing in the above-described embodiment can be provided, and the program is recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk, a hard disk, a ROM, a RAM, and a memory card and provided to the user. You may decide to do it. The program may be downloaded to the apparatus via a communication line such as the Internet.

  In addition, it should be thought that the said embodiment is an illustration and restrictive at no points. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

It is a top view which shows the structure of the conveying apparatus of the foodstuff in one of embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the external appearance of the registration apparatus of the kind of foodstuff in a kitchen. It is sectional drawing of the dish which mounts food. It is a top view of the plate which puts food. It is a figure which shows the branch process of the dish in a kitchen. It is an enlarged view of the part which performs the branch process in a kitchen. It is a figure which shows the branch process of the dish in a guest room. It is an enlarged view of the part which performs the branch process in a guest room. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the branch process in a guest room. It is a figure which shows the process which branches a target dish from the some dish conveyed continuously. It is a figure which shows the system configuration | structure of the conveying apparatus of foodstuffs. It is a figure which shows the data structure which records the table number and order content which are recorded on a database. It is a figure which shows the data structure which records dish ID and menu (food type) recorded on a database. It is a flowchart which shows the process performed with the conveying apparatus of foodstuffs.

Explanation of symbols

  203a to 203d Menu display, 207a to 207d Antenna sensor, 251 carousel, 300 platform, 401 control unit, 403a to 405c drive unit, 405a to 405c sensor, 411a passing sensor, 413a antenna sensor, 451 monitor, 500 server, A1 cooking Place, A2 guest room, C identifier, D groove, L1-L4 main conveyor, L5-L16 branch conveyor, P plate, SP1, SP2 gap, T1-T12 table.

Claims (5)

A food transport device for transporting food from a kitchen to a guest room,
A database that records the order details for each customer;
A plurality of transport means for transporting food from the cooking area to a plurality of locations in the guest room;
Switching means for switching the route of the food conveyed by the conveying means;
Determining means for determining the type of food carried by the conveying means;
Control means for controlling the switching means based on the order contents for each customer recorded in the database and the type of food carried by the transport means determined by the determination means,
The determination means includes
An identification means for identifying an identifier provided on a dish on which food is placed;
Recording means for recording the type of food placed on the plate in association with the identifier,
The food transfer device, wherein the switching means switches a route of the food by contacting a plateau portion of the dish. The recording means includes
Multiple menu displays,
The food conveyance device according to claim 1, further comprising: an association unit corresponding to each of the plurality of menu displays and associating the identifier with a type of food indicated by the menu display. The switching means includes a passage sensor that detects passage of the dish,
The food conveying apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the dish is provided with a structure that prevents the dishes from overlapping each other. The database records the order details so that the order before and after each customer can be understood,
The said control means is a food conveyance apparatus in any one of Claim 1 to 3 which controls the said switching means so that food may be conveyed toward the customer of an earlier order regarding the same order content.   5. The food transport apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switching unit rotates the food when the path of the food conveyed by the transport unit is switched. 6.

Images