JP2010264167A - Chopstick supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a chopstick supply device smoothly supplying even chopsticks for business use. <P>SOLUTION: This chopstick supply device 1 includes: a stocker 2 which is a box body having openings 23 at the lowermost parts of base plates 21, 22 and stores a number of chopsticks 5 for business use; and a roller 3, the peripheral surface of which is provided with a receiving groove 32 in which the chopsticks 5 for business are fitted from the stocker 2. In such a reference attitude as to see the receiving groove 32 through the opening 23 of the stocker 2, the roller 3 urged in the opposite direction is journalled to the stocker 2, and turned in the normal direction to a takeout attitude, thereby dropping the chopsticks 5 for business fitted in the receiving grove 32 to be taken out. The roller 3 holding the receiving groove 32 is made different in outside diameter between the rotating upstream side and the rotating downstream side. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a chopstick supply device for storing and storing business chopsticks that can be used repeatedly and supplying the chopsticks to a customer.

  In Japan, disposable chopsticks made from thinned lumber and ordinary lumber generated during lumbering are widely used in restaurants, and are also used in general homes for guests and celebrations. The widespread use of disposable chopsticks is as follows: (1) Unbroken chopsticks are not used, and they may be put in a chopstick bag in units of one bowl, so that they appear hygienic (especially the use of disposable chopsticks = hygienic in the Edo period) (2) The act of splitting chopsticks means the start of a meal, etc. (3) When you eat noodles, do not slip over the chopsticks, (4) Time to wash it disposable It is thought that the reason is that labor and cost can be suppressed, and (5) it can be used as a skewer for holding a large food (for example, apple cake).

  Due to the widespread use of disposable chopsticks, the number of business chopsticks that were used repeatedly at restaurants (hereinafter referred to as business chopsticks for convenience of explanation) has been temporarily reduced. The use of business chopsticks has begun to attract attention again due to excessive logging in order to supply enough disposable chopsticks, and carbon dioxide emitted when a large amount of disposable chopsticks are disposed of. However, if you put business chopsticks in a chopstick stand and have them take them as needed, an unknown third party may touch the business chopsticks or return the business chopsticks once taken to the chopstick stand. It can't be denied that it will be inferior to disposable chopsticks in terms of hygiene. Therefore, there has been proposed a chopstick supply device for storing and storing business chopsticks that can be used repeatedly and supplying the required number of chopsticks to the customer.

  The chopstick supply device disclosed in Patent Document 1 (corresponding to spoons in addition to chopsticks, the spoon is omitted in the context of the present invention) includes a case portion in which a chopstick discharge port is formed and a plurality of business chopsticks A chopstick storage unit that is rotatably mounted in the case unit, and a rotation that adjusts the rotation of the chopstick storage unit so that the stored business chopsticks are sequentially discharged in units of one unit. It is comprised from an adjustment part (a claim etc.). The chopstick supply apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 stores and stores business chopsticks in units of chopsticks in a chopstick storage groove provided in the chopstick storage unit in advance, and supplies the chopsticks in units of chopsticks. Business chopsticks are stored and stored separately for each chopstick storage groove, so if they do not come into contact with each other and the customer cannot return the business chopsticks to the chopstick storage groove, remove it once. There is no risk of returning the chopsticks.

  The invention disclosed in Patent Document 2 is a toothpick supply device, but it is considered that the invention can also be used for a chopstick supply device. In this case, the chopstick supply device inferred from Patent Document 2 is a box having an opening at the bottom of the bottom plate, and has a stocker (box) for storing a large number of business chopsticks and a receiving groove into which the business chopsticks are fitted from the stocker. It is composed of a roller (shaft) provided on the surface, and a supply path (receiving plate) for guiding business chopsticks received from the roller to the outside is added. This chopstick supply device has a V-shaped cross-section at the bottom plate of the stocker, and biases it in the reverse direction with a reference posture in which the receiving groove is looked at almost the same height as or slightly lower than the opening provided at the bottom of the bottom plate. The roller is attached to the stocker. Then, by operating the handle interlocked with the rotation shaft to rotate the roller in the forward direction to the take-out posture, the business chopsticks fitted in the receiving groove are dropped and taken out along the supply path.

Special Table 2006-521831 No. 52-112980

  The chopstick supply device disclosed in Patent Document 1 has to store business chopsticks in a chopstick storage groove in a single unit, and requires labor to replenish the business chopsticks. In addition, since the chopstick storage unit can store business chopsticks as many as the number of chopstick storage slots, there is a problem that the number of business chopsticks that can be supplied for the size of the entire apparatus is small. Furthermore, the method of supplying business chopsticks in a single unit brings the following problems. Certainly, when you first take out business chopsticks, it is desirable to supply them in units of a bowl. However, for example, if one business chopstick is dropped during a meal, even if only one business chopstick is desired, the chopstick supply device disclosed in Patent Document 1 can be taken out only in a single unit. Business chopsticks are wasted. As described above, if labor is required for replenishment of business chopsticks, there is a problem that there is supply of such wasteful business chopsticks.

  In this regard, the chopstick supply device inferred from Patent Document 2 can take out business chopsticks one by one, and even if the business chopsticks are dropped during a meal, only one additional business chopstick can be supplied. In other words, when the business chopsticks are first taken out in units of one stroke, the operation of rotating the roller is required twice, but the advantage of not supplying unnecessary business chopsticks is exceeded. However, when the chopstick supply device inferred from Patent Document 2 was made, it was found that the business chopsticks could not be supplied in practice. That is, the toothpick targeted by the toothpick supply device disclosed in Patent Document 2 is a circular rod with a circular section that extends with the same diameter, which is clearly lighter and shorter than the business chopsticks, whereas the business chopsticks have a cross-section at the tip. Even if it is circular, the handle portion is often a square body, which is obviously heavier and longer than the toothpick.

  Patent document 2 discloses a toothpick supply device in which the bottom plate with a V-shaped cross section of the stocker is steeply inclined, and the roller is placed in a stocker so that the receiving groove can be looked at almost the same height or slightly lower than the opening at the bottom of the bottom plate. It is attached to. If the chopstick supply device inferred from Patent Document 2 is the same as the toothpick supply device, the weight of many business chopsticks stored in the stocker is concentrated on the business chopsticks fitted in the receiving groove of the roller. End up. And the business chopsticks whose handle part has a square cross-section are in surface contact with each other, and the cross-section corners are engaged (hereinafter referred to as a constrained state) and are agglomerated as a whole and fit into the receiving groove. The rotation of the roller is restricted through the business chopsticks that come into contact with the business chopsticks and rollers. Here, the lump of business chopsticks means that many business chopsticks cannot move as if they were integrated. In addition, since the roller can look into the receiving groove at almost the same height or slightly lower position as the opening at the bottom of the bottom plate, the business chopsticks fitted in the receiving groove are lowered as the roller rotates, Just receiving the weight applied from the business chopsticks, the rotation of the roller becomes more severe, and the business chopsticks cannot be taken out.

  In addition, the roller rotation restriction may occur even when business chopsticks are not properly fitted in the receiving grooves or when more than the prescribed number of business chopsticks are fitted. For example, in the receiving groove into which the business chopsticks are fitted in one unit, if the two business chopsticks are not properly fitted, the other business chopsticks are caught and the roller is restricted. From this, it is preferable that the receiving groove fits business chopsticks one by one, but even in this case, the business chopsticks different from the toothpick have the following problems. Business chopsticks are rods that often have a rounded cross-section at the tip, but the handle portion is often square in cross-section. Several business chopsticks try to fit into the receiving groove near the tip. If the receiving groove is tapered to match the outer shape of the business chopsticks, it will be difficult to fit business chopsticks with different outer shapes, and the versatility of the chopstick supply device will be impaired.

  The problem caused by such business chopsticks shows that it is not practical to make a chopstick supply device within the range inferred from the toothpick supply device disclosed in Patent Document 2. Therefore, based on the toothpick supply device disclosed in Patent Document 2, it is a stick that often has a square cross section even if the tip is circular in cross section, and is clearly a heavier and longer business chopstick than the toothpick. In order to develop a chopstick supply device that can smoothly supply even business chopsticks by solving the problem caused by the restriction on the rotation of the roller.

  What was developed as a result of the study was a box with an opening at the bottom of the bottom plate, consisting of a stocker that houses a number of business chopsticks, and a roller with a receiving groove that fits the business chopsticks from the stocker on the peripheral surface, In a standard posture where the receiving groove is viewed from the opening of the stocker, a roller biased in the opposite direction is pivotally attached to the stocker, and the roller is rotated in the forward direction to the taking-out posture, and is fitted into the receiving groove. This is a chopstick supply device that can drop and take out business chopsticks, wherein the outer diameter of the roller that sandwiches the receiving groove is different between the rotation upstream side and the rotation downstream side. The rotation in the forward direction of the roller means the rotation from the reference posture toward the take-out posture, and the rotation in the reverse direction of the roller means the rotation from the take-out posture toward the reference posture. For the urging of the roller in the reverse direction, conventionally known various means, for example, a configuration in which one end of a torsion coil spring fitted to the rotation shaft of the roller is fixed to the stocker and the other end is engaged with the roller can be used. . The roller is provided with a handle or a lever on a rotation shaft of the roller protruding from the stocker, for example, and is rotated by the operation of the handle or lever.

  In the chopstick supply apparatus to which the present invention is applied, business chopsticks can be taken out by dropping from a receiving groove of a roller into a space provided below the bottom plate of the stocker, for example. A supply path may be added below, dropped from the receiving groove of the roller, and taken out so as to slide along the supply path. The receiving groove of the roller may be configured to fit business chopsticks in a single unit. However, as described above, it is preferable to supply business chopsticks one by one. The configuration will be described. As seen in Patent Document 2, the stocker bottom plate may have a V-shaped cross section. However, since business chopsticks only need to be fitted in the receiving groove of the roller that can be viewed from the opening, for example, the front plate of the stocker is directed forward or backward. It may be a uniform downward slope. When the bottom plate has a V-shaped cross section, the roller is pivotally attached near the center of the front and rear of the stocker where the opening is located, but when the bottom plate is uniformly downwardly inclined toward the front or rear of the stocker, the roller is Alternatively, it is pivotally attached to the stocker at a position biased backward.

  The chopsticks supply device of the present invention is configured such that the outer diameter of the roller sandwiching the receiving groove is different between the rotating upstream side and the rotating downstream side, and a pair of receiving parts having different heights (exactly outer diameters) sandwiching the receiving groove. Groove edge portions (rotating upstream side receiving groove edge portion and rotating downstream side receiving groove edge portion) are formed. The roller may be configured in accordance with one of the receiving groove edge portions having a large outer diameter, and only the other outer diameter of the receiving groove edge portion may be reduced, or the receiving groove edge portion having a small outer diameter may be used. The whole may be configured according to one side, and only the other outer diameter of the receiving groove edge may be enlarged. The rotation downstream side opening edge of the rotation downstream side base plate protrudes leaving a gap through which the receiving groove edge having a large outer diameter passes. The opening upstream edge of the rotating upstream bottom plate normally does not pass through the receiving groove edge having a large outer diameter. May be. In any case, the business chopsticks should not be dropped from the gap between the peripheral surface of the roller and the opening edge.

  The receiving groove edge moves circularly according to the rotation of the roller, and within the range of the opening, the business chopsticks in a restricted state are pushed up or hooked to temporarily eliminate the clumping of the business chopsticks. Has the function of eliminating the rotation restriction. Further, since the agglomeration is temporarily eliminated, the work chopsticks fitted in the receiving groove have a function of avoiding the concentration of the weight of many work chopsticks stored in the stocker. The function of the edge of the receiving groove not only passively eliminates the rotation restriction of the roller but also positively assists the smooth rotation of the roller. The work to avoid the concentration of the weight of business chopsticks can be obtained regardless of the receiving groove, for example, by providing a step on the peripheral surface of the roller looking through the opening, but the work to temporarily eliminate clumping It is obtained by the presence of unevenness (uneven surface) formed by the receiving groove edge portion sandwiching the receiving groove and the business chopsticks fitted in the receiving groove.

  In order for the function of the receiving groove edge to better assist the smooth rotation of the roller, the roller may be configured such that the outer diameter of the roller sandwiching the receiving groove is larger on the rotating downstream side than on the rotating upstream side. Thereby, when taking out the business chopsticks fitted in the receiving groove, it is possible to eliminate the catch of the receiving groove edge portion having a large outer diameter with respect to the business chopsticks and to avoid the resistance of the roller. Specifically, when a roller with one business chopstick inserted into the receiving groove is rotated in the forward direction, the outer diameter gradually increases from the edge of the rotating upstream receiving groove with a small outer diameter. The peripheral surface that reaches the pivot upstream receiving groove edge with a large diameter pushes up the business chopsticks stored in the stocker and fits into the pivot upstream receiving groove edge and the rotating downstream receiving groove edge and receiving groove. Other business chopsticks are dropped into the unevenness formed by the business chopsticks, and the clumping of business chopsticks is eliminated. Also, if the roller with the receiving groove emptied by dropping the business chopsticks is rotated in the opposite direction, the circular receiving groove will always fit one business chopstick within the opening range, and the upstream side of the rotation While dropping other business chopsticks into the unevenness formed by the receiving groove edge and the rotating downstream receiving groove edge and the business chopsticks fitted in the receiving groove, the other in the rotating downstream receiving groove edge Hang and move the business chopsticks to eliminate clumping of business chopsticks.

  In addition, the roller projects the peripheral surface from the opening provided at the bottom of the bottom plate of the stocker and rotates the receiving groove in the standard posture so that the working of the receiving groove edge helps the smooth rotation of the roller better. It is good to incline upstream. As a result, when the roller in the reference posture is rotated in the forward direction toward the take-out posture, the receiving groove is raised once and then lowered, and the receiving groove edge is moved in a circular motion. Also, if the roller in the take-out posture is rotated in the reverse direction toward the reference posture by urging, the receiving groove will rise once and then descend, and as described above, the receiving groove edge moves circularly. Let This circular movement of the receiving groove edge not only moves the receiving groove edge back and forth according to the rotation of the roller, but also displaces it up and down, making it easier to push up and hook the business chopsticks, making the business chopsticks agglomerated This will strengthen the function of the edge of the receiving groove.

  The function of the receiving groove edge is exhibited on the assumption that only a specified number (for example, one) of business chopsticks set in the receiving groove is fitted. Therefore, in order to prevent the business chopsticks from being inserted into the receiving groove beyond the specified number, the roller is aligned with the narrow groove having a cross section sized to the tip of the business chopsticks and the handle portion of the business chopsticks. A receiving groove constituted by connecting a wide groove having a cross section of a size may be provided on the peripheral surface. This receiving groove has a narrow groove corresponding to the tip of the business chopsticks and a wide groove corresponding to the handle portion, so that the business chopsticks stored in the stocker in the opposite direction do not fit into the receiving groove. In addition, the narrow groove corresponding to the tip eliminates an excessive gap, and prevents a plurality of business chopsticks from fitting into the receiving groove. Furthermore, because the receiving groove is composed of two sections, a narrow groove and a wide groove, business chopsticks with slightly different external shapes and sizes can be fitted in the receiving groove, and the same chopstick supply device can be Bring the advantage of dealing with business chopsticks (general versatility).

  The chopstick supply device of the present invention mainly improves the roller itself to make the rotation of the roller smooth, but the function of the edge of the receiving groove is to eliminate the clumping of many business chopsticks stored in the stocker. Therefore, for example, even if the bottom plate of the stocker is loosened, there is a secondary effect that business chopsticks can be brought close to the opening. Therefore, in order to avoid the concentration of the weight on the business chopsticks fitted in the receiving groove as much as possible, the stocker can make the downward slope of the bottom plate close to the peripheral edge of the roller less than 45 degrees. That is, when a large number of business chopsticks stored in the stocker are accumulated, the vertical load can be prevented from concentrating toward the opening, and the component force of the vertical load can be increased in the horizontal direction. This in turn leads to making it easier to eliminate clumping of business chopsticks by the action of the receiving groove edge. In addition, taking into account the overall shape of the business chopsticks that taper toward the tip, the stocker has the guide plate in the direction perpendicular to the opening extending in accordance with the tip of the stored business chopsticks inside or on the back plate. It is better to place it inside and bring the tip of the business chopsticks toward the opening. In this case, if the bottom plate has a V-shaped cross section, a pair of guide plates are provided opposite to each other in the direction orthogonal to the extension of the opening.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a chopstick supply device which can smoothly take out business chopsticks from a stocker by smoothly rotating a roller provided with a receiving groove on a peripheral surface. The smooth rotation of the roller is an effect due to the action of the receiving groove edge portions having different outer diameters formed across the receiving grooves provided on the peripheral surface of the roller. The function of the edge of the receiving groove is strengthened by reducing the outer diameter on the upstream side of the rotation of the roller and increasing the downstream side of the rotation, thereby better assisting the smooth rotation of the roller. Further, the function of the edge of the receiving groove is strengthened by projecting the peripheral surface of the roller from the opening and tilting the receiving groove toward the upstream side of rotation in the reference posture, and better assists in smooth rotation of the roller. By configuring the receiving groove with a narrow groove and a wide groove, only a specified number of business chopsticks can be fitted into the receiving groove, and the function of the edge of the receiving groove is not hindered. Smooth rotation is guaranteed. The receiving groove composed of the narrow width groove and the wide width groove also has a secondary effect of aligning the direction of the business chopsticks to be supplied.

It is the perspective view which looked at an example of the chopstick supply device based on the present invention from the right front. It is the perspective view which looked at the chopstick supply device of this example from the left rear. FIG. 2 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 1 in a state where a part of a front plate and a right side plate is broken and a lid is lifted. It is the horizontal sectional view which looked at the chopstick supply apparatus of this example which cut | disconnected the stocker on the boundary of the rotating shaft from the upper direction. It is the vertical sectional view which looked at the chopstick supply device of this example which cut the stocker on the boundary of the rotation axis from the front. It is the vertical sectional view which looked at the chopstick supply device of this example which fractured the stocker from the right side board as a boundary from the right side. It is an expansion perspective view of a roller. It is an expanded peripheral view of a roller. FIG. 2 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 1 in a state where a large number of business chopsticks are stored in a stocker. FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view corresponding to FIG. 4 in a state where a large number of business chopsticks are stored in a stocker. FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view corresponding to FIG. 6 in a state where a large number of business chopsticks are stored in a stocker. FIG. 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 4 in a state where one business chopstick is fitted in the receiving groove of the roller in the reference posture. FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 5 in a state where one business chopstick is fitted in a receiving groove of a roller in a reference posture. FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 4 in a state in which a roller is started to rotate forward from a reference posture toward a take-out posture with a lever. FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view corresponding to FIG. 4 in a state where one business chopstick is dropped from a receiving groove of a roller that has reached the take-out posture. FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view corresponding to FIG. 6 in a state where one business chopstick is dropped from the receiving groove of the roller that has reached the take-out posture. FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 4 in a state where the roller is reversely rotated from the take-out posture to the reference posture by urging.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, for example, the chopstick supply device 1 of the present invention can have a configuration in which a long cylindrical roller 3 is attached to a stocker 2 that is a rectangular parallelepiped box. In the chopstick supply device 1 of this example, when the lever 312 provided on the outside of the side plate 26 of the stocker 2 is rotated so as to be tilted forward, the business chopsticks 5 (see FIG. 7 and the following) are configured on the upper surface side of the base 27. The supplied supply path 4 slides down and can be taken out to the near side. In addition, although not shown, for example, the stocker 2 without the base 27 or the supply path 4 is fixed to a counter or wall near the table and sandwiched between the rotating upstream bottom plate 21 and the rotating downstream bottom plate 22 of the stocker 2. The work chopsticks 5 can be dropped and removed from the opening 23 (shown by the rotating upstream opening edge 211 and the rotating downstream opening edge 221 sandwiching the opening 23 in FIGS. 11, 14 and 16). Also good.

  The stocker 2 is a box in which a wooden front plate 24, a back plate 25, a pair of left and right side plates 26, 26, and a pair of front and rear rotating upstream bottom plates 21 and 22 are assembled. The stocker 2 basically has a rectangular parallelepiped appearance as in this example because it accommodates a long business chopstick 5, but it has a front plate 24, a back plate 25, a pair of left and right side plates 26, 26, and a pair of front and rear. The material of the rotating upstream side bottom plate 21 and the rotating downstream side bottom plate 22 may be wood (including plywood), metal or synthetic resin, or a combination of these materials. In the stocker 2 of this example, side plates 26 and 26 are erected on the base 27 below the rotating upstream side bottom plate 21 and the rotating downstream side bottom plate 22, and the front plate 24, the back plate 25, and the pair of left and right side plates 26 and 26 are provided. The enclosed open upper surface is closed with a lid 28 so as to be freely opened and closed. The rotating upstream side bottom plate 21 and the rotating downstream side bottom plate 22 are each inclined downward from the inner side of the front plate 24 or the inner side of the back plate 25 toward the other side, and the bottom plate as a whole has a V-shaped cross section. There is an opening 23 sandwiched between the side opening edge 211 and the rotating downstream opening edge 221. In addition, the stocker 2 of this example has a wooden menu tray 252 having an L-shaped cross section attached to the outside of the back plate 25.

  The base 27 is provided with four wooden guide blocks 41 provided with an inclined surface in the front, and the base inclined path 271 formed at the front end portion of the base 27 and the inclined surface of the guide block 41 are connected to form the supply path 4. (See FIG. 3). As a result, the business chopsticks 5 stored in the stocker 2 are inserted into the receiving groove 32 of the roller 3 through the opening 23 of the stocker 2, and the supply path 4 (directly) from the receiving groove 32 of the roller 3 rotated to the take-out posture. Can be dropped on the guide block 41) and taken out along the supply path 4 so as to slide down. At this time, in this example, a stopper 272 having an L-shaped cross section protruding from the front end of the base 27 is provided integrally with the base 27 so that the business chopsticks 5 do not slide forward more than necessary. The taken out business chopsticks 5 look like they are stretched between the stoppers 272, and can be easily put into the hand by putting the hand between the stoppers 272.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the roller 3 is configured by assembling a small-diameter roller portion 34 and a large-diameter roller portion 33 having a substantially half-cut cross-sectional shape. The rotation shaft 31 is provided in the small diameter roller portion. The small-diameter roller part 34 has a small outer diameter R2 at the rotating upstream receiving groove edge 323, but gradually increases the outer diameter along the peripheral surface, 45 degrees from the rotating upstream receiving groove edge 323. The distant peripheral surface has a large outer diameter R1. From now on, when the roller 3 is rotated in the forward direction, the outer diameter of the circumferential surface gradually increases from the rotation upstream receiving groove edge portion 323 which was initially R1 having a small outer diameter. The chopsticks 5 are pushed up. The large-diameter roller portion 33 has a rotating downstream receiving groove edge portion 324 having a large outer diameter R1, and forms a circumferential surface with the same outer diameter. As described above, the small-diameter roller portion 34 has a large outer diameter R1 at a peripheral surface 45 degrees away from the rotational upstream-side receiving groove edge portion 323, so that the small-diameter roller portion 34 is opposite to the receiving groove 32. And the peripheral surface of the large-diameter roller part 33 is continuous.

  The receiving groove 32 is formed on the boundary end surfaces of the small diameter roller portion 34 and the large diameter roller portion 33, and is configured by abutting the boundary end surfaces. The receiving groove 32 in this example is adjusted to a narrow groove 321 obtained by halving a cross-sectional oval shape matched to the tip of the business chopsticks 5 so that the business chopsticks 5 can be inserted one by one, and to the hand-held portion of the business chopsticks 5. A wide groove 322 having a half octagonal cross section is connected in the extending direction. The length of the narrow groove 321 is about 1/4 of the wide groove 322 (that is, 1/5 of the receiving groove 32 is the narrow groove 321 and 4/5 of the receiving groove 32 is the wide groove 322). In this example, it is assumed that the tip of the business chopsticks 5 has a circular cross section, and the narrow groove 321 has an oval cross section. Further, assuming that the handle portion of the business chopsticks 5 has a square cross section, the handle portion has an octagonal cross section consisting of one side having a length that is difficult to come into surface contact. The cross-sectional shapes of the narrow groove 321 and the wide groove 322 are arbitrary, and may be any size as long as the tip or handle portion of the business chopsticks 5 can be fitted.

  Here, the rotating upstream receiving groove edge 323 is the edge of the narrow groove 321 and the wide groove 322 of the small diameter roller section 34, and the rotating downstream receiving groove edge 324 of the large diameter roller section 33 is This is the edge of the narrow groove 321 and the wide groove 322. As described above, the rotating upstream receiving groove edge 323 and the rotating downstream receiving groove edge 324 extend over the narrow groove 321 and the wide groove 322, and strictly speaking, the outer diameter is slightly small. It has a structure in which two different types of edges are connected to each other (see FIG. 8). As a result, for example, the timing of hooking the business chopsticks 5 at the edge of the narrow groove 321 and the edge of the wide groove 322 may be shifted. However, such a shift in timing eliminates the clumping of the business chopsticks 5. In the description of this example, the edge portion extending over the narrow groove 321 and the wide groove 322 is used. Are collectively handled as a rotating upstream receiving groove edge 323 and a rotating downstream receiving groove edge 324.

  The roller 3 of this example allows the stocker 2 to look into the receiving groove 32 from the opening 23 of the stocker 2 and to fit the stocking chopstick 5 stored in the stocker 2 into the receiving groove 32 (see FIG. 11). Axis. The roller 3 has a peripheral surface protruding from the opening 23 by a vertical distance H (see FIG. 6). The reference posture is a posture in which the peripheral surface protrudes from the opening 23 sandwiched between the rotating upstream bottom plate 21 and the rotating downstream bottom plate 22 of the stocker 2 and the receiving groove 32 is inclined to the rotating upstream side. The vertical distance Δ is lowered from the top of the roller 3 to the receiving groove 32 in the reference posture. In the roller 3 of this example, one end of a torsion coil spring 311 (see FIG. 5, omitted for convenience of illustration in other drawings) fitted to the rotating shaft 31 is fixed to the stocker 2 and the other end is engaged with the roller 3. The lever 312 is urged in the opposite direction and is rotated by a lever 312 attached to a rotating shaft 31 that protrudes through the side plate 26. As a result, the roller 3 in the standard posture is rotated in the forward direction to the take-out posture (see FIG. 16) by operating the lever 312 and then rotated in the reverse direction by the torsion coil spring 311 when the lever 312 is released. Return to the standard posture.

  In this way, the roller 3 of the present example with the peripheral surface protruding from the opening 23 and pivotally attached to the stocker 2 is tilted to the upstream side when rotated in the forward direction from the reference posture toward the take-out posture. The receiving groove 32 is raised once and then lowered, and the rotating upstream receiving groove edge 323 and the rotating downstream receiving groove edge 324 are circularly moved. Further, when the roller 3 is rotated in the reverse direction from the take-out posture to the reference posture, the receiving groove 32 is once raised and then lowered, and the rotating upstream receiving groove edge 323 and the rotating downstream receiving groove The edge 324 is moved circularly. The circular motion of the rotating upstream receiving groove edge 323 and the rotating downstream receiving groove edge 324 is caused by the rotation of the roller 3 through the rotating upstream receiving groove edge 323 and the rotating downstream receiving groove edge 324. Accordingly, the work chopsticks 5 are easily pushed up and hooked, and the functions of the rotating upstream receiving groove edge 323 and the rotating downstream receiving groove edge 324 are strengthened.

  In addition, the chopsticks supply device 1 of this example has a downward gradient of the rotating upstream bottom plate 21 and the rotating downstream bottom plate 22 of the stocker 2 of less than 45 degrees, specifically, a downward gradient of the rotating upstream bottom plate 21. The downward gradient of the rotating downstream side bottom plate 22 is set to 10 degrees and 20 degrees. As a result, when a large number of business chopsticks 5 stored in the stocker 2 are stacked, the component force of the vertical load increases in the horizontal direction, and the rotating upstream receiving groove edge 323 and the rotating downstream receiving groove edge 324. This makes it easier to eliminate clumping of the business chopsticks 5. In this example, since the roller 3 in the reference posture tilts the receiving groove 32 toward the upstream side of the rotation, the bottom plate 22 of the rotating downstream side of the rotating upstream side bottom plate 21 so that more business chopsticks 5 are accumulated on the upstream side of the rotation. The downhill slope is steep. In addition, the stocker 2 of this example has a rotating upstream guide plate 241 perpendicular to the extending direction of the opening 23 inside the front plate 24 and a rotating downstream guide aligned with the tip of the stored business chopsticks 5. A plate 251 is provided inside the back plate 25, respectively. As a result, the large number of business chopsticks 5 stored in the stocker 2 are gathered with their tips directed toward the opening 23 (see FIGS. 10 and 11).

  A procedure for taking out the business unit 5 by the chopstick supply device 1 of this example will be described. The business chopsticks 5 are removed from the upper surface of the stocker 2 with the lid 28 removed. The lid 28 is shaped like a rib-shaped tray, and the business chopsticks 5 are stored in the stocker 2, and the top surface of the stocker 2 is closed, and then a seasoning or the like is placed on the lid 28 so that the user cannot easily remove it. A large number of business chopsticks 5 housed in the stocker 2 are gathered to the center by a pair of rotational upstream guide plates 24 and rotational downstream guide plates 251 as seen in FIGS. Accumulate. When the business chopsticks 5 are stored in the stocker 2 in this way, the roller 3 is in a reference posture in which the receiving groove 32 is viewed through the opening 23, and one business chopstick 5 is fitted in the receiving groove 32. At this time, in the receiving groove 32 of this example, the portion corresponding to the tip of the business chopsticks 5 where a gap is easily formed is used as the narrow groove 321 to prevent the formation of the gap. For convenience, other than the business chopsticks 5 fitted in the receiving groove 32 is omitted (as in FIG. 14 and the like), only one tapered business chopstick 5 can be fitted. Further, even if the business chopsticks 5 are stored in the reverse direction, they will not fit. As a result, as long as the rotation restriction by the clumped business chopsticks 5 can be eliminated, the roller 3 can be smoothly rotated and the business chopsticks 5 can be taken out one by one.

  In order to take out the business chopsticks 5, as shown in FIG. 14, the user rotates the lever 312 provided on the outer surface of the side plate 26 so as to tilt forward (left in FIG. 14) (black in FIG. 14). (See painted arc arrow). The lever 312 of this example has an arc shape convex toward the front (universal design) in order to make it possible to understand the turning operation that visually tilts forward. Thus, the roller 3 integrated with the lever 312 via the rotation shaft 31 starts to rotate from the reference posture toward the take-out posture. At this time, the rotating upstream receiving groove edge 323 and the rotating downstream receiving groove edge 324 move circularly according to the rotation of the roller 3 to push up a number of business chopsticks 5 stored in the stocker 2 (see FIG. 14), the clumping of the work chopsticks 5 is temporarily canceled to remove the restriction of the rotation of the roller 3 by the large number of work chopsticks 5. Then, since the agglomeration is temporarily eliminated, the weight of the large number of business chopsticks 5 stored in the stocker 2 is prevented from concentrating on the business chopsticks 5 fitted in the receiving groove 32, and the roller as a whole. 3 is smoothly rotated.

  When the lever 312 is rotated and the roller 3 continues to rotate as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 (see the black circled arrow in FIG. 15), the receiving groove 32 eventually turns the rotating downstream bottom plate 22 The rotation downstream side opening edge portion 221 is passed and the bottom of the rotation downstream side bottom plate 22 is viewed. At this time, the business chopsticks 5 fitted in the receiving groove 32 fall so as to spill out from the receiving groove 32, slide down from the inclined surface of the guide block 41 constituting the supply path 4 to the base inclined path 271 of the base 27, and are taken out. It is. For example, in the case of the business chopsticks 5 having a circular cross-section up to the handle portion, it is conceivable that the supply tractor 4 will roll down violently, but a stopper 272 is provided at the end of the supply chopsticks 4. Therefore, there is no possibility that the business chopsticks 5 jump out of the table or the like. This means that the business chopsticks 5 can be taken out hygienically. Further, as described above, since the taken out business chopsticks 5 are floating on the stopper 272 and are floating from the table, there is an advantage that the user can easily grasp the business chopsticks 5.

  Since the roller 3 is biased in the reverse direction by the torsion coil spring 311 (see FIG. 5), when the user releases the lever 312, the roller 3 rotates from the take-out posture toward the reference posture as seen in FIG. It starts to move (see black arrow in Fig. 17). In this example, since the peripheral surface of the roller 3 protrudes from the opening 23, the remaining business chopsticks 5 are dispersed on either the rotating upstream bottom plate 21 or the rotating downstream bottom plate 22 with the roller 3 interposed therebetween. However, since the receiving groove 32 first passes through the rotating downstream opening edge 221, the business chopsticks 5 placed on the rotating downstream bottom plate 22 can be fitted into the receiving groove 32 at this time, and finally Since the rotating upstream opening edge 211 is approached, the business chopsticks 5 placed on the rotating upstream bottom plate 21 can be fitted into the receiving groove 32 at this time. In this way, the roller 3 again fits one business chopstick 5 into the receiving groove 32. Further, the roller 3 is formed by the rotation upstream receiving groove edge 323 and the rotation downstream receiving groove edge 324 and the business chopsticks 5 fitted in the receiving groove 32 by the rotation in the reverse direction. While the other business chopsticks 5 are lowered onto the land, the other business chopsticks 5 are further hooked and moved to the receiving groove edge portion 324 of the rotating downstream side (see the white arrow in FIG. 17), and the business chopsticks 5 are agglomerated. Eliminate. The elimination of the agglomeration here is a function of eliminating the uneven accumulation state of the business chopsticks 5.

1 Chopstick feeder 2 Stocker
21 Rotating upstream side bottom plate
22 Rotating downstream side bottom plate
23 opening
24 Front plate
25 Backboard
26 Side plate
27 base
28 Lid 3 Roller
31 Rotating axis
32 receiving groove
33 Large diameter roller section
34 Small roller section 4 Supply path
41 Guide block 5 Business chopsticks R1 Small outer diameter on the upstream side of the rotation R2 Large outer diameter on the downstream side of the rotation H Vertical height at which the roller circumferential surface protrudes from the opening Δ Vertical from the top of the roller to the receiving groove in the standard posture height

Claims (4)

A box that has an opening at the bottom of the bottom plate, and is composed of a stocker that houses a large number of business chopsticks and a roller that has a receiving groove on the peripheral surface that fits the business chopsticks from the stocker. With the standard posture, the roller biased in the opposite direction is pivotally attached to the stocker, and the roller is rotated forward to the take-out posture, so that the business chopsticks fitted in the receiving groove can be dropped and removed. A chopstick supply device,
A chopstick supply device characterized in that the outer diameter of the roller sandwiching the receiving groove is different between the upstream side and the downstream side. The chopsticks supply device according to claim 1, wherein the roller has the outer diameter of the roller sandwiching the receiving groove larger on the rotating downstream side than on the rotating upstream side. 3. The chopsticks supply device according to claim 1, wherein the roller has a peripheral surface protruding from an opening provided at a lowermost part of the bottom plate of the stocker, and the receiving groove is inclined to the upstream side in a reference posture. The roller surrounds a receiving groove formed by connecting a narrow groove having a cross section sized to the tip of the business chopsticks and a wide groove having a cross section sized to the handle of the business chopsticks. The chopsticks supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, provided on a surface.

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