JP2014091009A - Conveyance attitude change mechanism for food/drink conveyance container - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a conveyance attitude change mechanism for food/drink conveyance containers, even when a container passes a shunt conveyance path and returns to a main conveyance path again, capable of turning a takeout port side of the container to a customer side.SOLUTION: The conveyance attitude change mechanism includes: a part to be guided provided on a food/drink conveyance container; and a guide part for correcting a conveyance attitude of the food/drink conveyance container, provided on a food/drink conveyance device. The guide part corrects the conveyance attitudes of the food/drink conveyance containers respectively to turn the container takeout port to a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the shunt conveyance path, when transferring the food/drink conveyance container to the shunt conveyance passage, and to turn the container takeout port to a direction of customer seats disposed along a main conveyance path, when transferring the food/drink conveyance container from the shunt conveyance path to the main conveyance path.

Description

The present invention relates to a mechanism for changing the transport posture of a food transport container transported by a food transport device.

In restaurants generally referred to as sushi restaurants, food and beverage transport devices equipped with a transport path that circulates along the audience seats are installed, and the cook places food and drinks such as sushi on a plate. On the other hand, the customer moves to the transporting path of the transporting device and sequentially transports it to the audience seats, while the customer takes out food and drinks such as sushi that are sequentially sent out from the transporting path according to their preference. (See Patent Document 1)
By the way, since the sushi conveyed by the above-mentioned conveying device is easy to dry and may be mistakenly touched by other customers, it is necessary to provide sushi in a sanitary manner and to prevent the sushi from drying.
Therefore, the applicant first places a mounting table having a container mounting unit for mounting a container on which food and drink are stacked, and a lid for covering the container mounting unit of the mounting table. For opening and closing the lid as the plate is placed on the container placement portion and opening the lid as the plate is removed from the container placement portion. The container for transporting food and drinks equipped with the opening / closing mechanism is developed to eliminate the above-mentioned problems and at the same time to place the container on the mounting table or take out the container from the mounting table. It was possible to do without touching the cover.

However, in the food and beverage transport apparatus in which a short-circuit mechanism is provided in the middle of the main transport path and a part (the front end side) of the main transport path is short-circuited by the short-circuit mechanism, for example, the food is stacked on the plate by the transport body described above When transporting food and drink, there is a problem that it becomes difficult to remove the dish from the food and drink transport container.
That is, as shown schematically in FIG. 14, the short-circuit mechanism described above is for short-circuiting a part (front end side) of the main transport path A in the middle of the main transport path A composed of a Crescent chain conveyor. While providing the short-circuit conveyance path B, on the entrance side of the short-circuit conveyance path B, the first guide body C for transferring the food and drink conveyance container G conveyed by the main conveyance path A to the short-circuit conveyance path B, Moreover, the 2nd guide body D for changing the food / drink conveyance container G conveyed by this short circuit conveyance path B to the main conveyance path A is provided in the exit side of the short circuit conveyance path B, respectively, and there are few customers. At times, the short-circuit conveyance path B is driven so that a part of the main conveyance path A is short-circuited by both guide bodies C and D.
As is known, the short-circuit conveying path B includes a pair of rotating rollers and a conveying belt that is stretched endlessly between the rotating rollers.

And when short-circuiting the front end side of the main conveyance path A, and conveying food and drink by the food / drink conveyance container G, as shown by code | symbol G-1, G-2, and G-3 in FIG. When the transport container G passes through the short-circuit transport path B of the short-circuit mechanism from the main transport path A and returns to the main transport path A again, the container outlet H side of the food / drink transport container G is opposite to the customer. It turns to the side, that is, the side opposite to the table. Therefore, the customer cannot take out containers such as dishes from the food / drink transport container G.

JP 2000-255749 A

The present invention has been developed in view of the above circumstances, and the object of the present invention is to provide a transfer device provided with a short-circuit mechanism for short-circuiting the main transfer path in the middle of the main transfer path. Even when the transport path passes through the short-circuit transport path and returns to the main transport path again, the container for food and beverage transport can be always directed to the customer side, that is, the table side. The object is to provide a body transport posture changing mechanism.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is a food transport container used on a main transport path of a food transport apparatus provided with a main transport path for food transport. It is a transport posture change mechanism, and is provided in the middle of the main transport path in the food and beverage transport apparatus, provided on the inlet side of the short-circuit transport path and a short-circuit transport path for partially short-circuiting the main transport path. There is provided a short-circuit transport mechanism including a guide body for transferring the food and drink transport container transported by the transport path to the short-circuit transport path, and the food and drink transport container is loaded with a food and drink container. And a guided portion extending rearward in the transport direction of the food transport container, and the food transport device includes the food from the main transport path to the short-circuit transport path. For transfer of transport containers Correct the transport posture of the food transport container so that the guided portion is in sliding contact and the container outlet in the food transport container faces in a direction substantially perpendicular to the transport direction of the short-circuit transport path. As the food transport container is transferred from the short-circuit transport path to the main transport path, the guided portion comes into sliding contact, and the container outlet in the food transport container is along the main transport path. The guide part which corrects the conveyance attitude | position of the container for food-and-drink conveyance is provided so that it may face the direction of the passenger seat arrange | positioned.

According to the present invention, in the transfer apparatus provided with a short-circuit mechanism for short-circuiting the transfer path in the middle of the transfer path extending to the passenger room, after passing through the short-circuit path of the short-circuit mechanism from the main transfer path, the main again Even when returning to the transport path, it is possible to always direct the tray outlet side of the mounting table to the customer side, that is, the table side, so that the customer can easily take out the container.

Explanatory drawing which represented the inside of the store provided with the food-drink conveyance apparatus planarly. Sectional drawing of the principal part of food-drink conveyance apparatus. The schematic perspective view of the principal part of food-drinks conveying apparatus. Sectional drawing of the principal part of food-drink conveyance apparatus. The front view of the container for food-drink conveyance. Sectional drawing of the container for food-drink conveyance mounted on the main conveyance path. The top view of the container for food-and-drink conveyance of the state which accommodated the dish. The bottom view of the container for food-drink conveyance of the state which accommodated the dish. Operation | movement explanatory drawing which shows the condition before the food / beverage conveyance container is replaced by a short circuit conveyance path. Operation | movement explanatory drawing which shows the condition at the time of the food / beverage conveyance container changing from a main conveyance path to a short circuit conveyance path. Operation | movement explanatory drawing which shows the condition where the food / beverage conveyance container was replaced by the short circuit conveyance path. Operation | movement explanatory drawing which shows the condition at the time of the food / beverage conveyance container changing from a short circuit conveyance path to a main conveyance path. Operation | movement explanatory drawing which shows the condition where the container for food / drink conveyance was replaced by the main conveyance path. The conventional operation explanatory view showing the situation where the container for food transport returns from the main transport path to the main transport path via the short-circuit transport path.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the inside of a conveyor belt sushi restaurant.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, this sushi restaurant circulates on the table 1 installed in the guest room S 1, the partition housing 2 disposed along the front of the kitchen room S 2 or along each table 1, and the partition housing 2. The main transport path 3 for transporting sushi or the like, which is provided in the shape of the plate 45 in the kitchen room Sl, to each table 1 and the middle of the main transport path 3 A food and beverage transport apparatus F including a short-circuit mechanism 4 for short-circuiting the distal end side is provided.

As shown in FIG. 2, the partition housing 2 is a cross-sectional box from side walls 21 and 22 facing each other at a predetermined interval, and an upper wall 23 and a bottom wall (not shown) connecting the upper and lower ends of both side walls 21 and 22. A first housing part 2a which is arranged along the front surface of the kitchen room S1 and partitions the kitchen room S2 and the guest room S1, and from both longitudinal ends of the first housing part 2a. The table 1 is composed of second and third housing parts 2b and 2c that are bent and extend in parallel in the cabin S1, and the table 1 is disposed on the outer side of the side walls 21 and 22 in the second and third housing parts 2b and 2c. Has been placed.

The main transport path 3 constituting the food and drink transport device F includes a recess 31 provided in the upper wall 23 of each housing portion 2a, 2b, and 2c, and an endless crescent that circulates and moves in the recess 31 by a motor. The chain 32 is provided, and the crescent chain 32 constitutes a main conveyance path described in the claims.

The short-circuit mechanism 4 basically includes a short-circuit conveyance path 40, a first guide body 43, and a second guide body 44.
The short-circuit conveyance path 40 is schematically shown in FIG. 1 in order to pause the conveyance of food and drink to the distal end side of the main conveyance path of the second housing portion 2b and the distal end side of the main conveyance path of the third housing 2c. In addition, the short-circuit conveyance path 40 is provided in the middle of the second housing portion 2b and the third housing 2c. A conveyor belt 42 that is stretched endlessly and a motor (not shown) as a driving device that rotates one of the rotating rollers 41 are provided.

Each of the guide bodies 43 and 44 is formed of a long and narrow plastic plate. The upper end wall 23 on the inlet side of the short-circuit conveyance path 40 has one end in the length direction of the first guide body 43 and the outlet side of the short-circuit conveyance path 40. By attaching one end in the length direction of the second guide body 44 to the upper wall 23 so as to be freely rotatable, the respective guide bodies 43 and 44 swing substantially horizontally. For example, when the number of customers is small, the short-circuit conveyance path 40 is driven, and the leading end side of the main conveyance path 3 is short-circuited by both guide bodies 43 and 44 as shown in FIG.
The dish 45 as a container is composed of a circular dish plate 46 in plan view and a cylindrical hill 47 protruding downward from the lower surface of the dish plate 46.

The food transport container indicated by reference numeral 5 in the figure is used on the crescent chain 32 of the food transport apparatus F. Next, the food transport container 5 will be described.
The food / drink transport container 5 basically covers the mounting table 6 having the container mounting unit 60 for mounting the above-described dish 45 and the container mounting unit 60 of the mounting table 6. The lid body 7 is closed and the lid body 7 is closed when the tray 45 is placed on the container placement portion 60, and the lid body 7 is opened when the tray 45 is removed from the container placement portion 60. It is comprised from the opening-and-closing mechanism 8 for.

As shown in FIG. 6, the mounting table 6 has a container mounting portion 60 formed integrally with an upper end of a cylindrical base tube 61. The container mounting portion 60 is configured by a mounting plate 62 formed in a plate shape having a circular shape in plan view, and the dish 45 is mounted on the mounting plate 62.
Further, a stopper 62 a that can engage with the outer periphery of the lower end of the hill 47 of the plate 45 is provided on the upper surface of the mounting plate 62. The inner peripheral surface of the stopper 62 a is formed in a curved shape in plan view that is in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the hill 47.

As shown in FIG. 5, the lid body 7 includes a lid main body 71 formed in a bowl shape and a pair of left and right arm pieces 72 extending downward from the rear end portion of the lid main body 71. The lid body 71 and the arm piece 72 are made of a transparent synthetic resin material. The lid 7 is attached to the container mounting part 60 so as to be openable and closable with respect to the upper surface of the container mounting part 60, and the food and drink (eg, sushi) on the plate 45 placed on the container mounting part 60. The lid main body 71 covers the cover.
Specifically, the pivot 73 is integrally formed with the arm piece 72. A pair of left and right support pieces 63 projecting from the rear end portion of the upper surface of the container mounting plate 62 so as to face the arm piece 72 at a position outside the arm piece 72 are provided. A fitting hole (not shown) is formed in the upper portion of the support piece 63, and the lid body 71 moves the pivot 73 with respect to the container mounting portion 60 by fitting the pivot 73 into the fitting hole. The fulcrum is supported so as to be swingable in the vertical direction.
Further, a notch 74 through which fingers can pass is provided on the outer peripheral edge of the lid main body 71, and when taking out the plate 45, the fingers are inserted from the notch 74 and the peripheral portion of the plate 46 is gripped.

As shown in FIG. 6, the opening / closing mechanism 8 includes an operating body 81 provided on the upper surface of the container mounting portion 62 of the mounting table 6 so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction, and the operating body 81 as the container mounting portion 62. A coil spring 82 is provided as a biasing means for biasing in the forward direction.
As shown in FIG. 8, the operating body 81 has a pair of left and right guide members 83 and a mounting piece 84 of a coil spring 82 projecting from the lower surface thereof. This guide member 83 is a guide hole (62a) extending in the front-rear direction provided in the mounting plate 62 of the container mounting part 60, and the attachment piece 84 is a long hole extending in the front-rear direction provided in the mounting plate 62. 62b is freely inserted in the forward and backward movement.
The coil spring 82 is bridged between the mounting piece 84 described above and a mounting piece 62 c provided on the front side of the lower surface of the mounting plate 62. Thus, the operating body 81 is configured to be movable in the front-rear direction along the guide hole (not shown) via the guide member 83 on the mounting plate 63. Further, the operating body 81 is always urged forward (rightward in FIG. 6) by the spring reaction force of the coil spring 82 that extends with the rearward movement.

As shown in FIG. 6, the operating body 81 is formed with a receiving surface 81 a having a curved surface in plan view so that the outer peripheral surface of the hill 46 of the plate 45 is in close contact. Further, a pair of left and right projecting pieces 85 extending upward are provided on both sides of the rear end portion of the operating body 81, and a connecting shaft 86 projects from the outer surface of the projecting pieces 85. These connecting shafts 86 are interposed in slit-like long holes 75 formed in the lower end portion of the arm piece 72, so that the lid is moved along with the slide of the operating body 81 rearward (leftward in FIG. 6). The main body 71 swings in the closing direction, and the lid main body 71 swings in the opening direction as the operating body 81 slides forward.

In the food / drink transport container 5 described above, when the dish 45 is not placed on the placement plate 62 of the container placement portion 60, the actuating body 81 is moved by the spring reaction force of the spring 82 to the container placement portion 60. Therefore, the lid main body 71 is maintained in the open state as shown in FIG.

The usage aspect of the container 5 for food and drink conveyance which consists of the above structure is demonstrated.
First, after the cook puts sushi on the plate plate 46 of the plate 45, the peripheral portion of the plate plate 46 is held by hand, and the food / drink transport container 5 placed on the crescent chain conveyor 32 is placed. Place the plate 45 on the plate 62. Then, the dish 45 is pushed backward with respect to the mounting plate 62. Then, the operating body 81 of the opening / closing mechanism 8 is pushed by the outer peripheral surface of the pedestal 47 of the tray 45 through the receiving surface 81a and moves backward. As a result, the connecting shaft 86 of the operating body 81 pushes the elongated hole 75 of the lid body 7 backward, so that the lid body 71 swings around the pivot 73 in the direction of closing the upper surface of the mounting plate 62. When the pan 45 moves rearward until the outer peripheral surface on the front side of the lower end of the hill 42 is engaged with the stopper 62a, as shown in FIG. 6, the front and rear portions of the hill 42 are the container mounting portion. 62 is sandwiched between the stopper 62 a of 62 and the receiving surface 81 a of the operating body 81. Accordingly, the plate 45 is held on the mounting table 6 at a position where the sushi on the plate plate 46 is covered with the lid body 71, and the lid body 71 is also held at the closed position, so that it does not open carelessly.

On the other hand, when the customer lifts the dish 45 by holding the edge part of the dish plate 46 partially protruding outward from the outer peripheral edge through the notch 74 of the lid main body 71, the stopper 62a and the hill 42 The contact is released, and the operating body 81 is moved back by the action of the spring 82, whereby the lid main body 71 is opened and the open state is maintained.
In this way, by using the food / drink transport container 5 for transporting sushi, it is possible to prevent the sushi on the plate 45 from being dried inadvertently, and the customer can mistakenly handle the sushi. You can also prevent touching. In addition, when placing the plate 45 on the container placing unit 60 or taking it out from the container placing unit 60, the food transport container 5 is not directly touched. Problems such as inadvertently soiling 5 can also be prevented.

This invention is a conveyance attitude | position change mechanism for changing the conveyance attitude | position of the food / drink conveyance container 5 conveyed by the food / drink conveyance apparatus F to an appropriate state, Comprising: This conveyance attitude | position change mechanism is demonstrated next.
The transport posture changing mechanism indicated by reference numeral 9 in the figure is provided in the vicinity of the guided portion 90 provided in the container mounting portion 60 in the food transport container 5 and the short-circuit transport path 40 of the food transport device F. The guide unit 10 is configured.
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the guided portion 90 bulges outward from the outer peripheral edge of the container mounting portion 60 in a substantially triangular shape in a plan view. From the rear end edge of the container mounting part 60 toward the rear of the food transport container 5 in the transport direction, in other words, in the direction of taking out from the outlet 50 of the container mounting part 60 (in FIG. 7) A guided surface 91 is provided that extends substantially linearly in a direction substantially perpendicular to the arrow X direction and toward the rear of the main conveyance path 3 in the conveyance direction (arrow Y direction in FIG. 9).

On the other hand, the guide portion 10 is slidably brought into contact with the guided surface 91 of the guided portion 90 as the food transport container 5 is transferred from the main transport path 3 to the short-circuit transport path 40. The transport posture of the food / drink transport container 5 is corrected so that the container outlet 50 in the container 5 faces in a direction substantially perpendicular to the transport direction of the short-circuit transport path 40, and the main transport path 3 extends from the short-circuit transport path 40. With the transfer of the food transport container 5 to the guide, the guided surface 91 of the guided portion 90 comes into sliding contact, and the container outlet 50 in the food transport container 5 extends along the main transport path 3. The transport posture of the food and drink transport container 5 is corrected so as to face the arranged table (passenger seat) direction.

The guide portion 10 shown in the figure is provided on the side of the short-circuit conveyance path 40 opposite to the side where the guide bodies 43 and 44 are arranged, and as shown in FIG. A block body 11 having a substantially rectangular shape in plan view is attached to the side opposite to the side where the guide bodies 43 and 44 are arranged, and the three-side outer edge of the four-side outer edges of the block body 11 is used as the guide portion 10. Yes.

Specifically, a side edge that extends linearly along the main conveyance path 3 upstream of the short-circuit conveyance path 40 in the four-side outer edge of the block body 11 is defined as the first guide portion 10a. A side edge that extends linearly along the main conveyance path 3 downstream from the short-circuit conveyance path 40 is a side edge that extends linearly along the main conveyance path 3 as a third guide part 10c.
When the food / drink transport container 5 is transported, the guided surface 91 of the guided portion 90 is in sliding contact with the first guide portion 10a before the transfer from the main transport path 3 to the short-circuit transport path 40. The transport posture is corrected so that the container outlet 50 in the container 5 is surely directed to the table 1 side.
Further, when the main guide path 43 is switched from the main transport path 3 to the short-circuit transport path 40 by the guide of the first guide body 43, the sliding contact portion of the guided surface 91 is a corner portion at the boundary between the first guide portion 10a and the second guide portion 10b. To the second guide portion 10b, the container take-out port 50 of the food / drink transport container 5 of the food / drink transport container 5 is oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular to the transport direction of the short-circuit transport path 40. The transport posture is corrected.
Further, when transferring from the short-circuit conveyance path 40 to the main conveyance path 3, the portion of the guided surface 91 that is in sliding contact is shifted from the corner portion of the boundary between the second guide portion 10b and the third guide portion 10c to the third guide portion 10c. Thus, the transport posture of the food transport container 5 is corrected so that the container outlet 50 in the food transport container 5 faces the table 1 disposed along the main transport path 3. I am doing so.

Next, the operation of the above transport posture changing mechanism 9 will be described.
The food / drink transport container 5 is transported in the main transport path 3 with the container outlet 50 facing the table 1 side.
When short-circuiting from this state via the short-circuit transport mechanism 4, as shown in FIG. 9, first, the guided surface 91 of the guided section 90 is the first guide section before the main transport path 3 is transferred to the short-circuit transport path 40. The transport posture is corrected so that the container outlet 50 in the food / drink transport container 5 faces the table 1 in sliding contact with 10a.
When the food and drink transport container 5 is switched from the main transport path 3 to the short-circuit transport path 40 by the guidance of the first guide body 43, the guided surface 91 is connected to the first guide portion 10a as shown in FIG. After the sliding contact with the corner portion at the boundary with the second guide portion 10b, the sliding contact is further made with the second guide portion 10b. The container 50 is transferred to the short-circuit conveyance path 40 while turning approximately 90 degrees in the direction, and the container outlet 50 faces in a direction substantially orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the short-circuit conveyance path 40.
When the transfer is further made from the short-circuit conveyance path 40 to the main conveyance path 3, as shown in FIG. 12, the guided surface 91 is in sliding contact with the corner portion at the boundary between the second guide portion 10b and the third guide portion 10c. After that, it further moves to the third guide portion 10c, whereby the food / drink transport container 5 is placed on the main transport path 3 while turning approximately 90 degrees clockwise as seen from above, as shown in FIG. Thus, the container outlet 50 faces the table 1 disposed along the main conveyance path 3.

Thus, when used in the short-circuit operation by the short-circuit mechanism 4, the food / drink transport container 5 always maintains a posture in which the container take-out port 50 side faces the direction orthogonal to the transport direction, and the container take-out port 50. For example, the side does not face forward or backward in the traveling direction.
Therefore, after the food / drink transport container 5 passes through the short-circuit transport path 40 of the short-circuit mechanism 4 from the main transport path 3 and returns to the main transport path 3 again, the container outlet 50 side is always on the passenger seat side (table side). ) And the dish 45 can be easily taken out from the table 1 side.

3 Main transport path 4 Short-circuit mechanism 40 Short-circuit transport path 43 First guide body 45 Dish (container)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 5 Food and drink conveyance container 50 Taking-out port 9 Conveyance attitude | position change mechanism 90 Guided part 91 Guided surface 10 Guide part 10a 1st guide part 10b 2nd guide part 10c 3rd guide part

Claims (1)

It is a transport posture change mechanism of a food transport container used on the main transport path of a food transport apparatus provided with a main transport path for food transport, wherein the main transport path of the food transport apparatus In the middle, a short-circuit conveyance path for partially short-circuiting the main conveyance path and a food and drink conveyance container provided on the inlet side of the short-circuit conveyance path and conveyed by the main conveyance path are used as the short-circuit conveyance path. A short-circuit transport mechanism including a guide body for transfer is provided, and the food / drink transport container has a mounting table for placing a food / drink container and a transport direction of the food / beverage transport container A guided portion extending rearward is provided, and the guided food product is in sliding contact with the food transport device as the food transport container is transferred from the main transport path to the short-circuit transport path. For food and drink container Correct the transport posture of the food transport container so that the container outlet opens in a direction substantially perpendicular to the transport direction of the short-circuit transport path, and store the food transport from the short-circuit transport path to the main transport path When the body is changed, the guided portion is in sliding contact, and the container for food and beverage transport is placed so that the container outlet in the food and beverage transport body faces the direction of the passenger seat arranged along the main transport path. A transport posture changing mechanism for a food transport container, wherein a guide portion for correcting the transport posture of the food and drink is provided.

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