JP2019137529A - Tableware recovery device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a technique which can suppress a range of a portion contacting a tray where various tablewares are mounted on various positions as much as possible, in a device that supports the tray in a liftable manner.SOLUTION: A tableware recovery device includes: a communication path 8 to which a tray having an approximately rectangle shape in top view mounting tablewares is carried; and a lifting device 41 which is provided above the communication path 8, and supports the tray carried in the communication path 8 from both of short sides of the tray with a pair of claws 46L and 46R.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a tableware collection apparatus.

  In recent years, it has become socially difficult to secure workers, and in restaurants, for example, automatic machines such as transport devices that transport used tableware from a passenger seat to a kitchen are widespread (for example, patents). Reference 1).

Japanese Patent No. 427169

  In recent years, with a decrease in the working population, automation of work in restaurants has been desired. Examples of work contents that are desired to be automated in restaurants include a work of collecting used tableware remaining in a passenger seat. When collecting used tableware at a restaurant, for example, an operator carries the tableware using a bucket into which a large number of tableware can be put. As a method for automating this, for example, it is conceivable to place used tableware on a belt conveyor connecting a passenger seat and a kitchen.

  By the way, in a restaurant, a tray on which a plurality of dishes can be placed is used in order to efficiently provide food and drink. Therefore, in a restaurant that uses such a tray, when used tableware is carried using a belt conveyor that connects a passenger seat and a kitchen, a tray on which the used tableware is placed is placed on the belt conveyor. Therefore, when the tray carried to the belt conveyor is not removed from the belt conveyor, the next tray cannot be carried by the belt conveyor.

  Therefore, it is desirable that the belt conveyor is provided with a mechanism for automatically stacking trays carried to the belt conveyor on the belt conveyor at the end of the conveyance path. As a mechanism for automatically stacking trays, for example, a mechanism for raising and lowering a claw that supports the tray from both sides is conceivable.

  By the way, in order to suppress the manufacturing cost of the product, it is desired to suppress the number of parts as much as possible. Therefore, it is desirable that the number of claws that support the tray from both sides is also suppressed. However, when the tray is supported by claws from both sides, the claws need to be provided at positions where the center of gravity of the tray can be properly supported. Therefore, when supporting trays on which various sizes of tableware of various sizes can be placed at various positions with nails, even if it is desired to simplify the structure of the nails as much as possible, it is necessary to accommodate various positions of the center of gravity. Therefore, it is necessary to secure a certain range of the contact portion with the nail tray.

  Therefore, the present application provides a technology that makes it possible to suppress as much as possible the range of the portion in contact with the tray in an apparatus that supports the tray on which various sizes of tableware of various sizes can be moved up and down. Disclose.

In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, the tray is supported by a pair of claws from both short sides of the tray.

  More specifically, the present invention is a tableware collection apparatus, which is provided with a carry-in portion into which a substantially rectangular tray on which tableware is placed is loaded, and a tray loaded into the carry-in portion. An elevating part supported by a pair of claws from both short sides of the tray.

  In the tableware collection apparatus, a table tray having a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from above is supported by a pair of claws from both short sides of the tableware tray. Therefore, the range of the part which contacts a tableware tray can be suppressed compared with the case where a tableware tray is supported by a pair of nail | claw from the four corners of a tableware tray or the both long sides of a tableware tray, for example. The reason is that, for example, in the form of supporting the tableware trays with the nails provided at the four corners of the tableware tray, when the tableware trays of various sizes can be accommodated, the nails provided at the four corners of the tableware tray are It is necessary to deal with both the variation of the long side length and the variation of the short side length, and it is necessary to make the nail large to some extent. Further, for example, in the form of supporting with a pair of claws from both long sides of the tableware tray, in order to correspond to various barycentric positions of the tableware tray that varies depending on the state of the tableware placed on the tableware tray, It is necessary to support a relatively wide range from the center with the nail. In this regard, as in the tableware collecting apparatus, if the tableware tray is supported by a pair of claws from both short sides of the tableware tray, the variation range of the center of gravity position along the short side direction of the tableware tray is Because it is narrower than the fluctuation range of the center of gravity position along the long side direction, the range of the contact portion of the claw that supports the tableware tray is more than the case where it is supported by a pair of nails from the four corners of the tableware tray or both long sides of the tableware tray. Can also be reduced.

  The elevating unit may have a belt disposed on both short sides of the tray and a claw attached to the belt. If it is the raising / lowering part of the form which attached the nail | claw to the belt, it is possible to support a tableware tray in multiple steps.

  In addition, a pair of claws is one claw attached to two belts arranged near both ends on one short side of both short sides, and near both ends on the other short side of both short sides. It may be a combination with one claw attached to two belts to be arranged. Further, the claw may have a length equivalent to the short side of the tray. If the tableware tray is supported by the nail in such a form, the tableware tray can be stably supported regardless of the position of the center of gravity of the tableware tray.

  If it is said tableware collection | recovery apparatus, it is possible to suppress the range of the part which contacts a tray as much as possible.

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a tableware collection apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a structure inside the housing of the order food and drink conveying device. FIG. 3 shows the internal structure of the stocker. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state where the push-up plate is positioned above the roller. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation content of the tableware collection apparatus. FIG. 6 is a first view showing the movement of the tableware tray realized in the tableware collection apparatus. FIG. 7 is a second view showing the movement of the tableware tray realized in the tableware collection apparatus. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an internal structure of a stocker according to a modification. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the movement of the tableware tray in the present modification.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. Embodiment shown below is one aspect | mode of this invention, and does not limit the technical scope of this invention. Each embodiment and modification shown below are suitable for restaurants that provide various foods such as sushi, beverages, ramen and udon noodles, fried chicken and tempura.

  FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a tableware collection apparatus 1 (which is an example of a “tableware collection apparatus” in the present application) according to an embodiment. The tableware collection apparatus 1 temporarily stores a tray on which used tableware is placed (hereinafter referred to as a “tableware tray”) from a restaurant seat to a kitchen, and a tableware tray conveyed by the lower conveyance device 3. And a stocker 4 for storing them, and a control device (not shown) for controlling the lowering and conveying device 3 and the stocker 4. The lowering and conveying apparatus 3 is built in the housing of the order food and drink conveying apparatus 2 that conveys food and drink from the kitchen to the seating area.

  The order food and drink transport device 2 forms a transport path from the kitchen to the seating area, and transports food and drink prepared in the kitchen upon receipt of the customer's order to the seating area. In the passenger seat area, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, a counter seat table 6 provided along the transport path formed by the order food and drink transport device 2, a passenger seat 7 arranged along the table 6, and a table 6 are installed. Order terminal 9 is provided. The order food and drink transport device 2 receives an order of a customer sitting in any one of the passenger seats 7 at the order terminal 9 and transports the food and drink prepared in the kitchen to the seat 7 where the customer who placed the order sits. In addition, the order food-and-drink conveyance apparatus 2 can also be installed in the stand-up type store without a counter seat.

  The casing of the order food / drink transport device 2 is provided with a tableware slot 5 for loading the tableware tray into the lower transporting device 3 built in the casing of the order food / drink transport device 2. The tableware slot 5 is provided in the vicinity of the top surface of the table 6 so that it can be easily moved from the table 6 to the lower conveying device 3. In addition, the tableware slot 5 is provided at a position corresponding to each customer seat 7 so that a customer sitting in each customer seat 7 can easily lower the tableware tray from the table 6 and move it to the transport device 3. The tableware slot 5 is provided with a door that can be opened and closed manually or by button operation.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a structure in the housing of the order food and drink transport device 2. The lowering conveying device 3 forms a conveying path of a belt conveyor that conveys the tableware tray from the passenger seat area to the kitchen inside the housing of the ordered food and beverage conveying device 2. The belt conveyor of the lowering and conveying apparatus 3 that conveys the tableware tray from the passenger seat area to the kitchen is a conveyor in which a belt that is equal to or wider than the length in the short direction of the table tray that is substantially rectangular in top view circulates. A communication path 8 is extended at the end of the belt conveyor of the lowering conveying device 3 on the kitchen side. The communication path 8 includes a plurality of rollers, and forms a right-curved conveyance path from the end of the lowered conveyance device 3 toward the stocker 4.

  In addition, in FIG.1 and FIG.2, although the mode that the counter-type table 6 is provided along the conveyance path of the order food and drink conveyance apparatus 2 is illustrated, the restaurant to which the tableware collection apparatus 1 is applied is It is not limited to such a form. For example, so-called box seats may be provided along the transport path of the order food and drink transport device 2, or counter seats and box seats may be provided in a mixed state. In FIG. 1, the order food and drink transport device 2 forms a linear transport path, and the lowering transport device 3 also forms a straight transport path in the same manner as the order food and drink transport device 2. The order food and drink transport device 2 and the lowering transport device 3 may form a transport path having a corner portion by combining a plurality of belt conveyors, for example. In addition, since the stocker 4 is disposed on the side of the conveyance path formed by the order food and drink conveyance device 2, a communication path 8 that forms a right-curved conveyance path from the end of the lower conveyance device 3 toward the stocker 4 is formed. However, for example, the stocker 4 is arranged at the end of the order food and drink transport device 2, and the communication path 8 that forms the transport path from the end of the lower transport device 3 toward the stocker 4 is linear. Also good.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the internal structure of the stocker 4. As shown in FIG. 3, the stocker 4 includes an elevating device 41 that elevates the tableware tray in the vertical direction, and a push-up device 50 that pushes up the tableware tray fed out from the communication path 8 below the elevating device 41. Prepare. Rollers 57 </ b> F and 57 </ b> R for supporting the tableware tray fed out from the communication path 8 from below are provided at the lower part of the lifting device 41. The conveyance paths formed by the rollers 57F and 57R and the rollers 81L and 81R of the communication path 8 have a downward gradient that gradually decreases from the end of the lowering conveyance device 3 toward the lower portion of the lifting device 41. And the stopper 58F and 58R which stops the movement of the tableware tray which is drawn out from the communication path 8 and slides on the rollers 57F and 57R is provided in the site | part on the opposite side to the communication path 8 of the lower part of the raising / lowering apparatus 41. Yes. The inclination of the communication path 8 has a very gentle inclination angle so that the tableware does not fall even if the tableware tray comes into contact with the stoppers 58F and 58R and stops. Therefore, the tableware tray which has slid on the rollers 81L and 81R of the communication path 8 forming a curve with a predetermined curvature and moved to the lower part of the lifting device 41 comes into contact with the stoppers 58F and 58R. Even if you stop at the bottom, the tableware does not fall.

  The communication path 8 includes a roller 81L arranged on the left side of the route center line and a roller 81R arranged on the right side of the route center line. The rollers 81L and 81R are rotatable independently of each other. Therefore, the communication path 8 is divided into left and right across the center line of the course, and is composed of rollers 81L and 81R configured to be rotatable independently from each other on the left and right. Accordingly, the tableware tray moves in the communication path 8 as follows.

  That is, the tableware tray that has been transferred from the end of the lowering and conveying apparatus 3 to the downwardly connecting path 8 starts to descend the connecting path 8 while rolling the rollers 81L and 81R with its own weight. The rollers 81L and 81R forming the curve of the communication path 8 are configured to be rotatable independently of each other, and the rotation axes of the rollers 81L and 81R are perpendicular to the center line of the path of the communication path 8. Therefore, from the viewpoint of the tableware tray, as the tableware tray advances in sequence on each roller 81L, 81R, the angle of the rotation direction of each roller 81L, 81R in contact with the tableware tray gradually becomes a corner. It will change in the inward direction. The tableware tray basically moves along the rotation direction of the rollers 81L and 81R in contact with the tableware tray. Therefore, if the angle of the rotation direction of the rollers 81L and 81R in contact with the tableware tray changes, The course will follow this. As a result, the trajectory of the tableware tray is corrected toward the inside of the corner so as to approach the center line of the route of the connection route 8 without going to the outside of the corner. As a result, the tableware tray smoothly descends the inclination of the communication path 8 and reaches the lower part of the lifting device 41.

The push-up device 50 at the lower portion of the lift device 41 has a form that fits in the gap portion between the rollers 57F and 57R, and a push-up plate 51 that is shaped so as not to interfere with the rollers 57F and 57R even when moved up and down. A rod 52 for supporting the plate 51 from below, a pulley 54 connected to the lower end of the rod 52 via a crank 53, and a push-up motor 56 for rotating the pulley 54 via a drive belt 55 are provided. The lower end of the crank 53 is connected to the pulley 54 at a position eccentric from the center of the pulley 54. The rod 52 is attached to a linear guide that can slide in the vertical direction. Therefore, when the pulley 54 is rotated by the push-up motor 56, the push-up plate 51 fixed to the upper end of the rod 52 moves up and down. Then, the rod 51 is arranged such that the push-up plate 51 is above the rollers 57F and 57R at the top dead center of the crank 53 performing the crank operation, and the push-up plate 51 is below the rollers 57F and 57R at the bottom dead center of the crank 53. The length 52 and the eccentric amount of the crank 53 are designed. Therefore, in the state where the push-up plate 51 is positioned below the rollers 57F and 57R, the push-up plate 51 does not hinder the progress of the tableware tray moving from the communication path 8 to the lower part of the lifting device 41. When the push-up motor 56 operates in a state where the tableware tray is supported by the rollers 57F and 57R and the push-up plate 51 rises above the rollers 57F and 57R, the tableware tray supported by the rollers 57F and 57R is pushed up. The plate 51 is pushed up. In the present embodiment, the crank 53 is moved by the motor 56 via the pulley 54, but the rod 52 is not limited to such a drive system. In the present embodiment, the pulley 54 and the drive belt 55 may be omitted, for example, the crank 53 may be directly moved by an orthogonal axis motor.

  The elevating device 41 includes an elevating mechanism 41L that supports the tableware tray on the left side and an elevating mechanism 41R that supports the tableware tray on the right side. The elevating mechanism 41L includes elevating belts 43L and 44L to which claws 46L for supporting the tableware tray are attached at equal intervals. The elevating belt 43L is stretched over two pulleys 42L respectively disposed at the upper and lower portions of the elevating device 41, and appropriate tension is applied. Similarly to the elevating belt 43L, the elevating belt 44L is also stretched between two pulleys 45L arranged at the upper and lower portions of the elevating device 41, and is given appropriate tension. The pulley 42L and the pulley 45L at the lower part of the lifting device 41 are connected to each other by the same rotating shaft, and are driven to rotate by a driving belt 49A that is rotated by the power transmitted from the lifting motor 47 through the pulley 48. The Therefore, when the elevating motor 47 is operated to rotate the pulleys 42L and 45L, the claw 46L attached to the elevating belts 43L and 44L moves up and down.

  The elevating mechanism 41R is the same as the elevating mechanism 41L, and the elevating mechanism 41R includes elevating belts 43R and 44R to which pawls 46R for supporting the tableware tray are attached at equal intervals. The lifting belt 43R is stretched around two pulleys 42R, and the lifting belt 44L is stretched around two pulleys 45R. The pulley 42R and the pulley 45R in the lower part of the lifting device 41 are connected to each other by the same rotating shaft, and are rotationally driven by the power of the lifting motor 47 transmitted from the lifting mechanism 41L via the driving belt 49B. . Therefore, when the lifting motor 47 is actuated to rotate the pulleys 42R and 45R, the claws 46R attached to the lifting belts 43R and 44R move up and down.

  The elevating mechanism 41L and the elevating mechanism 41R operate so that the elevating belt 43L and the elevating belt 43R facing each other, and the elevating belt 44L and the elevating belt 44R facing each other move upward. The claw 46L and the claw 46R attached to the belt surfaces of the elevating belt 43L and the elevating belt 43R facing each other and the elevating belt 44L and the elevating belt 44R facing each other have the same height. Thus, the elevating mechanism 41L and the elevating mechanism 41R operate in synchronization.

  FIG. 4 is a view showing a state in which the push-up plate 51 is positioned above the rollers 57F and 57R. When the elevating mechanism 41L and the elevating mechanism 41R are actuated, as shown by arrows in FIG. 4, the opposing claws 46L, 46R move upward while maintaining the same height. When the push-up device 50 is activated, the push-up plate 51 moves above the rollers 57F and 57R, or the push-up plate 51 moves below the rollers 57F and 57R. As can be seen from a comparison between FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the raising of the push-up plate 51 and the raising and lowering of the claws 46 </ b> L and 46 </ b> R are synchronized. That is, in the stocker 4, at the timing when the push-up plate 51 moves up and reaches the top dead center of the crank 53, the pawl 46L turns at the pulleys 42L and 45L at the lower part of the lifting device 41 so as to go to the lifting mechanism 41R side. Then, at the pulleys 42R and 45R at the lower part of the lifting device 41, the claw 46R turns so as to go to the lifting mechanism 41L side. Therefore, when the tableware tray is placed on the push-up plate 51, when the push-up plate 51 rises and reaches the top dead center of the crank 53, the tableware trays placed on the push-up plate 51 face each other at the lower part of the lifting device 41. The claws 46L and 46R that turn in the direction are supported and lifted up.

  Hereinafter, operation | movement of the tableware collection | recovery apparatus 1 is demonstrated. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation content of the tableware collection apparatus 1. Operation | movement of the tableware collection apparatus 1 is demonstrated along the flowchart shown in FIG.

  When a tableware tray on which used tableware used by a customer in the passenger seat 7 is placed in the tableware input slot 5 and the lid of the tableware input slot 5 is closed, the control device of the tableware collection apparatus 1 The motor is started and the lowering conveying device 3 is operated (S101). When the controller of the tableware collecting apparatus 1 detects that the tableware tray placed on the lowering and conveying apparatus 3 has approached the end of the lowering and conveying apparatus 3 (S102), the rotation speed of the motor of the lowering and conveying apparatus 3 is decreased. The lowering conveying device 3 is decelerated (S103). The approach of the tableware tray placed on the lowering / conveying device 3 to the end of the lowering / conveying device 3 can be detected by, for example, an optical sensor installed near the end of the lowering / conveying device 3. When the control device of the tableware collecting apparatus 1 detects that the tableware tray placed on the lowering and conveying device 3 has arrived at the end of the lowering and conveying device 3 (S104), the power supply to the motor of the lowering and conveying device 3 is cut off. Then, the lowering conveying device 3 is stopped (S105).

  Next, the control device of the tableware collection apparatus 1 determines whether or not the uppermost storage space of the storage space of the tableware tray formed by the claws 46L and 46R in a plurality of stages in the stocker 4 is empty. Perform (S106). The determination as to whether or not the uppermost storage space among the storage spaces in the stocker 4 has an empty space can be detected by, for example, an optical sensor provided in the vicinity of the upper portion of the lifting device 41. When it is determined that the uppermost storage space of the storage space in the stocker 4 is empty and the stocker 4 is not in operation, the control device of the tableware collection device 1 turns off the motor of the lowering and conveying device 3 for a certain period of time. The lowering and conveying device 3 is temporarily activated to move the tableware tray at the end of the lowering and conveying device 3 from the lowering and conveying device 3 to the communication path 8 (S107). When the tableware tray at the end of the lowering conveying device 3 moves from the lowering conveying device 3 to the communication path 8, the tableware tray moves to the lower part of the lifting device 41 along its inclination formed by the communication path 8. When the control device of the tableware collecting apparatus 1 detects that the tableware tray has moved to the lower part of the lifting device 41 (S108), the control device operates the push-up motor 56 so that the push-up plate 51 moves up and down only once, and faces each other. The elevating motor 47 is operated for a predetermined time so that the pawls 46L and 46R to be moved move upward by one step (S109). The control device of the tableware collecting apparatus 1 operates the push-up motor 56 and the lifting motor 47 in this way, so that the tableware tray at the lower part of the lifting apparatus 41 is the lowermost storage space in the stocker 4. Move to storage space.

  FIG. 6 is a first diagram illustrating the movement of the tableware tray realized in the tableware collecting apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. 6 (A), when the tableware tray T on which used tableware used by the customer in the passenger seat 7 is loaded is inserted into the tableware insertion slot 5 and a button operation is performed, the control of the tableware collection apparatus 1 is performed. The apparatus activates the lower conveyance device 3 by activating the motor of the lower conveyance device 3. Then, when the control device of the tableware collecting apparatus 1 detects that the tableware tray T placed on the lowering and conveying apparatus 3 has arrived at the end of the lowering and conveying apparatus 3 by the sensor 3S, as shown in FIG. Then, the lowering conveying device 3 is stopped. And the control apparatus of the tableware collection | recovery apparatus 1 operates the lowering conveying apparatus 3 temporarily, and lowers the tableware tray T in the terminal end of the lowering conveying apparatus 3 from the lower conveying apparatus 3, as FIG.6 (C) shows. Move to the communication path 8. As shown in FIG. 6D, the tableware tray T at the end of the lowering and conveying device 3 moves to the stocker 4 by its own weight as shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a second view showing the movement of the tableware tray realized in the tableware collecting apparatus 1. When the tableware tray T at the end of the lowering and conveying apparatus 3 is placed on the communication path 8, the tableware tray T slides on the communication path 8 by its own weight as shown in FIG. And if the tableware tray T moves to the lower part of the raising / lowering apparatus 41, as shown to FIG. 7 (B), it will contact and stop the stoppers 58F and 58R. When the tableware tray T arrives at the lower part of the lifting device 41, the controller of the tableware collecting device 1 operates the push-up motor 56 so that the push-up plate 51 moves up and down only once, and the claws 46L and 46R facing each other The elevating motor 47 is operated for a certain time so as to move upward by one stage. Then, the tableware tray T placed on the push-up plate 51 is pushed up by the push-up plate 51 as shown in FIG. Then, as shown in FIG. 7D, the tableware tray T placed on the push-up plate 51 is lifted while being supported by the claws 46L and 46R from the left and right sides, and the claws 46L and 46R facing each other are lifted. It is arranged in the lowermost storage space among the multiple storage spaces formed in the stocker 4.

  If it is the tableware collection | recovery apparatus 1 of the said embodiment, the pushing-up apparatus 50 of the stocker 4 can raise the tableware tray T conveyed using the lowering conveying apparatus 3 automatically. Therefore, if it is the tableware collection | recovery apparatus 1, the tableware tray T conveyed using the lowering conveyance apparatus 3 can be stocked in the state piled up in multiple steps by the raising / lowering apparatus 41. FIG. Therefore, the restaurant staff processes a plurality of tableware trays T stocked in the stocker 4 at a time without having to collect the tableware trays T from the table 6 every time a customer sitting in the guest seat 7 finishes the meal. be able to.

  Moreover, in the tableware collection | recovery apparatus 1 of the said embodiment, the top view substantially rectangular tableware tray T is supported by a pair of nail | claw 46L, 46R from the both short sides of the tableware tray T. Therefore, the range of the part which contacts the tableware tray T can be suppressed compared with the case where the tableware tray T is supported by a pair of claws from the four corners of the tableware tray T or both long sides of the tableware tray T, for example. . The reason is that, for example, when the tableware tray T is supported by the nails provided at the four corners of the tableware tray T, the nails provided at the four corners of the tableware tray T when the tableware tray T of various sizes can be supported. Needs to cope with both the variation of the long side length and the variation of the short side length of the tableware tray T, and the claw needs to be made somewhat large. Further, for example, in a form in which a pair of claws are supported from both long sides of the tableware tray T, the tableware tray T corresponds to various barycentric positions of the tableware tray T that varies depending on the state of the tableware placed on the tableware tray T. It is necessary to support with a nail a relatively wide range from the center of the long side. In this regard, as in the tableware collecting apparatus 1 of the above embodiment, if the table tray T is supported by the pair of claws 46L, 46R from both short sides of the tableware tray T, along the short side direction of the tableware tray T Since the variation range of the center of gravity position is narrower than the variation range of the center of gravity position along the long side direction of the tableware tray T, the range of the contact portions of the claws 46L and 46R that support the tableware tray T is the four corners of the tableware tray T or It can be made smaller than when it is supported by a pair of claws from both long sides of the tableware tray T. If the pawls 46L and 46R supporting the tableware tray T are reduced, the overall configuration of the stocker 4 can be further simplified.

  Moreover, in the tableware collection | recovery apparatus 1 of the said embodiment, transfer of the tableware tray T to the lower part of the raising / lowering apparatus 41 is not the lower conveyance apparatus 3, but the communication path 8 bears. In the lower transport device 3, when the tableware tray T conveyed to the lower transport device 3 approaches the end of the lower transport device 3, the lower transport device 3 stops after decelerating. And while the stocker 4 is operating, the lowering conveying device 3 does not move the tableware tray T to the communication path 8. Therefore, compared with the form which provides the stopper etc. which prevent the approach of the tableware tray T to the lower part of the raising / lowering apparatus 41 in the middle of the communication path | route 8, for example, the possibility that the tableware on the tableware tray T will fall is low.

  In addition, in the tableware collection | recovery apparatus 1 of the said embodiment, although there was only one stocker 4, for example, the plurality of stockers 4 may be provided. In this case, the stocker 4 may be arranged in series on one course formed by the communication path 8 or may be provided in each of a plurality of branch paths formed by the communication path 8.

Moreover, in the tableware collection | recovery apparatus 1 of the said embodiment, although only the one lower conveyance apparatus 3 was provided, the lower conveyance apparatus 3 is provided with two or more in parallel, for example, and the tableware tray extended | fed out from each lower conveyance apparatus 3 is provided. T may be transported to the common stocker 4 by each lowering and transporting device 3.

  In the stocker 4 of the above embodiment, the claws 46L, 46R are moved by the lifting belts 43L, 43R, 44L, 44R. However, the claws 46L, 46R may be moved by using a mechanical element other than the belt. Examples of mechanical elements other than the belt include a wire, a chain, a ball screw, and other various types.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an internal structure of a stocker according to a modification. The stocker 4 of the above embodiment can change the direction of the communication path 8 and omit the push-up device 50. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the stocker 4 ′ according to the present modified example is connected to the lower part of the lifting device 41 in a state where the claw 46L and the claw 46R are located on both the left and right sides in the traveling direction. The table tray T which has 8 'and entered the lower part of the raising / lowering device 41 may be directly transferred to the claws 46L and 46R of the raising / lowering device 41 while remaining on the connection path 8'.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the movement of the tableware tray T in the present modification. When the tableware tray T at the end of the lowering and conveying device 3 is placed on the communication path 8 ′, as shown in FIG. 9A, the tableware tray T slides on the communication path 8 ′ by its own weight, and the lifting device Head to the bottom of 41. Then, as shown in FIG. 9B, when the tableware tray T arrives at the lower part of the lifting device 41, the lifting motor 47 is moved for a certain period of time so that the claws 46L, 46R facing each other move up by one stage. Only works. Then, the claws 46L and 46R approach the tableware tray T placed on the communication path 8 'from below. Then, as shown in FIG. 9 (D), the tableware tray T placed on the communication path 8 ′ is transferred to the claws 46L and 46R and lifted upward, and the claws 46L and 46R facing each other are connected to the stocker 4 ′. It is arranged in the lowermost storage space among the multiple storage spaces formed in the above.

  If it is this modification, it can stock in the state which stacked | stacked the tableware tray T in multiple stages with the raising / lowering apparatus 41 similarly to the said embodiment. Further, in this modification, the push-up device 50 provided in the above embodiment can be omitted, so that the device configuration can be simplified as compared with the above embodiment.

T ・ ・ Tableware tray 1 ・ Tableware collection device 2 ・ Order food and beverage transport device 3 ・ Lower transport device 3S ・ ・ Sensor 4, 4 '・ ・ Stocker 5 ・ ・ Tableware inlet 6 ・ ・ Table 7 8, 8 '... Contact path 9 ... Order terminal 41 ... Lifting device 41L, 41R ... Lifting mechanism 42L, 42R, 45L, 45R, 48, 54 ... Pulley 43L, 43R, 44L, 44R ... Lifting belt 46L, 46R ... Claw 47 ... Lifting motors 49A, 49B, 55 ... Driving belt 50 ... Lifting device 51 ... Lifting plate 52 ... Rod 53 ... Crank 56 ... Lifting motors 57F, 57R, 81L, 81R ..Rollers 58F, 58R

Claims (4)

A carry-in section into which a tray having a generally rectangular shape on top is loaded;
An elevating part that is provided above the carry-in part and supports the tray carried into the carry-in part with a pair of claws from both short sides of the tray;
Tableware collection device. The elevating unit has a belt disposed on both short sides of the tray, and the claw attached to the belt.
The tableware collection | recovery apparatus of Claim 1. The pair of claws means one claw attached to two belts arranged near both ends on one short side of the short sides, and both ends near the other short side of the short sides A pair of nails attached to two belts arranged in the
The tableware collection | recovery apparatus of Claim 1 or 2. The claw has a length equivalent to the short side of the tray,
The tableware collection | recovery apparatus as described in any one of Claim 1 to 3.

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