JP2021153705A - Ordered food and drink conveyance device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an ordered food and drink conveyance device capable of preventing erroneous conveyance due to installation of a slide mechanism to a belt conveyer.SOLUTION: An ordered food and drink conveyance device includes: a first belt conveyer that forms a conveyance passage from a kitchen side of a restaurant to a customer seat; a second belt conveyer extending to the kitchen side of the first belt conveyer, which extends the conveyance passage; a base part provided with a slide mechanism capable of sliding the second belt conveyer in a direction away from the first belt conveyer along the direction of the conveyance passage that the second belt conveyer forms; and control means for activating the second belt conveyer and the first belt conveyer when a conveyance start operation is executed, and conveying food and drink placed on the sub belt conveyer to the customer seat. The control means does not actuate the sub belt conveyer even when a conveyance start operation is executed in a slide state in which the second belt conveyer is slid to a position away from the first belt conveyer.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

The present invention relates to a custom food and drink transport device.

In recent years, restaurants have provided food and drink using a transport device (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-147019

As a transport device for efficiently transporting ordered food and drink to the audience seats, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, an order food and drink transport device in which a transport path from the kitchen to the audience seats is composed of a plurality of belt conveyors. Has been proposed. With such an order food and drink transport device, even if the belt conveyor on the audience seat side is transporting food and drink, the belt conveyor on the kitchen side stops, so that the food and drink to be transported next can be delivered. It can be placed on a belt conveyor. Therefore, as soon as the food and drink arrives at the audience seat and the customer removes the food and drink from the belt conveyor, the transportation of the food and drink to be transported next can be started promptly.

However, when a plurality of belt conveyors are connected to each other to form a transport path, a gap is inevitably formed at a connecting portion between the belt conveyors in the middle of the transport path. Adhesives and the like adhering to the food and drink dish may fall into such a gap. Therefore, as one of the measures to make it possible to remove the foreign matter that has fallen into the gap between the connecting portions of the belt conveyors, a slide mechanism for sliding the belt conveyor is provided, and the belt conveyor is slid during the cleaning work. It is conceivable to widen the gap. However, if such a slide mechanism is provided, food and drink may be transported with the gap open.

Therefore, the present application discloses a custom-made food and drink transport device that prevents erroneous transport due to the provision of a slide mechanism on the belt conveyor.

In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, when the belt conveyor is in the sliding state, the sub-belt conveyor is not operated even if the transfer start operation is performed.

Specifically, the present invention is a custom-made food and drink transport device, which is extended to a first belt conveyor forming a transport path from the kitchen side of a restaurant to the audience seats and a kitchen side of the first belt conveyor. A slide that allows the second belt conveyor that extends the transport path and the second belt conveyor to slide away from the first belt conveyor along the direction of the transport path formed by the second belt conveyor. A base provided with a mechanism and a control means for operating a second belt conveyor and a first belt conveyor when a transfer start operation is performed to transport food and drink placed on the secondary belt conveyor to the audience seats. The control means does not operate the sub-belt conveyor even if the transfer start operation is performed in the sliding state in which the second belt conveyor is slid to a position away from the first belt conveyor.

Here, the slide state means that the position of the second belt conveyor is not in the position of the normal state where the food and drink can be transported by the custom food and drink transport device. Therefore, in the sliding state, for example, not only the state in which the second belt conveyor is sliding and moving, but also the state in which the second belt conveyor is stopped at a position away from the first belt conveyor. included. The slide mechanism is a mechanism that moves the secondary belt conveyor relative to the base portion in the front-rear direction, left-right, or up-down direction. Be done.

In such an order food and drink transport device, the sub-belt conveyor does not operate when the second belt conveyor is in the sliding state. Therefore, even if the transfer start operation is erroneously performed when the second belt conveyor is in the sliding state, food and drink are transferred with the space between the first belt conveyor and the second belt conveyor open. There is no possibility. Therefore, with such an order food and drink transport device, it is possible to prevent erroneous transport due to the provision of the slide mechanism.

The custom-made food and drink transport device is fixed to the base with a first sensor for detecting food and drink mounted on the second belt conveyor, and a transport path formed by the second belt conveyor. The second belt conveyor is further provided with an optical second sensor that detects food and drink with a sensor light that crosses the second belt conveyor, and the second belt conveyor has a guide wall extending along both sides of the transport path of the second belt conveyor and a guide. It has a sensor hole for inserting the sensor light of the second sensor formed through the wall, and the control means is that the first sensor does not detect food and drink and the sensor light of the second sensor is emitted. If it is blocked, the second belt conveyor may determine that it is in a sliding state.

If a sensor is added to detect whether or not the second belt conveyor is in a sliding state, the cost will increase. In this regard, if the sliding state is determined using an optical sensor for detecting food and drink mounted on the second belt conveyor, it is not necessary to add a sensor for detecting the sliding state. ..

Further, the control means may further execute a process of notifying that the second belt conveyor is in the slide state when the second belt conveyor is in the slide state. If the control means processes such a notification when the second belt conveyor is in the sliding state, the operator can quickly understand the reason why the sub-belt conveyor does not operate even if the transfer start operation is performed. be.

With the custom-made food and drink transport device, it is possible to prevent erroneous transport due to the provision of a slide mechanism on the belt conveyor.

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a custom food and drink transport device according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the directions of light received and emitted between the optical sensors. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an open / closed state of the blocking member. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a slide mechanism of the sub-belt conveyor. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a sliding state of the sub-belt conveyor. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a flowchart of control contents executed by the control device of the ordered food and drink transport device. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a transport state of the dishes.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. The embodiments shown below are one aspect of the present invention and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention. Each of the embodiments and modifications shown below is suitable for a restaurant that provides various foods and drinks such as sushi, beverages, rice bowls such as soba and udon, and fried chicken and tempura.

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of the ordered food and drink transport device 10 according to the embodiment. The custom-made food and drink transport device 10 is a device that transports the food and drink plate 1 prepared in response to the customer's order from the kitchen 2 of the restaurant to the table 3, and as shown in FIG. 1, the table where the customer eats and drinks. A transport path passing by the side of 3 is formed. The custom-made food and drink transport device 10 includes a main belt conveyor 20 (an example of the "first belt conveyor" referred to in the present application) forming a transport path from the kitchen 2 side of the restaurant to the table 3, and a main belt conveyor 20. A sub-belt conveyor 30 (an example of a "second belt conveyor" referred to in the present application), which is extended to the kitchen 2 side of the above and extends a transport path, is provided. In the present embodiment, the main belt conveyor 20 is formed in a linear shape, but by combining a plurality of main belt conveyors 20, the main belt conveyor 20 may form a transport path having a corner portion. .. Further, in FIG. 1, two custom food and drink transport devices 10 are shown, but the custom food and drink transport device 10 may be one or three or more.

The main belt conveyor 20 and the sub-belt conveyor 30 have a width that allows the food and drink dish 1 to be mounted. Further, the main belt conveyor 20 and the sub belt conveyor 30 are each provided with a drive motor capable of controlling rotation independently of each other. Each drive motor is connected to a control device (not shown), and is controlled based on the operation content input to the operation panel and the signal from each sensor.

The custom-made food and drink transport device 10 is provided with optical sensors 21, 24, 31, 32, 33. The optical sensor 21 is installed at the end point of the transport path formed by the main belt conveyor 20. Further, the optical sensor 31 is installed at the starting point of the transport path formed by the sub-belt conveyor 30. Further, the optical sensor 24 is installed near the boundary between the main belt conveyor 20 and the sub belt conveyor 30. The optical sensor 24 is built in the vicinity of the tip of the rod-shaped blocking member 22, and is taken in and out of the transport path by the opening / closing device 23 with a built-in motor that moves the blocking member 22. The optical sensors 24 and 31 are examples of the "first sensor" referred to in the present application. Further, the optical sensors 32 and 33 are examples of the "second sensor" referred to in the present application.

Further, the optical sensor 32 and the optical sensor 33 are installed on both the left and right sides of the transport path of the sub-belt conveyor 30. The sub-belt conveyor 30 is provided with four spaces on which the dishes 1 are placed. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, four sets of optical sensors 32 and optical sensors 33 are arranged on the left and right sides of the transport path of the sub-belt conveyor 30.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the directions of light received and emitted between the optical sensors 21, 24, 31, 32, and 33. The control device detects the presence or absence of an article such as a dish 1 mounted on the main belt conveyor 20 based on the detection state of the light received and emitted between the optical sensor 21 and the optical sensor 24. Further, the control device detects the presence or absence of an article such as a dish 1 mounted on the sub-belt conveyor 30 based on the detection state of the light received and emitted between the optical sensor 31 and the optical sensor 24. Further, the control device detects the presence or absence of an article on the sub-belt conveyor 30 based on the detection state of the light received and emitted between the optical sensor 32 and the optical sensor 33.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an open / closed state of the blocking member 22. The optical sensor 24 is built in the blocking member 22. The blocking member 22 is attached to a drive shaft provided in the switchgear 23. The switchgear 23 uses a built-in motor to move the drive shaft within a rotation angle of about 90 degrees, and raises and lowers the blocking member 22.

When the blocking member 22 is raised, the path of the plate 1 is opened. Therefore, the dish 1 can pass beside the blocking member 22 without contacting the blocking member 22. However, when the blocking member 22 is raised, the optical sensor 24 is out of the optical axis of the optical sensors 21 and 31, and the presence or absence of the dish 1 cannot be detected. On the other hand, when the blocking member 22 is lowered, the path of the plate 1 is closed. Therefore, the dish 1 cannot pass through the portion where the blocking member 22 is installed. However, when the blocking member 22 is lowered, the optical sensor 24 is located on the optical axes of the optical sensors 21 and 31, and the presence or absence of the dish 1 can be detected.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a slide mechanism of the sub-belt conveyor 30. The sub-belt conveyor 30 is provided with a belt 31B for carrying the plate 1 and a roller 31R for moving the belt 31B. Further, the sub-belt conveyor 30 is provided with a frame member 31F for fixing the roller 31R and other members.

The frame member 31F is provided with a slide rail 34 (an example of the "slide mechanism" referred to in the present application). The slide rails 34 are symmetrically provided on both the left and right sides of the transport path formed by the belt 31B. The slide rail 34 is a linear guide and has an inner member 34N and an outer member 34S. The inner member 34N is fitted into a ball groove formed in the outer member 34S via a ball held by the ball retainer. The inner member 34N is fixed to the frame member 31F. Further, the outer member 34S is fixed to the gantry 11 (an example of the "base" in the present application) via a mounting bracket (not shown). Therefore, the main part of the sub-belt conveyor 30 can be slid on the gantry 11 by the inner member 34N and the outer member 34S moving relative to each other in a straight line. The main part of the sub-belt conveyor 30 is not only supported by the slide rail 34, but also supported from below by a resin plate for reducing frictional force attached to the upper surface of the gantry 11.

Further, the frame member 31F is provided with a guide wall 35. The guide wall 35 is a guide for preventing the food and drink dish 1 placed on the belt 31B from falling from the belt 31B. The guide wall 35 is fixed to the frame member 31F in a state of extending along the left and right sides of the transport path formed by the belt 31B. Further, the guide wall 35 is provided with a sensor hole 36. The sensor hole 36 is a through hole for passing the sensor light emitted from the optical sensor 33. Therefore, the guide wall 35 is provided with sensor holes 36 at positions corresponding to the four sets of the optical sensor 32 and the optical sensor 33, respectively.

Further, the auxiliary belt conveyor 30 adjusts the tension of the belt 31B, a stopper for limiting the slideable range of the frame member 31F, a fixing magnet for preventing the frame member 31F from sliding unexpectedly in a normal state, and the belt 31B. An adjustment mechanism is provided for this purpose. Further, in the vicinity of the sub-belt conveyor 30, a position display mark indicating whether or not the position of the sub-belt conveyor 30 is in the normal state is provided. Therefore, the operator can confirm whether or not the position of the sub-belt conveyor 30 is in the normal state by confirming this position display mark. These mechanisms and members are covered with covers attached to both sides of the transport path. Therefore, these mechanisms and members cannot be visually recognized from the outside under normal use conditions.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a sliding state of the sub-belt conveyor 30. As described above, since the sub-belt conveyor 30 is provided with the slide rail 34, the main part of the sub-belt conveyor 30 can be slid on the gantry 11. Therefore, for example, in the normal state as shown in FIG. 5A, when the operator wants to remove the foreign matter that has fallen into the gap between the sub-belt conveyor 30 and the main belt conveyor 20 by cleaning work, the operator can remove the sub-belt. The sub-belt conveyor 30 can be manually moved and slid in the direction in which the conveyor 30 is separated from the main belt conveyor 20. When the sub-belt conveyor 30 is slid away from the main belt conveyor 20 in the direction in which the sub-belt conveyor 30 is separated from the main belt conveyor 20, a sliding state in which the space between the main belt conveyor 20 and the sub-belt conveyor 30 is open as shown in FIG. become. If the sub-belt conveyor 30 is in the sliding state, the operator can perform the cleaning work by inserting a hand or a vacuum cleaner between the main belt conveyor 20 and the sub-belt conveyor 30. Therefore, foreign matter that has fallen from the gap between the sub-belt conveyor 30 and the main belt conveyor 20 can be easily removed.

By the way, the sensor hole 36 is provided at a position corresponding to the optical sensor 32 and the optical sensor 33 when the sub-belt conveyor 30 is not in the sliding state but in the normal state. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the optical sensor 32 and the optical sensor 33 are attached to the sensor pedestal 12 fixed to the pedestal 11. Therefore, when the sub-belt conveyor 30 is slid, the sensor hole 36 moves relative to the optical sensor 32 and the optical sensor 33 fixed to the pedestal 11 via the sensor pedestal 12. Therefore, when the sub-belt conveyor 30 is in the sliding state, the sensor light emitted from the optical sensor 33 is blocked by the guide wall 35 without passing through the sensor hole 36, and does not enter the optical sensor 32. Therefore, the control device of the ordered food and drink transport device 10 performs the following internal processing so that each belt conveyor operates even if the transport start operation is performed when the sub-belt conveyor 30 is in the sliding state. We are taking measures to prevent this.

Hereinafter, the operation of the custom food and drink transport device 10 realized by the control device will be described. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a flowchart of control contents executed by the control device of the ordered food and drink transport device 10.

When the control device of the ordered food / drink transport device 10 detects that the transport start button is pressed on the operation panel provided in the kitchen, the control device executes the following processing. That is, the control device performs a determination process of whether or not the dish 1 is placed on the sub-belt conveyor 30 (S101). The control device determines whether or not the dish 1 is placed on the sub-belt conveyor 30 based on whether or not the sensor light emitted from the optical sensor 24 is received by the optical sensor 31. When the sensor light emitted from the optical sensor 24 is received by the optical sensor 31 with the blocking member 22 lowered, the control device determines that the dish 1 is not placed on the sub-belt conveyor 30. Further, when the sensor light emitted from the optical sensor 24 is not received by the optical sensor 31, the control device determines that the dish 1 is placed on the sub-belt conveyor 30.

When the control device makes an affirmative determination in the process of step S101, the switchgear 23 is operated to raise the blocking member 22, and the main belt conveyor 20 and the sub-belt conveyor 30 are started (S102). Then, after executing the process of step S102, the control device determines whether or not the food or drink on the activated sub-belt conveyor 30 is on the main belt conveyor 20 (S103). The control device detects that the food and drink on the sub-belt conveyor 30 is on the main belt conveyor 20 by a passage sensor (not shown) or the like. When the control device makes an affirmative determination in the process of step S103, the control device stops the sub-belt conveyor 30 and operates the opening / closing device 23 to lower the blocking member 22 (S104). If the sub-belt conveyor 30 is stopped, even if the food and drink dish 1 is being conveyed by the main belt conveyor 20, the food and drink dish 1 to be conveyed next can be placed on the sub-belt conveyor 30.

After executing the process of step S104, the control device determines whether or not the food and drink dish 1 on the main belt conveyor 20 has arrived at the transfer destination table 3 (S105). The control device may determine whether or not the food or drink has arrived, for example, based on the detection result of the sensor installed near the transfer destination table 3, or for each position of the transfer destination table 3. The determination may be made based on a preset elapsed time from the start of transportation. When the control device makes an affirmative determination in the process of step S105, the control device stops the main belt conveyor 20 (S106).

On the other hand, when a negative determination is made in the process of step S101, the control device performs a determination process of whether or not the sub-belt conveyor 30 is in the sliding state (S107). The control device determines whether or not the sub-belt conveyor 30 is in the sliding state based on whether or not the sensor light emitted from the optical sensor 33 is received by the optical sensor 32. When a negative determination is made in the process of step S101, that is, the sensor light emitted from the optical sensor 33 is optical even though the sensor light emitted from the optical sensor 24 is received by the optical sensor 31. If the sensor 32 does not receive light, it can be said that the sub-belt conveyor 30 is in the sliding state as described above, so that the sub-belt conveyor 30 is determined to be in the sliding state. On the other hand, if the sensor light emitted from the optical sensor 24 is received by the optical sensor 31 and the sensor light emitted from the optical sensor 33 is received by the optical sensor 32, the sub-belt conveyor 30 is not in the sliding state. Is determined.

The control device ends a series of processes when the dish 1 is not placed on the sub-belt conveyor 30, that is, when a negative determination is made in the process of step S107. Further, the control device notifies the staff of the kitchen 2 that the sub-belt conveyor 30 is in the sliding state when the sub-belt conveyor 30 is in the sliding state, that is, when an affirmative determination is made in the process of step S107. Is executed (S108). For the notification that the sub-belt conveyor 30 is in the sliding state, for example, a display on the operation panel installed in the kitchen 2, a warning sound is issued, an indicator lamp blinks, and various other notification means can be applied.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a transport state of the dish 1. For example, as shown in FIG. 7A, when the transfer start operation is performed with the dish 1 placed on the sub-belt conveyor 30, a positive determination is made in step S101, and the process of step S102 is executed. Will be done. When the process of step S102 is executed, the food and drink dish 1 moves from the kitchen 2 to the table 3 as shown in FIG. 7 (B). Then, when an affirmative determination is made in the process of step S105 and the process of step S106 is executed, as shown in FIG. 7C, the food and drink dish 1 is located near the designated transport destination table 3. Stop at.

On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S101, the main belt conveyor 20 and the sub belt conveyor 30 do not operate because the series of processes from step S102 to step S106 are not executed. Further, when the affirmative determination is made in step S107, the staff of the kitchen 2 is notified that the sub-belt conveyor 30 is in the sliding state. Therefore, in the case of the custom-made food and drink transport device 10 of the present embodiment, after the sub-belt conveyor 30 is slid and the cleaning work is performed, the sub-belt conveyor 30 is not returned to the normal state and the transport start operation is performed. Even if it is broken, the food and drink dish 1 will not accidentally fall between the main belt conveyor 20 and the sub belt conveyor 30. Further, in the ordered food and drink transport device 10 of the present embodiment, the sensor for detecting the sliding state of the sub-belt conveyor 30 is a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the food and drink dish 1 on the sub-belt conveyor 30. Therefore, it is not necessary to add a sensor for detecting the sliding state when providing the mechanism for sliding the sub-belt conveyor 30.

In the custom-made food and drink transport device 10 of the above embodiment, one transport path is composed of two conveyors, a main belt conveyor 20 and a sub-belt conveyor 30, but the transport path is three or more belt conveyors. It may be configured. In this case, it is rational to provide the slide mechanism on the belt conveyor forming the end on the kitchen 2 side, but it may be provided on the belt conveyor in other parts. Further, the slide mechanism may be electric. Further, with respect to the sensors 24 and 31, one using image analysis of a camera or the like instead of the optical sensor, or various other article detecting means may be applied. Further, the optical sensor 32 and the optical sensor 33 are not limited to those arranged in four sets, and may be, for example, three sets or less, or five sets or more.

1 ・ ・ Dish 2 ・ ・ Kitchen 3 ・ ・ Table 10 ・ ・ Custom food and drink transport device 11 ・ ・ Stand 12 ・ ・ Sensor pedestal 20 ・ ・ Main belt conveyor 21,24,31,32,33 ・ ・ Optical sensor 22 ・・ Breaking member 23 ・ ・ Opening and closing device 30 ・ ・ Sub-belt conveyor 31B ・ ・ Belt 34 ・ ・ Slide rail 35 ・ ・ Guide wall 36 ・ ・ Sensor hole 31R ・ ・ Roller 31F ・ ・ Frame member 34S ・ ・ Outer member 34N ・ ・Inner member

Claims (4)

The first conveyor belt that forms a transport path from the kitchen side of the restaurant to the audience seats,
A second belt conveyor extending to the kitchen side of the first belt conveyor and extending the transport path, and a second belt conveyor.
A base provided with a slide mechanism that allows the second belt conveyor to slide away from the first belt conveyor along the direction of the transport path formed by the second belt conveyor.
When the transport start operation is performed, the second belt conveyor and the first belt conveyor are operated, and the control means for transporting the food and drink placed on the sub-belt conveyor to the audience seat is provided.
The control means does not operate the sub-belt conveyor even if the transfer start operation is performed in the sliding state in which the second belt conveyor is slid to a position away from the first belt conveyor.
Custom food and drink transport device. A first sensor that detects food and drink mounted on the second belt conveyor, and
Further provided with an optical second sensor fixed to the base and detecting food and drink with a sensor light crossing a transport path formed by the second belt conveyor.
The second belt conveyor includes a guide wall extending along both sides of the transport path of the second belt conveyor, and a sensor hole for penetrating the sensor light of the second sensor formed through the guide wall. Have,
When the first sensor does not detect food and drink and the sensor light of the second sensor is blocked, the control means determines that the second belt conveyor is in the sliding state.
The ordered food and drink transport device according to claim 1. When the second belt conveyor is in the sliding state, the control means further executes a process of notifying that the second belt conveyor is in the sliding state.
The ordered food and drink transport device according to claim 1 or 2. The slide mechanism has a slide rail.
The ordered food and drink transport device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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