JP2024009650A - Taking away conveyance system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a taking away conveyance system capable of enhancing the efficiency of washing work of tableware for food and drink in a wash place.

SOLUTION: A taking away conveyance system includes a taking away conveying device 7 for conveying a recovery box 22 capable of storing a plurality of pieces of tableware for food and drink from a drinking and eating customer area A side to a recovery place 30 on a kitchen area C side. The recovery box 22 can be transferred from an opening 50 at the drinking and eating customer area A side to the taking away conveying device 7. A control section 45 for controlling the drive of the taking away conveying device 7 acquires identification information given to the recovery box 22 when the recovery box 22 is transferred to the taking away conveying device 7, associates the identification information with time information showing the time when the recovery box 22 is transferred to the taking away conveying device 7, and performs control of conveying the recovery box 22 during conveyance to the recovery place 30 at the kitchen area C side in an order based on the time information.

SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

COPYRIGHT: (C)2024,JPO&INPIT

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a lowering conveyance system for collecting consumed containers to a kitchen.

For example, a sushi restaurant called conveyor belt sushi is equipped with a circulation conveyance path where food and drinks are circulated by a crescent chain conveyor, and an order conveyance path where individually ordered food and drinks are conveyed directly, from the kitchen area. Food and beverages can be served to the customer area without the need for human intervention. Even in restaurants that do not require human labor to serve food and drinks, it is common for staff to return tableware and other items after eating and drinking to the kitchen.

Therefore, in recent years, lowering conveyance devices (tableware collection devices), which can transport tableware, etc. after customers have eaten and eaten, from the customer seats to the kitchen area, have become popular in the food conveyance devices mentioned above. (See Patent Document 1). Specifically, it is equipped with a lowered conveyor path installed along the conveyor path without being exposed to the outside, and an input port into which containers for storing multiple used tableware are placed toward the lowered conveyor path. A container placed through the mouth is sent to the kitchen side via a downward conveyance path.

JP 2019-6551 (Page 4, Figure 7)

By using the above-mentioned lower conveyance device, it is possible to reduce the number of staff involved in store operations, while the container collection location in the kitchen is located near the washing area, and this collection location and each input port are The distances are different from each other, and the order in which containers are put into the input port and the time at which they are collected at the collection site may differ. Dirt on dishes may become difficult to remove as time passes, but it is difficult to distinguish between containers in the washing area, and the dishes in the container that arrived first are washed first, so dirt on dishes that have been used for a long time can become stuck. There was a risk that the dishwashing efficiency in the washing area would decrease as it became difficult to remove.

The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a lowering conveyance system that can improve the efficiency of washing food and drink containers in a washing area.

In order to solve the above problems, the lowering conveyance system of the present invention includes:
Equipped with a lowering transport device that transports a box that can accommodate multiple food and drink containers from the customer side to the collection area on the kitchen side,
The box body can be transferred from the input port on the customer side to the lowering conveyance device,
A control unit that controls driving of the lowering conveyance device acquires identification information given to the box when the box is transferred to the lowering conveyance device, and
The identification information is linked to time information representing the time when the box was transferred to the lowering transport device, and the box being transported is delivered to the collection location on the kitchen side in an order based on the time information. It is characterized by controlling the conveyance.
According to this feature, the boxes containing the used containers transferred to the lowering transport device are transported to the collection location in the order based on the time information at which they were transferred to the lowering transport device, so that the containers are It is possible to prevent the adhered dirt from sticking, and as a result, the efficiency of cleaning the container can be improved.

The lowering conveyance device includes a plurality of lowered conveyance paths extending toward the customer side, and a recovery path installed on the kitchen side where each of the lowered conveyance paths merges so that the box bodies can be transferred. Prepare,
The control unit is characterized in that it controls the transfer from the lowering conveyance path to the recovery path in an order based on the time information.
According to this feature, by controlling the order in which the items are transferred from the multiple lower conveyance paths extended to the customer side to the collection path, the washing work can be carried out in an appropriate order regardless of the number of lower conveyance paths. This makes it possible to increase the efficiency of container washing work.

In the lowered conveyance path, when the box body is being conveyed upstream of an input port near one of the seats, a restriction means is provided for restricting the input of another box body from the input port to the lowered conveyance path. It is characterized by
According to this feature, it is possible to mechanically prevent a subsequent box from overtaking a box that has already been transferred to the lower transport path within the same lower transport path.

The input port can be opened and closed by a door, and the restriction means is a mechanism for locking all the doors facing the downward conveyance path.
According to this feature, if there is a box that has already been transferred to the lowered conveyance path within the same lowered conveyance path, it is possible to physically prevent the box from being transferred to the lowered conveyance path.

In the lower transport path where the input of another box is restricted, based on the fact that the box already transferred to the lower transport path has passed through the input port near the first passenger seat, the door of the input port is opened. It is characterized in that the restriction by the restriction means that restricts unlocking of the door is lifted.
According to this feature, if overtaking of boxes no longer occurs in the same lowering conveyance path, it becomes possible to immediately transfer another box.

The limiting means is configured to determine that the collection box can be transferred to the lowered conveyance path based on the fact that the box that has already been transferred to the lowered conveyance path has passed through the input port near the first customer seat. The feature is that the notification is made from the notification means installed in the area.
According to this feature, if overtaking of boxes no longer occurs within the same transport path, it becomes possible to immediately transfer another box.

A display means is installed near the collection location, and when the identification information given to the box is acquired, the identification information and the time information transferred to the lowering conveyance device are displayed. It is characterized in that a list is displayed on the display means.
According to this feature, the number of boxes transferred to the lowering conveyance device and information on the time at which the boxes were transferred can be confirmed at the collection site, and the washing work can be performed efficiently.

1 is a plan view showing the entire automated equipment including a lowering conveyance device and a circulation conveyance path according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the order conveyance device. It is a top view showing a lowering conveyance device. It is an image diagram showing a lowering conveyance system. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the vertical positional relationship of the circulation conveyance path, the order conveyance device, and the lower conveyance device in the dining area. It is a perspective view showing a collection box. It is a perspective view showing a dining table. It is a perspective view showing a state in which the door of the eating and drinking table is opened and a communication path is exposed from the opening. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state in which the collection box is pushed down from the communication path to the conveyance path. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display device on which a confirmation screen is displayed.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION The form for implementing the lowering conveyance apparatus based on this invention is demonstrated below based on an Example.

A lowering conveyance device according to an embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10. FIG. 1 is an image diagram showing restaurant equipment in which automated equipment 1, which is a lowering conveyance device of the present invention, is installed. The automated equipment 1 spans, for example, a kitchen area (kitchen side) C where a clerk H1 prepares food and drinks and a clerk H2 washes dishes, and a customer area A (customer side) where customers eat and drink. A circulation conveyance path 2, an order conveyance device (conveyance device) 4 (see FIG. 2), and a lower conveyance device 7 (see FIG. 3) similarly provided between the kitchen area C and the customer area A. ing. In addition, in FIG. 1, the roof R (see FIG. 5), which is disposed above along the shape of the circulation conveyance path 2 in the customer area A, is omitted.

The kitchen area C and the dining area A are separated by a partition wall 3. In the customer area A, an endless circulation conveyance path 2 is provided which is made up of a crescent chain conveyor that is arranged to penetrate a partition wall 3. The circulation conveyance path 2 has an E-shape in plan view.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, in the customer area A, three rows of order conveyance paths 5 (5A, 5B, 5C) arranged in parallel with each other are separated from the kitchen area C by a predetermined distance, and are connected to a partition wall 3. A dining table 8, which constitutes a customer seat, is provided penetratingly and orthogonally to these order conveyance paths 5A, 5B, and 5C. Of these, eating and drinking tables 8 are provided on both sides of the order conveyance path 5B in the width direction. Further, a customer seat counter 6 is provided on one side in the width direction of the order conveyance paths 5A, 5C along the order conveyance paths 5A, 5C.

On the circulation conveyance path 2, food and drink containers such as plates are placed on the kitchen area C side, and food and drink is circulated across each customer seat (eating table 8, each seat at the customer counter 6) on the customer area A side. be done. The order conveyance paths 5A, 5B, and 5C are arranged so that their ends are close to each other on the kitchen area C side, and a clerk on the kitchen side (for example, H1) picks up a plate, a cup, etc. on which food and drinks are placed, etc. It is placed on a running body and transported to each passenger seat.

Further, when an order for food or drink is received from a customer seat in the customer area A, the food or drink is cooked in the kitchen area C, placed on a traveling body, and transported to the customer seat by the order transport device 4.

The traveling body on which the food and drinks are placed is transferred to one of the three order conveyance paths 5A, 5B, and 5C, and travels to the customer seats in the customer area A. Containers such as plates and cups with food and drink placed thereon are directly taken out from the traveling body by the customer at the guest seats, and the traveling body returns to the kitchen area C side after conveying the food and drink. Note that a configuration may also be adopted in which a serving tray or the like is placed on the traveling body and the serving tray is taken out together.

As shown in FIG. 3, the lowering conveyance device 7 provided across the kitchen area C and the dining area A has an E-shape in plan view along the dining table 8 and the seating counter 6.

As shown in FIG. 5, the lower conveyance device 7 is disposed below the circulation conveyance path 2 and the ordered conveyance device 4 along the shapes thereof. Note that FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of the order conveyance path 5A, and the positional relationship between the circulation conveyance path 2, the order conveyance device 4, and the lower conveyance device 7 is the same for the order conveyance paths 5B and 5C. .

The order conveyance paths 5A, 5B, and 5C are laid on the upper surface of the support frame 20 configured in a box shape. A circulation conveyance path 2 is installed above the transport path 2 at a predetermined distance.

A lower conveyance path 13A constituting the lower conveyance device 7 is laid in the internal space S1 of the support frame 20 where the ordered conveyance path 5A is laid. Similarly, lower conveyance paths 13B and 13C are provided in the internal space S1 of the support frame 20 below the ordered conveyance paths 5B and 5C, respectively.

The lower conveyance path 13 (13A, 13B, 13C) is a conveyor that extends from the kitchen area C side and is capable of reciprocating the collection box 22. As shown in FIG. 3, the lowering conveyance device 7 includes lowering conveyance paths 13A, 13B, and 13C, and a collection conveyor ( (recovery path) 12. These lowering conveyance path 13 and collection conveyor 12 each have a width slightly larger than the width of a collection box (box body) 22 that can accommodate a plurality of used containers. The collection box 22 placed so that its longitudinal axis runs along the longitudinal direction of the collection box 12 can be transported to a collection location 30.

The collection conveyor 12 is basically driven in one direction, and transports the collection box 22 to a collection location 30 for cleaning, which is disposed near one end (downstream side) in the longitudinal direction.

Conveyors 23 (23A, 23B), which are conveying means constituting each of the lower conveyance paths 13A, 13B, and 13C, are located at the ends of the lower conveyance paths 13A, 13B, and 13C on the kitchen area C side, that is, at the intersections with the collection conveyor 12. , 23C) and a stopper device (not shown) is provided. The standby sections 24A, 24B, and 24C are equipped with a transfer roller 27 that is a transfer device that transfers the collection box 22 onto the collection conveyor 12.

The conveyor 23, which is the conveyance means of the lower conveyance path 13, can be driven by a drive motor (not shown). It can be stopped at any position. Further, the driving of the drive motor is controlled by a control unit 45 configured with a computer or the like connected to the drive motor. In this embodiment, the control unit 45 is placed on the kitchen area C side. In addition, the control section 45, the collection conveyor 12, the conveyors 23A to 23C, and the button 35, RFID tag 31, RFID reader 36, sensor 42, sensor 42, and display device 38 connected to the control section 45 provide a lowering conveyance system. 46 are configured.

As shown in FIG. 5, in each customer seat, the eating and drinking table 8 is located at a lower position than the circulation conveyance path 2 and the order conveyance path 5A, and the customers can eat and drink food that is conveyed through the circulation conveyance path 2 and the order conveyance path 5A. It can be taken out smoothly to the eating table 8 side.

As shown in FIG. 6, the collection box 22 is a rectangular box-shaped body made of synthetic resin and has an opening at the top and has a width of about 40 cm, a length of about 55 cm, and a height of about 20 cm. An RFID tag 31 is attached to the collection box 22. Note that the identification information provided in each collection box 22 is not limited to an RFID tag, but may be another identifier that corresponds to a combination with a reader.

The top plate 80 of the eating table 8 is divided into a base 80b on the circulation conveyance path 2 side, and this divided portion rotates around a hinge (not shown) provided on the circulation conveyance path 2 side. This constitutes a door 80a of the opening 50 (see FIGS. 8 and 9), which will be described later.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 9, a communication path S2 is formed below the top plate 80 of the eating and drinking table 8, which is perpendicular to the lower conveyance path 13A. The communication path S2 has an opening cross-sectional area larger than the length and height of the collection box 22 and communicates with the internal space S1 in the support frame 20 in which the downward conveyance path 13A is laid. Further, an opening 50 having an opening cross-sectional area larger than the width and length of the collection box 22 is formed above the communication path S2, and the collection box 22 is connected to the bottom surface 34 of the communication path S2 through this opening 50. It can be placed.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the communication path S2 is formed of an upward U-shaped member 25 that opens upward perpendicularly to the support frame 20 from the width direction. This U-shaped member 25 is installed between the support frame 20 and a structural member 26 that supports the base 80b of the top plate 80 on the distal side of the door 80a. The aforementioned opening 50 is formed by the upper opening of the U-shaped member 25.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 9, a plurality of rails 29 are provided on the bottom surface 34 of the communication path S2 and extend toward the lower conveyance path 13A, and the upper surfaces of these rails 29 are smooth surfaces. The collection box 22 is placed on the rail 29 of the communication path S2 and is pushed toward the downward conveyance path 13A, thereby being transferred from the communication path S2 to the downward conveyance path 13A. Here, since the upper surface of the rail 29 is a smooth surface, the collection box 22 placed on the communication path S2 can be easily slid along the communication path S2 to the lower conveyance path 13B.

Although not shown in detail, the door 80a is held flipped up by being rotated by more than 90 degrees in the direction of the order conveyance path 5A, so that the opening 50 can be maintained in an open state. That is, with the collection box 22 placed in the communication path S2, food and drink containers can be accommodated in the collection box 22 from the base 80b side of the top plate 80 through the opening 50.

The opening 50 is formed in each eating and drinking table 8, so that cleaning work can be performed for each eating and drinking table 8. Further, although not shown here, an opening that can be opened and closed by one or more doors is also formed in the passenger seat counter 6, and the collection box 22 can be lowered and transferred to the conveyance device 7 through this opening.

Furthermore, openings that can be opened and closed by doors communicating with the lowered conveyance path 13A are also formed at the tips of the order conveyance path 5A, that is, at each tip of the support frame 20. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3, an opening 28 that can be opened and closed by a door (not shown) is also formed at a predetermined location in the partition wall 3 that separates the customer area A and the kitchen area C. The collection box 22 inserted through this opening 28 can be directly transferred to the collection conveyor 12.

As shown in FIG. 7, the opening 50 is normally closed with a door 80a, so that the collection box 22, conveyor 23A, etc. that pass through the communication path S2 and the lower conveyance path 13A cannot be seen by customers. . Further, the door 80a is locked by a locking device (locking means) not shown.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 7 to 9, buttons 35 are installed above the support frame 20, here on the widthwise sides of the order conveyance path 5A (5B, 5C), so that the restaurant staff can By operating the button 35, the locking device of the door 80a that opens and closes the opening 50 is unlocked, and the door 80a can be opened and closed manually. The button 35 may be located anywhere, and instead of being a physical button, the unlocking command may be sent to the locking device from a communication terminal owned by a clerk, for example. According to this, it is possible to prevent the customer from operating the buttons.

Next, the procedure for using the lowering and conveying device 7 when cleaning up the seats after eating and drinking will be explained with reference to FIGS. 7 to 10. 7 to 9, for convenience of explanation, the ordered conveyance path and the circulation conveyance path 2 are omitted, and only the support frame 20 is illustrated.

First, upon arriving at the customer's seat (in this case, the dining table 8) where the customer has finished eating and drinking, the clerk presses the button 35 corresponding to this dining table 8. The button 35 is connected to a control section 45 on the kitchen area C side. In the control unit 45, each button 35 can be identified, and the audience seat (for example, audience seat number) where the pressed button 35 is located is ascertained.

The control unit 45 can recognize which lowering conveyance path 13A to 13C the pressed button 35 belongs to. When the button 35 is pressed, the control unit 45 unlocks the locking device of the door 80a to which the button 35 corresponds, and also controls other devices belonging to the lowering conveyance path 13 (here, the lowering conveyance path 13B) to which the button 35 belongs. Processing for prohibiting unlocking of the locking device (unlocking prohibition process/restriction means) is performed for signals from all buttons 35. This unlocking prohibition process is canceled when specific conditions described below are met.

Further, when any button 35 is pressed to unlock the locking device, the control unit 45 controls the conveyor 23B of the lowering conveyance path 13 (here, the lowering conveyance path 13B) to which the button 35 and the locking device belong. Process the stop.

Further, an RFID reader 36 (see FIGS. 3 and 9) is installed in each communication path S2, and communicates with the RFID tag 31 of the collection box 22 placed in the communication path S2. The identification information is transmitted to the control unit 45.

When the clerk confirms that the locking device has been unlocked, the clerk opens the door 80a and exposes the opening 50. Then, the collection box 22 is inserted into the communication path S2 from the opening 50 (see FIG. 8). In this embodiment, it is assumed that the collection box 22 is transported to the dining table 8 by a staff member. Further, containers such as plates on the eating and drinking table 8 will be described as being stored in an empty collection box 22 inserted into the communication path S2. Note that the collection box 22 may be placed on the eating and drinking table 8, and the collection box 22 containing containers such as plates for eating and drinking may be inserted into the communication path S2.

As shown in FIG. 9, the clerk then pushes the collection box 22 containing the containers on the eating and drinking table 8 from the communication path S2 into the conveyance path 13B, and transfers the collection box 22 onto the conveyor 23B.

A sensor (detection means, see FIG. 3) 37 is provided near the confluence point of the communication path S2 and the downward conveyance path 13B, and this sensor 42 detects whether the collection box 22 is transferred to the downward conveyance path 13B. Based on the detection that the process has been completed, the control unit 45 restarts the driving of the conveyor 23B.

The control unit 45 includes a storage means, and the correspondence relationship between the identification information of the button 35, the identification information of the locking device, and the identification information of the lowering conveyance path (13A to 13C) is stored in advance. Further, when any sensor 42 detects that the transfer of the collection box 22 to the lowering conveyance path has been completed, the control unit 45 includes the identification information of this sensor 42 and the time information detected by this sensor 42, The identification information of the lowering conveyance path (13A to 13C) to which this sensor 42 belongs is stored in association with each other.

The control unit 45 transports the collection box 22 to the kitchen area C side of the lower transport path 13B, transfers it from the end of the conveyor 23B to the standby part 24B, and operates a stopper (not shown) to stop the movement of the collection box 22. It is made to stand by in the standby section 24B in a regulated state.

Next, when the control unit 45 confirms that no other collection box 22 is waiting in the other waiting sections 24A, 24C, and that there is no collection box 22 being transported on the other lower transport paths 13A, 13C, , the movement restriction by the stopper installed in the standby section 24B is released, and the transfer roller 27, which is a transfer device, is driven to transfer the collection box 22 that was waiting in the standby section 24B to the collection conveyor 12. .

On the other hand, if another collection box 22 is waiting in the other standby sections 24A, 24C, or if there is a collection box 22 being transported on another lower transport path 13A, 13C, the control unit 45 controls the current state. Based on the time information of the collection boxes 22 waiting in the standby section 24A, standby sections 24B, and 24C, and the collection boxes 22 being conveyed through the lower conveyance paths 13A, 13B, and 13C, the collection conveyor 12 is sent in order from the oldest time information to the collection box 22 that is being conveyed. Controls the transfer. In other words, the control unit 45 arranges the collection box 22 linked to the oldest time information that has not been collected at the collection position at that time at the tip position on the collection position side (downstream side) of the collection conveyor 12; The collection boxes 22 are sequentially arranged on the upstream side in an order based on time information (alignment process).

In addition, regarding a request to unlock the door 80a of the opening 50 that allows the collection box 22 to be directly transferred from the customer area A side to the collection conveyor 12, the control unit 45 performs an unlocking request on all lower conveyance paths 13A, 13B, and 13C. A process that enables unlocking is performed only when there is no collection box 22 being transported and when there are no collection boxes 22 waiting in all of the standby sections 24A, 24B, and 24C.

Further, when receiving the identification information of the RFID tag 31 from any of the RFID readers 36, the control unit 45 includes the identification information of the RFID tag 31, the position information (identification information) of this RFID reader 36, and the information of this RFID reader 36. The information is stored in association with the identification information of the lower conveyance path to which the information belongs. In addition, the control unit 45 displays the stored correspondence information as a confirmation screen 39 (described later) on a display device (display device) 38 installed near the collection location 30 in the kitchen area C.

As shown in FIG. 10, the display device 38 shows the current state of the collection boxes 22 that have been transferred from the customer area A side to the lowering conveyance device 7 and are waiting for their turn to be washed at the collection location 30. A confirmation screen 39 is displayed for confirmation.

The confirmation screen 39 displays the order of sending to the collection position, the identification information of the RFID tag 31, the time information when the sensor 42 detected that the transfer of the collection box 22 to the lowering conveyance path was completed, and the RFID reader 36. The location information, that is, the audience seat information, and the identification information of the lower conveyance path to which the RFID reader 36 belongs are displayed in a list.

The control unit 45 arranges the collection boxes 22 on the collection conveyor 12 in descending order of time information through an arrangement process, and the order of arrangement and the order of display on the confirmation screen 39 are matched.

The store clerk sequentially takes out the collection boxes 22, which have been transported to the tip position on the collection site 30 side (downstream side) of the collection conveyor 12, and transfers them to a washing area, which is the collection site 30, and performs washing work. When the store clerk takes out the collection box 22 from the tip of the collection conveyor 12 to the washing area, he selects the collected button 41 displayed at the top of the confirmation screen 39, here next to the order "1". On the confirmation screen 39, the displays are arranged in the order in which they will be sent to the collection location 30, and after the collection boxes 22 are taken out from the collection conveyor 12 to the washing area, when the collected button 41 displayed in each box is selected by the clerk, , the selected row becomes dark, the order moves up, and the display is updated.

The display device 38 can communicate with the control unit 45, and upon receiving the selection of the collected button 41 by the store clerk, the control unit 45 drives the collection conveyor 12 and moves the top end position of the collection conveyor 12 at that point in time. The oldest collection box 22 is transported.

As described above, when the button 35 for unlocking the door on the dining table 8 is pressed, the control unit 45 allows the locking device of the door 80a to which the button 35 corresponds to be unlocked, and also locks the door 80a to which the button 35 belongs. Unlocking prohibition processing is performed for signals from all other buttons 35 belonging to the lowering conveyance path 13.

The condition for canceling the unlocking prohibition process is that after the locking device of one of the doors 80a is unlocked, the conveyor 23 is driven based on the detection by the sensor 42 near the confluence point of the communication path S2 and the lowering conveyance path 13. In the state where the door 80a is restarted, after the door 80a is closed and automatically locked, and the drive of the conveyor 23 of the lowering conveyance path 13 to which the door 80a belongs has stopped, that is, the downstream end of the conveyor 23 Based on the arrival of the collection box 22 at , the control unit 45 cancels the unlocking prohibition process for signals from all other buttons 35 belonging to the lowering conveyance path 13 .

Although not shown here, the button 35 has a built-in light source such as an LED, and the control unit 45 causes the button 35, which has been subjected to the unlocking prohibition process, to blink in red, and the unlocking prohibition process is canceled. In other words, the button 35 on which the unlocking prohibition process has not been performed is illuminated in blue (notifying means). That is, the notification means of the button 35 makes it obvious to the clerk that the lock can be unlocked, in other words, that the collection box 22 can be inserted through the opening 50, and the collection box 22 can be transferred efficiently. can.

That is, while one door is unlocked for one lower transport path 13, the control unit 45 does not allow other buttons to unlock the door 80a, and changes the order of collection boxes 22 in this lower transport path 13. This prevents the collection boxes 22 from moving back and forth, and also prevents the collection boxes 22 from interfering with each other.

In this way, the control unit 45 of the lowering conveyance system 46 acquires the identification information given to the collection box 22 when the collection box 22 is transferred to the lowering conveyance device 7, and also uses this identification information and the lowering conveyance Time information representing the time when the collection boxes 22 were transferred to the road 13 is stored in association with the time information, and the collection boxes 22 being transported are controlled to be transported to the collection location 30 in the kitchen side area C in an order based on the time information. conduct. According to this, the collection boxes 22 containing the used containers transferred to the lowering transport device 7 are transported to the collection location 30 in the order based on the time information at which they were transferred to the lowering transport device 7. It is possible to prevent dirt from sticking to the container, and it is therefore possible to improve the efficiency of cleaning the container.

In addition, a plurality of lower conveyance paths 13 are extended to the customer area A side, and each collection box 22 joins the collection conveyor 12 installed in the kitchen area C side so that the collection boxes 22 can be transferred. The transfer from the lowering conveyance path 13 to the collection conveyor 12 is controlled in the order based on the following. According to this, by controlling the order in which the items are transferred to the collection conveyor 12 from the plurality of lowered conveyance paths 13 extended to the customer area A side, washing can be carried out in an appropriate order regardless of the number of lowered conveyance paths 13. The efficiency of container washing work can be increased.

In addition, in the lowered conveyance path 13 where the collection box 22 is being conveyed, the control unit 45 restricts the introduction of another collection box 22 into the lowered conveyance path 13 from the opening 50 facing this lowered conveyance path 13. It is possible to mechanically prevent the new collection box 22 from overtaking the old collection box 22 in the lowering conveyance path 13.

The opening 50 can be opened and closed by a door 80a to physically prevent another collection box 22 from being transferred when there is a collection box 22 that has already been transferred to the lower transport path 13. I can do it.

A display device 38 installed near the collection location 30 displays a list of the identification information given to the collection box 22 and the time information of when it was transferred to the lowering transport device 7. The number of collected collection boxes 22 and information on the time at which they were transferred can be confirmed at the collection location 30, allowing efficient washing work.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above based on the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and even if additions or changes are made within the scope of the gist of the present invention, Included in the present invention.

For example, the time information used to control transport to the collection location 30 is not limited to time information representing the time when the collection box 22 was transferred to the lower transport path 13. For example, the time when the collection boxes 22 were transferred to the collection conveyor 12 may be used as time information, and the collection boxes 22 may be controlled to be transported to the collection location 30 in the kitchen area C in an order based on this time information. good.

Alternatively, the communication path S2 below the eating and drinking table 8 may be omitted, and the configuration may be such that it can be directly transferred from the opening to the conveyor 23 of the lowered conveyance path 13. In this case, the connection between the opening and the lowered conveyance path 13 is possible. Sensors (detection means) 37 are respectively arranged near the merging points.

Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the order in which the items are transferred from the standby sections 24A to 24C of the lower conveyance paths 13A to 13C to the collection conveyor 12 is organized in an order based on time information, but the present invention is not limited to this, for example. The order of transfer from the lowering conveyance paths 13A to 13C to the collection conveyor 12 is not controlled, but instead, a driving means such as an elevating device or an arm is used to collect multiple items on the collection conveyor 12 in an order based on time information. The order of the boxes 22 may be changed.

Further, by adopting a structure such as a robot arm, the collection conveyor 12 may be omitted, and a structure may be adopted in which the collection conveyor 12 is directly transferred from the lowered conveyance path 13 to the collection location 30. Further, by arranging the collection conveyor 12 in multiple stages vertically, many collection boxes 22 can be held so as to be transferable to the collection location 30.

Moreover, the RFID reader 36 is not limited to the communication path S2, and the installation location in the lowering conveyance device 7 is not limited. For example, the collection conveyor 12 may be installed in places other than the communication path S2. According to this, the position of the collection box 22 in the 12 collection conveyor strips can be known, and by specifying the collection box 22, the collection box 22 and its You can also view the containers inside with a camera.

Further, the collection box 22 may be visually marked with a numbering corresponding to the identification information of the RFID tag 31. In this case, the identification information of the RFID tag 31 is converted to the numbering and displayed on the confirmation screen 39. By displaying the number, the store staff can confirm that the order in which the collection boxes 22 are taken out is according to the list displayed on the confirmation screen 39 by visually checking the numbering of the collection boxes 22 that are actually taken out to the collection location 30. can do.

Furthermore, by installing an RFID reader 36 at the collection location 30, the collection button 41 on the confirmation screen 39 may be omitted. According to this, the identification information of the collection box 22 taken out to the collection location 30 can be Since it is automatically identified, updating of the display list on the confirmation screen 39 is automated, and human error can be prevented.

1 Automated equipment 2 Circulation conveyance path 3 Partition wall 4 Order conveyance device 5A to C Order conveyance path 6 Customer seat counter 7 Conveyance device 8 Eating and drinking table 11 Traveling body 12 Collection conveyor (recovery path)
13A to C Lower conveyance path 20 Support frame 21 Support frame Illustration 22 Collection box 23A to C Conveyor 24A to C Standby section 30 Collection location 31 RFID tag 34 Bottom change 35 Button 36 RFID reader 38 Display device (display means)
39 Confirmation screen 42 Sensor 43 Camera map screen 45 Control unit 46 Lowering conveyance system 50 Opening (input port)
80 Top plate 80a Door A Customer area C Kitchen area S1 Internal space S2 Communication passage

Claims (7)

Equipped with a lowering transport device that transports a box that can accommodate multiple food and drink containers from the customer side to the collection area on the kitchen side,
The box body can be transferred from the input port on the customer side to the lowering conveyance device,
A control unit that controls driving of the lowering conveyance device acquires identification information given to the box when the box is transferred to the lowering conveyance device, and
The identification information is linked to time information representing the time when the box was transferred to the lowering transport device, and the box being transported is delivered to the collection location on the kitchen side in an order based on the time information. A lowering conveyance system characterized by controlling conveyance. The lowering conveyance device includes a plurality of lowered conveyance paths extending toward the customer side, and a recovery path installed on the kitchen side where each of the lowered conveyance paths merges so that the box bodies can be transferred. Prepare,
The lowering conveyance system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the transfer from the lowering conveyance path to the recovery path in an order based on the time information. In the lowered conveyance path, when the box body is being conveyed upstream of an input port near one of the seats, a restriction means is provided for restricting the input of another box body from the input port to the lowered conveyance path. 3. The lowering conveyance system according to claim 2. 4. The lowering conveyance system according to claim 3, wherein the input port can be opened and closed by a door, and the restricting means is a mechanism for locking all the doors facing the lowered conveyance path. In the lower transport path where the input of another box is restricted, based on the fact that the box already transferred to the lower transport path has passed through the input port near the first passenger seat, the door of the input port is opened. 5. The lowering conveyance system according to claim 4, wherein the restriction by the restriction means that restricts unlocking of the lowering conveyance system. The restriction means is configured to determine that the collection box can be transferred to the lowered conveyance path based on the fact that the box that has already been transferred to the lowered conveyance path has passed through the input port near the first customer seat. 4. The lowering conveyance system according to claim 3, wherein the notification is made from a notification means installed in the lowering conveyance system. A display means is installed near the collection location, and when the identification information given to the box is acquired, the identification information and the time information transferred to the lowering conveyance device are displayed. 7. The lowering conveyance system according to claim 1, wherein a list is displayed on the display means.

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