JP3359060B2 - Cafeteria system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cafeteria system using a card adapted to a self-service cafeteria in which customers take their own food and drink arranged on a display stand .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a cafeteria-style dining room, various dishes and drinks from appetizers to desserts are arranged on a display stand. A register is provided at the last position of the display stand. Then, the customer picks up one tray stacked at the entrance, brings this tray and moves along the display stand, puts favorite food and drink from the display stand on its own tray in the process of moving, Carry to register position.
Then, the cashier sells and registers each food and drink purchased by the customer in order in the register, and calculates the total price of each customer.
The customer pays the price corresponding to the calculated total amount.

[0003] In such a cafeteria-based employee cafeteria, instead of paying the price corresponding to the total amount by cash, the price is paid by a prepaid card or an ID card (employee card) brought to each employee. May pay. When paying with an ID card, the ID number (employee number) magnetically recorded on the ID card is read by a card reader and registered in the host computer together with the total amount calculated by the register. Automatic deduction as a meal price.

[0004] In such a cafe terrace type dining room, the display stand is divided into a plurality of shelves, and each food and beverage constituting one menu is arranged on each shelf. Therefore, each menu stored in each shelf may be composed of a single food and drink section such as coffee, bread, salad, or the like, or, for example, a toast, coffee, boiled egg, etc., such as a breakfast set. May be composed of a plurality of foods and drinks.

[0005] Further, there is also a menu composed of a single item or a plurality of foods and drinks which is generally called a set meal. In some cases, the composition of the food and drink constituting the menu of the set meal does not change at all, but in the case of a daily set meal, the composition of the food and drink may change every day. Therefore, in this case, the price also changes.

[0006] Further, the configuration and price of the eating and drinking section are different between a morning set meal, a lunch set meal, and an evening set meal. In this way, even when the set meal is generally called, there are various menus at various times and various prices are set.

[0007]

However, as described above, when different shelves are prepared for each menu, an enormous number of shelves are required. In addition, the morning set rack is not used at all during lunch and dinner.

Also, in a cafeteria system in which a dedicated card insertion slot is provided for each menu and the amount of the menu price is automatically collected from the card balance, if the number of menus increases, the manufacturing cost of the entire cafeteria system increases. Will rise significantly. Further, in a cafeteria system in which a selection button is provided for each menu and a customer or cashier presses the menu to select a purchase (sales) menu, the number of selection buttons increases, and the manufacturing cost increases as described above. There's a problem.

Further, when there are many shelves and selection buttons that are not used at all times, the places and facilities are not effectively utilized. Also, customers are confused, and an operation error is likely to occur.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and a plurality of menus are set for each time zone with respect to a reference menu indicating a rough classification of a meal such as Japanese food and Western food. In the normal state, only one menu can be sold for the reference menu, so that shelves and selection buttons prepared for each menu can be used effectively, and the number of shelves and selection buttons can be reduced. It is another object of the present invention to provide a cafeteria system that is very easy for a customer to understand and can improve operability.

[0011]

The present invention provides a reference menu.
Multiple shelves to store food and drinks for each menu, and each shelf
Each card terminal to be provided and the menu for each card terminal
Applied to a cafeteria system having a host computer for transmitting information . In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the present invention, the host computer has a plurality of criteria.
In correspondence with the menu, a variable menu table that stores menu information including the food item name and price set for each different time zone, a clock circuit that measures the current time,
Each time zone where the current time is stored in the variable menu table
Upon reaching the start time, and a menu transmission unit configured to transmit the menu <br/> New information set to the appropriate time zone to the corresponding each card terminals. In addition, each card terminal
Is a card insertion slot, menu display means for displaying menu information currently received from the host computer, and card sales processing for performing sales processing according to menu information in response to a card insertion operation. and a means.

[0012]

[0013]

[Function] In the dining room system configured as described above,
For example, when different menus are provided (sold) in the morning, afternoon, and evening for one reference menu, the name of the food and drink different in each time zone corresponding to morning, noon, and evening in the variable menu table. What is necessary is just to set the menu information including the price.

In a state where each menu information is set in the variable menu table, a selection button provided corresponding to each display by inserting a card into the card processing unit or inserting a card into the common card processing unit. When a card payment operation such as pressing is performed, a card sales process is performed on the menu information corresponding to the time zone to which the current time belongs based on the card information.

[0015]

That is, the customer can select a plurality of substantially different menus by the same purchase operation in the morning, afternoon, and evening.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a cafeteria employing the cafeteria system of the embodiment. A display stand 1 is provided at one corner of the cafeteria, and the display stand 1 is divided into a plurality of shelves 2 by a partition plate 1a. Different kinds of foods and drinks 3 such as dishes and drinks are stored in each shelf 2 singly or collectively.

That is, when only one kind of food and drink 3 is stored, it is a single item menu, and when a plurality of kinds of food and drink parts 3 are stored in combination, it is a set menu.

A card terminal is mounted on the back of each shelf 2, and a card insertion slot 4 of the card terminal is exposed on the front of each shelf 2. Further, an indicator 5 for displaying a menu consisting of the name of the item currently stored in the corresponding shelf 2 and the price is attached. A plurality of tables 6 for customers to eat are arranged in the center of the cafeteria.

The customer 7 brings the tray 8 and moves along the display stand 1, takes out the food and drink 3 of the desired menu from the shelf 2, places it on the tray 8, and places the prepaid card on the corresponding shelf. 2 is inserted into the card insertion slot 4 provided in the apparatus. Since the inserted prepaid card is immediately discharged, the user moves to the next shelf 2 position with the prepaid card.

Further, a host computer 9 is installed in a management room other than the dining room. The host computer 9 is connected to each card terminal attached to the back of each shelf 2 of the display stand 1 by a signal line.

The host computer 9 is configured, for example, as shown in FIG. For the CPU 10, via a bus line 11, a ROM 12 for storing fixed data such as a control program, a RAM 13 for storing variable data such as various tables, an external storage device 14 such as a magnetic tape device,
A printer 15 for printing and outputting various kinds of aggregated data, a clock circuit 16 for measuring the current time, transmitting setting data of each menu to each card terminal 17,
A transmission interface 18 to which sales data is input from a PC, a keyboard 19 for an administrator to input various operation commands, and the like are connected.

In the RAM 13, as shown in FIG. 3, a variable menu table 13a, a fixed menu table 13b, a sales file 13c for each menu, a sales totalizer 13d, a transmission / reception buffer 13e, and the like are formed.

The variable menu table 13a contains a plurality of
Corresponding to the standard menu of the morning time zone T1 (8: 30-10: 3
0), daytime T2 (11: 30-14: 00), evening time T3
A total of three time zones T (17:00 to 20:00) are set. In addition, a Japanese food standard menu and a Western food standard menu are set as reference menus . The Japanese food standard menu is a menu of the food and drink 3 stored in the first shelf 2 of the display stand 1 and corresponds to the first card terminal 17. Similarly, the Western food standard menu is a menu of food and drink 3 stored in the second shelf 2 of the display stand 1 and corresponds to the second card terminal 17.

For each reference menu, menu information 20 including a product name and a price corresponding to the corresponding time zone T is set for each of the morning time zone T1, the daytime zone T2, and the evening time zone T3. For example, the menu in the morning time zone T1 in the Japanese standard menu is a laver egg set meal, and the price is 4
It is 00 yen. In addition, Western food standard menu daytime zone T2
Menu is curry and the price is 600 yen. Further, the menu in the evening time zone T3 in the Japanese standard menu is a Japanese set meal, and the price is 1000 yen. It should be noted that the specific names of the respective foods constituting the Japanese set meal are omitted.

The fixed menu table 13b stores menu information of the food and drink 3 stored in each shelf 2 when the same menu is provided in all time zones T1 to T3.
Have been. For example, the menu information 20 of the food and drink 3 stored in the third shelf 2 of the display stand 1 is coffee, and the price is 300 yen, that is, a single dish fixed to each of the third and subsequent shelves 2. Is stored.

The clock circuit 16 in FIG. 2 measures the current time, and the current time is set in each of the time zones T1, T2, T3 set in the variable menu table 13a.
, A time interrupt signal 21 including time zone information is transmitted to the interrupt terminal of the CPU 10.

Each card terminal 17 provided on each shelf
Is configured, for example, as shown in FIG. A card reader 23 which reads card information recorded on a magnetic stripe of a prepaid card inserted from a card insertion slot 4 provided on the shelf 2 to a control unit 22 composed of a microcomputer, and reads a card balance after updating from a magnetic stripe A card writer 24 for writing a punched hole indicating the approximate card balance, if necessary, a card reader 23, a card writer 24 and a puncher for inserting a prepaid card inserted in the card insertion slot 4 into a card reader. A card transport mechanism 25 for transporting the prepaid card after card processing to the card insertion slot 4 and the like while transporting the card to the position of the hole punching machine 26 are connected.

Further, the control unit 22 stores the display unit 5 for displaying the menu information 20 at the present time, the transmission interface 27 connected to the host computer 9 via a signal line, and various variable data. The RAM 28 is connected.

In the RAM 28, a card information memory 28a for temporarily storing card information including the card balance of the prepaid card read by the card reader 23, a menu memory 28b for storing menu information 20 received from the host computer 9, a transmission / reception buffer 28c and the like are formed.

The CP of the host computer 9
U10 is configured to perform a menu transmission process for each card terminal 17 and a menu setting process for each of the menu tables 13a and 13b in accordance with the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

The flowchart of FIG. 5 is started, and S (step)
At 1, when the time interrupt signal 21 including the time zone information is input from the clock circuit 16, the specific menu information 20 of each basic menu of the corresponding time zone T in the variable menu table 13a is read (S2). The read menu information 20 is transmitted to each card terminal 17 corresponding to the reference menu to which the corresponding menu belongs.

When a simultaneous menu transmission command (DLL command) is input by an administrator's key operation on the keyboard 19 in S4, first, the current time is read from the clock circuit 16 (S5). Next, each menu information 20 corresponding to the time zone T including the read current time is read from the variable menu table 13a (S6). The read menu information 20 is transmitted to each card terminal 17 corresponding to the reference menu to which the corresponding menu belongs (S7).

Next, each menu information 20 corresponding to each terminal number in the fixed menu table 13b is read out (S
8), and transmit to each corresponding card terminal 17 (S9).

In S10 of FIG. 6, when a menu setting operation start command for each of the menu tables 13a and 13 is input by an administrator's key operation on the keyboard 19, the menu setting operation is started.

In S11, the card terminal number is input from the keyboard 19, and the time zone T is designated by the keyboard 19 (S12). After the menu information 20 including the product name and the price is input from the keyboard 19, The menu setting for the variable menu table 13a is performed (S14). Specifically, the input menu information 20 is stored in the area of the specified time zone T in the reference menu specified by the terminal number.

When the terminal number is input from the keyboard 19 (S12), and the time zone T is not input, and the menu is input immediately (S15), the menu setting for the fixed menu table 13b is performed (S15). S1
6). Specifically, the input menu information 20 is stored in the area designated by the terminal number.

Since the setting process for the menu tables 13a and 13b for one menu information 20 has been completed as described above, if the setting operation end operation is not performed in S17, the process returns to S11, and the setting process for the next menu information 20 is performed. To start.

When the setting operation end operation is performed in S17, each menu table 13 of all the menu information 20 is set.
The setting process for a and 13b ends.

Further, in S18 of FIG. 5, when the sales data including the product name (product name code) and the sales amount (price) is input from each card terminal 17, this sales amount is displayed in the menu.
It is added to the sales amount of the corresponding menu in the sales file by queue 13c (S19). Further, it is added to the total sales amount of the sales totalizer 13d (S20).

Each of the card terminals 17 disposed on each of the shelves 2 performs a menu setting operation and a card selling process according to the flowchart of FIG.

At Q1, when the data of the menu information 20 including the product name and the price is received from the host computer 9, the menu information 20 is written into the menu memory 28b of the storage unit 28 (Q2). Next, the menu information 20 including the article name and the price entered this time is displayed on the display 5 (Q3).

Further, when the prepaid card is inserted into the card insertion slot 4 at Q4, the card information recorded on the magnetic stripe is read by the card reader 23 and temporarily stored in the card information memory 28a (Q5). . The price of the menu memory 28b is subtracted from the card balance included in the card information of the card information memory 28a (Q6), and the card balance after the subtraction is added to the magnetic stripe of the prepaid card being inserted into the card insertion slot 4 to obtain a new card balance. (Q7). Then, if necessary, a punch hole is punched by the punch hole punching machine 26 (Q8). Thereafter, the corresponding prepaid card is ejected (Q9).

Then, the product name (article name code) and the sales amount (price) of the menu memory 28b are transmitted to the host computer 9 as sales data.

In the dining room system configured as described above, one reference menu is set for one shelf 2. That is, for each of the morning, noon, and evening time zones T1, T2, and T3 belonging to the corresponding reference menu, three types of menus that are eaten and consumed only in that time zone are set on one shelf 2.

Therefore, three types of menus can be set on one shelf 2, so that the shelf 2 can be used effectively over the entire time zone. As a result, the number of shelves 2 can be reduced without reducing the total number of menus provided in one day, so that the number of card terminals 17 can be reduced, and the manufacturing cost of the entire dining room system can be greatly reduced.

Further, for customers who only eat Japanese food in the morning, afternoon, and evening, depending on their preferences, 1
The glued egg set meal, katsudon, and Japanese set meal are placed on the second shelf 2 at each time period T1, T2, T3, so that the same purchase operation is performed on the card slot 4 of the same shelf 2 in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Thus, three types of menus can be selected. Therefore, it is very convenient and easy to use.

Further, since the menu 20 including the item name and the price at that time is displayed on the display 5 of the shelf 2, it is assumed that different foods or foods of different prices are stored for each time zone. Customers can purchase food and drinks with a prepaid card while checking the price.

[0050] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a cafeteria system according to an embodiment of another invention. In this canteen system, six shelves A to F are formed on a large panel 31, and a door 33 is attached to each shelf 32. Each display 34 is attached to the front of each door 33.

On one side of the panel 31, there are provided six selection buttons A to F for selecting a menu of food and drink stored in each shelf 32. A total button 36 is provided below the selection button 35, and a card insertion slot 37 is provided below.

On the back of the panel 31, one card transaction device is mounted. The variable menu table 13a and the fixed menu table 13b shown in FIG. 3 are formed in the storage unit of the card transaction device. The current time zone T1 to T3 is displayed on the display 34 of each shelf 32.
A menu consisting of the product name and price corresponding to the item is displayed.
In each shelf 32, foods and drinks corresponding to the menus set in the respective time zones T1 to T3 are stored.

In the dining room system having such a configuration,
The customer takes out the food and drink he needs from each shelf 32 and places it on his tray. Next, a prepaid card is inserted into the card insertion slot 37, and each shelf 32 from which food and drink are taken out is inserted.
Is pressed, one or more selection buttons 35 of A to F corresponding to. Finally, when the total button 36 is pressed, the prices of the menus currently displayed on the respective displays 34 are totaled, and this total amount is subtracted from the card balance. Then, the prepaid card in which the reduced and updated card balance is written is ejected from the card insertion slot 37.

In the cafeteria system thus configured, the menu of food and drink stored in each shelf 32 is changed in the morning and in the morning.
Since different menus can be set for each of the daytime and evening time zones T1 to T3, substantially the same effects as in the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

Further, in this embodiment, when food and drinks on a plurality of shelves 32 are purchased at the same time, the operation of inserting the prepaid card only needs to be performed once, so that the operation is simplified and the number of reference menus is relatively small. It is even more meaningful in small canteens.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a card terminal according to another invention . The same parts as those of the card terminal shown in FIG. 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In this embodiment, the card reader 23,
A card processing unit including a card writer 24, a card transport mechanism 25, and a punching machine 26 is connected. Also,
The control unit 40 is connected to a display 41, a clock circuit 42, a keyboard 43, a storage unit 44, a transmission interface 45 for performing data transmission with an external host computer, and the like.

In the storage unit 44, a variable menu table 44b in which different menus 20 are set for each time body T of morning time zone T1, daytime zone T2, and evening time zone T3 is formed. Further, in the storage unit 44, a card information memory 44a, a sales file 44c by time zone, and a sales totalizer 44d are formed.

The clock circuit 42 operates as shown in FIG.
Similar to the counting circuit 16, while measuring the current time,
The time is set in the variable menu table 44b.
When the start time of each time zone T1, T2, T3 is reached,
Sends a time interrupt signal containing time zone information to the control unit 40
I do.

Then, the control unit 40 executes the card selling process and the menu setting process according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

When the flow chart of FIG. 11 is started and a time interrupt signal including time zone information is input from the clock circuit 42 at K1, a corresponding time zone T of the variable menu table 44b is set.
Reads the menu information 20 (K2). The read menu information 20 is displayed on the display 41.

When the prepaid card is inserted into the card insertion slot at K5, the card information recorded on the magnetic stripe is read by the card reader 23 and temporarily stored in the card information memory 44a (K6). next,
The price of the menu information 20 in the time zone T to which the current time of the clock circuit 42 belongs in the variable menu table 44b is read (K7).

The price read from the card balance included in the card information in the card information memory 44a is subtracted (K8), and the card balance after the subtraction is added to the magnetic stripe of the prepaid card being inserted into the card insertion slot. (K9). Then, if necessary, a punch hole is drilled by the punch hole drilling machine 26. Thereafter, the corresponding prepaid card is ejected (K10).

Then, the sales amount (price) is added to the sales amount in the corresponding time zone region of the hourly sales file 44c (K11), and is added to the total sales amount of the sales totalizer 44d (K12).

Further, when the menu setting operation on the keyboard 43 is performed at K13, the setting process of the menu 20 for each time zone T of the variable menu table 44b is executed (K14).

In the card terminal configured as described above, the variable menu table 4 is stored in its own card terminal.
4b and the clock circuit 42 are incorporated, so that this card terminal alone can provide a different menu for each time zone. Therefore, it is possible to obtain substantially the same effects as those of the dining room system described above.

If a plurality of such card terminals are provided in the dining room, a plurality of types of menus can be selected even in the same time zone.

[0068]

As described above , according to the cafeteria system of the present invention, a plurality of menus are set for each time zone with respect to the reference menu, and in the normal state, only one menu is set for the reference menu. It can be sold using a card. Therefore, the shelves and selection buttons prepared for each menu can be used effectively, the number of shelves and selection buttons can be reduced, the manufacturing cost of the entire system can be reduced, and the operability is very easy for customers to understand. Can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a canteen in which a canteen system according to one embodiment of the present invention is employed;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a host computer of the system according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing contents stored in a storage unit of the host computer;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of each card terminal of the system of the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the host computer of the embodiment system;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the host computer.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of each card terminal of the system of the embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a view showing panels and shelves of a dining room system according to another embodiment of the present invention ;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a card terminal according to another embodiment of the present invention ;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing contents stored in a storage unit of the terminal device of the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the operation of the terminal of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Display stand, 2, 32 ... Shelf, 3 ... Food and drink, 4, 37 ... Card slot, 5, 34, 41 ... Display, 9 ... Host computer, 10 ... CPU, 13a, 44b ... Variable menu table, 13b: fixed menu table, 16: clock circuit, 17: card terminal, 20: menu information , 2
2.40 control unit, 23 card reader, 24 card writer, 25 card transport mechanism, 26 punch machine, 28a card information memory, 28b menu memory, 31 panel, 33 door 35 ... selection button, 36
... total buttons, 43 ... keyboard.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-63-231568 (JP, A) JP-A-2-245892 (JP, A) JP-A-4-160560 (JP, A) JP-A-4- 209082 (JP, A)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. Food and drink of each menu for each reference menu
Multiple shelves to be stored and each card terminal provided on each shelf
And the host command that sends menu information to each card terminal
A cafeteria system comprising a computer, wherein the host computer, corresponding to a plurality of reference Menu
Then, a variable menu table storing menu information including the food item name and price set for each different time zone, a clock circuit for measuring the current time, and the current time are stored in the variable menu table. Menu transmission means for transmitting menu information set in the corresponding time zone to each of the corresponding card terminals when the start time of each time zone is reached; The machine has a card insertion slot, a menu display means for displaying menu information currently received from the host computer, and a card insertion operation,
A cafeteria system having card sales processing means for performing sales processing according to menu information .