JP3484145B2 - Food and Beverage Management System in Recirculating Transport Path - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a food and drink management apparatus for managing food and drink on a circulation type conveyance path for conveying food and drink.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an endless circulation type conveying path for conveying food and drink is provided along a food and drink table such as a counter, and food and drink such as sushi is provided on the circulation type conveying path. The circulation-type food and drink counter that places and conveys food and drink containers, such as plates, allows food and drink to be eaten or cooked without the need for the guests or cooks to move. It is widely used as conveyor belt sushi because you can eat and drink while selecting the desired product.

In the food and drink counter equipped with the above-described circulation transport path, the customer takes out his / her favorite food / drink from the food / drinks transported along the transport path. However, it may be difficult to provide the customer with sufficient service one after another.

Therefore, these reduced foods and drinks are to be replenished to the conveyance path. However, it is not possible to grasp the quantity of each food and drink on the conveyance path for each type and replenish an appropriate amount without excess or deficiency. It is difficult and requires a lot of manpower, and it is difficult to standardize and standardize because it is determined by experience as to what kind of food and drink should be used and in what quantity.

[0005]

Therefore, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, as a system for grasping the condition of food and drinks on the conveying path and standardizing and standardizing replenishment or the like, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 314285 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-23815.
7, JP-A-9-44753, JP-A-11-046958
Have been proposed, but in these systems,
An ID, which is unique identification information, is assigned to each food / drink container so that the food / drink can be managed, and by reading the ID of the food / drink container being transported on the transport path, The types are managed, but in order to manage the food and drink on these transport paths more accurately and in real time, the ID of the
It is necessary to provide a large number of reading devices near the conveyance path, which makes the device complicated and expensive, and conversely, if the number of reading devices is small, for example, one, the cost of the entire device can be kept low. However, if the conveyance path does not make one round or more, the removal of the food and drink container cannot be specified, the real-time property of these management contents is impaired, and the processing in these management processes becomes complicated and the processing load increases. There was a problem of doing.

Therefore, the present invention has been made by paying attention to the above-mentioned problems, and even if the cost of the entire apparatus is suppressed to a low level,
For the purpose of providing a food and drink management device in a circulation type conveyance path that does not significantly impair the real-time property of management contents and complicates the management process and increases the processing load. There is.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a food and drink management device for a circulation type conveyance path of the present invention uses a food and drink container on which a food and drink is placed as an endless circulation conveyance path. A food and drink management device for a circulation type conveyance path provided to a customer, wherein the identification information given to the food and drink container can be read so that each food and drink container can be identified, and the vicinity of the circulation conveyance path. A plurality of identification information reading means provided at a position and a plurality of circulating movements linked with the circulation type conveyance path.
, A passage detecting means provided in the vicinity of the circulating conveyance path for detecting passage of the marker portion, and a passage between the passing marker portions connected to the identification information reading means and the passage detecting means. and divided into a number of zones of the labeled part only of
The zone is provided, and registering means for registering as the identification information supplied in the food in association with identification information of the food container that has been read by the reading means in each <br/> zone is present and drink food containers, the It is characterized by having. According to this feature, the number of the identification information reading means is reduced, and even if only one, for example, the identification information of the food and drink container is registered in the registration means in association with each zone where the food and drink container exists. If the identification information registered as the food or drink being supplied corresponding to the zone is not read even at the stage where the sign corresponding to the downstream side of the zone has passed, the food or drink being supplied is Not only can it be accurately determined that it has been taken out by the customer, and the processing load can be reduced by simplifying these determination processes, and more than one of the above-mentioned marking parts can be installed.
In Ketea Rukoto, similarly to the case of providing a large number of identification information reading means in the prior art, it is possible to obtain a real-time management information, or results in real-time managed content is significantly impaired, management process It is possible to suppress the cost of the entire device to a low level without increasing the processing load in.

In the food and drink management device in the circulation type conveyance path of the present invention, it is preferable that the respective labeling portions are provided at substantially equal intervals in the circulation type conveyance path. By doing so, not only the maximum number of food and drink containers existing in each zone are almost the same, but usually the transporting speed of the circulating transporting path is almost constant, so that the passing intervals of the labeling parts are almost the same. They can be the same, and management processing can be carried out efficiently.

In the food and drink management device in the circulation type conveyance path of the present invention, the marker information is attached to the marker portion so that the marker information can be read by the marker information reading means, and the marker information reading means functions as the passage detecting means. It is preferable that they also serve. With this configuration, the identification information reading unit also serves as the passage detecting unit, so that the cost of the entire apparatus can be further reduced.

In the food and drink management device in the circulation type conveyance path of the present invention, when the registration means detects new identification information by the identification information reading means, the time information at that time is used as the identification information. It is preferable to register in association with each other. In this way, by comparing the time information and the time of the present, it becomes possible to grasp the time that has roughly elapsed on the circulation conveyance route of the food and drink, for example, using these elapsed time food and drink Will be able to manage the freshness of.

In the food and drink management device in the circulation type conveyance path of the present invention, the registration means is registered as food and drink being supplied corresponding to the zone even when the sign portion on the downstream side of the zone has passed. If the identification information is not read, the registration of the identification information is taken out and changed to food and drink, the time information of the registration change is registered in association with the identification information, and the registration is held for a predetermined time. It is preferable. In this way, the predetermined length of time that the registration is held, for example, the food and drink container is collected after eating and drinking,
If the time is a little shorter than the time until the food is washed and reused, for example, 15 minutes, it is possible that the food and drink are returned to different zones after they are taken out from the transportation route. Also, when the identification ID of the food / drink container on which the food / drink is placed is read again, if the same identification information is present in the registered content of the food / drink taken out, the food / drinker carries the food / drink. It becomes possible to determine that the food has been returned to the street, and it is possible to avoid the occurrence of inconsistency in management information due to the return of the food and drink.

[0012] In the food and drink management device in the circulation type conveyance path of the present invention, it is preferable that the registration means is capable of changing the registration holding time of the food and drink taken out. By doing this, as described above, the food and drink container is collected after eating and drinking,
The time and the like before being washed and reused are usually different in each restaurant, so that these times can be set according to the situation of each restaurant.

In the food and drink management device in the circulation type conveyance path of the present invention, it is preferable that the identification information reading means can read the identification information provided to the food and drink container in a non-contact manner. By doing this, it is possible to eliminate wear and the like of the food and drink container during reading.

In the food and drink management device in the circulation type conveyance path of the present invention, the ID, which is the stored identification information, can be wirelessly transmitted when the identification information is added to the food and drink container.
It is preferable that the tag is provided on the food and drink container. By doing so, the ID can be read by wireless communication, and a stable reading can be performed without causing a reading error or the like due to the arrangement direction of food and drink, dirt, and the like.

In the food and drink management device in the circulation type conveyance path of the present invention, it is preferable that the identification information can identify the price information of the food and drink. By doing so, it is possible to manage the price of the food and drink supplied on the transport path together.

In the food / drink management apparatus for a circulation type conveyance path of the present invention, it is preferable that the identification information reading means is provided at a downstream part of the circulation conveyance path which is close to the food / drink feeding section. This makes it possible to reduce the error between the actual input time and the time newly detected and registered by the identification information reading means.

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. (Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a food / drink counter having a circulation type conveyance path equipped with the food / drink management apparatus of this embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a built-in ID tag which is a food / drink container used in this embodiment. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a partially cut external appearance of a sushi plate, Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing how a sign portion having an ID tag used in this embodiment is attached to a circulation type conveyance path, and Fig. 4 is a food and drink of this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of an object management apparatus.

First, a food / drink counter having a circulation type conveyance path equipped with the food / drink management apparatus of this embodiment has an external appearance as shown in FIG. 1, and is a flat top chain which is a circulation type conveyance path. The conveyor 2 is arranged endlessly along the food and drink cowlunter 1. The part on the right side of the broken line part, which is a part of the conveyor, is a kitchen. Is placed on a sushi plate 3 which is a food and drink container, placed on the flat top chain conveyor 2 and conveyed on the flat top chain conveyor 2 to be provided to the food and drink customers in the food and drink counter 1. It has become.

Further, at a position in the vicinity of the downstream of the feeding port 2'provided in the kitchen in the conveying direction, in the vicinity of the outer periphery of the flat top chain conveyor 2, the sushi plate 3 will be described later.
One reading unit 5 which is an identification information reading means capable of reading the ID of the sushi plate passing on the flat top chain conveyor 2 by receiving the transmission of the ID from the ID tag 20 built in the inside of the Is provided,
The reading unit 5 is connected to a management computer 6 as a registration means installed in the kitchen so as to output the read ID of the sushi plate 3 to the management computer 6, and these are mainly used. The management computer 6 and the reading unit 5 constitute the food and drink management device of this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 2, inside the resin sushi plate 3 used in these examples, a unique ID as identification information is stored in a non-volatile memory, and the stored ID is stored in the nonvolatile memory. The ID tag 20 which can be transmitted by an electromagnetic wave (radio wave) of a predetermined frequency is embedded and built in a relatively thick portion inside the thread bottom.
Each sushi plate 3 can be identified by the ID transmitted from the D tag 20.

In addition, in the present embodiment, these sushi plates 3 have respective amounts of money (100 yen, 150 yen, 200 yen in this embodiment).
A pattern corresponding to (Yen, 300 yen) is printed and formed,
The ID tag 20 of the picture plate of each amount of money is pre-assigned with an ID starting with "A" such as "A-001, A-002 ..." on the picture plate of 100 yen, and the picture of 150 yen is also given. An ID starting with "B" is given to the plate, an ID starting with "C" is given to the 200 yen picture plate, and an ID starting with "D" is given to the 300 yen picture plate. By reading these IDs, The amount of money for the sushi plate 3 can be determined. On the picture plate corresponding to each amount of money, sushi of the type (net) corresponding to the amount is placed in the kitchen and the input port 2'is provided. By adding more, the amount of money of the sushi plate 3 and the amount of money corresponding to the type (item) of sushi match.

Further, the flat top chain conveyor 2 of the present embodiment has a structure shown in FIGS.
The sign part 4 as shown in FIG. 2 is fixedly installed by a screw part 4 ′ on a rotary shaft 9 which rotatably supports a substantially half-moon shaped crescent stat 8 so that the sign part 4 is The reading unit 5 is the same as that used for the sushi plate 3.
The ID tags 21 capable of transmitting the IDs stored therein are built in, and each of these ID tags 21 has an ID of "P-001 to P-005" representing a "position" that is a position.
Is added, and the conveying path is divided into five zones # 1 to # 5 by each of the marking portions 4.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the ID unit 21 which can be read by the reading unit 5 is built in the inside of the marking portion 4 like the sushi plate 3, so that the reading unit 5 can be used in the present invention. The passage detecting means also serves as the passage detecting means, which is preferable because it is not necessary to separately provide these passage detecting means, and the apparatus can be simplified and inexpensive. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention is not limited to this, and a passage sensor or the like that detects the passage of the marking portion 4 by light or the like may be individually formed as the passage detecting means.

Further, in this embodiment, the sign portion 4 is provided so as to project above the crescent stat 8. In this way, the sushi plate 3 is placed on the sign portion 4, and While avoiding the plate from crawling the zone,
Even if the crescent stat 8 is made of metal, it is preferable because the reading unit 5 can read it well, but the present invention is not limited to this. It is optional to be built in the inside, and the forming method, shape, etc. of the sign portions 4 are arbitrary as long as the sign portions 4 move in conjunction with the flat top chain conveyor 2. It

The reading unit 5 for reading the IDs of the marking portion 4 and the sushi plate 3 is connected to a management computer 6 installed in the kitchen as shown in FIG. 4, and the management used in the present embodiment. The configuration of the computer is as follows: a central processing unit (CPU) 11 for executing various registration processes, a RAM 12, a current time information, a data bus 10 for transmitting and receiving data inside the computer 1. A real-time clock (RTC) 17 capable of outputting calendar information such as a day of the week on an arbitrary date, and an input interface (IF) 1 capable of connecting an input device such as a keyboard.
6, a display interface (IF) 14 to which a display device such as a display 7 is connected, a communication interface 13 that is connected to a communication device 19 that communicates with an external device such as a cash register and that transmits and receives data, and the reading The reading unit interface (I
F) 18 and a magnetic disk or magneto-optical disk,
A management program executed by the central processing unit (CPU) 11 in which processing contents such as various registration processing and management processing are described, and an ID of the sushi plate 3 existing on the flat top chain conveyor 2 are As shown in FIG. 6 (a), a sushi serving database (corresponding to each zone in which the sushi plate 3 exists and registered with the time when the sushi plate 3 is newly detected by the reading unit 5 ( DB) or, as shown in FIG. 6B, a sushi plate 3 that is undetected by the reading unit 5 after being taken out from the flat top chain conveyor 2 by a customer.
The storage device 15 in which the eaten and sushi database (DB) to be changed and registered is stored, and the storage device 15 is connected to a normal computer.

The operation of the management apparatus of this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. 5. First, as described above, sushi is placed on the sushi plate 3 having a picture of the corresponding amount in the kitchen, and the above-mentioned input port 2 '. More flat top chain conveyor 2 is loaded.

As a result of the loading, as described above, the ID of the sushi plate 3, for example, as shown in FIG. In the situation shown in a), the ID “B-025”, which is sushi for 150 yen, is read and the I
D “B-025” is output to the management computer 6.

Based on the output, the management computer 6
It is searched whether the read ID “B-025” exists in the sushi-in-supply database (DB) and the eaten-and-sushi database (DB) stored in the storage device 15, and any database (DB) is searched. When the same ID does not exist, the ID "B-025" is newly added as sushi, as shown in FIG. 6A, as shown in FIG. # 1 ”is registered together with the time data.

When the fed sushi is provided to the customers who have been conveyed and the sushi having the ID "B-025" is eaten (taken out) by the customers, in the next lap, the zone is Since the ID "B-025" is not read even when the ID of "P-002" attached to the marker section 4 on the downstream side of "# 1" is read, the management computer 6 6 judges that the undetected sushi of ID “B-025” has been eaten and drink in these zones “# 1”, and the registration information of the ID is shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), the time data at that time is changed and registered in the eaten and sushi database (DB).

The data changed and registered in the eating and drinking completed sushi database (DB) can be transferred to the same sushi plate 3 again after the normal eating and drinking and washing after eating and drinking are completed on the setting screen shown in FIG. When it takes about 30 minutes to be put on the road, by setting 15 minutes which is an appropriate time which is shorter than the time, the set time from the time of the change registration is set. Will be retained until the time elapses, and will be deregistered sequentially after 15 minutes have passed.

In this way, if the customer once takes out from the transport path for eating and drinking and then returns the food to a different zone on the transport path, the food is registered. Although it is temporarily registered in the eaten and sushi database (DB) when passing through a certain zone, the same ID exists in the eaten and sushi database (DB) when it is detected again in a different zone. It can be judged that the sushi has been returned to the transportation route, and the registration of the ID is
By changing the sushi supply database (DB) corresponding to the rediscovered zone, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of inconsistency in the management data due to the “return” by these customers.

Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the drawings, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and modifications and additions within the scope of the present invention are included in the present invention. Needless to say.

For example, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the reading unit 5 is located immediately below the insertion port 2 ', and in this way, the actual insertion time and the management computer 6 are set.
Although it is preferable because the deviation (error) from the time registered in (1) can be reduced, the present invention is not limited to this.

In the above embodiment, the number of the reading units 5 is one, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of the reading units 5 may be appropriately increased within a range in which an increase in cost can be allowed. May be.

In the above embodiment, the marking portions 4 are provided at substantially equal intervals so that the zones have substantially uniform lengths, but the present invention is not limited to this.

Further, in the above embodiment, the registration is changed when the sushi is eaten by the customer and is not detected. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the registration is not limited to this. Instead of changing the above, the registration may be uniquely deleted so that only the sushi on the transportation route can be easily managed in the in-supply sushi database (DB).

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, in order to enable the reading of the ID data without contact, the ID tag 20,
No. 21 is used, and this is preferable because stable reading can be performed without depending on the arrangement angle of the sushi plate 3 and dirt, but the present invention is not limited to this and, for example, As a non-contact reading method, as shown in FIG. 8, a bar code 30 having an ID recorded is provided on the entire circumference of the upper end of the sushi plate 3 and the bar code 30 is used. You may make it read by non-contact.

Although not carried out in the above embodiment,
The management computer 6 is provided with a removing device or the like capable of removing the sushi plate 3 on the conveyance path, and sushi which has been circulated for a predetermined time or a predetermined number of times after being introduced can be taken out to automatically collect the sushi with a reduced flavor. Doing so is optional.

Although sushi is used as an example of food and drink in the present embodiment, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to this and can be used in other food and drink.

[0040]

The present invention has the following effects.

(A) According to the invention of claim 1, the number of the identification information reading means is reduced, and even if only one, the identification information of the food and drink container is registered in the registration means of the food and drink container. The identification information registered as food and drink being supplied in correspondence with the zone is not read even at the stage where the marker corresponding to the downstream side of the zone is registered in association with each existing zone. If, can accurately determine to that in the feed food has been taken out by the food customer, not only these determination process can reduce the processing load can be simplified, said indicator portion is a plurality Ah in Rukoto As in the case of providing a large number of identification information reading means in the related art, it becomes possible to obtain the real-time property of the management information, and as a result, the real-time property of the management content is greatly impaired or Without processing load on management increases, it is possible to reduce the cost of the entire device.

(B) According to the invention of claim 2, not only the maximum number of food and drink containers existing in each zone is almost the same, but normally the conveying speed of the circulation conveying path is almost constant. Therefore, the passing intervals of the marking portions can be made substantially the same, and the management processing can be efficiently performed.

(C) According to the invention of claim 3, since the identification information reading means also serves as the passage detecting means, the cost of the entire apparatus can be further reduced.

(D) According to the invention of claim 4, by comparing the time information and the present time, it becomes possible to grasp the approximate elapsed time on the circulation conveyance route of the food and drink, For example, the freshness of food and drink can be managed using these elapsed times.

(E) According to the invention of claim 5, the predetermined length of time for which the registration is maintained is, for example, longer than the time until the food and drink container is collected, washed and reused after eating and drinking. If the time is a little short, for example, 15 minutes, the food and drink on which the food and drink is placed is placed even if the food and drink comes back to a different zone after the customer takes the food and drink from the transport path. When the identification ID of the container is read again, if the same identification information exists in the registered content of the food or drink to be taken out, it becomes possible for the customer to determine that the food or drink has returned the food or drink to the transport path. It is possible to avoid the occurrence of inconsistency in management information due to the return of these foods and drinks.

(F) According to the sixth aspect of the invention, as described above, the time until the food and drink container is collected, washed, and reused after eating and drinking is usually different in each restaurant. , It becomes possible to set these times according to the situation of each restaurant.

(G) According to the invention of claim 7, wear and the like of the food and drink container during reading can be eliminated.

(H) According to the invention of claim 8, the ID can be read by wireless communication.
Stable reading can be performed without causing a reading error or the like due to the arrangement direction of food and drink, dirt, and the like.

(I) According to the invention of claim 9, it is possible to manage the price of foods and drinks supplied on the conveying path together.

(J) According to the tenth aspect of the invention, it is possible to reduce the error between the actual time of input and the time newly detected and registered by the identification information reading means.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic external perspective view of a food / drink counter having a circulation type conveyance path equipped with the food / drink management apparatus of the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway external perspective view showing a sushi plate incorporating an ID tag which is a food and drink container used in this example.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a mounting state of a marker portion containing an ID tag used in this embodiment on a circulation type conveyance path.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a food and drink management device of this embodiment.

5A and 5B are explanatory diagrams for explaining the management status of the food and drink management apparatus of this embodiment.

FIG. 6A is a diagram showing a configuration of a sushi-in-supply database in the food and drink management device according to the present embodiment. (B)
[Fig. 3] is a diagram showing a configuration of a food and drink completed sushi database in the food and drink management device of the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a holding time setting screen in the management computer of the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a view showing another sushi plate 3 ′ on which a barcode enabling non-contact ID reading is formed.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Food and drink counter-2 Conveyance path (flat top chain conveyor) 2'Inlet 3 Sushi plate 3'Sushi plate 4 Marker 4'Screw 5 Reading unit (identification information reading means,
Passage detecting means) 6 Management computer (registering means) 7 Display 8 Crescent stat 9 Rotating shaft 10 Data bus 11 Central processing circuit (CPU) 12 RAM 13 Communication interface 14 Display interface 15 Storage device 16 Input interface 17 Real time clock ( RTC) 18 Reading unit interface 19 Communication device 20 ID tag 21 ID tag 30 Bar code

Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP-A-10-215998 (JP, A) JP-A-9-44753 (JP, A) JP-A-11-128048 (JP, A) JP-A-9-201267 (JP , A) JP 10-314001 (JP, A) JP 6-314285 (JP, A) JP 5-12309 (JP, A) JP 5-123237 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A47G 23/08

Claims (10)

(57) [Claims] 1. A food and drink management device in a circulation type conveyance path for providing food and drink containers on which food and drinks are placed to customers through an endless circulation conveyance path, which can identify individual food and drink containers. The identification information given to the food and drink container is readable, and the identification information reading means provided in the vicinity of the circulation conveyance path and a plurality of marker parts that circulate in conjunction with the circulation conveyance path. Connected to the identification information reading means and the passage detecting means, which is provided in the vicinity of the circulating conveyance path and detects passage of the sign portion, and divides the zone between the passing sign portions into zones. Then sign
Registration means for providing as many zones as the number of copies, the identification information of the food and drink container read by the identification information reading means is registered as food being fed in association with each zone where the food and drink container is present, A food and drink management device in a circulation type conveyance path, comprising: 2. The food and drink management device for a circulation type conveyance path according to claim 1, wherein the respective sign portions are provided at substantially equal intervals on the circulation type conveyance path. 3. The circulation according to claim 1, wherein the sign information is provided with sign identification information readable by the identification information reading unit, and the identification information reading unit also serves as the passage detecting unit. Food and drink management device in the mold conveyance path. 4. The registration means, when new identification information is detected by the identification information reading means, registers time information at that time in association with the identification information. The food and drink management device in the circulation type conveyance path according to crab. 5. The registration means, when the identification information registered as food or drink being fed corresponding to the zone is not read even when the sign portion on the downstream side of the zone has passed, 5. The circulation according to claim 1, wherein the registration of the identification information is taken out and changed to food and drink, the time information of the registration change is registered in association with the identification information, and the registration is held for a predetermined time. Food and drink management device in the mold conveyance path. 6. The food and drink management device for a circulation type conveyance path according to claim 5, wherein the registration means is capable of changing the registration holding time of the food and drink taken out. 7. The food and drink in the circulation type conveyance path according to claim 1, wherein the identification information reading means is capable of reading the identification information provided to the food and drink container in a non-contact manner. Object management device. 8. The identification information is added to the food and drink container,
The food and drink management device according to claim 7, wherein the food and drink container is provided with an ID tag capable of wirelessly transmitting the stored identification information ID. 9. The food and drink management device in a circulation type conveyance path according to claim 1, wherein the identification information can identify price information of food and drink. 10. The food and drink management device for a circulation type conveyance path according to claim 1, wherein the identification information reading means is provided at a downstream portion of the circulation conveyance path in the vicinity of the food and drink feeding section. .