JP4514034B2 - Circulating food container transport device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a circulation type food container transport device that circulates and transports the food and drink by running an endless transport member having a food and drink container mounting surface for placing the food and drink container on which the food and drink are placed. In particular, the present invention relates to a circulation type food container transport device capable of cleaning a transport member.

  Conventionally, in this kind of endless circulation type food and beverage container transport device, a container on which food and drink such as sushi is placed is transported by placing it on a transport member that is circulated freely. For this reason, dust such as dust, dust or food ingredients such as rice grains, material, soy sauce, sauce, etc. may fall and the conveying member may become dirty.

  The situation where the conveying member is dirty is not preferable for hygiene, and is easily noticeable by customers, so in general, it was manually cleaned, for example, during off hours or during off hours. However, if the circulating conveyor is large and the transport path is long, etc., manual cleaning is troublesome, especially rice grains may be stuck to the transport member, so remove it Was a tough job.

  As a cleaning device for cleaning such a circulation type transport device, for example, a cleaning device in which a cleaning member is housed in a part of the transport member is installed, and is moved together with the transport member to support both ends of the transport member from below. There is one that cleans the upper surface of the transfer rail (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2002-79188 A

  However, the cleaning device described in Patent Document 1 is a cleaning device that cleans the upper surface of the transport rail, and the upper surface of the transport member that is easily contaminated with dust from food and drink and that is easily visible to the human eye. It was not meant to be cleaned.

  In addition, as described above, since the upper surface of the conveying member is easily soiled, it is preferable to clean frequently not only during business hours but also during business hours, but in order to provide food and drinks to customers especially during business hours. Since the food container is placed on the upper surface of the conveying member and the food and drink are circulated and conveyed, the food and drink container has a problem of hindering cleaning.

  This invention was made paying attention to such a problem, and in the state which is carrying the food / beverage container mounting surface in the conveyance member which conveys food / beverage containers, circulating the food / beverage by mounting food / beverage containers It aims at applying the circulation type eating and drinking container conveyance device which can also be easily cleaned.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the endless food container transport device according to claim 1 of the present invention has an endless transport having a food container mounting surface for mounting a food container on which food and drink are placed. It is a circulation type food container transport device that circulates and transports the food and drink by running a member,
Provided with bypass means for circulating and transporting the food container on the travel route on which the transport member travels, bypassing a specific area of a part of the travel route, and no food container is placed in the specific area A transport device having a food container mounting surface travels, and a cleaning device for cleaning the food container mounting surface of the transport member that travels in a specific area in the travel route is installed in the specific area . .
According to this feature, the food and beverage container placed on the food and beverage container placement surface of the conveying member can be circulated and conveyed by bypassing the bypass means without passing through the specific area where the cleaning device is installed. Therefore, even when the food container is circulated and conveyed, the food container mounting surface can be cleaned by the cleaning device without being obstructed by the food container.

The circulation type food / beverage container transport apparatus according to claim 2 of the present invention is the circulation type food / beverage container transport apparatus according to claim 1,
The bypass means includes
A bypass path for bypassing the food container, and a guide member for guiding the path of the food container that has traveled along the travel path to be changed from the travel path toward the bypass path. It is characterized by being.
According to this feature, the specific area can be bypassed simply by changing the route of the food and beverage container placed on the food and beverage container placement surface of the transport member and transporting the bypass path, so that a simple mechanism can be used. The food container can be smoothly bypassed and circulated.

The circulation type food / beverage container transport device according to claim 3 of the present invention is the circulation type food / beverage container transport device according to claim 1 or 2,
The specific area is formed in a direction changing portion of the travel route where the travel direction of the transport member is converted.
According to this feature, the travel distance when bypassing from the upstream side to the downstream side of the direction changing portion in the travel path of the conveying member can be kept short, so that it can be easily bypassed and a specific area can be made as much as possible. The travel path of the transport member can be effectively used as the transport path of the food and drink container.

The circulation type food / beverage container transport apparatus according to claim 4 of the present invention is the circulation type food / beverage container transport apparatus according to claim 3,
The direction changing portion is a folding portion that is turned back so that the traveling direction of the conveying member is substantially opposite.
According to this feature, since the distance between the upstream side and the downstream side of the folded portion in the travel path of the transport member is extremely close, the moving distance when bypassing can be further reduced.

Recycling food container transport device according to claim 5 of the present invention is a circulating type food and drink container carrying apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The main body of the cleaning device is:
A suction unit connected to a suction device for sucking and collecting the dust on the conveying member;
A brush unit that is movably disposed upstream of the suction unit with respect to the traveling direction of the transport member, and that collects dust on the transport member toward the suction unit;
A wiping unit that is disposed on the downstream side of the suction unit with respect to the traveling direction of the transport member, and that wipes the transport member;
It is characterized by having.
According to this feature, the dust attached to the conveying member is effectively peeled off by the brush portion, so that the cleaning effect is enhanced, and the dust peeled off by the brush portion is collected toward the suction portion and sucked by the suction device. Therefore, the collected dust can be collected and recovered without dropping below the conveying member, but also liquid such as soy sauce and sauce that cannot be collected by suction from the suction part. The dust can be wiped by the wiping unit, and the wiping by the wiping unit is performed in a state where there is no dust or dust after the dust is collected from the suction unit, so that the wiping can be effectively performed. Or a wiping part becomes difficult to get dirty.

  Examples of the present invention will be described below.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an overall image of a food container transport device in an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. It is a top view which shows the state by which the bypass path is arrange | positioned, (a) is a top view which shows a cleaning apparatus, (b) is AA sectional drawing of (a), FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the condition which is cleaning the member, FIGS. 5-7 is a top view which shows the modification of this invention.

  First, FIG. 1 shows an endless circulation type food container transport device 4 as an embodiment of the present invention, and a store for providing food and drink is divided into a kitchen area 2 and a restaurant area 3. The circulation type food container transport device 4 that is separated by the partition wall 1 and disposed on the base 7 includes a transport member 5 that travels so as to circulate between the kitchen area 2 and the restaurant area 3. In the restaurant area 3, a table 8 is disposed around the circulation type food container transport device 4, and a seat 9 is disposed around the table 8.

  As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, the conveying member 5 has a mounting surface 33 a (a food container mounting surface) on which a food container (such as a plate) on which food and drink such as sushi are placed is placed on the upper surface. It is a conventionally known chain conveyor formed endlessly by connecting a plurality of chains 34 fixed to the lower surface of the formed mounting plate 33 with pins 35 that face each other in the vertical direction. It is disposed in an endless groove (not shown) recessed in the base, and travels in the groove by driving a chain drive part (not shown) provided at a predetermined position inside the base 7. It is like that. That is, an endless travel path of the transport member 5 is formed in the upper part of the base 7, and the travel path is a transport path through which food and drink are transported except for a specific area E described later. ing.

  The cleaning device 6 is provided in a travel path folding portion 40 in which the travel direction of the transport member 5 is folded back toward the substantially opposite side (about 180 degrees) in the travel path of the transport member 5 formed at a predetermined location in the kitchen area 2. It is fixedly installed in a specific area E (shaded area in FIG. 2) formed by a bypass means to be described later, and adheres on the mounting surface 33a of the mounting plate 33 by rotating the conveying member 5. It has a function to remove food waste.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in the vicinity of the specific area E where the cleaning device 6 is disposed, a travel path upstream of the folding portion 40 with respect to the traveling direction of the conveying member 5, and downstream of the folding portion 40. Bypass (detour) transporting the food and drink container 43 that is constructed between the traveling route on the side and moves on the upstream traveling route to the downstream traveling route without passing through the specific area E A path 41 and a guide member 42 that guides the path of the food and drink container 43 so as to be changed from the travel path of the transport member 5 toward the bypass path 41 are provided.

  The bypass path 41 in the present embodiment is configured by a roller conveyor composed of a plurality of conveyor rollers 41a rotated by a driving source (not shown), and the food and drink container 43 formed at the upper peripheral surface of each conveyor roller 41a. The transport surface is arranged so as to be substantially the same height as the transport surface formed by the mounting surface 33 a of the mounting plate 33.

  The guide member 42 has a guide surface 42a that has one end pivotally supported at a predetermined location on the upstream side of the folded portion 40 in the base 7 and abuts on the periphery of the food and beverage container 43 placed on the placement surface 33a. It consists of a plate member and is arranged so as to cross the conveying member 5 in an oblique direction. Thereby, the food container 43 that moves in the traveling direction of the conveying member 5 is changed in its course toward the bypass path 41 by the peripheral edge abutting against the guide surface 42a of the guide member 42 in front of the turn-up portion 40. become.

  Further, a guide member 42 ′ having a guide surface 42 a ′ similar to the upstream guide member 42 is also provided on the downstream side of the turn-up portion 40 in the base 7, whereby the conveyor roller 41 a in the bypass path 41 is provided. The food container 42 that moves in the direction of the rotation of the food container 42 changes its course in the traveling direction of the conveying member 5 by the peripheral edge abutting against the guide surface 42 a ′ of the guide member 42 ′.

  As described above, the bypass passage 41 and the guide member 42 in the present embodiment bypass the food container 43 placed on the placement surface 33a and circulate and convey it without passing through the specific area E. The food and beverage container 43 that constitutes the bypass means and moves toward the folded portion 40 changes its course toward the bypass path 41 by the guide member 42 on the near side of the specific area E formed in the folded portion 40. Then, the bypass is passed through the bypass 41 and is transported to the travel path downstream of the turn-back portion 40.

  That is, the travel path of the transport member 5 disposed on the upper portion of the base 7 is a transport path through which food and drink are transported, but the bypass path 41 is in the vicinity of the folding portion 40 that is a part of the travel path. In addition, by providing the guide member 42, a part of the circulation transport path of the food and drink is configured by the bypass path 41, and a specific area E where the food and drink are not transported is formed in a part of the travel path of the transport member 5. Is done. In the specific area E thus formed, a cleaning device 6 described below is installed.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the main body of the cleaning device 6 includes a housing 10, and in the housing 10, a brush unit 11 that peels dust such as food and drink attached to the conveying member 5, and peeled food and drink. The suction unit 15 that sucks and collects objects, the brush unit 11 and the suction unit 15, the wiping unit 20 that wipes liquid dust such as soy sauce and sauce that cannot be collected by suction, and the respective units are driven. A drive unit 25 is provided.

  The suction unit 15 is connected to a suction device (not shown) that generates a negative pressure outside the suction unit 15 and sucks dust and the like. The suction port 16 sucks dust of food and drink, and sucks from the suction port 16. The dust collecting housing 17 collects the sucked dust, and the discharge pipe 18 for discharging the dust collected in the dust collecting housing 17 to the outside of the housing 10.

  The dust collecting housing 17 is formed of a box having an opening as a suction port 16 on the brush part 11 side, and this lower plate is arranged so as to incline upward from the brush part 11 toward the wiping part 20. In addition, a lower edge of the lower plate is formed with a tapered blade portion 17a, which is close to the placement surface 33a of the placement plate 33 when installed at the cleaning position. Alternatively, the dust attached to the mounting surface 33a of the mounting plate 33 can be peeled off by slightly contacting.

  The brush unit 11 is disposed upstream of the suction unit 15 with respect to the transport direction of the transport member 5. The brush portion 11 is pivotally supported at a predetermined position in the housing 10 so that one end of the brush portion 11 is rotatably supported. The brush portion 11 is directed to a rotation shaft 13 that faces in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the transport member 5, and a circumferential surface of the rotation shaft 13. The brush 12 is composed of a brush 12 having one end fixed, and the tip of the brush 12 and the mounting surface 33a of the mounting plate 33 are in sliding contact with each other when installed at the cleaning position. It is like that.

  The wiping unit 20 is disposed downstream of the suction unit 15 with respect to the transport direction of the transport member 5. The wiping unit 20 includes an endless wiping cloth 24, a driven roller 22 that winds the wiping cloth 24 to maintain a predetermined shape, and a wiping surface of the wiping cloth 24 as a placement surface 33a of the placement plate 33. And a driving roller 21 for rotating the wiping cloth 24.

  In the cleaning device 6, the brush portion 11 and the wiping portion 20 are configured such that the bevel gear 14 connected to the rotating shaft 13 of the brush portion 11 and the worm gear 19 connected to the driving roller 21 of the wiping portion 20 mesh with each other. By arranging and driving the motor 26 as the drive unit 25 to rotate, a synchronous operation is performed and a cleaning operation is performed.

  Here, the cleaning situation by the cleaning device 6 will be described with reference to FIG. 4. The cleaning device 6 installed at a predetermined location in the specific area E is used for the tip of the brush 12 of the brush portion 11 and the wiping cloth 24 of the wiping portion 20. The lower surface is in contact with the mounting surface 33 a of the mounting plate 33, and the blade portion 17 a formed at the lower end of the lower plate of the dust collecting housing 17 is close to the mounting surface 33 a of the mounting plate 33. .

  To start cleaning in this state, first, the motor 26 is driven and the transport member 5 is caused to travel. By driving the motor 26, the rotating shaft 13 and the driving roller 21 are rotated, and the brush portion 11 (rotating brush) and the wiping portion 20 (wiping cloth 24) are rotated.

  When the brush unit 11 rotates in the traveling direction of the conveying member 5, the food and beverage dust 36 attached to the traveling mounting plate 33 is peeled off, and the peeled dust dust 36 is directed to the rear suction unit 15. Collected. The collected dust is collected in the dust collecting housing 17 through the suction device suction port 16, and the collected dust is collected by being discharged to the outside of the housing 10 through the discharge bowl 18. Further, a part of the dust adhering to the mounting surface 33a of the mounting plate 33 is peeled off and collected by the blade portion 17a of the dust collecting housing 17.

  Thus, since the dust adhering to the mounting plate 33 is effectively peeled off by the brush part 11, the cleaning effect is enhanced, and the dust peeled off by the brush part 11 is collected toward the suction part 15 and is illustrated. Therefore, the collected dust can be collected and collected without being dropped below the mounting plate 33, that is, inside the base 7.

  Next, the mounting plate 33 that has passed under the brush unit 11 and the suction unit 15 is suctioned and collected from the suction unit 15 because the mounting surface 33a is wiped off by the wiping unit 24 by the wiping cloth 24. Liquid dust such as soy sauce and sauce that can not be wiped can be wiped by the wiping unit 20, and wiping by the wiping unit 20 can be performed after the dust is collected from the suction unit 15. Since it is performed in a dust-free state, it can be effectively wiped off, and the wiping cloth 24 is not easily contaminated. Moreover, since the wiping surface in the wiping cloth 24 is pressed by the pressing rubber roller 23, the wiping work can be effectively performed.

  In addition, although the main body of the cleaning device 6 in the present embodiment is fixedly installed in the specific area E in the base 7, the main body of the cleaning device 6 is removed from the base 7 for maintenance of the cleaning device 6, replacement of the wiping cloth 24, or the like. It is preferable that it is detachably installed.

  As described above, in the circulation type food / beverage container transport device 4 according to the present embodiment, the cleaning device 6 is installed with the food / beverage container 43 placed on the placement surface 33a of the placement plate 33. Without passing through the specific area E, it can be bypassed and circulated by the bypass path 41 and the guide members 42, 42 ′ as bypass means, so even when the food container 43 is circulated and conveyed, the food container The placement surface 33 a can be easily cleaned by the cleaning device 6 without being obstructed by the nozzle 43.

  Further, the path of the food and beverage container 43 placed on the placement surface 33a of the placement plate 33 is guided by the guide member 42 to the bypass passage 41 in which the conveyance path surface is formed at the same height as the conveyance path surface of the conveyance member 5. By changing, the specific area E can be bypassed simply by changing the course of the food / beverage container 43 in the horizontal direction, so that the food / beverage container 43 can be smoothly bypassed and circulated by a simple mechanism.

  Further, since the specific area E is formed in the turning portion 40 of the traveling route in which the traveling direction of the transport member 5 is turned substantially toward the opposite side, the specific area E is located on the upstream traveling route and the turning portion 40 toward the turning portion 40. Since the bypass path 41 can be provided at a location close to the downstream travel path that is folded back, and the distance of the bypass path 41 can be kept as short as possible, the cost for installing the bypass path 41 can be reduced. In addition, the specific area E can be made as compact as possible, and the travel path of the transport member 5 can be effectively used as the transport path of the food and drink container 43.

  Next, FIGS. 5 to 7 show modifications of the present invention. In the above-described embodiment, an example is shown in which the specific area E is formed in the vicinity of the folded portion 40 where the traveling direction of the transport member 5 is folded toward the substantially opposite side (about 180 degrees) in the travel path of the transport member 5. However, in the present invention, the formation position of the specific area E is not limited to the position formed near the folded portion 40 where the traveling direction of the conveying member 5 is folded back by about 180 degrees, for example, as shown in FIG. As described above, the conveying member 5 is formed in the vicinity of the corner portion 44 that is a direction changing portion that changes the direction of travel at an angle of about 90 degrees toward the left side or the right side, and the bypass path 51 and the guide members 42 and 42 described above. The food and drink container 43 may be circulated and conveyed by bypassing the specific area E by the guide members 52 and 52 ′ having the same function as “.

  That is, even when the specific area E is formed in the corner portion 44 as described above, the length of the bypass passage 51 provided between the upstream side and the downstream side of the corner portion 44 in the traveling route is made as short as possible. Therefore, the cost for installing the bypass 51 can be suppressed.

  Moreover, in this invention, even if it does not form the specific area E in the direction change part of the conveyance member 5 like the said folding | returning part 40, the corner | angular part 44, etc., the straight line in a driving | running route as shown in FIG. You may form in the part 45. FIG. Note that the bypass path in this case is configured by a linear belt conveyor 61a provided in parallel with the conveying member 5 and roller conveyors 61b provided at both ends of the belt conveyor 61a. It is comprised by the guide members 62 and 62 'which have the function similar to'.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the detour portion 46 in the travel route of the transport member 5 is formed in a part of the linear travel route of the transport member 5, and between the upstream side and the downstream side of the travel route, By providing the bypass path 71 and the guide members 72 and 72 ′ having the same functions as the above-described guide members 42 and 42 ′ so that the transport path of the food and drink container 43 is a linear transport path, It can be smoothly bypassed and circulated. That is, the direction change part {curve part (folding part)} is formed in a part of the linear travel path of the conveying member 5 and the direction change part is set as the specific area E, thereby causing the food and drink container 43 to go straight. A bypass path for bypassing the specific area E can be formed.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and modifications and additions within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention are included in the present invention. It is.

  For example, the bypass means for circulating the food container 43 on the travel route on which the transport member 5 travels bypasses the specific area E that is a part of the travel route, and the bypass route 41 and the guide as in the above embodiment. Although it is not limited to what is comprised with the member 42, if it can carry out circulation conveyance bypassing the specific area E, the food / beverage container 43 which drive | works in a driving | running route will not be illustrated in particular, An arm having holding means for holding the food container 43 that moves on the travel route upstream from the specific area E is provided, and the food container 43 held by the arm holding means is moved downstream by moving the arm. You may comprise a bypass means with the arm apparatus etc. which can be moved to a travel route and bypassed.

  In addition, for example, the conveyor forming the bypass path is not limited to the roller conveyor or the belt conveyor described in the above-described embodiments and modifications, and bypasses the food and drink container 43 from the upstream side to the downstream side of the transport path. Various conveyors may be applied as long as they can do.

  In addition, the bypass path is not limited to a conveyor that transports the food and beverage container 43 by driving a transport member (belt, roller conveyor, etc.), for example, a transport mechanism for transporting the food and beverage container 43 to a guide member or the like. Is provided, the bypass passage itself may not have the driving means.

  In addition, for example, if the upstream travel path connecting the end of the bypass path and the downstream travel path are arranged close to each other, the guide member is not provided without providing a bypass path for bypassing the specific area E in particular. You may make it bypass by only.

  Further, the bypass path is not limited to the bypass container 43 that bypasses the side of the specific area E, but is formed to bypass the upper or lower part of the specific area E. It may be what was done.

  Further, the cleaning device 6 may not include the brush portion, the suction portion, and the wiping portion as in the above embodiment, but may include any one of these cleaning portions, or a detergent. A cleaning device or the like for cleaning with a liquid or the like may be used, and the cleaning method of the cleaning device can be variously changed.

It is a top view which shows the whole image of the food-and-drink container conveying apparatus in the Example of this invention. It is a top view which shows the state by which the cleaning apparatus and the bypass path are arrange | positioned in the folding | turning part in a conveyance path | route. (A) is a top view which shows a cleaning apparatus, (b) is AA sectional drawing of (a). It is sectional drawing which shows the condition where the sweeping device is cleaning the conveyance member. It is a schematic plan view which shows the principal part of the circulation type food / beverage container conveying apparatus as a modification of this invention. Similarly, it is a schematic top view which shows the principal part of the circulation type food / beverage container conveying apparatus as a modification of this invention. Similarly, it is a schematic top view which shows the principal part of the circulation type food / beverage container conveying apparatus as a modification of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Bulkhead 2 Kitchen area 3 Restaurant area 4 Circulation type food container conveyance apparatus 5 Conveyance member 6 Cleaning apparatus 7 Base 8 Table 9 Seat 10 Case 11 Brush part 12 Brush 13 Rotary shaft 14 Bevel gear 15 Suction part 16 Suction port 17 Dust collecting housing 17a Blade portion 18 Discharge pipe 19 Worm gear 20 Wiping portion 21 Driving roller 22 Drive roller 23 Pressing roller 24 Wiping cloth 25 Driving portion 26 Motor 33 Mounting plate 33a Mounting surface (food container mounting surface)
34 Chain part 35 Pin 36 Dust 40 Return part 41, 51, 71 Bypass path 41a Conveyor roller 42, 42 'Guide member 52, 52' Guide member 62, 62 'Guide member 72, 72' Guide member 42a, 42a 'Guide surface (Guide surface of guide member)
43 Food and Drink Container 44 Corner 45 Straight Line 46 Detour 61a Belt Conveyor 61b Roller Conveyor E Specific Area

Claims (5)

A circulation type food container transport device that circulates and transports the food and drink by running an endless transport member having a food and drink container placement surface for placing the food and drink container on which the food and drink are placed,
Provided with bypass means for circulating and transporting the food container on the travel route on which the transport member travels, bypassing a specific area of a part of the travel route, and no food container is placed in the specific area A transport device having a food container mounting surface travels, and a cleaning device that cleans the food container mounting surface of the transport member that travels in a specific area on the travel route is installed in the specific area. Circulating food container transport device. The bypass means includes
A bypass path for bypassing the food container, and a guide member for guiding the path of the food container that has traveled along the travel path to be changed from the travel path toward the bypass path. The circulation type food container transport device according to claim 1.   The circulation type food and beverage container transport device according to claim 1, wherein the specific area is formed in a direction conversion portion of the travel route in which a travel direction of the transport member is converted.   The circulation type food / beverage container conveying apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the direction changing unit is a folded portion in which a traveling direction of the conveying member is folded substantially toward the opposite side. The main body of the cleaning device is:
A suction unit connected to a suction device for sucking and collecting the dust on the conveying member;
A brush unit that is movably disposed upstream of the suction unit with respect to the traveling direction of the transport member, and that collects dust on the transport member toward the suction unit;
A wiping unit that is disposed on the downstream side of the suction unit with respect to the traveling direction of the transport member, and that wipes the transport member;
Recycling food container transport device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises.

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