JP7036847B2 - Dishwashing aid - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a dishwashing assisting device that is arranged side by side in a dishwasher and sequentially stacks washed dishes.

Dishwashers are used, for example, in restaurants, medical facilities such as hospitals, nursing care facilities, and the like. Normally, at least two workers are required for dishwashing work with this type of dishwasher. At present, the dishwashing work by humans is performed by the following work procedure. First, in the lower set work, when the tableware after eating is placed on the lower set wheel and returned to the washing room, the worker disposes of the leftover food and soaks the tableware in water. As a general rule, pickling is done separately for each type of tableware.

Next, in the work on the entrance side of the dishwasher, the workers wash the dishes that have been soaked in the dishwasher, and then place the dishes on the conveyor of the dishwasher in sequence. Furthermore, in the work on the exit side of the dishwasher, another worker stacks the dishes coming out of the dishwasher one by one in the dish basket, or stacks multiple dishes and then the dishes. Put it in the basket. When the dishes are full in the dishes basket, the worker moves the dishes basket to the dish dryer.

Patent Document 1 proposes a tableware organizing device. In this dishwasher, the dishes washed by the dishwasher are thrown into the bottom of the holder, and while the dishes are sequentially stacked in the holder, the stacked dishes are further pushed up in the holder by the extrusion claws.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2019-11225

As mentioned above, in the dishwashing and tableware stacking work by humans, there is at least two workers, one dishwasher on the entrance side of the dishwasher and one dishwasher on the exit side. is necessary. However, it is difficult to secure a labor force due to the declining working population, and labor saving in dishwashing and tableware stacking work is indispensable. Further, in the tableware organizing device described in Patent Document 1, after the tableware is put into the bottom of the holder, in order to open the bottom of the holder in the holder, the tableware must be pushed up from the bottom once to hold the next tableware. Cannot be thrown into the bottom of the inside. Therefore, it is difficult to smoothly put the tableware into the holder one after another. Moreover, since the tableware stacked in the pushed-up state needs to be further pushed up by the push-up claws, it is difficult to smoothly stack the tableware.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to mechanically and smoothly perform the work of stacking the washed dishes, and to save labor in the work of stacking the dishes associated with the dish washing work. The purpose is to provide a dishwashing assist device that can be used.

According to the present invention, the subject is a dishwashing auxiliary device that is arranged side by side in a dishwasher and discharges the washed dishes, and the dishes washed by the dishwasher are conveyed in the transport direction. Dishwashing characterized by comprising a transport unit for transporting along the transport unit and a tableware storage unit for discharging the same type of tableware transported along the transport direction by the transport unit while receiving the tableware from the transport unit. Achieved by auxiliary equipment.
According to the above configuration, the tableware storage unit discharges the same type of tableware transported along the transport direction by the transport unit while receiving it from the transport unit. As a result, the washing work of the washed dishes can be performed mechanically and smoothly, and the work of discharging the dishes associated with the dishwashing work does not require manpower. Labor can be saved.

In the present invention, preferably, the tableware storage unit includes an elevator unit that holds the tableware while receiving it from the transport unit, and a discharge unit that discharges a plurality of the tableware held by the elevator unit from the elevator unit. It is characterized by having.
According to the above configuration, since the discharge unit discharges a plurality of tableware held in the elevator unit from the elevator unit, the elevator unit can hold new tableware while receiving it from the transport unit. Therefore, the work of discharging a large amount of tableware can be mechanically and smoothly performed one after another.

In the present invention, preferably, the elevator unit stacks and holds the tableware in order, and the discharge unit transfers a plurality of the tableware stacked on the elevator unit from the elevator unit in a stacked state. It is characterized by being a transfer unit to be mounted.
According to the above configuration, the transfer unit transfers a plurality of tableware stacked in the elevator unit from the elevator unit in a stacked state, so that the elevator unit sequentially receives new tableware from the transport unit. Can be stacked. Therefore, the stacking work of a large amount of tableware can be mechanically and smoothly performed one after another.

In the present invention, preferably, the elevator unit is abutted against a tableware support table on which a plurality of the tableware is stacked and the edges of the plurality of the tableware stacked on the tableware support table. It is characterized by having a tableware alignment member for aligning.
According to the above configuration, when stacking a plurality of tableware on the tableware support table, the edge of each tableware can be abutted against the tableware alignment member, so that the alignment of each tableware in the stacked state is automatically performed. It is possible to maintain a good stacking state of multiple tableware.

The present invention is preferably characterized in that the tableware support table and the tableware alignment member are inclined with respect to the transport direction in which the tableware is transported.
According to the above configuration, the tableware support table and the tableware alignment member are tilted so that the tableware alignment member can be reliably abutted against each other, so that the alignment of each tableware in the stacked state is automatically performed. It is possible to maintain the stacked state of a plurality of tableware even better.

In the present invention, preferably, the discharge unit advances to the plurality of the tableware sides stacked on the tableware support table and lifts the plurality of the tableware from the tableware support table, and the plurality of the tableware are lifted. It is characterized by having a transfer arm to be transferred from the elevator unit.
According to the above configuration, the transfer arm can easily and simultaneously transfer a plurality of dishes from the elevator unit while the plurality of dishes are lifted from the tableware support table.

In the present invention, preferably, the discharge unit is tilted in the same direction as the tableware support table and the tableware alignment member are tilted with respect to the transport direction in which the tableware is transported. It is characterized by.
According to the above configuration, the transfer arm is also tilted in the same direction as the tableware support table and the tableware alignment member are tilted, so that the transfer arm also has a plurality of tableware. The stacked state can be maintained even better.

The present invention is preferably characterized in that the tableware support table can change the area for receiving the tableware according to the size of the tableware transported by the transport unit.
According to the above configuration, the area of the tableware support table can be changed according to the size of the tableware, so that the tableware can be stably stacked according to the size of the tableware.

In the present invention, preferably, the height position of the transport section is set lower than the height position of the conveyor on which the dishwasher transports the dishes, and the dishwasher is washed from the conveyor to the transport section. It is characterized by having a delivery section for delivering tableware.
According to the above configuration, whether the dishes are light or heavy dishes washed by the dishwasher, the dishes are surely delivered from the conveyor of the dishwasher to the transport section side by using the delivery section. be able to.

The present invention preferably has a movable wall that is moved and positioned in a direction intersecting the transport direction, and the position of the tableware on the transport section when the tableware is transported by the transport section. It is characterized by having a movable wall unit that regulates within the regulation range obtained by the movable wall.
According to the above configuration, since the movable wall unit can transport the tableware on the transport unit while restricting it within the regulated range, it is necessary to transport the tableware while arranging the tableware on the transport unit while determining the direction of each tableware. Can be done.

The present invention preferably comprises an inlet gate unit that determines the type of tableware transported from the dishwasher by the transport unit based on the height of the tableware when the tableware is transported by the transport unit. It is characterized by having a tableware discrimination sensor unit that discriminates the type of tableware transported from the dishwasher by the transport unit by the diameter of the tableware when the tableware is transported by the transport unit. ..
According to the above configuration, the type of each tableware transported by the transport unit can be discriminated from the height of the tableware and the diameter of the tableware during the transportation of the tableware, and the formal tableware to be stacked can be determined. It is possible to determine whether the tableware is a type or a type of tableware other than the predetermined formal tableware during transportation.

The present invention is preferably provided in front of the tableware storage unit, and the type of the tableware transported by the transport unit by the notification from the inlet gate unit is not a predetermined formal tableware type. It has a tableware exclusion unit that excludes the tableware from the transport unit when the type of the tableware transported by the transport unit by the notification from the tableware discrimination sensor unit is not the predetermined formal tableware type. It is characterized by that.
According to the above configuration, if the type of tableware transported by the transport unit is not a predetermined formal tableware type, the tableware exclusion unit can exclude the different types of tableware from the transport path and is predetermined. It is possible to prevent different types of tableware that are not official tableware types from being accidentally stored in the tableware storage.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a dishwashing assisting device capable of mechanically and smoothly stacking washed dishes and saving labor in the dishes stacking work associated with the dishwashing work. can.

It is a perspective view which shows the appearance that the preferable embodiment of the dishwashing assist device of this invention is arranged side by side in a dishwasher. It is a perspective view which shows the structural example of the dishwashing assist device shown in FIG. It is a top view schematically showing the structural example of the dishwashing assist device and the dishwasher shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. It is a top view which shows the dishwasher, the sorting part of the dishwashing auxiliary device, and the delivery part. 5 (A) is a front view showing the vicinity of the delivery portion as seen from the direction of arrow C in FIG. 4, and FIG. 5 (B) omits a part of the delivery portion shown in FIG. 4 in an enlarged manner. It is a plan view. It is a front view which shows the dishwashing assist device. It is a top view which shows the dishwashing auxiliary apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the movable wall unit in an enlarged scale. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the entrance gate unit. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the tableware discrimination sensor unit. It is a figure which shows the example which arranges the elliptical or rectangular tableware M. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the two-row distribution unit. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the tableware exclusion unit. It is a figure which shows the example which a tableware MR is forcibly removed to the side of a belt conveyor by passing a predetermined formal tableware M which is a target. It is a rear view of the elevator unit shown in FIG. 2 as seen from the direction of arrow K. FIG. 15 is a plan view of the elevator unit shown in FIG. 15 as viewed from the direction of arrow H. It is a perspective view which shows each elevator. It is a front view which shows each elevator. It is a side view which shows the operation of each elevator. It is a figure which shows how the slider moves linearly on a pedestal. It is a figure which shows the tableware support table and the peripheral part. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the tableware support table. It is a top view which shows the transfer unit. It is a front view of the transfer unit seen from the Q direction in FIG. 23. It is a side view of the transfer unit seen from the W direction in FIG. 23. It is a flow diagram which shows the determination example of the type of tableware M which a control unit makes a determination. It is a figure which shows the stacking operation of the tableware M by an elevator unit. It is a figure which shows the example which shifts from the stacking operation of the tableware M by the elevator unit to the transfer operation of the tableware M stacked by the transfer unit. It is a figure which shows the transfer operation example of the tableware M stacked by the transfer unit. It is a figure which shows the other embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
Since the embodiments described below are suitable specific examples of the present invention, various technically preferable limitations are attached, but the scope of the present invention is particularly limited to the present invention in the following description. Unless otherwise stated, the present invention is not limited to these aspects. Further, in each drawing, the same components are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

(Dishwashing aid 1 and dishwasher 1000)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of the dishwashing assist device of the present invention arranged side by side in a dishwasher. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a structural example of the dishwashing assist device shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a plan view schematically showing a structural example of the dishwashing assist device and the dishwasher shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
The dishwasher 1000 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 has a function of washing and preferably drying the tableware M, and has an inlet portion 1001 and an outlet portion 1002. As for the tableware M, the leftover food is disposed of by the worker and the tableware is soaked in water by the worker, and the worker cleans the soaked tableware M. Here, the term "tableware" in the present specification is not limited to plates, but includes all containers, tools, utensils, etc. used for meals such as cups and serving trays.

As shown in FIG. 3, the tableware M is sequentially placed on the conveyor 1003 of the dishwasher 1000 from the entrance portion 1001. The conveyor 1003 transports the tableware M in the transport direction X, so that the tableware M is washed with washing water, preferably dried with hot air, for example, and reaches the outlet portion 1002. The dishwasher 1000 may have a function of only washing the tableware M.

(Dishwashing aid 1)
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the dishwasher assisting device 1 is arranged side by side at the outlet portion 1002 of the dishwasher 1000. The dishwasher assisting device 1 is placed side by side with respect to the dishwasher 1000 so that the transporting direction X of the conveyor 1003 of the dishwasher 1000 and the transporting direction X of the belt conveyors 3C and 3D of the dishwasher assisting device 1 coincide with each other. ing. The transport direction X is the direction in which the tableware M is transported, the Y direction is the width direction of the dishwasher 1000 and the dishwasher assisting device 1, and the Z direction is the dishwasher 1000 and the dishwashing assisting device 1. The vertical direction of the device 1. The transport directions X, Y, and Z are orthogonal to each other.

The dishwashing assisting device 1 determines the type of tableware M for the tableware M that has been washed and preferably dried by the above-mentioned dishwasher 1000. That is, the tableware washing assisting device 1 can discriminate between the target formal tableware M and the tableware other than the formal tableware M for the tableware M. Then, the tableware washing assist device 1 distributes the tableware M on the belt conveyors 3C and 3D, for example, in two rows and conveys the tableware along the transport direction X, and excludes the tableware other than the predetermined formal tableware M. , It has a function of stacking tableware M of the same type in order from above and then discharging them. Here, in the specification of the present application, "discharging" means not only the operation of transferring the formal tableware M stacked, but also the formal tableware M randomly stacked and placed in a container such as a basket. It shall include the action of moving. Further, the rows of tableware transported along the transport direction X are not limited to two rows, and may be one row or three or more rows. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the dishwashing assisting device 1 generally includes a delivery unit 2, a distribution unit 3, and a tableware storage unit 4.

(Delivery section 2)
First, the delivery unit 2 shown in FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the dishwasher 1000, the delivery unit 2 and the distribution unit 3 of the dishwasher assisting device 1. 5 (A) is a front view showing the vicinity of the delivery portion 2 seen from the direction of arrow C in FIG. 4, and FIG. 5 (B) shows a part of the delivery portion 2 shown in FIG. 4 in an enlarged manner. It is an omitted plan view. The delivery unit 2 is arranged between the dishwasher 1000 and the distribution unit 3 of the dishwasher assisting device 1. The delivery unit 2 smoothly transfers the tableware M conveyed along the transfer direction X by the conveyor 1003 in the dishwasher 1000 to the belt conveyor 3C of the distribution unit 3.

The transfer portion 2 shown in FIG. 5B is made of, for example, a plastic plate or a metal plate, and has a plurality of semicircular recesses 2P formed at equal intervals. Each of these recesses 2P is adapted to accommodate the rotating portion 1004 of the conveyor 1003. The delivery unit 2 is fixed to, for example, the distribution unit 3 side. The delivery unit 2 may be fixed to the dishwasher assisting device 1 or may be fixed to the dishwasher 1000. Preferably, the height position of the belt conveyors 3C and 3D from the floor surface is set slightly lower than the height position of the conveyor 1003 of the dishwasher 1000. Therefore, the delivery section 2 is a slope that descends from the conveyor 1003 to the belt conveyor 3C and 3D side. Even if the height position of the conveyor 1003 and the height position of the belt conveyor 3C are different, the delivery unit 2 compensates for the difference in height, and even if the rotation speed of the conveyor 1003 and the rotation speed of the belt conveyor 3C are different. The difference in rotation speed can be absorbed. As a result, the delivery unit 2 can smoothly and surely deliver the tableware M from the conveyor 1003 to the belt conveyor 3C side. Regardless of the size of the dishes, such as the height and diameter of the dishes, whether they are light or heavy dishes washed by the dishwasher 1000, the dishes are transferred from the conveyor 1003 of the dishwasher 1000 to the transport section. It is possible to reliably deliver to a certain belt conveyor 3C side by using the delivery section 2.

(Distribution section 3)
Next, a configuration example of the distribution unit 3 of the dishwashing assist device 1 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 will be described in detail. FIG. 6 is a front view showing the dishwashing assist device 1. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the dishwashing assist device 1 shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the distribution unit 3 of the dishwashing assist device 1 includes two belt conveyors 3C and 3D, a movable wall unit 10, an inlet gate unit 11, a tableware discrimination sensor unit 12, and 2. It has a row distribution unit 13, a tableware exclusion unit 14 for excluding tableware other than the target formal tableware M, a base 15, and a central distribution unit 16. The central distribution unit 16, the movable wall unit 10, the entrance gate unit 11, the tableware discrimination sensor unit 12, and the two-row distribution unit 13 are arranged in order on the base 15 along the transport direction X. The belt conveyors 3C and 3D are examples of conveyors, for example, conveyors using a soft belt. Thereby, even if the tableware M is conveyed by the belt conveyors 3C and 3D, the tableware M can be prevented from being damaged.

<Belt conveyor 3C, 3D>
The belt conveyors 3C and 3D shown in FIG. 6 are arranged side by side along the transport direction X on the base 15, and the belt conveyors 3C and 3D are continuously and endlessly driven by the drive units 3E and 3F, respectively. , The tableware M is transported in the transport direction X. The tableware M is placed face down on the belt conveyors 3C and 3D. In this way, the tableware M is placed downward in order to facilitate stable stacking in order in the tableware storage unit 4. The end portion of the belt conveyor 3C and the start end portion of the belt conveyor 3D are adjacent to each other, and the end portion of the belt conveyor 3D reaches the tableware storage portion 4 side. The drive of the drive units 3E and 3F is controlled by the command of the control unit 100.

<Central distribution unit 16>
<Movable wall unit 10>
The structures of the central distribution unit 16 and the movable wall unit 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8. FIG. 8 shows an enlarged view of the central distribution unit 16 and the movable wall unit 10. The central distribution unit 16 and the movable wall unit 10 are located at the start end portion of the belt conveyor 3C and are provided in the vicinity of the transfer portion 2 as shown in FIG. The central distribution unit 16 can rotate in the directions of arrows A1 and A2 shown in FIG. 8 based on the control signal transmitted from the control unit 100. As a result, the central distribution unit 16 can distribute the tableware M conveyed from the dishwasher 1000 to the central portion of the belt conveyor 3C in the Y direction, for example, in two rows with respect to the Y direction. The rows of tableware M distributed by the central distribution unit 16 are not limited to two rows, and may be three or more rows. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the movable wall unit 10 has a first movable wall 10A and a second movable wall 10B, and the first movable wall 10A moves in the Y direction and is positioned by being driven by the actuator 10C. It is possible. Similarly, the second movable wall 10B can be moved and positioned in the Y direction by driving the actuator 10D. The drive of the actuators 10C and 10D is controlled by the control unit 100. The first movable wall 10A and the second movable wall 10B of the movable wall unit 10 face each other and have a substantially J-shape. The first movable wall 10A and the second movable wall 10B are means for restricting the moving direction of the tableware M sent from the dishwasher 1000 shown in FIG. 3 with respect to the Y direction. The first movable wall 10A and the second movable wall 10B can be arbitrarily set between the maximum regulation range D1 and the minimum regulation range D2.
The movement and positioning of the first movable wall 10A and the second movable wall 10B may be performed manually. As a result, the dishwashing auxiliary device 1 can be simplified.

As a result, in the first movable wall 10A and the second movable wall 10B, when the tableware M is conveyed along the conveying direction X by the belt conveyor 3C, the tableware M is the first movable wall 10A and the second movable wall 10B. By passing through the space, the tableware M can be transported along the transport direction X within the regulation range regarding the Y direction. Since the movable wall unit 10 can transport the tableware M on the belt conveyor 3C, which is a transporting unit, while restricting the tableware M within the regulated range, each tableware M is transferred on the belt conveyor 3C while determining the direction of transporting each tableware M. Can be transported while being aligned with. That is, the first movable wall 10A and the second movable wall 10B can align each tableware M within the regulated range in the belt conveyor 3C, and the tableware in the next stage entrance gate unit 11 and the tableware discrimination sensor unit 12. The tableware M can be moved to a position where M can easily detect it.

Since the tableware M has various shapes, heights, and sizes depending on the type, it is necessary to specify the type of the tableware M transported by the belt conveyor 3C by converting the shape, height, and size of the tableware M into numerical data. There is. For this purpose, the entrance gate unit 11 and the tableware discrimination sensor unit 12 are set.
<Entrance gate unit 11>
First, the entrance gate unit 11 will be described. The inlet gate unit 11 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 uses the height of the tableware M as a criterion for determining the type of tableware by determining the height of the tableware M flowing along the transport direction X by the belt conveyor 3C. do.
FIG. 9 shows a structural example of the inlet gate unit 11, which has a front count sensor 11A, a collision avoidance sensor 11B, an inner count sensor 11C, and an actuator 11D. As the front count sensor 11A, the collision avoidance sensor 11B, the inner count sensor 11C, and the actuator 11D, for example, an optical sensor having a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion can be used.

The front count sensor 11A, the collision avoidance sensor 11B, the inner count sensor 11C, and the actuator 11D are electrically connected to the control unit 100. The front count sensor 11A determines the passage of the tableware M and notifies the control unit 100. The collision avoidance sensor 11B determines the approach of the tableware M, which is taller than the predetermined height, and notifies the control unit 100. When the collision avoidance sensor 11B detects the tableware M, it notifies the control unit 100, and the control unit 100 operates the actuator 11D to raise the inlet gate unit 11. This prevents the tall tableware M from colliding with the entrance gate unit 11. The inner count sensor 11C determines the approach of the tableware M, which is shorter than the preset value.

In the detection example of the tableware M shown in FIG. 9A, when the tableware M passes, the front count sensor 11A reacts (ON), the collision avoidance sensor 11B does not react (OFF), and the inner count sensor 11C Since it reacts (ON), the tableware M can be passed through. In the detection example of the tableware M shown in FIG. 9B, when the tableware M passes, the front count sensor 11A reacts (ON), the collision avoidance sensor 11B does not react (OFF), and the inner count sensor 11C Since it reacts (ON), the tableware M can be passed through.
In the detection example of the tall tableware M shown in FIG. 9C, the front count sensor 11A reacts (ON) and the collision avoidance sensor 11B reacts (ON) when the tall tableware M passes. The inner count sensor 11C reacts (ON). As it is, the tableware M cannot be passed through the entrance gate unit 11. Therefore, the control unit 100 operates the actuator 11D to raise the entrance gate unit 11 itself in the Z1 direction, so that the tall tableware M can be prevented from colliding with the entrance gate unit 11.

<Tableware discrimination sensor unit 12>
Next, the structure of the tableware discrimination sensor unit 12 shown in FIG. 6 will be described. By recognizing the diameter of the tableware M, the tableware discrimination sensor unit 12 discriminates whether the tableware is a target formal tableware M or a tableware other than the formal tableware. FIG. 10 shows a structural example of the tableware discrimination sensor unit 12. The tableware discrimination sensor unit 12 has an inner sensor 12A and an outer sensor 12B. These inner sensors 12A and outer sensors 12B are attached to the ceiling portion 12C at intervals. As the inner sensor 12A and the outer sensor 12B, for example, an optical sensor having a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion can be used. The inner sensor 12A and the outer sensor 12B are electrically connected to the control unit 100.

The diameter of the tableware M is estimated by the control unit 100 using the inner sensor 12A and the outer sensor 12B. With the midpoint between the inner sensor 12A and the outer sensor 12B as the center line CL, this center line CL is moved directly above the end portion of the tableware M. The control unit 100 determines the approach of the tableware M by the above-mentioned entrance gate unit 11, and after a predetermined time from the detection of this approach, the control unit 100 reads the signals from the inner sensor 12A and the outer sensor 12B. It is determined whether the tableware M is a predetermined formal tableware M or a tableware other than this tableware M. In the case of formal tableware M, the inner sensor 12A reacts (ON) and the outer sensor 12B does not react (OFF).

FIG. 11 shows an example of arranging elliptical or rectangular tableware M. As shown in FIG. 11A, before the tableware M reaches the tableware discrimination sensor unit 12, the tableware M is pushed along the reference wall 12S by pushing the tableware M in an inclined posture by using the width aligner 12R. Can be adjusted. As shown in FIG. 11B, the posture of the elliptical or rectangular tableware M can be corrected if the posture is tilted by about ± 30 degrees with respect to the entrance. As shown in FIG. 11C, in the case of the target predetermined formal tableware M, the inner sensor 12A is “H” and the outer sensor 12B is “L”. If the tableware is larger than the official tableware M, the inner sensor 12A is "H", the outer sensor 12B is "H", and if the tableware is smaller than the official tableware M, the inner sensor 12A is "L". Since the outer sensor 12B is "L", the tableware discrimination sensor unit 12 can discriminate the formal tableware M by recognizing the diameter of the tableware M.

<Two-row distribution unit 13>
Next, the two-row distribution unit 13 shown in FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 shows a structural example of the two-row sorting unit 13, and is a mechanism for sorting and arranging the tableware M transported in the transport direction X into two rows. As shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, the paddles 13A and 13B are provided. The paddles 13A and 13B are attached to the rods of the air cylinders 13C and 13D, and can be lowered in the Z2 direction by the control unit 100 driving the air cylinders 13C and 13D. The paddles 13A and 13B can determine the direction of the paddles 13A and 13B by manually indexing the paddles 13A and 13B in the rotation direction, for example, around the air cylinders 13C and 13D. As a result, as illustrated in FIG. 3, when the tableware M is transported along the transport direction X by the belt conveyor 3C, the paddles 13A and 13B divide the tableware M flowing in sequence into two rows and tableware. It can be guided to the exclusion unit 14 side.

<Tableware exclusion unit 14>
Next, the tableware exclusion unit 14 shown in FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14. FIG. 13 shows a structural example of the tableware exclusion unit 14. The tableware exclusion unit 14 has exclusion paddles 14A and 14B, air cylinders 14C and 14D, and rotation operation units 14E and 14F. By driving the air cylinders 14C and 14D by the control unit 100, the exclusion paddles 14A and 14B can be lowered in the Z2 direction. By driving the rotation operation units 14E and 14F by the control unit 100, the exclusion paddles 14A and 14B can be rotated in the RR direction.
When it is determined that the tableware other than the predetermined formal tableware M intended by the control unit 100 has come to the tableware exclusion unit 14 due to the notification from the entrance gate unit 11 and the tableware discrimination sensor unit 12 to the control unit 100. The control unit 100 operates the rotation operation unit 14E or the rotation operation unit 14F to forcibly remove only tableware other than the formal tableware M to the side of the belt conveyor 3D.

FIG. 14 shows a specific example in which a predetermined formal tableware M is passed and the tableware MR is forcibly removed to the side of the belt conveyor 3D. Tableware other than the target formal tableware M, which is the target, is indicated by "MR" to distinguish it from "M". Here, the target predetermined formal tableware M is circular, but the tableware MR other than the formal tableware M is, for example, a rectangle. Collection units 14S and 14T for collecting tableware MR are arranged on both sides of the belt conveyor 3D. In the example of FIG. 14A, since each tableware transported in the transport direction X is a predetermined formal tableware M (circular tableware as an example), the control unit 100 waits for the exclusion paddles 14A and 14B. It is waiting at the position P. Therefore, the official tableware M passes through the tableware exclusion unit 14 safely.

On the other hand, in the example shown in FIG. 14B, one tableware transported in the transport direction X is a predetermined formal tableware M (a circular tableware as an example), but the other tableware is formal. Tableware MR other than tableware M. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 14C, the control unit 100 makes the exclusion paddle 14A stand by at the standby position P, but rotates the exclusion paddle 14B from the standby position P to the exclusion position J. Therefore, the official tableware M passes through the tableware exclusion unit 14 safely. However, when the exclusion paddle 14B is rotated from the standby position P to the exclusion position J, tableware MRs other than the official tableware M (also referred to as unintended tableware) are forcibly excluded to the side of the belt conveyor 3D. It is collected in the collection unit 14T.

(Tableware storage 4)
Next, a structural example of the tableware storage unit 4 shown in FIGS. 2 and 6 will be described. The tableware storage unit 4 has an elevator unit 50 and a transfer unit 80, and is a formal tableware M that has been transported in the transport direction X in a state of being guided to an appropriate position on the belt conveyors 3C and 3D which are transport units. Discharge while receiving. The tableware storage unit 4 is arranged after the tableware exclusion unit 14 and the belt conveyor 3D. The tableware storage unit 4 stacks a plurality of predetermined formal tableware Ms that have passed through the tableware exclusion unit 14 safely, and the stacked formal tableware M is placed in the next stage in a stacked state. It can be transferred in a stacked state for transfer.

<Elevator unit 50>
As shown in FIG. 2, the elevator unit 50 is provided near the rear end portion of the belt conveyor 3D. FIG. 15 is a rear view of the elevator unit 50 shown in FIG. 2 as viewed from the direction of arrow K. FIG. 16 is a plan view of the elevator unit 50 shown in FIG. 15 as viewed from the direction of arrow H. As shown in FIGS. 15, 16 and 2, the elevator unit 50 includes, for example, two elevators 51, 51. The two elevators 51, 51 are provided side by side in the Y direction.

Structural examples of each elevator 51 are shown in FIGS. 17 and 18. FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing each elevator 51, and FIG. 18 is a front view showing each elevator 51. FIG. 19 shows the operation of each elevator 51. The elevator 51 includes a slider 52, four tableware alignment shafts 53, 53, 54, 54, a tableware support table 55, a pedestal 70, a support board 56, and the like. These tableware alignment shafts 53, 53, 54, 54 are stacked by aligning each tableware M by abutting the edge of the tableware M when stacking the tableware support table 55 in order from above. This is an example of a tableware alignment member having a role of neatly adjusting the stacking posture of the tableware M.

As shown in FIG. 19, the support board 56 is positioned upright on the ZZ plane, but the support board 56 can be tilted by an angle θ by the operation of the drive unit 57 by the command of the control unit 100. There is. The reason why the support board 56 is tilted in this way is that, as will be described later, a plurality of predetermined formal tableware M stacked on the tableware support table 55 are arranged so that the stacked state is not disturbed. This is to make it better. Returning to FIG. 17, the pedestal 70 is held so as to be horizontal to the support board 56, and the support board 56 has a linear drive unit 58 with a linear guide and a linear motor along the Z direction. ing. As shown by the solid line and the broken line in FIG. 19, the linear drive unit 58 linearly moves the pedestal 70 in the Z1 direction and the Z2 direction according to the command of the control unit 100, and the number of tableware piled up on the tableware support table 55. It can be positioned while descending in the Z2 direction according to the above. That is, each time a predetermined formal tableware M is stacked, the tableware support table 55 is lowered by the amount of the predetermined formal tableware M to be raised, so that the next predetermined formal tableware M is lowered. Tableware M can be reliably stacked from the top in order.

As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the pedestal 70 has a slider 52. The slider 52 supports the tableware support table 55 and the two tableware alignment shafts 53 and 53. The tableware alignment shafts 53 and 53 are supported so as to project in the Z1 direction around the tableware support table 55. The tableware alignment shafts 53 and 53 are fixed shafts that cannot be moved in the X direction. The tableware alignment shafts 53 and 53 are arranged in the vicinity of the tableware support table 55.

On the other hand, the tableware alignment shafts 54 and 54 shown in FIG. 17 are moving shafts that can move along the transport direction X and the opposite direction X1. The lower ends of the tableware alignment shafts 54 and 54 are fixed to the small slider 77, and when the actuator 79 operates according to the command of the control unit 100, the small slider 77 refers to the fixed table 78 in the transport direction X and its transport direction X. It can move along the opposite direction X1. By moving the tableware alignment shafts 54, 54 toward the tableware support table 55, the four tableware alignment shafts 53, 53, 54, 54 are arranged around the tableware support table 55, and the tableware support table 55 is arranged. By abutting the edges of the tableware that are piled up on the table, it is possible to support the stacked tableware M so that the predetermined formal tableware M does not shift.

Next, a structural example of the tableware support table 55 will be described with reference to FIGS. 21 and 22. FIG. 21 shows the tableware support table 55 and its peripheral portion. FIG. 22 shows a structural example of the tableware support table 55. The tableware support table 55 shown in FIG. 21 is arranged for stacking a plurality of predetermined formal tableware Ms sequentially conveyed along the conveying direction X by the belt conveyor 3D shown in FIG. The tableware support table 55 has a central table portion 61 and a peripheral table portion 62. The central table portion 61 is a fixed position table portion and has a circular shape. The peripheral table portion 62 is a movable table portion and has a ring shape arranged around the central table portion 61.

As shown in FIGS. 21 and 22 (A), the central table portion 61 is supported by the base 63 via the support rod 61A. On the other hand, the peripheral table portion 62 is attached to the shaft 65 of the air cylinder 64. When the air cylinder 64 is driven by the command of the control unit 100, the peripheral table unit 62 can be lowered in the Z2 direction from the position of the central table unit 61. For example, as shown in FIG. 22B, when relatively large predetermined formal tableware M is stacked on the tableware support table 55, the central table portion 61 and the peripheral table portion 62 are flush with each other. ing. However, as shown in FIG. 22C, when relatively small predetermined formal tableware M is stacked on the tableware support table 55, the peripheral table portion 62 is oriented in the Z2 direction with respect to the central table portion 61. Can be lowered to. As a result, the tableware support table 55 can be reliably stacked and supported from above according to the size of the tableware M, even if the tableware M is a predetermined formal tableware M having a different size.

As shown in FIG. 22A, the peripheral table portion 62 has a base portion 62a, a first movable portion 62b, and a second movable portion 62c. As shown by the arrow A3 shown in FIG. 22 (A), the first movable portion 62b is slidable with respect to the base portion 62a. As shown by the arrow A4 shown in FIG. 22 (A), the second movable portion 62c is slidable with respect to the base portion 62a. That is, the peripheral table portion 62 can be expanded or extended by sliding the first movable portion 62b and the second movable portion 62c with respect to the base portion 62a. The sliding of the first movable portion 62b and the second movable portion 62c may be performed manually or may be performed electrically based on the control signal transmitted from the control unit 100. By expanding the peripheral table portion 62 based on the sliding of the first movable portion 62b and the second movable portion 62c, the tableware M can be flexibly adapted to various shapes and sizes of the tableware M, and the tableware M can be placed more reliably. Can be stacked.

FIG. 20 shows how the slider 52 moves linearly on the pedestal 70. As shown in FIGS. 17 and 20, the slider 52 rests on the pedestal 70. The linear drive unit 71 includes a linear guide 72, a feed screw 73, and a motor 74. When the motor 74 is driven by the command of the control unit 100, the feed screw 73 rotates, so that the slider 52 moves and positions along the feed screw 73 and the linear guide 72 along the transport direction X and the opposite direction X1. It is possible.

<Transfer unit 80>
Next, a structural example of the transfer unit 80 shown in FIG. 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 23 to 25. 23 is a plan view showing the transfer unit 80, FIG. 24 is a front view of the transfer unit 80 seen from the Q direction in FIG. 23, and FIG. 25 is a transfer seen from the W direction in FIG. 23. It is a side view of the mounting unit 80. The transfer unit 80 lifts a plurality of predetermined formal tableware M stacked and loaded on the tableware support table 55 shown in FIG. 2 from below, and a plurality of predetermined formal tableware loaded. This is the final stage device to transfer M.

The transfer unit 80 is an example of the “discharge unit” of the present invention, and discharges a plurality of tableware M held in the elevator unit 50 from the elevator unit 50. The transfer unit 80 includes two transfer arms 81, 82, a housing 83, for example, four transfer positioning shafts 91, 92, 93, 94, an air cylinder 97, 97, and a linear guide 98, 98. Has. The transfer positioning shafts 91, 92, 93, 94 are tableware alignment members having a role of adjusting the stacking posture of the tableware M by abutting the edges of the predetermined formal tableware M to be stacked. This is an example. The transfer arms 81, 82 and the transfer positioning shafts 91, 92, 93, 94 serve as the tableware support table 55 and the tableware alignment member with respect to the transfer direction X in which the predetermined formal tableware M is conveyed. The tableware alignment shafts 53 and 54 are tilted in the same direction as they are tilted.

As shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, the two transfer arms 81 and 82 are arranged on the housing 83, and the transfer arms 81 and 82 are metal plates having a base 95 and a tip 96. Is. The base portion 95 is mounted on the housing 83, and the tip portion 96 can be tilted by an arbitrary angle by raising the tip portion 96 by an angle α with respect to the base portion 95.

When the air cylinders 97 and 97 are operated by the command of the control unit 100, as shown in FIG. 23, the two transfer arms 81 and 82 are in the state shown by the broken line from the state shown by the solid line along the linear guides 98 and 98. Up to, the tip 96s of the two transfer arms 81 and 82 can be advanced into the elevator unit 50 of FIG. 2 by moving along the opposite direction X1. The tip 96 of the transfer arms 81 and 82 has a notch 99 for insertion. The cutout portion 99 has a circular portion 99A and an introduction portion 99B leading to the circular portion 99A. Since the inner diameter of the circular portion 99A is larger than the maximum diameter of the tableware support table 55 shown in FIG. 2, the tableware support table 55 can be passed through the circular portion 99A.

The transfer unit 80 of the present embodiment has four transfer positioning shafts 91, 92, 93, 94. However, the number of transfer positioning shafts installed in the transfer unit 80 is not limited to four, and may be five or more, preferably eight. When the transfer unit 80 has eight transfer positioning shafts, the eight transfer positioning shafts can more stably adjust the stacking posture of the tableware M. Further, when the transfer unit 80 has eight transfer positioning shafts, when the tip portions 96 of the two transfer arms 81 and 82 advance into the elevator unit 50, the tableware alignment shafts 53 and 54 At least one may be moved to avoid interfering with the transfer positioning shaft. Further, the member having a role of aligning the tableware M and neatly adjusting the stacking posture of the stacked tableware M is not limited to the shaft.

(Operation example of dishwashing assist device 1)
Next, an operation example of the dishwashing assisting device 1 having the above-mentioned structure will be described. By using this dishwashing assist device 1, a process including a predetermined formal tableware M stacking work process can be automatically performed, so that one worker is required to process the prepared tableware. You can save labor because you only need to use the tableware.

<Pretreatment of prepared tableware and washing and drying of tableware M>
As a pretreatment for the prepared tableware, the worker removes the leftover food and soaks it in a sink filled with water for each type of tableware to make it easier to remove dirt. The operator causes the control unit 100 to register and specify, for example, a predetermined formal tableware M, which is intended to be washed while being transported in the transport direction X, by using the touch panel, for example, in the tableware registration center. .. The worker takes out the predetermined formal tableware M to be pickled from the sink and puts it on the conveyor 1003 from the inlet portion 1001 of the dishwasher 1000 shown in FIG. 3 in order. At this time, the tableware M is placed face down on the conveyor 1003. The target predetermined formal tableware M (hereinafter referred to as formal tableware M) is sequentially placed on the conveyor of the dishwasher 1000 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 from the entrance portion 1001. The conveyor 1003 transports the formal tableware M in the transport direction X, so that the formal tableware M reaches the outlet portion 1002 after being washed with washing water and, for example, dried with hot air.
However, in the following explanation, not only the formal tableware M is sent from the dishwasher 1000 side to the dishwashing auxiliary device 1, but also the formal tableware M and other than this tableware that will occur in the actual work. An example will be described in which the tableware is mixed with the tableware and sent from the tableware washing machine 1000 side to the dishwashing assisting device 1.

<Pre-registration of tableware data to be selected>
For the formal tableware M, for example, at the tableware registration center of the control unit 100, a photograph of the formal tableware M and tableware data showing the characteristics of the formal tableware M are scanned and converted into data. The tableware data of the official tableware M registered at the tableware registration center is transferred to a small information recording medium such as USB, and the tableware data of the official tableware M is input from the information recording medium to the control unit 100 shown in FIG. I will do it. Tableware that has not been registered yet, such as newly purchased or added tableware, is newly registered at the tableware registration center.
The reason for selecting only the formal tableware M in this way is that when stacking a plurality of formal tableware M in the tableware storage unit 4 shown in FIG. 2, it is assumed that different types of tableware are stacked from above. This is because it is necessary to stack only the same type of tableware. From now on, it is specified which kind of formal tableware M is to be transported in the transport direction X, and when tableware other than the formal tableware M is transported based on the tableware data of the formal tableware M, the tableware is stacked. This is because it is necessary to exclude the belt conveyors 3C and 3D from the top of the belt conveyor 3C and 3D.

<Delivery of tableware M by delivery section 2>
The height position of the belt conveyor 3C shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is preferably set lower than the height position of the conveyor 1003 of the dishwasher 1000. Therefore, the tableware M can be smoothly and surely delivered from the conveyor 1003 to the belt conveyor 3C side through the delivery section 2.

<Guide of tableware M by movable wall unit 10>
The first movable wall 10A and the second movable wall 10B of the movable wall unit 10 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 guide the tableware M within the regulation range in the Y direction. That is, the first movable wall 10A and the second movable wall 10B can align each tableware M within the regulated range in the belt conveyor 3C, and in the next stage entrance gate unit 11 and the tableware discrimination sensor unit 12. Move the formal tableware M to a position where it can be easily detected. Since the tableware M has various shapes, heights, and sizes depending on the type, the type of the formal tableware M is specified by converting the shape, height, and size of the formal tableware M into numerical data. For this purpose, the entrance gate unit 11 and the tableware discrimination sensor unit 12 are set.

<Determination of the height of tableware M by the entrance gate unit 11>
As shown in FIG. 9, the height of the formal tableware M flowing along the transport direction X is determined by the belt conveyor 3C, and the height of the tableware is used as a criterion for determining the type of tableware. The first determination is made as to whether the tableware is a standard tableware M or a tableware other than the official tableware M.

<Recognition of the diameter of the tableware M by the tableware discrimination sensor unit 12>
By recognizing the diameter of the tableware M, the tableware discrimination sensor unit 12 shown in FIG. 10 determines whether the tableware is a formal tableware M or a tableware other than the formal tableware M for the second time.
FIG. 26 is a flow chart showing a determination example of the type of tableware M to be determined by the control unit 100. In step S1 of FIG. 26, if the front count sensor 11A shown in FIG. 9 reacts and moves to step S2 and the collision avoidance sensor 11B shown in FIG. 9 does not react, the process proceeds to step S5. When the inner count sensor 11C shown in FIG. 9 in step S5 reacts, the process proceeds to step S6, and when the inner sensor 12A shown in FIG. 10 is on and the outer sensor 12B is off, the control unit 100 aims at the tableware. Judgment is made as a predetermined formal tableware (regular tableware) M.

On the other hand, if the front count sensor 11A shown in FIG. 9 does not respond in step S1, the process proceeds to step S4, and the control unit 100 determines that the tableware is not an illegal tableware, that is, a formal tableware M. In step S2, when the collision avoidance sensor 11B shown in FIG. 9 reacts, the inlet gate unit 11 is raised in the Z1 direction as shown in FIG. 9C in order to avoid the tableware from colliding, and step S4. The control unit 100 determines that the tableware is not an illegal tableware, that is, a formal tableware M. If the inner count sensor 11C shown in FIG. 9 does not respond in step S5, the process proceeds to step S4, and the control unit 100 uses tableware other than the formal tableware M instead of the illegal tableware, that is, the predetermined formal tableware M. Judge that there is. Further, in step S6, when the inner sensor 12A shown in FIG. 10 is on and the outer sensor 12B is not off, the process proceeds to step S4, and the control unit 100 moves to an illegal tableware, that is, a tableware other than the formal tableware M. Is determined. The formal tableware M thus determined is transported by the belt conveyor 3C to the two-row distribution unit 13 shown in FIG. 3 along the transport direction X.

<Two-row distribution of tableware M in the two-row distribution unit 13>
As shown in FIG. 3, when the tableware M is transported along the transport direction X by the belt conveyor 3C, the paddles 13A and 13B of the two-row distribution unit 13 arrange the tableware M flowing sequentially in two rows. And guide them toward the tableware exclusion unit 14. As a result, the tableware M flowing sequentially is regulated in the flowing direction by the paddles 13A and 13B, so that the tableware M can be smoothly and surely guided to the tableware exclusion unit 14 side.

<Elimination of tableware MR by tableware exclusion unit 14>
In FIG. 26, when the control unit 100 determines that the tableware MR is a tableware (illegal tableware) MR other than the formal tableware M, the tableware MR other than the formal tableware M is the tableware MR as illustrated in FIG. 14 (C). Upon coming to the exclusion unit 14, the control unit 100 moves, for example, the exclusion paddle 14B to forcibly remove tableware MRs other than the formal tableware M to the side of the belt conveyor 3D. As a result, tableware MRs other than the formal tableware M can be eliminated before reaching the tableware storage unit 4 in the next stage.

<Stacking operation of tableware M by elevator unit 50 of tableware storage unit 4 and transfer operation of transferring stacked tableware M by transfer unit 80>
Next, the stacking operation of the tableware M by the elevator unit 50 of the tableware storage unit 4 shown in FIG. 2 and the transfer operation of the stacked tableware M by the transfer unit 80 will be described with reference to FIGS. 27 to 29. 27 to 29 show an example of shifting from the formal tableware M stacking operation by the elevator unit 50 to the transfer operation for transferring the formal tableware M stacked by the transfer unit 80. Formal tableware M can be continuously stacked from above on either of the two tableware support tables 55 and 55 of the elevator unit 50 shown in FIG. 2 without interruption. The position and posture of the belt conveyor 3D have already been corrected.

In FIG. 27A, the elevator unit 50 is tilted at an angle θ, and the height position of the tableware support table 55 is slightly lowered in accordance with the height position of the belt conveyor 3D. When the belt conveyor 3D transports the formal tableware M along the transport direction X, the tableware M is stacked on the tableware support table 55 in order from the top. Every time one formal tableware M is stacked from the top, the tableware support table 55 is lowered in the ZZ direction by the height of the one formal tableware M. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 27 (B), the formal tableware M is stacked one after another on the tableware support table 55 from the top. The edges of the stacked formal tableware M are abutted against the four tableware alignment shafts 53, 53, 54, 54, and the elevator unit 50 is tilted at an angle θ, so that the tableware support It can be arranged in a neatly stacked state on the table 55 so as not to be displaced from each other.

The number of formal tableware M stacked on the tableware support table 55 is determined by the control unit 100 based on, for example, the distance between the limit sensor (not shown) and the tableware located at the bottom. At the same time, the control unit 100 determines the number of formal tableware M that can be stacked based on the amount of the pre-registered formal tableware M that has been raised by stacking and the number of stacked dishes. The worker can be warned by a warning light or an alarm sound in advance when the tableware support table 55 is full of formal tableware M. Further, as shown in FIG. 27 (B), the pressing member 101 pushes the stacked formal tableware M so that the formal tableware M is further arranged in a neatly stacked state on the tableware support table 55. Can be done. Therefore, the stacked formal tableware M does not collapse. In this way, the formal tableware M can be mechanically and smoothly stacked from bottom to top on the tableware support table 55 by using the natural fall of the tableware M, in order to stack the tableware that was conventionally required. Since there is no need for a dedicated worker, labor can be saved.

Next, as shown in FIG. 28 (A), the elevator unit 50 rises in the ZR direction, and as shown in FIG. 28 (B), the tableware support table 55 advances in the advance direction FG and is positioned. The transfer unit 80 is also tilted at an angle α, and the two transfer arms 81 and 82 of the transfer unit 80 are tilted diagonally upward. The tip 96 of the transfer arms 81 and 82 of the transfer unit 80 faces a position where it can be inserted under the edge of the formal tableware M located at the lowest stage on the tableware support table 55. For example, as shown in FIG. 28B, the tableware support table 55 approaches the tip 96 side of the transfer arm 81 by moving the elevator unit 50 in the XR direction by a predetermined stroke. Then, when the tip 96 of the transfer arm 81 further advances in the advance direction FG direction, as shown in FIG. 29 (A), the tip 96 is located below the formal tableware M at the bottom of the stack. Go in and support.

As shown in FIG. 29B, when the elevator unit 50 is lowered in the ZZ direction, the tableware support table 55 and the four tableware alignment shafts 53, 53, 54, 54 are simultaneously lowered in the ZZ direction and retracted. .. As a result, as shown in FIG. 29 (A), for example, the formal tableware M at the bottom is placed on the transfer arm 81. Then, as shown in FIG. 29 (B), for example, by retracting the transfer arm 81 in the FH direction, the transfer arm 81 is transferred from the elevator unit 50 side with the formal tableware M stacked on it. It can be transferred to the mounting unit 80.

By repeating the above-mentioned operation, the tableware washing assist device 1 divides the tableware into two rows and conveys them in an aligned manner on the belt conveyor 3D, and the official tableware M in each row is the corresponding tableware support table 55. , 55 can be naturally dropped and stacked in order from bottom to top. That is, the formal tableware M stacking work can be efficiently and smoothly stacked at the same time by parallel processing in two rows.

Further, the stacked formal tableware M can be taken out by the worker from the transfer arms 81 and 82 at a position away from the belt conveyor 3D and the elevator unit 50. That is, the stacked tableware M can be taken out at a place different from the place where the formal tableware M is stacked on the tableware support tables 55 and 55 of the elevator unit 50. Therefore, the work of taking out the stacked formal tableware M can be safely performed even while the stacking work is in progress in the elevator unit 50. Once the stacked formal tableware M is taken out, these large quantities of formal tableware M can be collectively transferred to the tableware basket, so that the work of transferring to the tableware basket can be easily performed. In addition, move the full tableware basket to the tableware drying cabinet.

(summary)
The above-described dishwashing assist device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a belt conveyor 3C and 3D as a transporting unit for transporting the tableware M washed by the dishwasher 1000 downward along the transport direction X, and a belt conveyor. The tableware storage unit 4 is provided with a tableware storage unit 4 that receives from the belt conveyor 3D and sequentially stacks and stores the same type of formal tableware M transported along the transport direction X by 3C and 3D. As a result, the work of stacking the washed formal tableware M can be performed mechanically and smoothly, and the work of stacking the formal tableware M accompanying the dishwashing work does not require manpower. Therefore, it is possible to save labor in the formal tableware M stacking work associated with the dishwashing work.

The tableware storage unit 4 receives the formal tableware M from the transport unit and stacks and holds the formal tableware M in order from the top, and the elevator with the plurality of formal tableware M stacked on the elevator unit 50 stacked. It has a transfer unit 80 to be transferred from the unit 50. As a result, the transfer unit 80 transfers the plurality of formal tableware M stacked in the elevator unit 50 from the elevator unit 50 in a stacked state. Therefore, the elevator unit 50 can be stacked and held in order from the top while receiving new formal tableware M from the belt conveyors 3C and 3D, which are transporting units, and a large amount of formal tableware M can be stacked. It can be done mechanically and smoothly one after another.

The elevator unit 50 has a tableware support table 55 on which a plurality of formal tableware Ms are stacked, and a plurality of formal tableware Ms by abutting against the edges of the plurality of formal tableware Ms stacked on the tableware support table 55. It has tableware alignment shafts 53 and 54 as tableware alignment members for alignment. Thereby, when stacking a plurality of formal tableware M on the tableware support table 55, the edge of each formal tableware M can be abutted against the tableware alignment shafts 53 and 54. Therefore, the alignment of each formal tableware M in the stacked state can be automatically performed, and the stacked state of the plurality of formal tableware M can be maintained satisfactorily.

The tableware support table 55 and the tableware alignment shafts 53 and 54 are inclined with respect to the transport direction X in which the formal tableware M is transported. As a result, the formal tableware M can be reliably abutted by the tableware alignment shafts 53 and 54 by utilizing the fact that the tableware support table 55 and the tableware alignment shafts 53 and 54 are inclined. Therefore, the alignment of each formal tableware M in the stacked state can be automatically performed, and the stacked state of the plurality of formal tableware M can be maintained even better.

The transfer unit 80 advances to the side of the plurality of formal tableware M stacked on the tableware support table 55, lifts the plurality of formal tableware M from the tableware support table 55, and elevators the plurality of formal tableware M. It has transfer arms 81 and 82 to be transferred from the unit 50. As a result, the transfer arms 81 and 82 can easily and simultaneously transfer a plurality of tableware from the elevator unit 50 in a state where a plurality of formal tableware Ms are lifted from the tableware support table 55.

The transfer unit 80 is tilted in the same direction as the tableware support table 55 and the tableware alignment shafts 53 and 54 are tilted with respect to the transport direction X in which the tableware is transported. Thereby, by utilizing this inclination, the stacked state of the plurality of formal tableware M can be maintained even better even in the transfer arms 81 and 82.

The height position of the conveyor belt 3C and 3D, which is the transport unit, is set lower than the height position of the conveyor 1003 of the dishwasher 1000, and the official tableware M washed from the conveyor 1003 to the belt conveyor 3C and 3D. It has a delivery unit 2 for delivering tableware such as. As a result, regardless of whether the dishes are light or heavy dishes washed by the dishwasher 1000, the dishes are surely delivered from the conveyor 1003 of the dishwasher 1000 to the belt conveyor 3C and 3D side by using the delivery unit 2. Can be handed over to.

The movable wall unit 10 has movable walls 10A and 10B that are moved and positioned in a direction intersecting the transport direction X, and when transporting formal tableware M or the like by the belt conveyors 3C and 3D, the belt conveyor. The position of the formal tableware M on 3C and 3D is restricted within the regulation range obtained by the movable walls 10A and 10B. As a result, the movable wall unit 10 can transport the tableware M and the like on the transport unit while restricting them within the regulated range. Therefore, the tableware can be transported while being aligned on the transport unit while determining the direction of each tableware. Can be done.

The entrance gate unit 11 that determines the type of tableware transported from the dishwasher 1000 by the transport unit based on the height of the tableware when the tableware is transported by the transport unit, and the dishwasher 1000 are transported by the transport unit. It has a tableware discrimination sensor unit 12 that discriminates the type of tableware to come by the diameter of the tableware when the tableware is transported by the transport unit. As a result, the type of each tableware transported by the transport unit can be determined by the height of the tableware and the diameter of the tableware during the transport of the tableware. Whether or not it is present can be determined during transportation before stacking.

The tableware exclusion unit 14 is provided in front of the tableware storage unit 4. In the tableware exclusion unit 14, when the type of tableware transported by the transport unit is not the official tableware M by the notification from the entrance gate unit 11, and the tableware conveyed by the transport unit by the notification from the tableware discrimination sensor unit 12. If the type of tableware M is not the official tableware M, the tableware MR other than the official tableware M is excluded from the belt conveyor 3D which is the transport unit. As a result, if the type of tableware transported by the transport unit is not the formal tableware M, the tableware exclusion unit 14 can exclude the different types of tableware MR from the transport path, and the tableware MR of different types can be excluded. Can be prevented from being accidentally stored in the tableware storage unit 4.

Since the area of the tableware support table 55 for receiving the tableware can be changed according to the size of the tableware transported by the transport unit, the tableware can be stably stacked according to the size of the tableware.

The embodiment of the present invention has been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of claims. The configuration of the above embodiment may be partially omitted or may be arbitrarily combined so as to be different from the above. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 30A, a tableware determination method using the heights of different types of tableware M1, M2, and M3 as determination criteria may be used by using three sensors S1, S2, and S3. Further, as shown in FIG. 30B, a tableware determination method using the diameter as a determination criterion may be adopted by using the sensor S4. Further, when the elevator unit is not equipped with two elevators but is further expanded to be equipped with three or more elevators, the tableware M is arranged in three or more rows in the belt conveyor 3D which is a transport unit. Therefore, it may be configured to guide each elevator.

1: Dishwashing auxiliary device, 2: Delivery part, 2P: Recessed part, 3: Sorting part, 3C, 3D: Belt conveyor, 3E, 3F: Drive part, 4: Dishware storage part, 10: Movable wall unit, 10A: No. 1 movable wall, 10B: 2nd movable wall, 10C, 10D: actuator, 11: entrance gate unit, 11A: front count sensor, 11B: collision avoidance sensor, 11C: inner count sensor, 11D: actuator, 12: tableware discrimination sensor Unit, 12A: Inner sensor, 12B: Outer sensor, 12C: Ceiling, 12R: Width aligner, 12S: Reference wall, 13A, 13B: Paddle, 13C, 13D: Air cylinder, 14: Tableware exclusion unit, 14A, 14B : Exclusion paddle, 14C, 14D: Air cylinder, 14E, 14F: Rotation operation unit, 14S, 14T: Recovery unit, 15: Base, 16: Central distribution unit, 50: Elevator unit, 51: Elevator, 52: Slider , 53, 54: Tableware alignment shaft, 55: Tableware support table, 56: Support board, 57: Drive unit, 58: Linear drive unit, 61: Center table unit, 61A: Support rod, 62: Surrounding table unit, 62a : Base, 62b: 1st movable part, 62c: 2nd movable part, 63: Base, 64: Air cylinder, 65: Shaft, 70: Pedestal, 71: Linear drive part, 72: Linear guide, 73: Feed screw, 74: Motor, 77: Small slider, 78: Fixed table, 79: Actuator, 80: Transfer unit, 81, 82: Transfer arm, 83: Housing, 91, 92, 93, 94: Transfer positioning shaft, 95: base, 96: tip, 97: air cylinder, 98: linear guide, 99: notch, 99A: part, 99B: introduction part, 100: control part, 101: holding member, 1000: dishwasher, 1001: Entrance part, 1002: Exit part, 1003: Conveyor, 1004: Rotating part, D1: Maximum regulation range, D2: Minimum regulation range, FG: Advance direction, J: Exclusion position, M, M1, M2, M3, MR : Tableware, P: Standby position, X: Transport direction , X1: Opposite direction

Claims (12)

It is a dishwashing auxiliary device that is placed side by side in the dishwasher and discharges the washed dishes.
A transport unit that transports the dishes washed by the dishwasher along the transport direction,
A tableware storage unit that receives and discharges the same type of tableware that has been transported along the transport direction by the transport unit from the transport unit.
Equipped with
The tableware storage unit has an elevator unit that sequentially stacks and holds the tableware while receiving the tableware from the transport unit.
The elevator unit is
A tableware support table that stacks and stacks multiple of the above tableware,
A tableware alignment member that aligns a plurality of the tableware by abutting against the edges of the plurality of the tableware stacked on the tableware support table.
Have,
The tableware alignment member is
A fixed shaft that protrudes upward and is supported around the tableware support table and cannot move in the transport direction.
A moving shaft that can move along the transport direction and the direction opposite to the transport direction,
Have,
The fixed shaft and the moving shaft are arranged on the edge of a plurality of the tableware stacked around the tableware support table by moving the moving shaft toward the tableware support table. A dishwashing aid that features abutment . The tableware support table
A circular center table with a fixed position,
A ring-shaped peripheral table portion arranged around the central table portion and
Have,
The peripheral table portion is characterized in that it can move between a position where it is flush with the central table portion and a position where it is lowered with respect to the central table portion, depending on the size of the tableware. The dishwashing assist device according to claim 1. The peripheral table portion has a base portion and a movable portion slidable with respect to the base portion, and the movable portion is expandable by sliding with respect to the base portion. Item 2. The dishwashing assist device according to item 2. The tableware cleaning assist device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the tableware support table and the tableware alignment member are inclined with respect to the transport direction in which the tableware is transported. .. The tableware storage unit
The dishwashing assist device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a discharge unit for discharging a plurality of the tableware held in the elevator unit from the elevator unit. The dishwashing assist according to claim 5 , wherein the discharge unit is a transfer unit in which a plurality of the dishes stacked in the elevator unit are transferred from the elevator unit in a stacked state. Device. The discharge unit advances to the plurality of tableware sides stacked on the tableware support table, lifts the plurality of the tableware from the tableware support table, and transfers the plurality of the tableware from the elevator unit. The dishwashing assist device according to claim 5 or 6 , further comprising a mounting arm. 7. The discharge unit is characterized in that the tableware support table and the tableware alignment member are tilted in the same direction as the tableware support table and the tableware alignment member are tilted with respect to the transport direction in which the tableware is transported. Dishwashing aid as described in. The height position of the transport unit is set lower than the height position of the conveyor on which the dishwasher transports the tableware, and the transfer unit that delivers the washed dishes from the conveyor to the transport unit. The dishwashing assisting device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the dishwashing assisting device is characterized by having. It has a movable wall that is moved and positioned in a direction intersecting the transport direction, and when the tableware is transported by the transport unit, the position of the tableware on the transport unit can be obtained by the movable wall. The dishwashing assist device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising a movable wall unit that regulates within the regulated range. An inlet gate unit that determines the type of tableware transported from the dishwasher by the transport unit based on the height of the tableware when the tableware is transported by the transport unit.
It is characterized by having a tableware discrimination sensor unit that discriminates the type of tableware transported from the dishwasher by the transport unit by the diameter of the tableware when the tableware is transported by the transport unit. The dishwashing assist device according to any one of claims 1 to 10. When the type of tableware provided in front of the tableware storage unit and transported by the transport unit by the notification from the entrance gate unit is not a predetermined formal tableware type, and from the tableware discrimination sensor unit. The claim is characterized by having a tableware exclusion unit that excludes the tableware from the transport unit when the type of the tableware transported by the transport unit by the notification is not the predetermined formal tableware type. 11. The dishwashing assist device according to 11.

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