JPH0156764B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a food and beverage counter in which an endless transfer conveyor path is formed on the counter stand, and in particular, the internal space below the endless transfer conveyor path of the counter stand is used to store used tableware. The present invention relates to a food and beverage counter that is transported to a washing station and the clean tableware that has been washed at the washing station is transported to an appropriate cooking station and used for serving meals.

Conventionally, an endless transfer conveyor path is formed at the counter, food is placed on the transfer conveyor path, and neither the customers sitting at the counter nor the cook at the counter need to move. Since customers can eat and drink while selecting their favorite dishes, food and drink counters with conveyors are widely used for sushi and other dishes that customers eat beforehand, as well as for yakiniku (grilled meat) that customers prepare themselves. These conveyor-equipped food and beverage counters are helping restaurants save labor and resolve labor shortages, but transporting used or washed tableware is still done manually. There is.

However, since the number of diners was not always constant, the labor required to transport them was always problematic.

Therefore, in order to resolve this shortage of manpower, a conveyor path for tableware is installed in the space below the counter table, and used tableware is transferred to a washing station, and clean tableware that has been washed is transferred to a washing station. Attempts have been made to transfer materials from washing stations to cooking stations.

However, in order to always transfer a fixed amount of tableware regardless of the number of customers, for example, if you adjust the amount of tableware transferred when there are many customers, you may end up transferring more tableware than necessary when there are fewer customers. Due to the transfer, unused tableware is left in the stacker for a long time, which is not sanitary and wasteful as it consumes more power than necessary. However, it is also troublesome and problematic to constantly check the number of diners and adjust the amount of tableware to be transported.

According to the present invention, by providing a sensor for controlling the transfer of tableware in the tableware transfer conveyor path provided in the space below the endless transfer conveyor path of the counter stand, tableware suitable for use by customers can be automatically adjusted. The purpose of this invention is to provide a food and drink counter that can carry out the transfer at any time, and to solve the problems of the conventional devices as described above at once.

The present invention provides a counter stand forming an endless transfer conveyor path, a tableware transfer conveyor path provided in a space below the endless transfer conveyor path of the counter stand and extending from a washing station to a cooking station, and a tableware transfer conveyor path that is provided in a space below the endless transfer conveyor path of the counter stand and extends from a washing station to a cooking station. a sensor for reversing the operation of the tableware transfer conveyor, which is provided at least at the end of the cooking side station; The food and drink counter is characterized by comprising at least one tableware stacking device having a sensor for stopping the operation of the tableware transfer conveyor and for starting the operation of stacking the tableware.

In the present invention, the counter table having an endless transfer conveyor path generally includes a counter or a table having an endless transfer conveyor path. Also,
The endless transfer conveyor path is generally a conveyor, in particular a crescent chain conveyor, but also includes other conveyors for circulating water. Of course, multiple conveyors or the like may be provided.

Further, for the tableware transfer conveyor path extending from the cooking station to the washing station, various conveyors such as a belt conveyor, a chain conveyor, etc., which can transfer various tableware in layers or one by one, can be used.

The tableware transfer conveyor path can be either a single lane or a double lane, regardless of the width of the counter stand. In the case of double lanes, one lane serves as the outbound route, i.e. the conveyor route for transporting clean tableware from the kitchen to the cooking station, and the other lane serves as the return route, i.e.
It is hygienic because it can be used as a conveyor path for transporting used tableware from the cooking station to the kitchen room.

In the case of a single lane, a top chain conveyor is mainly used, but in this case,
Since the transfer will be used for both unused clean tableware and used dirty tableware, care must be taken in terms of hygiene.

In the case of a double lane, clean tableware or unused tableware can be transferred by installing a sensor for controlling the tableware return at the end of the cooking station side of the conveyor that transfers clean tableware or unused tableware. When the tableware stacking device is full, it is detected that the tableware is being transferred to the end without being stacked, and the operation of this transfer conveyor path is temporarily stopped and then reversed to remove clean or unused tableware. You can also send used tableware back to the kitchen.

In either case, a separate sensor is installed at the end of the kitchen room on the tableware transfer conveyor path to detect the return of clean or unused tableware.
These tableware can be collected from the tableware transfer conveyor path, stored in a clean storage container, and taken out and reused as needed.

In the present invention, tableware includes not only tableware used for food and beverage counters, but also food containers.

In the cooking station of the tableware transfer conveyor path according to the invention, at least one and preferably two or more tableware stacking devices are provided around the transfer conveyor.
For example, along the transfer conveyor path. The tableware stacking device is provided with a sensor for controlling the tableware stacking operation. For example, this sensor detects the arrival of tableware sent on a tableware transfer conveyor path to a predetermined position, and stops the operation of the transfer conveyor path and starts the operation of the tableware stacking device. It can be done.

The tableware stacking device of the present invention includes, for example,
An example of such a device is a device for handling washed dishes, which was filed in Japanese Patent Application No. 102456/1983 by the present applicant. However, the tableware stacking device of the present invention may be of any other type as long as it can automatically stack tableware transported by a conveyor or the like.

In the present invention, when the number of customers decreases, this sensor is activated by, for example, turning off the power of the tableware stacking device of the cooking station on the side where there are no customers. Only the tableware stacking device of the cooking station on the upstream side where the customers are present, or the tableware stacking device of the cooking station on the side of the tableware transfer conveyor path where the customers are present among the plurality of tableware transfer conveyor paths, is cleaned and made clean. You can send tableware.

Further, the tableware stacking device may be provided with another sensor to stop the operation of the tableware stacking device when the stacked tableware height reaches a certain level.

1a to 1c are schematic partial plan views showing the working state of the tableware transfer conveyor path and the plate stacking device part, particularly on the cooking station side, of an embodiment of the food and beverage counter of the present invention, and FIG. ,
FIG. 1a is a schematic partial front sectional view of the part of the dish stacking device shown in FIG. 1a;

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to this drawing. However, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to this explanation and may take various other forms.

Although not shown, the food transfer conveyor is configured to circulate from the kitchen area along the food counter. In the space below the food transport conveyor between the washing station for dishes, e.g. dishes, in the kitchen area and the cooking station surrounded by the food and beverage counter or food table, a food product transport conveyor path running within the space is provided. , for example a conveyor for transferring plates. The plate transfer conveyor is of a so-called double lane type, in which separate conveyors are used for a side for unused clean plates and a side for used dirty plates. In the figure, the lane on the used side is not shown for convenience.

The cooking station includes a tableware transfer conveyor,
For example, plate stacking devices 3, 4 are arranged adjacent to the plate transfer conveyor 1. Plate stacking device 3
The frame 5 has a floor plate 6 fixed at the same level as the plate transfer conveyor 1, the floor plate 6 having a hole 9 through which the head 8 of the pusher 7 passes. The pusher 7 has a lock tooth 11 that meshes with a pinion (not shown) of a motor 10 fixed to the frame 5.
It is designed to be moved up and down by the operation of a motor 10. The take-out arm 12 for transporting the stacked washed dishes 2 on the transfer conveyor 1 from the plate transfer conveyor 1 onto the floor plate 6 is rotated by a motor 10' fixed to the frame 5. It is fixed to the shaft 13. The upper end of the pivot shaft 13 is supported by a bearing 14. Retrieval arm 12
is located at position 12' (not shown in Figure 1b), indicated by the dash-dotted line, when not activated. This take-out arm 12 occupies a position on the plate transfer conveyor 1 in order to receive the plates transferred by the plate transfer conveyor 1. The plate transfer conveyor 1 detects this with a sensor when the washed plate 2 reaches the operating position of the take-out arm 12, and stops the operation of the plate transfer conveyor 1, thereby stopping the transfer of the plate. A tray stacking tube 15 supported by the floorboard 6 is provided at a position directly above the pusher 7, and a plurality of detent pawls 16, three in this example, are partially attached to the tray stacking tube 15. It protrudes into the stacking tube 15 and is mounted in the radial direction. The detent pawl 16 is spring-loaded to direct the dish from below after the cleaned dish has passed. The dish stacking cylinder 15 has a plurality of support rods 17 provided on its outer periphery, and supports the washed dishes pushed up from below through the cylinder 15 from the periphery so as not to fall.

Thus, when the pusher 7 is in the lowest position and the head 8 is in the hole 9, the stack of paper carried from the transfer conveyor 1 along the floor plate 6 to just above the head 8 by the take-out arm 12 is removed. The washed dish is lifted by the pusher 7 which is raised by the operation of the motor 10, pushes up the detent pawl 16 and passes therethrough. Pusher 7 is activated by reversing the motor 10.
When lowering, the cleaned dishes hit the detent pawls 16 and are supported by the stacking cylinder 15 or support rod 17, which is supported from below by these detent pawls 16, and Detent pawl 16
The plate 2 received by the cooker occupies a position where the cook can easily take it.

The plates 2 that have been cleaned and cleaned at the washing station in the kitchen room are automatically or artificially transferred to the cooking station by the plate transfer conveyor 1 in a stacked state in an appropriate number.

In the cooking station, a sensor 18 senses the transfer of a plate and moves the plate transfer conveyor 1 such that the plate 2 on the plate transfer conveyor 1 is placed in a predetermined position, for example in the operating position of the take-out arm 12. stop operating. On the other hand, in response to a signal from the sensor 18, the motor 10' of the plate stacking device 3 starts operating, rotates the plate take-out arm 12, and slides the stacked plates 2 on its side.
It is placed on the head 8 of.

For example, a sensor (not shown) detects when the plate 2 on the conveyor 1 is taken out by the plate stacking device 3.
is detected, and the movement of the plate transfer conveyor 1 is restarted.

On the other hand, the head 8 of the pusher 7 of the plate stacking device 3
The plates 2 placed on the plate 2 are raised by the rotation of the rack teeth 11 by the operation of the motor 10, and stop when the lower ends of the stacked plates 2 push up the detent pawl 16, and the pusher 7 is lowered. . The stacked plates 2 remain held by the detent pawls 16. The sensor 18 does not operate while the required number of plates 2 are held by the detent pawl 16.

On the other hand, due to the movement of the plate transfer conveyor 1, the clean plate 2 that has passed the location where the sensor 18 is inactive is detected by the following sensor 19, and similarly, Transfer of conveyor 1 is stopped. Next, the motor 10' of the plate stacking device 4 is activated to rotate the plate take-out arm 12 to place the plate 2 on the head 8 of the pusher 7, so that the plate 2 is stacked in the same manner as in the plate stacking device 3. plate 2
is held on the detent pawl 16. When both sensors 18 and 19 cease their operation, the clean dish 2 is transported past either sensor 18 or 19, but the sensor 20 at the end of the conveyor When plate 2 is sensed, the movement of the conveyor is temporarily stopped and reversed.
Therefore, unused and clean plates 2 are automatically sent back to the kitchen room and stored.

Therefore, if there are few customers eating and drinking, by turning off the power to the plate stacking device 3, clean dishes 2 will always be stacked on the plate stacking device 4.

Further, a sensor (not shown) is provided at the end of the conveyor on the kitchen side, which detects the return of clean dishes and collects the returned clean dishes. It is also possible to stop the conveyor appropriately after collecting the clean dishes.

Since the food and drink counter of this example is configured as described above, depending on the number of customers, the cook can turn off the power switch of the tableware stacking device 3 at an appropriate location that is not in use for the time being. The dishes stacked on the tableware stacking device 3 are constantly washed and are extremely hygienic.

Moreover, excess clean dishes can be detected at the end of the tableware transport conveyor and transported back to the kitchen side. Then, unused and clean dishes returning to the kitchen side are detected at the roadside of the tableware transfer conveyor, and clean dishes are detected by stopping or not stopping the operation of the tableware transfer conveyor. If the tableware is appropriately or automatically stored in a storage container, clean tableware can always be used without wastage, and it is possible to save not only power but also labor without waste.
Furthermore, in this example, the tableware transfer conveyor path is housed within the food and beverage counter, so the space of the food and beverage counter is utilized without waste.

The eating and drinking counter of the present invention includes a sensor for controlling the tableware return at least at the cooking station side end of the tableware transfer conveyor path extending from the washing station to the cooking station, and a sensor for controlling the tableware return on the cooking station side. At least one tableware stacking device is provided which has a sensor for controlling the tableware stacking operation and is located closer to the washing station than the cleaning sensor, and the tableware return control device is provided to remove excess clean dishes at the end of the tableware transfer conveyor path. Since the tableware can be detected by a sensor in the kitchen and sent back to the kitchen, compared to conventional devices, the tableware stacked on the tableware stacking device used by cooks is constantly washed and can be sent back to the kitchen. It is extremely hygienic because there is no need for it, and clean tableware can always be used without waste, so it is possible to save not only power but also labor without waste.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1a to 1c are schematic partial plan views showing the working state of the tableware transfer conveyor path and the plate stacking device part, particularly on the cooking station side, of an embodiment of the food and beverage counter of the present invention, and FIG. ,
FIG. 1a is a schematic partial front sectional view of the part of the dish stacking device shown in FIG. 1a; 1 is a plate transfer conveyor, 2 is a plate, 3 and 4 are plate stacking devices, 7 is a pusher, 8 is its head, 10
10' is a motor, 11 is a rack tooth, 12 is a plate take-out arm, 15 is a plate stacking cylinder, and 17 is a support rod.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A counter stand forming an endless transfer conveyor path, a tableware transfer conveyor path provided in a space below the endless transfer conveyor path of the counter stand and extending from the washing station to the cooking station, and a small portion of the tableware transfer conveyor path. A sensor for reversing the operation of the tableware transfer conveyor, both of which is provided at the end of the cooking station, and a sensor for reversing the operation of the tableware transfer conveyor, which is provided on the cooking station side, around the transfer conveyor path, and located on the washing station side. A food and drink counter comprising at least one tableware stacking device having a sensor for stopping the conveyor operation and starting the tableware stacking operation.