JPH11235262A - Foot and beverage carrying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To select food and beverage among the ones placed on a carrier path, after a prescribed time have elapsed, regardless of the length of the carrier path. SOLUTION: A food and beverage carrying device is the one provided with the carrier path carrying plural containers containing food and drink in circulation. In this case, an identifying means 5 for identifying the container T is disposed in the respective containers T and, in the meantime, the device is provided with an identifying device identifying the prescribed container T circulating on the carrier path, a controller 7 retrieving the container T after a circulating time has become more than the prescribed one by measuring the circulating times of the respective containers T on the carrier path based on an output signal from the identifying device and an announcing device 8 announcing the container T after the circulating time on the carrier path has become more than the prescribed one based on the output signal from the controller 7.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a food and drink used in a restaurant, especially a sushi restaurant, for example, in which sushi assorted on a plate is circulated and conveyed through a conveying path, and each of the food and drink picks up and eats. It relates to a transport device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a sushi restaurant or the like, a transfer device having a transfer path circulating along a table or a counter arranged in a large number of stores is installed, and an employee can place a dish on which food such as sushi is served. While supplying the food to the transport path as needed, there are some restaurants where customers at each table select various foods sequentially sent from the transport path, pick up the food from the transport path, and freely eat and drink. .

[0003]

By the way, in the above-described conveying apparatus, food and drink on a plate placed on the conveying path are
Until the customer picks up the food, it keeps circling on the transport path, so if the food circulating on the transport path is not picked up from the transport path for a long time, the quality of the food will decrease over time, and as a result There is a problem that the food and drink of which the number has decreased is provided to the customer.

Therefore, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-80244, an identification mark is provided on a container on which food and drink orbiting around the transport path is placed, and a predetermined container is provided. Count by identifying this identification mark the number of times orbiting the transport path, when the count number reaches the set number of rounds, or to notify that the container has exceeded the set number of times, or In addition, there is known an apparatus in which the container is retracted from a transport path.

[0005] However, the conveying path is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-223.
As described in Japanese Patent No. 725, the transport path may be short-circuited or shortened or lengthened depending on the number of customers, and the timing for retracting the containers circling the transport path is determined by the number of rounds. If it is managed, depending on the length of the transport path, the evacuation may be too early, resulting in a waste of food and drink.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a food and drink transporting apparatus capable of selecting food and drink on a transport path after a predetermined time has elapsed regardless of the length of the transport path. The purpose is to provide.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a food and drink transporting apparatus having a transport path for circulating and transporting a plurality of containers containing food and drink. An identification device for identifying the container in each of the containers, an identification device for identifying a predetermined container orbiting the conveyance path in response to the identification device, and an identification device for identifying each container based on an output signal from the identification device. A controller that measures the orbiting time of the container in the transport path and searches for a container in which the orbital time is equal to or longer than a predetermined time, and based on an output signal from the controller, the orbital time in the transport path is equal to or longer than the set time. And a notifying device for notifying the container.

Further, the food and beverage transport device according to claim 2 is
In a food and drink transporting apparatus having a transport path for circulating and transporting a plurality of containers containing food and drink, an identification means for identifying each of the containers is provided while each of the containers is provided with identification means for identifying each of the containers orbiting the transport path. An apparatus, a controller for measuring a circulation time of each container in the transport path based on an output signal from the identification device, and searching for a container in which the circulation time is equal to or longer than a predetermined time; Thus, a configuration is provided in which a retreating device is provided for retreating a container whose circulation time in the transport path is equal to or longer than the set time from the transport path.

As the identification means, there is a means for providing an identification mark such as a bar code or a QR code on the container, or a means for attaching a transmitting device to the container. Also, as the identification device,
There are a scanner that reads the identification mark and a receiving device that receives a transmission signal from a container. As a notification device, there is a lighting device that keeps illuminating a container to be evacuated for a predetermined time and notifies an employee of the evacuating of the container.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a plurality of tables 12 and counter tables 12 installed in a cabin 11,
A partition housing 2 arranged along the front surface of the kitchen room 13 and along each table 12, and sushi provided in a circular shape on the partition housing 2 and packed in a container in the kitchen room 13 in each table 12. Transport path 4 for circulating transport
Is a plan view of the inside of a sushi restaurant having the food and beverage transporting device 3 provided with the sushi bar.

As shown in FIG. 2, the partition housing 2 has side walls 21 and 21 facing each other at a predetermined interval, and an upper wall 22 and a bottom wall (not shown) connecting the upper and lower ends of the side walls 21 and 21. ) Are formed in a box shape in cross section. Further, the partition housing 2 is disposed along the front of the kitchen room 13 so that the kitchen room 13 and the cabin 11
And a second housing portion 2b and a second housing portion 2c that bend from both ends in the longitudinal direction of the first housing portion 2a and extend in the passenger compartment 11 in parallel. The table 12 and the counter table 12 are disposed outside the side walls 21 and 21 of the third housing portions 2b and 2c.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the transport path 4 is provided with a recess 41 provided in the upper wall 22 of each of the housing portions 2a, 2b, 2c, and on both sides in the width direction of the recess 41. Endless flat chain 43 circulating in the recess 41 by motor driving while being guided by the guided guide wall 42
As shown in FIG. 2, the container T on which foods and drinks are placed is directly placed on the flat chain 43 of the transport path 4, and the container T is circulated and transported.

In the above-described food and beverage transporting apparatus 3, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a plurality of identification marks 51 each consisting of a bar code are printed as identification means 5 for identifying each container T. These stickers are attached to the outer peripheral edge of the lower surface of the container T at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction. On the other hand, the second housing part 2 of the first housing part 2a in the partition housing 2
A laser type first and second bar code scanner 61, as an identification device 6 for reading an identification mark 51 of each container T circling the transport path 4, is provided at the end on the b side and the end on the third housing part 2c. 62 are installed respectively.

Further, these bar code scanners 6
A controller 7 composed of a microcomputer is connected to the output sides of the controllers 1 and 62.
Based on the output signals from the bar code scanners 61 and 62, the time during which each container T circulates around the transport path 4 is measured, and the containers T whose circulating time is equal to or longer than a set time are searched.

Further, above the installation position of the second barcode scanner 62 in the first housing part 2a, on the forward side in the transport direction of the transport path 4, the orbiting time in the transport path 4 is longer than a set time. A notification device 8 for illuminating the container T with a lighting device 81 and notifying the employee of the container T is provided, and the notification device 8 is connected to an output side of the controller 7.

The controller 7 is used to identify the identification mark 51 of the first bar code scanner 61 installed on the second housing 2b side among the two bar code scanners 61 and 62 that are the identification device 6. The initial data of the identification mark 51 is input by reading to start measuring the orbiting time (start time is set), and the reading is performed by the second barcode scanner 62 installed on the third housing portion 2c side. From the orbit time determined by the identification mark 51, the orbit time from the start of measurement to the present time is calculated and compared with a set orbit time (for example, 20 minutes) to determine whether or not the set orbit time has elapsed. When the current orbiting time exceeds the set orbiting time, a command to activate the notification device 8 is issued.

Next, the operation of the transport device having the above configuration will be described. The sushi served in the container T by the employee in the kitchen room 13 is sequentially placed on the transport path 4 flowing in front of the kitchen room 13, and first, the first bar code scanner 61 identifies the identification mark 51. The reading is performed, and based on the output signal from the first barcode scanner 61, the controller 7 sets the circling start time.

Then, the containers T are circulated and conveyed to the respective tables 12 in the passenger compartment 11 via the conveying path 4, and a customer of each table appropriately removes the container T on which the desired sushi is loaded from the conveying path 4. While picking up and eating, the container T not picked up by the customer goes around the transport path 4 and returns to the kitchen room 13, and the container T returned to the kitchen room 13 is stored in the second bar. Using the code scanner 62, the container T
Is read, and the controller 7 determines the current round time of the container T based on the output signal from the second bar code scanner 62, and determines the round time from the round start time. The circulating time up to the present time is calculated, and whether or not the circulating time has exceeded the set circulating time is compared.

The container T that circulates around the transport path 4
If the circulating time is equal to or longer than a set circulating time (for example, 20 minutes), in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, based on an output signal from the controller 7, Is immediately turned on for a predetermined period of time, that is, the time required for the container T to pass through the illumination area of the illuminator 81, and illuminates the container T that has circulated for more than the set circulating time. Let them know.

Further, the controller 7 calculates the time required to make one round of the transport path 4 from the time at which the identification mark 51 was read and the time at which the identification mark 51 was read, and the time at which it was read thereafter. After the notification device 8 is activated by the output signal from the controller 7, it is compared whether or not the identification mark 51 has been read again within the calculated time required for one round of the conveyance path 4, and the reading is not performed. In such a case, it is determined that the container T has been removed, the initial data is cleared, the measurement of the circulation time is completed, and when the reading is performed, the notification device 8 is operated again.

That is, when the container T notified by the notification device 8 is picked up from the transport path 4 by an employee, the identification attached to the container T within the time required for the transport path 4 to make one round. Since the mark 51 is not read by the second barcode scanner 62, the controller 7 removes the container from the transport path 4 to the customer or employee when the time required for one round of the transport path 4 has elapsed. As a result, the initial data is cleared and the measurement of the orbital time is completed.

On the other hand, even after the notification by the notification device 8, if the container T is not removed and has circulated around the transport path 4, the identification mark 51 can be obtained within the time required for one round of the transport path 4. Is read again by the second barcode scanner 62, so that it is determined that the container T is still placed on the transport path 4, and the notification device 8 is operated again via the controller 7, The container T is illuminated again by the lighting device 81.

Next, another embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 is a bar code scanner 63 serving as the identification device 6.
Is installed, and instead of the notification device 8 in the above-described embodiment, based on an output signal from the controller 7, the container T whose circulation time in the transport path 4 is equal to or longer than a set time is transported. An evacuation device 9 for evacuation from the road 4 is provided, and the barcode scanner 63 and the evacuation device 9 are installed on the second housing 2b side.

The reading of the identification mark 51 by the bar code scanner 63 has the function of the first and second bar code scanners 61 and 62 in the above-described embodiment. Based on the output signal, setting of the circulation start time by inputting the initial data, and comparison of the required time from the circulation start time to the measured circulation time with the set circulation time are performed.

That is, the controller 7 first
The initial data of the identification mark 51 is input by reading the identification mark 51 by the barcode scanner 63, which is the identification device 6, to start measuring the orbiting time (set the start time). The orbiting time at the present time is determined by reading the identification mark 51 with the barcode scanner 63, and the orbiting time from the start of measurement to the present time is calculated from the orbiting time and compared with the set orbiting time (for example, 20 minutes). Then, it is determined whether or not the set circulation time has elapsed. When the current circulation time exceeds the set circulation time, a command to operate the retreat device 9 is issued. .

As shown schematically in FIG. 5, the retracting device 9 includes a pair of driving rollers 9 driven by a motor.
Evacuation path 93 with endless transport belt 92 stretched between 1
And a transfer device 94 for transferring the container T on the transport path 4 to the evacuation path 93.
Is provided on the first housing portion 2a at a position forward of the bar code scanner 63 in the transport direction of the transport path 4 in the first housing portion 2a, and the transfer device 94 transports the container T transferred to the evacuation path 93 by the transfer device 94. It is taken into the kitchen room 13 via the belt 92.

As shown schematically in FIGS. 4 and 5, the transfer device 94 has a pivot 95 mounted on the upper wall 22 so as to be rotatable with respect to the upper wall 22. A lengthwise end of the guide body 96 is fixed, and a driving device 97 such as a motor is attached to the lower end of the pivot 95.
The drive unit 97 is connected to the output side of the controller 7, and the drive of the drive unit 97 is controlled by the controller 7, so that the guide body 96 is moved as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. By swinging so as to cross the transport path 4, food and drink on the transport path 4 are guided and retracted to the evacuation path 93.

As described above, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 5, if the circulating time of the container circling the transport path 4 becomes longer than the set circulating time (for example, 20 minutes), the transfer device 94 Is driven by an output signal from the controller 7, and the guide body 96 is driven.
Swings to a position where it intersects the transport path 4, and the transport belt 92 forming the evacuation path 93 is driven to move the container T, which has circulated for a set orbit time or more, from the transport path 4 by the guide body 96. Transfer to the evacuation route 93,
The food is returned to the kitchen room 13 via the escape route 93.

When the evacuation device 9 is operated, the initial data of the controller 7 is cleared, and the measurement of the circulation time is completed. In this manner, all the sushi dishes that have passed the set circulation time on the transport path 4 are collected, so that only the containers having fresh sushi are always provided to the customer via the transport path 4. is there.

In the above embodiment, a seal provided with an identification mark such as a bar code or a QR code is used as the identification means 5, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the transmitter is embedded in the container. Is also good. When a transmitter is used as the identification means, a receiving device that receives a radio wave from the transmitter is used as the identification device.

Further, in the above embodiment, a lighting device is used as the notification device. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a buzzer or the like may be used.

[0032]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the food and drink conveying apparatus is provided with identification means for identifying each container in each container, and a predetermined container orbiting the conveyance path in response to the identification means. An identification device for identifying a container, a controller that measures a circulation time of each container in the transport path based on an output signal from the identification device, and searches for a container in which the circulation time is equal to or longer than a predetermined time, and a controller from the controller. Based on the output signal, the notification device that notifies the container that the circling time in the transport path is equal to or longer than the set time is provided, so that the food and drink placed on the transport path after a predetermined time has elapsed. It can be selected reliably regardless of the length of the transport path.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the food and beverage transporting device is provided with an identification means for identifying each container in each container, and an identification device for identifying each container orbiting the transport path; A controller that measures the circulation time of each container in the transport path based on the output signal from the identification device and searches for a container in which the circulation time is equal to or longer than a predetermined time,
Based on the output signal from the controller, since the retracting device is configured to retract the container whose circulation time in the transport path is equal to or longer than the set time from the transport path, in the food and drink placed on the transport path, It is possible to reliably select the one after the elapse of a predetermined time irrespective of the length of the transport path and automatically remove it from the transport path.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view in a store provided with a food and beverage transport device.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of the same.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view in a store provided with a food and drink transporting device according to another embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of the same.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 4;

[Explanation of symbols]

 T container 4 conveyance path 5 identification means 7 controller 8 notification device 9 evacuation device

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A food and drink transporting device provided with a transport path (4) for circulating and transporting a plurality of containers (T) containing food and beverage, wherein each of the containers (T) identifies the container (T). An identification device (6) for identifying a predetermined container (T) orbiting the transport path (4) in response to the identification device (5); ), A controller (7) for measuring the circling time of each container (T) in the transport path (4) based on the output signal from the container (T), and searching for a container having a circulating time equal to or longer than a predetermined time; ), Based on the output signal from the container (T), for notifying the container (T) whose circulation time in the conveyance path (4) has exceeded the set time. apparatus. 2. A food and beverage transport device comprising a transport path (4) for circulating and transporting a plurality of containers (T) containing food and beverage, wherein each of the containers (T) is identified by the container (T). An identification device (6) for identifying a predetermined container (T) orbiting the transport path (4) in response to the identification device (5); ), A controller (7) for measuring the circling time of each container (T) in the transport path (4) based on the output signal from the container (T), and searching for a container having a circulating time equal to or longer than a predetermined time; ), An evacuation device (9) for evacuation of the container (T) whose circulation time in the transport path (4) has exceeded the set time from the transport path (4) based on the output signal from the transport path (4). A food and drink conveying device characterized by the above-mentioned.