KR20010021339A - Conveying Method of Food Container and Apparatus Thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a conveyor for food and drink vessels which can convey the food and drink vessels without any delay even in a conveying passage provided with inclinations having upward gradients and downward gradienmts. CONSTITUTION: A conveyor 2 for conveying food and drink vessels comprises a circulating conveyor 2 running endlessly, a plurality of connecting arms journalled on the circulating conveyor 2 at equal intervals so as to be vertically rotatable, a first magnetic member 18 provided or each connecting arm so as to be vertically rotatable toward a direction opposite to the conveying direction of the circulating conveyor 2, a conveying passage 4 having a smooth surface provided endlessly along the circulating conveyor 2 and a flat base 5 containing a second magnetic member 19 which runs on the conveying path 4. Thus, while the first magnetic member 18 is vertically rotated with respect to the circulating conveyor 2 and the connecting arm by a magnetic force generated between the first magnetic member 18 and the second magnetic member 19 to be attracted to the second magnetic member 19, the flat base 5 is allowed to travel on the conveying passage 4 as the circulating conveyor 2 runs.

Description

Conveying Method of Food Container and Apparatus Thereof}

The present invention relates to a food conveying method and a conveying apparatus thereof.

As is well known, the food counter which puts the container which puts food in a stepless conveyance path which is connected to a counter, and puts it in a good circulation can cook it without a cook moving between a kitchen and a visitor, and a visitor sits It is widely used in restaurants selling sushi and the like because it is possible to select a desired food from among the foods being conveyed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 11-46959 discloses a conveying device for a food container used in a food counter, which is provided with a floating slide plate on a conveying path, and interlocks with a substrate reacting with a magnetic on the slide plate. While the food container is moved, the magnetically circulating movement is provided under the slide plate.

The conveying apparatus of the food container disclosed in the above publication circulates and transports the food container by a magnetic force generated between the substrate reacting to the magnetic provided on the slide plate and the circulating moving magnetic part installed under the slide plate. Since the installed magnetic does not move up and down, the magnetic force decreases when the distance between the substrate responding to the magnetic installed on the slide plate and the magnetic installed on the lower side of the slide plate increases due to the ups and downs of the conveying path. If there is no gap between the magnetic plate installed on the bottom of the slide plate and the slide plate can not be moved there was a problem that the magnetic can not move properly to the bottom of the slide plate. In addition, when the conveying device is installed, in consideration of the above problem, it is necessary to provide precision in order to make the distance between the substrate reacting to the magnetic installed on the slide plate and the magnetic installed on the lower portion of the slide plate difficult to install easily. .

Furthermore, there is a problem that it cannot be used for inclined circulation conveyance and cannot be used for a small counter facing counter because of the above problems.

Accordingly, the inventors of the present invention provide a circulating conveyance of the food container mounted on the conveying path surface by a magnetic force generated between the magnetic body provided on the conveying path surface and the magnetic substance provided below the conveying path, regardless of the ups and downs of the conveying path. As a result of repeated researches and experiments for the realization, the connecting arm which can be rotated up and down on the circulation conveyor installed at the lower part of the conveying path is condensed, and the magnetic material is moved up and down in the opposite direction to the conveying direction of the circulation conveyor. If it is installed in a rotatable direction, it is possible to obtain remarkable knowledge that the food container on the surface of the conveying path can be circulated and conveyed regardless of the ups and downs of the conveying path by rotating the connecting arm and the magnetic material. The technical problem was achieved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is explanatory drawing which showed the outline | summary of the conveyance apparatus of the food container which concerns on the form of the Example of this invention.

It is a front view of the conveyance apparatus of the food container shown in FIG.

3 is a plan view of the conveying apparatus for the food container shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a drive system of the U turn unit in the conveying apparatus for the food container shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

5 is a side view illustrating the movement of the connecting arm and the first magnetic body.

6 is a side view illustrating the movement of the connecting arm and the first magnetic body corresponding to the change of the distance between the transport path and the circulation conveyor.

7 is a side view illustrating the movement of the connecting arm and the first magnetic body corresponding to the change in the distance between the transport path and the circulation conveyor.

8 is a side view illustrating the movement of the connecting arm and the first magnetic body corresponding to the change in the distance between the transport path and the circulation conveyor.

9 is a side view illustrating the movement of the connecting arm and the first magnetic body corresponding to the change in the distance between the transport path and the circulation conveyor.

10 is a diagram illustrating the motion of the flat lathe.

It is a perspective view which shows a part of conveyance apparatus of the food container which concerns on the form of the Example of this invention.

** Description of symbols for the main parts of the drawing **

1: Carrier 2: Chain Conveyor (Circulating Conveyor)

3: leading part 4: return path

4a: Upper Carrier 4b: Lower Carrier

4c: U-turn carrier path (left side in FIG. 1)

4c ': U-turn carrier path (right side in FIG. 1)

5: flat lathe 6: food container

7: small-diameter cogwheel 8: parallel plate

9: axis 10: leaflet

11 motor 12 rotation shaft

13: drive gear 14: large diameter gear

15: installation jig 16: connection arm

16a: first 16b: the other end

17: loading plate 18: permanent magnet (first magnetic material)

19: permanent magnet (second magnetic material)

20: magnetic guide plate

The technical problem can be solved by the present invention as follows.

That is, in the conveying method of the food container according to the present invention, a plurality of connecting arms which can be rotated up and down in the endless circumferentially circulating conveyor are fixed at equal intervals, and each connecting arm has a first magnetic body of the circulating conveyor. It is installed so as to rotate in the up and down direction in the opposite direction to the conveying direction, and a conveying path having a smooth surface on which a flat shelf carrying food containers is placed above the circulating conveyor is disposed in contact with the circulating conveyor and arranged as an endless. The flat shelf incorporates a second magnetic body, and the first magnetic body and the second magnetic body have at least one of the magnets, and the first magnetic body is formed by a magnetic force generated between the first magnetic body and the second magnetic body. The piece is rotated in a vertical direction with respect to the circulation conveyor and the connecting arm and pulled closer to the second magnetic body. Along the rack in the transfer of the rotation to a conveyor so as to drive the side in the transport.

In addition, the present invention is a method for conveying the food container, the circulation conveyor is to run in parallel in the vertical direction, and both ends are to be U-turned in the horizontal plane.

In addition, the present invention is such that the second magnetic material is embedded in an eccentric position away from the center of the upper surface of the shelf in the conveying method of any of the food containers.

Further, in the conveying apparatus of the food container according to the present invention, the conveying direction of the circulating conveyor circulating at the endless, the plurality of connecting arms rotatable in the vertical direction condensed at equal intervals to the circulating conveyor, and the circulating conveyor for each connecting arm. Is placed above the first magnetic body and the circulating conveyor rotatably installed in the up and down direction toward the opposite direction, and is connected to the circulating conveyor and has a conveying path having a smooth surface disposed in the endless and the food container on the surface of the conveying path. A flat lathe having a built-in second magnetic material to be loaded and raced, wherein the first magnetic body and the second magnetic body are at least one of magnets, and the first magnetic body is formed by a magnetic force generated between the first magnetic body and the second magnetic body. Is rotated in the up and down direction with respect to the circulation conveyor and the connecting arm and attracted to the second magnetic material In the state to which the flat shelf of the running surface in the transport in accordance with the conveyance of the circulating conveyor.

Moreover, in this invention, in the conveying apparatus of the said food container, a circulation conveyor races in parallel in upper and lower sides, and is U-turning in a horizontal plane in both ends.

In addition, in the above-mentioned conveying apparatus of any food container, a 2nd magnetic body is built in the eccentric position away from the center of the shelf upper surface.

Further, the present invention is the conveying apparatus of any of the food containers, wherein the circulation conveyor is made of a nonmagnetic material.

In the present invention, in the conveying apparatus for any of the food containers, the circulating conveyor is made of a magnetic material, and the first magnetic body is placed on the nonmagnetic member.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First Embodiment

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The perspective view which shows the outline | summary of the conveying apparatus of the food container which concerns on the Example of this invention, FIG. 2 is a front view of the conveying apparatus of the food container shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the drive system of the U-turn unit in the food container conveying apparatus shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating the movement of the connecting arm and the first magnetic body, and FIGS. 6 to 9 Fig. 10 is a side view for explaining the movement of the connecting arm and the first magnetic body corresponding to the change of the distance between the conveying path and the circulation conveyor, and Fig. 10 is a view for explaining the movement of the flat lathe. 1 is rotatable in an up-down direction in a direction opposite to the conveying direction (arrow A direction) of the chain-conveyor (circular conveyor) 2 and the chain-conveyor 2 which races to endlessness. A conveying path 4 having a smooth surface disposed at an upper portion of the insulator part 3 and the chain conveyor 2 which are condensed at equal intervals to the crab chain-conveyor 2 and contacting the chain conveyor 2 and disposed at the endless side. ) And a food container 6 made of a flat shelf 5 placed on the conveying path 4.

The conveying path 4 is inclined downward from both ends of the lower conveying path 4b and the upper conveying path 4a which are provided in parallel below the upper conveying path 4a and the upper conveying path 4a. After folding the sheet at about intermediate height between the upper conveying path 4a and the lower conveying path 4b and folding it in a U shape on a horizontal plane, it is extended again to the height of the lower conveying path 4b so as to be inclined downward and then lowered to the lower conveying path ( It consists of U-turn conveyance paths 4c and 4c 'connected to 4b), The surface of this conveyance path 4 is a smooth surface, and the flat shelf 5 which loads the food container 6 on the smooth surface is carried out. ) (Hereinafter, simply referred to as 'shelf').

The chain-conveyor 2 is a chain formed in an endless phase by connecting both ends thereof, and the chain-conveyor 2 is located below the conveying path 4, and the upper conveying path 4a and FIG. In FIG. 1, the left U-turn conveyance path 4c and the lower conveyance path 4b and the right U-turn conveyance path 4c 'in FIG. 1 contact and cross. And at the location where the direction of the advancing direction of the chain-conveyor 2 changes, the guide gear is provided so that it may engage with the chain-conveyor 2, As shown in FIG. The wheels 7 are supported by the support shafts 9 fixed to the two parallel plates 8 mounted on the base of the conveying apparatus 1 (not shown in the drawing), and the chains of the wheels 7 The leaflet 10 which interposed the chain-conveyor 2 with the small diameter gear 7 is provided so that the conveyor 2 may not separate.

When the arrangement state of the said guide gear is demonstrated, in the position suitable for the U-turn conveyance path 4c, the small diameter gear 7 inclined in the conveyance direction to the place which becomes horizontal at the gradient and the downward gradient at the bottom. Is arranged, and the drive gear 13 which is condensed to the rotating shaft 12 of the motor 11 is arrange | positioned in the place which U-turns in a horizontal plane, and it is horizontal in the point which is gradientd from the horizontal to the bottom after U-turn, and is the horizontal in the gradient. The small cogwheel 7 inclined in the conveyance direction is arrange | positioned in the place which becomes a, and the lower conveyance path located below the upper conveyance path 4a at the position which reaches from the U-turn conveyance path 4c to the lower conveyance path 4b. Points bent at approximately right angles to (4b) and points small bend wheels (7) bent at approximately right angles are arranged so as to be oriented in the longitudinal direction of the lower conveyance paths (4b). At the position leading to the turn conveying path 4c ', the U-turn is the same. The small-diameter cogwheel 7 is arrange | positioned in the part bent at substantially right angle toward the conveyance path 4c ', and the point bendd at substantially right angle so as to face the U-turn conveyance path 4c', and the U-turn conveyance path 4c. At the position up to '), the small cog wheels 7 inclined in the opposite direction to the conveying direction are arranged at the point where the up gradient is horizontal and at the up gradient, and at the point U-turning in the horizontal plane, there is no support shaft (not shown). The large cog wheels 14, which are axially disposed, are disposed, and the small cog wheels 7 which are inclined in the opposite direction to the conveying direction are disposed at the point where the U-turn turns horizontally upward after the U-turn and the horizontal position at the upward gradient. have.

Therefore, the chain conveyor 2 circulates and conveys to the endless by the drive gear 13.

In addition, as shown in Fig. 5, the insole portion 3 is connected to the mounting jig 15 fixed to the chain conveyor 2 at equal intervals so that one end 16a is pivotally pivotable in the vertical direction. ) And on the upper surface of the stacking plate 17 and the stacking plate 17 which are rotatably pressed up and down in the direction opposite to the conveying direction of the chain conveyor 2 to the other end 16b of the connecting arm 16. It consists of a flat permanent magnet (first magnetic body) 18 fixed thereto.

Accordingly, the connecting arm 16 of the insole portion 3 rotates freely in the vertical direction with respect to the installation jig 15, and the mounting plate 17 which is fixed to the connecting arm 16 is connected to the connecting arm ( The permanent magnet 18 is rotated freely in the vertical direction around the other end 16b of 16), and the permanent magnet 18 fixed to the loading plate 17 is opposite to the conveying direction (arrow A direction) of the chain conveyor 2. Orientation, the permanent magnet 18 is free to rotate in the vertical direction with respect to the chain conveyor (2) and the connecting arm (16) in the up state.

10, the permanent magnet (second magnetic body) 19 is incorporated in a thin plate at an eccentric position away from the center of the upper surface of the shelf 5, as shown in FIG.

Accordingly, the permanent magnet 18 is connected to the chain conveyor 2 and the arm 16 by a magnetic force generated between the permanent magnet 19 embedded in the shelf 5 placed on the upper surface of the conveying path 4. Is rotated in the up and down direction with respect to the permanent magnet 19 to be brought into contact with the bottom surface of the conveying path 4 to be in a horizontal state (see FIG. 6), and the shelf 5 is transported in accordance with the circulation conveyance of the chain conveyor 2. The upper surface of the conveyance path 4 is made to drive. At the time of circulation conveyance, even if the distance between the conveyance path 4 and the chain conveyor 2 changes by the ups and downs of the conveyance path 4, it generate | occur | produces between the permanent magnet 18 and the permanent magnet 19. FIG. The connecting arm 16 rotates around the installation jig 15 by a magnetic force, and when the gap is widened, as the connecting arm 16 is vertically pulled up (see FIG. 7), the permanent magnet 18 And the distance between the permanent magnet 19 and the permanent magnet 19 are kept constant. Moreover, when the distance is widened, the permanent magnet 18 which is in contact with the bottom of the conveying path 4 in the horizontal state is the other end 16b of the connecting arm 16. The permanent magnet 19 is held on the permanent magnet 18 by tilting it in a state in which it rotates around the rear end of the permanent magnet 18 in contact with the bottom surface of the conveying path 4 (see FIG. 8). It becomes Moreover, when the space | interval becomes narrow, the connecting arm 16 will fall so that it may become horizontal (refer FIG. 9), and the insole part 3 will fit between the bottom face of the conveyance path 4 and the chain conveyor 2, and so on. There is no work.

In addition, since the permanent magnet 19 embedded in the shelf 5 is built in an eccentric position away from the center of the shelf 5, the shelf 5 is transported so that the permanent magnet 19 is located in the conveying direction. When placed on the upper surface of 4) (see FIG. 10 (a)), the center of the shelf 5 when the food container 6 is loaded on the shelf 5 ('ga' shown in FIG. 10) Is located at the rear of the permanent magnet 19, the center of gravity (heavy heart) is driven by the permanent magnet 19, the shelf (5) does not rotate. In addition, when the permanent magnet 19 is placed on the upper surface of the conveying path 4 so as to be located opposite to the conveying direction side (see FIG. 10B), the center of gravity of the shelf 5 is permanent. Since the center of gravity is located in front of the magnet 19 and the center of gravity is pressed by the permanent magnet 19, the running of the shelf 5 is disturbed by friction or obstacles with the surface of the conveying path 4. The running direction of the shelf 5 is changed and it deviates from a conveyance direction.

Next, the operation of the present invention will be described.

When the power of the motor 11 is turned on to drive the motor 11, the rotation in the horizontal plane by the motor 11 is transmitted to the chain conveyor 2 by placing the drive gear 13 and the chain conveyor 2. ) Is circulated and conveyed to the endless so as to contact the conveying path 4 by the engagement of the gears 7,... 14.

When the shelf 5 is placed so that the permanent magnet 19 is located on the conveying direction side at an arbitrary position on the upper surface of the conveying path 4, the insole which circulates under the conveying path 4 with the chain conveyor 2 is circulated. The part 3 approaches directly under the shelf 5, and is caused by the magnetic force generated between the permanent magnet 18 installed in the insole 3 and the permanent magnet 19 embedded in the shelf 5. The permanent magnet 18 is rotated up and down with respect to the chain conveyor 2 and the connecting arm 16 so that the permanent magnet 18 is lifted to contact the bottom surface of the conveying path 4, the shelf 5 is the insole According to the circulation movement of (3), the surface smooth surface of the conveyance path 4 is transferred through the upper conveyance path 4a, the U turn conveyance path 4c, the lower conveyance path 4b, and the U turn conveyance path 4c '. It runs circularly.

After placing the insole portion 3 and the same number of shelves 5 on the upper surface of the conveying path 4 as described above, when the food container 6 containing the food is placed on the shelf 5 in the kitchen, the food container (6) is circulated and conveyed toward the food counter of the upper conveyance path 4a where the guest is located, and thus, the visitor can select and eat a desired one from the foods which are circulated and circulated in order on the upper surface of the upper conveyance path 4a.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the connecting arm 16 pivotable up and down on the chain conveyor 2 provided below the conveying path 4 is condensed, and the permanent magnet, which is the first magnetic body, is connected to the connecting arm 16. Since the 18 is rotatably installed in a direction opposite to the conveying direction of the chain conveyor 2, the distance between the conveying path 4 and the chain conveyor 2 due to the ups and downs of the conveying path 4 is inclined. Regardless of the change, the food container 6 mounted on the upper surface of the conveying path 4 can be smoothly circulated.

In addition, according to the embodiment of the present invention, since the inclination can be provided in the conveying path 4, the conveying path 4 can be spaced up and down in parallel so that the conveying apparatus of the food container can be made smaller in space.

The permanent magnet 19, which is the second magnetic material thereon, is built in an eccentric position away from the center, which becomes the center of gravity when the food container 6 is mounted on the upper surface of the shelf 5, and thus the permanent magnet 19 When (19) is built in the center position of the shelf 5, when the shelf 5 encounters an obstacle, the movement of the shelf 5 which rotates centering on the obstacle can be prevented, and The shelf 5 is placed on the upper surface of the conveying path 4 so that the permanent magnet 19 can be positioned in the conveying direction. The shelf 5 is conveyed so that the permanent magnet 19 is located opposite to the conveying direction. When mounted on the upper surface of (4), the movement of the shelf 5 which changes the direction of a run can be prevented.

Moreover, as a magnetic body, magnets, such as a permanent magnet and an electromagnet, iron, nickel, cobalt, etc. attracted by the magnetic force of the magnet are preferable, and a 1st magnetic body and a 2nd magnetic body use a magnet for at least one magnetic body. The mounting plate 17 is made of a nonmagnetic material such as wood or resin.

In addition, the food container can be circulated and smoothly conveyed by covering the surface of the conveying path with a small coefficient of friction such as makeup plywood, wood, stone, stainless steel, glass, lacquer (including lacquer).

In addition, both ends of the conveyance path may be U-turned in the state which the gradient extended.

Furthermore, as the circulating conveyor, a chain made of nonmagnetic material such as a stainless steel chain or a plastic chain, or a chain, a V-belt, or a wire made of magnetic material such as an iron chain can be used. In the case where the V-belt is a circulation conveyor, the first magnetic body may be provided directly on the connecting arm.

In addition, when using a V-belt or wire, a pulley may be used instead of a gear.

Second Embodiment

11 is a perspective view showing a part of a food container conveying apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. It is a magnetic guide plate which abuts and arrange | positioned on the chain conveyor 2 in the state which faced the permanent magnet 18 side surface.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the permanent magnet 18 is attracted to the magnetic guide plate 20, or because the insole portion 3 is running in contact with the magnetic guide plate 20 caused by the shaking caused by the running of the insole portion 3 Noise can be suppressed.

In addition, the magnetic guide plate 20 may be a plate magnet or an iron plate.

According to the present invention, it is a conveying path provided with a slope having an upward gradient and a downward gradient, but since the food container can be conveyed without clogging, it can also be set to a small counter.

Therefore, it can be said that the industrial applicability of this invention is very high.

Claims (10)

A plurality of connecting arms rotatable in up and down directions are fixed at equal intervals to the circulating conveyor that runs through the endless, and the first magnetic body is installed on each connecting arm so as to be able to rotate up and down in a direction opposite to the conveying direction of the circulating conveyor. Above the circulation conveyor, a conveying path having a smooth surface on which a flat shelf carrying food containers is arranged is arranged in an endless connection with the circulation conveyor, and a second magnetic material is embedded in the flat shelf to provide the first magnetic material and the second magnetic material. At least one of the magnetic bodies is a magnet, and the first magnetic body is rotated in the vertical direction with respect to the circulation conveyor and the connecting arm by the magnetic force generated between the first magnetic body and the second magnetic body to the second magnetic body. When the flat lathe is driven on the conveying path surface in accordance with the conveying of the circulation conveyor in the pulled state Carrying method of the food container, characterized in that the. The food container conveyance method according to claim 1, wherein the circulation conveyor is rotated up and down in parallel, and both ends are U-turned in a horizontal plane. The food container conveyance method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second magnetic material is embedded in an eccentric position away from the center of the upper surface of the flat shelf. The first and the first rotationally rotatable circulating conveyors and the plurality of connecting arms rotatable in the same direction at regular intervals and connected to the circulating conveyors are rotatably installed in the up and down direction opposite to the conveying direction of the circulating conveyor. A conveying path having a smooth surface which is disposed above the magnetic material and the circulating conveyor and smoothly disposed on the circulating conveyor, and a flat shelf containing a second magnetic material that carries the food container on the surface of the conveying path. At least one of the first magnetic body and the second magnetic body is a magnet, and the first magnetic body rotates in the vertical direction with respect to the circulation conveyor and the connecting arm by a magnetic force generated between the first magnetic body and the second magnetic body. When the flat lathe is pulled to the second magnetic material, the flat lathe A conveying apparatus for a food container, which travels on a plane surface of the conveying path. 5. The conveying apparatus of the food container of Claim 4 characterized by the circulation conveyor running in parallel up and down and U-turning in the horizontal plane at both ends. The food container conveyance apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the second magnetic body is embedded in an eccentric position away from the center of the upper surface of the shelf. The food container conveying apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the circulation conveyor is made of a nonmagnetic material. The food container conveying apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the circulation conveyor is made of a nonmagnetic material. The food container conveyance apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the circulation conveyor is made of a magnetic material and the second magnetic material is placed on a nonmagnetic material. 7. The food container conveying apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the circulation conveyor is made of a magnetic material and the second magnetic material is placed on the nonmagnetic material.