TWI777338B - Customized Diet Conveyor - Google Patents

Abstract

The present application discloses a custom-made food delivery device, which can detect food and drink dishes with high precision through an optical sensor. The present invention includes: a main belt conveyor, which forms a conveying path from the kitchen side of the restaurant to the guest seats; and a sub belt conveyor, which is extended on the kitchen side of the main belt conveyor, and is formed from the main belt conveyor. The deviated position on the extension line of the conveying path forms the conveying path; the intermediate belt conveyor is arranged between the main belt conveyor and the auxiliary belt conveyor; the guide member is arranged on the intermediate belt conveyor, which will be placed on the intermediate belt conveyor. The plate of food and drink on the intermediate belt conveyor is guided from the end of the sub-belt to the beginning of the main belt; and the optical sensor for the main belt detects that it is placed on the main belt The presence or absence of plates of food and drink on the conveyor, the light-receiving part or the light-emitting part of the optical sensor is arranged on the extension line on the kitchen side in the conveyance path formed by the main belt conveyor.

Description

Customized Diet Conveyor

The present invention relates to a customized diet delivery device.

In recent years, food and drink using a conveying device has been provided in restaurants (for example, refer to Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2016-152904

In the case of conveying a customized meal, for example, it is conceivable to place a plate of the meal on a belt conveyor from the kitchen to the guest seat and convey it. However, when the conveyance path from the kitchen to the guest seat is formed by one belt conveyor, the next plate cannot be placed on the belt conveyor in the kitchen while the plate is being conveyed to the guest seat by the belt conveyor. on the conveyor. Therefore, it is difficult to efficiently provide the customized diet. In particular, when the route of the belt conveyor to the guest seat is long, the operation time of the belt conveyor is long, and thus the efficiency of providing the ordered meal is remarkably lowered.

Therefore, in order to efficiently load food and drink on the belt conveyor in the kitchen, it is conceivable to extend the belt conveyor on the kitchen side. When the belt conveyor on the side of the guest seat moves, the belt conveyor on the kitchen side stops, so that the plate of the food and drink to be conveyed next can be placed. In the case of adopting such a system configuration, in order to detect that the plate of food and drink placed on the belt conveyor on the side of the guest seat is picked up by the guest seat, for example, the use of the longitudinal direction of the belt conveyor is used. Optical sensors that emit detection light are reasonable. However, since this sensor needs a plate that does not detect food and drink placed on the belt conveyor on the kitchen side, the light-receiving part or the light-emitting part is arranged on the belt conveyor on the kitchen side and the belt conveyor on the guest seat side. between machines. Furthermore, in order to prevent the plate of food and drink conveyed by the belt conveyor from coming into contact with the sensor, for example, it is necessary to make the sensor movable.

However, since the light-receiving part and the light-emitting part of the optical sensor need to be precisely positioned, if part or all of the sensor is movable, the mechanism may be complicated and the detection of the sensor may be poor.

Therefore, the present invention discloses a customized food delivery device capable of detecting a food tray with high accuracy through an optical sensor.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the present invention, the conveyance path is formed by the sub-belt conveyor at a position deviated from the extension line of the conveyance path from the kitchen side formed by the main belt conveyor to the guest seat, and the two belt conveyors An intermediate belt conveyor and a guide are provided between the conveyors, and the intermediate belt conveyor has both an extension line reaching the conveying path formed by the main belt conveyor and an extension line of the conveying path formed by the sub belt conveyor. Horizontal width, the guide guides the food and drink plates placed on the intermediate belt conveyor from the end portion of the sub belt conveyor to the beginning end portion of the main belt conveyor, and the detection is placed on the main belt conveyor. The light-receiving part or the light-emitting part of the optical sensor for the presence or absence of a plate of food and drink on the conveyor is arranged on the extension line on the kitchen side in the conveyance path formed by the main belt conveyor.

In detail, the present invention provides a customized food conveying device, comprising: a main belt conveyor, which forms a conveying path from the kitchen side of the restaurant to the guest seats; and a sub belt conveyor, which is located on the kitchen side of the main belt conveyor. The extension is arranged to form a conveying path at a position deviated from the extension line of the conveying path formed by the main belt conveyor; The lateral width of the extension line of the conveying path formed by the belt conveyor and the extension line of the conveying path formed by the auxiliary belt conveyor; the guide member is arranged on the intermediate belt conveyor and will be placed on the intermediate belt conveyor. The plate of food and drink is guided from the end of the sub-belt conveyor to the start of the main belt conveyor; and the optical sensor for the main belt conveyor detects the food and drink placed on the main belt conveyor The light-receiving part or the light-emitting part of the optical sensor is arranged on the extension line on the kitchen side in the conveyance path formed by the main belt conveyor.

In the case of the above-mentioned custom-made food and drink conveying device, the intermediate belt conveyor and the guide can eliminate the sub-belt conveyor on the extension line of the conveying path of the main belt conveyor. The light-receiving part or the light-emitting part of the optical sensor of the presence or absence of the plate on the plane does not interfere with the way of the plate. In addition, the light-receiving part or the light-emitting part of the optical sensor does not need to be movable to avoid contact with the plate, so the mechanism is complicated and the possibility of detection failure by the sensor is low.

In addition, the guide may guide the plate of food and drink placed on the intermediate conveyor in a direction inclined with respect to the conveying direction of the intermediate conveyor. In addition, the guide may be fixed to the intermediate belt conveyor. Thereby, the intermediate belt conveyor can be set as a mechanism which operates in the same conveyance direction as the main belt conveyor.

In addition, the main belt conveyor may include: a first main belt conveyor forming a first conveyance path from the kitchen side of the restaurant to the guest seats; and a second main belt conveyor forming a path from the kitchen of the restaurant The second conveying path on the side to the guest seat, the guide has a movable mechanism, and the movable mechanism can move the plate of food and drink placed on the intermediate belt conveyor from the end portion of the sub belt conveyor to the first main belt conveyor. The first state in which the leading end portion of the conveyor is guided and the second state in which the food and beverage plates placed on the intermediate belt conveyor are guided from the end portion of the secondary belt conveyor to the beginning end portion of the second main belt conveyor. change between states. As a result, even when the plate is placed on either the first main belt conveyor or the second main belt conveyor, the plate to be conveyed next can be placed on the sub belt conveyor. , the conveyance of the dishes using the other main belt conveyor can be started immediately. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently deliver the ordered meals to the guest seats.

In addition, the made-to-order meal conveying apparatus may further include a control device, and when a conveyance start operation is performed, the control device may operate the sub-belt conveyor, the intermediate belt conveyor, and the main belt conveyor, and place the Plates of food and drink on the sub-belt conveyor are conveyed to the guest seats, and if the plate of food and drink is loaded from the sub-belt conveyor via the intermediate belt conveyor to the guest seat due to the conveyance start operation On the main belt conveyor, the control device causes the sub belt conveyor to be in a stopped state in which a plate to be conveyed next can be placed on the sub belt conveyor before the main belt conveyor stops. Thereby, while the main belt conveyor is conveying the food and drink trays, the other food and drink trays can be placed on the sub-belt conveyor, so that the food and drink can be efficiently conveyed.

In addition, the above-mentioned customized food and drink conveying device may further include a photographing device for photographing an intermediate belt conveyor. If it is such a customized food and drink conveying apparatus, the state of the food and drink conveyed by the belt conveyor can be confirmed by an image.

In the case of the above-mentioned custom-made food and drink delivery device, the optical sensor can detect the plate of food and drink with high accuracy.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. The embodiment shown below is one form of the present invention and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention. The respective embodiments and modifications shown below are suitable for restaurants that provide various kinds of food such as sushi, drinks, rice bowls such as soba and udon, fried chicken, and tempura to customers eating and drinking in the restaurant, for example. .

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a customized food and drink delivery apparatus 10 according to the embodiment. The order food delivery device 10 is a device for conveying the plate 1 of the food and drink prepared by receiving the order of the customer from the kitchen 2 of the restaurant to the customer seat 3. As shown in FIG. 1, the order food delivery device 10 is formed by the customer. The conveyance path beside each guest seat 3 of food and drink. The custom-made food conveying apparatus 10 includes a main belt conveyor 20 that forms a conveyance path from the kitchen 2 side of the restaurant to the guest seats 3 , and a sub belt conveyor 30 that extends on the kitchen 2 side of the main belt conveyor 20 . Set so that the conveying path is extended. In addition, in the present embodiment, the main belt conveyor 20 is formed in a linear shape, but the main belt conveyor 20 may be formed into a conveyance path having a corner portion by combining a plurality of main belt conveyors 20 .

The sub-belt conveyor 30 extended on the kitchen 2 side of the main belt conveyor 20 forms a conveyance path at a position deviated from the extension line of the conveyance path formed by the main belt conveyor 20 . Further, between the main belt conveyor 20 and the sub belt conveyor 30, an intermediate belt conveyor 30M is provided, and the intermediate belt conveyor 30M has an extension line reaching the conveying path formed by the main belt conveyor 20. The lateral width on both sides of the extension line of the conveyance path formed with the sub-belt conveyor 30 . In addition, guides 30G1 and 30G2 are fixed to the intermediate belt conveyor 30M, and the guides 30G1 and 30G2 guide the plate 1 placed on the intermediate belt conveyor 30M from the end portion of the sub-belt conveyor 30 . It is guided to the start end of the main belt conveyor 20 . Since the sub-belt conveyor 30 extended on the kitchen 2 side of the main belt conveyor 20 forms a conveying path at a position deviated from the extension line of the conveying path formed by the main belt conveyor 20, it is conveyed toward the intermediate belt. When viewed in the conveyance direction (the belt movement direction) of the machine 30M, the position of the start end portion of the main belt conveyor 20 is displaced in the lateral direction with respect to the end portion of the sub belt conveyor 30 . Therefore, the guides 30G1 and 30G2 form guides inclined with respect to the conveyance direction of the intermediate belt conveyor 30M on the intermediate belt conveyor 30M.

In addition, the customized food delivery device 10 includes an optical sensor 24 . The optical sensor 24 is an optical sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the plate 1 of food and drink placed on the main belt conveyor 20, and has a light-receiving part 24J and a light-emitting part 24H. The light receiving unit 24J is arranged on the kitchen 2 side of the main belt conveyor 20 . In addition, the light-emitting portion 24H is fixed to the end portion of the main conveyor 20 on the side of the guest seat 3 . The optical sensor 24 detects whether the light-receiving part 24J on the kitchen 2 side receives the light emitted by the light-emitting part 24H from the guest seat 3 side of the main conveyor 20 to the kitchen 2 side, and detects that the light-emitting part 24 is placed on the main belt conveyor 20 . The presence or absence of plate 1 on the diet. When the plate 1 of food and drink is placed on the main belt conveyor 20, the light emitted from the light emitting part 24H toward the light receiving part 24J is blocked by the plate 1 before reaching the light receiving part 24J. In addition, the positional relationship between the light receiving portion 24J and the light emitting portion 24H may be reversed.

In addition, the customized food delivery device 10 includes an optical sensor 34 . The optical sensor 34 is an optical sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the plate 1 of food and drink placed on the sub-belt conveyor 30, and has a light-receiving part 34J and a light-emitting part 34H. The light receiving unit 34J is arranged in the vicinity of the end portion of the sub-belt conveyor 30 on the side of the guest seat 3 . Moreover, the light-emitting part 34H is arrange|positioned in the edge part vicinity of the opposite side of the sub-belt conveyor 30. The optical sensor 34 detects the presence or absence of the plate 1 of food and drink placed on the sub-belt conveyor 30 based on whether or not the light-receiving part 34J has received the light emitted by the light-emitting part 34H. When the plate 1 with food and drink is placed on the sub-belt conveyor 30, the light emitted from the light-emitting portion 34H to the light-receiving portion 34J is blocked by the plate 1 before reaching the light-receiving portion 34J. In addition, the positional relationship between the light-receiving portion 34J and the light-emitting portion 34H may be reversed.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the sub-belt conveyor 30 . The sub-belt conveyor 30, which is extended on the kitchen 2 side of the main belt conveyor 20 and is arranged so as to extend the conveyance path of the main belt conveyor 20, has a sub-belt conveyor 30 capable of conveying the dishes 1 along the sub-belt conveyor 30. Multiple (for example, 4) lengths are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the conveying path. In addition, an operation panel (not shown) for accepting various operations is provided in the vicinity of the sub-belt conveyor 30 . Furthermore, as can be understood by looking at FIG. 2 , the intermediate belt conveyor 30M utilizes the first roller arranged near the end portion of the secondary belt conveyor 30 and the first roller arranged at the start end portion of the main belt conveyor 20 . A belt conveyor that transports dishes 1 between the adjacent second rollers. In addition, since the guides 30G1 and 30G2 are provided on the conveying surface of the intermediate belt conveyor 30M, when the intermediate belt conveyor 30M operates, the plate 1 and the guides placed on the intermediate belt conveyor 30M are moved. 30G1 and 30G2 come into contact with each other and move obliquely from the end portion of the sub-belt conveyor 30 toward the start end portion of the main belt conveyor 20 .

The drive motors that drive the main belt conveyor 20 and the sub belt conveyor 30 are controlled by a not-shown control device, and are controlled based on the operation contents input to the operation panel and the signals from the respective sensors. Hereinafter, the operation|movement of the made-to-order food delivery apparatus 10 by a control apparatus is demonstrated.

When a conveyance start operation is performed on the operation panel, the control device of the custom-made meal conveying apparatus 10 operates the sub-belt conveyor 30, the intermediate belt conveyor 30M, and the main belt conveyor 20, and puts the The plate 1 of food and drink on the conveyor 30 is conveyed to the guest seat 3 .

FIG. 3 shows a control flowchart executed when the conveyance start operation is performed. The control device of the customized meal delivery device 10 determines whether or not a table selection operation has been performed on the operation panel ( S101 ). The selection of the table can be performed automatically based on the information provided from the system which receives the order from the terminal of the guest seat 3 . When the control device detects that a table selection operation has been performed in the process of step S101 , it will next determine whether or not an operation to start conveyance has been performed ( S102 ). Then, when the control device detects that the operation to start conveyance has been performed in the process of step S102 , the control device operates the main belt conveyor 20 , the intermediate belt conveyor 30M, and the sub belt conveyor 30 ( S103 ).

After executing the process of step S103 , the control device determines whether or not all the plates 1 placed on the sub-conveyor 30 are placed on the main conveyor 20 ( S104 ). The determination by the control device as to whether or not all the dishes 1 placed on the sub-belt conveyor 30 are placed on the main belt conveyor 20 may be determined based on, for example, the optical sensor 34, or may be based on setting It can be judged based on the detection result of the sensor in the vicinity of the boundary of the sub-belt conveyor 30 and the main belt conveyor 20, or it can also judge based on the elapsed time since the sub-belt conveyor 30 was activated. When an affirmative determination is made in the process of step S104 , the control device stops the intermediate belt conveyor 30M and the sub-belt conveyor 30 ( S105 ).

After executing the process of step S105 , the control device determines whether or not the plate 1 has reached the selected table ( S106 ). The control device may determine whether or not the plate 1 has reached the dining table, for example, based on the detection result of a sensor installed near the dining table, or may be based on the elapsed time from the start of conveyance preset for each table position. judge. When an affirmative determination is made in the process of step S106 , the control device stops the main belt conveyor 20 ( S107 ).

After executing the process of step S107 , the control device determines whether or not all the dishes 1 placed on the main belt conveyor 20 have been removed based on the information of the optical sensor 24 ( S108 ). When an affirmative determination is made in the process of step S108, the control device executes the process of step S101 and subsequent steps again.

In addition, when a negative determination is made in any of steps S101 and S102, the control device omits the processing after step S103, and executes the processing after step S101 again.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing movement of the plate 1 during conveyance. When a conveyance start request is made, as shown in FIG. 4(A) , the main belt conveyor 20 , the intermediate belt conveyor 30M, and the sub belt conveyor 30 are operated, and the main belt conveyor 20 , and the sub belt conveyor 30 are placed on the sub belt conveyor 30 . The upper plates 1 are sequentially sent out to the intermediate belt conveyor 30M. As shown in FIG. 4(B) , the dishes 1 sent out from the end portion of the sub-belt conveyor 30 to the intermediate belt conveyor 30M are guided to the start end portion of the main belt conveyor 20 by the guides 30G1 and 30G2 . Then, as shown in FIG. 4(C) , the plate 1 sent out from the intermediate belt conveyor 30M to the main belt conveyor 20 moves toward the guest seat 3 at the conveyance destination on the main belt conveyor 20 . Then, as shown in (D) of FIG. 4 , the plate 1 conveyed by the main belt conveyor 20 arrives at the guest seat 3 of the conveyance destination soon and stops. Then, if the guest at the guest seat 3 removes the plate 1 and all the plates 1 disappear from the main belt conveyor 20, a positive judgment is made in step S108.

The main contents of the operation realized by the control device of the customized meal delivery device 10 are as described above. In the above-described food and drink conveying apparatus 10, if all the plates 1 placed on the sub-conveyor 30 are placed on the main belt conveyor 20, even when the main belt conveyor 20 is operating During this period, the sub-belt conveyor 30 is also stopped, so that the staff of the kitchen 2 can immediately place the next plate 1 on the sub-belt conveyor 30 . Therefore, even when there are many orders for food and drink, the ordered food and drink can be efficiently delivered to the guest seats. Such an effect produced by the above-mentioned custom-made food conveying apparatus 10 is particularly remarkable in a restaurant with a long conveying path formed by the main belt conveyor 20 .

Furthermore, in the case of the custom-made food and drink conveying apparatus 10 of the above-described embodiment, there is no sub-belt conveyor 30 on the extension line of the conveyance path of the main belt conveyor 20 via the intermediate belt conveyor 30M and the guides 30G1 and 30G2 Therefore, the light-receiving portion 24J of the optical sensor 24 for detecting the presence or absence of the plate 1 placed on the main belt conveyor 20 and the detection of the presence or absence of the plate 1 placed on the sub belt conveyor 30 The light-receiving portion 34J of the optical sensor 34 does not obstruct the passage of the plate 1 . In addition, the light-receiving portion 24J of the optical sensor 24 and the light-receiving portion 34J of the optical sensor 34 do not need to be movable in order to avoid contact with the plate 1, which leads to complication of the mechanism and detection of the sensor. The possibility of bad is also low.

<First Variation>

However, the made-to-order food and drink delivery apparatus 10 of the said embodiment may be deformed as follows, for example.

FIG. 5 is an overall configuration diagram of the customized food and drink delivery apparatus 10 according to the first modification. In the customized food delivery apparatus 10 of the present modification, the branch passage 40 is provided in each of the guest seats 3 . The branch passage 40 is provided beside the conveyance path formed by the main belt conveyor 20, and branches from the conveyance path to form a downwardly inclined path. The branch passage 40 is a plate 1 on which the food and drink branched from the conveyance route of the main belt conveyor 20 is exchanged by an outgoing route changing device 50 provided in a branch portion separated from the conveyance route formed by the main belt conveyor 20 to the branch passage 40 . The channel is arranged along the conveying path formed by the main belt conveyor 20 . The branch passage 40 is formed by a set of rotatable conveying rollers. The branch passage 40 forms a downwardly inclined path that branches from the conveying path of the main belt conveyor 20 to the side and follows the conveying path of the main belt conveyor 20. Therefore, when the plate 1 is placed, the rollers roll and the food is The disk 1 approaches to the terminal side of the branch channel 40 . For example, the branch passage 40 may be installed at a dining table for a counter seat.

The outgoing route changing device 50 can guide the plate 1 of food and drink conveyed by the main belt conveyor 20 to the branch passage 40 side by causing the outgoing route changing member to enter and exit from the side on the conveyance path formed by the main belt conveyor 20 . The outgoing route changing device 50 operates an outgoing route changing member by a built-in rotary solenoid (not shown). In addition, the path changing device 50 is not limited to using a rotary solenoid as a drive source, and, for example, an electric motor and various other drive sources may be applied.

FIG. 6 shows a control flowchart executed when the conveyance start operation is performed in the first modification. The control device of the customized food delivery device 10 of the present modification determines whether or not a table selection operation has been performed on the operation panel ( S201 ). Then, when the control device detects that a table selection operation has been performed in the process of step S201 , it will next determine whether or not an operation to start conveyance has been performed ( S202 ). Then, when the control device detects that the conveyance start operation has been performed in the process of step S202, the control device operates the outgoing route changing device 50 provided at the branch point that branches to the branch passage 40 provided at the selected dining table, and activates the outgoing route changing means. It extends to the main belt conveyor 20 ( S203 ). Then, the control device operates the main belt conveyor 20 , the intermediate belt conveyor 30M, and the sub belt conveyor 30 ( S204 ).

After executing the process of step S204, the control device determines whether or not all the plates 1 placed on the sub-belt conveyor 30 are placed on the main belt conveyor 20 via the intermediate belt conveyor 30M (S205). When an affirmative determination is made in the process of step S205, the control apparatus stops the intermediate belt conveyor 30M and the sub-belt conveyor 30 (S206).

After executing the process of step S206 , the control device determines whether or not the plate 1 is close to the branch point that branches to the branch passage 40 located at the selected table ( S207 ). The control device may determine whether or not the plate 1 is approaching the branch point, for example, based on the detection result of a sensor provided in the vicinity of the branch point, or may be based on the start of conveyance, which is preset for the position of each branch point. Judging by the elapsed time. When an affirmative determination is made in the process of step S207, the control device decelerates the main belt conveyor 20 (S208).

After executing the process of step S208, the control device determines whether or not all the dishes 1 placed on the main belt conveyor 20 have moved to the branch passage 40 based on the information of the optical sensor 24 (S209). Then, when an affirmative determination is made in the process of step S207, the control device stops the main belt conveyor 20, retracts the outgoing route changing member of the outgoing route changing device 50 from the main belt conveyor 20, and executes the execution again. Processes after step S201. (S210).

In addition, when a negative determination is made in any of steps S201 and S202, the control device omits the processing after step S203, and executes the processing after step S201 again.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the movement of the plate 1 at the time of conveyance according to the first modification. When a conveyance start request is made, as shown in FIG. 7(A) , the main belt conveyor 20 , the intermediate belt conveyor 30M, and the sub belt conveyor 30 operate, and the main belt conveyor 30 is placed on the sub belt conveyor 30 . The upper plates 1 are sequentially sent out to the intermediate belt conveyor 30M. As shown in FIG.7(B), the plate 1 sent out to the intermediate belt conveyor 30M from the terminal end part of the sub-belt conveyor 30 is guided to the start-end part of the main belt conveyor 20 by guides 30G1 and 30G2. Then, as shown in FIG. 7(C) , the plate 1 sent out from the intermediate belt conveyor 30M to the main belt conveyor 20 moves toward the guest seat 3 at the conveying destination by the main belt conveyor 20 , and The outgoing route changing member of the outgoing route changing device 50 contacts and is guided to the branch passage 40 . Then, as shown in FIG. 7(D) , the plate 1 guided to the branch passage 40 stops on the branch passage 40 of the guest seat 3 located at the conveyance destination. In this modification, if all the plates 1 sent out from the sub-conveyor 30 to the main belt conveyor 20 via the intermediate belt conveyor 30M move from the main belt conveyor 20 to the branch passage 40, the A positive judgment is made in step S209.

The main contents of the operation realized by the control device of the customized meal delivery device 10 of the modified example are as described above. In this modification, as in the above-described embodiment, the sub-belt conveyor 30 is stopped even while the main belt conveyor 20 is in operation, so that the worker in the kitchen 2 can immediately place the next plate 1 on the sub-belt on the conveyor 30. In addition, since there is no sub-belt conveyor 30 on the extension line of the conveyance path of the main belt conveyor 20 by the intermediate belt conveyor 30M and the guides 30G1 and 30G2, it is detected that the sub-belt conveyor 30 is placed on the main belt conveyor 20. The light-receiving part 24J of the optical sensor 24 for the presence or absence of the plate 1 and the light-receiving part 34J of the optical sensor 34 for detecting the presence or absence of the plate 1 placed on the sub-belt conveyor 30 do not interfere with the plate 1 way to go. In addition, the light-receiving portion 24J of the optical sensor 24 and the light-receiving portion 34J of the optical sensor 34 do not need to be movable in order to avoid contact with the plate 1 , which leads to complication of the mechanism and detection of the sensor. The possibility of bad is also low.

<Second modification>

In addition, the made-to-order meal delivery apparatus 10 of the said embodiment may be deformed as follows, for example.

FIG. 8 is an overall configuration diagram of the customized meal delivery device 10 according to the second modification. Two main belt conveyors 20 are installed in parallel in the order food and drink conveying apparatus 10 of this modification. In addition, the guides 30G1 and 30G2 are rod-shaped, and are movable mechanisms capable of changing the guide direction while maintaining a state in which they are parallel to each other. That is, the guides 30G1 and 30G2 can switch the path for guiding the plate 1 from the end portion of the sub-belt conveyor 30 to the beginning end portion of the main belt conveyor 20 to the two main belts by a motor or the like controlled by the control device. any one of the conveyors 20 (an example of the "first state" and the "second state" referred to in this application).

According to the customized food and drink conveying apparatus 10 of the present modification, even when the plate 1 is placed on the main belt conveyor 20 of either of the two main belt conveyors 20, the When the plate 1 to be conveyed down is placed on the sub-belt conveyor 30, the conveyance of the plate 1 using the other main belt conveyor 20 can be started immediately. Therefore, according to this modification, the ordered food and drink can be efficiently delivered to the guest seat.

<Third modification example>

In addition, the made-to-order meal delivery apparatus 10 of the said embodiment may be deformed as follows, for example.

FIG. 9 is an overall configuration diagram of a customized food and drink delivery device 10 according to a third modification. Similar to the second modification, the custom-made food and drink conveying apparatus 10 of the present modification is provided with two main belt conveyors 20 in parallel. However, the guides 30G1 and 30G2 are fixed similarly to the embodiment, and do not become movable mechanisms like the second modification. In addition, the guide 30G1 forms a guide inclined toward the start end portion of the main belt conveyor 20 on the left side in the conveying direction. In addition, the guide 30G2 forms a guide inclined toward the start end portion of the main belt conveyor 20 on the right side in the conveying direction. In the present modification, the plate 1 placed on the intermediate belt conveyor 30M is changed in its path by the movable guide 30GC that swings on the intermediate belt conveyor 30M. That is, the guide 30GC is a rod-shaped guide that can swing around a movable mechanism provided between the start ends of the two main belt conveyors 20, and can be moved by a motor or the like controlled by a control device. The path for guiding the plate 1 from the end portion of the sub-belt conveyor 30 to the beginning end portion of the main belt conveyor 20 is switched to any one of the two main belt conveyors 20 (the "first" in this application an example of "state" and "second state").

In the case of the customized food and drink conveying apparatus 10 of the present modification, even when the plate 1 is placed on the main belt conveyor 20 of either of the two main belt conveyors 20, as in the second modification example In this state, if the plate 1 to be conveyed next is placed on the sub-belt conveyor 30, the conveyance of the plate 1 using the other main belt conveyor 20 can be started immediately. Therefore, according to this modification, the ordered food and drink can be efficiently delivered to the guest seat.

<Fourth Variation>

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the sub-belt conveyor of the made-to-order food and drink conveying device of the fourth modification. In addition to the sensor for controlling the delivery device, the customized meal delivery device 10 may include, for example, a sensor for monitoring the state of eating and drinking. For example, as shown in FIG. 10 , the customized food delivery device 10 is further provided with a camera S9 that photographs the plate 1 placed on the intermediate belt conveyor 30M. If the ordered-meal conveying apparatus 10 is provided with such a camera S9, since an image of the plate 1 passing through the intermediate belt conveyor 30M can be acquired, it is possible to detect, for example, an automatic analysis of the image acquired by the camera S9. Whether or not there is any abnormality in the appearance of the food and drink fed from the belt conveyor 20 .

The camera S9 may be a camera that always photographs the food and drink placed on the intermediate conveyor 30M, or may be a camera that photographs simultaneously with the operation of the intermediate conveyor 30M. The image acquired by the camera S9 can be used to confirm the overturning of the sushi placed on the plate 4, the positional deviation of the ingredients placed on the sushi rice, and the presence or absence of various other abnormalities. The image may be an image referred to by a kitchen worker during visual monitoring, or an image referred to by an image analysis device that analyzes the image and determines whether or not there is an abnormality.

In addition, the image acquired by the camera S9 can also be used for the state monitoring of a belt conveyor, for example. The image acquired by the camera S9 can be used for sensing various abnormalities such as dirt on the belt surface of the belt conveyor, damage to the belt itself such as belt rips, and foreign matter entering the gap of the belt conveyor.

<Other Variations>

In addition, the made-to-order meal delivery apparatus 10 of the said embodiment and a modification can be combined suitably. For example, the customized food and drink conveying apparatus 10 may be provided with two or more main belt conveyors 20 , intermediate belt conveyors 30M, and sub belt conveyors 30 , respectively. In addition, the intermediate belt conveyor 30M can also be used as a stand-by part of the plate 1 before being sent out to the main belt conveyor 20 .

1: dinner plate 2: Kitchen 3: Guest seating 10: Customized food delivery device 20: Main belt conveyor 24: Optical sensor 24H: Light-emitting part 24J: Receiver 30: Sub-belt conveyor 30G1, 30G2, 30GC: Guides 30M: Intermediate belt conveyor 34: Optical sensor 34H: light-emitting part 34J: Light receiving part 40: Branch channel 50: Path change device S9: Camera

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a customized food and drink delivery apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the sub-belt conveyor.

FIG. 3 shows a control flowchart executed when the conveyance start operation is performed.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing movement of a plate during conveyance.

FIG. 5 is an overall configuration diagram of a customized food and drink delivery device according to a first modification.

FIG. 6 shows a control flowchart executed when the conveyance start operation is performed in the first modification.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the movement of the plate during transport according to the first modification.

FIG. 8 is an overall configuration diagram of a customized food and drink delivery device according to a second modification.

FIG. 9 is an overall configuration diagram of a customized food and drink delivery device according to a third modification.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the sub-belt conveyor of the made-to-order food and drink conveying device of the fourth modification.

1: dinner plate

2: Kitchen

3: Guest seating

10: Customized food delivery device

20: Main belt conveyor

24: Optical sensor

24H: Light-emitting part

24J: Receiver

30: Sub-belt conveyor

30G1, 30G2: Guides

30M: Intermediate belt conveyor

34: Optical sensor

34H: light-emitting part

34J: Light receiving part

Claims (6)

A customized catering conveying device comprising: a main belt conveyor forming a conveying path from a kitchen side of a restaurant to a guest seat; an auxiliary belt conveyor extending on the kitchen side of the main belt conveyor A conveying path parallel to the extension direction of the conveying path formed by the main belt conveyor is formed at a position deviated from the extension line of the conveying path formed by the main belt conveyor; the intermediate belt conveyor is arranged Between the main belt conveyor and the sub belt conveyor, there is an extension line reaching the conveying path formed by the main belt conveyor and an extension line of the conveying path formed by the sub belt conveyor. The lateral width of both sides; the guide is a member fixed to the intermediate belt conveyor, and guides the plate of food and drink placed on the intermediate belt conveyor from the end portion of the sub-belt conveyor guide to the start end of the main belt conveyor; and an optical sensor for the main belt conveyor for detecting the presence or absence of a plate of food and drink placed on the main belt conveyor, the optical sensor The light-receiving part or the light-emitting part of the sensor is arranged on the extension line on the kitchen side in the conveyance path formed by the main belt conveyor. The made-to-order food delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the guide member orients the trays of food and drink loaded on the intermediate belt conveyor toward a direction inclined with respect to the conveying direction of the intermediate belt conveyor direction guide. The customized food delivery device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the guide is fixed on the intermediate belt conveyor. The customized catering conveying device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the main belt conveyor has: a first main belt conveyor forming a first conveying path from the kitchen side of the restaurant to the guest seats; and a first main belt conveyor; Two main belt conveyors, forming a second conveying path from the kitchen side of the restaurant to the guest seats, the guide has a movable mechanism, and the movable mechanism can move the food and drink loaded on the intermediate belt conveyor The first state in which the plate is guided from the end portion of the secondary belt conveyor to the start end portion of the first main belt conveyor and the plate of food and drink placed on the intermediate belt conveyor It changes between the 2nd states guided from the terminal end part of the said sub-belt conveyor to the start-end part of the said 2nd main belt conveyor. The made-to-order meal conveying device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a control device that causes the sub-belt conveyor, all the The intermediate belt conveyor and the main belt conveyor operate to convey the food and drink plates placed on the sub-belt conveyor to the guest seat, and if the conveyance start operation is performed, the Loading food and drink plates from the secondary belt conveyor to the main belt conveyor via the intermediate belt conveyor, Then, before the said main belt conveyor stops, the said control apparatus makes the said sub belt conveyor into the stop state which can mount the plate to be conveyed next. The customized food delivery device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the customized food delivery device further includes a photographing device that photographs the intermediate belt conveyor.

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