WO1988000736A1

WO1988000736A1 - Device with specific interface for the computerized taking of orders in the field of catering

Info

Publication number: WO1988000736A1
Application number: PCT/FR1987/000289
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christian Della-Monica
Original assignee: Della Monica Christian
Priority date: 1986-07-21
Filing date: 1987-07-21
Publication date: 1988-01-28
Also published as: AU7754587A; FR2601794A1; FR2601794B1

Abstract

Device for taking orders of meals or drinks. It is characterized by optical bar code readers (4, 5, 6) which are provided on each table of the restaurant. The data provided are analyzed by a programmed system after they have been sorted out by means of a multiplexer (7) which supplies the data to a computer (1) having a key board (2) and a cash-desk printer (3). An interface (8) sends the data either towards the ''kitchen'' printer (9) or towards the ''bar'' printer (10). The optical reader may be associated with an emitter which emits a modulated carrier wave towards a receiver.

Description

DEVICE WITH SPECIFIC INTERFACE FOR COMPUTERIZED ORDER IN THE CATERING FIELD.

The object of the present invention is to enable. the use of data processing for taking orders for dishes and / or drinks in the catering sector.

Currently in traditional catering, of medium level, the waiters must ensure the service of the distribution of the dishes on the one hand, and on the other hand, the taking of orders using the traditional notebook with stumps, and a pencil or pen. This state of affairs has several drawbacks, including that of the time spent by the server to record information (orders), to transmit it, either to the bar or to the kitchen where this information will eventually be stored in chronological order, then taken into account by the kitchen service, or by the barman, depending on the nature of these, to be, finally, followed by execution.

In other restaurants, a person is permanently assigned to take orders.

In addition, it is useful to have a permanent state of available stocks, in order to better manage, and inform customers quickly, of a possible supply shortage

It was therefore logical, to have recourse to data processing to treat this type of problems, by adapting this, to the specific needs of the profession. For this purpose, a device has been designed comprising known elements, but the combination of the means employed and the application which is made of it in the field of catering are new. The description of this device will highlight the new features of the invention:

In order to eliminate the intermediary of a natural person for these order intake, and to translate the choice of users into computer language, a menu or a menu has been designed, on the one hand, the names of the dishes and / or drinks, in several languages, whether or not accompanied by photos to illustrate the proposals, thus providing an attractive visual description, and on the other hand a computer code containing the maximum of information useful for the service.

By way of nonlimiting example, five zones are described in the code concerned:

Zone 1: table number represented by two numeric columns.

Zone 2: the nature of the food or drink in an alphabetical column, for example: A = Aperitif; D = Dessert; E = Entrance; F = cheese; G = Ice; F = Flat; V = wine, etc. up to the letter Z.

Zone 3: Name of the dish or drink in three numeric columns, for example:

001: steak with roquefort; 002: tab with shallots; 003: Provençal abomasum; 004: Pork skewers; 255: Beaujolais primeur, etc ... until 999.

Zone 4: the price is displayed on three numerical columns, for example:

049 = 49.00 FF; 055 = 55.00 FF; 150 = 150.00 FF, etc ...

Zone 5: Miscellaneous elements, particularities ... in an alphabetical column, for example: E = rare; C = correction; N = None; F = End, etc ...

This coded information appearing on the menu or the card, next to the description of the dishes mentioned above, is entered in the form of a bar code, that is to say that on a surface of a few square centimeters, are traced lines of different thicknesses, alternating with white spaces, which it suffices to read with an optical pencil or an appropriate reader by moving it once or twice perpendicular to the network of lines previously defined. This type of device is currently used for the identification of articles in retail businesses.

In the present invention, each table is equipped with an optical reader which is connected to a multiplexer, itself connected to the input of a computer.

The said computer must record the orders in the order of arrival, be able to issue the invoices, in good time, send the data in an interface circuit which will distribute this data according to their nature, to the printer "" kitchens "or to the" bar "printer. To do this, means have been designed of the type: specific interface and software for this particular application in the field of catering. The specific interface being one of the essential characteristics of the invention.

For the operation of the interface, it is necessary to transmit to it the signal from the computer clock, as well as synchronous data. From these two types of signals, a sequential switching of the data is obtained to the kitchen printer or to the bar printer, using two analog switches.

The input of these switches is controlled by logic circuits, and in particular two "AND" gates, one of the inputs of which receives a signal from a pulse counter whose ratio between the input and output frequency has was calculated to obtain either the switching of the "bar" information or the switching of the "kitchen" information.

So that these circuits are attacked by signals of characteristics compatible with those coming from the computer, an adaptation stage has been provided between the clock output of the computer and the input of the logic circuits of the assembly.

In a variant, the advantage of which is to eliminate any need to lay a network of cables between the tables and the interface described above, a carrier wave emitted from each table by a transmitter to a receiver can be used which can be placed in a room of restaurant.

Each pen, barcode reader is then connected to a support which in the present embodiment has the form of an inkwell. the link between the barcode reader and the support is provided by a small electric cable. The dimensions of the "inkwell" support fixed on each table are designed to contain a small high-frequency transmitter, transmitting on a channel usually assigned to HF microphones, the antenna of which consists of a conductor integrated in the small cable connecting to the pen reader. bar code.

The cells or batteries supplying the power supply are also incorporated in said support, without excluding the possibility of mains supply.

It is also possible, in a variant, to use an infrared emitter insofar as the emission is sufficiently omnidirectional to allow circumventing all obstacles; the use of this type of transmitter increases the autonomy of the power supply.

Whatever the nature of the carrier wave used, the transmitter can be of the HF or infrared type, the same principle of modulation is used by the computer signals produced by the barcode reader pen. This principle uses a transducer (the bar code pen), connected to a modulator: for example A. M., F. M., P. P. M., modulating the carrier wave coming from the transmitter.

In the case where it may seem advantageous to send synchronized signals from the computer towards the pen, then to receive these transformed by the bar code reader, it is necessary to have two transceivers for a link duplex between the tables and the communication point connected to the multiplexer the interface, object of the present invention.

For the purpose of this specific use of computer, a program has been created, an example of which is given in the preceding table in the figures below, given by way of nonlimiting example of the present invention:

FIGURE 1: Overall diagram of the installation allowing the application of the invention.

FIGURE 2: Functional diagram of the interface necessary for switching orders to the "bar" printer or to the "kitchen" printer.

Figure 1 gives the overall diagram of the installation: the computer (1) is provided with its keyboard (2) and its printer "cash" (3), three groups of optical pencils (4) (5) (6) are used to read the information contained in the bar codes, each restaurant table being equipped with one or more pencils. All of this data is "sorted sequentially by a multiplexer (7) which directs them to the computer input

(1).

The output of the computer (1) is connected on the one hand to the printer "cash register"

(3), from other parts to an interface (8) responsible for distributing the data either to the "kitchen" printer

(9) or to the "bar" printer (10).

FIG. 2 represents the functional diagram of the interface necessary for data routing, representing the commands intended for the kitchen or the bar. In order to function, this interface needs, on the one hand, the clock signal from the computer and, on the other hand, synchronous data intended for printers.

The clock signal from the computer (1) enters a buffer stage (11) intended to adapt this signal to the control of the logic circuits (C.Mos) or others which will follow.

In (12) an "AND" gate receives on the one hand a clock signal from the circuit (11), and on the other hand a signal from a counter (13) which after a predetermined number of pulses delivers an impulse which causes the "AND" gate (12) to change state. The control signal is then directed to an analog switch (14) which directs synchronous data from the computer to the "kitchen" printer (9).

At the output of the buffer stage (11) are also connected: another "AND" gate (15) and a counter (16), which operates in the same way as the counter (13) but in a different division ratio , sends an impulse to change the state of the "AND" gate (15). At this time the analog switch (17) will direct the synchronous data from the computer (l) to the printer "bar" 10).

This device is therefore characterized by the fact that it comprises one or more optical bar readers equipping each of the tables and that it also comprises a programmed system which analyzes the data supplied by said readers, the novelty residing in the fact that it is an interface particularly studied for this purpose which establishes the distribution of orders according to their nature "bar" or "kitchen", and that in a variant this device comprises an emitter of the HF or infrared type which emits a carrier wave modulated to a receiver.

Claims

1.- Device for direct orders in the field of catering of the type comprising one or more optical barcode readers, which equip each of the tables, the data supplied by said readers being analyzed by a programmed system after they have been sorted sequentially by a multiplexer (7) which directs them to the computer (1) connected to the printer "cash", characterized in that said computer (1) is connected, moreover, to an interface

(8) whose role is to distribute the data either to the "kitchen" printer (9), or to the "bar" printer (10).

2.- Device for direct commands in the field of catering, according to claim 1, characterized in that the operation of the interface (8) is obtained by means of the clock signal from the computer (1 ) on the one hand and by synchronous data intended for printers (9) and (10) on the other hand.

3.- Device for direct commands in the field of catering, according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the clock signal enters a buffer state (ll) in order to adapt this signal to the control of the logic circuits. (C.Mos) or others.

4.- Device for direct commands in the field of catering, according to claims 1 and 2, charac terized in that the clock signal from of the circuit (11) is received by the "AND" gate (12) which also receives a signal from a counter (13). Said counter delivers an impulse which causes it to change state, the control signal then being directed to an analog switch (14) which directs the synchronous data from the computer to the "kitchen" printer (9) .

5.- Device for direct commands in the field of catering, according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the door "AND" (15) and the counter (16), operate in the same way as the counter (13) but in a different division ratio, the said counter (16) sending a pulse which changes the state of the "AND" gate (15), the analog switch (17) then directing the synchronous data coming from the computer (1) to the "bar" printer (10).

6.- Device for direct commands in the field of catering according to claim 1, characterized in that in a variant the bar code reader is associated with a transmitter which transmits a modulated carrier wave to a receiver.

7.- Device for direct orders in the field of catering, according to claim 6, characterized in that the transmitter is of the H. F. type and that it is placed in a support fixed on the table.

8.- Device for direct commands in the field of catering, according to claim 6, characterized in that the support contains the power supply: batteries or sector.

9.- Device for direct orders in the field of restoration, according to claim 6, characterized in that in a variant the transmitter which is associated with the pen, bar code reader is infrared which increases the autonomy in power supply.

10.- Device for direct orders in the field of catering according to any one of claims 7 or 9, characterized in that the transmitter is equipped with an antenna consisting of a conductor integrated in the small cable laison pen , barcode reader, the latter being connected to the support by the said cable.

11.- Device for direct commands in the field of catering according to claim 6, characterized in that in a variant it is used two transceivers for a duplex connection between the tables and the communication point connected to the multiplexer the interface (8), in order to send synchronized signals from the computer towards the pen then to receive these transformed by the reading of the bar code.