Customized food delivery devices

Abstract

The present application discloses a customized food conveying device, which can detect food plates with high accuracy through an optical sensor. The present invention comprises: a main belt conveyor, which forms a conveying path from the kitchen side of a restaurant to the guest seats; a secondary belt conveyor, which is extended on the kitchen side of the main belt conveyor, and forms a conveying path at a position deviated from the extension line of the conveying path formed by the main belt conveyor; an intermediate belt conveyor, which is arranged between the main belt conveyor and the secondary belt conveyor; a guide, which is arranged on the intermediate belt conveyor, and guides the food plates loaded on the intermediate belt conveyor from the terminal end of the secondary belt conveyor to the starting end of the main belt conveyor; and an optical sensor for the main belt conveyor, which detects the presence or absence of food plates loaded on the main belt conveyor, and the light receiving part or the light emitting part of the optical sensor is arranged on the extension line of the kitchen side in the conveying path formed by the main belt conveyor.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a customized food delivery device. Background Art

[0002] In recent years, food and drink are provided in restaurants using a conveyor device (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Publication No. 2016-152904

[0004] When delivering customized meals, for example, it is possible to transport the meal trays on a belt conveyor from the kitchen to the guest seats. However, when a conveying path from the kitchen to the guest seats is formed by a single belt conveyor, the next meal tray cannot be loaded onto the belt conveyor in the kitchen while the belt conveyor is transporting the meal tray to the guest seats. Therefore, it is difficult to efficiently provide customized meals. In particular, if the path of the belt conveyor to the guest seats is long, the operation time of the belt conveyor is long, and thus the efficiency of providing customized meals is significantly reduced.

[0005] Therefore, in order to efficiently load food onto the belt conveyor in the kitchen, it is conceivable to extend a belt conveyor on the kitchen side. If the food tray loaded on the belt conveyor on the kitchen side moves to the belt conveyor on the guest seat side, the belt conveyor on the kitchen side is stopped so that the next food tray to be transported can be loaded. In the case of adopting such a system configuration, in order to detect that the food tray loaded on the belt conveyor on the guest seat side is picked up at the guest seat, it is reasonable to use an optical sensor that emits detection light along the long side direction of the belt conveyor. However, since the sensor needs not to detect the food tray loaded on the belt conveyor on the kitchen side, the light receiving part or the light emitting part is arranged between the belt conveyor on the kitchen side and the belt conveyor on the guest seat side. In addition, in order to prevent the food tray transported by the belt conveyor from contacting the sensor, it is urgently necessary to make the sensor movable, for example.

[0006] However, since the light receiving part and the light emitting part of the optical sensor need to be precisely positioned, if a part or all of the sensor is movable, there is a possibility that the mechanism will be complicated and the sensor may fail to detect properly. Summary of the invention

[0007] Therefore, the present invention discloses a customized food delivery device capable of detecting a food tray with high accuracy by using an optical sensor.

[0008] In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in the present invention, a conveying path is formed by a secondary belt conveyor at a position deviated from the extension line of the conveying path from the kitchen side formed by the main belt conveyor to the guest seats, and an intermediate belt conveyor and a guide are provided between the two belt conveyors, the intermediate belt conveyor having a lateral width reaching both the extension line of the conveying path formed by the main belt conveyor and the extension line of the conveying path formed by the secondary belt conveyor, the guide guides the food tray loaded on the intermediate belt conveyor from the terminal end of the secondary belt conveyor to the starting end of the main belt conveyor, and the light receiving part or the light emitting part of the optical sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the food tray loaded on the main belt conveyor is arranged on the extension line of the kitchen side in the conveying path formed by the main belt conveyor.

[0009] 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 a restaurant to the guest seats; a secondary belt conveyor, which is extended on the kitchen side of the main belt conveyor and forms a conveying path at a position deviated from the extension line of the conveying path formed by the main belt conveyor; an intermediate belt conveyor, which is arranged between the main belt conveyor and the secondary belt conveyor, and has a lateral width that reaches both the extension line of the conveying path formed by the main belt conveyor and the extension line of the conveying path formed by the secondary belt conveyor; a guide, which is arranged on the intermediate belt conveyor and guides the food tray loaded on the intermediate belt conveyor from the terminal end of the secondary belt conveyor to the starting end of the main belt conveyor; and an optical sensor for the main belt conveyor, which detects the presence or absence of the food tray loaded on the main belt conveyor, and the light receiving part or the light emitting part of the optical sensor is arranged on the extension line of the kitchen side in the conveying path formed by the main belt conveyor.

[0010] In the above-mentioned customized food conveying device, the secondary belt conveyor can be eliminated on the extension line of the conveying path of the main belt conveyor by means of the intermediate belt conveyor and the guide, so that the light receiving part or the light emitting part of the optical sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the food plate placed on the main belt conveyor does not hinder the path of the food plate. In addition, the light receiving part or the light emitting part of the optical sensor does not need to be movable in order to avoid contact with the food plate, so the possibility of complicating the mechanism and poor detection of the sensor is also low.

[0011] In addition, the guide member may guide the food tray placed on the intermediate belt conveyor in a direction inclined relative to the conveying direction of the intermediate belt conveyor. In addition, the guide member may be fixed to the intermediate belt conveyor. Thus, the intermediate belt conveyor can be set as a mechanism that moves in the same conveying direction as the main belt conveyor.

[0012] In addition, the main belt conveyor may include: a first main belt conveyor forming a first conveying path from the kitchen side of the restaurant to the guest seat; and a second main belt conveyor forming a second conveying path from the kitchen side of the restaurant to the guest seat, and the guide has a movable mechanism, and the movable mechanism can change between a first state in which the food tray loaded on the intermediate belt conveyor is guided from the terminal end of the auxiliary belt conveyor to the starting end of the first main belt conveyor and a second state in which the food tray loaded on the intermediate belt conveyor is guided from the terminal end of the auxiliary belt conveyor to the starting end of the second main belt conveyor. Thus, even in a state in which a food tray is loaded on either the first main belt conveyor or the second main belt conveyor, as long as the food tray to be transported next is loaded on the auxiliary belt conveyor, the transportation of the food tray using the other main belt conveyor can be started immediately. Therefore, the customized food can be efficiently transported to the guest seat.

[0013] In addition, the customized food conveying device may further include a control device, and if a conveying start operation is performed, the control device operates the auxiliary belt conveyor, the intermediate belt conveyor, and the main belt conveyor to convey the food trays loaded on the auxiliary belt conveyor to the guest seats, and if the food trays are loaded from the auxiliary belt conveyor to the main belt conveyor via the intermediate belt conveyor due to the conveying start operation, the control device stops the auxiliary belt conveyor before the main belt conveyor stops so that the trays to be conveyed next can be loaded. Thus, since other food trays can be loaded on the auxiliary belt conveyor while the main belt conveyor is conveying the food trays, food can be efficiently conveyed.

[0014] In addition, the above-mentioned customized food conveying device may further include a photographing device that photographs the intermediate belt conveyor. If it is such a customized food conveying device, the state of the food conveyed by the belt conveyor can be confirmed through the image.

[0015] According to the above-mentioned customized food conveying device, the food plate can be detected with high accuracy by the optical sensor. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 It is an overall structural diagram of the customized food delivery device according to the embodiment.

[0017] Figure 2 This is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the secondary belt conveyor.

[0018] Figure 3 This figure shows a control flow chart executed when a transport start operation is performed.

[0019] Figure 4It is a figure which shows the movement of a plate during transportation.

[0020] Figure 5 It is an overall structural diagram of the customized food delivery device of the first modified example.

[0021] Figure 6 A control flow chart executed when a transport start operation is performed in the first modification example is shown.

[0022] Figure 7 It is a diagram showing the movement of a plate during transportation according to the first modification.

[0023] Figure 8 It is an overall structural diagram of the customized food delivery device of the second modified example.

[0024] Fig. 9 It is an overall structural diagram of the customized food delivery device of the third modified example.

[0025] Fig.10 This is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the sub-belt conveyor of the customized food conveying device according to the fourth modified example.

[0026] Description of reference numerals:

[0027] 1: Dinner plate; 2: Kitchen; 3: Guest seat; 10: Customized food conveying device; 20: Main belt conveyor; 24: Optical sensor; 24H: Light emitting part; 24J: Light receiving part; 30: Auxiliary 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: Route changing device; S9: Camera. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] The following is an explanation of the embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment shown below is one mode of the present invention and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention. The embodiments and modifications shown below are applicable to restaurants that provide various foods such as sushi, drinks, rice bowls such as soba noodles and udon noodles, fried chicken and tempura to customers eating in the restaurant.

[0029] Figure 1 1 is an overall structural diagram of a customized food delivery device 10 according to an embodiment. The customized food delivery device 10 is a device for delivering a food tray 1 prepared according to a customer's order from a restaurant kitchen 2 to a customer seat 3. Figure 1As shown, the customized food conveyor 10 forms a conveying path passing by each guest seat 3 where the guest eats. The customized food conveyor 10 includes: a main belt conveyor 20 that forms a conveying path from the kitchen 2 side of the restaurant to the guest seat 3; and a sub-belt conveyor 30 that extends from the kitchen 2 side of the main belt conveyor 20 to extend the conveying path. In addition, in this embodiment, the main belt conveyor 20 is formed in a straight line, but it is also possible to form a conveying path with a corner portion by combining a plurality of main belt conveyors 20.

[0030] The auxiliary belt conveyor 30 extending from 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. In addition, an intermediate belt conveyor 30M is provided between the main belt conveyor 20 and the auxiliary belt conveyor 30, and the intermediate belt conveyor 30M has a lateral width reaching both the extension line of the conveying path formed by the main belt conveyor 20 and the extension line of the conveying path formed by the auxiliary 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 meal tray 1 placed on the intermediate belt conveyor 30M from the terminal end of the auxiliary belt conveyor 30 to the starting end of the main belt conveyor 20. Since the auxiliary belt conveyor 30 extending 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, when viewed in the conveying direction (belt moving direction) of the intermediate belt conveyor 30M, the position of the starting end of the main belt conveyor 20 is laterally deviated from the terminal end of the auxiliary belt conveyor 30. Therefore, the guides 30G1 and 30G2 form guides inclined with respect to the conveying direction of the intermediate belt conveyor 30M on the intermediate belt conveyor 30M.

[0031] In addition, the custom-made food conveying device 10 includes an optical sensor 24. The optical sensor 24 is an optical sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a food tray 1 placed on the main belt conveyor 20, and includes a light receiving unit 24J and a light emitting unit 24H. The light receiving unit 24J is disposed on the kitchen 2 side of the main belt conveyor 20. In addition, the light emitting unit 24H is fixed to the end of the main belt conveyor 20 on the customer seat 3 side. The optical sensor 24 detects the presence or absence of a food tray 1 placed on the main belt conveyor 20 based on whether the light receiving unit 24J on the kitchen 2 side receives light emitted from the light emitting unit 24H from the customer seat 3 side of the main belt conveyor 20 to the kitchen 2 side. If a food tray 1 is placed on the main belt conveyor 20, light emitted from the light emitting unit 24H toward the light receiving unit 24J is blocked by the food tray 1 before reaching the light receiving unit 24J. In addition, the positional relationship between the light receiving unit 24J and the light emitting unit 24H may be reversed.

[0032] In addition, the customized food conveying device 10 is provided with an optical sensor 34. The optical sensor 34 is an optical sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a food tray 1 placed on the secondary belt conveyor 30, and includes a light receiving unit 34J and a light emitting unit 34H. The light receiving unit 34J is arranged near the end of the secondary belt conveyor 30 on the customer seat 3 side. In addition, the light emitting unit 34H is arranged near the end on the opposite side of the secondary belt conveyor 30. The optical sensor 34 detects the presence or absence of a food tray 1 placed on the secondary belt conveyor 30 based on whether the light receiving unit 34J receives light emitted by the light emitting unit 34H. If a food tray 1 is placed on the secondary belt conveyor 30, light emitted from the light emitting unit 34H to the light receiving unit 34J is blocked by the food tray 1 before reaching the light receiving unit 34J. In addition, the positional relationship between the light receiving unit 34J and the light emitting unit 34H may be reversed.

[0033] Figure 2 This is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the secondary belt conveyor 30. The secondary belt conveyor 30, which is extended from the kitchen 2 side of the main belt conveyor 20 and arranged so as to extend the conveying path of the main belt conveyor 20, has a length that allows a plurality of (e.g., four) plates 1 to be arranged in a row along the long side direction of the conveying path of the secondary belt conveyor 30. In addition, an operation panel (not shown) for receiving various operations is provided near the secondary belt conveyor 30. And, as shown in FIG. Figure 2 As can be seen, the intermediate belt conveyor 30M is a belt conveyor that conveys the meal tray 1 using a belt wound between a first roller disposed near the terminal end of the auxiliary belt conveyor 30 and a second roller disposed near the starting end of the main belt conveyor 20. Furthermore, since guides 30G1 and 30G2 are provided on the conveying surface of the intermediate belt conveyor 30M, when the intermediate belt conveyor 30M is operated, the meal tray 1 placed on the intermediate belt conveyor 30M contacts the guides 30G1 and 30G2 and moves obliquely from the terminal end of the auxiliary belt conveyor 30 toward the starting end of the main belt conveyor 20.

[0034] The driving motors driving the main belt conveyor 20 and the auxiliary belt conveyor 30 are controlled by a control device (not shown) based on the operation content input to the operation panel and the signals from each sensor. The operation of the customized food conveyor device 10 implemented by the control device will be described below.

[0035] When the conveyance start operation is performed on the operation panel, the control device of the custom food conveying device 10 operates the secondary belt conveyor 30 , the intermediate belt conveyor 30M, and the main belt conveyor 20 to convey the food tray 1 placed on the secondary belt conveyor 30 to the guest seat 3 .

[0036] Figure 3The control flow chart executed when the conveying start operation is performed is shown. The control device of the customized food conveying device 10 determines whether the table selection operation is performed on the operation panel (S101). The table selection can be automatically performed based on the information provided by the system that receives the customization from the terminal of the guest seat 3. If the control device detects that the table selection operation is performed in the process of step S101, it then determines whether the conveying start operation is performed (S102). Then, if the control device detects that the conveying start operation is performed in the process of step S102, it activates the main belt conveyor 20, the intermediate belt conveyor 30M and the auxiliary belt conveyor 30 (S103).

[0037] After executing the process of step S103, the control device determines whether all the plates 1 placed on the auxiliary belt conveyor 30 are placed on the main belt conveyor 20 (S104). The control device can determine whether all the plates 1 placed on the auxiliary belt conveyor 30 are placed on the main belt conveyor 20 based on, for example, the optical sensor 34, or the detection result of a sensor provided near the boundary between the auxiliary belt conveyor 30 and the main belt conveyor 20, or based on the elapsed time from the start of the auxiliary belt conveyor 30. When an affirmative determination is made in the process of step S104, the control device stops the intermediate belt conveyor 30M and the auxiliary belt conveyor 30 (S105).

[0038] After executing the process of step S105, the control device determines whether the meal tray 1 has reached the selected table (S106). The control device can determine whether the meal tray 1 has reached the table based on the detection result of a sensor installed near the table, or based on the elapsed time from the start of the conveyance that is pre-set for the position of each table. When a positive determination is made in the process of step S106, the control device stops the main belt conveyor 20 (S107).

[0039] After executing step S107, the control device determines whether all the plates 1 placed on the main belt conveyor 20 have been removed (S108) based on the information from the optical sensor 24. If an affirmative determination is made in step S108, the control device executes the processes after step S101 again.

[0040] In addition, when a negative determination is made in either step S101 or step S102 , the control device omits the processing after step S103 and executes the processing after step S101 again.

[0041] Figure 41 is a diagram showing the movement of the food tray 1 during transportation. Figure 4 As shown in (A), the main belt conveyor 20, the intermediate belt conveyor 30M and the auxiliary belt conveyor 30 are operated, and the meal tray 1 placed on the auxiliary belt conveyor 30 is sequentially sent to the intermediate belt conveyor 30M. Figure 4 As shown in (B), the meal tray 1 sent from the terminal end of the secondary belt conveyor 30 to the intermediate belt conveyor 30M is guided to the starting end of the main belt conveyor 20 by the guides 30G1 and 30G2. Figure 4 As shown in (C), the meal tray 1 sent from the intermediate belt conveyor 30M to the main belt conveyor 20 moves toward the guest seat 3 of the conveying destination on the main belt conveyor 20. Then, as shown in Figure 4 As shown in (D), the meal tray 1 conveyed by the main belt conveyor 20 soon reaches the guest seat 3 of the conveying destination and stops. Then, if the guest at the guest seat 3 takes away the meal tray 1 and all the meal trays 1 disappear from the main belt conveyor 20, an affirmative judgment is made in step S108.

[0042] The main actions implemented by the control device of the customized food conveying device 10 are as described above. In the customized food conveying device 10, if all the plates 1 placed on the secondary belt conveyor 30 are placed on the main belt conveyor 20, the secondary belt conveyor 30 stops even when the main belt conveyor 20 is in motion, so the staff of the kitchen 2 can immediately place the next plate 1 on the secondary belt conveyor 30. Therefore, even when there are many customized meals, the customized meals can be efficiently conveyed to the guest seats. Such an effect produced by the customized food conveying device 10 is particularly significant in a restaurant where the conveying path formed by the main belt conveyor 20 is long.

[0043] Furthermore, in the customized food conveying device 10 of the above-mentioned embodiment, there is no sub-belt conveyor 30 on the extension line of the conveying path of the main belt conveyor 20 due to the intermediate belt conveyor 30M and the guides 30G1 and 30G2, so the light receiving portion 24J of the optical sensor 24 that detects the presence of the meal tray 1 placed on the main belt conveyor 20 and the light receiving portion 34J of the optical sensor 34 that detects the presence of the meal tray 1 placed on the sub-belt conveyor 30 do not hinder the path of the meal tray 1. Furthermore, 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 meal tray 1, so the possibility of complicating the mechanism and poor detection of the sensor is also low.

[0044] <First Modification>

[0045] However, the customized food and drink delivery device 10 of the above-described embodiment may be modified as follows, for example.

[0046] Figure 5 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a customized food conveying device 10 of a first variant. In the customized food conveying device 10 of this variant, a branch passage 40 is provided at each guest seat 3. The branch passage 40 is provided beside the conveying path formed by the main belt conveyor 20, and branches from the conveying path to form a downwardly inclined path. The branch passage 40 is a passage for changing the food tray 1 branched from the conveying path of the main belt conveyor 20 by a forward path changing device 50 provided at a branching portion separated from the conveying path formed by the main belt conveyor 20 to the branch passage 40, and is arranged along the conveying path formed by the main belt conveyor 20. The branch passage 40 is formed by a roller group for conveying that can rotate freely. 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 then follows the conveying path of the main belt conveyor 20. Therefore, when the food tray 1 is placed, the roller rolls and the food tray 1 approaches the terminal side of the branch passage 40. The branch passage 40 can also be provided at a dining table for bar seats, for example.

[0047] The outward path changing device 50 can guide the food tray 1 conveyed by the main belt conveyor 20 to the branch channel 40 side by making the outward path changing member move in and out from the side relative to the conveying path formed by the main belt conveyor 20. The outward path changing device 50 operates the outward path changing member by a built-in rotary solenoid (not shown). In addition, the outward path changing device 50 is not limited to using the rotary solenoid as a driving source, and for example, an electric motor or other various driving sources can also be applied.

[0048] Figure 6 The control flow chart shown is executed when the conveying start operation is performed in the first variant. The control device of the customized food conveying device 10 of this variant determines whether the table selection operation is performed on the operation panel (S201). Then, if the control device detects that the table selection operation is performed in the process of step S201, it then determines whether the conveying start operation is performed (S202). Then, if the control device detects that the conveying start operation is performed in the process of step S202, it activates the outgoing path changing device 50 set at the branch point that branches to the branch channel 40 set at the selected table, so that the outgoing path changing member extends to the main belt conveyor 20 (S203). Then, the control device activates the main belt conveyor 20, the intermediate belt conveyor 30M and the auxiliary belt conveyor 30 (S204).

[0049] After executing the process of step S204, the control device determines whether all the plates 1 placed on the auxiliary belt conveyor 30 have been placed on the main belt conveyor 20 via the intermediate belt conveyor 30M (S205). If an affirmative determination is made in the process of step S205, the control device stops the intermediate belt conveyor 30M and the auxiliary belt conveyor 30 (S206).

[0050] After executing the process of step S206, the control device determines whether the plate 1 is close to the branch point that branches to the branch channel 40 located at the selected table (S207). The control device can determine whether the plate 1 is close to the branch point based on the detection result of a sensor installed near the branch point, or based on the elapsed time from the start of conveyance that is pre-set for each branch point. If a positive determination is made in the process of step S207, the control device decelerates the main belt conveyor 20 (S208).

[0051] After executing the process of step S208, the control device determines whether all the plates 1 placed on the main belt conveyor 20 have been moved to the branch channel 40 based on the information of the optical sensor 24 (S209). Then, if a positive determination is made in the process of step S207, the control device stops the main belt conveyor 20, causes the outward path changing member of the outward path changing device 50 to retreat from the main belt conveyor 20, and executes the process after step S201 again (S210).

[0052] In addition, when a negative determination is made in either step S201 or step S202 , the control device omits the processing after step S203 and executes the processing after step S201 again.

[0053] Figure 7 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the movement of the meal tray 1 during transportation according to the first modification. Figure 7 As shown in (A), the main belt conveyor 20, the intermediate belt conveyor 30M and the auxiliary belt conveyor 30 are operated, and the meal tray 1 placed on the auxiliary belt conveyor 30 is sequentially sent to the intermediate belt conveyor 30M. Figure 7 As shown in (B), the meal tray 1 sent from the terminal end of the secondary belt conveyor 30 to the intermediate belt conveyor 30M is guided to the starting end of the main belt conveyor 20 by the guides 30G1 and 30G2. Figure 7 As shown in (C), the meal tray 1 delivered from the intermediate belt conveyor 30M to the main belt conveyor 20 moves toward the guest seat 3 of the delivery destination through the main belt conveyor 20, contacts the outward path changing member of the outward path changing device 50, and is guided to the branch passage 40. Then, as shown in Figure 7As shown in (D), the meal tray 1 guided to the branch passage 40 stops on the branch passage 40 at the guest seat 3 at the conveying destination. In this modification, if all the meal trays 1 conveyed from the auxiliary belt 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, an affirmative judgment is made in step S209.

[0054] The main actions implemented by the control device of the customized food conveying device 10 of the modified example are as described above. In this modified example, as in the above-mentioned embodiment, the auxiliary belt conveyor 30 is stopped even when the main belt conveyor 20 is in operation, so the staff of the kitchen 2 can immediately load the next meal plate 1 onto the auxiliary belt conveyor 30. In addition, due to the intermediate belt conveyor 30M and the guides 30G1 and 30G2, there is no auxiliary belt conveyor 30 on the extension line of the conveying path of the main belt conveyor 20, so the light receiving part 24J of the optical sensor 24 that detects the presence of the meal plate 1 loaded on the main belt conveyor 20 and the light receiving part 34J of the optical sensor 34 that detects the presence of the meal plate 1 loaded on the auxiliary belt conveyor 30 do not hinder the path of the meal plate 1. Furthermore, since the light receiving section 24J of the optical sensor 24 and the light receiving section 34J of the optical sensor 34 do not need to be movable in order to avoid contact with the plate 1, the possibility of complication of the mechanism and sensor detection failure is also low.

[0055] <Second Modification>

[0056] In addition, the customized food and drink delivery device 10 of the above-mentioned embodiment may be modified as follows, for example.

[0057] Figure 8 1 is an overall structure diagram of a customized food conveying device 10 of a second variant. In the customized food conveying device 10 of this variant, two main belt conveyors 20 are arranged in parallel. In addition, the guides 30G1 and 30G2 are rod-shaped and become movable mechanisms that can change the guiding direction while maintaining a state of being parallel to each other. That is, the guides 30G1 and 30G2 can switch the path of guiding the meal plate 1 from the terminal end of the secondary belt conveyor 30 to the starting end of the main belt conveyor 20 to any one of the two main belt conveyors 20 (an example of the "first state" and the "second state" referred to in this application) through a motor controlled by a control device.

[0058] According to the customized food conveying device 10 of this modification, even when the food tray 1 is placed on one of the two main belt conveyors 20, as long as the food tray 1 to be conveyed next is placed on the auxiliary belt conveyor 30, the conveyance of the food tray 1 using the other main belt conveyor 20 can be immediately started. Therefore, according to this modification, the customized food can be efficiently conveyed to the guest seat.

[0059] <Third Modification>

[0060] In addition, the customized food and drink delivery device 10 of the above-mentioned embodiment may be modified as follows, for example.

[0061] Fig. 9 This is an overall structural diagram of the customized food conveying device 10 of the third variant. As in the second variant, the customized food conveying device 10 of this variant is provided with two main belt conveyors 20 in parallel. However, the guides 30G1 and 30G2 are fixed as in the embodiment, and are not movable mechanisms as in the second variant. In addition, the guide 30G1 forms a guide that is inclined toward the starting end of the main belt conveyor 20 on the left side in the conveying direction. In addition, the guide 30G2 forms a guide that is inclined toward the starting end of the main belt conveyor 20 on the right side in the conveying direction. In this variant, the meal tray 1 placed on the intermediate belt conveyor 30M changes 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 disposed between the starting ends of the two main belt conveyors 20, and can switch the path for guiding the meal plate 1 from the terminal end of the auxiliary belt conveyor 30 to the starting end of the main belt conveyor 20 to either of the two main belt conveyors 20 (an example of the "first state" and the "second state" referred to in this application) through a motor controlled by a control device.

[0062] According to the customized food conveying device 10 of this modification, as in the second modification, even when the food tray 1 is placed on one of the two main belt conveyors 20, if the food tray 1 to be conveyed next is placed on the auxiliary belt conveyor 30, the conveyance of the food tray 1 using the other main belt conveyor 20 can be immediately started. Therefore, according to this modification, the customized food can be efficiently conveyed to the guest seat.

[0063] <Fourth Modification>

[0064] Fig.10FIG. 1 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the secondary belt conveyor of the custom food conveying device of the fourth modified example. The custom food conveying device 10 may also include a sensor for monitoring the state of food in addition to the sensor for controlling the conveying device. Fig.10 As shown, the customized food conveying device 10 further includes a camera S9 that captures an image of the food tray 1 placed on the intermediate belt conveyor 30M. If the customized food conveying device 10 includes such a camera S9, it is possible to obtain an image of the food tray 1 passing through the intermediate belt conveyor 30M, and thus, for example, it is possible to detect whether there is any abnormality in the appearance of the food conveyed to the main belt conveyor 20 by automatically analyzing the image obtained by the camera S9.

[0065] The camera S9 may be a camera that always photographs the food and drink placed on the intermediate belt conveyor 30M, or a camera that photographs the food and drink placed on the intermediate belt conveyor 30M at the same time as the intermediate belt conveyor 30M is in motion. The image acquired by the camera S9 can be used to confirm whether the sushi placed on the plate 4 has fallen over, the position of the ingredients placed on the sushi rice has shifted, or the presence or absence of various other abnormalities. The image may be an image that the kitchen staff refers to during visual monitoring, or an image analysis device that analyzes the image to determine whether there is an abnormality.

[0066] In addition, the images obtained by the camera S9 can also be used, for example, to monitor the status of a belt conveyor. The images obtained by the camera S9 can be used to sense various abnormalities, such as dirt on the belt surface of the belt conveyor, damage to the belt itself such as belt fraying, and foreign matter mixed in the gap of the belt conveyor.

[0067] <Other Modifications>

[0068] In addition, the customized food conveying device 10 of the above-mentioned embodiment and modified example can be appropriately combined. For example, the customized food conveying device 10 can be provided with two or more main belt conveyors 20, intermediate belt conveyors 30M, and auxiliary belt conveyors 30. In addition, the intermediate belt conveyor 30M can also be used as a standby position for the meal tray 1 before being sent to the main belt conveyor 20.

Claims

1. A customized food delivery device, characterized in that: have: The main belt conveyor forms the conveying path from the kitchen side of the restaurant to the guest seats; A secondary belt conveyor, which is extended on the kitchen side of the main belt conveyor and forms a conveying path at a position deviated from an extension line of the conveying path formed by the main belt conveyor; an intermediate belt conveyor, arranged between the main belt conveyor and the auxiliary belt conveyor, having a lateral width reaching both an extension line of the conveying path formed by the main belt conveyor and an extension line of the conveying path formed by the auxiliary belt conveyor; a guide disposed on the intermediate belt conveyor and guiding a food tray placed on the intermediate belt conveyor from a terminal end of the auxiliary belt conveyor to a starting end of the main belt conveyor; and The optical sensor for the main belt conveyor detects the presence or absence of a food plate 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 of the kitchen side in the conveying path formed by the main belt conveyor so as not to hinder the path of the food plate. The intermediate belt conveyor has at least a belt having a lateral width greater than the lateral width of the main belt conveyor and the lateral width of the auxiliary belt conveyor, The guide member forms a guide path in a manner of clamping the food plate from the terminal end of the auxiliary belt conveyor toward the starting end of the main belt conveyor from the left and right sides relative to the traveling direction, thereby guiding the food plate on the intermediate belt conveyor in a direction inclined relative to the conveying direction of the intermediate belt conveyor.

2. The customized food delivery device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The guide member is fixed on the intermediate belt conveyor.

3. The customized food delivery device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The main belt conveyor comprises: a first main belt conveyor forming a first conveying path from the kitchen side of the restaurant to the guest seats; and a second main belt conveyor forming a second conveying path from the kitchen side of the restaurant to the guest seats. The guide member has a movable mechanism, and the movable mechanism can change between a first state in which the food tray loaded on the intermediate belt conveyor is guided from the terminal end of the auxiliary belt conveyor to the starting end of the first main belt conveyor, and a second state in which the food tray loaded on the intermediate belt conveyor is guided from the terminal end of the auxiliary belt conveyor to the starting end of the second main belt conveyor.

4. The customized diet delivery device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The customized food conveying device further comprises a control device, and if a conveying start operation is performed, the control device operates the auxiliary belt conveyor, the intermediate belt conveyor and the main belt conveyor to convey the food tray placed on the auxiliary belt conveyor to the guest seat. If a food tray is placed from the auxiliary belt conveyor to the main belt conveyor via the intermediate belt conveyor due to the conveyance start operation, the control device stops the auxiliary belt conveyor so as to be able to place a food tray to be conveyed next before the main belt conveyor stops.

5. The customized diet delivery device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The customized food and drink conveying device further includes a photographing device that photographs the intermediate belt conveyor.

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