Automatic pricing system

Abstract

The invention provides an automatic pricing system, which comprises a rotary food taking conveying belt, a food taking conveying belt, a food taking conveying belt and an automatic pricing conveying belt, the camera is used for shooting images of the food containers on the rotary food taking conveying belt; the calculation module is connected with the camera and executes a table number setting process to receive a table number instruction and send a table number starting instruction and a table number identification stopping instruction according to the table number instruction; the calculation module executes a food container identification process, receives the image transmitted by the camera, carries out image identification according to the image, receives the table number starting instruction and the table number identification stopping instruction, and sends the identified color and shape of the food container; and executing an automatic pricing process, receiving the color and the shape of the food container by the food container identification process, and calculating an accumulated consumption amount according to the color and the shape of the food container.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of pricing, and in particular to an automatic pricing system. Background Art

[0002] Placing plates of food on a rotating conveyor belt for customers sitting next to the rotating conveyor belt to take is a rotating food service method. For example, most rotating sushi restaurants use this rotating food service method. Since the plates of food placed on the rotating conveyor belt are within reach of customers, customers can freely choose the plates of food they want to consume, and take the plates of food they like directly from the rotating conveyor belt and put them on the table of their seats. When the customers have finished consuming, the restaurant must calculate the price and ask the customers to pay. In addition, after the plates of food are consumed, the used tableware (including plates, bowls, knives, forks, chopsticks, spoons, paper towels, etc.) and kitchen waste must also be collected to keep the table area and tabletop clean. Therefore, how to correctly and quickly calculate the prices of the plates of food consumed by customers, and how to conveniently collect the remaining plates after consumption, are the key points that should be continuously improved in the rotating food service method. Summary of the invention

[0003] To solve the aforementioned problems, the object of the present invention is to provide an automatic pricing system for accurate and rapid automatic pricing.

[0004] The automatic pricing system of the present invention comprises:

[0005] A rotating food-taking conveyor belt is used to carry and transport food containers, and the rotating food-taking conveyor belt circulates through a taking area;

[0006] a camera for capturing and sending out images of the food containers on the rotating food-taking conveyor belt;

[0007] A computing module connected to the camera, the computing module comprising:

[0008] a table number setting module, the table number setting module executing a table number setting process to receive a table number instruction, and accordingly issuing a table number start instruction and a table number stop identification instruction;

[0009] a food container recognition module, the food container recognition module executes a food container recognition process, receives the image transmitted by the camera and performs image recognition accordingly, and the table number setting module receives the table number start command and the table number stop recognition command, and issues the color and shape of the recognized food container; and

[0010] An automatic pricing module executes an automatic pricing process, wherein the food container recognition module receives the color and shape of the food container and calculates a cumulative consumption amount based on the color and shape of the food container.

[0011] Preferably, the automatic pricing system further comprises:

[0012] A cash register is connected to the table setting module and the automatic pricing module;

[0013] When the cash register receives an input of a table number, the cash register transmits a table number setting instruction corresponding to the table number to the setting table module; then

[0014] When the cash register receives a table number activation instruction corresponding to the table number, the cash register transmits the table number activation instruction to the table position setting module so that the automatic pricing module starts automatic pricing; then

[0015] When the cash register receives a table number reset instruction corresponding to the table number, the cash register transmits a table number reset instruction corresponding to the table number to the table position setting module to stop automatic identification of the table number and output the accumulated consumption amount of the table number.

[0016] Preferably, the present invention further comprises tableware recycling:

[0017] A rotating recovery conveyor belt is used for carrying and transporting recovered tableware. The rotating recovery conveyor belt circulates through the taking area and a recovery processing area.

[0018] The automatic pricing system disclosed in the present invention performs automatic pricing through the table number setting process, the food container identification process, and the automatic pricing process, which can save manpower and time, and has photographic images to confirm that the food container is taken by the diner. In addition, the present invention also discloses tableware recycling, which allows used tableware to be easily removed, thereby achieving the purpose of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Figure 1 : A schematic diagram of the side structure of the automatic pricing system of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 2 : A schematic diagram of the front structure of the automatic pricing system of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 3 : Flow chart of setting table number of automatic pricing system of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 4 : Food container identification flow chart of the automatic pricing system of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 5: Automatic pricing flow chart of the automatic pricing system of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] The purpose of the embodiment of the present invention is to provide an automatic pricing system for accurately and quickly automatically pricing the plates of food consumed by customers in a rotating food service.

[0025] Please see Figure 1-2 The structure of the automatic pricing system of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1 . In one embodiment, the automatic pricing system of the present invention comprises: a rotating food picking area 10, in which a rotating food picking conveyor belt 11 is arranged. The rotating food picking conveyor belt 11 is fixed on an outer side surface 34 of a support body 33 and is slightly higher than the tabletop of the dining table 31, so that diners can easily identify and take the food container 12 on the rotating food picking conveyor belt 11. The rotating food picking conveyor belt 11 is used to carry and transport one or more food containers 12. The rotating food picking conveyor belt 11 circulates along the outer side surface 34 of the support body 33. The area through which the rotating food-collecting conveyor belt 11 passes includes: a taking area 32 and a serving area (not shown), wherein one or more dining tables 31 are sequentially placed in the taking area 32 along the edge of the rotating food-collecting conveyor belt 11 as a dining place, and diners sitting on seats (not shown) beside the dining tables 31 can directly take the food container 12 placed on the rotating food-collecting conveyor belt 11, and then place the taken food container 12 on the dining table 31 to enjoy the food in the food container 12, which can be a plate, bowl, dish, or other container that can hold food. In the serving area, the food container 12 containing the food dishes is placed on the rotating food-collecting conveyor belt 11. The automatic pricing system of the present invention further includes: a camera 30, which can be set on the support body 33 or in other ways, but the camera 30 must be set above the rotating food-taking conveyor belt 11 so that the camera 30 can be used to capture the image of the food container 12 on the rotating food-taking conveyor belt 11 to confirm that the food container 12 is taken by the diner.

[0026] The automatic pricing system of the present invention has a computing module (not shown), which can be a computing device such as a personal computer, a server, a tablet computer, or a notebook computer, but is not limited thereto. The computing module includes: a table setting module, a food container recognition module, and an automatic pricing module (all not shown), wherein the table setting module executes a table number setting process 41, the food container recognition module executes a food container recognition process 42, and the automatic pricing module executes an automatic pricing process 43. The computing module is connected to the camera 30 to control the opening and closing of the camera 30, and the computing module transmits the image transmitted by the camera 30 to the food container recognition module for image recognition.

[0027] Please see Figure 3 to Figure 5 The table number setting process 41, the food container identification process 42 and the automatic pricing process 43 of the automatic pricing system of the present invention are shown. The table number setting process 41 requires that after a diner decides to use a dining table 31, the table number of the dining table 31 is input into the table position setting module, and then the table number identification system is activated to transmit a table number start instruction to the food container identification module and the automatic pricing module, and then the automatic pricing is started, and when a diner finishes dining, a table number stop identification instruction is transmitted to the food container identification module and the automatic pricing module to end the automatic pricing of the table 31 corresponding to the diner's table number.

[0028] In one embodiment, the automatic pricing system of the present invention further includes a cash register (not shown), which is connected to the table setting module, and the cash register is also connected to the automatic pricing module; when the diner decides to use a dining table 31, the table number of the dining table 31 can be input through the cash register, and then the cash register transmits a table number setting instruction corresponding to the table number of the dining table 31 to the table setting module, and then after the diner is seated, a table number start instruction corresponding to the table number of the dining table 31 is transmitted to the table setting module through the cash register, so that the automatic pricing module starts automatic pricing. When the diner finishes his meal and leaves the dining table 31, a table number reset instruction relative to the table number of the dining table 31 can be transmitted to the table setting module via the cash register. At this time, the table setting module sends a table number stop identification instruction to the food container identification module and the automatic pricing module to stop the automatic identification of the table number of the dining table 31 and output a cumulative consumption amount of the table number of the dining table 31. Then the cash register receives the cumulative consumption amount of the table number of the dining table 31 transmitted from the automatic pricing module and charges the diner accordingly. At the same time, the automatic pricing module also stores the cumulative consumption amount of the table number of the dining table 31 in a consumption history record of the automatic pricing system.

[0029] The steps of the table number setting process 41 are as follows:

[0030] Step 1: Determine whether a table number setting instruction is received. If not, the process jumps to step 4. If the table number setting instruction is received, go to the next step and the process jumps to step 5. The table number setting instruction is, for example: set table number 123, and the table number 123 corresponds to a dining table 31 with table number 123 in the access area 32.

[0031] Step 2: Determine whether a table number start instruction for the table number is received. If not, the process jumps back to step 2. If a table number start instruction for the table number is received, go to the next step. If a table number start instruction for the table number is not received, the process jumps back to step 3. The table number start instruction, for example, starts table number 123, which is used to start the image recognition function of the food container recognition module to confirm that the food container 12 on the rotating food conveyor belt 11 is taken by the diner of the table number 123, and at the same time, the automatic pricing function of the automatic pricing module is turned on to calculate a cumulative consumption amount.

[0032] Step 3: Sending the table number activation command to the food container recognition module and the automatic pricing module, and the process jumps back to step 1;

[0033] Step 4: Determine whether a table number reset instruction is received. If not, the process jumps back to step 1. If the table number reset instruction is received, go to the next step; wherein the table number reset instruction, for example: reset table number 123.

[0034] Step 5: Send a table number stop recognition instruction to the food container recognition module and the automatic pricing module, and the process jumps back to step 1; wherein the table number stop recognition instruction is, for example: stop recognizing table number 123.

[0035] The steps of the food container identification process 42 are as follows:

[0036] Step 11: Determine whether the table number activation command is received. If not, the process jumps back to step 11. If the table number activation command is received, go to the next step; wherein the table number activation command, for example: activate table number 123.

[0037] Step 12: The camera 30 captures an image of the range of the rotating food-collecting conveyor belt 11 corresponding to the table number;

[0038] Step 13: judging whether the food container 12 is moved out of the range of the rotating food-taking conveyor belt 11 according to the image, if not, the process jumps to step 17, if the food container 12 is moved out of the range of the rotating food-taking conveyor belt 11, go to the next step;

[0039] Step 14: judging whether the color and shape of the food container 12 can be identified according to the image, if not, the process jumps to step 16, if the color and shape of the food container 12 can be identified, go to the next step;

[0040] Step 15: Transmit the identified color and shape of the food container to the automatic pricing module, and the process jumps to step 17;

[0041] Step 16: Issue an unrecognizable notification;

[0042] Step 17: Determine whether a table number stop identification instruction is received. If not, the process jumps back to step 12; if a table number stop identification instruction is received, the process jumps back to step 11.

[0043] The steps of the automatic pricing process 43 are as follows:

[0044] Step 21: If the table number activation instruction is not received, the process jumps back to step 21; wherein the table number activation instruction, for example, activates table number 123.

[0045] Step 22: Clear the accumulated consumption amount of the table number;

[0046] Step 23: If the color and shape of the food container of the table number transmitted by the food container recognition process 42 are not received, the process jumps to step 25;

[0047] Step 24: Calculate the accumulated consumption amount of the table number according to the color and shape of the food container 12;

[0048] Step 25: If the table number stop identification instruction is not received, the process jumps back to step 23;

[0049] Step 26: Output the cumulative consumption amount of the table number, and the process jumps back to step 21.

[0050] In one embodiment, the present invention also discloses tableware recycling, such as Figure 1-2 As shown: a rotating recycling area 20, a rotating recycling conveyor belt 21 is arranged in the rotating recycling area 20, the rotating recycling conveyor belt 21 is fixedly arranged on the outer side surface 34 of the support body 33, and is located below the rotating food-taking conveyor belt 11, and is slightly lower than the tabletop of the dining table 31. The rotating recycling conveyor belt 21 is used to carry and transport one or more recycled tableware 22 (which may include plates, bowls, dishes, other containers that can hold food, knives, forks, chopsticks, spoons, or paper towels) and kitchen waste. 21 circulates along the outer side surface 34 of the support body 33. The area through which the rotating recovery conveyor belt 21 passes includes: the taking area 32 and a recycling processing area (not shown). Diners sit on seats (not shown) beside the dining table 31 and can place the recycled tableware 22 and kitchen waste to be recycled on the dining table 31 directly on the rotating recovery conveyor belt 21. Then, in the recycling processing area, the recycled tableware 22 on the rotating recovery conveyor belt 21 can be removed, thereby maintaining the dishing area of ​​the dining table and the cleanliness of the table top.

Claims

1. An automatic pricing system, characterized in that: Contains: A rotating food-taking conveyor belt is used to carry and transport food containers, and the rotating food-taking conveyor belt circulates through a taking area; a camera for capturing and sending out images of the food containers on the rotating food-taking conveyor belt; A computing module connected to the camera, the computing module comprising: a table number setting module, the table number setting module executing a table number setting process to receive a table number instruction, and accordingly issuing a table number start instruction and a table number stop identification instruction; a food container recognition module, the food container recognition module executes a food container recognition process, receives the image transmitted by the camera and performs image recognition accordingly, receives the table number start instruction and the table number stop recognition instruction from the table setting module, and issues the color and shape of the recognized food container; and An automatic pricing module executes an automatic pricing process, wherein the food container recognition module receives the color and shape of the recognized food container and calculates a cumulative consumption amount based on the color and shape.

2. The automatic pricing system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The automatic pricing system also includes: A cash register is connected to the table setting module and the automatic pricing module; When the cash register receives an input of a table number, the cash register transmits a table number setting instruction corresponding to the table number to the setting table module; then When the cash register receives a table number activation instruction corresponding to the table number, the cash register transmits the table number activation instruction to the table position setting module so that the automatic pricing module starts automatic pricing; after When the cash register receives a table number reset instruction corresponding to the table number, the cash register transmits a table number reset instruction corresponding to the table number to the table position setting module to stop automatic identification of the table number and output the accumulated consumption amount of the table number.

3. The automatic pricing system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The automatic pricing module stores the accumulated consumption amount in a consumption history record of the automatic pricing system.

4. The automatic pricing system according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the table seat setting module receives a table number start instruction for the table number, the table seat setting module sends the table number start instruction to the food container identification module and the automatic pricing module; thereafter, when the table seat setting module receives a table number reset instruction for the table number, the table seat setting module sends a table number stop identification instruction to the food container identification module and the automatic pricing module.

5. The automatic pricing system according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the food container recognition module receives the table number activation command, the food container recognition module enables the camera to capture an image of the range of the rotating food conveyor belt corresponding to the table number. When the food container recognition module determines that a food container is moved out of the range of the rotating food conveyor belt based on the image and recognizes the color and shape of the food container, the recognized color and shape of the food container are transmitted to the automatic pricing module.

6. The automatic pricing system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The automatic pricing module receives the color and shape of a food container of the table number transmitted by the food container recognition module, and calculates the accumulated consumption amount of the table number accordingly.

7. The automatic pricing system according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the automatic pricing module receives the table number stop identification instruction, it outputs the accumulated consumption amount of the table number.

8. The automatic pricing system according to claim 1, characterized in that: Further comprising: A rotating recovery conveyor belt is used for carrying and transporting recovered tableware. The rotating recovery conveyor belt circulates through the taking area and a recovery processing area.

9. The automatic pricing system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The food container includes a dinner plate, a bowl, a dish or other containers capable of carrying food.

10. The automatic pricing system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rotating food-taking conveyor belt also circulates through a food-serving processing area.

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