Food material supply device

Abstract

This invention provides a food supply device that allows a user to input operations to properly serve food ingredients into a container. The food supply device includes: a storage section for storing food ingredients; a container placement section for supplying the food ingredients stored in the storage section; a container detection section for detecting the container placed in the container placement section; a display section; an operation section for receiving user operations; and a control section for controlling the operation section and the display section, wherein the control section switches the displayed image on the display section based on the detection result of the container detection section.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to a food supply device. Background Technology

[0002] Conventionally, as shown in Patent Document 1, food supply devices that supply food to a directed container are used. These devices dispense food such as rice into the container based on user input.

[0003] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-037163

[0004] However, sometimes the ingredients cannot be properly placed into the container if the user makes an incorrect input. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this disclosure is to provide a food supply device that allows a user to input operations to properly dispense food ingredients into a container.

[0006] To address the aforementioned issues, this disclosure provides the following solutions.

[0007] The food supply device according to the first aspect of this disclosure includes: a storage section for storing food; a container setting section for supplying the food stored in the storage section; a container detection section for detecting the container set in the container setting section; a display section; an operation section for receiving user operations; and a control section for controlling the operation section and the display section, wherein the control section switches the display image displayed on the display section based on the detection result of the container detection section.

[0008] With respect to the food supply device disclosed herein, the user can input operations to properly fill the container with food. Attached Figure Description

[0009] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a food supply device according to one embodiment.

[0010] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the food supply device.

[0011] Figure 3 This is the control flow chart of the control department of the food supply device.

[0012] Figure 4 It is a graph representing the initial image.

[0013] Figure 5 It is a graph representing the input image to be manipulated.

[0014] Figure 6 It is a graph representing the input image to be manipulated.

[0015] Figure 7 It is a picture showing the finished product.

[0016] Figure 8 This is a diagram showing an LCD display and operation buttons.

[0017] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0018] 100…Food supply device; 1…Shell section; 2…Hopper (storage section, receiving section); 3…Conveying section; 33…Conveying screw; 34…Separating roller; 4…Supply section; 41…Measuring device; 45…Gate (opening and closing cup); 5…Container setting section; 6…Container detection section; 7…Total weight measuring section; 8…Touch panel; 81…Display section; 81B…Liquid crystal display (display section); 82…Operation section; 82B…Operation button (operation section); 9…Control section; P0…Initial image; P1…Operation input image; P2…Selection image; P3…Completion image; S…Container. Detailed Implementation

[0019] Reference Figures 1 to 8 The food supply device 100 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the food supply device 100.

[0020] In this embodiment, such as Figure 1 As shown, the vertical direction in the food supply device 100 is defined as "vertical direction Z", with the vertical upward direction defined as "upper Z1" in the vertical direction Z, and the vertical downward direction defined as "lower Z2" in the vertical direction Z. Furthermore, the direction in which the user of the food supply device 100 is primarily positioned relative to the food supply device 100 in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the vertical direction Z is defined as "front Y1", the opposite direction to front Y1 is defined as "rear Y2", and the direction connecting front Y1 and rear Y2 is defined as "front-back direction Y". Additionally, the direction orthogonal to both the vertical direction Z and the front-back direction Y is defined as "left-right direction X", with one side of the left-right direction X defined as "right X1" and the other side defined as "left X2" in the left-right direction X.

[0021] The food supply device 100 is a device that supplies food such as rice to the container S. The food supply device 100 includes a housing 1, a hopper 2, a conveying unit 3, a supplying unit 4, a container setting unit 5, a container detection unit 6, a total weight measuring unit 7, a touch panel 8, and a control unit 9.

[0022] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the food supply device 100.

[0023] The housing portion 1 forms the outer casing of the food supply device 100. The housing portion 1 includes a front panel 10, a back panel 11, side panels 12, a cover 14 for opening and closing the opening 13, and legs 19. The front panel 10 forms the outer casing of the front (Y1) of the food supply device 100. The back panel 11 forms the outer casing of the rear (Y2) of the food supply device 100. The side panels 12 form the outer casing of the two side surfaces in the left-right direction (X) of the food supply device 100. The cover 14 forms the outer casing of the upper (Z1) of the food supply device 100. The legs 19 are located at the bottom of the housing portion 1.

[0024] The hopper (storage section, receiving section) 2 is a box-shaped component that communicates with the opening 13 and is capable of containing rice in the receiving space formed inside. The user can open the lid 14 and receive the rice into the hopper 2 through the opening 13.

[0025] The conveying unit 3 conveys the rice contained in the hopper 2 to the supply unit 4. The conveying unit 3 has a conveying screw 33 and a separating roller 34.

[0026] The conveying screw 33 is spirally formed around a shaft 30 extending in the front-rear direction Y. By rotating the shaft 30, the conveying screw 33 conveys rice to the separating roller 34 located at the front Y1.

[0027] The separating roller 34 is a roller that loosens the rice conveyed by the conveying screw 33. The rotation axis of the separating roller 34 is orthogonal to the rotation axis of the conveying screw 33. Multiple claws 34a are provided on the outer periphery of the separating roller 34. As the separating roller 34 rotates, the rice conveyed to the separating roller 34 is separated by the claws 34a and falls down.

[0028] Furthermore, the conveying unit 3 may also have a reverse screw. The reverse screw returns excess rice that has been conveyed to the separating roller 34 by the conveying screw 33. The reverse screw conveys rice in the opposite direction to the conveying screw 33.

[0029] The supply unit 4 supplies rice to the container S located in the container setting unit 5. The supply unit 4 is located below the separating roller 34 at Z2. The supply unit 4 has a meter 41 and a gate 45.

[0030] The gate (opening and closing cup) 45 is located on the path of the rice falling through the separating roller 34. The gate 45 is a cup-shaped structure that bulges downwards in a way that can accumulate rice, and is formed by a pair of parts that can open and close downwards Z2. Therefore, the gate 45 opens when rice is supplied to the container S and closes when the supply stops, thereby performing the rice supply operation to the container S and the supply stopping operation.

[0031] Meter 41 measures the rice accumulated at gate 45 (i.e., the rice supplied to container S provided in container setting section 5). Meter 41 uses a load sensor that converts load into an electrical signal. Meter 41 uses, for example, a strain gauge as a detection element to convert the strain caused by the load into an electrical signal. The control unit 9 obtains the measurement result based on meter 41.

[0032] The container setting section 5 is a component for setting the container S, and is located below the supply section 4 at Z2. The user can set the container S in the container setting section 5 from the front Y1, right X1, or left X2 of the food supply device 100.

[0033] The container detection unit 6 detects whether the container S is placed in the container placement unit 5. The container detection unit 6 can be any sensor capable of detecting the presence or absence of the container S in the container placement unit 5, such as an optical sensor that detects the presence or absence of the container S optically, or a weight sensor that detects the presence or absence of the container S by detecting weight changes. The container detection unit 6 can also identify the type of container S placed in the container placement unit 5 by detecting identifiers such as RFID or two-dimensional barcodes placed on the container S.

[0034] A total weight measuring unit 7 is installed on the leg 19 to measure the total weight of the food supply device 100. The total weight measuring unit 7 is, for example, a strain gauge. The control unit 9 obtains the measurement results based on the total weight measuring unit 7.

[0035] The touch panel 8 is, for example, a resistive film touch panel or a capacitive touch panel. The touch panel 8 is disposed on the front panel 10 facing forward (Y1). The control unit 9 receives user input to the touch panel 8. Based on the instructions from the control unit 9, the touch panel 8 displays a screen. The touch panel 8 functions as both a display unit 81 for displaying the screen and an operation unit 82 for inputting operations. The control unit 9 receives operation input to the touch panel 8.

[0036] The control unit 9 is an executable program computer having a processor such as a CPU, a programmable memory, a storage unit for storing programs and data, and an input / output control unit. The functions of the control unit 9 are implemented by the processor executing the program provided to the control unit 9. The control unit 9 controls the conveying unit 3, the supply unit 4, and the touch panel 8 based on inputs from the measuring device 41, the container detection unit 6, the total weight measuring unit 7, and the touch panel 8.

[0037] Next, the operation of the food supply device 100 will be explained. The following will be in accordance with... Figure 3 The control flow diagram of the control unit 9 shown is explained below.

[0038] In step S110, the control unit 9 determines whether a container S is installed in the container setting unit 5 based on the input from the container detection unit 6. If it is determined that a container S is installed in the container setting unit 5, the control unit 9 then executes step S120.

[0039] Figure 4 It is a graph representing the initial image P0.

[0040] When no container S is set in the container setting unit 5, the control unit 9 will remind the user to display the initial image P0 of setting container S in the container setting unit 5 as the display image on the touch panel 8, but will not remind the user to display the operation input image P1 (refer to) for starting rice feeding. Figure 5 The image is displayed on the touch panel 8. Furthermore, when no container S is provided in the container setting unit 5, the control unit 9 disables the supply of rice based on user input to the touch panel 8. Specifically, the control unit 9 is configured so that even if the user inputs an operation, it does not perform the rice supply operation using the conveying unit 3 and the supply unit 4. Therefore, when no container S is provided in the container setting unit 5, rice supply cannot begin even if the user operates the touch panel 8.

[0041] Based on the input from the total weight measuring unit 7, the control unit 9 calculates the amount of rice contained in the hopper 2. When the amount of rice contained in the hopper 2 is small, the control unit 9 can also display an image reminding the user to add rice to the hopper 2 on the touch panel 8.

[0042] Figure 5 This is a diagram representing the input image P1.

[0043] In step S120, the control unit 9 displays an operation input image P1 on the touch panel 8 as a display image to remind the user to start the rice supply. Furthermore, the control unit 9 activates the rice supply based on the user's operation input to the touch panel 8. Specifically, the control unit 9 is configured to perform the rice supply operation using the conveying unit 3 and the supply unit 4 according to the user's operation input. Therefore, the user can operate the touch panel 8 to start the rice supply.

[0044] Figure 5 The illustrated operation input image P1 includes a selection image P2 that prompts the user to select the amount of rice to be served. Figure 5The illustrated selection image P2 includes a separate input button for each selectable amount of rice. The touch panel 8 allows the user to input their selection of the button corresponding to the amount of rice. The control unit 9 receives the selection input from the touch panel 8. Based on the selection input from the touch panel 8, the control unit 9 obtains the amount of rice selected by the user. Alternatively, the operation input image P1 may not include the selection image P2, but only include an input button to start serving rice.

[0045] Figure 6 This is a diagram representing the input image P1 for another operation.

[0046] The control unit 9 can also display different operation input images P1 as display images for each type of container S detected by the container detection unit 6. For example, when the control unit 9 determines that the container S is a larger size based on factors such as its weight, it can display different operation input images P1 as display images P1. Figure 6 As shown, the option to change the amount of rice to be supplied increases the amount of rice to be supplied. Depending on the type of container S provided in the container setting unit 5, an operation input image P1 containing the optimal options can be provided to the user.

[0047] In step S130, the control unit 9 determines whether there is user input (including selection input) on the touch panel 8. If there is user input on the touch panel 8, the control unit 9 then executes step S140.

[0048] In step S140, the control unit 9 supplies rice to the supply unit 4. The control unit 9 causes the conveying screw 33 and the separating roller 34 to rotate to convey the rice.

[0049] In step S150, the control unit 9 determines whether the measured value of the rice accumulated in the gate 45, which is in the closed position (based on the measured value of the meter 41), has reached the selected amount. When the measured value of the accumulated rice has reached the selected amount, the control unit 9 stops the rotation of the conveying screw 33 and the separating roller 34, and then executes step S160.

[0050] In step S160, the control unit 9 moves the gate 45 to the open position, causing the rice to fall into the container S and be placed into the container S.

[0051] Figure 7 This is the image P3 representing the completed loading process.

[0052] In step S170, the control unit 9 displays an image P3 on the touch panel 8, reminding the user that the container S has been filled.

[0053] According to one embodiment of the food supply device 100, a user can input operations to properly serve food such as rice into a container S. When no container S is provided in the container setting section 5, the food supply device 100 disables the supply of food based on user input to the touch panel 8. Therefore, even if the user makes an incorrect input to the touch panel 8 when no container S is provided in the container setting section 5, food such as rice will not be incorrectly supplied. Furthermore, the food supply device 100 can display an operation input image P1 as a display image according to the type of container S provided in the container setting section 5. Therefore, the user can input operations without being confused by operation inputs limited to the provided container S.

[0054] The above description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, details one embodiment of the present disclosure. However, the specific structure is not limited to this embodiment and may include design modifications that do not depart from the scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the constituent elements shown in the above embodiment and the variations thereof can be appropriately combined to form a configuration.

[0055] The food supply device 100 is a so-called upper metering structure in which the metering device 41 measures the rice accumulated at the gate 45. However, the food supply device 100 can also be a so-called lower metering structure in which the metering device 41 is installed in the container setting section 5 of the container S. In the lower metering food supply device, the control unit 9 opens the gate 45 when it determines, based on input from the container detection unit 6, that the container S is installed in the container setting section 5. The container setting section 5 is equipped with a metering device that measures the rice supplied to the container S installed in the container setting section 5. When the measured value of the rice supplied to the container S reaches the selected amount, the control unit 9 stops the rice supply and closes the gate 45.

[0056] Figure 8 This diagram shows the LCD display 81B and the operation buttons 82B.

[0057] The food supply device 100 may also have a liquid crystal display (display unit) 81B and operation buttons (operation unit) 82B instead of a touch panel 8. The operation buttons 82B are buttons that can detect operation input mechanically or electrically. The control unit 9 can convey the amount of rice to be supplied, corresponding to each of the multiple operation buttons 82B, to the user by displaying the operation input image P1 as a display image on the liquid crystal display 81B.

[0058] The program for the food supply device 100, etc., is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. The computer system reads and executes the program recorded on this recording medium. The term "computer system" here includes hardware such as the operating system and peripheral devices. Furthermore, "computer-readable recording medium" refers to portable media such as floppy disks, magneto-optical disks, ROMs, and CD-ROMs, and storage devices such as hard drives built into the computer system. Additionally, "computer-readable recording medium" may also include: a recording medium that dynamically maintains the program for a short period of time, such as in the case of transmitting the program via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line; or a recording medium that maintains the program for a certain period of time, such as volatile memory inside a computer system that acts as a server or client in this case. Furthermore, the program described above may be a program used to implement the above functions, a program that can be combined with a program already recorded in the computer system to implement the above functions, or a program implemented using a programmable logic device such as an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).

Claims

1. A food supply device, wherein, have: Storage department, for storing food ingredients; A container setting section is provided for supplying the food ingredients stored in the storage section; A container detection unit detects the container that has been installed in the container installation unit. Display section; The operation section contains the user's input. as well as The control unit controls the operation unit and the display unit. The control unit switches the display image displayed on the display unit according to the detection result of the container detection unit.

2. The food supply device according to claim 1, wherein, The control unit is configured as follows: When the container detection unit detects the container, it displays an operation input image as the display image, reminding the user to start the food supply operation. This makes the supply of ingredients more efficient based on the user's input to the operating unit.

3. The food supply device according to claim 1, wherein, The control unit is configured as follows: When the container detection unit does not detect the container, the operation input image that prompts the user to start the food supply will not be displayed as the display image. The supply of ingredients based on the user's input to the operating unit is invalidated.

4. The food supply device according to claim 2, wherein, The control unit displays different operation input images as display images according to each type of container detected by the container detection unit.

5. The food supply device according to claim 2, wherein, The operation input image includes a selection image that prompts the user to select the quantity of the ingredients to be supplied. The operating unit can input the user's selection of the amount of the ingredients.

6. The food supply device according to claim 5, wherein, The control unit changes the option of the amount of food ingredients to be supplied according to each type of container detected by the container detection unit.

7. The food supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, The display unit and the operation unit are an integrated touch panel.

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