Pipelined intelligent dish serving device and method of serving dishes

Abstract

The application discloses a kind of pipelined intelligent meal serving device and dish filling method, meal serving device includes meal box with multiple compartments, mobile device and dish filling cylinder, electronic tag is provided on meal box, left filling area and right filling area are respectively provided on the two sides of mobile device, multiple dish filling cylinders with same number are provided in left and right filling area, the same dish is filled in two dish filling cylinders opposite to each other, the dish in adjacent two dish filling cylinders is different, when meal box moves to the entry end of filling area, the number information of the meal box detected by code detection device is uploaded to central processing unit and corresponds to the information of pre-purchased dish stored in, then, mobile device drives meal box to empty compartment and makes dish fill into the empty compartment under the dish filling cylinder corresponding to the pre-purchased dish, dish filling method is set based on meal serving device, so as to fill dish to one or more meal boxes on mobile device simultaneously, improve efficiency, save labor cost.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of intelligent catering equipment, and more particularly to an assembly line-type intelligent food dispensing device and a food dispensing method based on the food dispensing device. Background Technology

[0002] With the development of technology, the application of intelligent equipment is becoming more and more widespread. Against the backdrop of a growing population and an increasingly fast pace of life, people's dining efficiency is gradually improving, and the demand for intelligent catering is also growing. As a result, intelligent food dispensing devices are becoming increasingly popular in places such as school canteens, community restaurants, and company restaurants.

[0003] Existing intelligent food serving devices (application number: 201710143608.3, invention title: Intelligent food serving system for large canteens) disclose a food serving bucket, a chute, a food dispensing box, and a moving machine. The food in the serving bucket can drip into the serving compartments on the plate. However, these devices have the following drawbacks: 1. Low food dispensing efficiency; 2. The matching plate is long and narrow, which does not match the size and specifications of commonly used plates on the market. Commonly used plates have double-row compartments, but the serving device can only be used with plates with single-row compartments. For plates of the same length, it can hold fewer dishes, resulting in low space utilization and a poor user experience. 3. Those skilled in the art can clearly understand from the description in paragraph

[0026] of the aforementioned patent that "then the computer 36 sends a control signal to the controller 6, and the controller 6 sends a start signal to the conveyor motor 38 of the conveyor module. After receiving the signal, the motor starts and drives the tray 3 on the conveyor belt to move forward. The sensor 5 opposite the food container a on the intelligent food serving device detection module continuously detects the QR code 33 on the tray N. When it is detected, the conveyor belt stops moving forward and the motor on the moving machine a starts." that this food serving device cannot simultaneously serve multiple trays with different required dishes. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a streamlined intelligent food serving device and food dispensing method with high efficiency and high level of intelligence.

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows: This invention provides a streamlined intelligent food serving device, comprising a lunchbox with multiple compartments for holding different dishes, a moving device for moving the lunchbox, and several food filling cylinders. Each lunchbox has an electronic tag recording its unique serial number. A left filling area and a right filling area are located on either side of the moving device. Each left and right filling area contains an equal number of food filling cylinders arranged at intervals. The two opposite food filling cylinders contain the same cooked dishes. Adjacent food filling cylinders within the same filling area... The two food filling cylinders contain different dishes. When the food box moves to the position corresponding to the coding detection device at the entrance of the filling area, the coding detection device uploads the detected number information of the food box to the controller. The controller matches the number information with the pre-ordered food information generated by the diner when ordering the food stored in the controller. Then, the moving device drives the food box to the empty compartment above it and stops it below the food filling cylinder corresponding to the pre-ordered food information, and the food filling cylinder fills the food into the empty compartment.

[0006] Preferably, each food container has several compartments of the same size, and all compartments are arranged in two rows and multiple columns. The two rows of compartments are placed below the food filling cylinders in the filling area on the same side.

[0007] Preferably, the distance between two adjacent food filling cylinders on the vertical axis of the food outlet is an integer multiple of the length of one compartment on the food box.

[0008] Preferably, the food filling cylinder uses a spiral propulsion method to inject food into the corresponding compartments, or uses... The measuring cup design allows the food to fall into the corresponding compartments in a free-fall manner.

[0009] Preferably, the food filling cylinder consists of a cylinder with an open top and a hollow inner cavity, and a top cover that can be closed on the open top. The food outlet is provided at the bottom of the cylinder. A drive motor is provided on the top cover. The upper end of a push rod provided in the hollow inner cavity is connected to the output shaft of the drive motor. The lower end of the push rod extends downward. A spiral blade that can push the food towards the food outlet is installed on the push rod.

[0010] Preferably, the mobile device is a tracked conveyor, and a limiting structure is provided on the surface of the track of the tracked conveyor to prevent the lunch box from deviating from its position.

[0011] Preferably, a packaging machine is provided after the tracked conveyor.

[0012] This invention also provides a method for dispensing food using a streamlined intelligent food dispensing device, which employs the aforementioned intelligent food dispensing device. The method includes the following steps: Step 1: After the meal box enters the filling area with all compartments unloaded, it moves intermittently from the inlet end to the outlet end until the first row of compartments is positioned below the first row of dish filling cylinders; Step 2: The controller judges whether the dishes in the dish filling cylinders of this row are the dishes in the pre-ordered dish information: if "yes", the dish filling cylinder on the left side of the first row dispenses dish into the compartment on the left side of the first row, and the total time the meal box stays at this station is the station operation time; if "no", the meal box stays at this station for the aforementioned station operation time; Step 3: After that, the meal box moves backward by one or more stations until the first row of compartments moves below the next row of dish filling cylinders; Step 4: The controller compares the value of n with N, where n is the current row number of the dish filling cylinders, and N is the total number of rows of the dish filling cylinders. If "1<n≤N", the controller judges whether the dishes in the nth row of dish filling cylinders are the dishes in the pre-ordered dish information: If "yes", the number of filled compartments among all compartments of the meal box is judged: if none of the compartments are filled with dishes, the left dish filling cylinder of the nth row dispenses dish into the left compartment of the first row; if one compartment among all compartments is filled with dish, the right dish filling cylinder of the nth row dispenses dish into the right compartment of the first row; if x compartments among all compartments are filled with dishes, and x is less than n: when x is an even number, the meal box is required to move backward by x / 2 stations, then the controller controls the left dish filling cylinder of the nth row to dispense dish into the left compartment of the (x / 2+1)th row located below it; when x is an odd number, the meal box is required to move backward by (x-1) / 2 stations, then the controller controls the right dish filling cylinder of the nth row to dispense dish into the right compartment of the (x+1) / 2th row; If "no", the meal box stays at this station for the aforementioned station operation time; Step 5: Execute "Step 3" and then perform the judgment according to "Step 4", and so on; Step 6: When it is judged that there is no dish filling cylinder at the station where the first row of compartments is located, the dish filling operation for the meal box is completed, and the meal box proceeds to the next process, such as a sealing process or a transfer process.

[0013] The present invention further provides a dish dispensing method for a pipeline-type intelligent meal dispensing device, which uses the aforementioned intelligent meal dispensing device. After the meal box is placed at the inlet end, the code detection device identifies the electronic tag on the meal box, the crawler-type conveying device drives the meal box to enter the filling area, the controller matches the pre-ordered dish information corresponding to the electronic tag with the dishes contained in the dish filling cylinders one by one and determines the compartment into which each dish in the pre-ordered dish information is to be dispensed, and then, when the meal box moves below the corresponding dish filling cylinder, the controller controls the dish filling cylinder to dispense the dish into the corresponding compartment according to the dish dispensing sequence.

[0014] This invention also provides a method for dispensing food using a streamlined intelligent food dispensing device, which employs the aforementioned intelligent food dispensing device. The method includes the following steps: Step 1: After the lunch box enters the filling area with all compartments empty, it moves intermittently from the entrance to the first compartment and is placed under the first row of food filling cylinders. Step 2: The controller determines whether the food in the nth row of the food filling cylinder is the same food listed in the pre-order information. n is the row number of the current food filling cylinder, which is an integer and a loop variable. The initial value of n is 1. 1) If "Yes": The controller determines whether m / 2 is an integer, where m is an integer and a loop variable with an initial value of 0. If "Yes", the lunchbox stays at the workstation for the total time it stays, and the food filling cylinder on the left side of the row fills the food in the first row on the left side. If "No", the lunchbox stays at the workstation for the specified workstation time, and the food filling cylinder on the right side of the row fills the food in the first row on the right side. Afterward, the current value of m is incremented by 1 and then reassigned to m, and the current value of n is incremented by 1 and then reassigned to n. 2) If “No”: the lunchbox stays at the workstation for the specified time; then, the current value of n is incremented by 1 and reassigned to n. Step 3: The controller compares whether n is less than or equal to N, where N is the total number of rows of food filling cylinders. 1) If "Yes": The food container moves one or more workstations until an empty compartment in the row that is at the front of the row moves to the next row of food filling cylinders. Then, the controller determines whether the food in the current nth row of food filling cylinders is the food from the pre-order information. If "Yes": The controller determines whether the current m / 2 is an integer: If "Yes", the food container stays at the workstation for the specified time and the food filling cylinder on the left side of the nth row fills the compartment below it and distributed on the left side; If "No", the food container stays at the workstation for the specified time and the food filling cylinder on the right side of the nth row fills the compartment below it and distributed on the right side; Afterwards, the current value of m is incremented by 1 and then reassigned to m, and the current value of n is incremented by 1 and then reassigned to n; If "No": the lunchbox stays at the workstation for the specified time; then, the current value of n is incremented by 1 and reassigned to n. 2) If “No”: the lunch box is moved out of the filling area and enters the next process, such as the packaging process or the transfer process; Step 4: If the comparison result of "Step 3" is "yes", then make a judgment according to "Step 3" again, and so on.

[0015] This invention features a series of food filling cylinders positioned on the left and right sides above a conveyor belt, each containing the same food item. Correspondingly, the lunchboxes on the conveyor belt are arranged in a conventional two-row, multi-tiered layout, ensuring that the compartments are aligned vertically with the outlets of the food filling cylinders on the same side. Driven by the conveyor belt, each lunchbox's compartments are sequentially positioned below each row of food filling cylinders. Furthermore, based on this dispensing device, the invention provides three methods for filling the lunchboxes. When one or more lunchboxes have empty compartments that move to the level of the food filling cylinder corresponding to the pre-ordered food selected by the user, the controller controls the food filling cylinders to inject the food into the corresponding empty compartments. This achieves intelligent dispensing of one or more lunchboxes simultaneously, effectively saving labor costs and improving efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional view of the food serving device.

[0018] Figure 2 This is a diagram illustrating information interaction methods.

[0019] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the third method of food filling according to the present invention.

[0020] In the diagram: 1. Lunch box; 2. Food filling cylinder; 3. Tracked conveyor; 31. Track; 32. Limiting structure; 4. Filling area; 5. Serving station. Detailed Implementation

[0021] I. Intelligent Meal Serving Device The intelligent meal serving device of the present invention is used in catering establishments such as canteens or restaurants. It provides users (diners) with a streamlined service that automatically fills the dishes selected when ordering (the dishes include staple food and side dishes, the staple food refers to grain foods such as rice or porridge, and the side dishes refer to foods such as meat or vegetables) into the corresponding meal box 1. It has the advantages of convenient operation, high efficiency, effective reduction of labor costs and high degree of intelligence.

[0022] like Figure 1 As shown, the food dispensing device includes the food container 1, a moving device, and a food filling cylinder 2.

[0023] 1. Lunch box 1 The top of the lunch box 1 is open, and there are several compartments of the same size inside. Specifically, the space inside the lunch box is divided into multiple recessed areas, each recessed area is called a compartment, and each compartment is used to hold a dish injected into it by the corresponding dish filling tube 2. The dishes held in all compartments are different from each other.

[0024] The food dispensing device can be adapted to food containers 1 with different numbers of compartments, and each food container 1 has the same compartment size to meet the needs of different groups of people for the quantity of food at different times.

[0025] The lunch box 1 of the present invention is preferably rectangular in shape, so as to be compatible with the lunch boxes 1 that are commonly used in the market.

[0026] The number of storage compartments is preferably 4 to 10, and most preferably 4 or 6. All storage compartments are arranged in a matrix with two columns and multiple rows. For example, when the number of storage compartments is 4, each storage compartment corresponds to a quadrant.

[0027] A unique electronic tag is placed at a location on the outer surface (such as the side wall or top surface) of each lunch box 1. The electronic tag contains a unique number information corresponding to the lunch box 1.

[0028] The electronic tag can be an RFID electronic tag, barcode, or QR code, with RFID electronic tags being preferred.

[0029] like Figure 2 As shown, the food dispensing device also includes a controller, which includes a central processing unit, a power module, and a storage module. The central processing unit can be an STM32F series, Raspberry Pi RP2040, NXP i.MX series, or other chips.

[0030] After a user completes an order, a pre-ordered menu item is generated and uploaded to the storage module. The information can be transmitted via serial communication, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi. The pre-ordered menu item information includes the dishes selected by the user when ordering and the number of the food container 1 containing the dishes.

[0031] Preferably, a food ordering counter is provided in the catering establishment so that staff can help users order food, or users can order food themselves through a terminal (such as a mobile phone or computer).

[0032] mobile devices The mobile device is preferably a tracked conveyor 3, which includes a horizontally arranged track 31 and a motor that drives the track 31 to rotate cyclically.

[0033] In this invention, the left and right halves of the conveyor platform of the track 31 are defined as the left filling area and the right filling area, respectively (the conveyor platform composed of the left filling area and the right filling area is called the filling area 4).

[0034] The track 31 is used to drive the lunch box 1 placed on it to move from front to back (the inlet end of the filling area 4 is the front, and the outlet end of the filling area 4 is the back, the same below) and the long side of the lunch box 1 is parallel to the direction of movement of the lunch box 1. When the lunch box 1 moves to the compartment on it and stops below a certain food filling cylinder 2, the compartment corresponds vertically to the outlet of the food filling cylinder 2.

[0035] A limiting structure 32 is provided on the surface of the track 31. The limiting structure 32 is used to constrain the lunch box 1 placed on the track 31 to a fixed position to prevent the lunch box 1 from shifting when it moves with the track 31.

[0036] The limiting structure 32 is preferably a recessed part that is concave downward or a positioning post that is convex upward. When there is one recessed part, the size of the space enclosed by the recessed part or the positioning post is suitable for fixing the lunch box 1 in it. Alternatively, the number of recessed parts is consistent with the number of compartments in the lunch box 1, and the size of each recessed part is adapted to the outer contour size of a compartment. Correspondingly, the top surfaces of all compartments in the lunch box 1 are connected together, and the lower parts of all compartments are separated from each other. The compartments can be inserted downward into the corresponding recessed part and overlap the periphery of the recessed part.

[0037] A coding detection device is provided on the side of the entrance of the filling area 4. The coding detection device is preferably an RFID reader or writer, which is used to identify the RFID electronic tag on the lunch box 1 and upload the identified number information of the lunch box 1 to the storage module. Then, the central processing unit compares the number information with all the pre-ordered dishes information stored in the storage module and matches the latest pre-ordered dishes information containing the number information of the lunch box 1, thereby determining all the dishes that need to be contained in the lunch box 1.

[0038] A food dispensing platform 5 is provided after the track 31 to receive the food containers 1 that are moved off the track 31 from the outlet end of the filling area 4.

[0039] To meet the needs of some diners who want to take the food container 1 away or delay their meal, a sealing machine (not shown in the figure) is provided next to the food serving station 5 to seal the food container 1 and the food inside into one unit.

[0040] 3. Food filling cylinder 2 (hereinafter referred to as filling cylinder 2)

[0041] The number of filling cylinders 2 is multiple, and each filling cylinder 2 contains a pre-cooked dish. Preferably, each filling cylinder 2 is equipped with an independent microprocessor, and the central processing unit is communicatively connected to each microprocessor.

[0042] When the conveyor belt 31 moves the lunch box 1 to an empty compartment above it and stops below the filling cylinder 2 containing the dishes from the pre-ordered menu information, the central processing unit sends a filling command to the microprocessor of the filling cylinder 2. The microprocessor then controls the drive motor of the filling cylinder 2 to start and injects the dishes inside into the empty compartment in a set amount.

[0043] The filling cylinder 2 consists of a cylinder body and a top cover. The upper part of the cylinder body is cylindrical and the lower part is frustum-shaped and is an integral structure. The cylinder body has a hollow inner cavity for holding food, and its top surface is open. The top cover is used to seal the open. A food outlet is provided at the bottom of the cylinder body. A food dispensing component is provided in the hollow inner cavity to send the food in the hollow inner cavity downward to the food outlet so that the food falls into the corresponding compartment.

[0044] The filling cylinder 2 can be a spiral propulsion type for filling food. The corresponding filling component preferably includes the drive motor and the push rod. The drive motor is mounted on the top cover, the upper end of the push rod is connected to the output shaft of the motor, and the lower end of the push rod extends downward to the top of the food outlet. Spiral blades for pushing the food from top to bottom to the food outlet are installed on the outer peripheral wall of the push rod. Alternatively, the filling cylinder 2 can also adopt a measuring cup type so that the food falls into the compartment under its own weight. The corresponding filling component is preferably a food delivery spoon set next to each food filling cylinder 2. When the corresponding filling cylinder 2 needs to fill the compartment, the food delivery spoon automatically scoops up a certain amount of food and delivers it into the corresponding filling cylinder 2.

[0045] A row of filling cylinders 2 is provided in the left filling area and the right filling area respectively, and the number of filling cylinders 2 in the left column and the right column are the same and symmetrically arranged.

[0046] All the filling tubes 2 in the same column are arranged evenly from front to back. The two adjacent filling tubes 2 in the same column contain the same food, and the two filling tubes 2 in the same row (two opposite filling tubes 2 in the left filling area and the right filling area) contain the same food.

[0047] The number of filling cylinders 2 in the same row is preferably 4 to 15, and more preferably 6 to 8.

[0048] The coding information of each filling tube 2 and the information of the food contained therein are pre-stored in its microprocessor. The coding on the filling tube 2 contains its position information, which refers to the distance between the outlet of the filling tube 2 and the inlet end of the filling area 4 when the food is being poured, as well as the filling area it is in (wherein, the horizontal distance between the vertical axis of the outlet food of the first row of filling tubes 2 and the inlet end is an integer multiple of the length of one compartment on the food container 1).

[0049] In this invention, the distance S between the vertical axes of the outlets of two adjacent filling cylinders 2 in the same column is set to an integer multiple of the length d of a compartment on the lunch box 1, preferably 2 to 4 times. The higher the multiple, the larger the volume that the filling cylinder 2 can be set to, that is, the larger the capacity of the food that can be held. The length of the compartment is the conventional setting of the lunch box 1 used in the prior art.

[0050] The motor of the track 31 moves intermittently under the control of the central processing unit. The time it stops moving each time is the station action time (including the time for the filling cylinder 2 to move up and down and the time for the filling cylinder 2 to fill the compartments with food). That is, when the track 31 moves with all the lunch boxes 1 on it, each lunch box 1 will pause the station action time after moving one station (the stroke of one station is the length of one compartment d) so that the filling cylinder 2 that needs to be filled with food can complete the filling. At the same time, all the compartments of the first row of lunch boxes 1 on the track 31 (the two compartments that enter the filling area 4 first) to the last row of compartments (the two compartments that enter the filling area 4 last) can stop in sequence below the outlet of each row of filling cylinder 2. When one or more lunch boxes 1 have empty compartments that stop below the filling cylinder 2 corresponding to a certain dish in their pre-ordered dish information, all the corresponding filling cylinders 2 will fill the dish inside into the corresponding empty compartment.

[0051] After the central processing unit determines the food to be contained in a certain food container 1 at the entrance end, the central processing unit can then determine the number of times the motor is started (specifically: given that the distance the food container 1 moves each time the motor is started is the length d of one compartment, and the distance between each row of filling cylinders 2 and the entrance end is an integer multiple of d, the number of starts corresponding to each row of compartments moving to the bottom of each row of filling cylinders 2 can be calculated) or timed to determine the filling cylinder 2 that each row of compartments of the food container 1 is currently facing during the movement.

[0052] To clearly illustrate the present invention, in the following description, the compartments located on the left and right sides of each row of compartments are referred to as the pre-filling compartments and the post-filling compartments, respectively; the filling cylinders 2 located on the left and right sides of each row of filling cylinders 2 are referred to as the pre-filling cylinders and the post-filling cylinders, respectively. The pre-filling compartments are filled with food by the corresponding pre-filling cylinders, and the post-filling compartments are filled with food by the corresponding post-filling cylinders.

[0053] The present invention preferably controls all filling cylinders 2 to dispense food into the compartments in the following dispensing sequence, which is pre-stored in the storage module or the central processing unit: When filling food into the same row of compartments, fill the compartment first and then fill the compartments next to it (i.e., left to right). When filling food into the same row of cells, fill the first row of cells first, and then fill the next adjacent row of cells (i.e., fill the first row first, then the last row).

[0054] Preferably, a heat preservation structure is provided on the outer side wall of the cylinder body, the shape of the heat preservation structure is adapted to the shape of the outer side wall of the cylinder body, the heat preservation structure can use a heat insulation material for heat preservation, or a low-power heating device (electromagnetic heating, resistance wire heating or semiconductor sheet heating) can be used to start at regular intervals for heat preservation, so as to ensure that the dishes are in a state with desirable wok hei.

[0055] 2. Based on the above-described meal dispensing device, the present invention provides the following three dish filling methods.

[0056] The first method: Set the following parameters: Each column is provided with N filling cylinders 2, and the filling cylinders 2 in each row are sequentially numbered as the 1st row, the 2nd row, the 3rd row, ... the Nth row from front to back; Each column of the meal box 1 is provided with m compartments, which are sequentially numbered as L1, R1, L2, R2, L3, R3...Lm, Rm (L represents left, R represents right) according to the aforementioned dish filling sequence (refer to the definition in "3. Dish Filling Cylinder 2" of Part "1").

[0057] The central processor executes the following steps: Step 1: The meal box 1 with all compartments in an unloaded state is placed at the inlet end of the filling area 4 (at this time, the code detection device identifies the number information of the meal box 1, and the central processor determines all the dishes required by the meal box 1). The meal box 1 moves backward from the inlet end in an intermittent movement mode until the central processor determines that the first row of compartments (L1, R1) is placed under the filling cylinders 2 of the 1st row; Step 2: The central processor determines whether the dish in the filling cylinders 2 of this row is the required dish in the pre-purchased dish information

[0058] 1. If "Yes": the priority filling cylinder in the 1st row executes a dish filling instruction, so that the priority filling cylinder fills dishes into L1, and the meal box 1 stays at this station for the station action time; 2. If "No": the filling cylinders 2 of this row do not act, and the meal box 1 stays at this station for the aforementioned station action time; Step 3: After that, the meal box 1 moves backward by one or more stations (the length of one station is the length d of one compartment, and the meal box 1 needs to stay at the current station for the aforementioned station action time every time it moves one station) until the first row of compartments moves to below the filling cylinders 2 of the next row.

[0059] Step 4: The central processor compares the magnitude of n and N If "1<n≤N" (n is the current row number of the filling cylinders 2), the central processor determines whether the dish in the filling cylinders 2 of the nth row is a dish in the pre-purchased dish information: 1) If "Yes": the central processor determines the number of compartments that have been filled with dishes among all the compartments from L1 to Rm: a. If none of the compartments from L1 to Rm are filled with dishes, the pre-filling cylinder of the nth row injects dishes into L1; b. If one of the compartments from L1 to Rm is filled with dishes, the post-filling cylinder of the nth row injects dishes into R1; c. If there are x (x<n) compartments filled with dishes among the compartments from L1 to Rm: when x is an even number, after the lunch box 1 is moved backward by x / 2 stations, the pre-filling cylinder of the nth row injects dishes into the pre-filling compartment of the (x / 2+1)th row located thereunder; when x is an odd number, after the lunch box 1 is moved backward by [(x-1) / 2] stations, the post-filling cylinder of the nth row injects dishes into the post-filling compartment of the (x+1) / 2th row.

[0060] 2) If "No": the lunch box 1 stays at this station for the stated station operation time; Step 5: Execute "Step 3" and then perform judgment according to "Step 4", and so on; Step 6: When the central processor judges that there is no filling cylinder 2 at the current station, the dish filling task for the lunch box 1 is completed, and the lunch box 1 enters the next process, such as a sealing process or a transferring process.

[0061] The second type: After the lunch box 1 is placed at the inlet end: the code detection device identifies the electronic tag on the lunch box 1, the central processor determines the dishes required by the lunch box 1 accordingly, and the central processor matches the pre-stored code information and dish information of the filling cylinder 2 with the required dishes one by one, and determines the compartments (referred to as dish-to-be-filled compartments) for holding each required dish in the lunch box 1 and the filling cylinder 2 (referred to as the target filling cylinder 2) corresponding to dish injection into each of the compartments according to the stated dish injection sequence.

[0062] The central processor, in the above timing or counting manner, judges that when the dish-to-be-filled compartment moves to the position right below the corresponding target filling cylinder 2, the target filling cylinder 2 receives a dish injection instruction and injects the dish into the compartment.

[0063] Based on this "second type" method, the process from ordering to meal pickup of a certain user is introduced below by way of example.

[0064] Set the following parameters: 1) There are 7 rows of filling cylinders 2; For clear description, the filling cylinders 2 in the left column are sequentially numbered A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7 from front to back; the filling cylinders 2 in the right column are sequentially numbered B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7 from front to back, and the relationship between S and d is: S=2d (S is the distance between the vertical axes of the dish outlets of two adjacent filling cylinders 2, and d is the length of one compartment); The horizontal distance between the inlet end of the filling area and the first row of filling cylinders 2 is one compartment length d; The storage module pre-stores the coding information and the food information contained in each filling cylinder 2: A1 and B1 contain rice, A2 and B2 contain stir-fried green peppers with pork, A3 and B3 contain twice-cooked pork, A4 and B4 contain seasonal vegetables, A5 and B5 contain scrambled eggs with tomatoes, A6 and B6 contain beef, and A7 and B7 contain minced meat and eggplant.

[0065] 2) The working time at the workstation is 3 seconds, and the relocation time is 2 seconds.

[0066] The following is a detailed process from ordering to picking up food: Step 1: The user places an order and receives a pickup code.

[0067] The user selected 6 compartments in the meal box. For clarity, all compartments are numbered L1, R1, L2, R2, L3, and R3 in the order of food preparation.

[0068] Step 2: After the electronic tag on plate 1 is identified by the coding detection device, the central processing unit obtains the pre-ordered food information corresponding to plate 1, which includes 5 dishes: twice-cooked pork, rice, seasonal vegetables, minced meat and eggplant, and scrambled eggs with tomatoes.

[0069] The central processing unit determines the corresponding compartments for the five dishes and the corresponding filling cylinders 2 for each compartment according to the above method: rice corresponds to L1 and is filled by A1; twice-cooked pork corresponds to R1 and is filled by B3; seasonal vegetables correspond to L2 and are filled by A4; scrambled eggs with tomatoes correspond to R2 and are filled by B5; and minced meat and eggplant correspond to L3 and are filled by A7.

[0070] Step 3: The conveyor belt 31 operates, driving the lunch box 1 to move backward from the inlet end, and the food is poured into the lunch box 1 according to the following steps: 1) Meal box 1 moves 1 station, L1 and R1 are placed under A1 and B1 respectively and stay for 3 seconds. The microprocessor of A1 controls its motor drive and injects rice into L1 within 3 seconds. 2) After that, lunchbox 1 moves two workstations in sequence, so that L1 and R1 are placed under A2 and B2 respectively and stay for 3 seconds; 3) After that, lunch box 1 moves two workstations in sequence, so that L1 and R1 are placed under A3 and B3 respectively and stay for 3 seconds. B3 injects the twice-cooked pork into R1 within 3 seconds. 4) After that, lunch box 1 moves two workstations in sequence, so that L1 and R1 are placed under A4 and B4 respectively and stay for 3 seconds; 5) After that, lunch box 1 moves one station, so that L2 and R2 are placed under A4 and B4 respectively and stay for 3 seconds. A4 injects seasonal vegetables into L2; 6) After that, lunch box 1 moves 1 station, so that L1 and R1 are placed under A5 and B5 respectively and stay for 3 seconds; 7) After that, lunch box 1 moves one station, so that L2 and R2 are placed under A5 and B5 respectively and stay for 3 seconds. B5 pours the scrambled eggs with tomatoes into R2. 8) After that, lunchbox 1 moves 1 station, so that L1 and R1 are placed under A6 and B6 respectively and stay for 3 seconds; 9) After that, lunch box 1 moves two workstations in sequence, so that L1 and R1 are placed under A7 and B7 respectively and stay for 3 seconds; 10) After that, the lunch box 1 moves two stations in sequence, so that L3 and R3 are placed under A7 and B7 respectively (at this time, L1 and R1 have been moved away from the area where the filling cylinder 2 is located) and stays for 3 seconds. A7 injects the minced meat and eggplant into L3. 11) After that, the lunch box 1 is moved away from the filling area 4 and enters the next process, such as the transfer process or the packaging process.

[0071] Step 4: Prompt the user to pick up their meal.

[0072] The third type: Set the following parameters: There are N rows of filling cylinders 2, and all filling cylinders 2 are arranged from front to back as row 1, row 2, row 3, ... row N; there are k rows of compartments, and all compartments of the meal box 1 are numbered sequentially according to the aforementioned food filling order as: row 1 compartments (L1, R1), row 2 compartments (L2, R2), row 3 compartments (L3, R3) ... row k compartments (Lk, Rk), where L represents left and R represents right.

[0073] like Figure 3 As shown in the figure: An represents the first pouring cylinder in the nth row of the left column, and Bn represents the last pouring cylinder in the nth row of the right column (A represents left, B represents right). m and n are integers and loop variables. The initial value of m is 0 and the initial value of n is 1. m=m+1 means to add 1 to the current value of m and then reassign it to m. n=n+1 means to add 1 to the current value of n and then reassign it to n. L(⌊m / 2⌋+1) represents the first cell in the (⌊m / 2⌋+1)th row of lunchbox 1, R(⌊m / 2⌋+1) represents the last cell in the (⌊m / 2⌋+1)th row of lunchbox 1, and ⌊m / 2⌋ represents rounding down from m / 2.

[0074] The present invention completes the food filling process of lunch box 1 according to the following steps: Step 1: Meal box 1 enters filling area 4 with all compartments empty. At this time, the coding detection device identifies the number information of meal box 1, and the central processing unit determines the dishes required for meal box 1. Meal box 1 moves from the entrance end to the rear in an intermittent manner until its L1 and R1 (first row compartments) are placed under A1 and B1 (first row filling cylinder 2) respectively. Step 2: The central processing unit determines whether the food in the current row of filling cylinders 2 (the current row number of filling cylinders 2 is represented by n) is the food from the pre-ordered food information: 1) If "yes", the central processing unit determines whether the current m / 2 is an integer (the initial value of m is 0): If “yes”, then lunchbox 1 stays at the workstation for the specified workstation operation time and the first filling cylinder (An) of the nth row fills L1 with food; if “no”, lunchbox 1 stays at the workstation for the specified workstation operation time and the second filling cylinder (Bn) of the nth row fills R1 with food. Next, calculate the value of m: m = m + 1, and calculate the value of n: n = n + 1; 2) If “No”, then the time that lunchbox 1 stays at the workstation is the time specified in the workstation action; Next, calculate the value of n: n = n + 1; Step 3: The central processing unit compares whether n is less than or equal to N: 1) If "yes", then the meal box 1 moves to one or more workstations until the empty compartment in the row that is at the front of the row moves to the next row of filling cylinders 2; then, the central processing unit determines whether the food in the current nth row of filling cylinders 2 is the food in the pre-ordered food information: a. If "yes", the central processing unit determines whether the current m / 2 is an integer: If “Yes”: then lunchbox 1 stays at the workstation for the workstation operation time and the first pouring tube (An) in the nth row pours food into the first pouring compartment below it; if “No”: then lunchbox 1 stays at the workstation for the workstation operation time and the second pouring tube (Bn) in the nth row pours food into the second pouring compartment below it. Next, calculate the value of m: m = m + 1, and calculate the value of n: n = n + 1; b. If “No”, then the time during which lunchbox 1 stays at the workstation is specified. Next, calculate the value of n: n = n + 1; 2) If “No”, it means that the food filling task of lunch box 1 is completed, lunch box 1 is moved away from filling area 4 and enters the next process, such as the packaging process or the transfer process. Step 4: If the comparison result of "Step 3" is "yes", then make a judgment according to "Step 3" again, and so on.

Claims

1. A streamlined intelligent food dispensing device, comprising a food container with multiple compartments for holding different dishes, a moving device for moving the food container, and several food filling cylinders, characterized in that, An electronic tag recording unique number information of the meal box is arranged on the meal box, a left filling zone and a right filling zone are respectively arranged on two sides of a moving device, a plurality of the dish filling cylinders which are identical in quantity and arranged in sequence at intervals are arranged in the left and right filling zones, the cooked dishes contained in the two opposite dish filling cylinders on the left and right sides are the same, the dishes in two adjacent dish filling cylinders in the same filling zone are different, when the meal box moves to a position corresponding to a code detection device at the inlet end of the filling zone, the code detection device uploads the detected number information of the meal box to a controller, the controller matches the number information with pre-ordered dish information generated when a diner orders meals and stored in the controller, then the moving device drives the meal box to move until the empty compartment thereon stays at a position below the dish filling cylinder corresponding to the pre-ordered dish information, and enables the dish filling cylinder to inject the dish therein into the empty compartment.

2. The automated intelligent food dispensing device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, A plurality of compartments with the same size are arranged in each meal box, all the compartments are distributed in two columns and multiple rows, and the two columns of compartments are respectively arranged below the dish filling cylinders in the filling zone on the same side.

3. The automated intelligent food dispensing device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The distance between the vertical axes of the dish outlets of two adjacent dish filling cylinders is an integer multiple of the length of one compartment on the meal box.

4. The automated intelligent food dispensing device as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The dish filling cylinder injects dishes into the corresponding compartment in a spiral propulsion manner, or uses a measuring cup type to make the dishes fall into the corresponding compartment in a free-fall manner.

5. The automated intelligent food dispensing device as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The dish filling cylinder is composed of a cylinder body with an open top and a hollow inner cavity, and a top cover capable of covering the open top, the dish outlet is formed at the bottom of the cylinder body, a driving motor is arranged on the top cover, the upper end of a push rod arranged in the hollow inner cavity is connected with the output shaft of the driving motor, the lower end of the push rod extends downwards, and spiral blades capable of pushing dishes towards the dish outlet are mounted on the push rod.

6. The automated intelligent food dispensing device as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The moving device is a crawler-type conveying device, and a limiting structure for preventing the meal box from deviating from the position is arranged on the surface of the crawler of the crawler-type conveying device.

7. The automated intelligent food dispensing device as described in claim 6, characterized in that, A sealing machine is arranged behind the crawler-type conveying device.

8. A dish injecting method for a assembly-line type intelligent meal serving device, which uses the intelligent meal serving device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, and the dish injecting method comprises the following steps: Step 1: After the meal box enters the filling zone with all compartments in an unloaded state, the meal box moves from the inlet end to the outlet end in an intermittent moving manner until the first row of compartments is placed below the first row of dish filling cylinders; Step 2: The controller judges whether the dishes in the row of dish filling cylinders are the dishes in the pre-ordered dish information: if "yes", the first row of dish filling cylinders on the left side injects dishes into the first row of compartments on the left side, and the total time the meal box stays at this station is the station action time; if "no", the meal box stays at this station for the station action time; Step 3: Afterwards, the meal box moves backward by one or more stations until the first row of compartments moves below the next row of dish filling cylinders; Step 4: The controller compares the magnitude of n and N, where n is the current row number of the dish filling cylinders, and N is the total number of rows of the dish filling cylinders, if "1 < n ≤ N", the controller judges whether the dishes in the n-th row of dish filling cylinders are the dishes in the pre-ordered dish information: If "yes", then determine the number of compartments in the lunchbox that have been filled with food: If none of the compartments have been filled, then the food filling tube on the left side of the nth row fills the left side of the first row; If one compartment has been filled, then the food filling tube on the right side of the nth row fills the right side of the first row; If x compartments have been filled, where x is less than n: When x is even, the lunchbox is required to move back x / 2 positions, and then the controller controls the food filling tube on the left side of the nth row to fill the left side of the (x / 2+1)th row below it; When x is odd, the lunchbox is required to move back (x-1) / 2 positions, and then the controller controls the food filling tube on the right side of the nth row to fill the right side of the (x+1) / 2th row. If "No", then the time the lunchbox stays at the workstation is specified in the workstation action time. Step 5: After performing "Step 3", proceed to "Step 4" to make the judgment, and so on; Step Six: When it is determined that there is no food filling cylinder at the workstation where the first row of compartments is located, the food filling work for the lunch box is completed, and the lunch box enters the next process, such as the packaging process or the transfer process.

9. A method for dispensing food using a streamlined intelligent food dispensing device, comprising the intelligent food dispensing device as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, After the lunchbox is placed at the entrance, the coding detection device identifies the electronic tag on the lunchbox, and the conveyor belt drives the lunchbox into the filling area. The controller matches the pre-ordered food information corresponding to the electronic tag with the food in the food filling cylinder and determines the compartment for each food in the pre-ordered food information. Then, when the lunchbox moves under the corresponding food filling cylinder, the controller controls the food filling cylinder to fill the food into the corresponding compartment according to the order of food filling.

10. A method for dispensing food using a streamlined intelligent food dispensing device, comprising the intelligent food dispensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the method comprising the following steps: Step 1: After the lunch box enters the filling area with all compartments empty, it moves intermittently from the entrance to the first compartment and is placed under the first row of food filling cylinders. Step 2: The controller determines whether the food in the nth row of the food filling cylinder is the same food listed in the pre-order information. n is the row number of the current food filling cylinder, which is an integer and a loop variable. The initial value of n is 1. 1) If "Yes": The controller determines whether m / 2 is an integer, where m is an integer and a loop variable with an initial value of 0. If "Yes", the lunchbox stays at the workstation for the total time it stays, and the food filling cylinder on the left side of the row fills the food in the first row on the left side. If "No", the lunchbox stays at the workstation for the specified workstation time, and the food filling cylinder on the right side of the row fills the food in the first row on the right side. Afterward, the current value of m is incremented by 1 and then reassigned to m, and the current value of n is incremented by 1 and then reassigned to n. 2) If "No": the time the lunchbox stays at the workstation. Then, increment the current value of n by 1 and reassign it to n; Step 3: The controller compares whether n is less than or equal to N, where N is the total number of rows of food filling cylinders. 1) If "Yes": The food container moves one or more workstations until an empty compartment in the row with the highest number moves to the next row of food filling cylinders. Then, the controller determines whether the food in the current nth row of food filling cylinders is the food from the pre-order information. If "Yes": The controller determines whether the current m / 2 is an integer: If "Yes", the food box stays at the workstation for the specified time and the food filling cylinder on the left side of the nth row fills the compartment below it and located on the left side; If "No", the food box stays at the workstation for the specified time and the food filling cylinder on the right side of the nth row fills the compartment below it and located on the right side; Afterwards, the current value of m is incremented by 1 and then reassigned to m, and the current value of n is incremented by 1 and then reassigned to n; If "No": then the time the lunchbox stays at the workstation is specified in the workstation action time; Then, increment the current value of n by 1 and reassign it to n; 2) If "No": the lunch box is moved out of the filling area and enters the next process, such as the packaging process or the transfer process; Step 4: If the comparison result of "Step 3" is "yes", then make a judgment according to "Step 3" again, and so on.

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