Display control system, display control method, and computer program

Abstract

This invention provides a novel technology that can reduce the workload associated with menu preparation. [Solution] The display control system comprises a plurality of displays (30) and a controller (50). The plurality of displays are arranged around a transport path (10) through which a plurality of trays (5) are transported. The controller is configured to control the plurality of displays. Each of the plurality of displays is associated with one of a plurality of points in the transport path. The controller controls the plurality of displays so that each of the plurality of displays displays information about the trays passing through its associated point among the plurality of points. The information about the trays is information that allows the user to identify the dishes to be placed on the trays.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a display control system and a display control method.

Background Art

[0002] In facilities with accommodation, particularly hospitals and elderly care facilities, individual meals are provided to users. An individual menu is set for each user, and a tray prepared according to the set menu is provided. By placing one or more dishes on the tray with the dishes corresponding to the menu, the corresponding menu is prepared on the tray.

[0003] In hospitals and elderly care facilities, meals are provided to each user three times a day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It is necessary to provide a different menu for each user every day considering the user's health. Thus, in hospitals and elderly care facilities, it is required to correctly provide a wide variety of meals three times a day to a large number of users.

[0004] Conventionally, in order to provide the correct menu to the managed person, a fingerprint sensor is used to recognize the managed person, and the menu corresponding to the recognized managed person is prepared on the tray (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Whether to place dishes on the tray is communicated to the operator through a lamp.

[0005] In addition, in order to quickly provide multiple types of menus, there is a known technique of reading a menu instruction ticket (meal ticket) attached to a tray through a device and lighting an assembly instruction lamp corresponding to the food to be stacked on the tray based on the reading result (see, for example, Patent Document 2). According to this technique, the operator can take out dishes from the rack where the lamp is lit and stack them on the tray.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

[0007] Traditionally, it has been difficult for workers to recognize the menu to be prepared from the food tag attached to the tray and to correctly place the corresponding tableware on the tray. For example, in cases where workers must place tableware on trays being transported on a conveyor belt while the tray passes them, workers are required to recognize the menu written in small print on the food tag and retrieve the correct tableware from the cupboard and place it on the tray within a short time.

[0008] The fact that the food tags move in conjunction with the trays on the conveyor belt makes it difficult for workers to recognize the characters. If recognizing the menu through the food tags places a high burden on the workers, this high burden may lead to work errors.

[0009] In a system where workers are instructed on which dishes to place on a tray based solely on indicator lights, if a variety of dishes are prepared to accommodate a diverse menu, a separate lamp must be installed for each type of dish, which tends to increase installation costs. Furthermore, controlling the lighting and setting up the lamps is complicated. If the lamp density is high, there is a possibility that workers may pick up dishes other than those indicated by the lamps.

[0010] Therefore, according to one aspect of this disclosure, it is desirable to provide a novel technology that can reduce the workload related to menu preparation for each of the multiple trays. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] According to one aspect of this disclosure, a display control system is provided. The display control system comprises a plurality of displays and a controller. The plurality of displays are arranged around a transport path through which a plurality of trays are transported. The controller is configured to control the plurality of displays.

[0012] According to one aspect of this disclosure, each of the multiple displays is associated with one of several points in the transport path. The controller controls the multiple displays so that each of the multiple displays displays information about a tray passing through its associated point among the multiple points. The information about the tray is information that allows the user to identify the dishes to be placed on the tray.

[0013] According to the above display control system, the workload on workers can be reduced when preparing menus for each of the multiple trays transported through the conveying system, by displaying highly visible information on the display.

[0014] According to one aspect of this disclosure, multiple trays may be transported in a line from upstream to downstream along a transport path. Multiple points may be positioned at intervals from upstream to downstream along the transport path. Such positioning is useful for menu preparation by multiple workers in an assembly line process.

[0015] According to one aspect of this disclosure, multiple displays may be arranged at intervals from upstream to downstream of a transport path. Each of the multiple displays may be associated with a location whose arrangement order from upstream of the transport path at multiple locations is of a specific rank. The specific rank may correspond to the arrangement order from upstream of the transport path among the multiple displays of the associated display. According to one aspect of this disclosure, each of the multiple displays may be associated with locations among multiple locations whose arrangement order from upstream of the transport path is of the same rank.

[0016] This arrangement and association allows for a correspondence between the spatial placement of displays in relation to the flow and the information related to the display trays, thereby reducing the cognitive load on workers regarding the displayed information.

[0017] According to one aspect of this disclosure, the controller may control a plurality of displays such that each of the plurality of displays displays the menu of the tray passing through the associated location as information about the tray.

[0018] Displaying menus via such a screen improves the visibility of the menu to workers compared to menus displayed on food tags attached to trays. As a result, it reduces the burden on workers in recognizing the menu and determining which dishes should be placed on the tray.

[0019] According to one aspect of this disclosure, the controller may control multiple displays such that, among the multiple dishes included in the menu of a tray passing through an associated point, the dishes corresponding to the dishes to be placed on the tray are highlighted.

[0020] According to one aspect of this disclosure, the controller may control a plurality of displays such that each of the multiple displays selectively displays, as information about the tray, a dish corresponding to the tableware to be placed on the tray from among a plurality of dishes included in the menu of the tray passing through an associated point.

[0021] Such highlighting or selection indicators can reduce the burden on workers in identifying which dishes should be placed on the tray.

[0022] According to one aspect of this disclosure, each of the trays may have a food tag describing the menu. The controller may control the multiple displays such that each of the multiple displays magnifies the food tag of the tray as it passes through its associated point.

[0023] According to such an enlarged display, an operator can recognize a menu through a display without recognizing the menu described in small characters on a menu card. Therefore, the burden on the operator for menu recognition can be reduced.

[0024] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, each of a plurality of trays may have a menu card and may be supplied to a conveyance path from a starting point of the conveyance path. A reader configured to read the menu card of the tray supplied from the starting point of the conveyance path may be installed around the starting point of the conveyance path.

[0025] The controller may control a plurality of displays so that each of the plurality of displays displays information regarding a tray passing through an associated point based on the image data of the menu card read by the reader.

[0026] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the controller may control a plurality of displays so that the display mode of the information regarding the tray gradually switches according to the relative position of the tray passing through the associated point on the conveyance path with respect to the point.

[0027] According to such display control, an operator can understand the approach and / or separation of the tray with respect to the associated point, and can easily understand the identification of the tray to be worked on and / or the working timing for the tray.

[0028] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, at least one of a symbol and a color may be attached to a place where tableware to be set on a tray passing through an associated point is prepared or to the tableware. The controller may control a plurality of displays so as to display, as information distinguishable by a user, information including at least one of the symbol and the color attached to the place or the tableware, regarding the tableware to be set on the tray.

[0029] According to such display control, it becomes easy to identify the tableware to be set on the tray, and it is possible to reduce the burden on the operator regarding the selection of the tableware to be set on the tray.

[0030] According to one aspect of this disclosure, the controller may generate information about a tray by referring to menu data stored in a server device that stores menu data describing the menu for each of the multiple trays.

[0031] This type of display control eliminates the need for readers, resulting in a simpler configuration. Furthermore, it eliminates the need for reading meal tickets and the time required for doing so, thereby reducing the workload on workers.

[0032] According to one aspect of this disclosure, the controller may accept language settings for each of the multiple displays and control the multiple displays so that each of the multiple displays displays information about the tray in the set language. Such display control allows information to be displayed in the language that the worker is comfortable with, thereby reducing the burden on the worker in understanding the information.

[0033] According to one aspect of this disclosure, the controller may control multiple displays to translate information about the trays into a set language and display the translated information about the trays on a display configured for the corresponding language. Such display control eliminates the need to prepare information for each language in advance, thereby reducing the operational burden on the system.

[0034] According to one aspect of this disclosure, an information processing method corresponding to the information processing system described above may be provided. The information processing method may be executed by a computer. The information processing method may also be a display control method for multiple displays.

[0035] According to one aspect of this disclosure, a method for controlling the display of a plurality of displays, each associated with one of a plurality of points along a transport path in which a plurality of trays are transported, may be provided. The display control method may be performed by a computer.

[0036] According to one aspect of this disclosure, the display control method may include controlling a plurality of displays such that each of the plurality of displays displays information about a tray passing through a related point among a plurality of points. The information about the tray may be information that allows the user to identify the dishes to be placed on the tray. This display control method provides similar effects to the information processing system described above.

[0037] According to one aspect of this disclosure, a computer program may be provided for causing a computer to execute the information processing method and / or display control method described above. The computer program may be recorded on a computer-readable, non-temporary recording medium. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0038] [Figure 1] This is a diagram showing the configuration of the menu preparation system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a diagram illustrating the structure of an example meal ticket. [Figure 3] Figures 3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating the configuration of a typical information screen displayed by an information terminal. [Figure 4] This diagram illustrates how the information screen changes depending on the tray's position. [Figure 5] This is a block diagram illustrating the electrical configuration of the menu preparation system. [Figure 6] This diagram illustrates the structure of the terminal settings table. [Figure 7] This diagram illustrates the structure of the color management table. [Figure 8] This is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of dishes and labels in a cupboard. [Figure 9] This diagram illustrates the structure of the meal ticket management table. [Figure 10] This is a flowchart representing the main process executed by the management system's processor. [Figure 11] This is a flowchart illustrating the location monitoring process performed by the management system's processor. [Figure 12] This is a flowchart illustrating the display-related processes performed by the management system's processor. [Figure 13] This diagram shows the configuration of the information screen in a modified example. [Figure 14] This diagram shows the configuration of a food ticket with a two-dimensional code in a modified example. [Figure 15] This diagram illustrates the structure of the nutritional management database referenced in the modified example. [Figure 16] This flowchart shows some of the display-related processing performed by the management system's processor in a modified example. [Figure 17] This diagram illustrates the arrangement and lighting of the lamps in a modified example. [Figure 18] This is a diagram showing the configuration of the menu preparation system according to the second embodiment. [Figure 19] This diagram illustrates the arrangement and illumination of wireless indicator lights. [Figure 20] This is an explanatory diagram regarding the correspondence between wireless lamps and cooking. [Figure 21] This is a flowchart illustrating the lamp registration process executed by the management system's processor. [Figure 22] This diagram illustrates the configuration of the lamp management table. [Figure 23] In the second embodiment, this is a flowchart representing the main process executed by the processor of the management system. [Figure 24] This is a flowchart illustrating the meal ticket monitoring process performed by the management system's processor. [Figure 25] This flowchart, representing a portion of the display-related processing performed by the processor of the management system in the second embodiment, shows the second embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0039] Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described below with reference to the drawings. [First Embodiment] The menu preparation system 1 of this embodiment, shown in Figure 1, is a system for preparing individual menus for each of a plurality of trays 5. The plurality of trays 5 are supplied sequentially to the belt conveyor 10 at the starting point of the belt conveyor 10 and transported downstream toward the end point of the belt conveyor 10. The transport direction of the trays 5 is indicated by the thick arrow in Figure 1.

[0040] The conveyor belt 10 constitutes the transport path for the trays 5. Multiple trays 5 are supplied sequentially to the conveyor belt 10, and are transported in a line from upstream to downstream on the conveyor belt 10. By the time each tray 5 reaches the end of the conveyor belt 10, one or more dishes containing food corresponding to the specified menu are placed on it. In this way, the specified menu is prepared in each of the multiple trays 5.

[0041] Around the belt conveyor 10, that is, around the transport path through which multiple trays 5 are transported, multiple work areas Pw are set up at intervals from upstream to downstream of the transport path, and individual workers are assigned to each work area Pw. Figure 1 shows three work areas Pw, but the number of work areas Pw is not limited to three. For example, four or more work areas may be provided. There may also be only two work areas.

[0042] Each worker takes the dishes to be placed on tray 5 from the dish rack Rk located in the corresponding work area Pw, and places the dishes on tray 5 that is flowing from upstream via the belt conveyor 10.

[0043] In this embodiment, menu preparation for multiple trays 5 that flow in a line from upstream to downstream via a belt conveyor 10 is realized through this assembly line operation by multiple workers.

[0044] The belt conveyor 10 is driven by a drive system 20. An information terminal 30 is provided around each work area Pw to display information about the tray 5 toward the corresponding work area Pw. In other words, multiple information terminals 30 are arranged around the transport path at intervals from upstream to downstream.

[0045] In the following, each work area Pw will also be referred to as the first work area P1, the second work area P2, and the third work area P3, in order from upstream. Accordingly, the information terminal 30 that displays information about tray 5 toward the first work area P1 will be referred to as the first information terminal 30a. The first information terminal 30a is located upstream of the first work area P1 and adjacent to the first work area P1.

[0046] Similarly, an information terminal 30 that displays information about tray 5 toward the second work area P2 will be referred to as the second information terminal 30b, and an information terminal 30 that displays information about tray 5 toward the third work area P3 will be referred to as the third information terminal 30c.

[0047] The second information terminal 30b is located upstream of the second work area P2 and adjacent to the second work area P2. The third information terminal 30c is located upstream of the third work area P3 and adjacent to the third work area P3.

[0048] The first information terminal 30a is controlled to display information about the tray 5 that is flowing through the display target area from position X1 to position X3 along the transport path. Positions X1 and X3 here refer to positions X represented in a one-dimensional coordinate system defined along the transport path.

[0049] The positions X1, X3, and the positions X2, X4, X5, X6, X7, X8, X9 described later in this one-dimensional coordinate system correspond to the distance along the transport path from the origin position X0. The origin position X0 is located upstream of the belt conveyor 10 from the first work area P1.

[0050] The center of the first work area P1 is located at position X2 between positions X1 and X3 in the one-dimensional coordinate system defined in this way. Position X1 is set upstream of the upstreammost position from which a worker in the first work area P1 can place dishes on the tray 5 on the conveyor belt 10. Position X3 is set relative to the downstreammost position from which a worker in the first work area P1 can place dishes on the tray 5 on the conveyor belt 10.

[0051] The second information terminal 30b is controlled to display information about the tray 5 as it flows through the display area from position X4 to position X6 in the transport path. The center of the second work area P2 is at position X5 between positions X4 and X6 in the above one-dimensional coordinate system.

[0052] Position X4 is set upstream of the upstream position from which a worker in the second work area P2 can place dishes on the tray 5 on the conveyor belt 10. Position X6 is set relative to the downstream position from which a worker in the second work area P2 can place dishes on the tray 5 on the conveyor belt 10.

[0053] The third information terminal 30c is controlled to display information about the tray 5 as it flows through the display area from position X7 to position X9 in the transport path. The center of the third work area P3 is at position X8 between positions X7 and X9 in the above one-dimensional coordinate system.

[0054] Position X7 is set upstream of the upstream position from which a worker in the third work area P3 can place dishes on the tray 5 on the conveyor belt 10. Position X9 is set relative to the downstream position from which a worker in the third work area P3 can place dishes on the tray 5 on the conveyor belt 10.

[0055] Thus, for assembly line operations, the display start positions X1, X4, and X7 of each information terminal 30 are positioned at intervals from upstream to downstream along the transport path. Information terminals 30a, 30b, and 30c are arranged at intervals from upstream to downstream along the transport path in the same order as the display start positions X1, X4, and X7. Each of the information terminals 30a, 30b, and 30c is associated with a point among multiple locations (display start positions X1, X4, and X7) that has the same arrangement order from upstream along the transport path. In other words, the arrangement order of the display start positions X1, X4, and X7 from upstream along the transport path corresponds to the arrangement order of the associated information terminals 30a, 30b, and 30c from upstream along the transport path.

[0056] These multiple information terminals 30, including the first information terminal 30a, the second information terminal 30b, and the third information terminal 30c, are controlled by a management system 50. The management system 50 functions as a controller that controls the information display on the multiple information terminals 30.

[0057] The management system 50 uses the data read from the food tickets 7 by the scanner 70 to control each information terminal 30 and displays an enlarged image of the food ticket 7 placed in the tray 5 as information related to the corresponding tray 5 on the information terminal 30. The information terminal 30 has a screen that is larger than the food ticket 7.

[0058] The enlarged image of food tag 7 contains information that allows workers located in the corresponding work area Pw to identify which dishes should be placed on tray 5. By displaying the enlarged image of food tag 7, workers in work area Pw are clearly informed of which dishes should be placed on tray 5.

[0059] The meal tickets 7 are read by the scanner 70 through a worker positioned in the start area P0. For example, a bundle of meal tickets 7, grouped by ward, is supplied to the scanner 70 and read sequentially. After reading, the number of trays 5 corresponding to each bundle of meal tickets 7 are supplied sequentially to the conveyor belt 10 by the worker in the start area P0.

[0060] In this process, the corresponding meal tags 7 are placed in each of the trays 5 in the order they are read by the scanner 70. In other words, menu preparation for multiple trays 5 is carried out through the above assembly line process in the order in which the meal tags 7 are read.

[0061] Figure 2 shows an example of the structure of a meal ticket 7. The meal ticket 7 describes the menu to be served to the diner at the designated location. The meal ticket 7 shown in Figure 2 includes the diner's name, their identification number, and the menu. The meal ticket 7 is created, for example, through a printer (not shown). In other words, the meal ticket 7 is constructed by printing the above information on paper.

[0062] A menu typically consists of two or more items, including a staple food and one or more side dishes. Hereafter, these items will be referred to as menu items. Examples of staple foods include rice, bread, and noodles. Examples of side dishes include main dishes, side dishes, and soups. Examples of main and side dishes include hot dishes and cold dishes.

[0063] A staple food is one menu item, and each of the side dishes—main course, side dishes, and soup—is also a menu item. If a menu includes two or more side dishes, such as hot and / or cold dishes, each of these side dishes is also a menu item. A menu may also include desserts, such as fruit and yogurt. Dessert is also a menu item.

[0064] Food card 7 lists the names of the dishes for each of the multiple menu items. As shown in the example in Figure 2, food card 7 lists the names of the dishes for each menu item: main dish, side dish, soup, and staple food.

[0065] A meal ticket 7 is prepared for each diner at the serving location and read by a scanner 70. The scanner 70 performs OCR (Optical Character Recognition) processing on the meal ticket 7 to convert the information contained in the meal ticket 7 into text.

[0066] The data read from the meal ticket 7 by the scanner 70 is provided to the management system 50. Based on this data, display control is performed so that, as shown in Figures 3A and 3B, an enlarged image of the meal ticket 7, which explains the menu to be prepared for the tray 5 moving through the display area, is displayed on the information terminal 30.

[0067] As shown in Figure 1, a work area Pw is provided for each menu item. For example, the first work area P1 is equipped with a dish rack Rk containing multiple types of dishes on which the main course is served. A worker positioned in the first work area P1 identifies the dish (main course) to be placed on the tray 5 flowing from upstream based on an enlarged image of the food ticket 7 displayed on the first information terminal 30a, takes the identified dish from the dish rack Rk, and places it on the tray 5.

[0068] According to this embodiment, in order to enable workers to accurately place tableware on tray 5 with minimal workload, each information terminal 30 highlights the name of the menu item corresponding to the associated work area Pw in an enlarged image of the food tag 7. Specifically, the information terminal 30 displays an enlarged image of the food tag 7 highlighting the name of the dish that the worker should place on tray 5.

[0069] When the first work area P1 is for the main dish, the first information terminal 30a associated with the first work area P1 displays an enlarged image of the food tags 7 on the tray 5 flowing through the display area, as shown in Figure 3A, with the name of the main dish highlighted or otherwise emphasized. In Figure 3A, the dashed line surrounding the name of the main dish conceptually indicates the highlighting.

[0070] Similarly, when the second work area P2 is for side dishes, the second information terminal 30b associated with the second work area P2 displays an enlarged image of the food tags 7 on the tray 5 flowing through the display area, as shown in Figure 3B, with the names of the side dishes highlighted or otherwise emphasized. In Figure 3B, the dashed lines surrounding the names of the side dishes conceptually represent the highlighting.

[0071] According to this embodiment, the enlarged image of the food tag 7 is displayed on the information terminal 30 surrounded by a frame image Fr. That is, as shown in Figures 3A and 3B, the information terminal 30 displays an information screen G0 in which the enlarged image of the food tag 7 is surrounded by a frame image Fr. The frame image Fr is displayed in the color assigned to the tableware to be placed on the tray 5. The frame image Fr may also be understood as a background image for the enlarged image of the food tag 7.

[0072] As shown in Figure 4, the information terminal 30 changes the display of the information screen G0 so that the color density of the frame image Fr becomes darker as the tray 5 approaches the work area Pw. When the tray 5 passes the display area, the information terminal 30 either grays out the information screen G0, which includes the enlarged image of the food tag 7 and the frame image Fr, or turns off the display of the information screen G0.

[0073] In this embodiment, each information terminal 30 is controlled by the management system 50 and displays information corresponding to the associated work area Pw, thereby reducing the workload on workers when setting tableware onto the tray 5.

[0074] Next, the detailed configuration of the menu preparation system 1 will be explained using Figure 5. The drive system 20 that drives the belt conveyor 10 comprises a controller 21, a motor 23, a rotary encoder 25, and a communication interface 29.

[0075] The controller 21 is configured to provide feedback control to the motor 23 based on the output of the rotary encoder 25. The controller 21 controls the motor 23 so that, for example, the belt conveyor 10 rotates at a constant speed.

[0076] Motor 23 is, for example, an electric motor, and is connected to the belt conveyor 10 to rotate and drive the belt conveyor 10. The rotary encoder 25 outputs an encoder signal corresponding to the rotation of motor 23. Based on the encoder signal, the controller 21 determines the amount of rotation of motor 23, and consequently, the amount of rotation of the belt conveyor 10.

[0077] Information on the amount of rotation of the belt conveyor 10 is provided to the management system 50 via the communication interface 29. The communication interface 29 is a wired or wireless communication interface and is configured to communicate with the management system 50.

[0078] The information terminal 30, which displays information related to tray 5, comprises a processor 31, memory 32, storage 33, display 35, touch panel 37, and communication interface 39. The processor 31 executes processing according to a computer program stored in the storage 33. The memory 32 is used as a workspace when the processor 31 is executing processing. The memory 32 may be RAM. The storage 33 may be flash memory. The information terminal 30 may be, for example, a tablet terminal.

[0079] The display 35 is controlled by the processor 31 and displays information screen G0, which includes information about the tray 5 described above, particularly an enlarged image of the food tag 7. The touch panel 37 is integrated with the display 35 and is configured to accept user operations on the graphical user interface (GUI) displayed on the display 35. The communication interface 39 is a wired or wireless communication interface and is configured to communicate with the management system 50.

[0080] The management system 50, which controls the display for the information terminal 30, comprises a processor 51, memory 52, storage 53, a user interface 57, and a communication interface 59.

[0081] The management system 50 is configured, for example, by installing a dedicated computer program on a personal computer. A tablet device may be used instead of a personal computer.

[0082] The processor 51 executes processing according to the computer program stored in the storage 53. The memory 52 is used as a workspace when the processor 51 is executing processing. The storage 53 is composed of, for example, flash memory or a solid-state drive (SSD) and stores computer programs and various data.

[0083] The user interface 57 includes a display and an operating device. Specifically, the user interface 57 is configured to display various information to the user operating the management system 50, and to accept user operations on the management system 50.

[0084] The communication interface 59 is a wired or wireless communication interface and is configured to communicate with the drive system 20, multiple information terminals 30, scanner 70, and start sensor 75.

[0085] The scanner 70 has an automatic document feeder (ADF) function. That is, the scanner 70 is configured to continuously read each of the multiple food tags 7 placed on a document tray (not shown).

[0086] As shown in Figures 1 and 5, the menu preparation system 1 of this embodiment is equipped with a start sensor 75. The start sensor 75 is located upstream of the belt conveyor 10 from position X1 and detects the passage of the tray 5 supplied from the starting point of the belt conveyor 10.

[0087] The point at which the start sensor 75 detects the passage of tray 5 corresponds to the origin position X0 described above. In other words, the position X of each tray 5 supplied to the belt conveyor 10 is measured as the distance from the point at which the start sensor 75 detects the tray 5.

[0088] The detection signal from tray 5 by the start sensor 75 is input to the management system 50. The start sensor 75 is connected to the management system 50 via a wired or wireless communication interface.

[0089] Known wired communication interfaces include wired LAN (Local Area Network) interfaces and USB (Universal Serial Bus) interfaces. Known wireless communication interfaces include wireless LAN interfaces and Bluetooth® interfaces.

[0090] Based on the position X of each tray 5, a table showing the correspondence between each information terminal 30 and the display target area is registered in the storage 53 of the management system 50 in order to control the display of each information terminal 30. The table shown in Figure 6 is the terminal setting table TBL1, which shows the correspondence between the information terminal 30 and the display target area.

[0091] The terminal settings table TBL1 contains terminal settings data for each of the 30 registered information terminals. Each terminal settings data includes a terminal number, a terminal name, and setting values ​​for the display start position and display time.

[0092] The terminal name is the name assigned to the information terminal 30. In the example shown in Figure 6, each information terminal 30 is assigned a menu item as its terminal name. For example, when tableware for menu item "main dish" is set in the first work area P1, the first information terminal 30a corresponding to the first work area P1 is assigned "main dish" as its terminal name.

[0093] In the example shown in Figure 6, information terminal 30, terminal number 1, is assigned the terminal name "Main Dish," and furthermore, position X1 is set as the display start position, and T1 seconds is set as the display time.

[0094] The display start position is the position where the information terminal 30 begins to display information related to tray 5 (an enlarged image of the food tag 7). Each information terminal 30 is associated with one of several points along the transport route based on this display start position.

[0095] In the example shown in Figure 1, the first information terminal 30a displays information about tray 5 passing through the display area, with the area from position X1 to position X3 as the display target area. In this case, the display start position is set to position X1.

[0096] The display time corresponds to the time from when the display of information about tray 5 begins until the information is grayed out or the information display is turned off. When the display time is set to T1 and the conveying speed of tray 5 by the belt conveyor 10 is V, the information about tray 5 is displayed on the information terminal 30 when tray 5 is located in the display area from position X1 to position (X1 + V * T1), and then grayed out or erased. When the display area is from position X1 to position X3, time T1 corresponds to position X3. This display time corresponds to the time it takes to change the color density of the frame image Fr.

[0097] In the example shown in Figure 6, information terminal 30 with terminal number 2 is assigned the terminal name "Side Dishes," and the display start position is set to position X4, with a display time of T2 seconds. Information terminal 30 with terminal number 3 is assigned the terminal name "Main Dish," and the display start position is set to position X7, with a display time of T3 seconds.

[0098] Thus, the terminal configuration table TBL1 contains terminal configuration data for each of the multiple information terminals 30 arranged on the conveyor belt 10. Furthermore, a separate terminal configuration table TBL1 is prepared for each arrangement pattern of the information terminals 30 on the conveyor belt 10 and stored in the storage 53.

[0099] For example, the number of menu items may differ for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Accordingly, the arrangement of information terminals 30 on the conveyor belt 10 may also differ. Therefore, a terminal setting table TBL1 may be prepared for each of breakfast, lunch, and dinner, for example.

[0100] The terminal configuration table TBL1 is created based on user operations through the user interface 57 of the management system 50 and stored in storage 53. That is, the terminal name, display start position, and display time can be set by the user. As can be understood from the above description, each information terminal 30 is installed in a movable manner for rearrangement.

[0101] In addition, to display the frame image Fr of the information screen G0, which is the frame image Fr of the color assigned to the dishes that the worker should set on tray 5, a color management table TBL2 explaining the correspondence between dishes and assigned colors is stored in the storage 53 of the management system 50 for each menu item.

[0102] Figure 7 illustrates that the color management table TBL2 for each menu item has color management data indicating the assigned color for each dish, for multiple dishes belonging to the corresponding menu item. According to the example color management table TBL2 shown in Figure 7, the color "red" is assigned to "Rice (white rice 180g)", the color "blue" is assigned to "Rice (white rice 220g)", and the color "green" is assigned to "Porridge (whole grain rice 150g)".

[0103] The information terminal 30 is controlled by the management system 50 and operates to display a frame image Fr surrounding an enlarged image of the food tag 7 in the corresponding work area Pw, using the color assigned to the tableware that the worker should place on the tray 5.

[0104] In the example shown in Figure 8, the dish rack Rk installed in the work area Pw contains a set of dishes for each dish, stored in sheet pans Sp. Each sheet pan Sp contains a set of dishes for the same dish.

[0105] Each sheet pan Sp is fitted with a label Lb that displays the name of the dish served in the stored dish, along with a color mark assigned to the corresponding dish. The label Lb may be made of paper, for example. The label Lb can be produced by printing the dish name and assigned color mark onto paper.

[0106] In addition, the storage 53 of the management system 50 stores a meal ticket management table TBL3 based on the reading data of each meal ticket provided by the scanner 70. Figure 9 shows an example configuration of the meal ticket management table TBL3. The meal ticket management table TBL3 has meal ticket management data for each meal ticket 7 that has been read.

[0107] The meal ticket management data includes a meal ticket number, menu information, and read image data. The meal ticket number is a management number assigned to each meal ticket 7 read by the scanner 70 in the order of reading. The menu information indicates the menu described on the meal ticket 7 corresponding to the meal ticket number. The menu information contains information on the names of the dishes for each menu item described on the meal ticket 7. The menu information is generated by OCR processing of the meal ticket 7. The read image data is the read image data of the meal ticket 7 corresponding to the meal ticket number.

[0108] Each time a bundle of food tickets 7 is read through the scanner 70, the storage 53 of the management system 50 stores the food ticket management table TBL3 corresponding to the bundle of food tickets 7.

[0109] The processor 51 of the management system 50 executes the main process shown in Figure 10 to acquire the reading data of the meal ticket 7 from the scanner 70 and record the meal ticket management table TBL3 in the storage 53.

[0110] The main processing is repeatedly executed by the processor 51. The user interface 57 of the management system 50 is located near the start area P0 and the scanner 70 to receive operations from the user (worker) located in the start area P0 and to display the results of the processing based on the operations to the worker.

[0111] The user interface 57 may be a tablet terminal that can communicate wirelessly with the management system 50. In other words, a tablet terminal that is connected to the management system 50 in a communicative manner may function as the user interface 57 of the management system 50.

[0112] When the processor 51 starts the main processing, it displays an operation screen through the user interface 57 and accepts user input on the operation screen through the user interface 57 (S110).

[0113] When an operation is performed by the user (Yes in S120), the processor 51 determines whether the operation performed is a read instruction or not (S130). If it determines that the operation performed by the user is not a read instruction (No in S130), it executes the processing corresponding to the operation (S135). After that, the main processing ends. In S135, for example, processing based on setting operations such as the display start position described above is executed.

[0114] When the processor 51 determines that a reading instruction has been received (Yes in S130), it sequentially reads the bundle of food tags 7 placed on the document tray (not shown) of the scanner 70 through the scanner 70 (S140), generates the food tag management table TBL3 described above, and saves it to the storage 53 (S150). Furthermore, it displays the reading results to the user through the user interface 57 (S160).

[0115] In the subsequent S170, the processor 51 waits until preparations for the menu preparation work based on the read bundle of meal tickets 7 are complete. For example, it waits until the state of the conveyor belt 10 transitions to a state where the menu preparation work based on the previously read bundle of meal tickets 7 is complete and the menu preparation work based on the currently read bundle of meal tickets 7 can be started.

[0116] When the processor 51 determines that it is ready (Yes in S170), it accepts a tray-making start instruction through the user interface 57 (S180). Tray making corresponds to the menu preparation work for multiple trays 5 based on the bundle of meal tags 7 mentioned above.

[0117] The processor 51 waits through the user interface 57 until a tray making start instruction is received (S190). When the tray making start instruction is received (Yes in S190), the processor 51 instructs the user (worker) located in the start area P0 to supply the tray 5 to the belt conveyor 10 (S195). If the belt conveyor 10 is not operating at this time, the processor 51 instructs the drive system 20 to start driving the belt conveyor 10.

[0118] The processor 51 then starts the position monitoring process shown in Figure 11 and the display-related processing shown in Figure 12 (S200). After that, it terminates the main processing. The position monitoring process and the display-related processing are repeatedly executed by the processor 51 until the menu preparation work for one bundle of meal tickets 7 is completed.

[0119] The processor 51 measures the position X of each tray 5 on the belt conveyor 10 by repeatedly executing the position monitoring process shown in Figure 11. When the position monitoring process is started, the processor 51 acquires information on the amount of rotation of the belt conveyor 10 based on the output from the rotary encoder 25 of the drive system 20 (S210).

[0120] In the following S220, the processor 51 determines whether a new tray 5 has been detected by the start sensor 75. If a new tray 5 is detected (Yes in S220), the processor 51 determines the food tag number corresponding to the detected tray 5 (S230). The processor 51 can determine the food tag number of the detected tray 5 based on the number of times the start sensor 75 has detected the tray 5 since the tray making start instruction was input.

[0121] The processor 51 starts measuring the position X of the tray 5 in association with the identified food ticket number (S240). Position X is measured by calculating the amount of rotation from the zero reference point, using the amount of rotation of the belt conveyor 10 at the time the tray 5 is detected by the start sensor 75 as the zero reference point.

[0122] In S250, the processor 51 measures the position X of each tray 5 on the belt conveyor 10, including trays 5 that have been detected in the past, by calculating the amount of rotation of the belt conveyor 10 from the zero reference point for each tray 5 as described above. This measurement continues for each tray 5 until it reaches the length of the belt conveyor 10 that has been registered in the management system 50 in advance. After that, the processor 51 terminates the position monitoring process. The processor 51 measures the position X of each tray 5 on the belt conveyor 10 by repeatedly executing the position monitoring process described above.

[0123] The processor 51 further controls the display of each information terminal 30 according to the tray arrangement on the belt conveyor 10 by repeatedly executing the display-related processing shown in Figure 12.

[0124] When display-related processing is initiated, the processor 51 determines the tray arrangement on the belt conveyor 10 (S310). The processor 51 can determine the tray arrangement on the belt conveyor 10 by acquiring information on the position X of each tray 5 measured by the position monitoring process. Alternatively, the position monitoring process may be executed together with the display-related processing. That is, the position monitoring process may be executed in S310 to determine the tray arrangement.

[0125] In the following S320, the processor 51 refers to the terminal setting table TBL1 and selects one information terminal 30 as the target terminal from among the multiple information terminals 30 arranged around the belt conveyor 10. In the following S330, the processor 51 determines the tray to be displayed for the target terminal based on the tray position measured by the position monitoring process. The tray to be displayed corresponds to the tray 5 in which the food tags 7 that should be displayed as enlarged images on the target terminal are set.

[0126] In S330, the processor 51 can determine the display target area of ​​the target terminal based on the display start position and display time set for the target terminal. The processor 51 can determine that tray 5 located in this display target area is the display target tray.

[0127] Multiple trays 5 corresponding to a bundle of food tags 7 should be supplied to the conveyor belt 10 with spacing between them so that only one tray 5 exists in each display area. However, if multiple trays 5 exist in the display area, the processor 51 can identify the tray 5 located at the upstream (or downstream) end of the display area as the tray to be displayed.

[0128] When tray 5 is not present in the display area, the processor 51 can identify tray 5 as the tray to be displayed, as it was the last tray to pass through the display area since the tray make start instruction was input.

[0129] In the subsequent S340, the processor 51 generates an information screen G0 to be displayed on the target terminal. Specifically, the processor 51 reads the image data of the food ticket 7 associated with the food ticket number of the tray to be displayed from the food ticket management table TBL3. Furthermore, the processor 51 refers to the color management table TBL2 for the menu items handled by the information terminal 30 and determines the color assigned to the dish of that menu item, as indicated by the menu information associated with the food ticket number of the tray to be displayed.

[0130] The processor 51 generates the information screen G0, which is an enlarged image of the food tag 7 based on the read image data associated with the food tag number of the tray to be displayed, with the name of the dish of the menu item handled by the target terminal highlighted, and combines the frame image Fr of the determined assigned color.

[0131] The color density in the frame image Fr is determined based on the elapsed time since the target tray entered the target area, or the distance from the starting point of the target area to the location of the target tray, such that the density increases as the elapsed time or distance increases.

[0132] For example, the color density of the frame image Fr is determined to be proportional to the elapsed time or distance. If the tray to be displayed has moved downstream of the display area, the processor 51 generates a grayed-out information screen G0.

[0133] In S340, the processor 51 displays the generated information screen G0 on the target terminal. As a result, the information screen G0 is displayed on the display 35 of the target terminal. In the subsequent S350, the processor 51 determines whether to select all information terminals 30 as target terminals and execute the processes in S330 and S340.

[0134] If the decision in S350 is negative (No in S350), the processor 51 selects a new target terminal from among the multiple information terminals 30 in S320 and executes the processing in S330 and S340 related to the selected information terminal 30. If the decision in S350 is positive, the processor 51 terminates the display-related processing.

[0135] The processor 51 repeatedly performs the position monitoring and display-related processing described above until menu preparation for all trays 5 corresponding to a bundle of meal tags 7 is completed and the trays reach the end of the conveyor belt 10. Once all trays 5 have reached the end of the conveyor belt 10, the processor 51 terminates the repeated execution of the position monitoring and display-related processing based on the tray making start instruction.

[0136] According to the menu preparation system 1 of this embodiment described above, the dishes that should be taken from the dish rack Rk and placed on the tray 5 are clearly displayed to the worker in each work area Pw through highlighting and color indication before the tray 5 reaches the worker.

[0137] According to this embodiment, multiple information terminals 30 are arranged adjacent to multiple work areas Pw. The management system 50 controls each information terminal 30 so that it displays information about trays 5 passing through the display target area from a display start position determined in relation to the corresponding work area Pw.

[0138] The management system 50 controls multiple information terminals 30 (and their displays 35) so that the displays 35 of each information terminal 30 display the menu for tray 5 as information related to tray 5, passing through the display area associated with the information terminal 30. The menu display is implemented in the form of an enlarged display of the meal ticket 7. When displaying the menu, the dishes that correspond to the tableware to be placed on tray 5 are highlighted from among the multiple dishes included in the menu.

[0139] The management system 50 controls multiple information terminals 30 such that, for each information terminal 30, the color of the frame image Fr of the information screen G0 that displays information about tray 5 changes in stages, specifically becoming progressively darker, according to the relative position of the tray 5 from the display start position as it passes through the corresponding display target area.

[0140] According to this embodiment, a label Lb is attached to the location where the dishes to be placed on tray 5 are prepared, and the label Lb displays the color assigned to the dishes. The label Lb is attached to the sheet pan Sp. This label Lb can be understood as being attached to a location or to the dishes. On the information screen G0, as information that allows the worker to identify the dishes to be placed on tray 5, a frame image Fr is displayed along with an enlarged image of the food tag 7, in the color displayed on the label Lb attached to the dishes (sheet pan Sp) to be placed on tray 5.

[0141] Therefore, this menu preparation system 1 reduces the workload for workers in correctly identifying tableware, correctly retrieving tableware from the dish rack Rk, and correctly placing tableware on the tray 5. This reduction in workload reduces the likelihood of errors.

[0142] In the conventional system, which did not allow for enlarged display of the meal tickets 7 via the information terminal 30, workers had to quickly recognize the menu written in small letters on the small meal tickets 7 that were moving from a distance, retrieve the corresponding tableware from the dish rack Rk, and place it on the tray 5. Because the letters on the meal tickets 7 were small, workers could not recognize the menu until the tray 5 was quite close to them.

[0143] Therefore, conventionally, the time allotted to workers for tasks such as menu recognition, retrieval of dishes, and placement of dishes on tray 5 was short, requiring workers to accurately place dishes in a short amount of time. This increased the workload on workers and raised the possibility of errors.

[0144] In contrast, according to this embodiment, since an enlarged image of the meal ticket 7 is displayed on the information terminal 30, the worker can recognize the menu to be prepared on the tray 5 and the tableware to be placed on the tray 5 well before the tray 5 arrives in their hands.

[0145] In particular, the information terminal 30 highlights the names of the dishes on the menu that the worker is in charge of, allowing the worker to quickly identify the tableware they need to prepare compared to when there is no highlighting.

[0146] Furthermore, the information terminal 30 can accurately inform the worker of which dishes to take from the dish rack Rk by displaying a frame image Fr of a color corresponding to the dishes the worker should take. In addition, the information terminal 30 can inform the worker of the approach of tray 5 by changing the density of the frame image Fr.

[0147] Thus, according to the menu preparation system 1 of this embodiment, information necessary for accurate work can be provided to the worker in a very easy-to-understand manner through enlarged display, highlighting, and density changes. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to configure a menu preparation system 1 that can reduce the workload on the worker in preparing menus for each of the multiple trays 5.

[0148] [Modified version of the first embodiment] Next, we will describe some modifications of the first embodiment. <First Torture> In the first embodiment described above, each information terminal 30 highlights the name of the dish corresponding to the tableware to be placed on the tray 5 in the enlarged image of the food tag 7. However, each information terminal 30 may also operate to enlarge and display only the name of the dish corresponding to the tableware to be placed on the tray 5 from among the names of the multiple dishes that make up the menu (dish names).

[0149] In other words, the management system 50 may be configured to control the multiple information terminals 30 so that each of the multiple information terminals 30 selectively displays, as information about the tray 5, the dishes that correspond to the tableware to be placed on the tray 5 from among the multiple dishes included in the menu of the tray to be displayed.

[0150] Figure 13 shows a modified information screen G1 displayed by the first information terminal 30a associated with the first work area P1 corresponding to the "main dish," in place of the information screen G0 shown in Figure 3A. As shown in Figure 13, the modified information screen G1 consists of an enlarged image of a dish name corresponding to the tableware to be set on the tray 5, and a frame image Fr surrounding the enlarged image. The frame image Fr is the same as in the first embodiment described above, and is a frame image Fr of the color assigned to the dish whose dish name is displayed in the enlarged image.

[0151] According to this modified example, the processor 51 of the management system 50 can, in S340, display an information screen G1 (see Figure 13) on the target terminal, which includes an enlarged image of the name of the menu item handled by the target terminal and a frame image Fr surrounding the enlarged image, such that the color density of the frame image Fr increases as the tray 5 approaches the work area Pw.

[0152] According to this modified version, the workers in the work area Pw associated with each information terminal 30 can be more clearly informed of the dishes to be placed on the tray 5 via the information screen G1.

[0153] <Second variation> In the first embodiment described above, a different color was assigned to each of the multiple dishes belonging to each menu item. By displaying these colors on the label Lb attached to the sheet pan Sp in the dish cabinet Rk and on the frame image Fr, the worker was clearly shown which dishes should be taken from the dish cabinet Rk and placed on tray 5. In other words, the dishes to be placed on tray 5, as indicated by the information terminal 30, were associated with the dishes located in the dish cabinet Rk by color.

[0154] However, associations are not limited to color. Associations may be realized by "symbols," or by a combination of "symbols" and "colors." For example, each of several dishes may be assigned a different symbol, using at least one of geometric shapes such as circles, triangles, squares, or stars, letters of the alphabet, and numbers. The assigned symbol may be displayed on the label Lb and the enlarged image of the food tag 7.

[0155] For example, as shown in Figure 3A, the symbol "★" may be assigned to "Chicken Cutlet (chopped)", in which case "★Chicken Cutlet (chopped)" may be displayed on label Lb. Instead of or in addition to the symbol "★", the symbol "A1", which consists of a combination of letters and alphanumeric characters, may be assigned to "Chicken Cutlet (chopped)", and the information terminal 30 and label Lb may display "Chicken Cutlet (chopped)". <a1>The following may be displayed:

[0156] <Third variation> A two-dimensional code C1 (for example, a QR (Quick Response) code®) may be printed on the meal ticket 7, as shown in Figure 14. The management system 50 may read the information contained in the two-dimensional code C1 of each meal ticket 7 through the scanner 70, and may determine the name of the diner, identification number, and menu printed on the meal ticket 7 based on the information of the two-dimensional code C1 that has been read. The two-dimensional code C1 may include the name of the diner, identification number, and menu information printed on the meal ticket 7.

[0157] The two-dimensional code C1 may contain only information that can identify the diner, and may not contain menu information. In this case, the management system 50 can identify the diner based on the two-dimensional code C1 and obtain the menu information of the identified diner from the nutrition management server 80 that manages said menu information.

[0158] The nutrition management server 80 shown in Figure 15 is equipped with a nutrition management database. The nutrition management database contains nutrition management data for each person whose nutrition is being managed. The nutrition management data for each person includes the name of the facility (e.g., hospital) to which the person belongs as identification information, the person's management number at the corresponding facility, the person's name, the person's two-dimensional code C1 information, and the person's menu information.

[0159] The processor 51 of the management system 50 can acquire information of the two-dimensional code C1 printed on each meal ticket 7 via the scanner 70 in S140, and based on the information of the two-dimensional code C1, acquire menu information corresponding to each meal ticket 7 from the nutrition management server 80, and generate the meal ticket management table TBL3 in S150.

[0160] The nutrition management server 80 may have menu information for each day and time slot (breakfast, lunch, and dinner). In this case, the processor 51 can obtain menu information for the day and time slot specified in advance through the operation screen. Alternatively, the two-dimensional code C1 of the meal ticket 7 may contain information on the day and time of meal service in addition to the eater's identification information. Based on this information, the processor 51 can obtain menu information from the nutrition management server 80 that corresponds to the day and time slot for which the menu is to be prepared.

[0161] <Fourth variation> The management system 50 may be configured to accept language settings for each of the multiple information terminals 30 and to control the multiple information terminals 30 so that each of the multiple information terminals 30 displays information about tray 5 in the set language.

[0162] The management system 50 may be configured to control multiple information terminals 30 so as to translate information about tray 5 to be displayed on the information terminals 30 into the language set for the information terminals 30, and then display the translated information about tray 5 on the display 35 of the information terminals 30. In other words, the management system 50 may be configured to translate the names of dishes and display them on the information terminals 30.

[0163] For example, the workers involved in menu preparation may include multiple workers of different nationalities whose native languages ​​are different. By displaying the names of the dishes in the language that each worker is proficient in, it becomes easier to communicate to the workers which dishes should be placed on tray 5.

[0164] The storage 53 of the management system 50 of this modified example, configured as described above, includes a language setting table TBL5, as shown in Figure 16. The language setting table TBL5 holds information on the set language for each information terminal 30, associated with the identification number (terminal number) of the information terminal 30. The management system 50 may be configured to accept language setting operations for each information terminal 30 through an operation screen and a user interface 57.

[0165] In S340, the processor 51 can execute the processes S341, S343, and S345 shown in the left area of ​​Figure 16. In S341, the processor 51 determines the language set on the information terminal 30 selected as the target terminal by referring to the language setting table TBL5.

[0166] In the subsequent S343, the processor 51 refers to the food ticket management data of the tray to be displayed stored in the food ticket management table TBL3 and translates the menu information of the tray to be displayed into the set language. Translations for each dish name may or may not be provided in advance for each language.

[0167] The processor 51 can translate the dish name into the set language and obtain the corresponding translated text via a translation application within the management system 50 or through an external translation server. By not having to prepare the translated text in advance, the management burden related to translating dish names can be reduced.

[0168] In the following S345, the processor 51 generates a translated image of the food tag 7 by arranging the translated dish names, generates an information screen G0 by combining the translated image and the frame image Fr, and displays the generated information screen G0 on the target terminal.

[0169] This modified version makes it possible to reduce differences in workload due to differences in the languages ​​that workers are proficient in. In other words, this modified version makes it possible to configure a menu preparation system 1 in which, regardless of the worker's proficient language, workers can easily and accurately identify the dishes to be placed on tray 5 and place the dishes on tray 5.

[0170] <Fifth variation> In the first embodiment described above, the color assigned to each dish was attached to a label Lb indicating the name of the dish, thereby linking the dish on which each dish was served with its color in the dish cabinet Rk. However, the color display may be implemented using a lamp 90 instead of paper.

[0171] In other words, as shown in Figure 17, lamps 90 may be installed in the cupboard Rk, corresponding to each dish. Each lamp 90 corresponding to a dish can be controlled to illuminate with the color of light assigned to that dish. The lamps 90 may be lamps that are always lit, but it is preferable that they be lamps whose illumination can be controlled by the management system 50.

[0172] In this case, the processor 51 of the management system 50 can, in display-related processing, selectively illuminate the lamps 90 attached to the cupboard Rk installed in the work area Pw associated with the information terminal 30 (target terminal) with the same color light as the frame image Fr displayed by the information terminal 30 (target terminal), from among the multiple lamps 90 attached to the cupboard Rk installed in the work area Pw associated with the information terminal 30 (target terminal) (S340).

[0173] At this time, the processor 51 can turn off the remaining lamps 90 installed on the same cupboard Rk. When the processor 51 grays out the information screen G0 on the information terminal 30 (target terminal), it can turn off all the lamps 90 on the cupboard Rk installed in the work area Pw associated with the information terminal 30 (target terminal).

[0174] The color display using lamp 90 makes it easier to communicate to the worker the location of the dishes that should be placed on tray 5.

[0175] [Second Embodiment] Next, the configuration of the menu preparation system 101 of the second embodiment will be described. The menu preparation system 101 of the second embodiment shown in Figure 18 includes a belt conveyor 10, a drive system 20, a plurality of information terminals 30, a management system 50, and a start sensor 75, similar to the first embodiment. Unlike the first embodiment, the menu preparation system 101 further includes a camera 170 instead of a scanner 70.

[0176] The menu preparation system 101 further includes a wireless lamp 190 (see Figure 19) for each of the multiple dishes included in the menu. In Figure 18, multiple wireless lamps 190 installed in one work area Pw are shown as a lamp group Gr.

[0177] Each of the wireless lamps 190 is a lamp capable of illuminating in multiple colors. Each wireless lamp 190 is configured to communicate wirelessly with the management system 50. The management system 50 is configured to control multiple wireless lamps 190 together with multiple information terminals 30.

[0178] The hardware configuration of the belt conveyor 10, drive system 20, multiple information terminals 30, management system 50, and start sensor 75 in the second embodiment is the same as in the first embodiment. Hereafter, the same reference numerals are used, and the description of the same configuration as in the first embodiment is omitted. In the second embodiment, unless otherwise explained, the configurations that are given the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment may be understood to be the same configuration as in the first embodiment.

[0179] Camera 170 is positioned around the starting point of the belt conveyor 10 so as to be able to photograph the food tags 7 set on the trays 5 supplied from the starting point of the belt conveyor 10, and is configured to provide the captured images to the management system 50 via wired or wireless communication. Camera 170 functions as a reader that reads the food tags 7 on the trays 5 supplied from the starting point of the transport path.

[0180] Camera 170 is positioned, for example, upstream of the start sensor 75, so as to be able to photograph the tray 5 supplied to the belt conveyor 10 from above. The food tags 7 are set on the tray 5 so that they face the camera 170 side, i.e., upwards.

[0181] Before inputting the instruction to start tray making, as part of the preparation phase, a wireless lamp 190 is installed on the sheet pan Sp that stores the dishes on which each dish is served, and the wireless lamp 190 is associated with the dish.

[0182] According to this embodiment, as shown in Figure 19, each sheet pan Sp stores a set of dishes in which a single type of dish is served, and also stores a wireless lamp 190. Each sheet pan Sp is further affixed with a label Lb indicating the name of the dish stored in the sheet pan Sp, similar to the first embodiment. The label Lb may be made of paper. The label Lb is attached to the sheet pan Sp, for example, using tape.

[0183] Each sheet pan Sp containing a wireless lamp 190 is placed in a separate dish cabinet Rk for each menu item, and is positioned in the work area Pw while stored in the dish cabinet Rk. The dish cabinet Rk contains sheet pan Sps for storing the dishes for each of the multiple dishes belonging to a single menu item. As a result, multiple wireless lamps 190 are placed in the dish cabinet Rk, each corresponding to a single dish.

[0184] As shown in Figure 20, each wireless lamp 190 is equipped with a two-dimensional code C2 containing identification information for the wireless lamp 190. Similarly, the label Lb attached to the sheet pan Sp, which indicates the name of the dish, is equipped with a two-dimensional code C3 containing information about the dish, which is the two-dimensional code C3 for the corresponding dish. The two-dimensional codes C2 and C3 for the wireless lamps 190 and the dishes are used to associate the wireless lamps 190 with the dishes and register them in the management system 50.

[0185] As part of the preparation phase, the user of the management system 50 prepares several sheet pans Sp for storing dishes containing food. Each sheet pan Sp is equipped with one wireless lamp 190, and a label Lb is attached to it, indicating the name of the dish to be stored in the sheet pan Sp and a two-dimensional code C3. The label Lb may be a cooking instruction sheet issued to the kitchen.

[0186] The user uses the QR code reading function of a mobile device such as a tablet or smartphone to read the QR code C2 of each wireless lamp 190, and then reads the QR code C3 of the label Lb attached to the sheet pan Sp on which the wireless lamp 190 is mounted. In other words, after reading the QR code C2 of the wireless lamp 190, the user reads the QR code C3 of the associated dish. This allows the user to associate the wireless lamp 190 with the dish and register it in the lamp management table TBL7. The above preparation work is performed at the food serving area, but may also be performed in the work area Pw.

[0187] A mobile terminal for reading the two-dimensional codes C2 and C3 is connected to the management system 50 in a communicative manner. The mobile terminal may be provided as the user interface 57 of the management system 50. The management system 50 itself may be composed of the mobile terminal.

[0188] The processor 51 of the management system 50 performs the lamp registration process shown in Figure 21 to associate the wireless lamp 190 with the dishes. The processor 51 can perform the lamp registration process based on the lamp registration operation from the user, which is input through the user interface 57.

[0189] When the lamp registration process begins, the processor 51 instructs the user via the user interface 57 to read the two-dimensional code C2 of the wireless lamp 190 (S410). Based on this instruction, the user operation acquires the two-dimensional code C2 read via the mobile terminal as the two-dimensional code C2 of the wireless lamp 190 to be registered (S420).

[0190] Subsequently, the processor 51 instructs the user via the user interface 57 to read the two-dimensional code C3 written on the food label Lb (S430). Based on this instruction, the user operation reads the two-dimensional code C3 via the mobile terminal and acquires it as the two-dimensional code C3 of the food to be registered (S440).

[0191] The processor 51 associates the identification information of the wireless lamp 190, which is identified from the two-dimensional code C2 of the wireless lamp 190 that has been read in this manner, with the name of the dish, which is identified from the two-dimensional code C3 of the dish, and registers it in the lamp management table TBL7 stored in the storage 53 (S450). As shown in Figure 22, the lamp management table TBL7 registers lamp management data for each dish, which describes the name of the dish and the identification information of the wireless lamp 190. After that, the processor 51 terminates the lamp registration process.

[0192] In addition, in order to accept user operations such as tray creation start instructions, the processor 51 of the management system 50 repeatedly executes the main process shown in Figure 23 instead of the main process shown in Figure 10. When this main process is started, the processor 51 displays an operation screen on the user interface 57 that can accept tray creation start instructions and various setting operations (S510).

[0193] Subsequently, the processor 51 waits until an operation is performed on the operation screen via the user interface 57. When an operation is performed (Yes in S520), the processor 51 determines whether the operation performed is a tray make start instruction (S530).

[0194] If the processor determines that the operation performed is not a tray making start instruction (No in S530), it executes the processing corresponding to the operation performed (S535). On the other hand, if the processor determines that the operation performed is a tray making start instruction (Yes in S530), it instructs the user (worker) to supply the tray 5 to the belt conveyor 10 (S540), similar to the processing in S195. The same applies to driving the belt conveyor 10.

[0195] Subsequently, the processor 51 starts the meal ticket monitoring process shown in Figure 24 (S550). Furthermore, the processor 51 starts the position monitoring process (see Figure 11) and the display-related processing (see Figure 12), similar to the first embodiment (S560). The meal ticket monitoring process, position monitoring process, and display-related processing are repeatedly performed until there are no more trays 5 being transported on the belt conveyor 10 and the completion of the menu preparation work is input by the worker through the user interface 57.

[0196] When the food tag monitoring process is started, the processor 51 acquires an image taken from above the belt conveyor 10 as a camera image from the camera 170 (S610). By analyzing the acquired camera image, it determines whether or not a new food tag 7 is visible in the camera image along with a new tray 5 (S620). The process in S620 corresponds to the operation of detecting the food tag 7 set in the tray 5 supplied to the belt conveyor 10.

[0197] If the processor 51 determines that no new food ticket 7 is visible (No in S620), it terminates the food ticket monitoring process. If the processor 51 determines that a new food ticket 7 is visible (Yes in S620), it analyzes the image data of the food ticket 7 contained in the camera image and generates food ticket management data for that food ticket 7 (S630).

[0198] Similar to the first embodiment, the meal ticket management data (see Figure 9) includes a meal ticket number, menu information, and read image data. The meal ticket number is a management number assigned to each meal ticket 7 detected in the order of detection from the tray making start instruction. The menu information indicates the menu written on the meal ticket 7 corresponding to the meal ticket number. The read image data is image data of the meal ticket 7 corresponding to the meal ticket number, extracted from the camera image.

[0199] In the subsequent S640, the processor 51 registers the meal ticket management data generated in S630 into the meal ticket management table TBL3 stored in the storage 53. The meal ticket management table TBL3 is newly generated each time a tray make start instruction is entered. After that, the processor 51 terminates the meal ticket monitoring process.

[0200] The processor 51 generates a meal ticket management table TBL3 with the same configuration as in the first embodiment by repeatedly executing the meal ticket monitoring process in this manner.

[0201] In the display-related processing (see Figure 12), the processor 51 generates an information screen G0 for each information terminal 30 arranged along the conveyor belt 10, similar to the first embodiment, based on the position X of each tray 5 on the conveyor belt 10 measured by the food ticket management table TBL3 (see Figure 9), the terminal setting table TBL1 (see Figure 6), and the position monitoring processing (see Figure 11), and displays the information screen G0 on the information terminal 30 (S340). However, unlike the first embodiment, in this embodiment there is no color assignment for each dish. On the information screen G0, a frame image Fr of the same color as the illuminated color of the wireless lamp 190 (described later) is arranged to surround the enlarged image of the food ticket 7. The color density change in the frame image Fr can be performed in the same way as in the first embodiment.

[0202] In contrast to the first embodiment, the processor 51 further selectively illuminates, for each information terminal 30, the wireless lamps 190 provided on the cupboard Rk located in the work area Pw associated with the information terminal 30, that are associated with the dish whose name is highlighted by the information terminal 30 (S340). At this time, the processor 51 turns off the remaining wireless lamps 190 installed on the same cupboard Rk. For this purpose, a lamp management table TBL7 can be generated for each work area Pw or for each cupboard Rk and registered in the storage 53.

[0203] In this way, the processor 51 selectively lights up the wireless lamps 190 corresponding to the dishes to be placed on tray 5, clearly informing the workers located in each work area Pw which dishes should be placed on tray 5. When the processor 51 grays out the information screen G0 on the information terminal 30, it can turn off all the wireless lamps 190 on the dish rack Rk installed in the work area Pw associated with the information terminal 30.

[0204] A particularly distinctive feature of this embodiment is that, by switching the color of the wireless lamp 190 before and after the switching of the food tags 7 displayed on the information terminal 30, the wireless lamp 190 is clearly communicated to the worker that each of the multiple trays 5 is lit. In other words, even when a worker is setting the same dishes on multiple trays 5 flowing sequentially from upstream in the work area Pw, the processor 51 switches the color of the wireless lamp 190 each time the tray 5 on which the dishes should be set is switched, thereby clearly communicating to the worker that the wireless lamp 190 is being switched.

[0205] Specifically, in S340, the processor 51 can execute the process shown in Figure 25. That is, the processor 51 selects the information terminal 30 to be controlled for display as the target terminal (S320), determines the tray to be displayed based on the tray arrangement in the display target area (S330), and then executes the processes S710 to S760 shown in Figure 25.

[0206] In S710, the processor 51 determines whether the display target tray for one information terminal 30 has switched from the previous tray 5 to another tray 5. If the previous display target tray did not exist, the processor 51 formally determines that the display target tray has switched.

[0207] When the processor 51 determines that the target tray has switched (Yes in S710), it selects a different color for the illuminated light than the previously illuminated color (S720). The previously illuminated color here refers to the last color illuminated by any of the wireless lamps 190 that make up the lamp group Gr of the work area Pw associated with the target terminal. For example, if the previously illuminated color was "red," it selects "green," which is different from "red," as the illuminated color, and if the previously illuminated color was "green," it selects "red," which is different from "green," as the illuminated color. The processor 51 can alternately select two predetermined colors as the illuminated colors. It should be noted here that the previously illuminated color is determined at the lamp group Gr level, not at the wireless lamp 190 level.

[0208] The processor 51 can select a predetermined initial lighting color (for example, "red") as the lighting color for the lamp group Gr that is the first to light up after the tray make start instruction, if there was no previously lit color.

[0209] In the subsequent S730, the processor 51 controls the lighting of multiple wireless lamps 190 installed in the dish rack Rk of the work area Pw, such that, based on the menu information of the tray to be displayed, the wireless lamps 190 associated with the dishes that the worker should set in the tray to be displayed are lit, and the remaining wireless lamps 190 installed in the dish rack Rk of the work area Pw are turned off. The remaining wireless lamps 190 are a group of wireless lamps 190 in the lamp group Gr of the work area Pw that are not associated with the dishes that should be set in the tray to be displayed.

[0210] In the subsequent S760, the processor 51 generates an information screen G0 having an enlarged image of the food tag 7 of the tray to be displayed and the frame image Fr, and highlights the name of the dish corresponding to the illuminated wireless lamp 190, and displays it on the target terminal. As described above, the frame image Fr of the information screen G0 is the same color as the illuminated color of the wireless lamp 190.

[0211] In addition, if the processor 51 determines in S710 that the tray to be displayed has not been switched, it controls the illumination of the wireless lamps 190 to maintain the illumination color of the wireless lamps 190 to the previous illumination color (S740), maintain the illumination of the wireless lamps 190 associated with the dishes that should be set on the tray to be displayed, and maintain the off state of the remaining wireless lamps 190 (S750). After that, the processor 51 generates and outputs the above information screen G0.

[0212] According to the menu preparation system 101 of this embodiment described above, a camera 170 is installed around the starting point of the belt conveyor 10. Therefore, a worker located in the start area P0 does not need to operate the scanner 70 to have the scanner 70 read the meal ticket 7, as in the first embodiment. Instead, they can simply set the meal ticket 7 on the tray 5 and supply it to the belt conveyor 10, and the menu preparation system 101 will be operated so that information about the dishes to be placed on the tray 5 is displayed in each work area Pw.

[0213] In particular, according to this embodiment, the wireless lamp 190 that informs the worker which dishes should be placed on tray 5 lights up alternately in different colors. As a result, the worker can easily understand that the lighting of the wireless lamp 190 switches for each tray 5, and which tray 5 the lighting of the wireless lamp 190 corresponds to. This alternating lighting of the wireless lamp 190 in different colors is advantageous because it can accurately inform the worker that the lighting is switching according to the tray 5.

[0214] [Modified version of the second embodiment] <First Torture> The first modification of the first embodiment can be similarly applied to the menu preparation system 101 of the second embodiment. That is, each information terminal 30 may operate to display only the name of the dish corresponding to the tableware to be placed on the tray 5, instead of an enlarged image of the meal ticket 7 (see Figure 13).

[0215] <Second variation> The second modification of the first embodiment can be similarly applied to the menu preparation system 101 of the second embodiment. That is, for each menu item, a different symbol may be assigned to each of the multiple dishes belonging to that menu item. The information screen G0 may display the names of the dishes included in the menu (dish names) along with the symbols assigned to those dishes. Labels Lb indicating the names of the dishes (dish names) and symbols corresponding to the dishes stored in the sheet pan Sp of the cupboard Rk may be attached to the sheet pan Sp.

[0216] <Third variation> The third modification of the first embodiment can be similarly applied to the menu preparation system 101 of the second embodiment. That is, a two-dimensional code C1 may be printed on the meal ticket 7, and the camera 170 may read the two-dimensional code C1 on the meal ticket 7. The management system 50 may determine the name of the diner, identification number, and menu printed on the meal ticket 7 based on the information of the read two-dimensional code C1. The two-dimensional code C1 may include the name of the diner, identification number, and menu information printed on the meal ticket 7.

[0217] The two-dimensional code C1 may contain only information that can identify the diner. In this case, the management system 50 may identify the diner based on the two-dimensional code C1 and obtain the menu information of the identified diner from the nutrition management server 80 (see Figure 15) that manages said menu information.

[0218] <Fourth variation> The fourth modification of the first embodiment can be similarly applied to the menu preparation system 101 of the second embodiment. That is, the management system 50 may be configured to translate the names of the dishes and display them on the information terminal 30.

[0219] [Other embodiments] This disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various other embodiments are possible. For example, a wired lamp may be used instead of the wireless lamp 190. As mentioned above, the wireless lamp 190 is a lamp that can light up multiple colors, but a set of multiple lamps that each emit a different color may be used instead of one wireless lamp 190.

[0220] In the first and second embodiments described above, the dishes on which each dish is served are placed in the cupboard Rk, separated by dish and stored in different sheet pans Sp. However, the dishes corresponding to each dish may be placed directly in the cupboard Rk without using sheet pans Sp. In this case, a group of dishes for each dish can be placed in the cupboard Rk in a spatially organized manner. The lamps 90 and wireless lamps 190 may be installed in locations corresponding to where a group of dishes for each dish is placed.

[0221] In the second embodiment, the wireless lamp 190 is mounted on the sheet pan Sp without being fixed, but it may also be fixed to the sheet pan Sp or to a location on the cupboard Rk corresponding to the food being cooked, in a manner that allows for easy attachment and detachment using magnets or the like.

[0222] Furthermore, while Figure 19 shows one sheet pan Sp placed on one shelf of the cupboard Rk, this is not limited to this arrangement. Multiple sheet pans Sp, each containing a different dish and corresponding wireless lamp 190, may be placed on a single shelf, or different dishes and corresponding wireless lamps 190 may be placed within a single sheet pan Sp.

[0223] To flexibly respond to changes in daily menus, it is beneficial to arrange the lamps 90 and wireless lamps 190 in a way that allows for easy movement. For similar reasons, it is also beneficial to arrange the information terminal 30 in a way that allows it to move relative to the conveyor belt 10. For example, the information terminal 30 may be mounted on a stand with casters.

[0224] In addition, at least one of the colors and symbols assigned to a dish may be attached to the dish itself, rather than to the label Lb.

[0225] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the second embodiment, and each of its modifications described above, the menu is displayed visually in an easy-to-understand manner using colors and symbols in addition to highlighting. However, means to support identification through hearing, such as reading the displayed content aloud, may also be added. If the display is translated, it may be read aloud in the translated language. This allows for more accurate identification of the tableware to be set and further reduces work errors.

[0226] According to the first and second embodiments described above, the belt conveyor 10 and the transport path are in a straight line. However, a belt conveyor having a curved and / or branched transport path may be provided instead of the belt conveyor 10 of the first and second embodiments.

[0227] The function of one component in the above-described embodiment may be distributed among multiple components. The functions of multiple components may be integrated into one component. Some parts of the configuration of the above embodiment may be omitted. At least some parts of the configuration of the above embodiment may be added to or replaced with the configuration of other above embodiments. Any aspect of the technical concept specified by the wording of the claims constitutes an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0228] [Technical concepts disclosed in this specification] This specification can be understood to disclose the following technical concepts: [Item 1] Multiple displays are positioned around the transport path through which multiple trays are transported, A controller configured to control the plurality of displays, Equipped with, Each of the aforementioned multiple displays is associated with one of the multiple points in the transport path, The controller controls the plurality of displays such that each of the plurality of displays displays information about a tray passing through an associated point among the plurality of points. The information relating to the tray is information that allows the user to identify the tableware to be placed on the tray. Display control system. [Item 2] The aforementioned multiple trays are transported in a line from upstream to downstream along the transport path. The aforementioned multiple points are positioned at intervals from upstream to downstream of the transport path, according to the display control system described in item 1. [Item 3] The plurality of displays are arranged at intervals from upstream to downstream of the transport path. The display control system according to item 2, wherein each of the plurality of displays is associated with a location among the plurality of locations that has the same order in arrangement from the upstream of the transport path. [Item 4] The display control system according to any one of items 1 to 3, wherein the controller controls the plurality of displays such that each of the plurality of displays displays the menu of the tray passing through the associated points as information relating to the tray. [Item 5] The display control system according to item 4, which controls the plurality of displays such that the controller highlights the dishes that correspond to the dishes to be placed on the tray, among the plurality of dishes included in the menu of the tray passing through the associated point. [Item 6] The display control system according to any one of items 1 to 3, wherein the controller controls the plurality of displays such that each of the plurality of displays selectively displays, as information relating to the tray, a dish corresponding to the tableware to be placed on the tray from among a plurality of dishes included in the menu of the tray passing through the associated point. [Item 7] Each of the aforementioned trays has a food tag describing the menu, The controller controls the plurality of displays such that each of the plurality of displays displays an enlarged view of the food tag on the tray passing through the associated point, according to any one of items 1 to 3 of the display control system. [Item 8] Each of the aforementioned plurality of trays has a food tag and is supplied to the transport path from the starting point of the transport path. A reader configured to read the food tags on trays supplied from the starting point of the transport route is installed near the starting point of the transport route. A display control system according to any one of items 1 to 6, wherein the controller controls the plurality of displays so that each of the plurality of displays displays the information relating to the tray passing through the associated point, based on the image data of the food ticket read by the reader. [Item 9] A display control system according to any one of items 1 to 8, wherein the controller controls the plurality of displays such that the display mode of the information relating to the tray is switched in stages according to the relative position of the tray on the transport path with respect to the associated point as it passes through the point. [Item 10] The location where the tableware to be placed on the tray passing through the associated point is prepared, or the tableware itself, is marked with at least one of a symbol and a color. A display control system according to any one of items 1 to 9, wherein the controller controls the plurality of displays to display information that includes at least one of the location or the symbol and color attached to the tableware, as information that allows the user to identify the tableware to be placed on the tray. [Item 11] The controller is a display control system according to any one of items 1 to 7, which generates the information relating to the tray by referring to the menu data stored in a server device that stores menu data describing the menus of each of the plurality of trays. [Item 12] The display control system according to any one of items 1 to 11, wherein the controller accepts language settings for each of the plurality of displays and controls the plurality of displays so that each of the plurality of displays displays information about the tray in the set language. [Item 13] The display control system according to item 12, wherein the controller translates information about the tray into the set language and controls the plurality of displays to display the translated information about the tray on a display set in the corresponding language. [Item 14] A display control method performed by a computer, Controlling a plurality of displays arranged around a transport path through which a plurality of trays are transported, each associated with one of a plurality of points along the transport path, wherein each of the plurality of displays is controlled to display information about the trays passing through its associated point among the plurality of points. Includes, The information relating to the tray is information that allows the user to identify the tableware to be placed on the tray. Display control method. [Item 15] A computer program that causes a computer to execute the display control method described in item 14. [Explanation of symbols]

[0229] 1…Menu preparation system, 5…Tray, 7…Meal ticket, 10…Belt conveyor, 20…Drive system, 21…Controller, 23…Motor, 25…Rotary encoder, 29…Communication interface, 30, 30a, 30b, 30c…Information terminal, 31…Processor, 32…Memory, 33…Storage, 35…Display, 37…Touch panel, 39…Communication interface, 50…Management system, 51…Processor, 52…Memory, 53…Storage, 57…User interface Face, 59...Communication interface, 70...Scanner, 75...Start sensor, 80...Nutrition management server, 90...Lamp, 101...Menu preparation system, 170...Camera, 190...Wireless lamp, P0...Start area, Pw, P1, P2, P3...Work area, Rk...Cupboard, TBL1...Terminal setting table, TBL2...Color management table, TBL3...Meal ticket management table, TBL5...Language setting table, TBL7...Lamp management table, Lb...Label, G0, G1...Information screen.

Claims

1. Multiple displays are positioned around the transport path through which multiple trays are transported, A controller configured to control the plurality of displays, Equipped with, Each of the aforementioned multiple displays is associated with one of the multiple points in the transport path, The controller controls the plurality of displays such that each of the plurality of displays displays information about a tray passing through an associated point among the plurality of points. The information relating to the tray is information that allows the user to identify the tableware to be placed on the tray. Display control system.

2. The aforementioned multiple trays are transported in a line from upstream to downstream along the transport path. The display control system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of points are positioned at intervals from upstream to downstream of the transport path.

3. The plurality of displays are arranged at intervals from upstream to downstream of the transport path. The display control system according to claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of displays is associated with a location among the plurality of locations that has the same order in arrangement from the upstream of the transport path.

4. The display control system according to claim 1, wherein the controller controls the plurality of displays such that each of the plurality of displays displays the menu of the tray passing through the associated points as information relating to the tray.

5. The display control system according to claim 4, wherein the controller controls the plurality of displays such that, among the plurality of dishes included in the menu of the tray passing through the associated point, the dish corresponding to the dish to be placed on the tray is highlighted.

6. The display control system according to claim 1, wherein the controller controls the plurality of displays such that each of the plurality of displays selectively displays, as information relating to the tray, a dish corresponding to a dish to be placed on the tray from among a plurality of dishes included in the menu of the tray passing through the associated point.

7. Each of the aforementioned trays has a food tag describing the menu, The display control system according to claim 1, wherein the controller controls the plurality of displays such that each of the plurality of displays displays an enlarged view of the food tag on the tray passing through the associated point.

8. Each of the aforementioned plurality of trays has a food tag and is supplied to the transport path from the starting point of the transport path. A reader configured to read the food tags on trays supplied from the starting point of the transport route is installed near the starting point of the transport route. The display control system according to claim 1, wherein the controller controls the plurality of displays so that each of the plurality of displays displays the information relating to the tray passing through the associated point, based on the image data of the food ticket read by the reader.

9. The display control system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the controller controls the plurality of displays such that the display mode of the information relating to the tray is switched in stages according to the relative position of the tray on the transport path with respect to the associated point as the tray passes through the point.

10. The location where the tableware to be placed on the tray passing through the associated point is prepared, or the tableware itself, is marked with at least one of a symbol and a color. The display control system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the controller controls the plurality of displays to display information that includes at least one of the location or the symbol and color attached to the tableware, as information that allows the user to identify the tableware to be placed on the tray.

11. The display control system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the controller generates the information relating to the tray by referring to the menu data stored in a server device that stores menu data describing the menus of each of the plurality of trays.

12. The display control system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the controller accepts language settings for each of the plurality of displays and controls the plurality of displays so that each of the plurality of displays displays information about the tray in the set language.

13. The display control system according to claim 12, wherein the controller translates information about the tray into the set language and controls the plurality of displays to display the translated information about the tray on a display set in the corresponding language.

14. A display control method performed by a computer, Controlling a plurality of displays arranged around a transport path through which a plurality of trays are transported, each associated with one of a plurality of points along the transport path, wherein each of the plurality of displays is controlled to display information about the trays passing through its associated point among the plurality of points. Includes, The information relating to the tray is information that allows the user to identify the tableware to be placed on the tray. Display control method.

15. A computer program for causing a computer to execute the display control method described in claim 14.

Images