Control system, control method, and computer program

Abstract

This invention provides a novel technology that uses lamp illumination control to provide workers with information about the dishes that should be placed on the tray. [Solution] Each of the multiple lamps is installed in one of the multiple dish racks. The controller is configured to control the multiple lamps. The memory device stores the correspondence between the dishes or food placed in the dish rack and the lamps installed in the dish rack among the multiple lamps, for each of the multiple dish racks. The controller identifies the food set on the tray supplied to the point corresponding to the work area and controls the multiple lamps according to the correspondence so that a specific lamp among the multiple lamps shows a different lighting state than the other lamps among the multiple lamps. The specific lamp is the lamp installed in the dish rack where the dishes to be set on the tray are placed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a control system and a 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 with dishes corresponding to the menu on the tray, 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 in consideration of the user's health. Thus, in hospitals and elderly care facilities, it is required to correctly provide a variety of meals three times a day to a large number of users.

[0004] Conventionally, a fingerprint sensor has been used to recognize a person to be managed, and the correct menu has been provided to the person to be managed by preparing the menu corresponding to the recognized person to be managed on the tray (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Whether or not to place dishes on the tray is communicated to the operator through a lamp.

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

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

[0007] Incidentally, conventional lamps are fixed to the rack inseparably. Therefore, it is necessary to secure space for placing dishes according to the lamp's installation position. In other words, the placement of dishes is restricted by the lamp's arrangement. Furthermore, there is room for improvement in lamp control in conventional technology from the perspective of reducing operational errors.

[0008] Therefore, according to one aspect of this disclosure, it is desirable to provide a novel technology that provides information about the tableware to be placed on the tray to the operator by controlling the lighting of a lamp. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] One aspect of this disclosure is a control system comprising a plurality of lamps, a controller, and a memory device. Each of the plurality of lamps is configured as a lamp independent of the plurality of dish racks. Each of the plurality of lamps is installed in one of the plurality of dish racks.

[0010] The controller is configured to control multiple lamps. The memory device stores, for each of the multiple dish racks, the correspondence between the dishes placed in the dish rack or the food served on the dishes and the lamps among the multiple lamps that are installed in the dish rack.

[0011] The controller identifies the dishes set on the trays supplied to the corresponding points in the work area and controls multiple lamps according to the corresponding relationships, such that a specific lamp among the multiple lamps indicates a different illumination state than the other lamps. The specific lamp is the lamp installed in the dish rack where the dishes to be placed on the trays are located.

[0012] According to the control system described above, since multiple lamps are independent of the dish racks, it is possible to define multiple dish racks according to the work environment and place lamps for each. In such an environment with a high degree of flexibility regarding lamp placement, the controller can control the lamps to provide the worker with information on the dishes to be placed on the trays, according to the correspondence relationships stored in the memory.

[0013] Therefore, according to one aspect of this disclosure, it is possible to provide a new system that offers a high degree of flexibility in the use of lamps and that can provide operators with information about the tableware to be placed on the tray by controlling the lighting of the lamps.

[0014] According to one aspect of this disclosure, the controller may control a group of lamps such that a specific lamp is lit and the other lamps are turned off, thereby causing a specific lamp to exhibit a different lighting state from the other lamps.

[0015] This type of control makes it possible to clearly communicate to the worker information about the dishes that should be placed on the tray.

[0016] According to one aspect of this disclosure, multiple trays may be supplied sequentially to a location corresponding to a work area. In this case, each of the multiple lamps may be configured to illuminate with two or more colors of light. When the controller changes the illumination state of the multiple lamps in response to the switching of trays supplied to the above location, it may control the multiple lamps so that they are illuminated with different colors before and after the switching.

[0017] With lighting control using the same color, there is a possibility that workers may misinterpret the relationship between the tray and the indicator light before and after switching trays. In contrast, with lighting control using different colors, the change in lighting due to tray switching can be clearly communicated to the worker by the change in color, thereby suppressing the above-mentioned misinterpretation by the worker.

[0018] According to one aspect of this disclosure, each of a plurality of lamps may be associated with a first identification information. Each of the dishes placed in each of a plurality of dish racks or the food served on the dishes may be associated with a second identification information. The controller may determine a correspondence between the first and second identification information, which are associated with each other and read by a reader, and store the determined correspondence in a storage device.

[0019] By identifying and registering these correspondences in storage, it is possible to reduce the user's workload related to the registration of these correspondences.

[0020] According to one aspect of this disclosure, each of the lamps may have a wireless communication function and be configured to communicate wirelessly with a controller. By employing such lamps, the wiring of communication cables can be omitted.

[0021] According to one aspect of this disclosure, each of the multiple lamps may be installed in the corresponding dish rack either in an unfixed state or in a magnetically fixed state. Adopting such an installation method makes it easy to rearrange the lamps and dish racks.

[0022] According to one aspect of this disclosure, the dish storage area may be a sheet pan on which the dishes are placed. By using a sheet pan as a dish storage area, the management of dishes, such as transporting dishes and keeping track of the number of dishes, can be carried out smoothly.

[0023] According to one aspect of this disclosure, a control method corresponding to the control system described above may be provided. According to one aspect of this disclosure, a control method may be provided for controlling a plurality of lamps, each configured as a lamp independent of a plurality of dish racks, and installed in one of the plurality of dish racks. The control method may be performed by a computer.

[0024] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the control method may include causing a storage device to store, for each of a plurality of dish storage areas, a correspondence relationship between the dishes arranged in the dish storage area or the dishes served on the dishes and the lamps installed in the dish storage area among the plurality of lamps.

[0025] The control method may further include determining the dishes set on the tray supplied to the location corresponding to the work area, and controlling the plurality of lamps such that a specific lamp among the plurality of lamps exhibits a lighting state different from that of the other lamps among the plurality of lamps according to the correspondence relationship stored in the storage device. The specific lamp may be a lamp installed in the dish storage area where the dishes to be set on the tray are arranged. According to this control method, the same effect as that of the above-described control system can be obtained.

[0026] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there may be provided a computer program for causing a computer to execute the above-described control method. The computer program may be recorded on a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0027] [Figure 1] It is a diagram showing the configuration of a menu preparation system. [Figure 2] It is a diagram showing the configuration of an exemplary food tag. [Figure 3] FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams showing the configuration of an exemplary information screen displayed on an information terminal. [Figure 4] It is a diagram for explaining the arrangement and lighting of wireless lamps. [Figure 5] It is a block diagram for explaining the electrical configuration of the menu preparation system. [Figure 6] It is a diagram for explaining the configuration of a terminal setting table. [Figure 7] It is a diagram for explaining the configuration of a food tag management table. [Figure 8] It is an explanatory diagram regarding the association between a wireless lamp and a dish. [Figure 9]This is a flowchart illustrating the lamp registration process executed by the management system's processor. [Figure 10] This diagram illustrates the configuration of the lamp management table. [Figure 11] This is a flowchart representing the main process executed by the management system's processor. [Figure 12] This is a flowchart illustrating the meal ticket monitoring process performed by the management system's processor. [Figure 13] This diagram illustrates the structure of the nutrition management database. [Figure 14] This is a flowchart illustrating the location monitoring process performed by the management system's processor. [Figure 15] This is a flowchart illustrating the display-related processes performed by the management system's processor. [Figure 16] This flowchart illustrates some of the display-related processing performed by the management system's processor. [Figure 17] This diagram shows the configuration of the information screen in a modified example. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0028] Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described below with reference to the drawings. 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.

[0029] 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.

[0030] In the start area P0 adjacent to the starting point of the belt conveyor 10, workers are positioned to sequentially supply multiple trays 5 to the belt conveyor 10. Before starting work, the workers are provided with a bundle of food tags 7. The workers sequentially place each food tag 7 from the bundle into a tray 5 and supply the trays 5 together with the food tags to the belt conveyor 10.

[0031] 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. 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.

[0032] Workers stationed in each work area Pw take the dishes to be placed on tray 5 from the dish rack Rk located in the corresponding work area Pw, and place the dishes on tray 5 that is flowing from upstream via the belt conveyor 10.

[0033] 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.

[0034] 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.

[0035] 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.

[0036] 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.

[0037] 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.

[0038] 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.

[0039] 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.

[0040] 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.

[0041] 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.

[0042] 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.

[0043] 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.

[0044] 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.

[0045] 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.

[0046] The management system 50 uses the data read from the food tickets 7 placed in the tray 5 to control each information terminal 30, and displays an enlarged image of the food tickets 7 placed in the tray 5 on the information terminal 30 as information related to the tray 5. The information terminal 30 has a screen that is larger than the food tickets 7.

[0047] 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.

[0048] The food tags 7, which are placed on tray 5 by workers positioned in the starting area P0, are read by the camera 70 as tray 5 is supplied to the belt conveyor 10 and transported downstream.

[0049] Figure 2 shows the configuration of an exemplary 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 also accompanied by a two-dimensional code C1. 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 onto paper.

[0050] 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.

[0051] 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.

[0052] 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.

[0053] A meal ticket 7 is prepared for each diner at the serving location. The two-dimensional code C1 printed on the meal ticket 7 is, for example, a QR code (Quick Response code®). The two-dimensional code C1 may include the diner's name, identification number, and menu information printed on the meal ticket 7. However, the two-dimensional code C1 may only contain information that can identify the diner, such as the diner's name (and identification number), and may not contain menu information.

[0054] The management system 50 is configured to identify diners based on the two-dimensional code C1 and to obtain menu information for the identified diners from the nutrition management server 80, which manages said menu information. The management system 50 is configured to communicate with the nutrition management server 80 via a network.

[0055] The management system 50 acquires camera images, which are images captured by the camera 70, as reading data for the meal tickets 7. Based on the two-dimensional code C1 of the meal ticket 7 contained in the camera images, the management system 50 identifies the diner and obtains the diner's menu information corresponding to the meal ticket 7 from the nutrition management server 80. Based on this menu information and the image data of the meal ticket 7 contained in the camera images, display control is performed so that, as shown in Figures 3A and 3B, an enlarged image of the meal ticket 7 explaining the menu to be prepared for the tray 5 moving through the display area is displayed on the information terminal 30.

[0056] 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.

[0057] 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.

[0058] 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.

[0059] 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.

[0060] According to this embodiment, the enlarged image of the food ticket 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 ticket 7 is surrounded by a frame image Fr. The frame image Fr may be understood as a background image for the enlarged image of the food ticket 7.

[0061] 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 ticket 7 and the frame image Fr, or turns off the display of the information screen G0.

[0062] 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 dishes onto the tray 5.

[0063] In this embodiment, to further reduce the workload, a wireless lamp 90 with wireless communication functionality with the management system 50 is provided for each dish. In Figure 1, a group of wireless lamps 90 installed on a dish rack Rk in a single work area Pw is shown as lamp group Gr.

[0064] As described above, a dish rack Rk placed in a single work area Pw is a dish rack Rk in which the dishes for each of the multiple dishes of the menu item corresponding to work area Pw are placed. Each dish rack Rk in work area Pw is equipped with multiple wireless lamps 90, each associated with the multiple dishes belonging to the corresponding menu item. Figure 4 shows the arrangement of the wireless lamps 90 in the dish rack Rk.

[0065] In the dish cabinet Rk, a group of dishes containing the corresponding dish is arranged, stored in sheet pans Sp. Each sheet pan Sp stores a group of dishes containing the same dish. Each sheet pan Sp corresponds to a dish storage area for multiple dishes containing the same dish. The area of ​​the dish cabinet Rk where each sheet pan Sp is placed also corresponds to a dish storage area. A wireless lamp 90 is installed on each sheet pan Sp that stores the dishes containing the dish. A wireless lamp 90 is installed for each sheet pan Sp.

[0066] Each of the wireless lamps 90 is detachable from the dish rack Rk and / or sheet pan Sp, which serve as a dish rack, and is configured as a lamp independent of the dish rack, with no physical fixed relationship to the dish rack. According to this embodiment, each of the wireless lamps 90 is not fixed to the dish rack Rk and sheet pan Sp.

[0067] Each sheet pan Sp is fitted with a label Lb indicating the name of the dish it contains. The label Lb may be made of paper. The label Lb is attached to the sheet pan Sp, for example, using tape.

[0068] Each sheet pan Sp is placed in the dish cabinet Rk with the wireless lamp 90 installed and a set of dishes containing the food indicated on the label Lb. The dish cabinet Rk is movable and is deployed to the corresponding work area Pw before the menu preparation work begins. Before the deployment of the dish cabinet Rk to the work area Pw, or before the menu preparation work begins after deployment, the wireless lamp 90 and the food are associated with each other for control by the management system 50 (details below).

[0069] The management system 50 controls multiple wireless lamps 90 in the dish cabinet Rk to selectively light up the wireless lamps 90 corresponding to the dishes to be placed on tray 5, which are highlighted on the information terminal 30. In this embodiment, the dishes to be taken from the dish cabinet Rk and placed on tray 5 are clearly communicated to the worker, and the workload of the worker in setting the dishes on tray 5 is reduced.

[0070] 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.

[0071] 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.

[0072] 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.

[0073] 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.

[0074] 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.

[0075] 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.

[0076] 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.

[0077] 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.

[0078] 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.

[0079] 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.

[0080] 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.

[0081] 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, camera 70, nutrition management server 80, and wireless lamp 90. The communication interface 59 is further configured to communicate with the start sensor 75 of the menu preparation system 1.

[0082] Camera 70 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 70 side, i.e., upwards.

[0083] The start sensor 75 is located downstream of the belt conveyor 10 from the camera 70 and 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.

[0084] 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.

[0085] 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.

[0086] 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.

[0087] 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.

[0088] 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.

[0089] 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.

[0090] 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.

[0091] In the example shown in Figure 1, the first information terminal 30a displays information about the 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.

[0092] 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.

[0093] 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.

[0094] Thus, the terminal setting table TBL1 contains terminal setting data for each of the multiple information terminals 30 arranged on the conveyor belt 10. Furthermore, a separate terminal setting table TBL1 is prepared for each arrangement pattern of the information terminals 30 on the conveyor belt 10 and stored in the storage 53.

[0095] 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.

[0096] 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.

[0097] In addition, the storage 53 of the management system 50 stores the meal ticket management table TBL3. Figure 7 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 read by the camera 70.

[0098] 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 camera 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 read image data is image data of the meal ticket 7 corresponding to the meal ticket number, extracted from the camera image.

[0099] In the meal ticket management table TBL3, each time a tray 5 is supplied to the conveyor belt 10 after the menu preparation work has started, the meal ticket management data is registered based on the camera image of the meal ticket 7 set in the tray 5.

[0100] The menu preparation work referred to here is the process of preparing menus for multiple trays 5 based on a bundle of meal tags 7. Hereafter, this menu preparation work will also be referred to as tray making. Before starting this tray making, a process of associating wireless lamps 90 with the dishes is performed.

[0101] As shown in Figure 8, each wireless lamp 90 is accompanied by a two-dimensional code C2 containing identification information for the wireless lamp 90. Similarly, the label Lb attached to the sheet pan Sp, which indicates the name of the dish, is accompanied by a two-dimensional code C3 containing information about the dish, which serves as the two-dimensional code C3 for the corresponding dish. The two-dimensional code C3 functions as identification information for the dish or the dish on which the dish is served. The two-dimensional codes C2 and C3 for the wireless lamp 90 and the dishes are used to associate the wireless lamp 90 with the dishes and register them in the management system 50. The two-dimensional code C3 for the corresponding dish is not limited to the label Lb attached to the sheet pan Sp, but may also be included in a list of dish names, such as in a cooking instruction sheet. In this case, the two-dimensional code C3 listed in the list can be used to associate the wireless lamp 90 with the dishes as described above.

[0102] As a preparatory step before the menu survey, the user of the management system 50 prepares several sheet pans Sp on which dishes containing food are placed or are planned to be placed. One wireless lamp 90 is installed on each sheet pan Sp, and a label Lb indicating the name of the dish and the two-dimensional code C3 of the dishes to be placed (stored) on that sheet pan Sp is attached.

[0103] The user uses the QR code reading function of a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet to read the QR code C2 of each wireless lamp 90, and then reads the QR code C3 of the label Lb attached to the sheet pan Sp on which the wireless lamp 90 is installed. In other words, after reading the QR code C2 of the wireless lamp 90, the user reads the QR code C3 of the associated dish. This allows the user to associate the wireless lamps 90 with the dishes and register them 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.

[0104] 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.

[0105] The processor 51 of the management system 50 performs the lamp registration process shown in Figure 9 to associate the wireless lamp 90 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.

[0106] 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 90 (S110). 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 90 to be registered (S120).

[0107] 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 (S130). 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 (S140).

[0108] The processor 51 associates the identification information of the wireless lamp 90, which is identified from the two-dimensional code C2 of the wireless lamp 90 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 (S150). As shown in Figure 10, 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 90. After that, the processor 51 terminates the lamp registration process.

[0109] After the association between the wireless lamp 90 and the food is completed, the user can input a tray-making start command to the management system 50 through the user interface 57 of the management system 50. When a tray-making start command is input, the management system 50 starts executing the various processes necessary for tray making.

[0110] The processor 51 of the management system 50 executes the main process shown in Figure 11 in order to receive user operations such as instructions to start tray making. The main process is repeatedly executed by the processor 51. The user interface 57 of the management system 50 is located near the start area P0 to receive operations from the user (operator) located in the start area P0 and to display the results of the processing based on the operations to the user.

[0111] When the main processing starts, the processor 51 displays an operation screen on the user interface 57 that can accept tray creation start instructions and various setting operations (S210). The processor 51 then waits until an operation is performed on the operation screen via the user interface 57 (S220).

[0112] When an operation is performed (Yes in S220), the processor 51 determines whether the operation performed is a tray make start instruction (S230). If it determines that the operation performed is not a tray make start instruction (No in S230), the processor 51 executes the processing corresponding to the operation performed (S235). In S235, for example, processing based on setting operations such as the display start position described above is executed.

[0113] On the other hand, if the system determines that the operation performed is a tray making start instruction (Yes in S230), the processor 51 instructs the user (worker) located in the start area P0 to supply the tray 5 to the belt conveyor 10 via the user interface 57 (S240). 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.

[0114] Subsequently, the processor 51 starts the meal ticket monitoring process shown in Figure 12 (S250). Furthermore, the processor 51 starts the position monitoring process (see Figure 14) and the display-related processing (see Figure 15) (S260). The meal ticket monitoring process, position monitoring process, and display-related processing are repeatedly executed until there are no more trays 5 being transported on the belt conveyor 10 and the user inputs the completion of the menu preparation work through the user interface 57.

[0115] When the food tag monitoring process is started, the processor 51 acquires an image taken from above the conveyor belt 10 as a camera image from the camera 70 (S310). 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 (S320). The process in S320 corresponds to the operation of detecting the food tag 7 that has been set in the tray 5 supplied to the conveyor belt 10.

[0116] If processor 51 determines that no new food ticket 7 is visible (No in S320), it terminates the food ticket monitoring process. If processor 51 determines that a new food ticket 7 is visible (Yes in S320), 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 (S330).

[0117] As shown in Figure 7, the meal ticket management data includes a meal ticket number, menu information, and read image data. In S330, the processor 51 identifies the diner corresponding to the meal ticket 7 based on the information of the two-dimensional code C1 contained in the meal ticket 7, and obtains the diner's menu information from the nutrition management server 80.

[0118] As shown in Figure 13, the nutrition management server 80 includes 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.

[0119] The processor 51 of the management system 50 obtains menu information corresponding to each meal ticket 7 from the nutrition management server 80 based on the information of the two-dimensional code C1 printed on the meal ticket 7, which is identified from the camera image acquired in S310, and generates meal ticket management data in S330.

[0120] In the subsequent S340, the processor 51 registers the meal ticket management data generated in S330 into the meal ticket management table TBL3 stored in the storage 53. The meal ticket management table TBL3 is newly created when a tray make start instruction is entered. After registering the meal ticket management data into the meal ticket management table TBL3, the processor 51 terminates the meal ticket monitoring process.

[0121] In addition, 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 14. 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 (S410).

[0122] In the following step S420, 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 S420), the processor 51 determines the food ticket number corresponding to the detected tray 5 (S430). The processor 51 can determine the food ticket number based on information provided from the food ticket monitoring process.

[0123] The processor 51 starts measuring the position X of the tray 5 in association with the identified food ticket number (S440). 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. This measurement continues for each tray 5 until it reaches the length of the belt conveyor 10 that has been pre-registered in the management system 50.

[0124] In S450, the processor 51 measures the position X of each tray 5 on the conveyor belt 10, including trays 5 that have been detected in the past, by calculating the amount of rotation of the conveyor belt 10 from the zero reference point for each tray 5 as described above. After that, the processor 51 terminates the position monitoring process. The processor 51 measures the position X of each tray 5 on the conveyor belt 10 by repeatedly executing the position monitoring process described above. When the processor 51 detects that a tray 5 has reached the end of the conveyor belt 10 based on the position monitoring process, it sequentially deletes the relevant food ticket management data from the food ticket management table TBL3. This suppresses the leakage of information about diners.

[0125] The processor 51 further implements display control for each information terminal 30 according to the tray arrangement on the belt conveyor 10 by repeatedly executing the display-related processing shown in Figure 15.

[0126] When display-related processing is initiated, the processor 51 determines the tray arrangement on the belt conveyor 10 (S510). 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 S510 to determine the tray arrangement.

[0127] In the following step S520, 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 step S530, 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.

[0128] In S530, 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.

[0129] From the worker in the starting area P0, multiple trays 5 should be supplied to the conveyor belt 10 in sequence with intervals between them, so that only one tray 5 exists in each display target area. However, if multiple trays 5 exist in the display target area, the processor 51 can identify the tray 5 located at the uppermost (or lowermost) end of the display target area as the tray to be displayed.

[0130] 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.

[0131] In the subsequent S540, the processor 51 generates an information screen G0 to be displayed on the target terminal. Specifically, the processor 51 reads the meal ticket management data associated with the meal ticket number of the tray to be displayed from the meal ticket management table TBL3, thereby obtaining the read image data of the meal ticket 7 and the menu information of the meal ticket 7.

[0132] 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, and combines an enlarged image that highlights the name of the dish for the menu item handled by the target terminal with a frame image Fr. At this time, the processor 51 can determine the name of the dish to be highlighted, that is, the dish that the worker should set on the tray 5, based on the acquired menu information and the menu item handled by the target terminal.

[0133] 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.

[0134] 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 from the display area, the processor 51 generates a grayed-out information screen G0.

[0135] In S540, 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 S540, the processor 51 further lights up the wireless lamp 90 associated with the dish whose name is highlighted in the enlarged image of the food tag 7, that is, the dish whose tableware should be set on the tray 5 by the worker in the work area Pw corresponding to the target terminal, and turns off the remaining wireless lamps 90 provided on the dish rack Rk installed in the work area Pw.

[0136] As a result, the processor 51 controls the multiple wireless lamps 90 located in the cupboard Rk in the work area Pw so that a specific wireless lamp 90 corresponding to the dishes that the worker should place on the tray 5 shows a different illumination state from the other wireless lamps 90 located in the cupboard Rk in the work area Pw.

[0137] In S540, the processor 51 can identify the wireless lamp 90 corresponding to the highlighted dish by referring to the lamp management table TBL7, and control the lighting of a group of wireless lamps 90 for the same menu item by turning on the identified wireless lamp 90 and turning off the remaining wireless lamps 90 associated with dishes of the same menu item. The dish name of each dish may contain menu item information. The processor 51 can determine the menu item of each dish based on the menu item information contained in the dish name.

[0138] Alternatively, the lamp management table TBL7 may be generated for each menu item, each work area Pw, or each cupboard Rk, and registered in the storage 53. For example, when the lamp registration process is executed, the processor 51 can obtain information on the menu item, work area Pw, or cupboard Rk from the user performing the registration. Based on this input information, the processor 51 can register the lamp management data for the corresponding wireless lamp 90 in the lamp management table TBL7, which is categorized by menu item, work area Pw, or cupboard Rk. Through such registration, the processor 51 can determine the menu item, work area Pw, and cupboard Rk corresponding to the wireless lamp 90 and the dish.

[0139] In the subsequent S550, the processor 51 determines whether it has selected all information terminals 30 as target terminals and executed the processes in S530 and S540. If the determination in S550 is negative (No in S550), the processor 51 selects a new target terminal from among the multiple information terminals 30 in S520 and executes the processing in S530 and S540 related to the selected information terminal 30. If the determination in S550 is positive, the processor 51 terminates the display-related processing.

[0140] Next, the details of the processing performed by the processor 51 in S540 will be explained using Figure 16. The processor 51 selects the information terminal 30 to be controlled for display as the target terminal (S520), determines the tray to be displayed based on the tray arrangement in the display target area (S530), and then, as the processing in S540, can execute the processes S541 to S546 shown in Figure 16.

[0141] In S541, 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.

[0142] When the processor determines that the target tray has switched (Yes in S541), it selects a different color for the illuminated light than the previously illuminated color (S542). The previously illuminated color here refers to the last color illuminated by any of the wireless lamps 90 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 90 level.

[0143] 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.

[0144] In the subsequent S543, the processor 51 controls the lighting of multiple wireless lamps 90 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 90 associated with the dishes that the worker should set in the tray to be displayed in the work area Pw of the target terminal are lit, and the remaining wireless lamps 90 installed in the dish rack Rk of the work area Pw are turned off. The remaining wireless lamps 90 are a group of wireless lamps 90 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.

[0145] In the subsequent S546, 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 90, and displays it on the target terminal. The processor 51 can display an information screen G0 on the target terminal using a frame image Fr of the same color as the illuminated color of the wireless lamp 90.

[0146] On the other hand, if the processor 51 determines in S541 that the tray to be displayed has not been switched, it controls the illumination of the wireless lamps 90 to maintain the color of the previously illuminated lamp (S544), maintain the illumination of the wireless lamps 90 associated with the dishes corresponding to the dishes to be set on the tray to be displayed, and maintain the off state of the remaining wireless lamps 90 (S545). After that, the processor 51 generates and outputs the above information screen G0.

[0147] 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 can be clearly indicated to the workers in each work area Pw by highlighting and using lamp indicators before the tray 5 reaches the worker.

[0148] 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.

[0149] 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.

[0150] 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.

[0151] According to this embodiment, a label Lb indicating the name of the dish is attached to the area where the dishes to be placed on tray 5 are prepared. Furthermore, a wireless lamp 90 is associated with each dish. The wireless lamp 90 lights up to inform the worker of the dishes to be placed on tray 5.

[0152] In particular, in this embodiment, a wireless lamp 90 that informs the worker which dishes should be placed on tray 5 lights up alternately in different colors. Thus, in this embodiment, information regarding which dishes should be placed on tray 5 is conveyed to the worker by a novel lighting control of the wireless lamp 90.

[0153] This lighting control allows workers to easily understand that the wireless lamp 90 switches on for each tray 5, and which tray 5 each light corresponds to. This alternating lighting of different colored wireless lamps 90 is advantageous because it accurately communicates to workers that the lighting is switching according to the tray 5.

[0154] In addition, in this embodiment, a camera 70 is installed around the starting point of the belt conveyor 10. Therefore, a worker located in the start area P0 only needs to set the meal tag 7 on the tray 5 and supply it to the belt conveyor 10, and the menu preparation system 1 will be operated so that information about the dishes to be placed on the tray 5 is displayed in each work area Pw.

[0155] Therefore, according to this embodiment, a menu preparation system 1 can be provided that enables workers to prepare menus accurately with minimal effort.

[0156] [Differentiation] Next, a modification of the above embodiment will be described. In the above embodiment, 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).

[0157] 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.

[0158] Figure 17 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 the name of a dish corresponding to the tableware to be set on the tray 5, and a frame image Fr surrounding the enlarged image. The display color of the frame image Fr may be the same as the illumination color of the wireless lamp 90 that lights up for the dish displayed in the enlarged image, as in the embodiment described above.

[0159] According to this modified example, the processor 51 of the management system 50 can, in S540, display an information screen G1 (see Figure 17) 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.

[0160] 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.

[0161] [Other embodiments] This disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments, including modifications, and can take various forms.

[0162] For example, a wired lamp may be used instead of the wireless lamp 90. As mentioned above, the wireless lamp 90 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 90.

[0163] Each of the wireless lamps 90 may be configured to light up in three or more colors. In this case, instead of alternating between two colors, the management system 50 can select each of the three or more colors in order according to a predetermined rule in response to the switching of the display target tray (S543), and light up the wireless lamps 90 in the selected color. This allows the management system 50 to control multiple wireless lamps 90 so that they are illuminated with different lights before and after the switching of the display target tray.

[0164] In the above embodiment, the dishes on which each dish is served are placed in separate sheet pans Sp, one for each dish, and then arranged in the cupboard Rk. 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 wireless lamp 90 may be installed in a location corresponding to where a group of dishes for each dish is placed.

[0165] A single sheet pan Sp may contain tableware for multiple dishes. In this case, a single sheet pan Sp may be divided into multiple compartments, and tableware for individual dishes may be placed in each compartment. In this case, a wireless lamp 90 may be placed in each compartment.

[0166] Multiple menu items may be assigned to a single work area Pw. In this case, a group of multiple menu items may be understood as a single menu item classified under a higher-level concept. Multiple dishes may be placed on tray 5 in a single work area Pw. In this case, the management system 50 may operate to illuminate multiple wireless lamps 90 corresponding to multiple dishes and turn off the remaining wireless lamps 90.

[0167] In the dish cabinet Rk, one wireless lamp 90 may be associated with multiple dishes, but not all of them. In this case, the worker can find the dishes to be placed on tray 5 from the dish cabinet Rk based on the illumination status of the wireless lamp 90 and the dish name displayed on label Lb.

[0168] The wireless lamp 90 is installed 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 prepared, in a manner that allows for easy attachment and detachment using magnets or the like.

[0169] To flexibly respond to changes in daily menus, it is beneficial to position the wireless lamp 90 in a way that allows for easy movement. For similar reasons, it is also beneficial to position the information terminal 30 in a way that allows for movement relative to the conveyor belt 10. For example, the information terminal 30 may be mounted on a stand with casters.

[0170] According to the above embodiment, 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 in the above embodiment.

[0171] 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.

[0172] [Technical Concept Disclosed in This Specified Specification] This specification can be understood to disclose the following technical concepts: [Item 1] Each lamp is configured as a lamp independent of the multiple dish racks, and multiple lamps are installed in one of the multiple dish racks, A controller configured to control the aforementioned multiple lamps, A memory device that stores the correspondence between each of the plurality of dish racks, the dishes placed in the dish rack or the dishes served on the dishes, and the lamps among the plurality of lamps installed in the dish rack, Equipped with, The controller identifies the food set on the tray supplied to the point corresponding to the work area, and controls the multiple lamps according to the correspondence such that a specific lamp among the multiple lamps shows a different lighting state from the other lamps among the multiple lamps. The control system is characterized by a specific lamp being a lamp installed in the dish rack where the dishes to be placed on the tray are arranged. [Item 2] The controller is a control system according to item 1 that controls the plurality of lamps so that the specific lamp lights up and the other lamps turn off, thereby controlling the plurality of lamps so that the specific lamp shows a different lighting state from the other lamps. [Item 3] Multiple trays are supplied sequentially to the points corresponding to the aforementioned work area. Each of the aforementioned multiple lamps can be illuminated with two or more colors of light. The controller controls the plurality of lamps so that they are illuminated with different lights before and after the switch when the lighting state of the plurality of lamps is changed in accordance with the switching of trays supplied to the location, as described in item 2. [Item 4] Each of the aforementioned multiple lamps is associated with a first identification information, Each of the dishes placed in the aforementioned multiple dish racks, or the dishes served on those dishes, is associated with a second identification piece of information. The controller is a control system according to any one of items 1 to 3, which determines the correspondence relationship based on the first identification information and the second identification information read by the reader in association with each other, and stores the correspondence relationship in the storage device. [Item 5] Each of the plurality of lamps has a wireless communication function and is configured to communicate wirelessly with the controller, according to any one of items 1 to 4. [Item 6] Each of the aforementioned lamps is installed in the corresponding dish rack either unattached or attached by magnets, in a control system according to any one of items 1 to 5. [Item 7] The control system according to any one of items 1 to 6, wherein the dish rack is a sheet pan on which the dishes are placed. [Item 8] A control method for controlling a plurality of lamps, each configured as a lamp independent of the plurality of dish racks, which are installed in one of the plurality of dish racks, Computers With respect to each of the aforementioned multiple dish racks, the correspondence between the dishes placed in the dish rack or the food served on the dishes and the lamps among the aforementioned multiple lamps that are installed in the dish rack is stored in a memory device. The system identifies the food set on the tray supplied to a point corresponding to the work area, and controls the multiple lamps such that a specific lamp among the multiple lamps shows a different illumination state from the other lamps among the multiple lamps, according to the correspondence relationship stored in the storage device. Includes, The control method wherein the specified lamp is a lamp installed in the dish rack where the dishes to be placed on the tray are arranged. [Item 9] A computer program that causes a computer to execute the control method described in item 8. [Explanation of symbols]

[0173] 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, 59...Communication interface, 70...Camera, 75...Start sensor, 80...Nutrition management server, 90...Wireless lamp, P0...Start area, Pw, P1, P2, P3...Work area, Rk...Cupboard, TBL1...Terminal setting table, TBL3...Meal ticket management table, TBL7...Lamp management table, Lb...Label, G0...Information screen.

Claims

1. Each lamp is configured as a lamp independent of the multiple dish racks, and multiple lamps are installed in one of the multiple dish racks, A controller configured to control the aforementioned multiple lamps, A memory device that stores the correspondence between each of the plurality of dish racks, the dish placed in the dish rack or the food served on the dish, and the lamp among the plurality of lamps installed in the dish rack, Equipped with, The controller identifies the food set on the tray supplied to the point corresponding to the work area, and controls the multiple lamps according to the correspondence such that a specific lamp among the multiple lamps shows a different lighting state from the other lamps among the multiple lamps. The control system is characterized by a specific lamp being a lamp installed in the dish rack where the dishes to be placed on the tray are arranged.

2. The control system according to claim 1, wherein the controller controls the plurality of lamps so that the specific lamp lights up and the other lamps turn off, thereby controlling the plurality of lamps so that the specific lamp shows a different lighting state from the other lamps.

3. Multiple trays are supplied sequentially to the points corresponding to the aforementioned work area. Each of the aforementioned multiple lamps can be illuminated with two or more colors of light. The control system according to claim 2, wherein the controller controls the plurality of lamps so that they are illuminated with different lights before and after the switching when the lighting state of the plurality of lamps is changed in accordance with the switching of trays supplied to the location.

4. Each of the aforementioned multiple lamps is associated with a first identification information, Each of the dishes placed in the aforementioned multiple dish racks, or the dishes served on those dishes, is associated with a second identification piece of information. The control system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the controller determines the correspondence relationship based on the first identification information and the second identification information read by the reader in association with each other, and stores the correspondence relationship in the storage device.

5. The control system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each of the plurality of lamps has a wireless communication function and is configured to communicate wirelessly with the controller.

6. The control system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each of the plurality of lamps is installed in the corresponding dish rack either in an unfixed state or in a state fixed by magnets.

7. The control system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the dish rack is a sheet pan on which the dishes are placed.

8. A control method for controlling multiple lamps, each configured as a lamp independent of the multiple dish racks, which are installed in one of the multiple dish racks, Computers With respect to each of the aforementioned multiple dish racks, the correspondence between the dishes placed in the dish rack or the dishes served on the dishes and the lamps among the aforementioned multiple lamps that are installed in the dish rack is stored in a memory device. The system identifies the food set on the tray supplied to a point corresponding to the work area, and controls the multiple lamps such that a specific lamp among the multiple lamps shows a different illumination state from the other lamps among the multiple lamps, according to the correspondence relationship stored in the storage device. Includes, The control method wherein the specified lamp is a lamp installed in the dish rack where the dishes to be placed on the tray are arranged.

9. A computer program for causing a computer to execute the control method described in claim 8.

Images