Food heating and conveying device

Abstract

To provide a food and drink heating and conveying device capable of preventing food and drink from being heated by mistake.SOLUTION: A food and drink heating and conveying device (1) includes a shuttle (3) for conveying food and drink placed on a tray (22) and a station (2) for heating food and drink using a microwave in a state that the shuttle (3) is inserted into the station. A tray storage chamber (55) for storing the tray (22) in the shuttle (3) is formed. The tray storage chamber (55) is partitioned into a heating chamber (59) and a non-heating chamber (60), and a microwave absorption body (61) for absorbing a microwave is provided in the non-heating chamber (60). Also, the microwave absorption body (61) not only absorbs a microwave, but also has a cold storage function. Furthermore, in the microwave absorption body (61), a microwave absorption bag body (65) encapsulating a medium (64) that absorbs a microwave and has a cold storage function is stored inside a casing (62) in a replaceable manner.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a food and drink heating and transporting device comprising a shuttle for transporting food and drink placed on a tray, and a station for heating food and drink using microwaves in a state where the shuttle is inserted as a whole.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in facilities such as hospitals and schools, a food and drink heating and transporting device that can heat and transport food and drink placed on a tray has been used to provide warm food and drink.

[0003] This food and drink heating and transporting device is composed of a shuttle for transporting food and drink placed on a tray, and a station for heating food and drink using a heating means (microwave irradiation device) in a state where the shuttle is inserted as a whole.

[0004] The shuttle is formed with a tray accommodation chamber for accommodating the tray. The tray accommodation chamber is partitioned by a partition into a heating chamber for heating food and drink with a microwave irradiation device, and a non-heating chamber (cooling chamber or constant temperature chamber) where food and drink are not heated by microwaves (see Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] However, when heating food and drink using microwaves in the heating chamber of the shuttle, there is a risk that microwaves may leak into the non-heating chamber through gaps between the tray and the partition, and the food and drink in the non-heating chamber may be slightly heated.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] Therefore, in the present invention according to claim 1, in a food and drink heating and transporting device comprising a shuttle for transporting food and drink placed on a tray and a station for heating food and drink using microwaves in a state where the shuttle is inserted as a whole, a tray storage chamber for storing the tray in the shuttle is formed, and the tray storage chamber is partitioned into a heating chamber heated by microwaves and a non-heating chamber not heated by microwaves, and a microwave absorber for absorbing microwaves leaking from the heating chamber to the non-heating chamber is provided so that the food and drink are not heated inside the non-heating chamber. , provide a partition in the tray storage chamber and provide a partition that can move up and down freely at the lower part of the partition to partition the tray storage chamber into a heating chamber and a non-heating chamber It was decided to do so.

[0009] Also, Claim 2 in the present invention according to, the above Claim 1 In the present invention according to, the microwave absorber is configured to be replaceably accommodated inside a casing with a microwave absorbing bag body that seals a medium having a function of absorbing microwaves and having a cold insulation function.

Effects of the Invention

[0010] And in the present invention, the following effects are achieved.

[0011] That is, in the present invention, in a food and drink heating and transporting device comprising a shuttle for transporting food and drink placed on a tray and a station for heating food and drink using microwaves in a state where the shuttle is inserted as a whole, a tray storage chamber for storing the tray in the shuttle is formed, and the tray storage chamber is partitioned into a heating chamber and a non-heating chamber, and a microwave absorber for absorbing microwaves is provided in the non-heating chamber. Therefore, even if microwaves leak from the heating chamber to the non-heating chamber, the microwave absorber can absorb the microwaves, and it is possible to prevent the food and drink from being heated in the non-heating chamber.

[0012] In particular, when the microwave absorber has a function of absorbing microwaves and has a cold insulation function, it is possible to keep the food and drink in the non-heating chamber cold.

[0013] Further, when a microwave absorber that absorbs microwaves and seals a medium having a cold storage function is removably accommodated inside the casing, it can be easily replaced according to the deterioration of the medium.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] Hereinafter, the specific configuration of the food and drink heating and transporting device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, the food and drink heating and transporting device 1 is composed of a station 2 and a shuttle 3. After heating food and drink with the shuttle 3 inserted inside the station 2, the food and drink are transported by the shuttle 3.

[0017] As shown in Fig. 2, Station 2 is provided with an opening and closing door 5 for the station in front of a vertically long rectangular box-shaped main body 4 having openings in the front and downward directions, and wheels 6 are provided at the lower part of the main body 4 to make it movable.

[0018] Inside the main body 4, a shuttle storage chamber 7 for accommodating the shuttle 3 is formed, and heating means 8 are arranged in two rows on the left and right and in 12 stages up and down. The heating means 8 is composed of a microwave irradiation device 9 accommodated inside the main body 4 and three microwave conductors 10 protruding into the shuttle storage chamber 7. The microwave radiated from the microwave irradiation device 9 passes through the respective microwave conductors 10 and is irradiated upward from the tip of each microwave conductor 10 to heat food and drink.

[0019] At the upper part of the main body 4, a control device 11 is accommodated inside, and an operation display device 12 is provided on the front surface.

[0020] On the right side of the main body 4, an input device 13 for reading data such as the heating temperature of food and drink from food tickets, etc. is provided.

[0021] Station 2 connects the heating means 8, the operation display device 12, and the input device 13 to the control device 11 and is controlled by the control device 11.

[0022] As shown in Figs. 3 to 5, the shuttle 3 has columns 15 to 18 erected at the upper four corners of a rectangular plate-shaped base 14, a top plate 19 is attached to the upper ends of the columns 15 to 18, and a rear wall 20 is attached between the rear columns 17 and 18. Thereby, the shuttle 3 forms a heating opening 21 for inserting the heating means 8 (microwave conductor 10) of the station 2 in the front, and tray openings 23 and 24 for carrying trays 22 in and out are formed on the left and right sides respectively.

[0023] Wheels 25 are provided at the lower part of the base 14 to make the shuttle 3 travelable.

[0024] The heating opening 21 is provided with a pair of left and right heating opening / closing doors 26, 26, and each tray opening 23, 24 is provided with a tray opening / closing door 27, 28. Thereby, the shuttle 3 covers the heating opening 21 by closing the heating opening / closing doors 26, 26, and the heating means 8 (microwave conductor 10) of the station 2 is inserted into the heating opening 21 by inserting the shuttle 3 into the station 2 with the heating opening / closing doors 26, 26 open. Further, the shuttle 3 covers the tray openings 23, 24 by closing the tray opening / closing doors 27, 28, and the tray 22 can be carried in and out from each tray opening 23, 24 by opening each tray opening / closing door 27, 28.

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, each opening / closing door (heating opening / closing doors 26, 26 and tray opening / closing doors 27, 28) is provided with a hinge mechanism 29. Since all the hinge mechanisms 29 have the same configuration, the hinge mechanism 29 provided on the right heating opening / closing door 26 will be described here.

[0026] The hinge mechanism 29 is composed of a lower hinge 30 provided at the lower part of the heating opening / closing door 26 and an upper hinge 31 provided at the upper part of the heating opening / closing door 26.

[0027] The lower hinge 30 attaches a base 32 to the base 14 and forms a rotating shaft 33 extending upward from the base 32 via a spacer 34. On the other hand, an arm 35 is attached to the lower end of the heating opening / closing door 26, and a shaft hole 36 penetrating vertically is formed at the tip of the arm 35. The rotating shaft 33 of the base 32 is rotatably inserted into the shaft hole 36 of the arm 35.

[0028] Further, the lower hinge 30 forms mounting holes 37, 38, 39 that penetrate vertically at a plurality (here, three) of predetermined positions on the base 32, and mounts the lower parts of spheres 40, 41, 42 in the respective mounting holes 37, 38, 39. Meanwhile, a mounting hole 43 that penetrates vertically is formed in the middle part of the arm 35, and a holder 44 is inserted into the mounting hole 43 from below. The holder 44 forms a hollow disc-shaped flange portion 46 at the lower end of a hollow cylindrical fitting portion 45 and forms a holding hole 47 that penetrates vertically in the central part.

[0029] On the other hand, for the upper hinge 31, while mounting a rotating shaft 48 extending upward at the upper end of the support column 16, an arm 49 is mounted at the upper end of the heating opening / closing door 26, and a shaft hole 50 that penetrates vertically is formed at the tip of the arm 49. The rotating shaft 48 is inserted into the shaft hole 50 of the arm 49, and a spring 51 is interposed between the lower surface of the arm 49 and the upper surface of the support column 16, and the heating opening / closing door 26 (arm 49) is biased upward by the spring 51. A retaining stop 52 is formed at the upper end of the rotating shaft 48.

[0030] Then, when the hinge mechanism 29 rotates the heating opening / closing door 26, as shown in Fig. 8(a), the flange portion 46 of the holder 44 of the lower hinge 30 abuts against the sphere 41. Further, when the heating opening / closing door 26 is rotated, as shown in Fig. 8(b), the flange portion 46 of the holder 44 of the lower hinge 30 rides up along the surface of the sphere 41. At this time, since the heating opening / closing door 26 is biased upward by the spring 51 of the upper hinge 31, the heating opening / closing door 26 can be rotated smoothly, and wear and deterioration of the sphere 41 and the holder 44 can be prevented. After that, when the heating opening / closing door 26 is further rotated, as shown in Fig. 8(c), the sphere 41 engages with the holding hole 47 of the holder 44 of the lower hinge 30. Thereby, the opening and closing of the heating opening / closing door 26 are held. Further, when the heating opening / closing door 26 is rotated, the holding state is released.

[0031] Here, the hinge mechanism 29 holds the heating opening / closing door 26 in a closed state (rotation angle 0 degrees) by the spherical body 40 of the lower hinge 30, holds the heating opening / closing door 26 in a state where it is opened halfway (rotation angle 135 degrees) by the spherical body 41, and holds the heating opening / closing door 26 in an open state (rotation angle 270 degrees) by the spherical body 42. Note that in the state where the heating opening / closing door 26 is opened halfway by the spherical body 41, the rotation angle is set so as not to interfere with the opening and closing of the tray opening / closing doors 27 and 28.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 6, in the state where the heating opening / closing doors 26 and 26 are closed, they are held within a range inside the base 14 that protrudes most outward in plan view. Also, in the state where the heating opening / closing doors 26 and 26 are open, they are held within a range inside the base 14 together with the tray opening / closing doors 27 and 28 in the closed state in plan view. Note that the tray opening / closing doors 27 and 28 are also held within a range inside the base 14 in both the closed state and the open state in plan view.

[0033] The shuttle 3 forms an internal space by closing the heating opening / closing doors 26 and 26 and the tray opening / closing doors 27 and 28, attaches a partition wall 53 to the front side of the center of the rear wall 20, and vertically spaces a plurality (here, 12) of supports 54 and 54 for supporting the ends of the tray 22 from below between the rear sides of the left and right front struts 15 and 16 and between the front sides of the left and right rear struts 17 and 18. Thereby, the shuttle 3 forms a tray storage chamber 55 for storing the tray 22 in the internal space in two rows on the left and right and in 12 stages vertically corresponding to the heating means 8 of the station 2.

[0034] In each tray storage chamber 55, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the base ends of a pair of left and right supports 56, 56 horizontally extending forward are attached to the rear wall 20, and a horizontally long rectangular plate-shaped partition body 57 is attached to the tips of the supports 56, 56. A partition 58 is provided at the lower part of the partition body 57 so as to be vertically movable back and forth. Thus, each tray storage chamber 55 is partitioned front and rear by the partition body 57 and the partition 58, and a heating chamber 59 into which the heating means 8 (microwave conductor 10) of the station 2 is inserted and heated by microwaves is formed on the front side, and a non-heating chamber 60 that is not heated by microwaves is formed on the rear side of the heating chamber 59. Note that the non-heating chamber 60 may be cooled by providing a cooling means in the station 2.

[0035] In each non-heating chamber 60, a microwave absorber 61 is detachably provided between the supports 56, 56.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 9, the microwave absorber 61 has caps 63, 63 detachably attached to both ends of a hollow rectangular pipe-shaped casing 62.

[0037] Inside the casing 62, for example, a microwave absorption bag body 65 sealed with a medium 64 that absorbs microwaves and has a cold insulation function, such as water or carboxymethyl cellulose, is inserted.

[0038] At the end of the cap 63, a hook 66 is formed so as to be detachably hooked on the support 56.

[0039] And even if microwaves radiated from the heating means 8 of the station 2 leak from the gaps between the partition body 57 and the partition 58 and the tray 22 into the non-heating chamber 60 inside the heating chamber 59, the microwave absorber 61 can absorb the microwaves and prevent the food and drink inside the non-heating chamber 60 from being accidentally heated.

[0040] As described above, the food and drink heating and transporting device 1 includes a shuttle 3 for transporting food and drink placed on a tray 22, and a station 2 for heating the food and drink using heating means 8 (microwaves) with the shuttle 3 inserted thereinto.

[0041] The food and drink heating and transporting device 1 is configured such that a heating opening 21 for inserting the heating means 8 is provided in front of the shuttle 3, and tray openings 23, 24 for loading and unloading the tray 22 are provided on the left and right sides of the shuttle 3.

[0042] Therefore, in the food and drink heating and transporting device 1 having the above configuration, the tray 22 can be loaded and unloaded from the left and right tray openings 23, 24, and moreover, it is possible to check the loading and unloading status of the tray 22, check the food tickets provided on the tray 22, read data, etc. from the heating opening 21, thereby improving workability.

[0043] The food and drink heating and transporting device 1 is configured such that the heating opening 21 is covered with heating opening / closing doors 26, 26, and the left and right tray openings 23, 24 are covered with tray opening / closing doors 27, 28, respectively.

[0044] Therefore, in the food and drink heating and transporting device 1 having the above configuration, by closing the heating opening / closing doors 26, 26 and the tray opening / closing doors 27, 28, the entire shuttle 3 can be covered, and with one tray opening / closing door 27 (28) closed, the other tray opening / closing door 28 (27) can be opened to load and unload the tray 22, so that the heat preservation and hygiene of the food and drink inside the shuttle 3 can be maintained.

[0045] The food and drink heating and transporting device 1 is configured such that the state in which the tray opening / closing doors 27, 28 are closed and the heating opening / closing doors 26, 26 are opened can be held inside the base 14 in a plan view.

[0046] Therefore, in the food and drink heating and transporting device 1 with the above configuration, it is possible to prevent the body from accidentally colliding with the heating opening and closing doors 26, 26 when taking the shuttle 3 in and out of the station 2.

[0047] Furthermore, the food and drink heating and transporting device 1 forms a tray storage chamber 55 for storing the tray 22 in the shuttle 3, divides the tray storage chamber 55 into a heating chamber 59 and a non-heating chamber 60, and is provided with a microwave absorber 61 for absorbing microwaves in the non-heating chamber 60.

[0048] Therefore, in the food and drink heating and transporting device 1 with the above configuration, even if microwaves leak from the heating chamber 59 to the non-heating chamber 60, the microwave absorber 61 can absorb the microwaves, and it is possible to prevent the food and drink in the non-heating chamber 60 from being heated.

[0049] Also, the food and drink heating and transporting device 1 is configured such that the microwave absorber 61 absorbs microwaves and has a cold storage function.

[0050] Therefore, in the food and drink heating and transporting device 1 with the above configuration, it is possible to keep the food and drink in the non-heating chamber 60 cold.

[0051] Also, the food and drink heating and transporting device 1 is configured such that a microwave absorption bag body 65 in which a medium 64 having a function of absorbing microwaves and having a cold storage function is sealed is replaceably accommodated inside the casing 62.

[0052] Therefore, in the food and drink heating and transporting device 1 with the above configuration, it can be easily replaced according to the deterioration of the medium 64.

Explanation of Signs

[0053] 1 Food and drink heating and transporting device 2 Station 3 Shuttle 4 Main body 5 Station opening and closing door 6 Wheels 7 Shuttle storage chamber 8 Heating means 9 Microwave irradiation device 10 Microwave conductor 11 Control device 12 Operation display device 13 Input device 14 Base 15 - 18 Struts 19 Ceiling 20 Rear wall 21 Heating opening 22 Tray 23, 24 Tray openings 25 Wheels 26 Heating opening and closing door 27, 28 Tray opening and closing doors 29 Hinge mechanism 30 Lower hinge 31 Upper hinge 32 Base 33 Rotation axis 34 Spacer 35 Arm 36 Axle hole 37, 38, 39 Mounting holes 40, 41, 42 Spheres 43 Mounting hole 44 Holder 45 Insertion part 46 Flange part 47 Holding hole 48 Rotation axis 49 Arm 50 Axle hole 51 Spring 52 Retaining part 53 Partition wall 54 Support 55 Tray storage chamber 56 Support 57 Partition body 58 Partition 59 Heating chamber 60 Non - heating chamber 61 Microwave absorber 62 Casing 63 Cap 64 Medium 65 Microwave absorption bag body 66 Hook

Claims

1. In a food and drink heating and transporting device comprising a shuttle for transporting food and drink placed on a tray and a station for heating food and drink using microwaves in a state where the shuttle is inserted as a whole, a tray storage chamber for accommodating a tray in the shuttle is formed, and the tray storage chamber is partitioned into a heating chamber heated by microwaves and a non-heating chamber not heated by microwaves, and a microwave absorber for absorbing microwaves leaking from the heating chamber to the non-heating chamber is provided in the non-heating chamber so that food and drink are not heated inside the non-heating chamber, a partition body is provided in the tray storage chamber, and a partition is provided at the lower part of the partition body so as to be vertically movable back and forth to partition the tray storage chamber into a heating chamber and a non-heating chamber. A food and drink heating and transporting device characterized by this.

2. The food and drink heating and transporting device according to claim 1, wherein the microwave absorber is configured such that a microwave absorbing bag body sealing a medium having a function of absorbing microwaves and having a cold storage function is replaceably accommodated inside a casing.

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