trolley

Abstract

To facilitate the transfer of a container within a carriage for conveying the container in which used tableware is stored.SOLUTION: A carriage that conveys containers for storing used tableware comprises a drive shelf, a receiving part, and a push-out unit. The drive shelf comprises a pair of endless circulation moving bodies arranged at positions separated in a horizontal direction, and a pair of support units that are provided at the pair of circulation moving bodies, respectively. and support the containers. The drive shelf is lowered according to movement of the circulation moving bodies, while supporting the containers by the pair of support units. The receiving parts are arranged between the pair of circulation moving bodies and receive the lowered containers from the pair of support units. The push-out unit pushes out the containers placed on the receiving part in a direction perpendicular to the lowering direction of the containers and moves them to the outside of the receiving part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cart, and more particularly to a cart that can carry multiple stages of containers for storing used eating utensils. [Background technology]

[0002] An E-type circulating conveyor is known that is used in large conveyor belt sushi restaurants and the like (for example, Patent Document 1). The E-type circulating conveyor has multiple overhanging paths that overhang from the kitchen area toward the seating area, with seating provided on both sides of the overhanging paths. In the kitchen area of ​​a store that uses an E-type circulating conveyor, a tray clearing conveyor is provided in the space below the circulating conveyor, along the partition wall separating the seating area. The tray clearing conveyor leads to the washing area. In the partition wall separating the kitchen area and the seating area, an input port that opens and closes with an electric door is provided in the area located between the overhanging paths.

[0003] The method for collecting used tableware in such stores is as follows: First, a waiter pushes a cart carrying multiple tray boxes around the customer area, collects used tableware from tables, and places it in the tray boxes. Next, the waiter moves the cart to the vicinity of the tray opening in the partition wall and presses a button on the opening to open the electric door. Next, the waiter removes the tray box from the cart and places it on the tray clearing conveyor through the opening. The waiter then presses the button again to close the electric door. This activates the tray clearing conveyor, and the tray box is transported to the washing area by the tray clearing conveyor. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-289547 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In stores using an E-type circulating conveyor such as that described in Patent Document 1, eating utensils are collected using a hand-pushed cart carrying bus boxes. However, because the bus boxes containing eating utensils are heavy, transferring the bus boxes from the cart to the tray clearing conveyor places a burden on the staff. Furthermore, the tray clearing conveyor is sometimes located below the circulating conveyor in the kitchen area, and the inlet of the partition is located at a low position corresponding to the low-positioned tray clearing conveyor. Therefore, the staff must bend over while transferring the bus boxes. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention provides a cart for transporting containers containing used eating utensils, which includes a drive shelf, a receiving section, and a push-out unit. The drive shelf includes a pair of endless circulating bodies arranged at horizontally spaced positions, and a pair of support units attached to each of the pair of circulating bodies to support the containers. The drive shelf lowers the containers while supporting them with the pair of support units in accordance with the movement of the circulating body.

[0007] The receiving section is disposed between the pair of circulating bodies and receives the lowered container from the pair of support units. The pushing unit pushes the container placed on the receiving section in a direction perpendicular to the downward direction of the container, moving it out of the receiving section.

[0008] The pair of support units can support containers at each of a plurality of positions in the vertical direction. The support units can be composed of a fixed plate fixed to the circulating body and a rotating plate rotatably attached to the fixed plate. Here, when the support units move through an area where they support containers, the rotating plate rotates away from the fixed plate to support the containers. Also, when the support units move through an area where they do not support containers, the rotating plate rotates to a position where it overlaps with the fixed plate by contacting a guide. The rotating plate can be provided with rollers that rotate along the guide.

[0009] The extrusion unit can be configured with a linear guide extending in the extrusion direction of the container, a slider that moves along the linear guide, a drive unit that drives the slider, and a pusher unit that moves together with the slider and contacts the container. A fixed shelf that stores empty containers can be disposed adjacent to the drive shelf, and when the extrusion unit is in a position before extruding the container, the slider and the pusher unit can be positioned below the fixed shelf.

[0010] The inlet through which the containers extruded by the extrusion unit are inserted can be provided with a door for opening and closing the inlet, a switch for moving the door from a closed state to an open state, and a conversion mechanism for converting the linear motion of the slider into motion that activates the switch. The cart can be provided with an adsorption unit that adsorbs the slider and causes it to move linearly. The cart can also be provided with a sensor that detects the open / closed state of the door by emitting detection light to the door and receiving the detection light reflected by the door. When the door is in the open state, the extrusion unit can be driven. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, by simply placing a container containing used eating utensils on the drive shelf, the container can be easily transferred by lowering the container using the drive shelf and pushing the container out using the push-out unit. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a collection system for eating utensils. [Figure 2] FIG. [Figure 3] 10 is a plan view schematically showing the positional relationship of each element in the storage space and the positional relationship of each element in the front side of the cart. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the principle of a seating confirmation sensor. [Figure 6] FIG. [Figure 7]FIG. [Figure 8] 10A and 10B are explanatory diagrams of the opening and closing operation of the support unit due to the action of the guide. [Figure 9] FIG. 4 is a plan view of a slide guide and a push-out unit. [Figure 10] FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a state in which the extrusion unit is in operation. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a side view schematically showing the carriage transferring the bus box onto the tray lowering conveyor. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view of a eating utensil retrieval system 100. As shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the eating utensil recovery system 100 is described as being applied to a large conveyor belt sushi restaurant, but it may also be applied to other types of stores or stores of other sizes. In the eating utensil recovery system 100, for example, a conventional store having a circulating conveyor 91, customer seats 92, tables 93, a tray clearing conveyor 94, and a partition 95 uses a cart 1, and a seating confirmation sensor S4 (FIG. 5) described below is attached to an insertion port 8 of the partition 95.

[0014] Inside the store, a customer seating area A1 having customer seats 92 and tables 93 is separated from a kitchen area A2 where food and drink are cooked and placed on a circulating conveyor 91 by a partition wall 95.

[0015] The circulating conveyor 91 is, for example, an E-type circulating conveyor equipped with a crescent chain that circulates a crescent-shaped top plate, and is provided with multiple extending paths 911 that extend from the kitchen area A2 toward the customer seating area A1. Customer seats 92 and tables 93 are provided on both sides of each extending path 911. In the E-type circulating conveyor, the base ends of the extending paths 911 connect within the kitchen area A2. Tableware (plates, etc.) on which food and drink such as sushi is placed are placed on the circulating conveyor 91 in the kitchen area A2, and the tableware carrying the food and drink is circulated along the path of the circulating conveyor 91 while being transported along the customer seats 92 on each extending path 911. Customers can remove the tableware carrying food and drink from the circulating conveyor 91 and eat.

[0016] The tray clearing conveyor 94 is a belt conveyor and is installed along the partition wall 95 in the kitchen area A2. The tray clearing conveyor 94 extends outward beyond the overhanging paths 911 on both sides of the circulating conveyor 91, and passes through the space below the circulating conveyor 91 in the kitchen area A2 to reach the washing area 96. The tray clearing conveyor 94 is installed at a low position so that it passes below the circulating conveyor 91.

[0017] An aisle P is formed between seats 92 provided along one protruding path 911 and seats 92 provided along another protruding path 911. An insertion slot 8 penetrating the partition wall 95 is provided in an area of ​​the partition wall 95 facing the aisle P. The insertion slot 8 is opened and closed by an electric door 81.

[0018] Cart 1 has bus box B mounted on top. Waiter collects eating utensils from tables 93 after eating and drinking and places them in bus box B. The eating utensils include tableware taken out by customers from circulating conveyor 91, beer bottles carried to customers by waiter, and cups, teacups, chopsticks, spoons, etc. that are placed and used in the store.

[0019] The cart 1 can carry bus boxes B containing eating utensils stacked in multiple layers in the vertical direction of the cart 1. When a waiter moves the cart 1 to a specified position relative to the inlet 8, the cart 1 mechanically and automatically transfers all of the bus boxes B containing eating utensils in order onto the tray clearing conveyor 94 via the inlet 8. In this way, the cart 1 of this embodiment can mechanize the work of transferring bus boxes B, thereby reducing the burden on the waiter.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the carriage 1 as seen from the rear side. Casters 71 are provided at each corner of the bottom of the cart 1, and a handle 72 is provided at one end of the cart 1. A store clerk can grasp the handle 72 and push the cart 1 to move it. Below, the front-to-rear direction of the cart 1 connecting one end (rear side) of the cart 1 where the handle 72 is located and the other end (front side) of the cart 1 will be referred to as the X-axis in each drawing. Also, below, the left-to-right direction will be referred to as the left-to-right direction when looking at the cart 1 from the rear side to the front side, and will be referred to as the Y-axis in each drawing. Below, the up-and-down direction of the cart 1 will be referred to as the Z-axis.

[0021] The carriage 1 is equipped with a drive shelf 2 and a fixed shelf 3, each of which stores bus boxes B (containers) in multiple tiers in the vertical direction (Z direction). In this embodiment, the drive shelf 2 and the fixed shelf 3 have three tiers, but they may also have two tiers, four or more tiers, or different numbers of tiers. The drive shelf 2 is located on the front side of the carriage 1, and the fixed shelf 3 is located on the rear side of the drive shelf 2. The bus boxes B are, for example, box-shaped and rectangular in plan view, with an opening at the top. The storage section of each tier of the drive shelf 2 and the fixed shelf 3 is long from side to side, and stores the bus boxes B in a position aligned along the left and right.

[0022] In the drive shelf 2, the support units 21 (the support units for the upper tier are shown in FIG. 2) that support the bottoms of the bus boxes B on each tier are located inside the exterior 73 of the bogie 1. A long opening 731 running from side to side is provided on the front side of the upper end surface of the exterior 73 of the bogie 1. The top of the bus box B placed on the upper tier of the drive shelf 2 is exposed to the outside of the bogie 1 through the opening 731. A bus box B can be placed on the upper tier of the drive shelf 2 from above through the opening 731.

[0023] In the fixed shelf 3, the support parts 31 that support the bottom of the bus boxes B on each level are located inside the exterior casing 73. The support parts 31 on the upper level of the fixed shelf 3 and the support units 21 on the upper level of the drive shelf 2 are at the same height. An opening 732 that is long from side to side is provided on the rear side of the upper end surface of the exterior 73. The top of the bus box B placed on the upper level of the fixed shelf 3 is exposed to the outside of the cart 1 through the opening 732. The bus box B can be removed upward from the upper level of the fixed shelf 3 through the opening 732.

[0024] The waiter places the used tableware collected from the table 93 into the bus box B on the upper level of the fixed shelf 3, and when the bus box B is full, he can lift the bus box B and move it to the upper level of the movable shelf 2.

[0025] An opening 733 is provided on the rear end surface of the exterior 73, extending from the support portion 31 of the lower tier of the fixed shelf 3 to the upper end surface of the exterior 73. Through the opening 733, bus boxes B can be taken in and out of each tier, including the upper tier, of the fixed shelf 3, as shown by the arrows in Figure 2. After the store clerk moves the bus box B from the upper tier of the fixed shelf 3 to the movable shelf 2, the store clerk can move the bus box B from the lower tier to the upper tier of the fixed shelf 3. Below the support portion 31 of the lower tier of the fixed shelf 3, a storage space V1 is formed.

[0026] 3 is a plan view that schematically shows the positional relationship of each element in the storage space V1 and the positional relationship of each element in the front side of the carriage 1. The function of each element will be described later. A portion of a pair of linear guides 51 is disposed in the center of the accommodation space V1 in the Y direction. Each linear guide 51 extends in the front-to-rear direction (X direction), with one end of each linear guide 51 extending to near the rear end of the accommodation space V1. A portion of a roller chain RC3 that drives the slider 52 is disposed between the pair of linear guides 51, and the roller chain RC3 also extends to near the rear end of the accommodation space V1. Rear portions of a pair of slide guides (receiving portions) 4 are disposed along the front-to-rear direction (X direction) on both the left and right sides of the front portion of the linear guide 51 in the accommodation space V1. The accommodation space V1 contains a motor M1, a power supply 79, and a circuit board 78. The power supply 79 is, for example, a secondary battery, and supplies power to each component of the carriage 1. A memory 781 and a processor 782 that reads programs from the memory 781 and performs various controls related to the carriage 1 are mounted on the circuit board 78.

[0027] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the carriage 1 as seen from the front side. The cart 1 is equipped with the aforementioned slide guide 4 as well as a push-out unit 5. The slide guide 4 supports the bottom of the bus box B on the lower level of the drive shelf 2. The bus box B placed on the upper level of the drive shelf 2 is lowered onto the slide guide 4 before being transferred to the tray removal conveyor 94. The front end surface of the exterior casing 73 has an opening 734 that extends from the height position of the slide guide 4 to a position above the height of the bus box B. The push-out unit 5 pushes the bus box B on the slide guide 4 forward of the cart 1 through the opening 734. This allows the cart 1 to push the bus box B to the tray removal conveyor 94 located at the back of the inlet 8 of the partition wall 95.

[0028] The front end of the cart 1 is provided with a sensor actuation unit (adsorption unit) S1 that activates the seating confirmation sensor S4 provided at the insertion slot 8. In this embodiment, the sensor actuation unit S1 is a magnet, and is provided at the top and on both the left and right sides of the front end of the cart 1 (only one is shown in FIG. 4). The sensor actuation unit S1 may be located on the back side of the exterior 73 or may be exposed to the outside. The front end of the cart 1 is provided with an opening / closing confirmation sensor S2 that detects the open / closed state of the electric door 81 at the insertion slot 8. In this embodiment, the opening / closing confirmation sensor S2 is provided on each of the left and right sides of the front end of the cart 1 (only one is shown in FIG. 4), but this is not limited thereto, and only one opening / closing confirmation sensor S2 may be provided. The opening / closing confirmation sensor S2 is, for example, a reflective optical sensor. In this embodiment, a reflector is attached to the electric door 81 in an area irradiated with light emitted by each opening / closing confirmation sensor S2. The open / close confirmation sensor S2 emits light toward the electric door 81, receives the light reflected from the reflector, and detects whether the electric door 81 is open or closed based on the intensity of the received light.

[0029] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the seating confirmation sensor S4. The seating confirmation sensor S4 is installed at the insertion opening 8, and when the trolley 1 is at a predetermined position relative to the insertion opening 8, the sensor operating unit S1 of the trolley 1 activates the seating confirmation sensor S4. In this embodiment, the predetermined position of the trolley 1 is the position where the front end of the trolley 1 hits the partition wall 95 or the like around the insertion opening 8. The sensor operating unit S1 activates the seating confirmation sensor S4, which causes the electric door 81 of the insertion opening 8 to open. In this embodiment, a pair of seating confirmation sensors S4 are provided at the insertion opening 8 corresponding to the pair of sensor operating units S1 of the trolley 1, and the pair of sensor operating units S1 activate the pair of seating confirmation sensors S4, respectively, which causes the electric door 81 to open.

[0030] The seating confirmation sensor S4 includes a miniature slider 82 made of a ferromagnetic material such as iron that is held slidably, a spring 83 that biases the miniature slider 82 away from the sensor actuation unit S1, and a dog 84 that moves integrally with the miniature slider 82 and tilts upward toward the side away from the sensor actuation unit S1. The seating confirmation sensor S4 also includes an actuator 86 that includes a roller 85 that contacts the dog 84 and whose movement is restricted in the vertical direction (Z direction), and a switch 87 that detects upward movement of the actuator 86 exceeding a specified amount.

[0031] When the cart 1 stops at a specified position, the magnetic force of the sensor operating unit S1 of the cart 1 attracts the miniature slider 82 toward the sensor operating unit S1, and eventually the dog 84 as well. As a result, the roller 85 moves along the dog 84, the actuator 86 moves upward, and the switch 87 switches from off to on. When the switch 87 is turned on, the electric door 81 opens. When the cart 1 moves away from the insertion slot 8 with the electric door 81 open, the attractive force of the sensor operating unit S1 on the miniature slider 82 disappears, and the miniature slider 82 moves to its initial position under the biasing force of the spring 83. At this time, the roller 85 moves downward along the dog 84, and the switch 87 switches from on to off. When both of the pair of switches 87 are turned off, the electric door 81 closes.

[0032] FIG. 6 is a front view showing the structure of the drive shelf 2. As shown in FIG.

[0033] The drive shelf 2 has a pair of circulation drive mechanisms 20 spaced apart in the horizontal direction (Y direction). Each circulation drive mechanism 20 has a roller chain (circulation moving body) RC2 and multiple (five in this embodiment) support units 21 fixed to the roller chain RC2. The multiple support units 21 are arranged at equal intervals around the roller chain RC2. The support unit 21 fixed to one roller chain RC2 and the support unit 21 fixed to the other roller chain RC2 are located in the same horizontal plane, and these support units 21 support the bus box B. By moving the roller chain RC2, the support unit 21 can be moved from the upper position P1 to the lower position P3. Each roller chain RC2 has an outgoing path that moves the support unit 21 downward in an open support position that supports the bus box B, and a returning path that moves the support unit 21 upward in a closed position.

[0034] The driving shelf 2 synchronously drives a pair of roller chains RC2, thereby moving a pair of support units 21 supporting the bus boxes B in the order of upper position P1, middle position P2, and lower position P3. The driving shelf 2 can hold bus boxes B in multiple tiers by stopping the driving of the pair of roller chains RC2 and stopping the pair of support units 21 supporting the bus boxes B at different positions P1 and P2.

[0035] The slide guide 4 is located above the lower position P3 and between a pair of support units 21 that support the bus box B. As a result, when the pair of support units 21 that support the bus box B descend from the middle position P2 to the lower position P3, the bus box B is transferred from the pair of support units 21 to the slide guide 4. Each level (upper, middle, and lower levels) of the drive shelf 2 is provided with a container confirmation sensor S3, such as an optical type, that detects the presence or absence of a bus box B. The structure of the drive shelf 2 will be described in detail below.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 3, one set of roller chains RC2 is provided on each of the left and right sides of the bogie 1. The one set of roller chains RC2 is arranged spaced apart in the front-to-rear direction (X direction), which is perpendicular to the plane of the paper in FIG. 6. The one set of roller chains RC2 is looped around driven pulleys 221 and 222 arranged on the upper and lower parts of the driving shelf 2, respectively, and is arranged in an orientation along the up-down direction (Z direction). The lower driven pulley 222 and a driving gear 223 coaxial with the driven pulley 222 are located below the slide guide 4, and their shafts are rotatably held by the frame 74 (FIG. 3) of the bogie 1. A guide 23 is provided between the roller chain RC2 and the exterior sheath 73.

[0037] A roller chain RC1 is disposed below the slide guide 4 in a lateral orientation. The roller chain RC1 is wound around a drive pulley 224 disposed on the left side of FIG. 6 and a driven pulley 225 disposed on the right side of FIG. 6. The drive pulley 224 is rotatable together with a drive gear 226, which is connected to a motor M1. The drive gear 226 meshes with a transmission gear 227, which meshes with a drive gear 223 disposed on the left side of FIG. 6. The driven pulley 225 is rotatable together with a transmission gear 228, which meshes with a drive gear 223 disposed on the right side of FIG. 6. The transmission gears 227, 228 are cantilevered by support members 2271, 2281 (FIG. 3).

[0038] The driving force of the motor M1 is transmitted to the roller chain RC2 on the left side of Fig. 6 via a driving gear 226, a transmission gear 227, a driving gear 223, and a driven pulley 222. The driving force of the motor M1 is transmitted to the roller chain RC2 on the right side of Fig. 6 via a driving gear 226, a driving pulley 224, the roller chain RC1, a driven pulley 225, a transmission gear 228, a driving gear 223, and a driven pulley 222, and is driven in synchronization with the roller chain RC2 on the left side of Fig. 6.

[0039] Fig. 7(A) is an enlarged plan view of the support unit 21 in the support posture in the circulation drive mechanism 20 on the right side of Fig. 6, and Fig. 7(B) is a side view of the support unit 21. Note that Fig. 7(A) also shows one set of roller chains RC2, but Fig. 7(B) omits the roller chain RC2.

[0040] The support unit 21 includes a fixed plate 211, a rotating plate 212, and a spring-loaded hinge 213. The fixed plate 211 is a plate-shaped member that extends vertically, and is fixed to a set of roller chains RC2. A plate-shaped mounting portion 2111 that is perpendicular to the fixed plate 211 is provided at the lower end of the fixed plate 211, at the center of the fixed plate 211 in the front-to-rear direction (X direction). In addition, stoppers 2112 that are perpendicular to the fixed plate 211 are provided at the lower end of the fixed plate 211, at both ends of the fixed plate 211 in the front-to-rear direction (X direction).

[0041] The rotating plate 212 is a plate-shaped member that is long in the front-to-rear direction (X direction) and supports part of the bottom of the bass box B (one end of the bass box B in the left-to-right direction (Y direction)). The rotating plate 212 is formed with a pair of anti-slip portions 2121 with a gap in the front-to-rear direction (X direction) to support the bottom of the bass box B without slipping. A support plate 2122 is provided on the underside of the rotating plate 212, and two rollers 2123 are rotatably held on the support plate 2122. The rollers 2123 may be omitted.

[0042] The spring hinge 213 has a rotation axis 2131 extending in the front-rear direction (X direction), with an area located on one side of the rotation axis 2131 attached to the bottom surface of the attachment portion 2111, and an area located on the other side of the rotation axis 2131 attached to the bottom surface of the rotating plate 212. In this way, the spring hinge 213 connects the rotating plate 212 and the fixed plate 211, and the rotating plate 212 is rotatable relative to the fixed plate 211. The spring hinge 213 biases the rotating plate 212 in a direction away from the fixed plate 211 by a spring (not shown), but the orientation of the rotating plate 212 relative to the fixed plate 211 is maintained by a part of the support plate 2122 abutting against the bottom surface of the stopper 2112.

[0043] FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the opening and closing operation of the support unit 21 by the action of the guide 23.

[0044] The guide 23 includes a position change portion 231, a vertical portion 232, and an upper curved portion 233. The position change portion 231 forms an entry path for the support unit 21 below the roller chain RC2, and the distance between the roller chain RC2 and the position change portion 231 becomes narrower as it moves downward. When the roller chain RC2 moves in the direction of arrow D1 shown in FIG. 8, the rollers 2123 of the support unit 21 move while contacting the position change portion 231, causing the rotating plate 212 to rotate in a direction approaching the fixed plate 211 (arrow D2 shown in FIG. 8). This changes the support unit 21 from an open state to a closed state.

[0045] The vertical portion 232 extends along the roller chain RC2 from the bottom to the top of the roller chain RC2, and is separated from the roller chain RC2 by a distance that maintains the support unit 21 in a closed state. In other words, when the support unit 21 moves along the vertical portion 232, all of the rollers 2123 of the support unit 21 rotate along the vertical portion 232, and the support unit 21 is maintained in a closed state between the roller chain RC2 and the vertical portion 232. The vertical portion 232 guides the support unit 21 in a closed state up to the top of the roller chain RC2.

[0046] The upper curved portion 233 curves along the upper portion of the roller chain RC2. While the support unit 21 moves along the upper curved portion 233, the roller 2123 of the support unit 21 is in contact with the upper curved portion 233, and the support unit 21 is maintained in a closed state. When the support unit 21 passes through the upper curved portion 233, the rotating plate 212 rotates in a direction away from the fixed plate 211 due to the biasing force of the spring of the spring-loaded hinge 213, and the support unit 21 changes from a closed state to an open state (arrow D3 shown in FIG. 8 ). Here, as described above, a part of the support plate 2122 comes into contact with the stopper 2112, and the support unit 21 is maintained in an open state.

[0047] FIG. 9 is a plan view of the slide guide 4 and the push-out unit 5. As shown in FIG.

[0048] The slide guides 4 are a pair, are L-shaped in cross section (see FIG. 10), and are separated in the left-right direction (up-down direction in FIG. 9) of the carriage 1. The slide guide 4 is located on the front side of the carriage 1 (right side in FIG. 9), extends in the front-rear direction (left-right direction in FIG. 9), and extends to the front end of the exterior casing 73 (right end in FIG. 9).

[0049] The push-out unit 5 includes a linear guide 51, a slider 52, a drive unit 53, and a push-out unit 54. There are a pair of linear guides 51, and they are located inside the pair of slide guides 4 in the left-right direction of the carriage 1 (the up-down direction in FIG. 9). The linear guides 51 extend in the front-rear direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 9) up to the vicinity of the front and rear ends (the left and right ends in FIG. 9) of the exterior casing 73. The slider 52 is guided in the front-rear direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 9) by the linear guides 51. Both ends of the slider 52 in the Y direction are engaged with the upper ends of the linear guides 51. The slider 52 is driven from a home position (the position shown in FIG. 9) on the rear end side of the linear guides 51 to the front end of the linear guides 51.

[0050] The driving unit 53 includes a roller chain RC3 that drives the slider 52 in the front-rear direction (X direction) of the carriage 1, and the slider 52 is fixed to a part of the roller chain RC3. The roller chain RC3 is arranged along the front-rear direction (X direction) up to the vicinity of the front and rear ends of the exterior 73.

[0051] The push-out section 54 extends forward from the slider 52, is a section that abuts against the bus box B, and runs on the slide guide 4. The push-out section 54 includes a push-out section main body 541 that is a long plate in the left-right direction (top-bottom in FIG. 9), running rollers 542 that are located at both left and right ends of the push-out section main body 541 and run on the slide guide 4, and a connecting bar 543 that connects the slider 52 and the push-out section main body 541.

[0052] FIG. 10 is a front view of the extrusion unit 5. As shown in FIG.

[0053] The drive unit 53 includes a motor M2 that drives a roller chain RC3. Here, the slide guide 4 and the linear guide 51 are attached to the frame 74 of the carriage 1 by brackets (not shown), and are installed in a position above the bottom surface of the exterior 73. The roller chain RC3 and the motor M2 are installed below the slide guide 4 and the linear guide 51. The roller chain RC3 is looped around a plurality of tension gears 531, and is positioned so as not to interfere with the roller chain RC1 that extends in the left-right direction (Y direction) of the drive shelf 2 (see FIG. 12).

[0054] FIG. 11 is a plan view showing the state after the extrusion unit 5 has been operated.

[0055] By driving the roller chain RC3 with the motor M2, the slider 52 can be moved to the front end (the right end in FIG. 11) on the linear guide 51. By driving the motor M2 in the reverse direction, the slider 52 can be returned to the home position (the position shown in FIG. 9).

[0056] The process of transferring the bus box B onto the tray removal conveyor 94 by the processor 782 will be described below.

[0057] When collecting tableware, bus boxes B are stored on all levels of the fixed shelf 3 of the cart 1, and all levels of the movable shelf 2 are left empty. Referring to Figure 1, the waiter holds the handle 72 of the cart 1 and pushes the cart 1 with the movable shelf 2 facing forward, going around to the tables 93 of customers who have finished their meals. The waiter collects the tableware from the tables 93 and places them in bus box B on the upper level of the fixed shelf 3. When bus box B is full of tableware, the waiter moves this bus box B to the upper level position P1 of the movable shelf 2 at the front of the cart 1. Alternatively, an empty bus box B may be placed in the upper level position P1 of the movable shelf 2, and the collected tableware may be placed in this bus box B.

[0058] Here, as shown in FIG. 6, the processor 782 of the cart 1 monitors the presence or absence of a bus box B on each level of the movable shelf 2 using the container confirmation sensor S3. When the processor 782 detects that a bus box B is stored on the upper level of the movable shelf 2, it drives the motor M1 to move the pair of support units 21 supporting the bus box B downward. When the bus box B is moved from the upper level position P1 to the middle level position P2, the upper level position P1 becomes vacant, and another bus box B containing eating utensils can be placed at this upper level position P1. This allows the collection of eating utensils to continue. After the bus box B at the upper level position P1 is filled with eating utensils, as described above, the motor M1 is driven to move the pair of support units 21 supporting the bus box B downward.

[0059] In the above description, the bass box B is moved to a lower level each time it is placed at the upper level position P1, but this is not limited to this. For example, when a bass box B is placed at the upper level position P1, if a bass box B is not placed at the middle level position P2 or on the slide guide 4, the bass box B can be moved from the upper level position P1 to the slide guide 4 by driving the motor M1.

[0060] When the bus boxes B containing the eating utensils are placed on all the stages of the drive shelf 2, the store clerk pushes the cart 1 along the aisle P and moves the cart 1 to a specified position close to the insertion opening 8.

[0061] 12 is a side view that shows a state in which the carriage 1 transfers the bus box B onto the tray lowering conveyor 94. As shown in FIG. 12, the heights of the slide guide 4, the bottom surface of the insertion port 8, and the conveying surface of the tray lowering conveyor 94 are all roughly the same.

[0062] When the cart 1 is positioned at a specified position close to the insertion opening 8, a pair of sensor actuation units S1 installed on the cart 1 actuates a pair of seating confirmation sensors S4 installed at the insertion opening 8. Activating the pair of seating confirmation sensors S4 opens the electric door 81. Note that in this embodiment, a pair of seating confirmation sensors S4 and a pair of sensor actuation units S1 are used, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, it is also possible to use only one seating confirmation sensor S4 and one sensor actuation unit S1.

[0063] When the processor 782 detects via the pair of open / close confirmation sensors S2 that the electric door 81 is open, it causes the push-out unit 5 to push the bus box B on the slide guide 4 onto the tray removal conveyor 94 at the back of the input port 8. Specifically, the processor 782 drives the motor M2 to move the roller chain RC3 in the direction of arrow D4 in FIG. 12, thereby moving the slider 52 from the home position (the position shown in FIG. 9) to the front end of the cart 1 (the position shown in FIG. 11). At the home position, the slider 52 and the push-out unit 54 are located below the fixed shelf 3. When the slider 52 is in the home position, the push-out unit main body 541 connected to the slider 52 by the connecting bar 543 is located on the slide guide 4 and immediately behind the rear end of the bus box B.

[0064] The push-out unit main body 541 travels forward on the slide guide 4 while being pushed by the slider 52, and hits the rear end of the bus box B, pushing the bus box B forward. When the slider 52 moves to the front end of the carriage 1, the push-out unit main body 541 can be positioned in front of the carriage 1 by an amount corresponding to the connecting bar 543. Therefore, the push-out unit main body 541 can push the bus box B on the slide guide 4 from the opening 734 (FIG. 4) to the front of the carriage 1, and further beyond the feed opening 8 to the tray removal conveyor 94.

[0065] As described above, the processor 782 moves the slider 52 to the front end of the carriage 1, and once the bus box B has been transferred to the lowering tray conveyor 94, it reverses the rotation of the motor M2 to return the slider 52 to the home position. Then, if the bus box B is at the middle position P2 or the upper position P1 of the drive shelf 2, the processor 782 drives the motor M1 to move the bus box B onto the slide guide 4. Thereafter, the slider 52 can be moved as described above to push the bus box B out to the lowering tray conveyor 94.

[0066] In this embodiment, the store clerk simply pushes the cart 1 and stops it at a specified position close to the input opening 8, and the electric door 81 automatically opens, and all of the bus boxes B loaded on the cart 1 are sequentially transferred from the cart 1 to the tray removal conveyor 94. After all of the bus boxes B have been transferred from the cart 1, the store clerk moves the cart 1 away from the input opening 8, and the electric door 81 automatically closes. Therefore, in this embodiment, the burden on the store clerk associated with the work of transferring the bus boxes B to the tray removal conveyor 94 can be significantly reduced.

[0067] In this embodiment, roller chains RC1 to RC3 are used, but the present invention is not limited to this, and an endless member that moves in a circular motion (circulating body) can be used. For example, an endless belt can be used as the circulating body.

[0068] The cart 1 may also be configured to move by itself to a specified position close to the insertion port 8, and then automatically move away from the insertion port 8 after the bus box B to be loaded onto the movable shelf 2 has been transferred. Furthermore, the cart 1 may move by itself around each table 93, and eating utensils may be placed in the bus box B placed on the cart 1 by a customer or store clerk. The lowering operation of the bus box B on the movable shelf 2 may be performed manually by operating a button or the like, without using the container confirmation sensor S3. [Explanation of symbols]

[0069] 1: Cart, 2: Drive shelf, 3: Fixed shelf, 4: Slide guide (receiving part), 5: Push-out unit, 8: Inlet, 21: Support unit, 52: Slider, 53: Drive unit, 54: Push-out unit, 81: Electric door (door), 82-86: (Conversion mechanism), 87: Switch, 211: Fixed plate, 212: Rotating plate, 2123: Roller, B: Bus box (container), RC2: Roller chain (circulating moving body), S1: Sensor operating part (suction part), S2: Open / close confirmation sensor (sensor)

Claims

1. A cart for transporting containers containing used eating utensils, a drive shelf having a pair of endless circulating bodies arranged at positions spaced apart in a horizontal direction, and a pair of support units respectively provided on the pair of circulating bodies for supporting the containers, and which lowers the containers while supporting them with the pair of support units in accordance with the movement of the circulating bodies; a receiving portion disposed between the pair of circulating bodies and configured to receive the lowered container from the pair of support units; a push-out unit that pushes out the container placed on the receiving section in a direction perpendicular to the downward direction of the container, and moves the container to the outside of the receiving section; A bogie characterized by comprising:

2. The cart according to claim 1 , wherein the pair of support units are capable of supporting the container at each of a plurality of positions in the vertical direction.

3. the support unit has a fixed plate fixed to the circulating body and a rotating plate rotatably attached to the fixed plate, When the support unit moves in a region where the container is supported, the rotating plate rotates in a direction away from the fixed plate to support the container; 2. The dolly according to claim 1, wherein when the support unit moves in an area where the container is not supported, the rotating plate rotates to a position where it overlaps with the fixed plate by contacting a guide.

4. 4. The truck according to claim 3, wherein the rotary plate is provided with rollers that rotate along the guide.

5. The extrusion unit comprises: a linear guide extending in the extrusion direction of the container; a slider that moves along the linear guide; a drive unit that drives the slider; 2. The dolly according to claim 1, further comprising: a push-out portion that moves together with the slider and contacts the container.

6. a fixed shelf disposed adjacent to the drive shelf and configured to accommodate empty containers; 6. The dolly according to claim 5, wherein the slider and the pushing portion are located below the fixed shelf when the pushing unit is in a position before pushing out the container.

7. an inlet into which the container extruded by the extrusion unit is introduced, the inlet being provided with a door for opening and closing the inlet, a switch for operating the door from a closed state to an open state, and a conversion mechanism for converting the linear movement of a slider into a movement that activates the switch; 2. The carriage according to claim 1, further comprising an adsorption portion that adsorbs the slider and causes it to move linearly.

8. a sensor that detects the open / closed state of the door by emitting detection light to the door and receiving the detection light reflected by the door; 8. The cart according to claim 7, wherein the push-out unit is driven when the door is in the open state.

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