Dish / tray inversion separation device, dish / tray inversion separation method, and dishwashing system

Abstract

To provide a flip separation device, a flip separation method, and a tableware washing system that can reliably carry out a tray and tableware placed on the tray in a flipped posture.SOLUTION: A tableware / tray flip separation device includes: a tray holder 14 that holds a tray 2 on which tableware 3 is placed from below, a carry-out conveyor 15 located above the tray holder when the tray holder holds the tray on which tableware is placed; a storage space 13 formed between the tray holder and the carry-out conveyor; and a rotating drum 20 that flips the tray stored in the storage space and the tableware placed on the tray in a vertical direction by rotating them together with the tray holder and the carry-out conveyor. The tray holder and the carry-out conveyor are rotated by the rotating drum, and the tableware / tray are flipped vertically, and after the tableware is separated from the tray, the carry-out conveyor is driven to carry out the tableware separated from the tray from the storage space, and then the tray is carried out.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a dish / tray inverting and separating device, a dish / tray inverting and separating method, and a dishwashing system for washing trays and dishes placed on the trays. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, dishwashing systems have known dish and dish tray inverting devices (hereinafter referred to as inverting and separating devices) that invert trays and dishes placed on them into a face-down position suitable for washing and separate them (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This inverting and separating device comprises a rotor that rotates around a rotation axis, and storage spaces for storing trays and dishes placed on the trays are arranged radially. The trays and dishes placed on the trays are inserted one after another into these storage spaces, and the rotor is rotated to invert and separate the trays and dishes placed on the trays. After inverting and separating, the tray is removed from the storage spaces by bringing the portion of the tray that protrudes a predetermined length from the rotor into contact with a downstream conveyor. After the tray is removed, the rotor continues to rotate, and the dishes slide down under their own weight, leaving the storage spaces and being placed on a downstream conveyor for removal. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-182658 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the reversing separator disclosed in Patent Document 1, trays stored in a storage space and reversed are conveyed out by contacting a conveyor with the portion of the tray that protrudes a predetermined length from the storage space, so if the conveyor slips, the tray cannot be conveyed out. In that case, there is a risk that the tray will get caught on the conveyor, causing the rotating body to stop and the device itself to stop.

[0005] In addition, there is a risk that the dishes being transported by their own weight will become stuck in the storage space due to dirt adhering to the dishes, preventing the dishes from being transported. Furthermore, if there is a large amount of dirt that has gotten in between the dishes and the tray, the dirt may become stuck and adhere the dishes to the tray. In this case, when the inverted tray is transported out of the rotating body, the dishes stuck to the tray will be transported out along with the tray, hindering the process of separating the dishes from the tray.

[0006] Furthermore, there are various types of tableware (shapes, materials, etc.), and the timing and speed at which they begin to slide down under their own weight vary. Furthermore, the dirt adhering to tableware, such as leftovers, also varies, and the coefficient of friction changes depending on the dirt, which causes the tableware to slide down differently. When these dishes are placed on a tray, turned over, separated, and then removed from the storage space, they slide down under their own weight, but the way they slide down varies.

[0007] The inverting and separating device shown in Patent Document 1 is equipped with a pusher for pushing inverted dishes out of the storage space. However, when the pusher pushes the dishes out, multiple dishes push against each other in the storage space, preventing the dishes from sliding down smoothly and potentially resulting in the dishes not being removed. Furthermore, if the device is designed so that the dishes slide down under their own weight without a pusher, the downward inclination angle (discharge angle) required for the dishes to slide down from the storage space under their own weight varies depending on the type of dish, and some dishes will only fall at a steep angle. If the dishes slide down at such a steep angle, they may not be able to maintain a face-down position suitable for washing during removal.

[0008] The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems and to provide a dish / tray inverting and separating device, a dish / tray inverting and separating method, and a dishwashing system that can reliably transport trays and dishes placed on them in an inverted position. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to achieve the above object, the tableware / tray inverting and separating device of the present invention is a tableware / tray inverting and separating device that inverts a tray and tableware placed on the tray to separate the tableware from the tray, comprising: a tray holder that holds the tray on which the tableware is placed from at least below; a carry-out conveyor positioned above the tray holding unit when the tray holding unit holds a tray on which dishes are placed; a storage space formed between the tray holder and the carry-out conveyor; a rotation mechanism that rotates the trays stored in the storage space and the tableware placed on the trays together with the tray holder and the carry-out conveyor, thereby inverting them upside down; The rotating mechanism rotates the tray holding section and the discharge conveyor, inverting the tray and the tableware placed on the tray upside down, and after the tableware is separated from the tray, the discharge conveyor is driven to discharge the tableware separated from the tray in the storage space in an upside down state from the storage space, and then the tray is discharged.

[0010] The dishwashing system according to the present invention comprises the dish / tray inverting and separating device, a lid separating and conveying unit that separates the lids placed on the dishes placed on the tray from the dishes and conveys the separated lids to the lid washing device, The lid separation and transport section separates the lids placed on the dishes, transports the separated lids to the lid washing device, and stores the trays and the dishes placed on the trays in a storage space.

[0011] The present invention also provides a method for inverting and separating tableware and trays, which involves inverting a tray and tableware placed on the tray to separate the tableware from the tray, comprising the steps of: a storing step of storing the tray and the tableware placed on the tray in a storage space; an inversion / separation step of rotating the storage space after the storing step to invert the upside-down direction thereof, thereby inverting the tray stored in the storage space by the storing step and the tableware placed on the tray, and separating the tableware from the tray; a dish carrying-out step of carrying out the dishware separated from the tray by being inverted in the reversing and separating step from the storage space by driving a carrying-out conveyor that forms the storage space after the reversing and separating step; The method is characterized in that after the dish carrying-out step, it includes a tray carrying-out step of inverting the tray stored in the storage space upside down and carrying it out. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the dish / tray inverting and separating device, dish / tray inverting and separating method, and dishwashing system of the present invention, trays and dishes placed on the trays can be reliably removed in an inverted position. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is an overall block diagram of a dishwashing system equipped with an inverting separating device according to one embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tableware / tray carry-in side (hereinafter referred to as the carry-in side) of the inverting and separating device, as seen from one side. [Figure 3] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the loading side of the reversing and separating device as seen from the other side. [Figure 4] 4 is a perspective view of the tableware / tray discharge side (hereinafter referred to as the discharge side) of the inverting and separating device, seen from the other side. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the discharge side of the reversing and separating device as viewed from one side. [Figure 6] 3 is a perspective view of the reversing and separating device shown in FIG. 2, with a portion of the configuration thereof omitted. [Figure 7] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the reversing and separating device shown in FIG. 5, with a portion of the configuration thereof omitted. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a front view of the reversing and separating device with a portion of the configuration thereof omitted. [Figure 9] FIG. 4 is a front projection view of the storage space of the reversing separation device. [Figure 10] 4A and 4B are front views of the storage space of the inverting and separating device, in which FIG. 4A shows the storage space before dishes and trays are stored, and FIG. 4B shows the storage space after dishes and trays are stored. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a side view, with some of the configuration omitted, showing the state of the rotating drum of the inverting and separating device when the drum rotation angle is 0 degrees and no dishes or trays have been introduced. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a side view, with some of the configuration omitted, showing the state in which dishes and trays have been loaded into the rotating drum of the inverting and separating device when the drum rotation angle is 0 degrees. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a side view of the inverting and separating device, with some of the configuration omitted, showing the state when the drum rotation angle of the rotating drum is 90 degrees. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a side view, with some of the configuration omitted, showing the state when the rotating drum of the inverting and separating device has a drum rotation angle of 180 degrees and dishes and trays have not yet been transported. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a side view with some of the configuration omitted, showing the state in which tableware is being transported from the rotating drum of the inverting and separating device at a drum rotation angle of 180 degrees. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a side view of the reversing and separating device with a partial configuration omitted, showing a state in which the rotating drum of the reversing and separating device rotates at a drum rotation angle of 200 degrees and the tray has not yet been transported. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a side view, with some components omitted, showing the state in which the rotating drum of the reversing and separating device is rotating at a drum rotation angle of 200 degrees and the tray is being transported out. [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is a side view of the reversing and separating device, with some of the components omitted, showing a state in which the rotating drum of the reversing and separating device has rotated at a drum rotation angle of 200 degrees and the tray has been transported out. [Figure 19] FIG. 12 is a perspective view in which a part of the configuration of FIG. 11 is omitted. [Figure 20] FIG. 13 is a perspective view in which a part of the configuration of FIG. 12 is omitted. [Figure 21] FIG. 14 is a perspective view in which a part of the configuration of FIG. 13 is omitted. [Figure 22] FIG. 15 is a perspective view in which a part of the configuration of FIG. 14 is omitted. [Figure 23] FIG. 16 is a perspective view in which a part of the configuration of FIG. 15 is omitted. [Figure 24]FIG. 17 is a perspective view in which a part of the configuration of FIG. 16 is omitted. [Figure 25] FIG. 18 is a perspective view in which a part of the configuration of FIG. 17 is omitted. [Figure 26] FIG. 19 is a perspective view in which a part of the configuration of FIG. 18 is omitted. [Figure 27] 4(a) to 4(d) are schematic cross-sectional side views showing the operation of the soaking water supply unit of the dishwashing system in time sequence. [Figure 28] 2 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of a dishwashing device of the dishwashing system. FIG. [Figure 29] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the lid removal device of the dishwashing system as viewed from one side of the loading side. [Figure 30] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the lid removal device of the dishwashing system as seen from the other side of the loading side. [Figure 31] This is a step diagram of the method for inverting and separating dishes and trays using the above-mentioned dishwashing system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The first invention is A dish / tray inverting and separating device that inverts a tray and dishes placed on the tray to separate the dishes from the tray, a tray holder that holds the tray on which the tableware is placed from at least below; a carry-out conveyor positioned above the tray holding unit when the tray holding unit holds a tray on which dishes are placed; a storage space formed between the tray holder and the carry-out conveyor; a rotation mechanism that rotates the trays stored in the storage space and the tableware placed on the trays together with the tray holder and the carry-out conveyor, thereby inverting them upside down; This is a tableware / tray inversion and separation device characterized in that the rotation mechanism rotates the tray holding section and the discharge conveyor to invert the tray and the tableware placed on the tray upside down, and after the tableware is separated from the tray, the discharge conveyor is driven to transport the tableware separated from the tray in the storage space out of the storage space in an upside down state, and then the tray is transported out.

[0015] According to this dish / tray inverting and separating device, the tray and the dishes placed on the tray can be carried out in a reliably inverted state.

[0016] The second invention is the first invention, The rotation mechanism includes a rotating drum having a plurality of tray holders and a plurality of discharge conveyors arranged radially around a rotation axis to form a plurality of storage spaces; This is a dish / tray inversion and separation device characterized by storing trays and dishes placed on them in one of the multiple storage spaces, rotating the rotating drum a predetermined angle, and storing new trays and dishes placed on them in a storage space other than one of the multiple storage spaces.

[0017] As a result, since there are multiple storage spaces, multiple trays and the tableware placed on the trays can be stored consecutively in the storage spaces, making it easy to invert and separate the trays.

[0018] The third invention is the first or second invention, The rotation mechanism is a tableware / tray inversion and separation device characterized by having a tray discharge mechanism that uses an output conveyor to discharge upside-down tableware from the storage space, and then rotates the rotating drum to discharge upside-down trays stored in the storage space under their own weight.

[0019] This allows the tray to be carried out in an inverted state by its own weight after the dishes have been carried out.

[0020] The fourth invention is any one of the first to third inventions, Further provided is an immersion water supply unit that supplies immersion water to the tray and the tableware placed on the tray, This is a dish / tray inversion separation device characterized in that the immersion water supply unit supplies immersion water to the tray and the dishes placed on the tray, stores the immersion water in the tray and the dishes placed on the tray for immersion cleaning, and then stores the tray and the dishes placed on the tray in a storage space.

[0021] This allows the tray to be immersed in the wash, making it easier to separate the dishes from the tray and ensuring that the dishes can be separated from the tray.

[0022] The fifth invention is Any one of the first to fourth dish / tray inverting and separating devices; a lid separating and conveying unit that separates the lids placed on the dishes placed on the tray from the dishes and conveys the separated lids to the lid washing device, This dishwashing system is characterized in that the lid separation and transport unit separates the lids placed on the dishes, transports the separated lids to the lid washing device, and stores the trays and the dishes placed on the trays in a storage space.

[0023] This allows the lid to be separated from the dish first, making it possible to realize a dishwashing system that can also be used with dishes with lids.

[0024] The sixth invention is A method for separating tableware and trays by inverting a tray and tableware placed on the tray to separate the tableware from the tray, a storing step of storing the tray and the tableware placed on the tray in a storage space; an inversion / separation step of rotating the storage space after the storing step to invert the upside-down direction thereof, thereby inverting the tray stored in the storage space by the storing step and the tableware placed on the tray, and separating the tableware from the tray; a dish carrying-out step of carrying out the dishware separated from the tray by inverting the dishware in the reversing and separating step from the storage space by driving a carrying-out conveyor that forms the storage space after the reversing and separating step; This is a method for inverting and separating tableware and trays, characterized in that after the tableware removal step, it includes a tray removal step of inverting the trays upside down and removing the trays stored in the storage space.

[0025] According to this method for inverting and separating tableware and trays, the trays and the tableware placed on the trays can be carried out in a reliably inverted state.

[0026] A seventh aspect of the present invention is the sixth aspect of the present invention, This is a method for inverting and separating tableware and trays, characterized by rotating a rotating drum having multiple storage spaces, and sequentially performing a storage step, an inverting and separating step, a tableware transport step, and a tray transport step within the multiple storage spaces.

[0027] As a result, since there are multiple storage spaces, multiple trays and the tableware placed on the trays can be stored consecutively in the storage spaces, making it easy to invert and separate the trays.

[0028] The eighth invention is the sixth or seventh invention, The tray removal step is a method for inverting and separating tableware and trays, characterized in that the storage space is further rotated after the tableware removal step, thereby removing the trays that have been inverted within the storage space by their own weight from the storage space.

[0029] This allows the tray to be carried out in an inverted state under its own weight after the tableware has been carried out.

[0030] A ninth aspect of the present invention is any one of the sixth to eighth aspects of the present invention, The method includes an immersion washing step of supplying immersion water to the tray and the tableware placed on the tray, storing the water, and immersing and washing the tray and the tableware placed on the tray, This is a method for inverting and separating tableware and trays, characterized in that a storing step is carried out after the immersion cleaning step.

[0031] This allows the tray to be immersed in the wash, making it easier to separate the dishes from the tray and ensuring that the dishes can be separated from the tray.

[0032] A tenth aspect of the present invention is any one of the sixth to ninth aspects of the present invention, This is a method for inverting and separating dishes and trays, characterized by performing a lid separation and transport step in which lids placed on dishes placed on a tray are separated from the dishes and the separated lids are transported to a lid washing device, followed by a storage step.

[0033] This allows the lid to be separated from the dishes first, so the dishes and tray can be inverted and separated even when the dishes have lids.

[0034] (Embodiment 1) (Dishwashing system) Hereinafter, a dishwashing system using a dish / tray inverting and separating device and method according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, the overall configuration of a dishwashing system 100 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 1.

[0035] The dishwashing system 100 immerses and washes the trays 2 and the dishes 3 placed on them (also referred to as dish trays for short), then inverts the trays to separate the dishes 3 from the trays 2, and then washes the trays 2 and dishes 3 and organizes them in baskets or similar. The dishes and trays brought in consist of multiple dishes that have been used for meals and then cleared. Arrow A in the figure indicates the direction in which the dishes and trays are transported (carrying in and out).

[0036] The dishwashing system 100 has an inlet section 7 for carrying in trays 2 carrying dishes 3, and is equipped with an inverting and separating device 1 that inverts the carried-in dishes / trays to separate the dishes 3 from the trays 2. The inverting and separating device 1 is equipped with a dish discharge section 11 for discharging the dishes 3 after inverting and separating, and a drawer-type tray discharge section (tray collection section) 12 for discharging the trays 2 after inverting and separating in the direction of arrow B shown in the figure.

[0037] As a pre-process of the inverting and separating device 1, there is provided a lid removing device (lid separating and conveying section) 6 which removes and separates the lids 3a covering the dishes 3 from the dishes 3, and an immersion device (immersion water supply section) 4 which supplies and stores immersion water into the dishes 3 and the tray 2 on which the dishes 3 are placed to perform immersion cleaning. The immersion device 4 moistens dirt adhering to the dishes 3 and the tray 2 by immersion cleaning.

[0038] This makes it easier to separate the dishes 3 from the trays 2 in the subsequent inverting separation device 1, and also makes it possible to more effectively perform dish washing, which removes dirt adhering to the dishes 3 in the dish washing device 5A, and tray washing, which removes dirt adhering to the trays 2 in the tray washing device 5C (not shown).

[0039] A washing device 5 is provided to wash the dishes 3, trays 2, and lids 3a as a post-process of the inverting and separating device 1. The washing device 5 is composed of a dishwashing device 5A that washes the inverted and separated dishes 3 in an inverted state, a lid washing device 5B that is installed in parallel with the dishwashing device 5A and washes the lids 3a that have been separated from the dishes 3, and a tray washing device 5C that washes the trays 2 from which the dishes 3 have been separated.

[0040] Downstream of the dishwashing machine 5A and the lid washing machine 5B is a discharge section 70 that discharges the washed dishes 3 and lids 3a. The discharge section 70 is made up of a sixth transport conveyor 76, a sorting robot 8 that collects and organizes the conveyed dishes 3 and lids 3a, a dish recovery container 9 that stores the dishes 3, and a lid recovery container 10 that recovers the lids 3a.

[0041] Dishwashing system 100 includes a control unit 101 that electrically controls each device in the system, and an operation unit 102 that has switches, lamps, etc. and sends signals to perform control by control unit 101. Dishwashing system 100 also includes first to sixth transport conveyors 71 to 76 that transport trays 2, dishes 3, and lids 3a.

[0042] The dishwashing system 100 may have multiple lanes aligned perpendicular to the conveying direction and controlled in coordination with each other. This increases the number of trays 2 that can be turned over and separated from the trays 2 per unit time, as well as the number of trays 2, dishes 3, and lids 3a that can be washed.

[0043] The first transport conveyor 71 transports the trays 2 carried into the loading section 7 and the dishes 3 placed on the trays 2 to the lid removal device 6. The second transport conveyor 72 transports the lids 3a separated from the dishes 3 by the lid removal device 6 to the lid washing device 5B. The third transport conveyor 73 is located downstream of the lid removal device 6 and transports the trays 2 carrying the dishes 3 whose lids 3a have been removed by the lid removal device 6 through the soaking device 4 and to the fourth transport conveyor 74 within the soaking device 4.

[0044] The fourth transport conveyor 74 is located within the immersion device 4 and raises and lowers the dishes and trays. The fifth transport conveyor 75 is located downstream of the immersion device 4 and transports the dishes and trays after immersion cleaning into the reversing and separating device 1. The sixth transport conveyor 76 is located at the dish discharge section 11 of the reversing and separating device 1 and transports the dishes 3 after reversing and separation to and from the dishwashing device 5A.

[0045] The tray 2, which has been turned over by the turning and separating device 1 and from which the tableware 3 has been separated, is carried out to the tray carrying-out section 12 and is then manually carried into the tray washing device 5C.

[0046] Thus, in the dishwashing system 100, the trays 2 carried into the carry-in section 7 and the dishes 3 placed on the trays 2 are immersion-washed by the immersion device 4, and then inverted and separated by the inverting and separating device 1. After inversion and separation, the dishes 3 are carried upside down from the dish discharge section 11 onto the sixth transport conveyor 76, transported to the dishwashing device 5A, and washed by the dishwashing device 5A. After inversion and separation, the trays 2 are carried upside down to the tray discharge section 12, and manually transported into the tray washing device 5C for washing. The lids 3a are separated from the dishes 3 by the lid removal device 6, and transported by the second transport conveyor 72 to the lid washing device 5B for washing.

[0047] (Loading area) Next, each component of the dishwashing system 100 will be described.

[0048] First, we will explain the loading section 7. As shown in Figures 29 and 30 which show the lid removing device 6, the loading section 7 is located at the upstream end of the first transport conveyor 71, and is the section into which tableware 3 placed on trays 2 by an operator is loaded, and is equipped with a plurality of positioning guides 61 for regulating the loading position of the trays 2. Note that the dipping device 4 is not shown in Figures 29 and 30.

[0049] (lid removal device) Next, a configuration example of the lid removal device 6 will be described with reference to Figures 29 and 30. The lid removal device 6 is a device for picking up the lids 3a placed on the dishes 3 placed on the tray 2, separating the lids 3a from the dishes 3 and transporting the separated lids 3a to the second transport conveyor 72. The lids 3a are then transported to the lid washing device 5B by the second transport conveyor 72. By including the lid removal device 6 in the dishwashing system 100, a system that can also handle dishes 3 with lids 3a can be realized.

[0050] The lid removal device 6 comprises a suction pad 62 that suctions the lid 3a by negative pressure, a holding part 63 having an air cylinder for the suction pad 62, and a driving means 64 consisting of an actuator that drives the holding part 63 in the vertical and horizontal directions. Above the first transport conveyor 71, a position adjustment member 66 having position adjustment rollers 65 for adjusting the position of the tableware 3 on the tray 2 being transported is provided.

[0051] This position adjustment member 66 sorts the tableware 3 on the transported tray 2 into a position where it can be easily adsorbed by the suction pad 62. A slope 67 is provided around the second transport conveyor 72 onto which the lids 3a are dropped. This slope 67 is provided to prevent the lids 3a from falling off the second transport conveyor 72 when they are transported by being adsorbed to the suction pad 62 and then dropped before the negative pressure of the suction pad 62 is released. When the lids 3a fall onto the slope 67, it guides them onto the second transport conveyor 72.

[0052] (lid cleaning device) The lid washing device 5B transports the lids 3a separated from the tableware 3 by the lid removing device 6 in an upside-down state on the second transport conveyor 72 and washes them.

[0053] The lid washing device 5B has substantially the same structure as the dishwashing device 5A shown in Fig. 28 and described below, and is equipped with a tank for storing wash water, a heater for heating the wash water stored in the tank to a predetermined temperature, a pump for sucking in and discharging the wash water stored in the tank, and a nozzle for spraying the wash water discharged by the pump. The nozzle for spraying the wash water may be positioned lower than the nozzles 53a-53c of the dishwashing device 5A to match the lid 3a, which is shorter than the dishes 3.

[0054] (Immersion device) An example of the configuration of the immersion device 4 will be described with reference to Figures 27(a) to (d). The immersion device 4 is located upstream of the inverting and separating device 1 in the direction in which the dishes and trays are carried in, and sprays immersion water from above the trays 2 carrying the dishes 3 being transported on the third transport conveyor 73, supplies and stores the immersion water on the dishes 3 and trays 2, and immerses and washes them while transporting them on the fourth transport conveyor 74, which moves up and down.

[0055] The soaking device 4 comprises a tank 41 that stores soaking water, a pump 42 that sucks in and discharges the soaking water stored in the tank 41, and a nozzle 43 that sprays the soaking water discharged by the pump 42 onto the tableware 3 and trays 2 being transported on the third transport conveyor 73. The tank 41 is provided below the third transport conveyor 73 and the fourth transport conveyor 74, and receives the soaking water that flows down from the end of the tray 2 or is sprayed from the nozzle 43. The soaking water is water in which fine bubbles are dissolved.

[0056] 27 is provided only below the third transport conveyor 73, it may also be extended to be provided below the fourth transport conveyor 74 or the fifth transport conveyor 75. In this way, even if the soaking water stored on the dishes / trays transported by the fourth transport conveyor 74 or the fifth transport conveyor 75 spills, it is collected by the tank 41 and does not wet the floor of the facility where the soaking device 4 is installed, thereby preventing the working environment from becoming worse.

[0057] (Inverter / separator) An example of the configuration of the reversing and separating device 1 will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0058] 2, 3, and 6 are views of the inverting and separating device 1 seen from the diagonally front side of the dish / tray carry-in side. The inverting and separating device 1 inverts the tray 2 carrying the dishes 3, separates the dishes 3 from the tray 2, and then drops the tray 2 by its own weight to carry it out.

[0059] The reversing and separating device 1 comprises a storage space 13 for storing trays 2 to be transported and tableware 3 placed on the trays 2, a tray holding section 14 for holding the trays 2 stored in the storage space 13 from below, an output conveyor 15 located above the tray holding section 14, and a rotation mechanism 16 for rotating the storage space 13 to reverse the trays vertically.

[0060] The storage space 13 is a space for storing trays 2 carrying tableware 3 that have been brought in, and is formed between a tray holding section 14 and a carry-out conveyor 15. Tableware and trays are brought in and out through an opening that serves as the entrance to the storage space 13. Inside the storage space 13, there are provided tray holding rollers (tray carrying-out mechanism) 17 that hold the tray 2 from below when the tray 2 is inverted upside down. These tray holding rollers 17 are the tray carrying-out mechanism that also function as the tray holding section for the inverted tray.

[0061] The tray holders 14 are provided in the storage space 13 and hold both sides of the tray 2 carrying tableware 3 from below in the storage (carry-in) direction, and are made of, for example, a resin material in the form of a rail. The carry-out conveyor 15 is provided facing the storage space 13 of the rotating drum 20 and receives the tableware 3 in an inverted state after it has been separated from the tray 2 which has been turned upside down when the storage space 13 is rotated by the rotation mechanism 16, and carries the tableware 3 out of the storage space 13.

[0062] The rotation mechanism 16 rotates the trays 2 stored in the storage space 13 and the tableware 3 placed on the trays 2 together with the tray holders 14 and the discharge conveyor 15. In this embodiment, the rotation mechanism 16 is configured as a rotating drum 20, and the rotating drum 20 has multiple storage spaces 13, tray holders 14, and discharge conveyors 15 arranged radially around a rotation axis 24, four at 90-degree intervals in this embodiment.

[0063] More specifically, the rotating drum 20 comprises a rotating shaft 24 journaled by a bearing 23 provided on a frame 22, and opposing, substantially circular side covers 25, 26 fixed to the rotating shaft 24. The side covers 25, 26 are plates provided on the sides of the rotating drum 20 in the left-right direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the trays 2 carrying the tableware 3. The rotating drum 20 is driven to rotate by a motor 27 connected to the rotating shaft 24. A pair of tray holders 14 are provided on the left and right opposing inner surfaces of the side covers 25, 26.

[0064] The discharge conveyor 15 is made up of a plurality of rope-like belts 15c stretched between a plurality of pulleys 15b attached to two drive shafts 15a provided across the side covers 25, 26, and one end of the drive shaft 15a is provided with a drive connector 28. Collars are provided to fill the gaps between the pulleys 15b to prevent the tableware 3 being conveyed from getting stuck in them.

[0065] The drive connection part 28 is a connection part that transmits drive to the discharge conveyor 15. The frame 22 is provided with a discharge conveyor drive part 29 that externally drives the discharge conveyor 15 (see Figure 3). When the rotating drum 20 reaches the rotation angle for discharging the dishes, the discharge conveyor drive part 29 and the drive connection part 28 are connected, and the discharge conveyor drive part 29 is driven, thereby driving the discharge conveyor 15 to rotate.

[0066] In this example, the connection between the discharge conveyor drive unit 29 and the drive connection unit 28 is achieved by magnetic coupling (magnetic drive). With this configuration, the drive unit for the discharge conveyor 15 can be provided outside the rotating drum 20, and only one drive unit is required for the multiple discharge conveyors 15 of the rotating drum 20, simplifying the configuration.

[0067] The reversing separator 1 also includes a plate-shaped soaking water guide plate 36 below the rotary drum 20, and a drain outlet 36a provided in the center of the soaking water guide plate 36.

[0068] 4, 5 and 7 are views of the reversing and separating device 1 seen from the diagonally rear side of the tableware / tray discharge side. The reversing and separating device 1 comprises a discharge guide section 30 that discharges tableware 3 discharged from the storage space 13 to the tableware discharge section 11, a regulating plate 31 that is located in the tray discharge section 12 and regulates the timing of tray 2 discharge, and a drawer-type tray collection box 32 that collects the trays 2 being discharged.

[0069] The discharge guide section 30 consists of an inclined slide plate and is freely rotatable around the discharge end as an axis, so that even if the tray 2 or tableware 3 gets caught on the discharge guide section 30 when the tableware 3 is being discharged from the rotating drum 20, the discharge guide section 30 rotates around the axis, preventing damage to the tray 2 or tableware 3, or the discharge guide section 30.

[0070] The restricting plate 31 has an arc shape that abuts against the front end of the tray 2 so that the tray 2 does not slide off under its own weight until the rotating drum 20 reaches a rotation angle of 200 degrees beyond 180 degrees, as will be described later. The tray collection box 32 is held by a slide rail 33 provided on the frame 22 and can be pulled out to the side (see Figure 8).

[0071] In this inverting and separating device 1, when the rotating drum 20 is rotated, for example, 180 degrees from a state in which the trays 2 carried in by the fifth transport conveyor 75 and the tableware 3 placed on the trays 2 are stored in the storage space 13 within the rotating drum 20, the tableware 3 and trays 2 are turned upside down. The upside-down trays 2 are held by the tray holding rollers 17, and the upside-down tableware 3 separates from the trays 2 and is placed on the discharge conveyor 15. In this state, by driving the discharge conveyor 15, the tableware 3 can be carried out of the storage space 13 to the discharge guide section 30. The tableware 3 is then placed on the sixth transport conveyor 76 via the discharge guide section 30 while maintaining its face-down position.

[0072] Furthermore, when the rotary drum 20 is rotated and the opening side of the tray holding roller 17 holding the tray 2 turned upside down, which is the entrance to the storage space 13, is tilted downward, the tray 2 slides on the tray holding roller 17 by its own weight and is carried out from the storage space 13 to a tray collection box 32 at the moment when the tray 2 is released from the restriction by the restriction plate 31.

[0073] (Details of the storage space for the reversing separator) Fig. 8 is a front view of the reversing and separating device 1 with some of its components omitted, and Fig. 9 is a projection view of the storage space 13 of the reversing and separating device 1. Facing the storage space 13, dish guides 34 are provided on the side covers 25, 26 on both the left and right sides thereof. The dish guides 34 are made of a highly slidable resin material or the like to guide the dishes 3 when the dishes 3 are reversed in the storage space 13, and are intended to prevent the dishes 3 from getting caught on the tray holding rollers 17 when the dishes 3 are carried out of the storage space 13 by the carry-out conveyor 15.

[0074] A stopper 35 is provided on the rear surface of the storage space 13. The stopper 35 is provided to stop the tableware 3 and trays 2 stored in the storage space 13 from sliding down from the storage space 13 toward the rotation shaft 24 of the rotating drum 20 when the rotating drum 20 is rotated.

[0075] 10(a) is a front view of the storage space 13 before storing the dishes and trays, and FIG. 10(b) is a front view of the storage space 13 after storing the dishes and trays. When the tray 2 and the dishes 3 placed on the tray 2 are carried into the storage space 13, both sides of the bottom of the tray 2 are held by the tray holders 14 from below.

[0076] In this state, a gap is formed between the upper ends of both sides of the tray 2 and the tray holding rollers 17 that hold the tray 2 when the tray 2 is turned upside down. Also, a gap is formed between the upper end surface of the dishes 3 placed on the tray 2 and the underside of the carry-out conveyor 15.

[0077] Comparing the sizes of these gaps, the gap between the upper end surface of the tableware 3 placed on the tray 2 and the lower surface of the carry-out conveyor 15 may be configured to be larger than the gap between the upper ends of both sides of the tray 2 and the tray holding rollers 17 that hold the tray 2 when the tray 2 is turned upside down. This allows the tray 2 and the tableware 3 to be reliably separated when the tray 2 is turned upside down.

[0078] In addition, the gap between the upper ends of both sides of the tray 2 and the tray holding rollers 17 that hold the tray 2 when the tray 2 is inverted upside down and the gap between the upper end surface of the dishes 3 placed on the tray 2 and the lower surface of the discharge conveyor 15 may be configured to be approximately the same size.

[0079] In this way, the storage space 13 is configured appropriately according to the height and shape of the tray 2 and the tableware 3.

[0080] When the tableware 3 and tray 2 are loaded into the storage space 13 of the rotating drum 20 configured as described above, and the rotating drum 20 is then rotated to invert the tableware 3 and tray 2 upside down, the tray 2 changes from being held by the tray holding portion 14 to being held by the tray holding roller 17, and the tableware 3 can be separated from the tray 2 by its own weight.

[0081] When the tray 2 is transferred to the tray holding rollers 17, a vibration occurs because there is a gap between the upper end surface of the tray 2 and the tray holding rollers 17. This vibration makes it easier to separate the tableware 3 from the tray 2.

[0082] (dishwashing equipment) The dishwashing machine 5A will be described with reference to Figure 28. The dishwashing machine 5A washes dishes 3 while transporting them face down on the sixth transport conveyor 76, and is configured to perform a rough washing process, a main washing process, and a finishing rinse process.

[0083] The configuration for the rough washing step includes a rough washing tank 51a, a rough washing pump 52a, and a nozzle 53a. The rough washing tank 51a is a tank that stores washing water for rough washing, and the stored washing water is heated to a predetermined temperature by a heater (not shown). The rough washing pump 52a sucks in and discharges the washing water stored in the rough washing tank 51a. The nozzle 53a sprays the washing water discharged from the rough washing pump 52a onto the tableware 3 to wash them.

[0084] The configuration for the main washing process includes a main washing tank 51b, a main washing pump 52b, and a nozzle 53b. The main washing tank 51b is a tank that stores washing water for the main washing, and a heater (not shown) heats the washing water stored in the main washing tank 51b to a predetermined temperature. The main washing pump 52b sucks in and discharges the washing water stored in the main washing tank 51b. The nozzle 53b sprays the washing water discharged from the main washing pump 52b onto the dishes 3 to wash them.

[0085] The configuration for the final rinse process includes a final rinse tank 51c, a final rinse pump 52c, and a nozzle 53c. The final rinse tank 51c is a tank that stores fresh water for the final rinse, and heats the stored fresh water to a predetermined temperature using a heater (not shown). The final rinse pump 52c sucks in and discharges the fresh water stored in the final rinse tank 51c. The nozzle 53c sprays the fresh water discharged from the final rinse pump 52c onto the tableware 3 to wash them.

[0086] In the dishwashing device 5A, the cleaning water sprayed from nozzle 53a flows into the rough cleaning tank 51a, the cleaning water sprayed from nozzle 53b flows into the main cleaning tank 51b, and the clean water sprayed from nozzle 53c flows into the main cleaning tank 51b by a flow plate not shown, and the cleaning water is circulated and used for cleaning.

[0087] (Export section) The discharge section 70 is located downstream of the washing device 5 in Fig. 1 and is the section that discharges the dishes 3 washed in the dishwashing device 5A and the lids 3a washed in the lid washing device 5B. The sorting robot 8 has a rotatable holding section (not shown) at the tip of at least one arm serving as a manipulator that grasps the dishes 3 and the lids 3a, and the holding section has a suction pad attached to the lower end of an air cylinder, and the dishes 3 and the lids 3a are respectively sucked and transported by negative pressure via the suction pad.

[0088] This holding section holds the tableware 3 transported by the sixth transport conveyor 76 in an upside-down position and stores them stacked in the tableware collection container 9, and also collects the lids 3a stacked in the lid collection container 10. The tableware collection container 9 and the lid collection container 10 are made of, for example, a plastic basket.

[0089] (Tray cleaning device) Although the tray cleaning device 5C is not shown, the tray 2, which is approximately rectangular when viewed from above, is placed on the conveyor transport surface with one side facing downward, and is transported by the conveyor while being supported by guide rails that prevent the tray 2 from tipping over, and then cleaned.

[0090] The tray washing machine 5C has substantially the same structure as the dishwashing machine 5A shown in Fig. 28, and is equipped with a tank for storing washing water, a heater for heating the washing water stored in the tank to a predetermined temperature, a pump for sucking in and discharging the washing water stored in the tank, and nozzles for spraying the washing water discharged by the pump. The nozzles for spraying washing water may be arranged opposite each other in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the direction in which the trays 2 are transported, since the trays 2 are transported upright with one side facing downward.

[0091] The tray washing apparatus 5C may be integral with the dishwashing apparatus 5A or the lid washing apparatus 5B. This allows the floor area of ​​the facility where the dishwashing system 100 is installed to be minimized, and allows for a larger work space for using the dishwashing system 100.

[0092] (Dishwashing system movement) The operation of the dishwashing system 100 will be explained below step by step with reference to the above-mentioned figures and also to FIG. 31 which shows the steps of the dish / tray inversion separation method.

[0093] (Loading step) 29, in the carrying-in step S10, the tray 2 carrying the tableware 3 is carried into the carrying-in section 7, and the tray 2 carrying the tableware 3 is carried by driving the first transport conveyor 71. As the tray 2 is transported, the transport posture is aligned by the positioning guide 61, and the tableware 3 with lids 3a on the tray 2 are sorted by the position adjustment member 66 to both sides on the tray 2 in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction.

[0094] (Lid separation and transport step) In the lid separation and transport step S20, the first transport conveyor 71 temporarily stops when it transports the tray 2 carrying the tableware 3 into the lid removal device 6. The holders 63 of the lid removal device 6 descend to a predetermined position and bring the suction pads 62 into contact with the surfaces of the lids 3a. At this time, the cylinders on the holders 63 adjust the suction pads 62 to the height of the tableware, adjusting their suction positions. The suction pads 62 apply negative pressure to the lids 3a, and the holders 63 rise to pick up and separate the lids 3a from the tableware 3. The first transport conveyor 71 is then driven again to transport the tableware 3 and tray 2 from which the lids 3a have been separated to the third transport conveyor 73.

[0095] The holding unit 63, by operation of the driving means 64, transports the held lid 3a onto the second transport conveyor 72. When the lid 3a has been transported onto the second transport conveyor 72, the holding unit 63 descends to a predetermined position, releases the suction of the suction pad 62, and drops the lid 3a onto the second transport conveyor 72, which then transports the lid 3a to the lid washing device 5B provided downstream.

[0096] (Lid cleaning step) As shown in FIG. 1, in the lid washing step S30, the lid 3a transported downstream by the second transport conveyor 72 is washed by the lid washing device 5B while being transported.

[0097] (Immersion cleaning step) 27(a)-(d), in the immersion washing step S40, while the tableware / trays are being transported by the third transport conveyor 73 (the arrow in the figure indicates the transport direction), the pump 42 is driven to supply and store immersion water from the nozzle 43 to the tableware / trays, and the tableware / trays are immersed and washed. The fourth transport conveyor 74 is raised and lowered by a lifter for height adjustment, receives the tableware / trays from the third transport conveyor 73, and hands them over to the fifth transport conveyor 75, which transports the tableware / trays to the reversing and separating device 1.

[0098] The immersion device 4 performs immersion cleaning on dirt adhering to dishes and trays, moistening the dirt and making it easier to remove. Also, if heated immersion water is supplied to the dishes and trays to heat the dirt, it becomes easier to remove even if the dirt contains oil.

[0099] Furthermore, by wetting the dirt that has gotten between the tableware 3 and the tray 2 and raising the temperature, it becomes easier to separate the tableware 3 that has adhered to the tray 2 due to the dirt, and the tableware 3 can be smoothly separated from the tray 2. After performing this immersion cleaning step S40, by performing the tableware / tray inversion separation step S50, which will be described later, in the inversion separation device 1, the tray 2 has been immersion cleaned, making it easier to separate the tableware 3 from the tray 2 and allowing the tableware 3 to be reliably separated from the tray 2.

[0100] (Inverting the dish / tray for separation) The following describes the dish / tray inversion and separation step S50 performed by the inverting and separating device 1 with reference to the drawings. The dish / tray inversion and separation step S50 is composed of a storage step S51, an inversion and separation step S52, a dish carrying-out step S53, and a tray carrying-out step S54.

[0101] 11 to 18 are diagrams showing the dish / tray inversion / separation step S50 of the inverting / separating device 1, and show the operation for each rotation angle of the rotating drum 20. FIGS. 19 to 26 are perspective views corresponding to the above-mentioned FIGS. 11 to 18. As will be described later, the dish / trays carried into the storage space 13 are inverted while moving within the storage space 13 as the rotating drum 20 rotates. In consideration of the ease of viewing the figures, FIGS. 11 to 26 do not show some of the state in which the dish / trays move within the dish / tray storage space 13. In consideration of the ease of viewing the figures, the regulating plate 31 in FIGS. 11 to 18 is also shown separated from the rotating drum 20.

[0102] (Storage step) Fig. 11 shows the state when the rotating drum 20 has a drum rotation angle of 0 degrees and no trays 2 or tableware 3 have been loaded, and Fig. 12 shows the state when the drum rotation angle is 0 degrees and the trays 2 and tableware 3 have been loaded. These correspond to the storage step S51 in which the trays 2 and the tableware 3 placed on the trays 2 are stored in the storage space 13 by the fifth transport conveyor 75. Here, when the drum rotation angle is 0 degrees, the direction in which the tableware / trays are loaded and stored into one of the storage spaces 13 on the loading side (the direction of the tray holder 14 and the discharge conveyor 15) is horizontal.

[0103] (Inversion separation step) 13 shows a state in which a new tray 2 and dishes 3 are loaded into the next storage space 13 when the drum rotation angle is 90 degrees. At this time, the soaking water supplied and stored in the soaking step S40 is drained from the dishes / tray that was first loaded into the storage space 13, which now has a drum rotation angle of 90 degrees, along with any dirt adhering to the dishes / tray. The drained soaking water then falls onto the soaking water guide plate 36 provided below the rotating drum 20 and can be discharged into the facility's drainage channel through the drain outlet 36a provided in the center of the soaking water guide plate 36. This allows the soaking water and dirt adhering to the dishes / tray to be discharged together without scattering onto the surrounding floor, preventing a deterioration in the working environment of the facility in which the dishwashing system 100 is installed.

[0104] Figure 14 shows the state when the drum rotation angle is 180 degrees and the tray 2 and tableware 3 that were initially brought in have not yet been removed. The step in which the drum rotation angle changes from 0 degrees to 90 degrees and then to 180 degrees corresponds to the inversion and separation step S52, in which, after the storage step S51, the stored tray 2 and tableware 3 are rotated together with the storage space 13, thereby inverting the tray 2 and tableware 3 upside down and separating the tableware 3 from the tray 2. The inverted and separated tray 2 is placed on the tray holding rollers 17, and the inverted and separated tableware 3 is placed on the discharge conveyor 15.

[0105] (Dish removal step) Figure 15 shows the state in which the first tableware 3 is being removed when the drum is rotated at an angle of 180 degrees. This corresponds to the tableware removal step S53, which follows the above-mentioned reversing and separating step S52, in which the tableware 3 that has been inverted and separated from the tray 2 is removed from the storage space 13 by driving the removal conveyor 15 provided in the storage space 13. Here, the tableware 3 in the inverted state is removed by the removal conveyor 15 positioned horizontally, so that even multiple tableware 3 of different sizes and shapes can be removed more smoothly than when, for example, rollers are used.

[0106] At the drum rotation angle position of 180 degrees, the drive coupling part 28 of the discharge conveyor 15 and the discharge conveyor driving part 29 are coupled, enabling the discharge conveyor 15 to be driven. Since the coupling is achieved by magnetic coupling, the coupling can be achieved simply by stopping the rotating drum 20 at the drum rotation angle position of 180 degrees. Furthermore, the coupled drive coupling part 28 and the discharge conveyor driving part 29 can be released from the coupling by simply rotating the rotating drum 20 after the tableware 3 has been discharged by the discharge conveyor 15.

[0107] Various types of tableware 3 are placed on the tray 2 and transported in. The tableware 3 vary in shape and weight, and if they are allowed to fall under their own weight, they may not be transported properly. In the reversing and separating device 1 of this embodiment, the discharge conveyor 15 drives the rope-like belt 15c to transport the tableware 3, so that the various types of tableware 3 can be transported while maintaining their inverted positions.

[0108] FIG. 16 shows the state when the drum rotation angle is 200 degrees and the first tray 2 has not yet been removed, and FIG. 17 shows the state when the drum rotation angle is 200 degrees and the first tray 2 has been removed.

[0109] 16 and 17, tray 2 is removed when the drum rotation angle reaches 200 degrees, but the immersion water supplied and stored in immersion cleaning step S40 can be gradually discharged from the opposite side of the dish / tray, where the drum rotation angle is now 20 degrees, along with any dirt adhering to the dish / tray. This allows the immersion water stored in the dish / tray to flow more gently as it is discharged from the dish / tray, preventing the immersion water from scattering inside rotating drum 20 along with any dirt adhering to the dish / tray. When cleaning rotating drum 20, the number of areas to be cleaned can be minimized, reducing the amount of work and saving manpower.

[0110] (Tray removal step) 18 shows the state in which the tray 2 that was initially loaded has been removed when the drum rotation angle is 200 degrees. This corresponds to the tray removal step S54 in which the tray 2 that has been stored upside down in the storage space 13 is removed after the tableware removal step S53. When the drum rotation angle is between 180 degrees and 200 degrees, the tray 2 is restricted from being removed by the restriction plate 31, and when the drum rotation angle reaches 200 degrees, this restriction is released and the tray 2 slides down under its own weight.

[0111] As described above, the rotating drum 20 in the reversing and separating device 1 is provided with multiple storage spaces 13 (including tray holding sections 14 and discharge conveyors 15).When the rotation angle of the rotating drum 20 is 0 degrees as shown in Figures 11 and 12, trays 2 and tableware 3 are loaded into the loading storage space 13, and are repeatedly loaded continuously at rotation angles of 90 degrees as shown in Figure 13.Then, the discharge conveyor 15 facing the unloading storage space 13 is driven at a rotation angle of 180 degrees as shown in Figures 14 and 15 to first unload the tableware 3 from the storage space 13, and then the tray 2 is unloaded by its own weight from the unloading storage space 13 at a rotation angle of 200 degrees as shown in Figures 16 to 18.

[0112] In this way, by using a plurality of storage spaces 13, tableware and trays are stored in one of the storage spaces 13, and after rotating the rotary drum 20 by a predetermined angle, new tableware and trays are stored in another storage space 13 different from the above.

[0113] Thus, the storing step S51, the inverting and separating step S52, the dish carrying-out step S53, and the tray carrying-out step S54 can be simultaneously performed sequentially in multiple storage spaces 13. Furthermore, dirt adhering to the dish / tray can be discharged together with the soaking water stored in the dish / tray.

[0114] This makes it easy to continuously store a plurality of trays 2 and the tableware 3 placed on the trays 2 in the storage space 13 and to invert and separate them. This also makes it possible to efficiently and reliably invert, separate, and drain the soaking water for a large number of tableware and trays in a short time, thereby reducing the number of workers required.

[0115] Furthermore, the tableware 3 is removed by temporarily stopping the rotating drum 20 at a predetermined position and externally driving the removal conveyor 15, and the tray 2 is removed by dropping the tray 2 under its own weight while the rotating drum 20 continues to rotate at a position different from the position where the tableware 3 was removed. Note that the ejection of the tray 2 may also be temporarily stopped at a position where the drum rotation angle of the rotating drum 20 reaches 200 degrees. This makes it possible to more reliably remove the tray 2 from the storage space 13.

[0116] This allows the structure of the reversing and separating device 1 to be relatively simple, and enables reliable and efficient conveyance of the tableware 3 and trays 2. Here, the tableware 3 is conveyed to the upper level, and the trays 2 are conveyed to the lower level, and the structure for collecting and processing each is also simple.

[0117] (Dishwashing step) As shown in Figure 28, in the dishwashing step S60, in the dishwashing device 5A, the dishes 3 removed from the storage space 13 by the dish removal step S53 are washed while being transported face down on the sixth transport conveyor 76, and the rough cleaning process, main cleaning process, and final rinsing process are performed as described above.

[0118] (Exit step) As shown in Figure 1, in the discharge step S70, the dishes 3 washed in the dish washing step S60 and the lids 3a washed in the lid washing step S30 are collected by a sorting robot 8 in the discharge section 70 into a dish collection container 9 and a lid collection container 10, respectively.

[0119] (Tray cleaning step) 1 in the tray unloading step S54 and stacked in the tray collection box 32, are pulled out together with the tray collection box 32 in the direction of the arrow B shown in the figure and manually carried into the tray cleaning device 5C. Then, the trays 2 are supplied one by one by a known tray supplier to the tray cleaning device 5C and cleaned, and are manually collected into a tray collection container (not shown).

[0120] The dishwashing system 100 may also include a conveyor that transports the trays 2 that have been transported to the tray discharge section 12 in the tray discharge step S54 to the tray washing device 5C, and a conveyor that transports the trays 2 that have been washed by the tray washing device 5C and collects them in a tray recovery container. This eliminates the need for an operator to transport the trays 2 in the tray washing step S80, thereby reducing the number of workers required.

[0121] (Further features of this embodiment) The dishwashing system 100 and the reversing and separating device 1 thereof according to this embodiment further have the following features.

[0122] In the dishwashing system 100 of this embodiment, the rotating drum 20 of the inverting and separating device 1 inverts the dishes 3 and places them in a face-down position, and dirt adhering to the dishes 3 is discharged together with the stored soaking water.The inverted dishes 3 are then removed from the storage space 13 while maintaining a face-down position in an approximately horizontal position and transported to the dishwashing device 5A.

[0123] For this reason, the position where the tableware 3 is removed is different from the destination of the soaking water that is discharged together with dirt adhering to the tableware 3 and tray 2, and the tableware 3 and tray 2 are not in the direction in which the soaking water falls when it is discharged, thereby minimizing re-contact of the discharged soaking water with the tableware 3 and tray 2 as much as possible.

[0124] Therefore, the re-adhesion of dirt to the dishes 3 before they are transported into the dishwashing device 5A is reduced, improving the cleaning performance in the dishwashing device 5A, and also preventing a decrease in the cleanliness of the cleaning water circulated and used for cleaning in the dishwashing device 5A.

[0125] Furthermore, when dishes are dropped onto the conveyor of a dishwasher under their own weight as in the past, the position of the dishes placed on the conveyor is uneven, making it difficult to wash the upper surfaces of the dishes, which are the eating surfaces that are most susceptible to dirt. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the dishes 3 are transported face down to the dishwasher 5A without manual intervention, and the upper surfaces of the dishes 3 can be washed in the dishwasher 5A, thereby reducing the number of workers required.

[0126] In this embodiment, the dishes 3 are carried out in a substantially horizontal direction, and then the tray 2 is carried out under its own weight. In this regard, dishes 3 that tend to lose their position may not be able to maintain their face-down position when carried out by falling under their own weight. However, by inverting the dishes 3 so that they are in a face-down position, they can be carried out stably while maintaining their face-down position. Furthermore, the tray 2, which is heavier than the dishes 3 and has a flat shape that makes it less likely to lose its position when dropped, can be carried out with a simple configuration.

[0127] In this embodiment, when the tableware 3 and tray 2 are inverted, the soaking water stored in the tableware 3 and tray 2 is drained, the tableware 3 and tray 2 are separated, and the tableware 3 and tray 2 are in an inverted state so that they can each be transported.

[0128] In conventional configurations where dishes are separated onto a conveyor by falling under their own weight, the dishes change position before they reach the conveyor, or the impact they receive when they reach the conveyor causes them to change position, making it impossible to reliably place multiple dishes of different shapes (height, size, round, square, etc.) face down.

[0129] In this embodiment, a plurality of dishes 3 of different shapes are turned over once to a face-down position, and the dishes 3 separated from the turned-over tray 2 are received in a position close to the tray 2. The flexible belt 15c of the discharge conveyor 15 that receives the dishes 3 reduces the impact when the dishes 3 reach the discharge conveyor 15, and the dishes 3 do not bounce, making it difficult for the position to change.

[0130] The discharge conveyor 15 that has received the tableware 3 is then driven to discharge the tableware 3 from the rotating drum 20. This transport conveyor 15 is configured so that the discharge conveyor 15 and the drive unit 29 are connected by a detachable joint at a predetermined position where the conveying surface is approximately horizontal. This prevents the tableware 3 from slipping off, and allows the tableware 3 to be discharged from the rotating drum 20 more reliably at any desired timing.

[0131] In this embodiment, the tray 2 with the tableware 3 placed thereon is carried into the immersion device 4 with the upper surfaces facing upward, and immersion water is supplied from the upper surface side to store the immersion water on the upper surface side of the tableware 3 and tray 2, and the upper surfaces are immersion washed. After immersion washing, the tray 2 is turned over in this state by the inverting separation device 1, the immersion water stored in the tableware 3 and tray 2 is drained, and the tableware 3 and tray 2 are carried out in an inverted state.

[0132] Therefore, when the inverting and separating device 1 inverts the tray 2 carrying a plurality of dishes 3 of different shapes after eating, the dishes 3 and the tray 2 can be more reliably separated face down. Also, the discharge conveyor 15 consisting of the flexible belt 15c allows the dishes 3 to be transported into the dishwashing device 5A while maintaining a face down position. The tray 2 can be transported into the tray washing device 5C face down, or it can be washed by changing its position.

[0133] Generally, the surface of the tableware 3 that is most likely to become soiled is the upper surface, which is the surface on which food is served. Therefore, it is desirable to load the tableware 3 face down into the dishwashing apparatus 5A in order to remove any adhering dirt and to efficiently collect the sprayed washing water. In the dishwashing apparatus 5A of the dishwashing system 100 according to this embodiment, the tableware 3 can be washed face down.

[0134] (Variation) The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible. For example, in the above example, the tableware 3 is transported from the storage space 13 on the discharge side at a rotation angle of 180 degrees of the rotating drum 20, and then the tray 2 is transported by its own weight from the storage space 13 on the discharge side at a rotation angle of 200 degrees. However, the present invention is not limited to these angles, and the tableware 3 may be transported at a rotation angle of approximately 190 degrees, which is slightly beyond 180 degrees.

[0135] Alternatively, the rotating drum 20 may be stopped once the storage space 13 of the rotating drum 20 is vertical (when the drum rotation angle is 90 degrees as shown in FIG. 13). This allows the soaking water to be effectively discharged along with any dirt adhering to the dishes and trays. The reversing separator 1 may be equipped with a mechanism for spraying and supplying cleaning water from above the rotating drum 20, thereby removing any dirt adhering to the dishes and trays in the storage space 13.

[0136] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the rotating drum 20 is stopped to unload the tableware 3, tableware / trays are loaded into the loading storage space 13 (by the fifth transport conveyor 75), and the rotating drum 20 operates intermittently. However, the rotating drum 20 may operate continuously instead of intermittently to increase the number of items processed per unit time. If the rotating drum 20 operates continuously, it may be difficult to use a magnetic coupling to connect the unloading conveyor drive unit 29 and the drive connection unit 28. In this case, the drive of the unloading conveyor drive unit 29 may be provided on the rotating drum 20.

[0137] In addition, rather than rotating the rotating drum 20 uniformly to the tableware 3 discharge position, the time and rotation speed required for the rotating drum 20 to rotate may be controlled in order to sufficiently discharge the soaking water accumulated in the tableware and trays, along with any dirt adhering to the trays 2 and tableware 3 as they are turned over by the rotation of the rotating drum 20.

[0138] In addition, the rotating drum 20 has been shown as having four storage spaces 13, tray holding sections 14, and discharge conveyors 15 arranged radially at 90-degree intervals around the rotating shaft 24, but this is not limited to this and any appropriate number of these may be provided. [Explanation of symbols]

[0139] 100 Dishwashing System 101 Control section 102 Operation section 1. Reversing separator 2 trays 3. Tableware 3a lid 11 Tableware delivery section 12 Tray discharge section (tray collection section) 13 Storage space 14 Tray holder 15. Discharge conveyor 15a Drive shaft 15b pulley 15c belt 16 Rotation mechanism 17 Tray holding roller (tray ejection mechanism) 20 rotating drum 22 frames 23 Bearings 24 Rotation Axis 25,26 Side cover 27 Motor 28 Drive connection 29 Unloading conveyor drive unit 30 Unloading guide section 31 Restriction board 32 Tray Collection Box 33 Slide rail 34 Tableware Guide 35 Stopper 36 Immersion water guide plate 36a Drain 4 Immersion device (immersion water supply section) 41 Tank 42 Pump 43 nozzle 5. Cleaning equipment 5A Dishwashing Equipment 5B Lid cleaning device 5C Tray cleaning device 51a Rough cleaning tank 51b Main cleaning tank 51c Finishing rinse tank 52a Rough cleaning pump 52b Cleaning pump 52c Finishing rinse pump 53a Nozzle 53b nozzle 53c Nozzle 6 Lid removal device (lid separation and transport section) 61 Positioning guide 62 Suction pad 63 Holding part 64 Driving means 65 Position adjustment roller 66 Position adjustment member 67 Slope 7 Loading area 70 Unloading section 71 First conveyor 72 Second conveyor 73 Third conveyor 74 Fourth conveyor 75 Fifth conveyor 76 6th conveyor 8 Sorting robot 9. Tableware collection container 10 Lid collection container S10 Loading step S20 Lid separation and transport step S30 Lid Wash Step S40 Immersion cleaning step S50 Inverted separation step for dishes and trays S51 Storage Step S52 Inversion separation step S53 Dish carrying step S54 Tray removal step S60 Dishwashing Step S70 Unloading step S80 Tray Wash Step

Claims

1. A dish / tray inverting and separating device that inverts a tray and dishes placed on the tray to separate the dishes from the tray, a tray holder that holds the tray on which the tableware is placed from at least below; a carry-out conveyor positioned above the tray holding unit when the tray holding unit holds a tray on which dishes are placed; a storage space formed between the tray holder and the carry-out conveyor; a rotation mechanism that rotates the trays stored in the storage space and the tableware placed on the trays together with the tray holder and the carry-out conveyor, thereby inverting them upside down; A dish / tray inversion and separation device characterized in that the rotation mechanism rotates the tray holding section and the discharge conveyor to invert the tray and the dishes placed on the tray upside down, and after the dishes are separated from the tray, the discharge conveyor is driven to transport the dishes separated from the tray in the storage space out of the storage space in an upside down state, and then the tray is transported out.

2. The rotation mechanism includes a rotating drum having a plurality of tray holders and a plurality of discharge conveyors arranged radially around a rotation axis to form a plurality of storage spaces; The dish / tray inverting and separating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the trays and the dishes placed on them are stored in one of the plurality of storage spaces, the rotating drum is rotated a predetermined angle, and new trays and the dishes placed on them are stored in a storage space other than one of the plurality of storage spaces.

3. The tableware / tray inversion and separation device as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the rotation mechanism is equipped with a tray discharge mechanism that, after the discharge conveyor discharges the tableware that has been inverted upside down from the storage space, further rotates the rotating drum to discharge the trays that have been inverted upside down stored in the storage space by their own weight.

4. Further provided is an immersion water supply unit that supplies immersion water to the tray and the tableware placed on the tray, A dish / tray inversion and separation device as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the immersion water supply unit supplies immersion water to the tray and the dishes placed on the tray, and the immersion water is stored in the tray and the dishes placed on the tray to perform immersion cleaning, and then the tray and the dishes placed on the tray are stored in the storage space.

5. The tableware / tray inverting and separating device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, a lid separating and conveying unit that separates the lids placed on the dishes placed on the tray from the dishes and conveys the separated lids to the lid washing device, A dishwashing system characterized in that the lid separation and transport unit separates the lids placed on the dishes, transports the separated lids to the lid washing device, and stores the trays and the dishes placed on the trays in a storage space.

6. A method for separating tableware and a tray by inverting a tray and tableware placed on the tray to separate the tableware from the tray, comprising: a storing step of storing the tray and the tableware placed on the tray in a storage space; an inversion / separation step of rotating the storage space after the storing step to invert the upside-down direction thereof, thereby inverting the tray stored in the storage space by the storing step and the tableware placed on the tray, and separating the tableware from the tray; a dish carrying-out step of carrying out the dishware separated from the tray by being inverted in the reversing and separating step from the storage space by driving a carrying-out conveyor that forms the storage space after the reversing and separating step; A method for inverting and separating tableware and trays, characterized in that after the tableware removal step, it includes a tray removal step of inverting the tray upside down and removing the tray stored in the storage space.

7. The method for inverting and separating tableware and trays according to claim 6, characterized in that a rotating drum having a plurality of storage spaces is rotated, and a storage step, an inverting and separating step, a tableware transport step, and a tray transport step are carried out sequentially within the plurality of storage spaces.

8. The method for inverting and separating tableware and trays as described in claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the tray removal step further rotates the storage space after the tableware removal step, thereby removing the tray that has been inverted within the storage space by its own weight from the storage space.

9. The method includes an immersion washing step of supplying immersion water to the tray and the tableware placed on the tray, storing the water, and immersing and washing the tray and the tableware placed on the tray, The method for inverting and separating tableware and trays according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that a storing step is carried out after the immersion cleaning step.

10. A method for inverting and separating tableware and trays as described in any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that a storage step is performed after a lid separation and transport step in which lids placed on tableware placed on a tray are separated from the tableware and the separated lids are transported to a lid washing device.

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