Food and beverage handling equipment

Abstract

To disclose an ingestion treatment system which can easily deliver products from a kitchen area to a guest area, even where a transport passage by a conveyor is extended along a border between the kitchen area and the guest area.SOLUTION: An ingestion treatment system includes: a transport device in which a prescribed part as at least a part of a transport passage is extendedly arranged along a border between a kitchen area and a guest seat area of a restaurant; a wall part which covers from both sides of the transport passage at least the prescribed part of the transport passage; an electric door on the kitchen side which is an electric door formed in a position corresponding to the prescribed part of the wall part and which is arranged on the kitchen area side from the transport passage, and an electric door on the guest seat side which is arranged on the side of the guest seat area from the transport passage; and a control part which controls opening / closing of the kitchen side electric door and the guest seat side electric door. The control part, when opening operation is performed on the guest seat area side, opens the electric door on the guest seat side, with the electric door on the kitchen side closed and, when opening operation is performed on the kitchen area side, opens both kitchen side electric door and guest seat side electric door.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a food and beverage handling device.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, it has become socially difficult to secure workers, and various automatic machines for handling food and beverages and tableware have become widespread in restaurants (see, for example, Patent Documents 1-2).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] As a form of transporting food and beverages from the kitchen to the customer area or transporting used tableware from the customer area to the kitchen, for example, there is a form in which food and beverages or used tableware are placed on a conveyor provided along the customer area and transported. In such a case, an arrangement configuration in which the conveyor transport path extends along the boundary between the kitchen area and the customer area may inevitably be adopted. However, when the conveyor transport path extends along the boundary between the kitchen area and the customer area, it is inconvenient, for example, when it is desired to directly transfer an item such as food and beverages from the kitchen area to the customer area.

[0005] Therefore, the present application discloses a food and beverage handling device that can easily transfer an item from the kitchen area to the customer area even when the conveyor transport path extends along the boundary between the kitchen area and the customer area.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To solve the above problems, the present invention provides an electrically operated door in a wall that covers a transport path extending along the boundary between the kitchen area and the seating area of ​​a restaurant. When an opening operation is performed on the seating area side, the electric door on the kitchen side is closed while the electric door on the seating area side is opened. When an opening operation is performed on the kitchen area side, both the electric door on the kitchen side and the electric door on the seating area side are opened.

[0007] More specifically, the present invention relates to a food and beverage handling device comprising: a conveying device arranged such that a predetermined portion, which is at least a part of the conveying path, extends along the boundary between the kitchen area and the seating area of ​​a restaurant; a wall that covers at least a predetermined portion of the conveying path from both sides of the conveying path; an electrically operated door formed in the wall at a position corresponding to the predetermined portion, comprising a kitchen-side electric door positioned on the kitchen area side of the conveying path, and a seating-side electric door positioned on the seating area side of the conveying path; and a control unit that controls the opening and closing of the kitchen-side electric door and the seating-side electric door, wherein the control unit opens the seating-side electric door with the kitchen-side electric door closed when an opening operation is performed on the seating area side, and opens both the kitchen-side electric door and the seating-side electric door when an opening operation is performed on the kitchen area side.

[0008] According to the above-described food and beverage handling device, even though at least a portion of the transport path of the transport device extends along the boundary between the kitchen area and the seating area, opening the doors from the kitchen area opens both the electric door on the seating area side and the electric door on the kitchen side, making it possible to directly transfer items from the kitchen area to the seating area in that section. Therefore, items can be easily transferred from the kitchen area to the seating area.

[0009] Furthermore, the electric door on the kitchen side may open onto the transport path. This allows the area between the electric door on the kitchen side and the electric door on the customer seating area to be separated from other parts of the transport path by either electric door.

[0010] Furthermore, the electric door on the kitchen side may have rollers positioned on the door surface facing the kitchen area, allowing the door surface facing the seating area to tilt toward the transport path. This allows items to be placed on the rollers to be passed from the kitchen area to the seating area, making it easier to transfer items.

[0011] Furthermore, the conveying device may also convey used dishes. In this case, by opening the electric door on the seating area side, it becomes possible to place used dishes onto the conveying path of the conveying device from the seating area side.

[0012] Furthermore, when an opening operation is performed, the control unit may prevent the transported items on the transport path from entering a predetermined area by stopping the transport device. In this case, since the transport device stops in response to the opening operation, it is possible to prevent the transported items on the transport path from entering the predetermined area when at least one of the electric doors on the kitchen side and the electric doors on the customer seating side is open. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] With the above-described food and beverage handling equipment, even if the conveyor belt runs along the boundary between the kitchen area and the seating area, items can be easily transferred from the kitchen area to the seating area. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a view from above of a food and beverage handling device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a lateral view of the food and beverage handling equipment according to the embodiment, looking from the customer seating area towards the kitchen area. [Figure 3] Figure 3 shows the area near the seating-side opening in the side wall of the seating area, as seen from the seating area side. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is the first diagram showing a part of the opening and closing system. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a second diagram showing a portion of the opening and closing system. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a third diagram showing a portion of the opening and closing system. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is the fourth diagram showing a part of the opening and closing system. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is the fifth diagram showing a part of the opening and closing system. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is the sixth figure showing a part of the opening and closing system. [Figure 10] Figure 10 is the seventh figure showing a part of the opening and closing system. [Figure 11] Figure 11 is a figure showing the vicinity of the opening and closing system of the lowering conveyor device.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. The embodiments shown below are one aspect of the present invention and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention. Each of the embodiments and modifications shown below is suitable for, for example, a food and beverage store that provides various foods and beverages such as sushi, beverages, donburi such as soba and udon, and fried foods and tempura.

[0016] Figure 1 is a view showing the food and beverage handling device according to the embodiment from above. The food and beverage handling device 1 is a device that conveys food and beverages or used tableware in a food and beverage store, and includes a lowering conveyor device 4 that forms a conveyor path extending along the boundary between the kitchen area 2 and the customer area 3, and a food and beverage conveyor device 7 that conveys food and beverages from the kitchen area 2 to the customer table T in the customer area 3. At the terminal portion of the lowering conveyor device 4, a lifting device 9 is arranged to make it easier for the staff S to lift the bus box 8 carried by the lowering conveyor device 4. Further, the food and beverage handling device 1 is provided with a kitchen side wall portion 5 and a customer side wall portion 6 that cover and hide the conveyor path from both sides of the conveyor path formed by the lowering conveyor device 4. The lifting device 9 may be omitted. The kitchen side wall portion 5 and the customer side wall portion 6 that cover and hide the conveyor path are provided. The lifting device 9 may be omitted.

[0017] The kitchen side wall 5 and the seating side wall 6 are located at the boundary between the kitchen area 2 and the seating area 3. A seating-side opening 6H is formed near the midpoint between the two food and beverage transport devices 7 on the seating-side wall 6, and a kitchen-side opening 5H is also formed in the kitchen side wall 5 at a position corresponding to the seating-side opening 6H. The kitchen-side opening 5H and the seating-side opening 6H function as points for transferring food, beverages, and other items between the kitchen area 2 and the seating area 3. The seating-side opening 6H also functions as a point for lowering the bus box 8 containing used dishes from the seating area 3 and placing it onto the transport device 4. The food and beverage handling device 1 is equipped with an opening and closing system 10 that automatically opens and closes the doors of the kitchen-side opening 5H and the seating-side opening 6H.

[0018] The lowering conveying device 4 is installed below the food and beverage conveying device 7, which transports food and beverages prepared in the kitchen area 2 to each customer table T in the kitchen area 2, so as not to interfere with the food and beverage conveying device 7. Figure 2 is a lateral view of the food and beverage handling device 1 according to this embodiment, looking from the customer seating area 3 towards the kitchen area 2. As shown in Figure 2, the lowering conveying device 4 is installed so as to pass below the food and beverage conveying device 7. Therefore, the customer seating side opening 6H for loading the bus box 8 from the customer seating area 3 onto the lowering conveying device 4 is also located relatively close to the floor surface of the customer seating area 3.

[0019] Figure 3 is a view from the seating area 3 side of the area near the seating-side opening 6H provided in the seating-side wall 6. Comparing the height of the seating-side opening 6H from the floor with the height of the food and beverage transport device 7 from the floor, it can be seen that the seating-side opening 6H is located closer to the floor than the food and beverage transport device 7. Staff S in the seating area 3 puts the used dishes remaining on the seating tables T after the customers have finished eating and drinking into the bus box 8. Then, staff S operates push buttons and other operating switches installed near the seating-side opening 6H to open the seating-side electric door 11 of the opening / closing system 10 and place the bus box 8 inside the seating-side opening 6H.

[0020] The operation on the kitchen area 2 side is basically the same as on the seating area 3 side. When staff member S in kitchen area 2 operates push buttons or other switches located near the kitchen side opening 5H, the electric doors on the seating side 11 and the kitchen side opening 5H open, making it possible to pass food, beverages, and other items from kitchen area 2 to seating area 3 through the kitchen side opening 5H and the seating side opening 6H.

[0021] Figure 4 is the first diagram showing a portion of the opening / closing system 10. In Figure 4, the kitchen side wall 5 and the customer seating side wall 6 are omitted from the illustration in order to make the opening / closing system 10 easier to see (the same applies to Figures 5 to 10). As shown in Figure 4, the opening / closing system 10 is equipped with a customer seating side electric door 11 for opening and closing the customer seating side opening 6H, and a kitchen side electric door 12 for opening and closing the kitchen side opening 5H. The opening / closing system 10 includes an operation switch located on the customer seating area 3 side, an operation switch located on the kitchen area 2 side, a control device for opening and closing the customer seating side electric door 11 and the kitchen side electric door 12 in response to the operation of the operation switches, a drive mechanism, etc. Examples of drive mechanisms include an electromagnetic solenoid, an electric motor, an air cylinder, and others. For example, when the operation switch located on the kitchen area 2 side is pressed, the opening / closing system 10 opens the kitchen side electric door 12 and the customer seating side electric door 11. Furthermore, the opening / closing system 10 opens only the electric door 11 on the seating area 3 side when, for example, an operation switch located on the seating area 3 side is pressed. When the kitchen side electric door 12 or the seating area side electric door 11 is opened, the opening / closing system 10 may detect the presence or absence of a bus box 8 using a sensor provided on the lowering conveying device 4, and if a bus box 8 is between the seating area side electric door 11 and the kitchen side electric door 12, the system may allow the bus box 8 to pass through the lowering conveying device 4 before opening the kitchen side electric door 12 and the seating area side electric door 11. To prevent the bucks 8 from entering the space between the electric door 11 on the customer seating side and the electric door 12 on the kitchen side, the lowering conveying device 4 may be stopped when opening the electric door 12 on the kitchen side or the electric door 11 on the customer seating side.

[0022] Since the opening and closing system 10 is capable of the operation control described above, for example, if a staff member S in the kitchen area 2 wants to directly pass food and beverages D from the kitchen area 2 to the seating area 3, the staff member S can press the operation switch located on the kitchen area 2 side, thereby allowing the food and beverages D to be passed from the kitchen area 2 to the seating area 3 through the kitchen-side opening 5H and the seating-side opening 6H. Figure 5 is a second diagram showing a part of the opening and closing system 10. When staff member S presses the operation switch located on the kitchen area 2 side, the kitchen-side electric door 12 and the seating-side electric door 11 open as shown in Figure 5. Therefore, staff member S in the kitchen area 2 can pass food and beverages D from the kitchen area 2 to the seating area 3 through the kitchen-side opening 5H and the seating-side opening 6H. The electric doors 11 on the customer seating side and 12 on the kitchen side of the opening / closing system 10 may close automatically when a sensor detects that the food and beverages D have been removed from the part of the opening / closing system 10, or they may close automatically when a staff member S on the customer seating area 3 side presses the operating switch on the customer seating area 3 side.

[0023] Furthermore, since the opening and closing system 10 is capable of the operation control described above, for example, if a staff member S in the seating area 3 wants to lower the bus box 8 and place it on the transport device 4, the staff member S can press the operation switch located on the seating area 3 side, thereby allowing the bus box 8 to be placed on the transport device 4 from the seating area 3 through the seating area side opening 6H. Figure 6 is a third diagram showing a part of the opening and closing system 10. For example, suppose a bus box 8 containing used dishes remaining on the seating table T is prepared in the seating area 3 by a staff member S in the seating area 3. In this state, when the operation switch on the seating area 3 side is pressed, the seating area side electric door 11 opens. Figure 7 is a fourth diagram showing a part of the opening and closing system 10. When the operation switch located on the seating area 3 side is pressed, the seating area side electric door 11 opens as shown in Figure 7, allowing the staff member S in the seating area 3 to place the bus box 8 on the transport device 4 through the seating area side opening 6H.

[0024] With the food and beverage handling device 1 of this embodiment, even though the transport path of the lower transport device 4 extends along the boundary between the kitchen area 2 and the seating area 3, the opening and closing system 10 makes it possible to directly transfer food and beverages D or various other items from the kitchen area 2 to the seating area 3. For this reason, it is convenient, for example, when it is necessary to urgently deliver food and beverages D to customers at seating tables T, or when it is necessary to deliver food and beverages D that cannot be transported by the food and beverage transport device 7 to customers at seating tables T.

[0025] <First variation> Figure 8 is the fifth diagram showing a portion of the opening and closing system 10. In the above embodiment, the electric door 11 on the customer seating side and the electric door 12 on the kitchen side were opened by sliding them to both sides. However, the opening and closing system 10 may also be configured to lower the electric door 12 on the transport path of the transport device 4. With this configuration, when food and beverages D are passed from the kitchen area 2 to the customer seating area 3 through the kitchen-side opening 5H and the customer seating-side opening 6H, the electric door 12 on the kitchen side can separate the bus box 8 containing used dishes from the food and beverages D. Therefore, when food and beverages D are passed from the kitchen area 2 to the customer seating area 3 through the kitchen-side opening 5H and the customer seating-side opening 6H, the possibility of the used dishes in the bus box 8 compromising the hygiene of the food and beverages D can be minimized. In addition, since the bus box 8 being transported by the lowering transport device 4 can be hidden from view from the customer seating area 3 side by the electric door 12 on the kitchen side, used dishes can be kept out of sight of customers in the customer seating area 3. Furthermore, the electric door 12 on the kitchen side can also function as a stopper to prevent the bus box 8 from moving forward.

[0026] <Second variation> Figure 9 is the sixth diagram showing a portion of the opening and closing system 10. In the above embodiments and modifications, the kitchen-side electric door 12 opened and closed while maintaining a vertical position. However, the kitchen-side electric door 12 may also open so that, for example, the door surface on the seating area 3 side tilts toward the conveying path of the lowering conveying device 4. Figure 10 is the seventh diagram showing a portion of the opening and closing system 10. Figure 10 shows the kitchen-side electric door 12 with the door surface on the seating area 3 side tilted toward the conveying path of the lowering conveying device 4. As shown in Figure 10, a roller 13 is arranged on the door surface of the kitchen-side electric door 12 on the kitchen area 2 side. The roller 13 may be a freely rotating roller, or it may be an electric roller that operates when the kitchen-side electric door 12 is opened. Since the door surface of the kitchen-side electric door 12 on the kitchen area 2 side is equipped with such rollers 13, when the door surface of the kitchen-side electric door 12 on the seating area 3 side opens so that it tilts toward the transport path of the lowering transport device 4, a transport path from the kitchen area 2 to the seating area 3 is formed by the rollers 13 in the area between the kitchen-side opening 5H and the seating-side opening 6H. Therefore, staff S in the kitchen area 2 can easily pass food and beverages D from the kitchen area 2 to the seating area 3 using the rollers 13. In addition, since the kitchen-side electric door 12 is lying on the transport path of the lowering transport device 4, the kitchen-side electric door 12 can also act as a stopper to stop the movement of the bus box 8.

[0027] <Other variations> Furthermore, the above-mentioned food and beverage handling device 1 can be modified in various other ways.

[0028] For example, in the above embodiments and modifications, the lowering conveying device 4 is shown as forming a conveying path extending to the boundary between the kitchen area 2 and the seating area 3. However, the conveying path extending to the boundary between the kitchen area 2 and the seating area 3 is not limited to this form. Examples of conveying paths extending to the boundary between the kitchen area 2 and the seating area 3 include conveying paths for staff S in the kitchen area 2 to pass food, beverages, or tableware to each other, part of a circulating conveying path for food and beverages that circulates throughout the entire seating area 3, and various other conveying paths.

[0029] Furthermore, in the second modified example described above, a roller 13 is provided on the kitchen area 2 side of the electric door 12 on the kitchen side. However, a sliding guide or rib may be provided instead of the roller 13, or the electric door 12 on the kitchen side may be a simple flat door without the roller 13.

[0030] Furthermore, in the above embodiments and modifications, the kitchen-side opening 5H and the customer-side opening 6H were exemplified as being located relatively close to the floor, but the food and beverage handling device 1 is not limited to such forms. The food and beverage handling device 1 may, for example, have the kitchen-side opening 5H and the customer-side opening 6H located at relatively high positions.

[0031] Furthermore, sensors for detecting bus boxes 8 and stoppers for preventing the bus boxes 8 from moving may be provided near the opening / closing system 10 of the lowering conveying device 4. Figure 11 shows the area near the opening / closing system 10 of the lowering conveying device 4. In this modified example, as shown in Figure 11, an optical sensor 14 for detecting when a bus box 8 has passed the opening / closing system 10 and a stopper 15 for preventing a bus box 8 from entering the opening / closing system 10 are provided along the conveying path formed by the lowering conveying device 4. If an optical sensor 14 is provided in such a location, for example, while the optical sensor 14 is detecting a bus box 8, the electric door of the opening / closing system 10 will not open even if the operating switch is pressed, thereby preventing food and beverages D that can be brought in from the kitchen side opening 5H and bus boxes 8 that can be brought in from the customer seating side opening 6H from interfering with bus boxes 8 on the conveying path of the lowering conveying device 4. Furthermore, if a stopper 15 is provided in such a location, for example, while the opening / closing system 10 is opening the electric door, the stopper 15 can be extended onto the transport path, preventing food and beverages D from being placed in from the kitchen side opening 5H, or bus boxes 8 from being placed in from the customer seating side opening 6H. During this process, it is possible to prevent the bus box 8, which is being transported from the upstream side of the transport path of the lowering transport device 4, from entering the opening / closing system 10. [Explanation of symbols]

[0032] S. Staff T-Seating Table D··Food and drink 1. Food and beverage handling equipment 2. Kitchen Area 3. Seating Area 4. Lowering conveying device 5... Kitchen side wall 6. Side wall of the seating area 7. Food and beverage transport equipment 8. Bus Box 9. Lifting device 10. Opening and closing system 11. Electric door on the passenger side 12. Electric door on the kitchen side. 13. Laura 14. Optical Sensor 15. Stopper 5H... Kitchen side opening 6H...Opening on the audience side

Claims

1. A conveying device is positioned such that a predetermined portion, which is at least a part of the conveying path, extends along the boundary between the kitchen area and the seating area of ​​a restaurant. A wall portion that covers at least the predetermined portion of the transport path from both sides of the transport path, An electrically operated door formed at a position corresponding to the predetermined portion of the wall, A kitchen-side electric door, which is located on the kitchen area side of the transport path, and On the side of the transport path towards the seating area, a seating-side electric door is located on the opposite side of the transport path from the kitchen-side electric door, The system includes a control unit that controls the opening and closing of the electric door on the kitchen side and the electric door on the customer seating side, The aforementioned designated portion is a portion that allows for the transfer of items from the kitchen area to the seating area, and is also a portion for placing used dishes from the seating area. The control unit, When the opening operation is performed on the seating area side, the electric door on the kitchen side is closed while the electric door on the seating area side is opened. When an opening operation is performed on the kitchen area side, both the electric door on the kitchen side and the electric door on the customer seating side are opened. Food and beverage handling equipment.

2. The aforementioned electric door on the kitchen side opens toward the transport path. The food and beverage handling apparatus according to claim 1.

3. The electric door on the kitchen side has rollers positioned on the door surface on the kitchen area side, and opens so that the door surface on the customer seating area side tilts toward the transport path. The food and beverage handling apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The aforementioned conveying device conveys used tableware. A food and beverage handling apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. When the opening operation is performed, the control unit prevents the transported object on the transport path from entering the predetermined portion by stopping the transport device. A food and beverage handling apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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