Spoon chopstick separation device with step-shaped incline

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention provides a cutlery separator comprising: an input section open to one side into which cutlery is introduced; a separation discharge section in which cutlery introduced from the input section moves along different paths according to width and length to be separated into spoons and chopsticks; and a storage section in which the spoons and chopsticks are stored in a separated state. The above separation discharge section (200) is formed as a stepped inclined surface in which a plurality of vertical and horizontal surfaces are alternately arranged, and includes an outer section (210) in which a virtual downward inclined surface is formed connecting all of the protruding areas in a protruding area extending from one side of the horizontal surface to the vertical surface, an inner section (230) in which an upward inclined surface is formed on one side facing outward from the horizontal surface and extends to the protruding area, and a through hole (250) formed on the other side facing inward from the horizontal surface and penetrating from the top to the bottom, and the spoon is characterized in that a spoon with a relatively long width moves along the downward inclined surface of the outer section (210) and is separated and discharged, and chopsticks with a relatively short width move along the upward inclined surface of the inner section (230) and are separated and discharged to the bottom through the through hole (250).

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a cutlery separator having a stepped inclined surface. Background Technology

[0002] In order to efficiently clean spoons and chopsticks used after a meal, sorting by size and shape is used as a principle for separating them by type. For example, spoons are characterized by being larger in width and thickness compared to chopsticks, and having different shapes for the head and handle.

[0003] Conventional cutlery sorters include technologies such as a cutlery separator (Korean Registered Patent Publication No. 1149722) that utilizes the difference in width between spoons and chopsticks and applies a separator plate having multiple slots formed in the longitudinal direction with a width larger than that of chopsticks but smaller than that of spoons, or a cutlery separator (Korean Registered Utility Model Publication No. 0454390) that applies a spoon catcher formed on an inclined surface.

[0004] In addition, technologies have been presented such as a cutlery separation device including a center of gravity shift guide (Korean Registered Patent Publication No. 1506183) utilizing the difference in that the center of gravity of a spoon is asymmetrically formed toward the head compared to chopsticks, and an automatic cutlery washing and separator using a drop separator formed in an "ㅅ" shape to support the center of a falling cutlery and cause it to fall to the left or right by the center of gravity (Korean Registered Patent Publication No. 1237914).

[0005] However, the above-mentioned cutlery sorting technology relies solely on the inherent characteristics of the chopsticks and spoons to be separated, such as differences in shape and size and the location of the center of gravity. Consequently, there is a problem in that its efficiency, including separation speed and success rate, is poor in places like cafeterias or large restaurants where rapid separation in large quantities is required. The problem to be solved

[0006] In conventional slit-type sorting devices that utilize the difference in width between spoons and chopsticks to allow only chopsticks to pass through, there was a problem where separation efficiency was reduced because chopsticks would not pass through at all if they were not aligned at the angle at which the slits were formed. The present invention aims to provide a cutlery sorting device that forms a plurality of slit areas at a constant angle on an inclined surface and rotates the chopsticks so that they are aligned at the angle formed in the slits when either the head or the handle of the chopsticks enters a slit area.

[0007] In addition, the present invention aims to increase the separation speed and success rate by individually controlling the direction and speed of movement of the center of gravity of the spoon and chopsticks as they descend along the inclined surface.

[0008] In addition, the present invention aims to allow the movement speed of the chopsticks to decrease and the movement speed of the spoon to increase when the movement speed of the object gradually increases from the top to the bottom due to acceleration caused by the inclined surface while separating the chopsticks and the spoon as they come down along the inclined surface. means of solving the problem

[0009] One embodiment of the present invention comprises: an input section (100) that is open to one side and into which cutlery is fed; and a separation discharge section (200) in which cutlery fed from the input section moves along different paths according to width and length to be separated into spoons and chopsticks. The spoon and chopsticks separator is provided, comprising: a storage section (300) in which the spoon and chopsticks are stored in a separated state; wherein the separation discharge section (200) is formed as a stepped inclined surface in which a plurality of vertical and horizontal surfaces are alternately arranged, and an outer section (210) is formed in which a virtual downward inclined surface is formed connecting all of the protruding areas in a protruding area extending from one side of the horizontal surface to the vertical surface, an inner section (230) is formed in which an upward inclined surface is formed on one side facing outward from the horizontal surface and extends to the protruding area, and a through hole (250) is formed on the other side facing inward from the horizontal surface and penetrates from the top to the bottom, and wherein the spoon, which has a relatively long width, moves along the downward inclined surface of the outer section (210) to be separated and discharged, and the chopstick, which has a relatively short width, moves along the upward inclined surface of the inner section (230) to be separated and discharged to the bottom through the through hole (250).

[0010] The above separation discharge section (200) may be formed such that the angle of inclination of the upward slope of the incline of the above-delayed section increases sequentially from the upper part to the lower part of the above-delayed section.

[0011] The above separation discharge section (200) may have an average friction coefficient value on the upward slope of the inner section (230) that is greater than the average friction coefficient value on the downward slope of the outer section (210).

[0012] The above storage unit (300) may include a chopstick storage unit (310) located below the through hole (250) of the separation discharge unit, and a spoon storage unit (330) located below the downward slope of the outer course unit (210) of the separation discharge unit. Effects of the invention

[0013] According to the present invention, by moving chopsticks separately to the inner section before separating and discharging them from the spoon, obstruction of the inflow into the through hole by the spoon can be prevented.

[0014] In addition, in the present invention, as the acceleration of the chopsticks moving along the inclined surface is offset by the acceleration in the left-right direction and concentrated into the acceleration in the up-down direction, the speed of movement in the left-right direction can be reduced, and the direction of movement can be concentrated only in the downward direction where the through hole is formed, and the speed can be increased.

[0015] In addition, since the travel distance of the chopsticks moving along the inclined surface compared to the spoon is increased and the frictional force generated on the contacting inclined surface is also increased, the arrangement direction of the chopsticks is easy to rotate perpendicular to the right downward direction of the inclined surface of the device, thereby increasing the efficiency of separating and discharging the chopsticks through the through hole. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0016] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a cutlery separator according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the separation discharge section of a cutlery separator according to one embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the left. Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the inner and outer sections of the separation and discharge section in Figure 2. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0017] The advantages and features of the present invention and the methods for achieving them will become clear by referring to the embodiments described below in detail together with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below but may be implemented in various different forms. These embodiments are provided merely to ensure that the disclosure of the present invention is complete and to fully inform those skilled in the art of the scope of the invention, and the present invention is defined only by the scope of the claims.

[0018] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used in this specification (including technical and scientific terms) may be used in a meaning that is commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs.

[0019] When a part of a specification is described as "comprising" a certain component, unless specifically stated otherwise, this means that it does not exclude other components but may include additional components. Furthermore, the singular form includes the plural form unless specifically stated otherwise in the text.

[0020] In this specification, when a part such as a layer, film, region, section, plate, etc. is described as being “on” or “on” another part, this includes not only cases where it is “immediately on” another part, but also cases where there is another part in between.

[0021] Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings. In all attached drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same components.

[0023] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a cutlery separator according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the separation discharge section of a cutlery separator according to one embodiment, viewed from the left.

[0024] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a cutlery separator according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: an input section (100) that is open to one side and into which cutlery is fed; a separation discharge section (200) in which cutlery fed from the input section moves along different paths according to width and length to be separated into spoons and chopsticks; and a storage section (300) in which the spoons and chopsticks are stored in a separated state.

[0025] The above separation discharge unit (200) is intended to first separate the chopsticks into a different path from the spoon by utilizing the difference in width direction length of the cutlery introduced from the input unit, and then efficiently discharge the chopsticks without being affected by the movement of the spoon.

[0026] Specifically, the separation discharge section (200) is formed as a stepped inclined surface in which a plurality of vertical and horizontal planes are alternately arranged, and includes an outer section (210), an inner section (230), and a through hole (250).

[0027] The outer course section (210) of the above separation discharge section is formed such that a virtual downward slope connecting the entire protruding area is formed in the protruding area extending from one side of the horizontal plane to the vertical plane, so that a spoon with a relatively long width can move along the downward slope of the outer course section (210) to the end of the slope and be separated and discharged.

[0028] Specifically, the outer course section (210) is formed such that the length (D1) of a straight line connecting adjacent protruding areas is shorter than the width (W1) or width (W1) and thickness (T1) of a spoon, and longer than the width (W2) and thickness (T2) of a chopstick, so that the spoon and chopstick move together along the imaginary downward slope of the outer course section, and then only the chopstick is separated and enters the inner course section, while the remaining spoon moves to the end of the outer course section and is discharged.

[0029] Here, the virtual downward slope connecting all the protruding areas refers to a single plane, multiple planes, or the sum of curved surfaces maintaining ±1 to 30° or ±5 to 20° with a single plane connecting each inflection line between at least one protruding area adjacent to any protruding area, or it may refer to the entire path along which the center of gravity of the spoon, chopsticks, or cutlery moves along the entire outer course section.

[0030] The inner section (230) of the above separation discharge section has an upward sloping surface formed on one side facing outward from the horizontal plane and leads to the protruding area. As the spoon moves along a downward sloping surface of a part of the outer section (210), only the chopsticks with a relatively short width are separated and flow into the inner section (230), then move along the upward sloping surface of the inner section and can be discharged downward through the through hole (250).

[0031] In the prior art, when chopsticks move along a downward inclined surface, there are problems such as: i) moving in a mixed state with spoons, causing them to become entangled and hindering separate discharge; ii) chopsticks accelerated by the inclined surface passing through the through hole or colliding with the area around the through hole, resulting in them not being inserted into the through hole and instead leaking out; iii) the width of the dischargeable hole in the through hole formed from the top to the bottom of the device becoming relatively narrow because the direction of movement of the chopsticks moving along the inclined surface is directed forward and downward (see Figure 2); and iv) the arrangement of chopsticks moving along the inclined surface not being aligned at a specific angle to match the shape of the through hole, but rather exhibiting a random shape, resulting in them not being inserted into the through hole. According to the present invention, i) since the width or thickness of the head portion of the spoon is relatively longer than that of the chopsticks and the individual inner section, it does not easily enter the inner section (230); therefore, by moving it separately to the inner section (230) before separating and discharging the chopsticks, the obstruction of the chopsticks' entry into the through-hole by the spoon can be prevented; ii) iii) since the direction of the acceleration applied to the chopsticks changes from the forward downward direction of the outer section (210) to the rear downward direction after entering the inner section (see Fig. 2), the forward-backward acceleration is offset and concentrated into the up-down acceleration, thereby reducing the forward-backward movement speed and concentrating the movement direction only in the downward direction where the through-hole is formed, and increasing the speed; iv) compared to the spoon which moves only the outer section (210), since it moves a part of the outer section (210) and a plurality of inner sections (230), the travel distance is increased and the frictional force generated on the contacting inclined surface is increased, so the arrangement direction of the chopsticks is the forward downward of the inclined surface of the device. Since it is easy to rotate perpendicular to the direction, the efficiency of separating and discharging chopsticks through the through hole can be increased.

[0032] Specifically, the inner section (230) is formed between an adjacent through hole (250) and an adjacent protruding area, and the length (D2) of the inner section may be shorter than the length (D1) of a straight line connecting two adjacent protruding areas and longer than or equal to the width direction length (D3) of the through hole (250), and the upward slope of the inner section (230) may have an increasing slope in the direction from the adjacent through hole to the adjacent protruding area and may have a slope angle that is smaller than or equal to the slope angle of the outer section (210).

[0033] Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the inner and outer sections of the separation and discharge section in Figure 2.

[0034] Additionally, referring to FIG. 3, the inner section (230) includes a plurality of upward inclined surfaces (inner sections) positioned between adjacent through holes and adjacent protruding areas. In this case, the inner section may be formed such that the angle of inclination of the upward inclined surface of the inner section increases sequentially from the top to the bottom of the outer section. Accordingly, since the chopsticks that have entered the upward inclined surface of the inner section located below the downward inclined surface of the outer section have a relatively faster movement speed, a greater reverse acceleration is applied to reduce the forward and backward movement speed, making it easier to separate and discharge them from the top to the bottom through the through holes.

[0035] In addition, the average friction coefficient value of the upward slope of the inner section (230) may be greater than the average friction coefficient value of the downward slope of the outer section (210), and, for example, the friction force may be increased by forming a silicone pad or an uneven structure on at least a part of the upward slope of the inner section to reduce the forward and backward movement speed of the chopsticks introduced into the inner section.

[0036] The through hole (250) of the above separation discharge section is formed on the other side facing inward from the horizontal plane of the stepped inclined surface and penetrates from the top to the bottom.

[0037] Specifically, the through hole (250) is shaped like a chopstick and is formed to be longer than the length, width, and thickness directions of the chopstick, and penetrates from the top to the bottom, so the chopstick can be discharged from the separation discharge section (200) located at the top to the storage section (300) located at the bottom through the through hole (250).

[0038] In addition, the through hole (250) is connected to the area between the front lower side of the vertical plate of the stepped slope and the rear lower side of the upward slope of the inside section, so that when the chopstick moves backward along the slope of the upward slope while moving through the inside section, or moves up the upward slope along the vertical plate, it can be discharged to the lower side of the separation discharge section through the through hole.

[0040] As in one embodiment, the separation discharge unit (200) may further include a blower (not shown) that sprays compressed air toward the through hole (250) to remove foreign matter stuck in the through hole; and a water spraying device (not shown) that sprays water toward the stepped inclined surface to cause the spoon to move along the inclined surface.

[0041] Here, since known devices used in the same or similar technical fields, such as cutlery separators and dishwashers, may be applied to the blower (not shown) and water sprayer (not shown) to achieve the aforementioned purpose, a detailed description of the device is not provided.

[0043] The above input section (100) is open to one side so that cutlery is inserted, and is connected to the top of the separation discharge section (200) on the other side to allow the inserted cutlery to flow in.

[0044] Specifically, the input section (100) may be configured to include an input opening open on one side for inserting cutlery, a storage space where the inserted cutlery stays before flowing into the separation and discharge section, and a connecting passage open on the other side and connected to the top of the separation and discharge section so that the cutlery staying in the storage space can be arranged and sequentially flowed into the separation and discharge section.

[0045] In addition, the storage space is formed with a width shorter than the length of the cutlery and a longer length to induce the cutlery to be inserted in one direction, thereby controlling the inserted cutlery so that it is aligned in a certain direction when it moves through the storage space and the connecting passage and enters the top of the separation discharge section.

[0046] In addition, the storage space may include a cutlery aligner inside, so that when cutlery is introduced to the top of the separation and discharge unit, the length direction of the cutlery can be aligned perpendicular to the direction of movement of the inclined surface of the cutlery (from the rear top to the front bottom). Accordingly, the efficiency of separating and discharging cutlery can be increased.

[0047] As in one embodiment, the input unit (100) may include a washing device (not shown) for removing foreign substances from the input cutlery, and the washing device may be a known washing device used in the same or similar technical fields, such as a cutlery separation device or a dishwashing device. For example, a water spraying device, an ultrasonic vibration device, a hot / cold water supply channel, a drainage channel, a drying device, etc. may be applied, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0048] Accordingly, foreign substances entering the cutlery separation device along with used cutlery can be effectively washed away, thereby improving problems such as blockage of passages / through holes in the detailed device (input section 100, separation discharge section 200, storage section 300), device corrosion, odor generation, and functional degradation.

[0050] The storage unit (300) separates and stores the cutlery separated into spoons and chopsticks in individual spaces from the separation and discharge unit (200).

[0051] The storage unit (300) may include a chopstick storage unit (310) located below the through hole (250) of the separation discharge unit and a spoon storage unit (330) located below the downward slope of the outer section (210) of the separation discharge unit, and these are separated from each other and have an internal space formed to store a large amount of spoons or chopsticks.

[0052] The above chopstick storage box (310) and spoon storage box (330) may be equipped with known devices used in the same or similar technical fields, such as cutlery separation devices and cutlery storage boxes, and the present invention is not specifically limited thereto.

[0054] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and can be manufactured in various different forms, and those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention can be implemented in other specific forms without changing the technical concept or essential features of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments described above should be understood as illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. Explanation of the symbols

[0055] 10: Cutlery separator 100: Input section 200: Separation and Disposal Section 210: Outer Course 230: Incourse 250: Through hole 300: Storage section 310: Chopstick storage box 330: Spoon storage box

Claims

Claim 1 An input section (100) that is open to one side and into which cutlery is inserted; a separation discharge section (200) in which cutlery introduced from the input section moves along different paths according to width and length to be separated into spoons and chopsticks; The cutlery separator comprises: a storage section (300) in which the spoon and chopsticks are stored in a separated state; wherein the separation discharge section (200) is formed as a stepped inclined surface in which a plurality of vertical and horizontal surfaces are alternately arranged, and an outer section (210) is formed in which a virtual downward inclined surface is formed connecting all of the protruding areas in a protruding area extending from one side of the horizontal surface to the vertical surface, an inner section (230) is formed in which an upward inclined surface is formed on one side facing outward from the horizontal surface and extends to the protruding area, and a through hole (250) is formed on the other side facing inward from the horizontal surface and penetrates from the top to the bottom, and wherein the cutlery is characterized in that a spoon with a relatively long width moves along the downward inclined surface of the outer section (210) and is separated and discharged, and chopsticks with a relatively short width move along the upward inclined surface of the inner section (230) and are separated and discharged to the bottom through the through hole (250). Claim 2 A cutlery separator according to claim 1, characterized in that the separation discharge section (200) is formed such that the angle of inclination of the upward slope of the inner section increases sequentially from the upper part to the lower part of the outer section. Claim 3 A cutlery separator according to claim 1, wherein the separation discharge section (200) is characterized in that the average friction coefficient value of the upward slope of the inner section (230) is greater than the average friction coefficient value of the downward slope of the outer section (210). Claim 4 A cutlery separator according to claim 1, wherein the storage section (300) comprises a chopstick storage box (310) located below the through hole (250) of the separation discharge section and a spoon storage box (330) located below the downward slope of the outer section (210) of the separation discharge section.

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