Food / drink conveyance system

Abstract

The present invention provides a food / drink conveyance system for, while conveying dishes in a kitchen, combining a first food material and a second food material in a cooking place in the kitchen and placing the thus prepared food / drink on a dish to be conveyed to each customer seat. This food / drink conveyance system is provided with: a first food material preparation device for placing a first food material on a dish to be sent to a cooking place; a second food material preparation device for preparing a second food material in the cooking place; and a plurality of in-kitchen conveyance paths for supplying, to a customer seat side conveyance device, the dish on which food / drink prepared in the cooking place are placed.

Description

Food and beverage conveying system

[0001] The present invention relates to a food and beverage conveying system.

[0002] JP 7091064B discloses a serving device that provides food and beverages from a supply conveyor that transports food and beverage-containing plates to multiple sushi chefs working in a kitchen. The supply conveyor conveys food and beverages to a circulating conveyor in the kitchen. The circulating conveyor is also equipped with a belt conveyor that circulates the food and beverages throughout the restaurant. In particular, the device in Patent Document 1 can deliver products prepared by a single sushi chef to any table in the restaurant, and by limiting the types of products each chef is responsible for preparing, it improves work efficiency within the restaurant.

[0003] However, it is expected that the cooking time and equipment required will vary depending on the type of product being served. In particular, in restaurants that serve sushi (such as conveyor-belt sushi restaurants), in addition to the task of attaching sushi toppings to sushi plates with rice (topping attachment), it is expected that items will be served that require additional cooking, such as searing the sushi after the topping attachment process. In such restaurants, if the product items that each chef is responsible for cooking are simply divided, the cooking time for each chef for a single order will vary. As a result, the serving time for products that require longer cooking times becomes a bottleneck, leading to a decrease in the efficiency of serving food and beverages.

[0004] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a food and drink conveying system that can improve the efficiency of providing food and drink in a store.

[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a food and beverage conveying system that conveys plates within a kitchen while conveying food and beverages prepared in a kitchen by combining a first ingredient and a second ingredient on the plates to each customer seat. This food and beverage conveying system includes a first ingredient preparation device that places the first ingredient on a plate to be sent to the kitchen, a second ingredient preparation device that prepares the second ingredient in the kitchen, multiple kitchen conveying paths that supply plates carrying food and beverages cooked in the kitchen to a customer-side conveying device, and a control device. When the control device acquires food and beverage order information, it selects one of the multiple kitchen conveying paths for supplying the plate carrying the food and beverage to the customer-side conveying device.

[0006] It is a diagram showing the configuration of a food and drink conveying system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a diagram showing the configuration of a customer seat side conveying device. It is a block diagram explaining the configuration of a control device. It is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the food and drink conveying system.

[0007] Hereinafter, an embodiment for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the embodiment described below is one aspect of the present invention and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the embodiment described below is assumed to be a restaurant that mainly serves sushi as food and drink, but it can also be appropriately adopted in restaurants that serve food and drink other than sushi (rice bowls such as udon, fried chicken, tempura, ramen, yakiniku, etc.).

[0008] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a food and drink conveying system 10 according to this embodiment. The food and drink conveying system 10 is configured as a system that distributes and conveys plates carrying food and drink (particularly sushi or gunkan) prepared in multiple kitchens K1, K2 (two in Fig. 1) located within a restaurant to each seat. Note that each seat in this embodiment is a row of seats C (six in Fig. 2) shown in Fig. 2, which will be described later. １１ , C １２ , C ２１ , C ２２ , C ３１ , C ３２ , and each individual table C included therein １１１ ~C １１４ , C １２１ ~C １２４ , C２１１ ~C ２１４ , C ２２１ ~C ２２４ , C ３１１ ~C ３１４ , C ３２１ ~C ３２４ Assume the following.

[0009] Specifically, the food and beverage conveying system 10 has a first kitchen conveyor 12, a second kitchen conveyor 32, a customer seating side conveying device (branch conveyor 14, etc.), and a control device 100.

[0010] The first kitchen conveyor 12 is configured as a belt conveyor that transports plates D, supplied to its downstream end (base end) by a device (not shown) or store staff, within the kitchen, and places cooked sushi on the plates during the transport process and supplies them to the branch conveyor 14. In particular, the first kitchen conveyor 12 in this embodiment is made up of individually driven conveyor units 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, and 12e.

[0011] Conveyor unit 12a is a unit that sends plates D supplied to its downstream end to conveyor unit 12b via sushi rice placement device 21 and first cooking area K1 (sushi pack preparation device 22). Conveyor unit 12a is configured so that it can be switched between driving and stopping by operating manual switch sw1.

[0012] The rice-mounting device 21 is a device that automatically forms rice balls of a shape and size suitable for the subsequent cooking process (attaching of sushi toppings) onto empty plates D supplied to the conveyor unit 12a.

[0013] The ingredient pack preparation device 22 is positioned opposite the first kitchen K1 (cooking staff O1) via the conveyor unit 12a. The ingredient pack preparation device 22 prepares ingredient packs P1, each containing a plurality of sushi ingredients included in the restaurant's various sushi menus, in front of the cooking staff O1. More specifically, the ingredient pack preparation device 22 includes a pack placement table on which a predetermined number of ingredient packs P1 (three in FIG. 1 ) are prepared (placed), a pack storage unit that holds the plurality of ingredient packs P1, and a pack exchange mechanism that appropriately retrieves ingredient packs P1 stored in the pack storage unit and replaces them with ingredient packs P1 placed on the pack placement table. In particular, under the command of the control device 100, the ingredient pack preparation device 22 searches for and retrieves ingredient packs P1 corresponding to the order from the pack storage unit and exchanges them for ingredient packs P1 placed on the pack placement table.

[0014] This allows cooking staff O1 to pick up the sushi ingredients according to the order from the ingredient pack P1 placed on the pack placement table and attach them to the rice on the plate D. By adopting the positional relationship between the first kitchen K1 (cooking staff O1) and the ingredient pack preparation device 22 shown in Figure 1, the work of replenishing sushi ingredients to the ingredient pack P1 prepared in front of cooking staff O1 can be done from the opposite side of the ingredient pack preparation device 22 from the position of cooking staff O1. Therefore, the work of replenishing sushi ingredients can be carried out without overlapping with the flow of cooking staff O1's ingredient placement work.

[0015] When a predetermined number of plates D with sushi rice (three in the figure) have been delivered to the first cooking area K1, the cooking staff O1 operates the manual switch sw1 to stop the conveyor unit 12a and places the sushi toppings according to the order on the plates D stopped in front of the first cooking area K1. The cooking staff O1 can understand the order details by, for example, referring to the display on a display device (not shown) installed near the first cooking area K1.

[0016] Furthermore, when the cooking staff O1 operates the manual switch sw1 again after completing the topping, the conveyor unit 12a is driven and the plate D1 on which the topping has been added (the plate D1 on which cooked sushi is placed) is sent to the conveyor unit 12b.

[0017] The conveyor unit 12b is configured as a belt conveyor unit whose upstream end is connected to the downstream end of the conveyor unit 12a and whose downstream end is connected to (merges with) the upstream end of the conveyor unit 12c.

[0018] An RFID writer 24 is also provided near the upstream end of the conveyor unit 12b. The RFID writer 24 detects the arrival of a plate D1 carrying cooked sushi in the first cooking area K1 and writes specific plate information to the plate D1 (more specifically, to an RF tag embedded in the plate D1). In this embodiment, the concept of writing plate information to the plate D1 (or plate D2, described below) includes not only writing the plate information in an information writing area, such as an RF tag embedded in the plate D1 or D2 itself, but also writing the plate information in an information writing area on an accessory (e.g., a cover for the sushi or gunkan) attached to the plate D1 or D2 and transported together with the plate D1 or D2 (sushi or gunkan). The same concept applies to reading plate information from the plate D1, plate D1', or plate D2, described below.

[0019] Furthermore, the upstream end of conveyor unit 12d is connected to conveyor unit 12b at a position (hereinafter referred to as "branching point B") downstream of RFID writer 24. That is, in this embodiment, the transport path for plate D1 branches off at branching point B.

[0020] In addition, a conveying path switch 13 is provided at branching section B. Conveying path switch 13 is configured as a movable lever that can be switched between a first position (position shown by a solid line in FIG. 1) in which plate D1 is guided from conveyor unit 12b to conveyor unit 12d, and a second position (shown by a dotted line in FIG. 1) in which the conveying path for plate D1 remains on conveyor unit 12b.

[0021] The conveyor unit 12c is configured as a curved belt conveyor unit whose upstream end is connected to the downstream end of the conveyor unit 12b and whose downstream end is connected to (merged with) the conveyor unit 12e.

[0022] The conveyor unit 12d is configured as a belt conveyor unit whose upstream end is connected to the conveyor unit 12b (branched from the conveyor unit 12b) and whose downstream end is connected to the second cooking area K2. Note that the conveyor unit 12d in this embodiment is formed in a curved shape from the conveyor unit 12b toward the automatic roaster 23.

[0023] The automatic griller 23 is a device for performing an additional cooking process (grilling) on ​​the sushi toppings attached to the rice in the first cooking area K1. In particular, the automatic griller 23 is configured as a device that automatically grills the sushi placed on the plates D1 that are sequentially transported via the conveyor unit 12d under the command of the control device 100.

[0024] The conveyor unit 12e is configured as a belt conveyor unit whose upstream end is connected to the automatic roaster 23 and whose downstream end is connected to the branch conveyor 14. The conveyor unit 12e also includes a lower branch conveyor 14. ｄ An RFID reader 26 is provided upstream of the connection to the first cooking area K1. The RFID reader 26 detects the arrival of a plate D1 that has been cooked only (with toppings) in the first cooking area K1 or a plate D1' that has been cooked in addition to searing, and reads the plate information recorded on the plate D1 (plate D1') by an RFID writer 24.

[0025] Furthermore, the downstream end of the conveyor unit 12d is connected to the conveyor unit 12e at a position upstream of the RFID writer 24 (hereinafter referred to as the "junction J"). As a result, the plates D1 that have only been cooked in the first cooking area K1 and the plates D1' that have also been grilled are joined together and fed to the lower branch conveyor 14. ｄ will be sent to.

[0026] Therefore, in the first kitchen conveyor 12 of this embodiment, the path consisting of conveyor units 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12e functions as a first transport path that leads directly from the first cooking area K1 to the branch conveyor 14. In addition, the path consisting of conveyor units 12a, 12b, 12d, and 12e functions as a second transport path that connects the first cooking area K1 to the branch conveyor 14 via the automatic roaster 23, which is additional cooking equipment.

[0027] The second kitchen conveyor 32 is configured as a belt conveyor that transports plates D supplied to its downstream end (base end) by a device (not shown) or store staff within the kitchen, and carries cooked gunkan during the transport process and supplies them to the branch conveyor 14. In particular, the second kitchen conveyor 32 in this embodiment is configured by conveyor units 32a and 32b that are driven individually.

[0028] Conveyor unit 32a is a unit that sends plates D supplied to its downstream end to conveyor unit 32b via gunkan sushi rice placing device 41 and first kitchen K1 (neta pack preparation device 22). Conveyor unit 32a is configured so that it can be switched between driving and stopping by operating manual switch sw2.

[0029] The gunkan sushi rice placing device 41 is a device that automatically forms sushi rice balls of a shape and size suitable for the subsequent cooking process (attaching gunkan toppings) onto plates D supplied to the conveyor unit 32a, and automatically wraps seaweed around the sushi rice balls to produce gunkan sushi rice.

[0030] The gunkan sushi pack preparation device 42 is positioned opposite the second kitchen K2 (cooking staff O2) via the conveyor unit 32a. The gunkan sushi pack preparation device 42 prepares sushi packs P2, each containing a plurality of gunkan sushi ingredients included in the multiple gunkan menu items offered at the restaurant, in front of the cooking staff O2. More specifically, the gunkan sushi pack preparation device 42 includes a pack placement table on which a predetermined number of sushi packs P2 (three in FIG. 1) are prepared (placed), a pack storage unit that holds the plurality of sushi packs P2, and a pack exchange mechanism that appropriately removes sushi packs P2 stored in the pack storage unit and exchanges them with sushi packs P2 placed on the pack placement table. In particular, under the command of the control device 100, the gunkan sushi pack preparation device 42 searches for and removes the sushi pack P2 corresponding to the order from the pack storage unit and exchanges it for the sushi pack P2 placed on the pack placement table.

[0031] This allows cooking staff O2 to take the gunkan sushi ingredients according to the order from the ingredient pack P2 placed on the pack placement table and attach them to the gunkan rice on plate D. By adopting the positional relationship between the second kitchen K2 (cooking staff O2) and the gunkan ingredient pack preparation device 42 shown in Figure 1, the work of supplying gunkan sushi ingredients to the ingredient pack P2 prepared in front of cooking staff O2 can be done from the opposite side of the gunkan ingredient pack preparation device 42 relative to cooking staff O2's position. Therefore, the work of supplying gunkan sushi ingredients can be carried out without overlapping with the flow of cooking staff O2 attaching the ingredients.

[0032] When the predetermined number of plates D (three in the figure) carrying sushi rice are delivered to the second kitchen K2, the cook O2 operates the manual switch sw2 to stop the conveyor unit 32a and places the gunkan sushi rice according to the order on the plates D stopped in front of the second kitchen K2. The cook O2 can understand the order by referring to the display on a display device (not shown) installed near the second kitchen K2, for example.

[0033] Furthermore, when the cooking staff member O2 operates the manual switch sw2 again after completing the topping, the conveyor unit 32a is driven and the plate D2 on which the topping has been added (the plate D2 on which cooked sushi is placed) is sent to the conveyor unit 32b.

[0034] The conveyor unit 32b conveys the plate D2 carrying the gunkan after cooking in the second cooking area K2 from the second cooking area K2 to the branch conveyor 14 (particularly the upper branch conveyor 14 ｕ More specifically, the conveyor unit 32b has an upstream end connected to the downstream end of the conveyor unit 32a, and a downstream end connected to the upper branch conveyor 14. ｕ The conveyor unit 32b is configured as a belt conveyor unit connected to the RFID writer 44 and the RFID reader 46, which are provided in this order from the upstream side.

[0035] The RFID writer 44 is a device that detects the arrival of the plate D2 carrying the gunkan after cooking in the second kitchen K2 and writes predetermined plate information to the plate D2 (more specifically, to the RF tag embedded in the plate D2). The RFID reader 46 detects the arrival of the plate D2 that has only been cooked (attaching the gunkan topping) in the second kitchen K2 and reads the plate information recorded on the plate D2 by the RFID writer 44.

[0036] Next, the passenger seat side transport device including the branch conveyor 14 will be described in detail.

[0037] 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the seat-side conveying device. As shown in FIG. 2, the seat-side conveying device of this embodiment includes a branch conveyor 14 and each pair of upper seat conveyors R １ｕ , R ２ｕ , R ３ｕ and each lower seat conveyor pair R １ｄ , R ２ｄ , R ３ｄ It is composed of the following:

[0038] The branch conveyors 14 of this embodiment are arranged one above the other, and are an upper branch conveyor 14 ｕ and the lower branch conveyor 14 ｄ It has.

[0039] Upper branch conveyor 14 ｕ is connected to the terminal position of the second kitchen conveyor 32 (more specifically, the downstream end of the conveyor unit 32b) and １１ , C １２ , seat row C ２１ , C ２２ , and audience row C ３１ , C ３２ In particular, the upper branch conveyor 14 is configured as a belt conveyor having a conveying path that branches off individually toward the entrance of the upper branch conveyor 14. ｕ is the first upper conveying path 14a ｕ and the second upper conveying path 14b ｕ and the third upper conveying path 14c ｕ and,

[0040] First upper transport path 14a ｕ is the distance from the end position of the second kitchen conveyor 32 to the seat row C １１ , C １２ Entrance (more specifically, upper seating conveyor belt R １ｕ The second upper conveying path 14b is configured as a conveyor area that directly connects to the base end of the second upper conveying path 14b. ｕ is the distance from the end position of the second kitchen conveyor 32 to the seat row C ２１ , C ２２ Entrance (more specifically, upper seating conveyor belt R ２ｕ The third upper conveying path 14c is configured as a conveyor area that directly connects to the base end of the third upper conveying path 14c. ｕ is the distance from the end position of the second kitchen conveyor 32 to the seat row C ３１ , C ３２ Entrance (more specifically, upper seating conveyor belt R ３ｕ The upper conveying path 14a is configured as a conveyor area that directly connects to the base end of the upper conveying path 14a. ｕ , 14b ｕ , 14c ｕ Each upper conveying path 14a is configured with a plurality of conveyor units that can be individually switched between driving and stopping. This allows the conveying status of the plates D2 (such as whether there is a local congestion of plates D2) to be taken into consideration. ｕ , 14b ｕ , 14c ｕ The conveyance and stopping of the tray D2 can be adjusted partially above.

[0041] In addition, the upper branch conveyor 14 ｕ At the portion where the second kitchen conveyor 32 is connected to the terminal position, a first upper stage path switch 16 ｕ The first upper stage path switch 16 is provided. ｕ The tray D2 is conveyed to the first upper conveying path 14a. ｕ a first position (position shown by a solid line in FIG. 2) for guiding the tray D2 to the second upper conveying path 14b; ｕ (Third upper conveying path 14c ｕ 2), and a second position (position shown by the dotted line in FIG. 2) that guides the lever to the first position.

[0042] Furthermore, the upper branch conveyor 14 ｕ The second upper stage path switch 17 ｕ The second upper stage path switcher 17 is provided. ｕ Plate D2 is placed on the upper seat conveyor R ２ｕ a first position (position shown by a solid line in FIG. 2) for guiding the tray D2 to the third upper conveying path 14c; ｕ a first position (position shown by the dotted line in FIG. 2) in which the first guide is guided to the first position;

[0043] Lower branch conveyor 14 ｄ is connected to the end position of the first kitchen conveyor 12 (more specifically, the downstream end of the conveyor unit 12e) and １１ , C １２ , seat row C ２１ , C ２２ , and audience row C ３１ , C ３２ In particular, the lower branch conveyor 14 is configured as a belt conveyor having a conveying path that branches off individually toward the entrance of the lower branch conveyor 14. ｄ is the first lower conveying path 14a ｄ and the second lower conveying path 14b ｄ and the third lower conveying path 14c ｄ and,

[0044] First lower transport path 14a ｄ is the distance from the end position of the first kitchen conveyor 12 to the seat row C １１ , C １２ Entrance (more specifically, the lower seating conveyor belt R１ｄ The second lower conveying path 14b is configured as a conveyor area that directly connects to the base end of the second lower conveying path 14b. ｄ is the distance from the end position of the first kitchen conveyor 12 to the seat row C ２１ , C ２２ Entrance (more specifically, the lower seating conveyor belt R ２ｄ The third lower conveying path 14c is configured as a conveyor area that directly connects to the base end of the third lower conveying path 14c. ｄ is the distance from the end position of the first kitchen conveyor 12 to the seat row C ３１ , C ３２ Entrance (more specifically, the lower seating conveyor belt R ３ｄ The lower conveying path 14a is configured as a conveyor area that directly connects to the base end of the lower conveying path 14a. ｄ , 14b ｄ , 14c ｄ Each lower conveying path 14a is configured with a plurality of conveyor units that can be individually switched on and off. This allows the conveying status of the plate D1 or plate D'1 to be taken into consideration (such as whether there is a local congestion of the plate D1 or plate D'1). ｄ , 14b ｄ , 14c ｄ The conveyance and stopping of the tray D1 or the tray D'1 can be adjusted partially above.

[0045] In addition, the lower branch conveyor 14 ｄ At the portion where the first kitchen conveyor 12 is connected to the end position, a first lower stage path switch 16 is provided. ｄ The first lower stage path switch 16 is provided. ｄ The tray D1 or the tray D'1 is conveyed to the third lower conveying path 14c. ｄ a first position (position indicated by a solid line in the drawing) for guiding the tray D1 or the tray D'1 to the first lower conveying path 14a; ｄ (Second lower conveying path 14b ｄ ) and a second position (position shown by the dotted line in the figure) that guides the lower branch conveyor 14. ｄ The second lower stage path switch 17 ｄ The second lower stage path switch 17 is provided. ｄ The tray D1 or D'1 is conveyed to the lower seat conveyor R ２ｄa first position for guiding the tray D1 or the tray D'1 to the first lower conveying path 14a; ｄ and a second position that guides the lever to the first position.

[0046] Each upper seat conveyor pair R １ｕ , R ２ｕ , R ３ｕ and each lower seat conveyor pair R １ｄ , R ２ｄ , R ３ｄ are arranged one above the other.

[0047] More specifically, the upper seating conveyor R １ｕ is seating row C １１ Each individual table C included in １１１ ~C １１４ and seating row C. １２ Each individual table C included in １２１ ~C １２４ The upper seat conveyor pair R ２ｕ is seating row C ２１ Each individual table C included in ２１１ ~C ２１４ and seating row C. ２２ Each individual table C included in ２２１ ~C ２２４ and a belt conveyor extending along the upper seating area. ３ｕ is seating row C ３１ Each individual table C included in ３１１ ~C ３１４ and seating row C. ３２ Each individual table C included in ３２１ ~C ３２４ and a belt conveyor extending along the

[0048] Each lower seat conveyor pair R １ｄ , R ２ｄ , R ３ｄ is the upper seat conveyor pair R １ｕ , R ２ｕ , R ３ｕ It has the same structure as

[0049] In addition, each individual table C １１１ ~C １１４ , C １２１ ~C １２４ , C ２１１ ~C ２１４ , C ２２１ ~C ２２４ , C ３１１ ~C ３１４ , C ３２１ ~C ３２４ The table terminals T operated by customers are １１１ ~T １１４ , T １２１ ~T １２４ , T ２１１ ~T ２１４ , T ２２１ ~T ２２４ , T ３１１ ~T ３１４ , T ３２１ ~T ３２４ When each table terminal T receives an input operation by a customer (such as touch panel operation for the product to be ordered), it outputs order information I ｏｄ and transmits it to the control device 100.

[0050] Furthermore, each upper conveying path 14a ｕ , 14b ｕ , 14c ｕ and each upper seat conveyor R １ｕ , R ２ｕ , R ３ｕ At the connection part of the upper seat conveyor pair R １ｕ , R ２ｕ , R ３ｕ Each upper seat path switch S for selectively guiding the passengers to one of the belt conveyors included in １ｕ , S ２ｕ , S ３ｕ Similarly, each of the lower conveying paths 14a ｄ , 14b ｄ , 14c ｄ and each lower seat conveyor R １ｄ , R ２ｄ , R ３ｄ At the connection part of the lower seat conveyor pair R, the plate D1 or the plate D'1 is １ｄ , R ２ｄ , R ３ｄEach lower seat path switch S for selectively guiding the passengers to one of the belt conveyors included in １ｄ , S ２ｄ , S ３ｄ is provided.

[0051] The control device 100 is configured by a computer programmed to be able to execute the functions described below.

[0052] 3 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the control device 100. As shown in the figure, the control device 100 has an order information processing unit 102, a cooking order determination unit 104, a display processing unit 106, a rice remover control unit 108, a neta pack preparation device control unit 112, a plate information writing unit 114, a searing cooking determination unit 115, a kitchen switch drive unit 116, a searing machine drive unit 118, a branch conveyor drive unit 122, and a customer conveyor drive unit 124.

[0053] The order information processing unit 102 receives order information I from each table terminal T. ｏｄ When the order information processing unit 102 acquires the order information I, the following order information processing is performed. ｏｄ The order information I in this embodiment is recorded in an internal memory (not shown) or an external storage area (a predetermined server or cloud, etc.) that can be accessed as needed. ｏｄ The information includes identification information for the plate D used for each order, information identifying the individual table where the order was placed (hereinafter referred to as the "table ID"), information indicating the product items to be ordered (order details), information indicating whether additional cooking (broiling) is required (hereinafter referred to as the "cooking information"), and information indicating the time the order was placed (hereinafter referred to as the "order time").

[0054] In addition, the order information processing unit 102 processes the order information I ｏｄThe order information processing unit 102 divides the product items related to the orders placed within a predetermined time from the order date (especially the time of order) into a first product item (sushi menu) to be cooked in the first kitchen K1 and a second product item (gunkan menu) to be cooked in the second kitchen K2. More specifically, the order information processing unit 102 refers to a database that pre-stores the product items to be cooked in the first kitchen K1 and the second kitchen K2, and then calculates the order information I from the obtained order information I. ｏｄ The merchandise items included in the list are classified into first merchandise items and second merchandise items.

[0055] Furthermore, the order information processing unit 102 refers to the order time of each product item and calculates the order sequence of each order classified into the first product item (hereinafter referred to as the "first order sequence") and the order sequence of each order classified into the second product item (hereinafter referred to as the "second order sequence"). ｏｄ The order information processing unit 102 generates information (hereinafter referred to as "first order order information") that links the first order order to the identification information, cooking information, and table ID of the plate D (plate D supplied to the first kitchen conveyor 12) included in the order information I. ｏｄ The order information processing unit 102 then generates information (hereinafter referred to as "second order order information") linking the second order order to the identification information and table ID of the plate D (supplied to the second kitchen conveyor 32) included in the table. The order information processing unit 102 then outputs the generated first order order information and second order order information to the cooking order determination unit 104.

[0056] The cooking order determination unit 104 executes the following cooking order determination process using the first order order information and the second order order information as input. Specifically, the cooking order determination unit 104 generates first cooking order information from the first order order information and generates second cooking order information from the second order order information. Here, the first cooking order information is determined as information linking the first order order information with the order in which the cooking will be performed in the first kitchen K1 (hereinafter referred to as the "first cooking order"). Furthermore, the second cooking order information is determined as information linking the second order order information with the order in which the cooking will be performed in the second kitchen K2 (hereinafter referred to as the "second cooking order"). Note that the first and second cooking orders may be determined to match the first and second order orders, respectively, or may be determined as an order that is an appropriate variation of these orders.

[0057] Then, the cooking order determination unit 104 outputs the generated first cooking order information and second cooking order information to the display processing unit 106, the rice removal device control unit 108, the neta pack preparation device control unit 112, the dish information writing unit 114, and the searing cooking judgment unit 115.

[0058] The display processing unit 106 references the first cooking order information and displays the first product items ordered within the predetermined time period together with the first cooking order on the display device of the first kitchen K1. The display processing unit 106 also references the second cooking order information and displays the second product items ordered within the predetermined time period together with the second cooking order on the display device of the second kitchen K2.

[0059] The sushi rice removal device control unit 108 refers to the first cooking order information to calculate the number of first product items ordered within the specified time period (hereinafter referred to as the "first order number") and outputs a command signal to the sushi rice placement device 21 to place sushi rice on a number of plates D corresponding to the first order number. The sushi rice removal device control unit 108 also refers to the second cooking order information to calculate the number of second product items ordered within the specified time period (hereinafter referred to as the "second order number") and outputs a command signal to the gunkan sushi rice placement device 41 to place sushi rice wrapped in nori seaweed (gunkan sushi rice) on a number of plates D corresponding to the second order number.

[0060] The ingredient pack preparation device control unit 112 references the first cooking order information to identify the first through third product items specified by the first cooking order among the first product items ordered within the specified time period.The ingredient pack preparation device control unit 112 then outputs a command signal to the ingredient pack preparation device 22 so that each ingredient pack P1 of sushi ingredients corresponding to each identified product item is prepared before the cooking staff member O1.The ingredient pack preparation device control unit 112 also references the second cooking order information to identify the first through third product items of the second product items ordered within the specified time period as specified by the second cooking order.The ingredient pack preparation device control unit 112 then outputs a command signal to the gunkan ingredient pack preparation device 42 so that each gunkan sushi ingredient pack P2 corresponding to each identified product item is prepared before the cooking staff member O2.

[0061] When the plate information writing unit 114 receives a signal from the RFID writer 24 (a signal indicating the arrival of plate D1), it performs a process of writing specified plate information to plate D1 by referring to the first cooking order information. More specifically, the plate information writing unit 114 counts the number of plates that arrive at the RFID writer 24 and compares the count value with the first cooking order of each product item included in the first cooking order information to identify the first cooking order associated with the plate D1 that has currently arrived at the RFID writer 24, and extracts the table ID of plate D1 from the first cooking order information using the identified first cooking order as a key. The plate information writing unit 114 then generates plate information including at least the table ID and operates the RFID writer 24 to write the plate information to plate D1.

[0062] In addition, when the plate information writing unit 114 receives a signal from the RFID writer 44 (a signal indicating the arrival of plate D2), it refers to the second cooking order information and performs a process to write plate information to plate D2 in a similar process to the writing of plate information to plate D1.

[0063] When the searing determination unit 115 receives a signal from the RFID writer 24 (a signal indicating the arrival of plate D1), it references the first cooking order information and determines whether the sushi on plate D1 needs to be seared. More specifically, the searing determination unit 115 identifies the first cooking order associated with plate D1 that has currently arrived at RFID writer 24 using the same process as the plate information writer 114, and extracts cooking information for plate D1 from the first cooking order information using the identified first cooking order as a key. Furthermore, the searing determination unit 115 determines whether the sushi on plate D1 needs to be seared based on the extracted cooking information, and generates a flag (necessity flag) indicating the result of the determination.

[0064] The kitchen switch driver 116 refers to the necessity flag and operates the conveyance path switch 13. More specifically, when the necessity flag has a value of 0 (when searing is not required), the kitchen switch driver 116 operates the conveyance path switch 13 so that conveyance of the plate D1 by the conveyor unit 12b is maintained (so that the plate D1 is guided to the first conveyance path). On the other hand, when the necessity flag has a value of 1 (when searing is required), the kitchen switch driver 116 operates the conveyance path switch 13 so that the plate D1 is guided from the conveyor unit 12b to the conveyor unit 12d.

[0065] When the grilling machine drive unit 118 receives a signal (grilling machine arrival signal) from a sensor or the like (not shown) indicating that the plate D1 has reached the automatic grilling machine 23, it outputs a command signal to the automatic grilling machine 23 so that the sushi placed on the plate D1 is automatically grilled.

[0066] When the branch conveyor driving unit 122 receives a signal from the RFID reader 26 (a signal including the arrival detection of the plate D1 or the plate D1′ and the plate information), it refers to the received plate information and drives the lower branch conveyor 14 ｄ , first lower stage path switch 16 ｄ , and the second lower stage path switch 17 ｄ More specifically, the branch conveyor driving unit 122 drives (operates) the tray D1 (or the tray D1') between the first kitchen conveyor 12 and the lower branch conveyor 14. ｄFrom the connection part of any of the lower seat conveyor pairs (R １ｄ , R ２ｄ , or R ３ｄ ) so that the lower branch conveyor 14 ｄ , the first lower stage path switch 16 ｄ and the position adjustment of the second lower stage path switch 17 ｄ Perform position adjustment.

[0067] Furthermore, when the branch conveyor driving unit 122 receives a signal from the RFID reader 46 (a signal including the arrival detection of the plate D2 and the plate information), it refers to the received plate information and drives the upper branch conveyor 14 ｕ , first upper stage path switch 16 ｕ , and the second upper stage path switch 17 ｕ More specifically, the branch conveyor driving unit 122 drives (operates) the second kitchen conveyor 32 and the upper branch conveyor 14. ｕ From the connection part of any of the upper seat conveyor pairs (R １ｕ , R ２ｕ , or R ３ｕ ) to the upper branch conveyor 14 ｕ driving the first upper stage path switch 16 ｕ and the position adjustment of the second upper stage path switch 17 ｕ Perform position adjustment.

[0068] The customer conveyor driving unit 124 is an RFID reader 51 ｄ , 52 ｄ , 53 ｄ When a signal (a signal including the arrival detection of the plate D1 or the plate D1' and the plate information) is received from the １ｄ , S ２ｄ , S ３ｄ , and each lower seat conveyor pair R １ｄ , R ２ｄ , R ３ｄ More specifically, the RFID reader 51 ｄWhen the signal is received from the customer conveyor driving unit 124, the lower stage path switching unit S １ｄ and the position adjustment of the corresponding seat conveyor (seat conveyor R １ｄ The drive of the conveyor (any of the conveyors included in

[0069] In particular, the customer conveyor drive unit 124 drives the tray D1 or D1' through the lower stage path switch S １ｄ By adjusting the position of the plate D1 or D1', the plate is guided to the desired seating conveyor (row of seats) corresponding to the table ID, and the seating conveyor is driven at a predetermined speed for a predetermined time and then stopped. Here, the predetermined time is determined in advance as the time it takes for the plate D1 or D1' to reach the individual table to be served from the entrance of the seating conveyor to which it has been guided according to the predetermined speed.

[0070] In addition, the RFID reader 52 ｄ or RFID reader 53 ｄ The same applies to the control when a signal is received from the

[0071] Furthermore, the customer conveyor driving unit 124 is an RFID reader 51 ｕ , 52 ｕ , 53 ｕ When a signal (a signal including the arrival detection of the dish D2 and the dish information) is received from the upper seating section, the upper seating section path switch S １ｕ , S ２ｕ , S ３ｕ , and each upper seat conveyor pair R １ｕ , R ２ｕ , R ３ｕ The details of this control are described in the RFID reader 51. ｄ , 52 ｄ , 53 ｄ The control is the same as when a signal is acquired from

[0072] Next, an example of a specific operation of the food and drink conveying system 10 having the above configuration will be described.

[0073] Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of food and drink conveying system 10. In particular, Fig. 4 shows the process of conveying sushi cooked in first cooking area K1 to each individual table.

[0074] In the example shown in Figure 4, first, the control device 100 (particularly the order information processing unit 102) executes the order information processing (step S10), and then the control device 100 (cooking order determination unit 104) executes the cooking order determination process (step S20).

[0075] Then, under the control of the control device 100 (particularly the rice removal device control unit 108 and the neta pack preparation device control unit 112), the rice placement device 21 places rice on the plate D (step T10), and the neta pack preparation device 22 removes the neta pack P1 (step T20).

[0076] Thereafter, the cooking staff member O1 attaches the toppings to the rice on the plates D (step U10). More specifically, with the first kitchen conveyor 12 (more specifically, conveyor unit 12a) stopped, the cooking staff member O1 attaches the sushi toppings from each of the prepared topping packs P1 to the rice on the multiple plates D (three in this embodiment) prepared in front of him / her while checking the first cooking order displayed on the display device.

[0077] When the cooking staff member O1 finishes the sushi topping work, the manual switch sw1 is operated (step U20), which drives the first kitchen conveyor 12 (more specifically, conveyor unit 12a) (step U30), and the plate D1 with the toppings on it is sent to conveyor unit 12b.

[0078] When the plate D1 reaches the RFID writer 24, the control device 100 (particularly the plate information writer 114) writes the plate information corresponding to the plate D1 (step S30). Furthermore, the control device 100 (particularly the broiling determination unit 115) determines whether or not the sushi on the plate D1 needs to be broiled (step S40).

[0079] If it is determined that searing is not required, the control device 100 (particularly the kitchen switch drive unit 116) guides the plate D1 to the first conveying path (the path from 12b to 12c to 12e) (step T40). On the other hand, if it is determined that searing is required (step S40 is Yes), the kitchen switch drive unit 116 guides the plate D1 to the second conveying path (the path from 12b to 12d to 12e) (step T50). Then, when the plate D1 reaches the automatic searing device 23 on the second conveying path, the control device 100 (particularly the searing device drive unit 118) controls the automatic searing device 23 to sear the sushi on the plate D1 (step T60).

[0080] Then, plate D1 that has not been seared and plate D1' that has been seared join each other at junction J of conveyor unit 12e (step T70). Then, when the plate information of plate D1 or plate D1' is read by RFID reader 26 (step S50), each actuator is operated by control device 100 (particularly branch conveyor drive unit 122 and customer conveyor drive unit 124), and plate D1 or plate D1' is transported to the desired individual table.

[0081] This allows plates D1 that should be transported directly to the branch conveyor 14 after being cooked in the first cooking area K1, and plates D1' that should be cooked in the first cooking area K1 and then additionally seared and transported to the branch conveyor 14 to be transported from within the kitchen to the desired individual table via a common branch route.

[0082] (Effects of this embodiment) In this embodiment, a food and beverage conveying system 10 is provided that conveys plates D within the kitchen while conveying food and beverage (sushi) prepared by combining a first ingredient (rice) and a second ingredient (sushi toppings) in a cooking area (first cooking area K1) within the kitchen on plates (D1, D1') to each customer seat.

[0083] This food and drink conveying system 10 includes a first food ingredient preparation device (rice placing device 21) that places rice on plates D sent to a cooking area (first cooking area K1) in the kitchen, a second food ingredient preparation device (sushi pack preparation device 22) that prepares sushi toppings in the first cooking area K1, and a customer seat side conveying device (14, R) that conveys plates (D1, D1') with sushi cooked in the first cooking area K1. １ｄ , R ２ｄ , R ３ｄ The control device 100 receives sushi order information I ｏｄ When the sushi tray conveyance route D1, D1' is acquired, one of the multiple conveyance routes within the kitchen is selected to supply the plate (D1, D1') carrying the sushi to the conveyance device on the customer seating side.

[0084] This allows the system to selectively use one of multiple in-kitchen transport paths when transporting plates (D1, D1') carrying sushi cooked in the first kitchen K1 to the customer-side transport device, by referring to information such as whether the sushi requires additional cooking. Therefore, food and beverages that are prepared in the first kitchen K1 and served to customers can be transported to the customer-side transport device via separate routes, from food and beverages that require further processing. This allows variations in cooking time for each product to be absorbed during the transport process within the kitchen, preventing a decline in food and beverage serving efficiency due to such variations.

[0085] In the food and beverage conveying system 10 of this embodiment, the plurality of conveying paths include at least a first conveying path (path from 12b to 12e via 12c) and a second conveying path (path from 12b to 12e via 12d). The first conveying path is a path from the first kitchen K1 to the customer seating side conveying device (particularly the lower branch conveyor 14 ｄ The second conveying path leads directly to the customer seating side conveying device (particularly the lower branch conveyor 14) via additional cooking equipment (automatic grilling machine 23) that performs additional cooking (grilling) on ​​the sushi cooked in the first cooking area K1. ｄ ) leads to

[0086] As a result, if the plate D1 that has passed through the first cooking area K1 does not require additional cooking, it is transported directly to the customer seating side transport device via the first transport path, and if the plate D1 requires broiling, it is transported to the common customer seating side transport device (lower branch conveyor 14) via the second transport path that has an automatic broiling machine 23 interposed therebetween. ｄ Therefore, it is possible to realize a more specific configuration for absorbing variations in cooking time depending on whether or not additional cooking is required.

[0087] Furthermore, food and beverage conveying system 10 includes an in-kitchen switching device (conveyor path switch 13) that is located upstream of branch point B, which is the base point of the first and second conveying paths, and that guides plates D1 carrying cooked food and beverages to a designated in-kitchen conveying path. Control device 100 then operates conveying path switch 13 so that plates D1 carrying cooked sushi are guided to either the designated first or second conveying path.

[0088] This realizes a specific configuration for appropriately distributing dishes D1 that have been cooked in the first cooking area K1 between the first conveying path and the second conveying path depending on whether or not additional cooking is required.

[0089] Furthermore, when the control device 100 detects that the dish D1 is approaching the branching section B (when it acquires a signal from the RFID writer 24), it reads the order information I ｏｄ If the control device 100 determines that additional cooking is necessary, it operates the conveying path switch 13 to guide the plate D1 to the first conveying path. On the other hand, if the control device 100 determines that additional cooking is not necessary, it operates the conveying path switch 13 to guide the plate D1 to the second conveying path.

[0090] As a result, the dish D1 that has been cooked in the first kitchen K1 is sent to the order information I ｏｄ A specific control logic is realized for appropriately allocating the food to the first conveying path and the second conveying path depending on whether or not additional cooking is required, as determined from the above.

[0091] In the food and drink conveying system 10 of this embodiment, the customer seat side conveying device (lower branch conveyor 14 ｄ ) has a plurality of branched conveying paths (14aｄ , 14b ｄ , 14c ｄ ), and a plurality of branch conveying paths (14a) for conveying the plates (D1, D1') conveyed from the first conveying path and the second conveying path. ｄ , 14b ｄ , 14c ｄ A switching device (16) that guides the ｄ , 17 ｄ In particular, the first conveying path and the second conveying path join at a joining point J downstream of the automatic roasting machine 23 and are connected to the lower branch conveyor 14 ｄ Furthermore, upstream of the junction J, there is provided a writing device (RFID writer 24) that writes plate information, including information indicating the destination, onto the plate D1. ｄ A reading device (RFID reader 26) for reading the plate information is provided upstream of the plate information reading device 26.

[0092] Then, when the control device 100 detects that the plate D1 has reached the RFID writer 24, the control device 100 reads the order information I ｏｄ The control device 100 generates dish information according to the received dish information and writes the generated dish information to the dish D1 by operating the RFID writer 24. When the control device 100 detects that the dish (D1, D1') has reached the RFID reader 26, it refers to the dish information read by the RFID reader 26 and writes the generated dish information to the switching device (16). ｄ , 17 ｄ ) to move the trays (D1, D1') along a plurality of branched conveying paths (14a ｄ , 14b ｄ , 14c ｄ ) will be directed to one of the following.

[0093] As a result, after being cooked in the first cooking area K1, the food is directly sent to the lower branch conveyor 14 ｄ and the dishes D1 that are cooked in the first cooking area K1 and then further grilled and then delivered to the lower branch conveyor 14. ｄ The plate D1' conveyed to the tray D1 can be conveyed to a desired individual table via a common branch conveying path.

[0094] Although the present embodiment has been described above, the above embodiment merely shows an application example of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention to the specific configuration of the above embodiment.

[0095] For example, the first kitchen conveyor 12, the second kitchen conveyor 32, the branch conveyor 14, and the upper seat conveyor pairs R in the above embodiment may be １ｕ , R ２ｕ , R ３ｕ , and each lower seat conveyor pair R １ｄ , R ２ｄ , R ３ｄ The specific structure of the above is an example, and various modifications are possible within the scope in which the effects of the present invention can be realized.

[0096] In this embodiment, the first kitchen K1 performs the sushi topping process, and the second kitchen K2 performs the gunkan topping process. However, other cooking methods may be used. For example, the first kitchen K1 may perform the sushi topping process and the subsequent process of adding predetermined toppings (an additional process that can be performed by hand in a relatively short time). The same applies to the second kitchen K2. Furthermore, instead of or in addition to the searing process using the automatic searing machine 23, other additional cooking methods (such as grilling the surface of the sushi or applying seasonings such as sauces to the sushi) may be used.

[0097] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, an example was described in which sushi rice (rice sushi rice) is prepared on a plate D as a first ingredient, and sushi toppings (sushi toppings) are combined with the first ingredient and cooked. The sushi is then delivered to the customer-side delivery device either as is or after additional cooking (broiling). However, the configuration of the food and beverage delivery system 10 of the above embodiment can also be applied, with appropriate modifications, to food and beverages prepared using other combinations of first and second ingredients. For example, a ramen noodle may be prepared on a plate (bowl) in the first cooking area K1, and the ramen may be cooked by combining the soup with the noodles. The ramen may then be delivered to the customer-side delivery device either as is or after additional cooking, such as adding specific toppings.

[0098] Furthermore, the processes performed by the control device 100 shown in this embodiment are merely examples for realizing this embodiment, and the order of some of the processes may be changed, some of the processes may be omitted, or other processes may be added, within the scope that allows this embodiment to be realized. Furthermore, programs for executing the processes performed by the control device 100 shown in this embodiment and computer-readable recording media that store the programs are also included within the scope of the matters described in the specification, etc., as originally filed.

[0099] This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-32057, filed with the Japan Patent Office on March 4, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

1. A food and beverage conveying system that conveys plates within a kitchen and conveys food and beverages cooked in a cooking area within the kitchen by combining a first ingredient and a second ingredient on the plates to each customer seat, comprising: a first ingredient preparation device that places the first ingredient on plates sent to the kitchen; a second ingredient preparation device that prepares the second ingredient in the kitchen; multiple kitchen conveying paths for supplying the plates carrying the food and beverages cooked in the kitchen to a customer seating conveying device; and a control device, wherein when the control device obtains food and beverage order information, it selects one of the multiple kitchen conveying paths for supplying the plates carrying the food and beverages to the customer seating conveying device.

2. A food and beverage conveying system as described in claim 1, wherein the multiple in-kitchen conveying paths include at least a first conveying path and a second conveying path, the first conveying path runs directly from the kitchen to the customer-side conveying device, and the second conveying path connects to the customer-side conveying device via additional cooking equipment that performs additional cooking on the food and beverages cooked in the kitchen.

3. A food and beverage conveying system as described in claim 2, further comprising an in-kitchen switching device that is located upstream of the branch point that is the base point of the first conveying path and the second conveying path and guides the plate carrying the cooked food and beverage to one of the designated in-kitchen conveying paths, and the control device operates the in-kitchen switching device so that the plate carrying the cooked food and beverage is guided to either the designated first conveying path or the designated second conveying path.

4. A food and beverage conveying system as described in claim 3, wherein the control device, when it detects that the plate has approached the branching section, determines whether or not additional cooking is required in accordance with the order information, and if it determines that additional cooking is required, operates the kitchen switching device to guide the plate to the first conveying path, and if it determines that additional cooking is not required, operates the kitchen switching device to guide the plate to the second conveying path.

5. A food and beverage conveying system as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein the customer-side conveying device includes a plurality of branching conveying paths and a switching device for guiding the plates conveyed from the first conveying path and the second conveying path to one of the plurality of branching conveying paths, the first conveying path and the second conveying path merge at a junction downstream of the additional cooking equipment and connect to the customer-side conveying device, a writing device is provided upstream of the junction for writing plate information onto the plates including information indicating the destination, and a reading device is provided downstream of the junction and upstream of the customer-side conveying device for reading the plate information, and the control device, upon detecting that the plate has reached the writing device, generates the plate information according to the order information and writes the generated plate information onto the plate by operating the writing device, and upon detecting that the plate has reached the reading device, operates the switching device to guide the plate to one of the plurality of branching conveying paths by referring to the plate information read by the reading device.

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