JP4121887B2 - Food container transport device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a food container transport device that cleans a crescent conveyor or the like that transports food containers or the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a food container transport device that is provided to a customer by placing it on a crescent chain that circulates and transports a plate on which sushi is placed.
[0003]
In this transport path, in order to transport mainly dishes on which sushi or the like is placed, sushi scraps or sauces spill or spill on the transport path, especially the crescent chain that circulates on the transport path. In some cases, dirt may wrap around and adhere to the back surface. In order to remove the adhered dirt, the crescent chain must be removed, which necessitates cleaning. For this reason, a cleaning device according to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-79188 has been known to keep the back surface of the crescent chain clean by cleaning the conveyance path (see Patent Document 1).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2002-79188 A (Claims, FIG. 6)
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Operating with dirt on the transport path is not preferable in terms of the appearance and hygiene of the transport path, and foreign matter exists between the crescent chain and the transport path, so that the crescent chain is smooth. There was a risk of being unable to go around.
[0006]
The present invention has been made paying attention to such problems, and adheres without stopping the conveyance path even during business hours when dirt adheres to the conveyance path, particularly the back surface of the crescent chain. It is an object of the present invention to provide a food container transport device capable of automatically removing dirt.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the food container transport device of the present invention is a food container transport device in which an endless crescent chain is provided on a transport path. A cleaning tool for cleaning the device is attached by being biased upward by a magnetic bearing.
According to this feature, even if the height of the back surface of the crescent chain changes, the cleaning tool is urged upward and always comes into close contact with the back surface of the crescent chain. Dirt adhered to the back surface of the transport plate is surely removed.
[0008]
In the food container transport device according to the present invention, the magnetic bearing is composed of an outer magnetic member and an inner magnetic member, and the polarity of the inner magnetic member and the outer magnetic member facing in the same polarity are at least on the lower side of the magnetic bearing. It is preferable that it is disposed.
In this way, since the outer magnetic member is disposed on the lower side of the magnetic bearing, the cleaning tool can be biased upward with a small force.
[0009]
In the food container transport device according to the present invention, the outer magnetic member constituting the magnetic bearing has an arc shape and is arranged as a magnet piece divided into at least upper and lower parts, and at least the magnet piece of the strong magnetic force among the magnet pieces. It is preferable that the roller center disposed on the lower side is configured to be positioned above the shaft center of the outer magnetic member.
In this case, the outer magnetic member constituting the magnetic bearing has an arc shape, and the magnetic force of the magnet piece arranged on the lower side is strong. Therefore, the magnet piece attached on the lower side and the roller A strong repulsive force urging upward is generated by the attached magnet piece so that the position of the roller is easily urged upward so that the axis of the roller is positioned above the axis of the outer magnetic member. Can be set.
[0010]
In the food container transport device of the present invention, it is preferable that the outer magnetic member has an arc shape and is disposed only below the inner magnetic member.
If it does in this way, the number of parts of an external magnetic member can be reduced and cost reduction can be expected.
[0011]
In the food container transport device of the present invention, it is preferable that a plurality of the rollers are disposed, and a cleaning tool is stretched around the rollers.
In this way, it is possible to clean the back surface of the transport plate of the crescent chain over a larger area at once by passing the cleaning tool around the plurality of rollers.
[0012]
The food and drink container conveying device according to the present invention includes the plurality of rollers over which the cleaning implement is stretched, the plurality of magnetic bearings, both side surfaces holding the bearings, and a base frame supporting the both side surfaces. It is preferable that the cleaning apparatus comprised from these is formed detachably with respect to the said conveying apparatus.
If it does in this way, when exchanging a cleaning instrument, since it can take out and replace | exchange with the cleaning apparatus, the replacement | exchange operation | work of a cleaning instrument can be implemented easily.
[0013]
In the food container transport device of the present invention, the cleaning implement is preferably an endless nonwoven fabric.
In this way, the cleaning tool gradually moves due to the friction between the back surface of the transport plate and the endless nonwoven fabric with the rotation of the crescent chain, and the back surface of the transport plate can be cleaned with a constantly unused nonwoven fabric. It can be cleaned without changing the cleaning tool for a long time.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a food container transport apparatus 1 as an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from above. A crescent conveyor 3 composed of a plurality of crescent chains 2 rotates endlessly, and transports the food container S, and around the food container transport device 1 A chair 4 is provided for a restaurant to sit on.
[0015]
On the left side in the drawing of the transport device, there is provided a cleaning device 5 which will be described in detail after the cleaning implement in this embodiment is accommodated.
[0016]
FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the cleaning device together with a perspective view in which a part of the food container transport device 1 is omitted, and FIG. 3 shows an AA cross-sectional view thereof.
[0017]
The food container transport device 1 includes a metal base 1a and a pair of transport rails 6 made of a synthetic resin extending on the base 1a. In addition, a flat metal base frame 1b is provided below the base 1a. Further, a wall portion 7 is provided on the side surface of the base 1a so that the food and drink container does not deviate from the conveyance path.
[0018]
A removable wall piece 7 ′ is provided at a predetermined position of the wall portion 7, and when performing the replacement work of the cleaning device 5, the wall piece 7 ′ is pulled up to insert the insertion portion 7 a into the hole portion 7 b. The wall piece 7 ′ is removed from the conveying device 1 by being pulled out from the carrying device 1 and the replacement work is carried out.
[0019]
The base 1a is formed with an accommodation recess 8 that can be accommodated just by the cleaning device 5, and the lower surface of the accommodation recess 8 is formed by cutting the base frame 1b below the base 1a. A slide groove 9 is provided for holding the device 5 in the housing recess 8.
[0020]
The crescent chain 2 is composed of a transport plate 2a on which a food and drink container such as sushi is placed, and a chain portion 2b, both of which are composed of a material such as synthetic resin or metal, and the transport rail 6 And the back surface 2a 'of the transport plate 2a are rotated so as to be in sliding contact with each other to transport the food and drink container.
[0021]
Next, the configuration of the cleaning device 5 will be described. The substantially U-shaped base frame 10 opened upward, and the base frame 10 have left and right sides opened in the longitudinal direction, and the left and right openings are closed. Side portions 11 are provided on the left and right, respectively.
[0022]
In addition, the left and right side surface portions 11, 11 incorporate a plurality of outer magnetic members 21 (see FIG. 4A) of a magnetic bearing 12 to be described later. The inner magnetic member 20 (see FIG. 4A) is supported, and a plurality of the rollers 13 are provided. Further, a cleaning cloth 14 as a cleaning tool is provided around the roller 13 in a state of being wound around.
[0023]
The cleaning cloth 14 is composed of an endless nonwoven fabric, and the dirt on the back surface 2a ′ of the transport plate 2a is adsorbed and removed in the gap between the fibers of the nonwoven fabric.
[0024]
A reinforcing piece 15 for preventing loosening of the cleaning cloth 14 of the cleaning device 5 is provided between the rollers 13 on the upper part of one inner surface of the side surface portion 11.
[0025]
Similarly to the reinforcing piece 15, tension rollers 16 that adjust the tension of the cleaning cloth 14 when the cleaning cloth 14 is stretched are provided at both lower portions of the inner surface of the side surface portion 11.
[0026]
As described above, the cleaning cloth 14 is stretched around the plurality of rollers 13, whereby the back surface 2 a ′ of the transport plate 2 a of the crescent chain 2 can be cleaned over a larger area at a time.
[0027]
On the bottom of the base frame 10, a slide piece 17 having a substantially trapezoidal shape in side view for fixing the cleaning device 5 to the base 1 a and the base frame 1 b is provided, and the slide piece 17 is aligned with the slide groove 9. Then, the cleaning device 5 can be provided in the transport device 1 by sliding the cleaning device 5 horizontally into the transport device 1 from the side.
[0028]
Further, the side surface portions 11 and 11 can be fixed to the base frame 10 by screws 18 provided at corner portions thereof.
[0029]
Next, the roller 13 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIGS. 4 and 5 are both schematic views showing the operation of the magnetic bearing. The roller 13 has a metal shaft 19 passing through the center thereof. The shaft 19 is fixed to the roller 13. Magnetic bearings 12 and 12 are respectively attached to both ends of the shaft 19 so as to rotate. Further, male screw portions 19a and 19a are cut off at the end of the shaft 19, respectively.
[0030]
The magnetic bearings 12 and 12 are composed of an inner magnetic member 20 fixed to the roller 13 and an outer magnetic member 21 located on the outer periphery thereof, so that the inner magnetic member 20 is located inside the outer magnetic member 21. Is formed.
[0031]
The inner magnetic member 20 includes a doughnut-shaped magnet piece 20a having a hole in the center, and a locking piece 20b for locking the shaft 19 and the magnet piece 20a inside the hole of the magnet piece 20a. Yes. The locking piece 20b is provided with a female screw portion 20c at the center thereof, and the inner magnetic member 20 is fixed to the shaft 19 by screwing the female screw portion 20c to the male screw portion 19a. Yes.
[0032]
The outer magnetic member 21 is provided with, for example, six pieces so that the arc-shaped magnet pieces 21a are substantially circular, and the magnet pieces 21a are provided so that the intervals are equal. A circular holding piece 21b for holding the magnet piece 21a is provided around the magnet piece 21a.
[0033]
The magnet pieces 20a and 21a provided in the inner magnetic member 20 and the outer magnetic member 21 have the same polarity (N pole in this embodiment) of the opposing surfaces of the magnets, and the magnet piece 20a. , 21a repel each other due to the magnetic force generated, so that the inner magnetic member 20 is lifted without touching the inside of the outer magnetic member 21, and the outer magnetic member 21 and the inner magnetic member 20 are used as a bearing without causing friction. It is like that.
[0034]
Further, when the magnetic bearing 12 used in this embodiment is used, the magnet piece 21a 'disposed below the magnet piece 21a disposed above the outer magnetic member 21 is a magnet having a strong magnetic force. Thus, as shown in FIG. 4A, the inner magnetic member 20 is positioned above the outer magnetic member 21.
[0035]
Next, a method for assembling the cleaning device 5 and a method for replacing the cleaning cloth 14 will be described with reference to FIG. First, the method of taking out the cleaning device 5 from the conveying device 1 is such that the wall piece 7 'is drawn upward and the cleaning device 5 is pulled out horizontally toward the side where the wall portion 7 is located. Since the chain portion 2b of the crescent chain 2 is present in the central portion of the conveyance path, it is difficult to extract toward the central portion, and it is easier to extract toward the side where the wall portion 7 is present. The cleaning device 5 can be extracted.
[0036]
Next, regarding the disassembling method of the extracted cleaning device 5, first, the screw 18 that locks the side surface portion 11 is removed, and the locking piece 20 b of the magnetic bearing 12 provided on each roller 13 is rotated to turn the shaft. 19 is removed and the side part 11 is opened.
[0037]
When replacing the cleaning cloth 14, the cleaning cloth 14 stretched over the roller 13 and the tension roller 16 is pulled out to remove the dirty cleaning cloth 14 from the cleaning device 5, and a new cleaning cloth 14 is attached. It can be exchanged by passing over a roller 13 or a tension roller 16.
[0038]
When assembling the cleaning device 5, the cleaning device 5 can be assembled by following the above disassembling method in reverse.
[0039]
As shown in FIG. 4, as described above, since the lower magnet piece 21a ′ of the outer magnetic member 21 is provided with a magnet having a stronger magnetic force than the upper magnet piece 21a, as described above, The inner magnetic member 20 is always guided upward.
[0040]
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the operation of the roller 13. When the cleaning cloth 14 is placed around the roller 13 and the crescent chain 2 is provided above the cleaning device 5, the tension of the cleaning cloth 14 is reached. The inner magnetic member 20 is pushed downward by the weight of the crescent chain 2 so that the inner magnetic member 20 is lowered below the position shown in FIG. 4 as shown in FIG. At this time, since the inner magnetic member 20 and the roller 13 are connected via the shaft 19, as shown in FIG. 6B, the position of the roller 13 is loaded similarly to the movement of the inner magnetic member 20. It is configured to descend downward from the state of FIG.
[0041]
The crescent chain 2 is provided above the cleaning device 5, and the inner magnetic member 20 is lowered downward from a state in which no load is applied while the cleaning cloth 14 and the back surface 2 a ′ of the crescent chain 2 are in close contact with each other ( 5 (a)), for example, when the seam portion of the crescent chain 2 passes over the cleaning device 5, or when the back surface 2a 'of the crescent chain 2 is uneven, In the recessed portion, the load on the roller 13 decreases, and the inner magnetic member 20 that has been lowered downward moves upward when the load decreases, and the inner magnetic member 20 floats upward to attach the cleaning cloth 14 upward. Therefore, the cleaning cloth 14 and the back surface 2a ′ are always in close contact with each other.
[0042]
As described above, even when the joint portion of the crescent chain 2 passes or the back surface 2a ′ is uneven due to the vertical position of the inner magnetic member 20 being changed by the load applied to the roller 13 from above. By properly changing the position of the inner magnetic member 20, the cleaning cloth 14 and the back surface 2 a ′ are in close contact with each other, and the back surface 2 a ′ can be reliably cleaned with the cleaning cloth 14. Further, as the crescent chain 2 rotates, the cleaning cloth 14 gradually moves due to friction between the back surface 2a 'of the transport plate 2a and the cleaning cloth 14, and thereby the transport plate 2a is always used with an unused cleaning cloth. Can be cleaned without changing the cleaning cloth 14 for a long period of time.
[0043]
In the present embodiment, the magnetic bearing 12 is applied as a roller bearing. However, the magnetic bearing 12 is composed of the outer magnetic member 21 and the inner magnetic member 20 as compared with a commonly used ball bearing. Since there is no friction between them, there is no rattling during rotation, it rotates smoothly, and there is little generation of drive noise. In addition, since a space is formed between the outer magnetic member 21 and the inner magnetic member 20, cleaning can be easily performed even if dirt such as sushi scraps or sauce enters the inside of the bearing.
[0044]
Further, as described above, the magnetic bearing 12 does not generate any friction between the outer magnetic member 21 and the inner magnetic member 20, so that a space is generated between the outer magnetic member 21 and the inner magnetic member 20. Therefore, even when a load is applied from the top, the bearing itself has cushioning properties, and since food and drink such as sushi is usually placed in the food and drink container S, the impact on the food and drink container is affected. It is possible to reduce the number of foods and beverages that are placed without causing them to collapse.
[0045]
The embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and the present invention can be modified or added without departing from the scope of the present invention. included.
[0046]
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the outer magnetic member 21 of the magnetic bearing 12 is provided with a magnet having a stronger magnetic force in the magnet piece 21a ′ disposed below the magnet piece 21a disposed above. However, as shown in FIG. 7A, even when the magnet piece 21'a is disposed only below the outer magnetic member 21 ', the magnetic force from the magnet piece from above can be received as in the above-described embodiment. Therefore, the inner magnetic member 20 ′ can be raised upward with a small force.
[0047]
Further, in the embodiment and FIG. 7A, the magnet pieces 21a and 21a ′ provided on the outer magnetic members 21 and 21 ′ are composed of a plurality of magnet pieces, but in FIG. As shown, it is needless to say that even if one magnet piece 121a is provided, it is possible to obtain the same operation as in the above-described embodiment.
[0048]
Further, as shown in FIG. 7, by providing the magnet piece 21 a ′ only below the outer magnetic member 21 ′, cost reduction can be expected as compared with providing the magnet piece on the entire outer magnetic member.
[0049]
In the above embodiment, metal is applied to the base frame 10 as a material. However, synthetic resin may be used as the other material, so that the slide groove 9 can be easily cut. Although it is preferable from the above, the present invention is not limited to this.
[0050]
【The invention's effect】
The present invention has the following effects.
[0051]
(A) According to the invention of claim 1, even if the height of the back surface of the crescent chain changes, the cleaning implement is urged upward and comes into close contact with the back surface of the crescent chain. Dirt adhering to the back surface of the transport plate is reliably removed by driving the crescent chain.
[0052]
(B) According to the invention of claim 2, since the outer magnetic member is disposed on the lower side of the magnetic bearing, the cleaning implement can be biased upward with a small force.
[0053]
(C) According to the invention of claim 3, the outer magnetic member constituting the magnetic bearing has an arc shape, and the magnet piece disposed on the lower side has a strong magnetic force, and therefore is attached on the lower side. A strong repulsive force that urges upward is generated by the magnet piece and the magnet piece attached to the roller, and the position of the roller is easily urged upward so that the axis of the roller is the axis of the outer magnetic member. It can be set to be positioned higher.
[0054]
(D) According to the invention of claim 4, the number of parts of the outer magnetic member can be reduced, and cost reduction can be expected.
[0055]
(E) According to the invention of claim 5, by cleaning the cleaning tool around the plurality of rollers, the back surface of the transport plate of the crescent chain can be cleaned over a larger area at a time.
[0056]
(F) According to the invention of claim 6, since the cleaning device can be taken out and replaced when the cleaning device is replaced, the replacement operation of the cleaning device can be easily performed.
[0057]
(G) According to the invention of claim 7, the cleaning tool gradually moves due to friction between the back surface of the transport plate and the endless nonwoven fabric as the crescent chain rotates, and is always transported by an unused nonwoven fabric. The backside of the plate can be cleaned and cleaned without changing the cleaning tool for a long time.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a food container transport device to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of a part of a food and drink container transport device according to an embodiment of the present invention and an exploded view of a cleaning device.
3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the operation of the magnetic bearing in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the operation of the magnetic bearing in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the operation of a roller in an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a modification of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Food / beverage container conveying apparatus 1a Base 1b Base frame 2 Crescent chain 2a Conveying plate 2a 'Back surface 2b Chain part 3 Crescent conveyor 4 Chair 5 Cleaning device 6 Conveying rail 7 Wall part 7' Wall piece 7a Insertion part 7b Hole part 8 Accommodating Concave part 9 Slide groove 10 Base frame 11 Side face part 12 Magnetic bearing 13 Roller 14 Cleaning cloth 15 Reinforcement piece 16 Tension roller 17 Slide piece 18 Screw 19 Shaft 19a Male thread part 20 Internal magnetic member 20a Magnet piece 20b Locking piece 20c Female thread part 21 outer magnetic member 21 'outer magnetic member 21a magnet piece 21a' magnet piece 21b holding piece 121a magnet piece S food and drink container

Claims (7)

In the food container transport device in which an endless crescent chain is provided on the transport path, a cleaning tool for cleaning the back surface of the transport plate of the crescent chain is biased upward by a magnetic bearing at a predetermined position of the transport device. A food container transport device, wherein the food container transport device is attached. The magnetic bearing is composed of an outer magnetic member and an inner magnetic member, and the outer magnetic member facing the same polarity as the inner magnetic member is disposed at least on the lower side of the magnetic bearing. The eating-and-drink container conveyance apparatus of description. The outer magnetic member constituting the magnetic bearing has an arc shape and is arranged as at least a vertically divided magnet piece, and at least the magnet piece of the strong magnetic force is arranged on the lower side of the magnet piece, and the cleaning is performed. The food / drink container conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an axis of a roller to which the appliance is attached is configured to be positioned above an axis of the outer magnetic member. The food container transport device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the outer magnetic member has an arc shape and is disposed only below the inner magnetic member. The food container transport device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein a plurality of the rollers are arranged, and a cleaning tool is stretched around the rollers. A cleaning device comprising the plurality of rollers over which the cleaning implement is stretched, the plurality of magnetic bearings, both side surface portions that hold the bearings, and a base frame that supports the both side surface portions. The food container transport device according to claim 5, wherein the food container transport device is detachably attached to the transport device. The food container transport device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the cleaning implement is an endless nonwoven fabric.

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