TWI865607B - Food and Beverage Tray Assembling Utensils - Google Patents

Abstract

[Topic] Provided is a food receiving tray assembly device, which is suitable for assembling more than three food receiving trays 5. [Solution] A food receiving tray 5 comprises: an assembly tube 101, having upper and lower openings into which a plate 501 of the food receiving tray 5 can be respectively inserted, and when the plate 501 of the food receiving tray 5 is respectively inserted into the upper and lower openings, a space is formed between two food receiving trays 5 in which more than one food receiving tray 5 can be arranged; and a tray position limiting portion 102, which is provided between the two food receiving trays 5. The plate 501 of the food receiving plate 5 is respectively embedded in the upper and lower openings of the assembly tube 101 and when more than one food receiving plate 5 is arranged in the space between the two food receiving plates 5, at least the downward position of the food receiving plate 501 embedded in the upper opening 1011 and the upward position of the food receiving plate 501 embedded in the lower opening 1012 are limited.

Description

Food and Beverage Tray Assembling Utensils

The present invention relates to an assembly device for assembling a food and beverage receiving tray.

In the past, some known restaurants and the like move drinks such as sushi placed on a food receiving tray along a conveying path that circulates along a table, and users can take out the drinks moved along the conveying path together with the food receiving tray and eat the placed drinks. In some of these stores, the following method is adopted: a standard fee is preset for a food receiving plate containing food, and the food for the standard fee is placed on one food receiving plate. In addition, for food for twice the predetermined fee, the food is placed on two overlapping food receiving plates and provided to the user. At checkout, the number of food receiving plates containing food that the user has consumed is calculated, thereby calculating the user's meal fee.

As a technology used in such stores, there is known a food receiving plate assembly device, which comprises: an assembly tube having upper and lower openings that can fit the plate of the food receiving plate; and a plate position limiting portion, which is used to at least limit the upper surface of the peripheral portion of the plate embedded in the upper opening portion to a position that is almost the same as the end edge of the upper opening portion of the assembly tube when the plate of the food receiving plate is embedded in the upper and lower openings of the assembly tube (for example, refer to patent document 1). By using this food and beverage tray assembly device, for example, it is possible to prevent a user from mistakenly taking out only the topmost tray containing food and beverage from a stack of food and beverage trays, and to perform correct checkout. [Known technical literature] [Patent literature]

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent No. 4633071 (page 1, Figure 1, etc.)

[Problem to be solved by the invention] As described above, when the cost of food is represented by the number of food receiving trays containing food, it is desirable to use three or more food receiving trays stacked on top of each other to provide food, and it is desirable to have a food receiving tray assembly device that can properly assemble three or more food receiving trays, based on the relationship between the food provided and the cost.

The present invention is developed to solve the above-mentioned problem, and its purpose is to provide a food and beverage tray assembly device that can properly assemble more than three food and beverage trays.

[Technical means for solving the problem] The food receiving tray assembly device of the present invention comprises: an assembly tube having upper and lower openings into which the plates of the food receiving tray can be respectively inserted, and when the plates of the food receiving tray are respectively inserted into the upper and lower openings, a space is formed between two food receiving trays in which one or more food receiving trays can be arranged; and a tray The position limiting portion at least limits the downward position of the food receiving plate embedded in the upper opening and the upward position of the food receiving plate embedded in the lower opening when the plates of the two food receiving plates are respectively embedded in the upper and lower openings of the assembly tube and more than one food receiving plate is arranged in the space between the two food receiving plates.

With this structure, when food is already loaded, it is impossible to take out three or more food receiving trays that have been assembled individually, and three or more food receiving trays can be properly assembled by taking out the assembled food receiving trays and the food receiving tray assembling device in a state where they are integrated.

Furthermore, the food and beverage receiving tray assembly device of the present invention may further include two or more locking claws, which are engaged with the peripheral portion of the plate of the food and beverage receiving tray embedded in the lower opening portion, and limit the downward position of the food and beverage receiving tray.

With this configuration, when the food and drink receiving tray assembling device is picked up, the assembled food and drink receiving tray will not fall from the food and drink receiving tray assembling device.

Furthermore, in the food and beverage receiving plate assembly device of the present invention, one or more upper cutouts may be provided at the end edge of the upper opening of the assembly tube, and the upper cutouts are used to expose the peripheral portion of the plate of one or more food and beverage receiving plates whose downward position is restricted by the plate position restriction portion at the outer peripheral surface side of the assembly tube.

With this structure, the fingertips can be inserted through the upper cutout portion and the food and beverage receiving plate embedded in the upper opening portion can be easily taken out.

Furthermore, in the food and beverage receiving plate assembly device of the present invention, one or more lower cutouts may be provided at the end edge of the lower opening of the assembly tube, and the lower cutouts are used to expose the peripheral portion of the plate of one or more food and beverage receiving plates whose upward position is restricted by the plate position restriction portion at the outer peripheral surface side of the assembly tube.

With this structure, the fingertips can be inserted through the lower cutout portion and the food and beverage receiving plate with the plate embedded in the lower opening portion can be easily taken out.

Furthermore, in the food and beverage receiving plate assembly device of the present invention, the plate position limiting portion at least limits the downward position of the plate embedded in the upper opening portion of the food and beverage receiving plate, so that the upper surface of the peripheral portion of the plate embedded in the upper opening portion of the food and beverage receiving plate becomes almost the same height as the end edge of the upper opening portion of the assembly tube, or a height below the end edge of the upper opening portion.

This structure can prevent the user from simply taking out the food and drink receiving plate on which the food and drink are directly placed.

Furthermore, in the food and beverage receiving tray assembly device of the present invention, the tray position limiting portion at least limits the upper position of the tray plate embedded in the lower opening portion of the food and beverage receiving tray, so that the lowest part of the tray plate embedded in the lower opening portion of the food and beverage receiving tray is at a position lower than the end edge of the lower opening portion of the assembly tube.

With this structure, when removing the food and drink receiving tray mounted on the food and drink receiving tray mounting device, fingers can be easily inserted from the lower end side of the food and drink receiving tray mounting device.

Furthermore, in the food and beverage receiving plate assembly device of the present invention, the plate position limiting portion at least limits the upper position of the plate embedded in the lower opening portion of the food and beverage receiving plate, so that the lower surface of the peripheral portion of the plate embedded in the lower opening portion of the food and beverage receiving plate becomes almost the same height as the end edge of the lower opening portion of the assembly tube.

This structure can prevent the user from simply taking out the food and drink receiving plate that is overlapped on the food and drink receiving plate embedded in the lower opening portion of the plate.

Furthermore, in the food and beverage receiving tray assembly device of the present invention, a plurality of linear protrusions extending in directions other than the horizontal direction are provided on at least the portion of the inner circumferential surface of the assembly cylinder where the plate of the food and beverage receiving tray is embedded.

With this structure, the area of contact between the peripheral portion of the food and drink receiving tray and the inner peripheral surface of the assembly tube can be reduced, and the food and drink receiving tray can be easily assembled and removed.

Furthermore, in the food receiving tray assembly device of the present invention, the tray position limiting portion is a plurality of protrusions protruding from the inner circumferential surface of the assembly tube in a manner of abutting against the lower surface of the peripheral portion of the tray plate of a food receiving tray and the upper surface of the peripheral portion of the tray plate of the food receiving tray arranged directly below the food receiving tray; the length H1 of the tray position limiting portion in the height direction is represented by H1≧G1-T1 (wherein G1 is the distance between the upper surfaces of the peripheral portions of the tray plates when two food receiving trays are overlapped, and T1 is the thickness of the tray plate of the food receiving tray).

With this configuration, the protrusion of the plate position limiting portion comes into contact with the plates disposed above and below it, thereby allowing the food and beverage receiving plate to be maintained in a stable state when mounted on the mounting device.

In addition, in the food receiving tray assembly device of the present invention, the tray position limiting portion is a plurality of protrusions protruding from the inner peripheral surface of the assembly tube in a manner of abutting against the lower surface of the peripheral portion of the tray plate of a food receiving tray and the upper surface of the peripheral portion of the tray plate of the food receiving tray arranged directly below the food receiving tray; The distance B1 in the height direction to the end is expressed by (M-1)×G1＜B1≦(M-1)×G1+T1 (wherein, M is the number of food receiving plates whose downward position is restricted by the plate position restriction portion, G1 is the distance between the upper surfaces of the peripheral portions of the plates when two food receiving plates are overlapped, and T1 is the thickness of the plates of the food receiving plates).

This structure can prevent the food receiving plate directly loaded with food from being grabbed and taken away. In addition, in the food receiving plate assembly device of the present invention, the plate position limiting portion is a plurality of protrusions protruding from the inner peripheral surface of the assembly tube in a manner that abuts against the lower surface of the peripheral portion of the plate plate of a food receiving plate and the upper surface of the peripheral portion of the plate plate of the food receiving plate arranged directly below the food receiving plate; from the lower end of the plate position limiting portion to the end of the lower opening portion The distance B2 in the height direction from the edge to the food receiving plate is expressed as (N-1)×G1＜B2≦(N-1)×G1+T1 (wherein N is the number of food receiving plates whose upward position is restricted by the plate position restriction portion, G1 is the distance between the upper surfaces of the peripheral portions of the plate when two food receiving plates are overlapped, and T1 is the thickness of the plate of the food receiving plate).

This structure can prevent the plate which is overlapped on the food and drink receiving plate embedded in the lower opening from being grabbed and taken away.

[Effect of the invention] The food and beverage tray assembly device of the present invention can be used to properly assemble more than three food and beverage trays.

The following is an explanation of the implementation of the food receiving tray assembly device, etc. with reference to the drawings. In addition, the components marked with the same symbols in the implementation perform the same actions, so there are situations where repeated explanations are omitted.

(Implementation) Figure 1 is a three-dimensional diagram of a food and beverage tray assembly device (hereinafter referred to as an assembly device) 1 in this implementation. Figure 1 shows the assembly device 1 and three food and beverage trays (hereinafter referred to as trays) 5 assembled by the assembly device 1. In addition, the thin lines in the figure are, for example, lines indicating the joints between the surfaces. The same applies to the following.

Figure 2 is a front view (Figure 2 (a)), a rear view (Figure 2 (b)), a top view (Figure 2 (c)), a bottom view (Figure 2 (d)), a left view (Figure 2 (e)) and a right view (Figure 2 (f)) of the assembly device 1 in this embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a three-dimensional diagram of the assembly device 1 according to the present embodiment when viewed from above ( FIG. 3( a )) and from below ( FIG. 3( b )).

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the assembly device 1 in the present embodiment, taken along line IVa-IVa of Figure 3 (a) (Figure 4 (a)), a cross-sectional view of the assembly device 1 in the present embodiment, taken along line IVb-IVb of Figure 3 (a) (Figure 4 (b)), and a cross-sectional view of the assembly device 1 in the present embodiment, taken along line IVc-IVc of Figure 3 (a) (Figure 4 (c)).

FIG5 is a perspective view (FIG5(a)) showing the state of three receiving trays 5 assembled by the assembly device 1 in the present embodiment, a perspective view (FIG5(b)) showing the same state as viewed from the rear side, and a schematic cross-sectional view (FIG5(c)).

FIG6 is a three-dimensional diagram showing a state in which food 7 is arranged on three receiving plates 5 assembled with the assembly device 1 in the present embodiment, as viewed from the front (FIG. 6(a)), a front view of the same state (FIG. 6(b)), a rear view of the same state (FIG. 6(c)), and a front view when the receiving plates 5 arranged with the food 7 and the assembly device 1 are held in the hand (FIG. 6(d)).

In addition, in this embodiment, the case where three storage trays 5 are assembled by the assembly tool 1 is taken as an example for explanation. However, the number of storage trays 5 assembled by the assembly tool 1 is not limited to three, and it only needs to be three or more.

The receiving tray 5 is a tray for receiving food and drinks. The receiving tray 5 is made of synthetic resin and has a circular plate 501 with a slightly concave center portion and a cylindrical platform 502 protruding from the lower surface of the plate 501. However, the shape of the receiving tray 5 is not limited to this shape.

The assembly tool 1 is used to assemble three storage trays 5 in the vertical direction. The assembly tool 1 is described in detail below.

The assembly tool 1 includes an assembly tube 101 and a disk position limiting portion 102. The assembly tool 1 is formed integrally of synthetic resin. However, the material of the assembly tool 1 is not limited. In addition, the assembly tool 1 may be formed of a plurality of components.

The assembly cylinder 101 has upper and lower openings into which the disk plate 501 of the storage disk 5 can be respectively inserted, that is, it has an upper opening 1011 and a lower opening 1012. Specifically, the assembly cylinder 101 is a cylindrical shape with both ends opened, and the upper opening 1011 and the lower opening 1012 have shapes and sizes for inserting the disk plate 501 of the storage disk 5. For example, the shape of the upper and lower openings of the assembly cylinder 101 is a circular shape that is the same as the top view shape of the storage disk 5, and the inner diameter L of the upper and lower openings of the assembly cylinder 101 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the disk plate 501.

When the disc plate 501 of the accommodating disc 5 is respectively embedded in the upper opening 1011 and the lower opening 1012, a space in which one accommodating disc 5 can be arranged is formed between the two accommodating discs 5 in the assembly tube 101. The two accommodating discs 5 are respectively embedded in the upper and lower openings with their upper surfaces facing upward. The length in the axial direction of the assembly tube 101 is set to a length that can form such a space. Thus, another accommodating disc can be arranged (in other words, can be inserted) between the accommodating disc 5 with the disc plate 501 embedded in the upper opening 1011 and the accommodating disc 5 with the disc plate 501 embedded in the lower opening 1012.

The disk position limiting portion 102 is a plurality of protrusions, which are protruded and provided on the inner circumferential surface of the assembly tube 101 at each predetermined fixed interval. Each protrusion is provided in the same manner in the axial direction. Here, a case where the number of protrusions is 24 is taken as an example. The lower surface 5011b of the peripheral portion of the disk plate 501 of the disk 501 embedded in the upper opening portion 1011 of the accommodating disk 5 abuts against the upper end of the disk position limiting portion 102. Thereby, the position of the disk plate 501 embedded in the upper opening portion 1011 of the accommodating disk 5 in the downward direction is limited. Limiting the position in the downward direction can be regarded as limiting the movement of the accommodating disk 5 in the downward direction.

Furthermore, the lower end of the disk position limiting portion 102 abuts against the upper surface 5011a of the peripheral portion of the disk plate 501 of the accommodating disk 5, which is arranged directly below the accommodating disk 5 embedded in the upper opening portion 1011. This limits the upward position of the accommodating disk 5. Furthermore, the accommodating disk 5 arranged directly below the accommodating disk 5, that is, the accommodating disk 5 with the disk plate 501 embedded in the lower opening portion 1012, is also limited in its upward position by the high platform 502 abutting against the upper surface of the accommodating disk 5. Limiting the upward position can be regarded as limiting the upward movement of the accommodating disk 5. The accommodating disk 5 whose upper surface 5011a of the peripheral portion abuts against the lower end of the disk position limiting portion 102 is the accommodating disk 5 arranged in the space between the two accommodating disks 5 respectively embedded in the upper and lower openings of the disk plate 501, and the accommodating disk 5 arranged directly below it is the accommodating disk 5 whose disk plate 501 is embedded in the lower opening 1012.

The disk position limiting portion 102 preferably limits the position of the disk plate 501 in the lower direction of the storage disk 5 embedded in the upper opening portion 1011, so that the upper surface 5011a of the peripheral portion of the disk plate 501 embedded in the storage disk 5 of the upper opening portion 1011 becomes almost the same height as the upper opening portion edge 1011a of the assembly tube 101. Here, as an example, the distance B1 in the height direction between the upper opening portion edge 1011a and the upper end of the disk position limiting portion 102 is set to B1=T1 (where T1 is the thickness of the disk plate 501 for storing the disk 5). Thus, when the peripheral lower surface 5011b of the disc 501 abuts against the upper end of the disc position limiting portion 102, the peripheral upper surface 5011a of the disc 501 becomes the same height as the upper opening end edge 1011a of the mounting tube 101. However, the height of the peripheral upper surface 5011a may be higher than the upper opening end edge 1011a of the mounting tube 101 within the thickness of the disc 501. That is, 0＜B1＜T1. Moreover, when the upper opening end edge 1011a of the mounting tube 101 may be higher than the peripheral upper surface 5011a of the disc 501, the peripheral upper surface 5011a may be lower than the upper opening end edge 1011a of the mounting tube 101. That is, B1＞T1.

By providing such a disk position limiting portion 102, for example, it is possible to prevent a user from mistakenly picking up only the disk plate 501 and inserting the storage disk 5 into the upper opening portion 1011.

The assembly device 1 is provided with four locking claws 103, which are engaged with the peripheral portion 5011 of the plate 501 of the storage plate 5 embedded in the lower opening 1012 of the plate 501, and limit the position of the food storage plate in the downward direction. Here, the four locking claws 103 formed in a shape protruding inwardly toward the diameter of the assembly tube 101 are arranged at equal intervals at the end edge 1012a of the lower opening. However, the number of the locking claws 103 only needs to be two or more. In addition, the locking claws 103 can also be arranged on the inner peripheral surface of the lower opening 1012 side of the assembly tube 101. The plate 501 of the receiving tray 5 is embedded in the lower opening 1012 to engage with the locking claw 103, so that when the assembly tool 1 is picked up, the receiving tray 5 and the receiving tray 5 directly above the receiving tray 5 will not fall off the assembly tool 1.

The disk position limiting portion 102 preferably at least limits the upper position of the disk plate 501 embedded in the lower opening portion 1012 of the accommodating disk 5, so that the lower surface 5011b of the peripheral portion of the disk plate 501 embedded in the accommodating disk 5 of the lower opening portion 1012 becomes almost the same height as the end edge 1012a of the lower opening portion of the assembly tube 101. In the assembly device 1, the upper surface 5011a of the peripheral portion of the accommodating plate 5 disposed in the space between the accommodating plate 501 embedded in the upper opening 1011 and the accommodating plate 501 embedded in the lower opening 1012 abuts against the lower end of the plate position limiting portion 102. As a result, the accommodating plate 501 overlapped with the accommodating plate 501 is limited to be embedded in the upper opening 1011. The position of the tray 5 in the upper direction of the lower opening 1012 is such that the height distance from the lower end of the tray position limiting portion 102 to the lower opening end edge 1012a is substantially the same as the distance between the upper surfaces 5011a of the peripheral portions of the two stacked trays 5 plus the thickness T1 of the tray plate 501. Here, as an example, the height distance B2 from the lower end of the tray position limiting portion 102 to the lower opening end edge 1012a is set to B2=G1+T1 (where G1 is the distance between the upper surfaces 5011a of the peripheral portions of the tray plate 501 when the two stacked trays 5 are stacked). Thus, the upper peripheral surface 5011a of the accommodating disk 5 disposed in the space between the accommodating disk 5 embedded in the upper opening 1011 of the disk plate 501 and the accommodating disk 5 embedded in the lower opening 1012 of the disk plate 501 abuts against the lower end of the disk position limiting portion 102, and the lower peripheral surface 5011b of the disk plate 501 of the accommodating disk 5 embedded in the lower opening 1012 overlapped by the accommodating disk 5 becomes the same height as the lower opening end 1012a of the assembly tube 101. However, the height of the lower peripheral surface 5011b may be lower than the lower opening end 1012a of the assembly tube 101 within the thickness of the disk plate 501. That is, G1＜B2＜G1+T1.

By providing such a plate position limiting portion 102, the gap between the end edge 1012a of the lower opening portion and the surface of the storage plate 5 having the plate plate 501 embedded in the lower opening portion 1012 is enlarged, so that the hand can be inserted into the gap, and the upper and lower storage plates 5 among the three storage plates 5 assembled with the assembly tool 1 can be easily grasped and picked up by hand.

Furthermore, when the height of the lower surface 5011b of the peripheral portion of the accommodating plate 5 embedded in the lower opening 1012 of the plate 501 can be higher than the lower opening end edge 1012a of the assembly tube 101, G1+T1＜B2 can be satisfied. However, in this case, B2＜G1+D1 (where D1 is the height of the accommodating plate 5) is preferably satisfied, so that a gap that can accommodate a finger or a nail is generated between the lower opening end edge 1012a and the surface where the accommodating plate 5 embedded in the lower opening 1012 of the plate 501 is provided, such as the surface of the conveying path or the upper surface of the flat chain, where the accommodating plates 5 are arranged in a stacked manner.

Furthermore, when the three storage trays 5 assembled by the assembly tool 1 have been picked up, in order to stabilize and assemble the storage trays 5 in a manner that the storage tray 5 whose downward position is restricted by the tray position restricting portion 102 and the storage tray 5 whose upward position is restricted are in contact but not pressed, the length H1 in the height direction of the tray position restricting portion 102 is preferably H1≧G1-T1, so that it is longer than the distance between the stacked storage trays 5. As described later, the disk position limiting portion 102 as a protrusion abuts against the lower surface 5011b of the peripheral portion of the disk plate 501 of one of the three or more storage disks 5 and the upper surface 5011a of the peripheral portion of the disk plate 501 of the storage disk 5 arranged directly below the storage disk 5. The same is true when a plurality of protrusions are protrudingly provided on the inner peripheral surface of the assembly tube 101.

An upper cutout 104 is provided at the upper opening end 1011a of the assembly tube 101. The upper cutout 104 is used to expose the peripheral portion 5011 of the disk 501 that accommodates the disk 5 embedded in the upper opening 1011 on the outer peripheral side of the assembly tube 101. The upper cutout 104 is preferably a cutout whose length in the height direction is the length of the space opening directly below the peripheral portion 5011 of the disk 501. The shape of the outer peripheral side of the upper cutout 104 is roughly rectangular. However, the shape is not limited. The shape and size of the upper cutout 104 are preferably a shape and size that allows the user to insert the fingertips below the exposed peripheral portion 5011. The width of the upper cutout 104 is 5 mm or more and 25 mm or less, and the height is preferably 1.5 times or more of the thickness T1 of the plate 501. Here, the upper cutout 104 is shown as one, but it may be multiple. By inserting a finger under the peripheral portion 5011 of the plate 501 exposed from the upper cutout 104 and pushing up the plate 501, the storage plate 5 having the plate 501 can be easily taken out.

A lower cutout 105 is provided at the end edge 1012a of the lower opening of the assembly tube 101. The lower cutout 105 allows the peripheral portion 5011 of the disk 501 that is embedded in the lower opening 1012 to be exposed on the outer peripheral side of the assembly tube 101. The lower cutout 105 is preferably a cutout whose length in the height direction is the length of the space opening just above the peripheral portion 5011 of the disk 501. The shape of the outer peripheral side of the lower cutout 105 is roughly rectangular. However, the shape is not limited. The shape and size of the lower cutout 105 are preferably a shape and size that allows the user to insert the fingertips above the exposed peripheral portion 5011. The width of the lower cutout 105 is not less than 5 mm and not more than 25 mm, and the height is preferably not less than 1.5 times the thickness T1 of the tray 501. For example, the height is more preferably the distance G1 between the upper surfaces 5011a of the peripheral portions of the tray 501 when two storage trays 5 are stacked. Here, the case where there is one lower cutout 105 is shown, but there may be multiple lower cutouts. By inserting a finger above the peripheral portion 5011 of the tray 501 exposed in the lower cutout 105 and pressing down the tray 501, the storage tray 5 having the tray 501 can be easily removed from the locking claw 103 and taken out.

A plurality of linear protrusions 106 parallel to the axis of the assembly tube 101 are provided at equal intervals on at least the portion of the inner circumference of the assembly tube 101 where the disk plate 501 for accommodating the disk 5 is embedded. Here, an example is shown in which the linear protrusions 106 are provided above the disk position limiting portion 102 and below the disk position limiting portion 102, which is the portion of the inner circumference of the assembly tube 101 where the disk plate 501 is embedded. However, the linear protrusions 106 may be provided only above or below the disk position limiting portion 102. The linear protrusions 106 are, for example, linear protrusions having a width of less than 5 mm and a height of less than 2 mm. The linear protrusions 106 may also be thinner on the axis side of the assembly tube 101. By means of the linear protrusion 106, for example, when the disk 501 is to be inserted into the inner side of the assembly tube 101 or removed from the inner side of the assembly tube 101, the disk 501 only contacts the axial side of the assembly tube 101 of the linear protrusion 106, thereby reducing the contact area between the disk 501 and the inner circumferential surface of the assembly tube 101 to reduce friction, and reducing the force when inserting or removing the storage disk 5.

Furthermore, the portion where the locking claw 103 contacts the disk 501 when the disk 501 is inserted may also be provided with one or more linear protrusions (not shown) parallel to the axial direction of the assembly tube 101 as described above.

The number of linear protrusions 106 is not limited as long as it is three or more. In addition, the linear protrusions 106 may be arranged at unequal intervals. However, the number and arrangement of the linear protrusions 106 are preferably such that when the disc 501 is embedded in the disc 501, the disc 501 may not directly contact the inner circumference of the assembly tube 101. In addition, the linear protrusions 106 are preferably parallel to the axial direction, but the linear protrusions 106 may not be parallel to the axial direction as long as they extend in a direction other than the horizontal direction. The linear protrusions 106 may be made of the same material as the assembly tube 101, or other materials. For example, the linear protrusions 106 may be made of a resin with a relatively low friction coefficient, such as a fluororesin such as polytetrafluoroethylene.

Next, an example of using the assembly tool 1 of this embodiment is described. First, the assembly tool 1 is moved to the top of two stacked storage trays 5 so that the plate 501 of the storage tray 5 and the lower opening 1012 of the assembly tool 1 are stacked when viewed from above. If the assembly tool 1 is moved downward, the plate 501 of the upper storage tray 5 of the two stacked storage trays 5 moves relatively toward the top of the assembly tube 101 with the peripheral portion 5011 in contact with the linear protrusion 106. Then, the plate 501 of the lower storage tray 5 of the two stacked storage trays 5 is engaged with the locking claw 103 and embedded in the lower opening 1012. Here, when the plate 501 of the lower storage tray 5 of the two overlapping storage trays 5 is embedded in the lower opening portion 1012, the upper surface 5011a of the peripheral portion of the plate 501 of the upper storage tray 5 of the two overlapping storage trays 5 will abut the lower end of the tray position limiting portion 102, and the upward position of the two overlapping storage trays 5 will be limited.

Furthermore, a receiving plate 5 is placed in the upper opening 1011 of the assembly tube 101 with the upper surface of the plate 501 facing upward, and the plate 501 of the receiving plate 5 is inserted into the upper opening 1011. The lower surface 5011b of the peripheral portion of the inserted plate 501 abuts against the upper end of the plate position limiting portion 102, and limits the position of the receiving plate 5 in the downward direction, and the upper surface 5011a of the peripheral portion of the plate 501 and the upper opening end edge 1011a of the assembly tube 101 become almost the same height.

Furthermore, the receiving tray 5 may be inserted from the upper opening 1011 before inserting the receiving tray 5 from the lower opening 1012. Furthermore, when inserting the receiving tray 5 from the lower opening 1012, the receiving trays 5 in a stacked state do not need to be inserted into the assembly tool 1, but two receiving trays 5 may be inserted sequentially from the lower opening 1012. Furthermore, the method of assembling each receiving tray 5 to the assembly tool 1 is not limited to the above method.

As shown in FIG. 6 (a), the food 7 is arranged on the upper surface of the plate 501 of the receiving tray 5, and the receiving tray 5 is the receiving tray 5 arranged at the top among the three receiving trays 5 assembled by the assembly device 1 as described above. The arranged food 7 is, for example, food 7 of the amount of the three receiving trays 5. Here, although the example of the food 7 being sushi is given, the food can be anything. In addition, the food can be arranged directly on the upper surface of the plate 501 of the receiving tray 5 arranged at the top among the three receiving trays 5 assembled by the assembly device 1, or the food can be arranged in a container such as a cup, a small plate, or a bowl.

Three receiving trays 5 equipped with the assembling device 1 and containing food are placed on a flat chain for conveying food in the manner described in Patent Document 1, etc., and conveyed to the table of the user.

The user of the table takes out three receiving plates 5 assembled with the assembling device 1 and transported by the flat chain, and eats the food and drink arranged on the receiving plates 5. When the three receiving plates 5 assembled with the assembling device 1 are taken out from the flat chain, the three receiving plates 5 are surrounded by the assembling device 1, thereby preventing the plurality of receiving plates 5 from being taken out individually while the food and drink 7 is placed thereon. In particular, the plate 501 on which the topmost receiving plate 5 containing food and drink is placed is inserted into the upper opening 1011 of the assembly tube 101. Therefore, the user cannot just pick up the topmost receiving plate 5 containing food and drink with his hands. Instead, the user must grab the receiving plates 5 inserted in the assembly tube 101 above and below and take out the receiving plates 5, the receiving plates 5 between them, and the assembly 1 on which the receiving plates 5 are placed, as shown in FIG. 6 (d). As a result, the number of receiving plates 5 corresponding to the amount of food and drink 7 is taken out.

Furthermore, by limiting at least the downward position of the receiving tray 5 embedded in the upper opening portion 1011 and the upward position of the receiving tray 5 embedded in the lower opening portion 1012 by the tray position limiting portion 102, the upper surface of the receiving tray 5 embedded in the upper opening portion 1011 and the lower surface of the receiving tray 5 embedded in the lower opening portion 1012 can be clamped and lifted up. In this way, the assembly tool 1 and the three assembled receiving trays 5 can be lifted up together by clamping the receiving trays 5 with the tray position limiting portion 102, so that the receiving trays 5 and the assembly tool 1 can be integrated and moved.

Furthermore, by means of the tray position limiting portion 102, the tray 501 is inserted into the lower opening portion 1012, and the tray 501 is located below the tray position limiting portion 102. The tray position limiting portion 102 limits the upward position of the tray 501 so that the tray 501 does not move upward. Therefore, when the user takes out the tray 501 assembled by the assembly tool 1 from the flat plate chain, etc., the tray 501 is not moved upward. When accommodating the tray 5, even if the lower opening edge 1012a of the assembly tube 101 is not supported from below, and only the lower surface of the tray plate 501 embedded in the lower opening 1012 is supported by fingers, the tray position limiting portion 102 is supported from below by the peripheral upper surface 5011a of the accommodating tray 5 arranged below, so that the assembly tool 1 and the accommodating tray 5 can be taken out together.

Furthermore, the lower surface of the plate 501 embedded in the lower opening portion 1012 is supported from below by the locking claws 103. Therefore, when the user removes the storage plate 5 assembled by the assembly tool 1 from the flat chain, etc., even if the user does not support the lower surface of the plate 501 from below with fingers, etc., but only holds the assembly tube 101 with the hands, it is possible to prevent the storage plate 5 from falling off the assembly tube 101 and being unable to be removed.

After eating or drinking, put your fingertips under the peripheral portion 5011 of the plate 501 exposed at the upper cutout portion 104 of the assembly vessel 1, and pull up the peripheral portion 5011, thereby lifting the peripheral portion 5011 on the side of the upper cutout portion 104 to be higher than the end edge 1011a of the upper opening portion, and grab this part with your fingers, thereby removing the plate 501 from the assembly vessel 1 and the storage plate 5 embedded in the upper opening portion 1011.

Furthermore, by inserting a fingertip into the peripheral portion 5011 of the plate 501 exposed from the lower cutout portion 105 of the assembly tool 1 and inserted into the lower opening portion 1012, and pressing the peripheral portion 5011 downward, the plate 501 can be released from the locking claws 103, and the storage plate 5 having the plate 501 can be removed from the assembly tool 1. In addition, along with this, the storage plate 5 stacked on the upper side of the storage plate 5 moves downward and becomes locked in the locking claws 103, and the peripheral portion 5011 of the plate 501 is exposed from the lower cutout portion 105 again, so that the storage plate 5 can also be inserted from the lower cutout portion 105 and removed from the assembly tool 1 in the same manner as described above.

Furthermore, the receiving tray 5 may be removed from the lower opening 1012 before removing the receiving tray 5 from the upper opening 1011. Furthermore, the method of removing each receiving tray 5 from the assembly tool 1 is not limited to the above method.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the three receiving trays 5 can be properly assembled in a manner that the receiving trays 5 cannot be individually taken out when the food and drink 7 is placed thereon. In addition, the three receiving trays 5 can be handled together with the assembling device 1 as a whole.

Furthermore, although the above embodiment shows the case where the number of protrusions is 24, the number of protrusions constituting the disk position limiting portion 102 is not limited as long as the position of the accommodating disk 5 can be limited in the above manner. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a plurality of protrusions provided on the inner peripheral surface of the mounting tube 101 in a manner of abutting against the lower surface 5011b of the peripheral portion of the disk plate 501 embedded in the upper opening portion 1011, and a plurality of protrusions provided on the inner peripheral surface of the mounting tube 101 in a manner of abutting against the upper surface 5011a of the peripheral portion of the disk plate 501 of the accommodating disk 5 disposed directly below the accommodating disk 5 having the disk plate 501 can be provided separately. However, these protrusions must be provided between the same two disk plates 501.

Furthermore, the disk position limiting portion 102 is not limited to the protrusion as described above, and may have any structure as long as it at least limits the position of the disk plate 501 in the lower direction of the storage disk 5 embedded in the upper opening portion 1011 and the position of the disk plate 501 in the upper direction of the storage disk 5 embedded in the lower opening portion 1012. For example, the disk position limiting portion 102 may be a combination of the following two: a step portion provided on the inner peripheral surface of the assembly tube 101 in a manner of abutting against the lower surface 5011b of the peripheral portion of the disk plate 501 embedded in the upper opening portion 1011; and a step portion provided on the inner peripheral surface of the assembly tube 101 in a manner of abutting against the upper surface 5011a of the peripheral portion of the disk plate 501 of the storage disk 5 disposed directly below the storage disk 5 having the disk plate 501. Furthermore, the disk position limiting portion 102 may be a combination of such a step portion and the protrusion as described above.

Furthermore, in the above-mentioned embodiment, although the disk position limiting portion 102 is provided between the disk 501 embedded in the opening portion 1011 provided on the inner circumferential surface of the assembly tube 101 and the disk 501 of the accommodating disk 5 arranged directly below the accommodating disk 5 having the disk 501, the disk position limiting portion 102 may also be provided between the disk 501 embedded in the lower opening portion 1012 and the disk 501 of the accommodating disk 5 arranged directly above the accommodating disk 5 having the disk 501. In this case, when the two trays 501 of the receiving trays 5 are respectively embedded in the upper and lower openings of the assembly tube 101 and a receiving tray 5 is arranged in the space between the two receiving trays 5, the upper surface 5011a of the peripheral portion of the tray 501 embedded in the lower opening 1012 will abut against the lower portion of the tray position limiting portion 102, thereby limiting the upward position of the receiving tray 5 having the tray 501. The lower surface 5011b of the peripheral portion of the accommodating plate 501 of the accommodating plate 5 directly below the accommodating plate 5 with the plate 501 embedded in the upper opening portion 1011 will abut against the upper portion of the plate position limiting portion 102, thereby limiting the downward position of the accommodating plate 5 with the plate 501, thereby limiting the downward position of the accommodating plate 5 with the plate 501 embedded in the upper opening portion 1011 that directly overlaps with the accommodating plate 5.

Furthermore, in the above-mentioned embodiment, although the case where the assembly tube 101 is used in which a space for arranging one accommodating tray 5 is formed between the two accommodating trays 5 in a state where the plate 501 of the accommodating tray 5 is respectively embedded in the upper and lower openings is described, as the assembly tube 101, an assembly tube 101 in which two or more accommodating trays 5 are arranged between the two accommodating trays 5 in a state where the plate 501 of the accommodating tray 5 is respectively embedded in the upper and lower openings may be used. For example, as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 7 , by using such an assembly tube 101, four or more accommodating trays 5 can be appropriately assembled.

In this case, the disk position limiting portion 102 formed by the above-mentioned protrusion can be set at any position as long as it is between a disk plate 501 of a receiving disk 5 and a disk plate 501 of a receiving disk 5 arranged directly below the receiving disk 5. Regardless of where the disk position limiting portion 102 is set, the downward position of the receiving disk 5 having the lower surface 5011b of the peripheral portion abutting against the disk position limiting portion 102 is limited, thereby limiting the downward position of the receiving disk 5 and the receiving disk 5 arranged overlapping the receiving disk 5, and limiting the disk plate 501 from being inserted into the receiving disk 5 of the upper opening portion 1011. The downward position of the receiving plate 5 can be limited by limiting the upward position of the receiving plate 5 having the upper surface 5011a of the peripheral portion abutting against the plate position limiting portion 102, thereby limiting the upward position of the receiving plate 5 and the receiving plate 5 overlapped with the receiving plate 5, and limiting the upward position of the receiving plate 5 embedded in the lower opening portion 1012.

That is, the assembly tube 101 only needs to form a space between the two receiving trays 5 in which one or more receiving trays 5 can be arranged when the tray plates 501 of the receiving trays 5 are respectively embedded in the upper and lower openings.

Furthermore, the disk position limiting portion 102 only needs to limit the downward position of the disk 501 embedded in the upper opening portion 1011 and the upward position of the disk 501 embedded in the lower opening portion 1012 when the disk plates 501 of the two receiving disks 5 are respectively embedded in the upper and lower opening portions of the assembly tube 101 and one or more receiving disks 5 are arranged in the space between the two receiving disks 5.

Furthermore, the one or more upper cutouts 104 provided at the upper opening end edge 1011a of the assembly tube 101 may be cutouts that expose the peripheral portion 5011 of the disc plate 501 of the one or more receiving discs 5 whose downward position is restricted by the disc position restricting portion 102 on the outer peripheral surface side of the assembly tube 101. The receiving disc 5 with the peripheral portion 5011 exposed is preferably a receiving disc 5 including the disc plate 501 embedded in the upper opening 1011.

Furthermore, the one or more lower cutouts 105 provided at the lower opening end edge 1012a of the assembly tube 101 may be cutouts that expose the peripheral portion 5011 of the disc plate 501 of the one or more receiving discs 5 whose upward position is restricted by the disc position restricting portion 102 on the outer peripheral surface side of the assembly tube 101. The receiving disc 5 with the peripheral portion 5011 exposed is preferably a receiving disc 5 including the disc plate 501 embedded in the lower opening 1012.

In addition, the assembly tube 101 is a state where the plates 501 of the receiving plates 5 are respectively embedded in the upper and lower openings, and a space is formed between the two receiving plates 5 in which one or more receiving plates 5 can be arranged. In the case where the plate position limiting portion 102 is abutted against the lower surface 5011b of the peripheral portion of the plate 501 of one of the three or more receiving plates 5 assembled by the assembly device 1 and the peripheral portion of the plate 501 of the receiving plate 5 arranged directly below the receiving plate 5, the plate position limiting portion 102 is abutted against the lower surface 5011b of the peripheral portion of the plate 501 of the receiving plate 5 of the three or more receiving plates 5 assembled by the assembly device 1. When the plurality of protrusions are protrudingly provided on the inner circumference of the assembly tube 101 in the manner of the upper surface 5011a of the edge, the height direction distance B1 from the upper end of the disk position limiting portion 102 to the upper opening portion edge 1011a is preferably a distance represented by (M-1)×G1＜B1≦(M-1)×G1+T1 (where M is the number of the storage disks 5 whose positions in the lower direction are limited by the disk position limiting portion 102, and G1 and T1 are the same as above). In this way, it is possible to prevent fingers or nails from being inserted into the gap between the upper opening portion edge 1011a and the disk plate 501 embedded in the upper opening portion 1011 and only grabbing the disk plate 501.

In the same case, the distance B2 in the height direction from the lower end of the tray position limiting portion 102 to the lower opening portion edge 1012a is preferably a distance represented by (N-1)×G1＜B2≦(N-1)×G1+T1 (where N is the number of the storage trays 5 whose positions in the upper direction are limited by the tray position limiting portion 102, and G1 and T1 are the same as above). In this way, it is prevented that fingers or nails are inserted into the gap between the lower opening portion edge 1012a and the tray plate 501 embedded in the lower opening portion 1012, and only the tray plate 501 that is overlapped above the tray plate 501 is grabbed. In addition, M+N is the total number K of the storage trays 5 assembled by the assembly tool 1 (K is an integer greater than three).

For example, as shown in Figure 7, in a state where the plate 501 of the accommodating plate 5 is respectively embedded in the upper and lower openings, and two accommodating plates 5 are arranged between the two accommodating plates 5, when a plurality of protrusions serving as the plate position limiting portion 102 are provided between the peripheral portion 5011 of the accommodating plate 5 embedded in the upper opening 1011 of the plate 501 and the peripheral portion 5011 of the accommodating plate 5 arranged directly below the accommodating plate 5, the above-mentioned N is "3", the above-mentioned M is "1", the distance B1 is preferably the distance indicated by 0＜B1≦T1, and the distance B2 is preferably the distance indicated by 2×G1＜B2≦2×G1+T1.

Furthermore, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the assembly tool 1 may have a stacking structure for allowing stable stacking of one or more other assembly tools 1. For example, the stacking structure of each assembly tool 1 may be a recessed portion (not shown) into which each locking claw 103 can be fitted, and each recessed portion is provided at a position opposite to each locking claw 103 of the assembly tool 1 disposed above when the assembly tools 1 are stacked in such a manner that the axis of the upper opening end edge 1011a of each assembly tool 1 is located on the same straight line. In this case, for example, the other assembly tool 1 is stacked on the upper opening edge 1011a of one assembly tool 1 in such a manner that the recesses of one assembly tool 1 face the locking claws 103 of the other assembly tool 1, whereby the locking claws 103 can be fitted into the recesses, thereby stably stacking the assembly tools 1. However, the stacking structure is not limited to the above structure. In addition, the upper cutout 104 can be used as more than one recess.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and various modifications are possible, and it goes without saying that the modifications are also included in the scope of the present invention.

(Industrial Applicability) As mentioned above, the food and beverage tray assembly device of the present invention is suitable for assembling multiple food and beverage trays, and is particularly suitable for assembling more than three food and beverage trays.

1: Assembling device 101: Assembling cylinder 104: Upper cutout 105: Lower cutout 5: Food and drink tray 7: Food and drink 501: Plate 502: Platform 102: Plate position limiting portion 103: Locking claw 106: Linear protrusion 1011: Upper opening 1012: Lower opening 1011a: Upper opening edge 1012a: Lower opening edge 5011: Peripheral portion 5011a: Peripheral upper surface 5011b: Peripheral lower surface

FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional diagram of a food tray assembly device for illustrating an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a six-sided diagram of the assembly device (FIG. 2 (a) to FIG. 2 (f)). FIG. 3 is a three-dimensional diagram of the assembly device (FIG. 3 (a), FIG. 3 (b)). FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional diagram of the assembly device (FIG. 4 (a) to FIG. 4 (c)). FIG. 5 is a three-dimensional diagram (FIG. 5 (a), FIG. 5 (b)) and a cross-sectional schematic diagram (FIG. 5 (c)) showing the state of assembling three trays 5 with the assembly device 1. FIG6 is a perspective view (FIG6(a)), a front view (FIG6(b)), a rear view (FIG6(c)) showing a state where food is placed on three receiving trays assembled with the assembly device, and a front view (FIG6(d)) showing a state where the food receiving trays with food placed thereon and the assembly device are held in the hand. FIG7 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the assembly device capable of assembling four food receiving trays.

1:Assembly equipment

101:Assembly tube

102: Disk position limiting unit

103: Stop claw

104: Upper incision

105: Lower incision

1011: Upper opening

1011a: Upper opening end edge

1012: Lower opening

1012a: lower opening end edge

5: Food and Beverage Tray

501: Plate

502: High Platform

5011: Peripheral Department

5011a: Upper surface of peripheral portion

Claims (10)

A food tray assembly device comprises: an assembly cylinder having upper and lower openings into which the plates of the food trays can be respectively inserted, and when the plates of the food trays are respectively inserted in the upper and lower openings, a space for arranging one or more food trays is formed between two food trays; and a tray position limiting portion, which is a space for arranging one or more food trays when the plates of the two food trays are respectively inserted in the upper and lower openings of the assembly cylinder and between the two food trays. When more than one food receiving plate is arranged in the aforementioned space between the food receiving plates, at least the downward position of the food receiving plate embedded in the upper opening and the upward position of the food receiving plate embedded in the lower opening are restricted, and the aforementioned plate position restriction portion is in a manner of abutting against the lower surface of the peripheral portion of the plate of a food receiving plate and the upper surface of the peripheral portion of the plate of the food receiving plate arranged directly below the aforementioned food receiving plate. , a plurality of protrusions protruding from the inner circumferential surface of the aforementioned assembly tube; the height direction distance B1 from the upper end of the aforementioned disk position limiting portion to the upper opening portion end edge is as shown in the following formula, (M-1)×G1<B1≦(M-1)×G1+T1; the height direction distance B2 from the lower end of the aforementioned disk position limiting portion to the lower opening portion end edge is as shown in the following formula, (N-1)×G1<B2≦(N-1)×G1+T1 where , M is the number of food receiving trays whose downward position is restricted by the tray position restriction portion, N is the number of food receiving trays whose upward position is restricted by the tray position restriction portion, G1 is the distance between the upper surfaces of the peripheral portions of the tray plates when two food receiving trays are overlapped, T1 is the thickness of the tray plates of the food receiving trays, and M+N is the total number K of the food receiving trays assembled by the assembly tube (K is an integer greater than three). The food and beverage tray assembly device as described in claim 1 further comprises two or more latching claws, the aforementioned latching claws being engaged with the peripheral portion of the plate of the food and beverage tray embedded in the aforementioned lower opening, and limiting the downward position of the food and beverage tray. As described in claim 1, the food receiving tray assembly device has one or more upper cutouts at the end edge of the upper opening of the assembly tube, and the upper cutouts are used to expose the peripheral portion of the plate of one or more food receiving trays whose downward position is restricted by the tray position restriction portion on the outer peripheral side of the assembly tube. As described in claim 1, the food and beverage tray assembly device, wherein one or more lower cutouts are provided at the lower opening edge of the assembly tube, and the lower cutouts are used to expose the peripheral portion of the plate of one or more food and beverage trays whose upper position is restricted by the tray position restriction portion to the outer peripheral surface side of the assembly tube. As described in claim 1, the plate position limiting portion at least limits the downward position of the plate embedded in the upper opening portion of the food and beverage receiving plate, so that the upper surface of the peripheral portion of the plate embedded in the upper opening portion of the food and beverage receiving plate is almost the same height as the upper opening portion edge of the assembly tube, or a height below the upper opening portion edge. As described in claim 1, the food and beverage tray assembly device, wherein the aforementioned tray position limiting portion at least limits the upper position of the tray plate embedded in the aforementioned lower opening portion of the food and beverage tray, so that the lowest position of the tray plate embedded in the aforementioned lower opening portion of the food and beverage tray is located at a position lower than the lower opening portion of the aforementioned assembly tube. As for the food and beverage tray assembly device described in claim 1, the aforementioned tray position limiting portion at least limits the upper position of the tray plate embedded in the aforementioned lower opening portion of the food and beverage tray, so that the lower surface of the peripheral portion of the tray plate embedded in the aforementioned lower opening portion of the food and beverage tray becomes almost the same height as the lower opening portion of the aforementioned assembly tube. As described in claim 1, the food and beverage tray assembly device, wherein at least the portion of the inner circumference of the assembly tube where the plate of the food and beverage tray is embedded is provided with a plurality of linear protrusions extending in a direction other than the horizontal direction. As described in claim 1, the food receiving tray assembly device, wherein the tray position limiting portion is a plurality of protrusions protruding from the inner peripheral surface of the assembly tube in a manner of abutting against the lower surface of the peripheral portion of the tray plate of a food receiving tray and the upper surface of the peripheral portion of the tray plate of the food receiving tray arranged directly below the food receiving tray; the height direction length H1 of the tray position limiting portion is as shown in the following formula, H1≧G1-T1. As described in claim 1, the number N of food and beverage receiving plates whose upward position is restricted by the aforementioned plate position restriction portion is two, and the distance B2 in the height direction from the lower end of the aforementioned plate position restriction portion to the edge of the lower opening portion is expressed by the following formula: B2=G1+T1.