JP-2026075043-A - specific equipment

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a specific device that can simplify the device configuration. [Solution] The product dispensing device is a identification device that identifies objects being transported along a transport route. It comprises cameras 121 to 125 that sequentially photograph each of a plurality of objects passing through each of the detection areas P21 to P25 on the transport route, cameras 131 to 137 and 181 to 184 that, after photographing each of the images of the plurality of objects, photograph the object that has passed through each of the detection areas P31 to P37 and P81 to P84 on the transport route, and identification means that identifies which of the plurality of objects the object is based on each of the images of the plurality of objects and the image of the object. [Selection Diagram] Figure 1

Inventors

• 杉原 正人

Assignees

• 株式会社FOOD & LIFE COMPANIES

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20250801

Claims (1)

1. A device for identifying objects to be transported along a transport route, A first imaging means for sequentially photographing each of the multiple objects being transported as they pass through a first region on the transport path, After capturing images of each of the plurality of objects to be transported, a second imaging means captures an object that has passed through a second region on the transport path, A means for identifying which of the plurality of transported objects the object in question is, A feature point extraction means for extracting feature points from the portion of the product image in each of the images of a specific object and the image of the target object, among the images of the plurality of transported objects, A determination means for determining whether the object being transported in the specific image and the image of the object are the same, based on feature points extracted by the feature point extraction means from the portion of the product image in each of the specific image and the image of the object, A path setting means that sets a path that each of the multiple objects to be transported should take, based on the first region and the respective destinations of the multiple objects to be transported, The system includes a prediction means that predicts the timing at which each of the plurality of transported objects will pass through the location of the second region, based on the route set by the route setting means. If the determination means determines that the transported object in the specific image and the object are the same, the determination means identifies the object as the transported object in the specific image. If the determination means determines that none of the images of the plurality of transported objects are identical to the image of the target object, the identification means identifies which of the plurality of transported objects the target object is based on the timing at which each of the plurality of transported objects passes the position of the second region.

Description

This invention relates to a specific device. More specifically, it relates to a specific device for identifying objects being transported along a transport path. Traditionally, in conveyor belt sushi restaurants and similar establishments, items placed on plates are transported along a designated route to the customer's table. In such restaurants, multiple items are transported simultaneously to their respective tables, requiring the identification of items currently in transit. Technologies for identifying items in transit are disclosed, for example, in Patent Document 1 below. Patent Document 1 (described below) discloses a device that identifies products during transport by attaching an RF tag, which contains an ID for identifying the product, to a tray and reading the RF tag. Japanese Patent Publication No. 2019-107301 This is a plan view showing the configuration of a store employing a product dispensing device according to one embodiment of the present invention.This is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the control device 1.This diagram schematically shows the order table immediately after registering order information based on a new order.This diagram schematically shows the order table immediately after a predetermined operation is received on the touch panel 151 and the order information is updated.This diagram schematically shows the order table immediately after the next passing position and estimated passing time have been added to the order information.This diagram shows the path taken by an object when it is transported from the supply conveyor 102 to the table TB5.This diagram shows the path taken by the object to be transported to the table TB4 when the loading space on the transport path RT34 is full.This diagram illustrates an example of a method for extracting characteristic information from a transported object.This flowchart shows the operation of the control device 1 when it receives an order from a customer via a table touch system, according to one embodiment of the present invention.This flowchart shows the operation of the control device 1 in one embodiment of the present invention when the control device 1 receives a predetermined operation via a touch panel indicating that the placement of the object to be transported onto the supply conveyor has been completed.This is a first flowchart showing the operation of the control device 1 when a target is detected by any of the cameras 131-137 and 181-184 in one embodiment of the present invention.This is a second flowchart showing the operation of the control device 1 when a target is detected by any of the cameras 131-137 and 181-184 in one embodiment of the present invention.This is a subroutine for the feature extraction process (S900) shown in Figures 10 and 11.This figure schematically shows the neural networks 500 of learning models 43 and 45 (Figure 2) in one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 is a plan view showing the configuration of a store employing a product dispensing device according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Figure 1, the product serving device (an example of a specific device) in this embodiment is installed in a store equipped with a transport mechanism that carries products placed on plates along a transport path and circulates them within the dining area, such as a conveyor belt sushi restaurant. The type of product is arbitrary, but typically it is food and beverages such as sushi, snacks, or drinks. Within the store, multiple tables TB1 to TB6 and seats are provided near the product transport path. Each of the tables TB1 to TB6 and seats is intended for a group of multiple customers. The product serving device in this embodiment uses a different transport route than the "transportation means that carries products placed on plates along a transport route and circulates them within the dining area" described above, to transport and serve products to each customer. The product serving device in this embodiment does not circulate products within the dining area; instead, it directly delivers the items, including those corresponding to customer orders, from the kitchen area to the customer's table in the dining area. The product serving device identifies the items being transported along the transport route and delivers them to the required customer's table. The lower part of Figure 1 is the kitchen area where the chefs prepare the products, and the upper part of Figure 1 is the dining area where customers eat and drink. The product serving device in this embodiment includes transport paths RT1 to RT6, RT21 to 23, RT31 to RT36, and RT41 to RT44 (an example of a transport path), a control device 1, a circulating conveyor 101, supply conveyors 102 to 106, customer conveyors 107 to 109, rollers 110 to 113, cameras 121 to 125, 131 to 137, and 181 to 184, extrusion devices 141 to 147, touch panels 151 to 155, switching levers 161 to 163, and table touch systems