A DEVICE AND A METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING MEAL TRAYS

Abstract: A device and a method for assembling meal trays such as can be distributed as meals in an aircraft. The device is provided with transport means on which trays can be moved between working stations, where personnel place certain meal tray components on the tray. The transport means comprise a substantially circular table (1), which is capable of rotating about a vertical axis (2), whereby the trays can be placed near the edge of said table. The table can be driven intermittently, so that a tray placed on the table will be stationary at a working station for a predetermined period of time. The drive unit may comprise control means (17) for adjusting the time during which a tray is stationary at a working station.

Description: A DEVICE AND A METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING MEAL TRAYS The invention relates to a device for assembling meal trays such as can be distributed as meals in an aircraft, said device being provided with transport means on which trays can be moved between working stations, where personnel place certain meal tray components on the tray. It is usual to move such trays on a conveyor belt, whilst working stations are present along the conveyor belt, where persons place articles, such as various foodstuffs, cutlery, tableware, beverages, etc. on the trays, which process is called the preparation of the trays. Such a conveyor belt has a certain constant speed and is usually provided with means for stopping the belt when the completed trays are not removed sufficiently quickly at the end of the conveyor bel . Personnel may stand or be seated at the working stations along the conveyor belt. A number of storage containers are present near each person who places a number of meal tray components on the trays, from which storage containers said person takes the various meal tray components . The number of different meal tray components which can be placed on the tray by one person inter alia depends on the number of storage containers which can be present at the working station. With conveyor belts the available space at the working station is limited, so that only a small number of storage containers can be present. Although a conveyor belt is the obvious means of transport for the trays during their preparation, the use of a conveyor belt has several drawbacks. Thus a conveyor belt is a comparatively heavy installation, which takes up a relatively great deal of space. As a consequence of that there is often little freedom in installing one or more of such conveyor belts in a room. In addition to that the accessibility of both the starting point and the end point of the conveyor belt must always be taken into account, in connection with the supply and discharge of goods. The object of the invention is to provide a device for assembling meal trays whereby the trays can be prepared in an efficient manner, whereby the persons preparing the trays have ample space at their disposal and ample space is available for placing storage containers, and whereby the persons preparing the trays are positioned at a favourable place and take up a fa ourable position. In order to accomplish that objective the device for assembling meal trays is provided with transport means comprising a substantially circular table, which is capable of rotating about a vertical axis, whereby the trays can be placed near the edge of said table. By using a rotatable table as a transport means the various working stations can be positioned in a circle around said table, so that the persons working in said working stations have a good overview of the entire device and of the activities being performed in the other working stations. Furthermore the various persons preparing the same tray can readily communicate with each other. In practice it has become apparent that this results in a considerable efficiency enhancement. Another advantage of using a rotating table is the fact that the drive means of the table may be disposed centrally under said table, so that the persons present in the working stations have ample room at their disposal to carry out the work in a seated position, for example with their legs under the table. In addition to that more space is available at the working station because the trays do not move in a straight line but in a circular path. According to another aspect of the invention the rotatable table can be driven intermittently, so that a tray placed on the table will be stationary at a working station for a predetermined period of time. In practice it has appeared that when the tray to be prepared is stopped for a brief period the person preparing the tray will feel much calmer than when the tray keeps moving. Since the rotatable table is preferably provided with stop means, as a result of which a tray will be present on the table in a predetermined position and place, the table can be stopped each time a tray to be prepared is present at each working station. Generally it is necessary to be able to adjust the speed at which the trays are transported, in order to be able to adapt said speed to the pace of work and other circumstances. By using a transport means whereby the trays are stationary at working stations, it becomes possible to adjust the pace of work by changing the time during which the_ trays are stationary, whilst the movement of the trays can take place at a constant speed. Since the rate of movement of the trays is constant, a much simpler drive may be used than in those cases where it must be possible to vary the rate of movement . In a preferred embodiment of the invention four working stations are present around the rotating table, which in practice has appeared to be a favourable number. A significant advantage of a system whereby the trays can be stationary at the working stations for an adjustable period of time is the fact that it is possible to realize a particular tray assembly with a varying number of persons. It is possible to assemble a particular tray with fewer persons to prepare the trays by stopping the tray for a longer period at the working stations and having the persons preparing the trays place more meal tray components. Since there is ample space for storage containers at the working station with the device according to the invention, the number of persons preparing the trays can be varied considerably. One person may for example place seven meal tray components, whereas so far maximally three or four articles per person has been attainable. In the embodiment yet to be described, which comprises four working stations, it is also possible to work with for example two persons. Furthermore it is possible thereby to have the trays pass all working stations more than once, for example twice. According to another aspect of the invention the rotatable table is designed such that when two trays are present in two successive working stations, a third tray may be present between said two trays . As a result of this the person preparing the trays will have three trays within easy reach, so that he will for example be able to make a change as yet in the tray he has just prepared. As a result of this he will furthermore be able to observe the tray he is going to prepare in the condition in which it will appear before him for some time before it actually does. Also this appears to have a calming effect on the personnel preparing the trays. A number of storage containers for for example three to seven meal tray components is present at the working station, which storage containers may be disposed on either side of the person preparing the trays. According to another aspect of the invention stationary supporting means may be provided above the central part of the table, on which storage containers for meal tray components can be placed. According to another aspect of the invention said supporting means may be provided just above and/or some distance above the table. The supporting means may thereby support storage containers right before the person preparing the trays and also storage containers disposed at a higher level, which containers will for example be disposed in a sloping position, so that the person preparing the trays will have sufficient access to the storage container in question. In this manner the various storage containers can be disposed in the most effective position at the working station, possibly to be chosen by the person preparing the trays . The invention furthermore relates to a method for assembling meal trays such as can be distributed as meals in aircraft, whereby according to the invention trays are placed near the edge oT a substantially circular table, and the table is rotated about a central vertical axis, in order to have the trays pass a number of working stations where meal tray components are placed on the trays. According to one aspect of the invention the trays can be stopped at each working station for some time by interrupting the drive of the table. According to another aspect of the invention a tray may travel the full circuit of the table more than once, as a result of which it will for example be possible to correct a mistake which was made during the first circuit. Correcting a mistake in such a manner is for example not possible when the trays are transported by a conveyor belt, whereby the trays must always be removed from the belt after they have passed all working stations once. Further aspects and preferred embodiments of the invention are set forth in the description of the Figures and the claims, which aspects may be used both separately and in combination with each other. Hereafter an embodiment of a device for assembling trays will be discussed by way of illustration with reference to the drawing. Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of the device according to the embodiment; and Figure 2 is a diagrammatic side view. The device is only shown diagrammatically in the Figures, wherein parts have been left out to provide a good view of the device . Figures 1 an 2 both show a round table 1, which can rotate about a vertical axis 2. Table 1 is for example made of a plastic material and is provided with stop means, which make it possible to place the trays on the table 1 in a predetermined position. Said stop means may be cams 3 (Figure 2) or recesses cut out of the table (Figure 1) . Figure 1 shows four working stations arranged around the table 1, which are each provided with a chair 5 on which a person preparing the trays may be seated. Since sufficient space is available under table 1, the chair 5 may be moved to abut against the table 1 when the person preparing the trays is seated on chair 5. One or two storage containers 6 are placed on one side or on both sides of the chair, in which storage containers meal tray components are present, which are to be placed on the trays. In Figure 2 neither chairs 5 nor storage containers 6 are shown, so that a better view of other parts of the device is provided. Thus Figure 2 shows the drive unit 7, which is located centrally under the table 1. In one embodiment, which is not shown for that matter, said unit 7 may be provided with wheels, preferably castors, so that the entire device is mobile. Sufficient stability may thereby be obtained in that the relatively heavy drive motor 8 and reduction gear unit 9 are disposed within unit 7. Figure 2 shows a vertical shaft 10 extending upwards from the drive unit 7, on which stationary shaft 10 the support for storage containers 11 disposed above the table 1 is mounted. Said support consists of a part 12 disposed just above the table, with no storage containers being present thereon in Figure 1, and a part 13 disposed some distance above the table, with the storage containers 11 being present thereon in Figure 2. In Figure 1 the storage containers 11 are shown to extend between two respective working stations, so that said storage containers may reach almost to the edge of table 1. In Figure 1 four recesses 4 can be distinguished, in which trays can be placed, the other four recesses in the surface of the table 1 cannot be distinguished in Figure 1, because they are disposed under respective storage containers 11. It will be apparent, however, that the table is designed such that eight trays can be placed thereon. Table 1 is driven by means of a drive motor 8 and reduction gea.r unit 9 comprising an outgoing shaft, on which a chain wheel 14 is mounted. Chain wheel 14 drives a chain wheel 15 via a chain, said chain wheel 15 being connected to a pipe 16 coaxially provided over vertical shaft 10, to which table 1 is secured. It will be apparent that in this manner table 1 can be rotated, via the necessary reductions, by means of drive motor 8. Drive unit 7 furthermore contains a control box 17, in hich a control unit is present, by means of which the table can be stopped for a preset period of time, and that in a number of fixed positions, whereby a next tray will be present at a working station in each of said positions. The table may be provided with stop means in such a manner that trays of different dimensions can be placed on the predetermined places on the table. Although chairs 5 are shown in the Figures, the working station may also be arranged to work in a standing position . In the arrangement according to Figure 1 four persons are shown to prepare the meal trays, whilst on the right-hand side of the table, under storage container 11, seen in Figure 1, the completed tray is removed from the table and replaced by an empty one by a fifth person. It is also possible that the two persons present in the two adjacent working stations on the right-hand side of Figure 1 remove the completed tray fro.n table 1 and replace it with an empty tray.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A device for assembling meal trays such as can be distributed as meals in an aircraft, said device being provided with transport means on which trays can be moved between working stations, where personnel place certain meal tray components on the tray, characterized in that said transport means comprise a substantially circular table (1) , which is capable of rotating about a vertical axis (2) , whereby the trays can be placed near the edge of said table. 2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that said rotatable table (1) can be driven intermittently, so that a tray placed on the table (1) will be stationary at a working station for a predetermined period of time. 3. A device according to claim 2, characterized in that the drive unit comprises control means (17) for adjusting the time during which a tray is stationary at a working station. 4. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that four working stations are present around said table (1) . 5. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said trays can be placed on the table (1) in such a manner that when two trays are present in two successive working stations, a third tray is present between said two trays. 6. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that stationary supporting means (12, 13) are provided above the central part of the table (1) , on which storage containers (11) for meal tray components can be placed. 7. A device according to claim 6, characterized in that said supporting means comprise a part (12) provided just above the table (1) and/or a part (13) provided some distance above the table (1) , on which a storage container (11) can be placed in a sloping position in the direction of the working station. 8. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive unit (7) of the device is disposed centrally under the table (1) , which unit (7) may be provided with wheels, so that the entire device is mobile. 9. A method for assembling meal trays such as can be distributed as meals in aircraft, whereby trays are placed near the edge of a substantially circular table (1) , and the table (1) is rotated about a central vertical axis, in order to have the trays pass a number of working stations where meal tray components are placed on the trays . 10. A method according to claim 9, characterized in that the trays are stopped at a working station for some time by interrupting the drive of the table (1) . 11. A method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that a tray travels the full circuit of the table (1) more than once.

Inventors: TAAL ALBERT, TAAL, ALBERT
Applicants: KLM CATERING SERV SCHIPHOL BV, TAAL ALBERT, KLM CATERING SERVICES SCHIPHOL B.V., TAAL, ALBERT
Application year: 1995
Main classification: B65B67
IPC codes: B65B43, B65B67