PRODUCT PRESENTATION DEVICE WITH A STORAGE STRUCTURE FOR PLACING OBJECTS AND WITH A SENSOR FOR DETECTING INVENTORY

Abstract

Product presentation device comprising: at least one sensor with a detection area for detecting an object within the detection area, in particular, by measuring the distance between the sensor and the object, and at least one storage structure for storing the object, wherein the storage structure comprises a rear edge and a front edge, wherein the detection area of the sensor is orientated along the direction from the rear edge to the front edge, wherein either a) a sensor movement system is provided in accordance with the embodiment type, by means of which a sensor can be moved at least along the rear edge, or in accordance with the embodiment type b), individually positioned sensors are provided along the rear edge and, corresponding to the position of the respective sensor, a product guidance structure is provided which is provided to guide the object towards the front edge, wherein the product guidance structure is designed in such a way that either the product guidance structure can be directly detected by the respective sensor or the direct detection of the guided object by the sensor is made possible, or, in accordance with the embodiment type c), a sensor movement system is provided, by means of which a sensor can be moved at least along the rear edge, and a product guidance structure is provided which is provided to guide the object towards the front edge, wherein the product guidance structure is designed in such a way that either the product guidance structure can be directly detected by the respective sensor or the direct detection of the guided object by the sensor is made possible or, in accordance with an embodiment type d), at least one sensor, or optionally, also at least one product guidance structure in accordance with the embodiment type c) is provided along the rear edge, wherein at least one sensor comprises a variable opening angle of its detection area.

Claims

1. Product presentation device (1) comprising: at least one sensor (2) with a detection area (14) for detecting an object (10a-10o) within the detection area (14), in particular, by measuring the distance between the sensor (2) and the object (10a-10o), and at least one storage structure (7) for the storage of the object (10a-10o), wherein the storage structure (7) comprises a rear edge (12) and a front edge (11), wherein the detection area (14) of the sensor (2) is orientated along the direction from the rear edge (12) to the front edge (11), wherein, either a sensor movement system (17) is provided by means of which a sensor (2) can be moved along the rear edge (12) in accordance with an embodiment type a); or in accordance with an embodiment type b), individually positioned sensors (2) are provided along the rear edge (12) and a product guidance structure (8a-8f) is provided corresponding to the position of the respective sensor (2), which is provided for guiding the object (10a-10o) towards the front edge (11), wherein the product guidance structure (8a-8f) is designed in such a way that: either the product guidance structure (8a-8f) can be directly detected by the respective sensor (2) or the direct detection of the guided object (10a-10o) by the sensor (2) is made possible, or, in accordance with an embodiment type c), a sensor movement system (17) is provided by means of which a sensor (2) can be moved along the rear edge (12) and a product guidance structure (8a-8f) is provided which is provided for guiding the object (10a-10o) towards the front edge (11), wherein the product guidance structure (8a-8f) is designed in such a way that: either the product guidance structure (8a-8f) can be directly detected by the respective sensor (2) or the direct detection of the guided object (10a-10o) by the sensor (2) is made possible, or, in accordance with an embodiment type d), at least one sensor, or optionally, also at least one product guidance structure in accordance with the embodiment type c) is provided along the rear edge, wherein at least one sensor comprises a variable opening angle of its detection area.

2. Product presentation device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the storage structure (7) comprises a slope deviating from the horizontal, and the sensor (2) is orientated in such a way that its detection area (14) essentially follows the slope of the storage structure (7).

3. Product presentation device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the sensor (2) is designed for time-of-flight measurement.

4. Product presentation device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the sensor (2) is designed to transmit its detection data representing the detection of the object (10a-10o) in a radio-based manner.

5. Product presentation device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the sensor (2) is designed to perform cyclical detection.

6. Product presentation device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the sensor (2) is designed to receive a detection control signal and, as a result, to perform a detection based thereon.

7. Product presentation device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the sensor (2) comprises a screen (5) to display sensor identification data (6) or product identification data.

8. Product presentation device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the sensor (2) comprises an input unit (4), in particular, a button, for triggering a sensor function, preferably a product query, being particularly preferred, a real-time inventory query.

9. Product presentation device (1) claim 1 in accordance with embodiment type a) or c) of claim 1, wherein the sensor movement system (17) comprises at least one of the following embodiments, namely: a draw-wire-based sensor movement system, a belt-based sensor movement system a gear- or shelf-based sensor movement system, a thread-based sensor movement system, a magnet-based sensor movement system.

10. Product presentation device (1) according to claim 9, wherein the sensor movement system (17) is designed in such a way that the movement of the sensor (2) along the rear edge (12) is provided by a linear motion or a rotational motion or a superposition of a linear with a rotational motion.

11. Product presentation device (1) according to claim 9, wherein the sensor movement system (17) is designed in such a way that the sensor (2) can be positioned at discrete positions.

12. Product presentation device (1) according to claim 1 in accordance with embodiment type b) or c) of claim 1, wherein the rear edge (12) of the storage structure (7) lies above the front edge (11) of the storage structure (7) in the direction of gravitational acceleration, wherein the product guidance structure (8a-8f) in the region of the front edge (11) of the storage structure (7) or the storage structure (7) comprises a boundary (9a-9f) at its front edge (11).

13. Product presentation device (1) according to claim 1 in accordance with embodiment type b) or c) of claim 1, wherein the product guidance structure (8a-8f) is formed in such a way that a plurality of objects (10a-10o) can be placed and guided one after the other along a line extending between the rear edge (12) and the front edge (11) of the storage structure (7).

14. Product presentation device (1) according to claim 1 in accordance with embodiment type b) or c) of claim 1, wherein the product guidance structure (8a-8f) is designed for moving one object (10a-10o) or a plurality of objects (10a-10o) towards the front edge (11) of the storage structure (7).

15. Product presentation device (1) according to claim 1 in accordance with embodiment type b) or c) of claim 1, wherein the product guidance structure (8a-8f) is formed by a guide shaft that is open adjacent to the rear edge (12) of the storage structure (7).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0097] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the attached figures on the basis of exemplary embodiments, to which, however, the invention is not limited. Thereby, identical components in the various figures are provided with identical reference numbers. Schematically, the figures show:

[0098] FIG. 1 a sensor for use in a product presentation device according to the invention;

[0099] FIG. 2 a product presentation device according to the invention with a product guidance structure with horizontally fixed positioned sensors;

[0100] FIG. 3 another product presentation device without a product guidance structure but with a sensor movement system for vertical movement of a single sensor;

[0101] FIG. 4 another product presentation device according to the invention with a product guidance structure and a sensor movement system for vertical individual sensor movement;

[0102] FIG. 5 another product presentation device according to the invention with a product guidance structure and sensor movement system for both horizontal as well as vertical individual sensor movement;

[0103] FIG. 6 another product presentation device according to the invention with a product guidance structure and sensor movement system for horizontal movement of vertically fixed positioned sensors,

[0104] FIG. 7 another exemplary embodiment of the sensor movement system,

[0105] FIG. 8 another exemplary embodiment of the sensor movement system,

[0106] FIG. 9 another product presentation device according to the invention with a pusher.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0107] FIG. 1 shows a sensor 2 with sensor units 3, a button 4 and a screen 5.

[0108] The screen 5 is designed as an energy-saving e-paper display, but can also be implemented as an LCD screen, and displays sensor identification data in the form of a sensor ID 6, which allows users to draw conclusions about the MAC address (Media Access Control Address) of the sensor. For this purpose, the sensor ID 6 can, for example, be equal to the last characters of the MAC address or correspond to an identification number for which the corresponding MAC address is stored in a database.

[0109] The database can be accessed by means of a corresponding application on the user's mobile phone. The application also allows scanning of the sensor 2 with a camera of the mobile phone, wherein the sensor ID 6 is automatically detected by means of image recognition so that scanning or photographing is possible as an alternative to manually entering the code in order to query the data on the sensor and on a related product or a plurality of products. In particular, a real-time inventory query can be carried out, i.e., a query as to whether the corresponding product is still available in the warehouse or on another shelf.

[0110] For this purpose, the sensor 2 comprises a radio module (which is installed in the housing and is therefore not visible), which enables radio-based communication of the sensor 2. For example, the sensor 2 can use the radio module to transmit its detection data and product query requests and receive product information, particularly regarding the inventory.

[0111] As described in the general part of the description, radio communication can take place in a wide variety of ways. In the example given here, communication with an access point of a server is assumed.

[0112] Another way to use sensor functions and, in particular, to also start a product query is to press the button 4. This triggers a sensor function, wherein a request is sent to the access point, whereupon the corresponding data is sent to the sensor 2 and/or, where applicable, to the user's mobile phone. Thereby, when the user presses the button 4, the screen 5 changes its display and displays a number or string representing information about the product. For example, the display can show a number indicating the number of products available. By pressing the button 4 again, the position of the available products can be queried. A double press within a short period of time returns the sensor to normal display mode, in which it displays its sensor ID 6.

[0113] The sensor units 3 detect the presence of objects. Essentially, the distance between objects and the sensor 2 is determined. The sensor unit 3 can have to do with different sensor types. For example, it can have to do with ultrasound sensors, infrared distance sensors, cameras, or 3D cameras, but this list is not exhaustive. In the present case, however, it is assumed that sensor unit 3 is a time-of-flight sensor unit 3, in particular, a time-of-flight camera (TOF camera).

[0114] FIG. 2 shows a product presentation device 1 according to the invention with fixed sensors 2a-2f.

[0115] The sensors 2a-2f are attached to a rear wall 15.

[0116] In front of the rear wall 15 there is a storage structure 7, which is divided into six sections 7a-7f. The storage structure 7 or each section 7a-7f comprises a front edge 11 and a rear edge 12. At the rear edge 12, the storage structure 7 merges into the rear wall 15.

[0117] In the storage structure 7, there are objects 10a-10o, wherein objects 10a-10o are products. In the first section 7a, there are two objects 10a-10b. In the second section 7b, there are three objects 10c-10e. In the third section 7c, there are three objects 10f-10h. There is no object in the fourth section 7d. In the fifth section 7e, there are two objects 10i-10j. In the sixth section 7f, there are five objects 10k-10o.

[0118] The rear edge 12 of the storage structure 7 is located above the front edge 11 in the direction of gravitational acceleration, represented by the arrow 16. The bottom of the storage structure 7 is so smooth that objects placed on it 10a-12o automatically slide towards the front edge 11.

[0119] Each section 7a-7f comprises a product guidance structure 8a-8f. This product guidance structure 8a-8f guides the objects 10a-10o within a section 7a-7f each in a line, i.e., along an arrangement line.

[0120] The product guidance structure 8a-8f comprises a front boundary 9a-9f for each section 7a-7f to avoid objects 10a-10o falling out at the front edge 11. The boundary 9a-9f is so low that the foremost objects 10a, 10c, 10f, 10i and 10k, in particular, are clearly visible and can be easily removed after being lifted slightly. If one of these foremost objects 10a, 10c, 10f, 10i and 10k is removed, the object behind it slips down, i.e., towards the boundary 9a-9f.

[0121] Each of the sections 7a-7f is assigned a sensor 2a-2f.

[0122] Each sensor 2a-2f comprises a detection direction 13 that extends from the sensor to the respective objects 10a-10o in a section 7a-7f. As an example, the detection direction for the sensor 2c is shown as an arrow. The detection direction 13 of the sensor 2c thus points in the direction of the objects 10f-10h, which are located in the section 7c belonging to the sensor 2c.

[0123] A cone-shaped detection area 14 with a relatively small opening angle (small width of the opening angle) opens around the detection direction 13 starting from the respective sensor 2a-2f, wherein the opening angle is so small that the detection area 14 is limited to a single product guidance structure 8a-8f across the distance from the rear edge to the front edge. This detection area 14 is also shown as an example for the sensor 2c. The other sensors also comprise a detection direction 13 and a detection area 14.

[0124] In this exemplary embodiment, each sensor 2a-2f checks a group of objects 10a-10o, which are arranged in a line from the boundary 9a-9f to the sensor 2a-2f. Thereby, each sensor 2a-2f can detect or measure a distance that is representative of the number of objects 10a-10o in the respective section 7a-7f. Detection data generated by the sensor 2a-2f can be evaluated by the sensor 2a-2f itself or by a merchandise management system or, for example, also a mobile device (not shown). The length of the section 7c from the boundary 9c to the sensor 2c minus the distance of the rearmost object 10h to the sensor 2c, corresponds to the length occupied by the objects 10f-10h. This length divided by the respective dimension of the objects stored (e.g., in a database) 10f-10h (measured in the direction of detection), results in the number of objects 10f-10h in a section 7c. In the present case, the diameter of the cylindrical objects is used as a divisor.

[0125] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of a product presentation device 1 without product guidance structure 8a-8f.

[0126] In this exemplary embodiment, the rear wall 15 was also omitted to make room for a sensor movement system 17. Nevertheless, a wall can extend behind the sensor movement system 17, e.g., to separate two sides of the shelf from each other or to structurally delimit a shelf.

[0127] The sensor movement system 17 comprises two drive units 18 connected to two rails 19. A carriage 20 is mounted on the rails 19, which can be moved along the rails 19. The sensor 2 is mounted on the carriage 20. The carriage 20 is connected to a belt 21. The drive units 18 are designed to pull the belt 21 via at least one driven pulley inside at least one drive unit 18, thereby moving the carriage 20 and the sensor 2 along the rear edge 12. Thereby, the sensor movement system 17 is designed to move and position the sensor 2 horizontally with respect to gravitational acceleration, represented by arrow 16.

[0128] In front of the sensor movement system 17, there is the storage structure 7, which is divided into two sections 2a, 2b. The storage structure 7, or each section 7a, 7b, comprises the front edge 11 and the rear edge 12. The sensor movement system 17 is at the rear edge 12.

[0129] On the storage structure 7, there are also objects 10a-10h, wherein the objects 10a-10h are also products. In the first section 7a, there are four objects 10a-10d, wherein three objects 10a-10c stand in a row, while the fourth object 10d stands alone. In the second section 7b, there are four objects 10e-10h.

[0130] In this exemplary embodiment, the rear edge 12 of the storage structure 7 is aligned with the front edge 11 in relation to the direction of gravitational acceleration (represented by the arrow 16). Thus, in contrast to the exemplary embodiment described above, objects 10a-10f do not slide to the front edge 11 due to gravitational acceleration but remain in their respective positions until they are moved manually.

[0131] The detection direction 13 of the sensor 2 is parallel to the surface of the storage structure 7 and points from the sensor 2 to the front edge 11. However, it is also possible that the sensor 2 is designed to change the direction of detection 13 so that it does not have to be normally in the direction of movement of the sensor 2.

[0132] Here, too, the detection area 14 also extends in a conical shape around the detection direction 13.

[0133] For a cost-effective variant of this exemplary embodiment, the sensor 2 can be a simple time-of-flight sensor that detects or measures the distance from sensor 2 to the nearest object in the detection direction 13. If the sensor movement system 17 moves the sensor 2 along the rear edge 12, it can detect a plurality of areas, wherein conclusions can be drawn about the number of objects in the respective sections after subsequent evaluation of the detection results.

[0134] Thereby, it can be seen from the detecting data that in the second section 7b, the rearmost detected object 10h is placed in such a way that a maximum of four objects of the provided object type can be located in this section. In the first section 7a, two distances corresponding to objects 10c and 10d are detected. From the distance that was detected when the left object 10c was detected, it can be concluded or calculated that a maximum of three objects 10a-10c of the provided object type can be present. From the distance that was detected when the right object 10d was detected, it can be concluded or calculated that a maximum of five objects 10d of the provided object type can be present. Thus, in the first section 7a, there can be a maximum of eight objects 10a-10c. The fact that only two rows of objects 10a-10d were detected in the first section 7a and a row of objects 10e-10h in the second section 7b, and that these rows contain only a few objects even in the best case, can be interpreted by the merchandise management system as an indication that the objects 10a-10h are to be refilled. The sales staff can be informed about this by means of a mobile phone through the merchandise management system. As can be seen, this estimation gives a good guideline as to whether objects 10a-10h or products need to be gradually refilled, but this estimation does not agree with the actual number of objects 10a-10h.

[0135] In order to obtain a more accurate estimate of the number of objects, the sensor 2 can change the detection direction 13 by an angle, for example by 5? so that the new detection direction 13b is still parallel to the area of the storage structure 7. If the sensor 2 now moves a second time along the rear edge 12 and detects the respective distances, a more accurate number of objects can be calculated from the data of the two runs, because this can be used to determine whether or not there is another or also a plurality of objects between the front edge 11 and object 10d. Objects 10a and 10b located between the front edge 11 and object 10c can also be detected.

[0136] An even more accurate detection of the objects 10a-10h is possible if the sensor is a 3D camera, for example a TOF camera.

[0137] The movement of the sensor 2 is initiated by an electronic control system that is not shown further and which electronically controls the drive units 18.

[0138] Furthermore, the accuracy of the estimation of the number of objects 10a-10h can be improved if, as described in the context of FIG. 2, a product guidance structure 8a-8f is provided. An exemplary embodiment having a combination of the product guidance structure 8a-8f and the sensor movement system 17 is shown in FIG. 4.

[0139] The storage structure 7 is in front of the sensor movement system 17. Above the rear edge 12, the rear wall 15, which is visible in FIG. 2, is missing in order to enable the sensor 2 to detect the objects 10a-10o that are located in the storage structure 7 in an undisturbed manner.

[0140] The storage structure 7, the rear wall 15 running below the rear edge 12 of the storage structure 7 and the drive units 18 can be permanently connected to a support structure not shown, such as a framework or other flat sheet metal parts or walls for example.

[0141] Here as well, the sensor is orientated in such a way that its detection direction 13, which is not shown in detail, points from the sensor 2 to the front edge 11 and runs parallel to the plane to the extension of the respective sections 7a-7f.

[0142] The sensor movement system 17, in particular the mentioned controller, is designed to move the sensor 2 into discrete positions. These discrete positions here are those in which the direction of detection and the line in which the objects 10a-10o are positioned coincide. Thereby, one detection is carried out for each section 7a-7f.

[0143] FIG. 5 shows another exemplary embodiment of product presentation device 1, wherein the sensor 2 can be moved not only horizontally but also vertically.

[0144] In this exemplary embodiment, the product presentation device 1 is a shelf that comprises a plurality of storage structures 7 that are arranged on top of each other, wherein only one is shown.

[0145] For the sake of clarity, the reference numbers have been reduced.

[0146] In contrast to FIG. 4, however, each of the two drive units 18 can be moved vertically and encloses a threaded rod 22 with an internal thread. Each threaded rod 22 is driven by a threaded rod drive unit 23. The threaded rod drive unit 23 is permanently connected to the support structure, which is also not shown here. It is therefore fixed relative to the rear wall 15.

[0147] The sensor movement system 17 or its threaded rod drive unit 23, controlled by the electronic control system, can therefore not only move the sensor 2 along the rear edge 12 of the displayed storage structure 7, but also move it in planes above or below the displayed storage structure 7. The sensor 2 can therefore detect not only a plurality of sections 7a-7f of a storage structure 7, but also a plurality of storage structures 7, i.e., an entire shelf.

[0148] FIG. 6 shows another exemplary embodiment of a sensor movement system 17 for detecting a plurality of stacked storage structures 7. For this purpose, a plurality of sensors 2a-2c on a carriage 20 are provided here, wherein each sensor 2a-2c is assigned to one of the storage structure 7. The carriage 20 travels on the two rails 19 along the rear edge 12 of the storage structures 7. The drive units 18 as well as the rear wall 15 are permanently connected to the support structure. The drive units 18 are designed to move the carriage 20 over the belt 21. The middle sensor 2b is assigned to the displayed storage structure 7, which results from its horizontal positioning. The upper sensor 2a and the lower sensor 2c are each assigned to other storage structures 7 not shown here, which results from their individual horizontal location.

[0149] If the carriage 20 moves horizontally along the storage structures 7, each sensor detects the objects 10a-10o in the respective storage structures 7.

[0150] FIG. 7 shows a very space-saving exemplary embodiment for the sensor movement system 17 and for the sensor 2. The sensor 2 is designed as a cylindrical drive wheel. The sensor units 3 are placed close to the centre of the sensor 2. The sensor 2 is located on a rail 19 and is designed to roll on it. The sensor movement system 17 also comprises three bars 26a, 26b and 26c, which are designed to hold the sensor 2 on the rail 19. For this purpose, the lower bar 26a and the upper bar 26c are located on the side of the sensor 2 where the detection area 14 is located, while the middle bar 26b is located on the other side. This prevents the sensor 2 from falling off the rail 19.

[0151] The sensor 2 comprises six first magnetic elements 24a-24f, which are permanent magnets.

[0152] The rail 19 comprises a plurality of second magnetic elements 25a-25f along its entire length, which are electromagnets that can be switched on and off individually.

[0153] In the position shown, the two middle second magnetic elements 25a and 25f are switched in such a way that they pull the corresponding first magnetic elements 24a and 24f towards them.

[0154] In order to move the sensor 2 further to the right, i.e., to rotate clockwise, the left of the two active second magnetic elements 25a is deactivated and the next right second magnetic element 25e is activated so that the corresponding first magnetic element 24e is pulled down to the rail 19. In addition, the previously active second magnetic element 25a can be activated simultaneously reversed polarity in order to push the corresponding first magnetic element 24a away from the rail 19.

[0155] Alternatively, the first magnetic element 24a-24f can be designed as a ferromagnetic magnetic element.

[0156] It is also possible that the first magnetic elements 24a-24f are switchable electromagnets. Accordingly, the second magnetic elements 25a-25b can be permanent magnets or ferromagnetic magnetic elements. The rail 19 can also be made of a corresponding material.

[0157] FIG. 8 shows another exemplary embodiment, wherein, in contrast to the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the drive wheel is polygon-shaped in FIG. 8. This means that those surfaces on which the sensor 2 is in stable positions form essentially a convex polygon in the cross-section normally on these surfaces.

[0158] This gives the sensor 2 a secure hold at a desired position even when the electromagnets are not activated.

[0159] Furthermore, the sensor 2 can be positioned in specific, discrete positions. The layout of the storage structure 7 can therefore be adapted to the dimensions of the sensor 2 in such a way that sensor 2 can be placed in the desired discrete positions.

[0160] FIG. 9 shows another exemplary embodiment of product presentation device 1, which is largely similar to that in FIG. 4. However, in contrast to FIG. 4, the product guidance structure 8a-8f here comprises plate-shaped pushers 27 which are provided to push objects 10a-10n placed in the storage structure 7 or its sections 7a-7f to the front edge 11. For this purpose, each pusher 27 is connected to a spring element 28, which pushes the respective pusher 27 away from the rear wall 15 or pushes it towards the front edge 11.

[0161] In contrast to FIG. 4, the sensor 2 does not directly detect the distance between the sensor 2 and object 10a-10n but directly detects the distance between the sensor 2 and the pusher 27. Because the dimensions of the pushers 27 are known, it is easy to calculate back to the distance from the sensor 2 to the nearest object 10a-10n of the respective section 7a-7f.

[0162] At this point, it should also be mentioned that sections 7a-7f do not have to be separate from each other. Rather, they can also be designed as a contiguous level or assembly.

[0163] Finally, it is pointed out once again that the figures described in detail above are only exemplary embodiments, which can be modified by the person skilled in the art in various ways without leaving the field of the invention. For the sake of completeness, it is also pointed out that the use of the indefinite article a does not exclude that the respective features can also be present a multiple of times.