GOODS PRESENTATON SYSTEM AND METHOD

Abstract

A goods presentation system including at least one goods presentation assembly defining at least two different rows for presenting goods, wherein goods are to be removed one after another from each row. The system also includes a detection member for the at least one goods presentation assembly configured to be contacted upon a removal of at least one good from a first row of the least two rows and to be also contacted upon a removal of at least one good from at least one second row of the least two rows. At least one sensor element is associated with the detection member and configured to trigger generation of at least one electronic detection signal upon the detection member being contacted when a good is removed from one of the first and second rows.

Claims

1. A goods presentation system, comprising: at least one goods presentation assembly defining at least two rows for presenting goods, wherein goods are to be removed one after another from each row; a detection member for the at least one goods presentation assembly configured to be contacted upon a removal of at least one good from a first row of the least two rows and to be also contacted upon a removal of at least one good from at least one second row of the least two rows; and at least one sensor element associated with the detection member and configured to trigger generation of at least one electronic detection signal upon the detection member being contacted when a good is removed from one of the first and second rows.

2. The goods presentation system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor element comprises a motion sensor for detecting a vibration of the detection member resulting from a contact with the detection member and for triggering generation of the at least one electronic detection signal based on a detected vibration.

3. The goods presentation system of claim 1, wherein the at least one electronic detection signal triggers output of at least one of an audible tone and a visual notification at the goods presentation system.

4. The goods presentation system of claim 1, further comprising an alarm device configured to receive the at least one electronic detection signal and to detect occurrence of a number of electronic detection signals during a given period of time exceeding a threshold value.

5. The goods presentation system of claim 4, wherein the threshold value is 3 detection signals in 5 seconds, 5 detection signals in 20 seconds, 7 detection signals in 30 seconds or 10 detection signals in 45 seconds.

6. The goods presentation system of claim 4, wherein the alarm device is configured to generate an alarm signal if a number of electronic detection signals during the given period of time exceeds the threshold value.

7. The goods presentation system of claim 4, wherein the alarm device is configured to transmit the alarm signal to a mobile device and/or to a surveillance system connected to the goods presentation system.

8. The goods presentation system of claim 7, wherein the surveillance system comprises at least one camera to capture images of the goods presentation assembly in response to receipt of the alarm signal and/or the surveillance system comprises at least one robot to be controlled to move to the goods presentation assembly in response to receipt of the alarm signal.

9. The goods presentation system of claim 7, wherein the surveillance system is configured to output at least one of an audible tone and a visual notification at a display device of the surveillance system and/or to transmit an alarm to a mobile device.

10. The goods presentation system of claim 1, wherein the detection member comprises a detection shield mounted at a front side of the at least two rows.

11. The goods presentation system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the detection member is configured to vibrate upon being contacted when a good is removed from the first row and when a good is removed from the at least one second row.

12. The goods presentation system of claim 11, wherein the detection member is mounted to a first mounting part associated with the first row and to at least one second mounting part associated with the at least one second row.

13. The goods presentation system of claim 1, wherein the goods presentation assembly comprises a first hook for the first row and a second hook for the second row.

14. The goods presentation system of claim 13, wherein the detection member is clipped on both the first hook and the second hook.

15. The goods presentation system of claim 1, wherein the goods presentation assembly comprises a shelf at which the first row of goods and the least one second row of goods are to be arranged.

16. The goods presentation system of claim 15, wherein the shelf includes at least two compartments each compartment defining one of the at least two rows for the goods to be presented and arranged at the goods presentation assembly.

17. The goods presentation system of claim 15, wherein the detection member is mounted to the shelf via at least one fastening element inserted in a hole of the shelf or the detection member is mounted to the shelf by a portion of the detection member being inserted in slot of the shelf.

18. The goods presentation system of claim 1, comprising a tampering protection device configured to emit a tampering detection signal if a potential manipulation of the least one sensor element is detected by the tampering protection device.

19. The goods presentation system of claim 19, wherein the tampering protection device is configured to determine if the detection member vibrates for a period of time exceeding a tampering threshold time.

20. A method for detecting removal of goods arranged in at least two rows at goods presentation assembly and being removable one after another from each row, wherein a detection member is provided which is contacted upon a removal of at least one good from a first row of the least two rows and is also contacted upon a removal of at least one good from at least one second row of the least two rows, the method comprising: detecting, via at least one sensor element, a contact with the detection member upon a removal of the good from the goods presentation assembly; and triggering generation of at least one electronic detection signal in response to detecting the contact with the detection member upon the removal of the good from the goods presentation assembly.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] The previously mentioned and other advantages of the present solution will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following specification and the attached drawings.

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a proposed goods presentation system comprising a display rack with several goods presentation assemblies each including either a shelf or a holder assembly with several hooks.

[0034] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the display rack of FIG. 1.

[0035] FIG. 3A shows an enlarged view of a detail A depicted in FIG. 2.

[0036] FIG. 3B shows an enlarged view of a detail B depicted in FIG. 2.

[0037] FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of the holder assembly with five hooks fixed to a carrier cross bar, wherein in a single detection member with an elongated detection shield is associated with and fixed to each one of the five hooks.

[0038] FIG. 5A shows a perspective front view of an elongated detection shield for one of the shelves of the display rack.

[0039] FIG. 5B shows a perspective rear view of the detection shield of FIG. 5A.

[0040] FIG. 6 shows a perspective front view of another embodiment of an elongated detection shield which may be plugged onto a slot at a front portion of a shelf.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] FIG. 1 shows a goods presentation system including a display rack 1 with 1 back wall onto which different goods presentation assemblies are mounted. At an upper portion of the back wall, a first good presentation assembly in the form of a holder assembly 10 is arranged. The holder assembly 10 includes a carrier cross bar B being fixed due to lateral fixing profiles of the display rack 1. At the carrier cross bar B several (in the present case five) goods holders 101, 102, 103, 104, and 105 with wire hooks are fixed. At these goods holders 101, 102, 103, 104, and 105 goods may be hung to presented to potential buyers. Each goods holder 101 to 105 defines a row for goods at which the goods are arranged one behind the other so that merely a foremost good is to be removed at a front end of a goods holder 101 to 105.

[0042] In order to impede removal of a plurality of goods at the same time from one of the goods holders 101 to 105 a detection member in the form of an elongated detection shield 10A is mounted to the plurality of goods holders 101-2105. The detection shield 10A is associated with all goods holders 102 to 105 and mounted to them, as also later described in further detail. For removing a foremost good from one of the goods holders 101 to 105 the single detection shield 10A will be contacted by a consumer's hand and/or the good to be removed so that the detection shield 10A will be excited to at least slightly oscillate and thus vibrate. The detection shield thus provides a mechanical barrier for impeding the removal of goods. Furthermore, a vibration of the detection shield 10A may be electronically detected in order to electronically inform and/or monitor a removal of goods from one or more of the goods holders 101 to 105.

[0043] The detection shield 10A also includes a front surface 102A at which price tags for the different goods arranged at the goods holders 101 to 105 may be disposed.

[0044] The display rack 1 furthermore includes several (in the example of FIG. 1 four) shelves 11, 12, 13, and 14 below the holder assembly 10. At each one of the shelves 10, 12, 13, and 14 rows of goodsand thus productsmay be arranged side-by-side. At front portions of two shelves 12 and 13 elongated detection shields 12A, 13A are fixed for providing a mechanical barrier for impeding a removal of foremost goods in rows of goods from the respective shelf 12 or 13. Each one of the detection shields 12A, 13A is dimensioned and positioned with respect to a shelf 10 or 12 above the shelf 12 or 13 to which the detection shields 12A or 13A is fixed so that a good arranged on shelf 12 or 13 or the hand of consumer grabbing and removing a good has to at least slightly contact an upper portion of the detection shield 12A or 13A when removed. A bottom portion of each detection shield 12A or 13A is fixed to a respective shelf 12 or 13, whereas upper portions upwardly extending from the bottom part are allowed to vibrate and may thus oscillate with respect to the fixed bottom portion.

[0045] As in particular shown in the side view of FIG. 2, each detection shield 10A, 12A and 13A includes at least one sensor unit with a motion sensor 2. This motion sensor 2 is in each case configured to detect a vibration of the detection shield 10A, 12A or 13A to which the respective sensor unit is attached. Each motion sensor 2 is configured to detect a vibration of a detection shield 10A, 12A, or 13A which results from a removal of a good. Thereby, a motion sensor 2 is for example configured to detect a vibration of a downwardly extending (bottom) portion of a detection shield 10A for the goods holders 101 to 105 or is configured to detect a vibration of an upwardly extending (upper) portion for a shelf 12 or 13.

[0046] In response to detecting a contact of a good to be removed from the holder assembly 10 or one of the shelves 12 or 13, the respective motion sensor 2 triggers generation of an electronic detection signal which results in emitting an audible tone via a sound emitting device of the sensor unit disposed at the respective detection shield 10A, 12A or 13A. Accordingly, if one good is removed from one of goods holder assembly including the goods holders 101 to 105 or a shelf 12 or 13, the good contacts a detection shield 10A, 12A or 13A and triggers an audible tone. Other customers or staff at the point of sale are thus made aware of a removal of the good from the display rack 1.

[0047] In one embodiment, each sensor unit with a motion sensor 2 may include at least one microprocessor by means of which the sensor unit is further configured to generate an alarm signal in response to a number of detection signals occurring within a predetermined period of time exceeding a threshold value. The sensor unit may thus be configured to detect an atypical removal frequency which may speak for a theft attempt in which a plurality of the goods is removed at the same time or within a short period of time.

[0048] An alarm device 3 may be provided at the display rack 1 to which several sensor units with its motion sensors 2 are connected wirelessly or via wired connections. The alarm device 3 may receive alarm signals from the sensor units. In another embodiment, the alarm device 3 just receives detection signals from the different sensor units comprises a sound emitting device and/or a visual indicator to inform about the generation of an detection signal. In still another embodiment, the alarm device 3, via at least one microphone, acoustically captures audible tones emitted by the sensor units upon a removal of a good. The alarm device 3 may then be configured to evaluate the number of emitted detection signals or audible tones within a predetermined period of time in order to generate the alarm signal in the case of an atypical removal frequency.

[0049] In one embodiment, the alarm device 3 or one or more of the sensor units may be coupled (wirelessly or via wired connection) to a surveillance system 4. The surveillance system 4 may comprise at least one camera to capture images of the display rack 1 in response to receipt of the alarm signal. In one embodiment, the surveillance system 4 comprises at least one robot to be controlled to move to the display rack 1 in response to receipt of the alarm signal.

[0050] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged side view of detail a of FIG. 2. FIG. 3 shows a front portion of one of the goods holders 101 to 105. The goods holder 101 shown in FIG. 3 (like the other goods holder 101 to 105) comprises a holding wire/holding rod 10.2 at which the goods may be slidably arranged. Above the holding wire/holding rod 10.2 a top wire/top rod 10.1 extends in parallel. At a front end of the top wire/top rod 10.1 a transversely extending stud 10.3 exists.

[0051] Onto the stud 10.3 the detection shield 10A is clipped a fastening clip 100A of the detection shield 10A. Via the fastening clip 100A the detection shield 10A may be easily mounted onto the top wire/top rod 10.1. When sliding a foremost good to a front end of the holding wire/holding rod 10.2 the respective good must contact a downwardly extending portion of the detection shield 10A so that it at least slightly starts oscillating/vibrating 3. A corresponding oscillation/vibration may then be sensed by the motion sensor 2 disposed at an inner side of the detection shield 10A.

[0052] As shown in the exploded view of FIG. 4, the detection shield 10A comprises several, equally spaced fastening clips 100A for clipping the detection shield 10A onto each one of the goods holders 101 to 105. The studs 10.3 of the different goods holders 101 to 105 thus define a common axis for the detection shield 10A. By a single sensor unit with a motion sensor 2 at an inner side of detection shield 10A all goods holders 101 to 105 may thus be the electronically monitored for a removal of goods based in a vibration of the detection shield 10A, while installation of the detection shield 10A at the holder assembly 10 via the fastening clips 100A is quick and simple. Since the sensor unit is also provided with a sound emitting device and/or a visual indicator, such as a light emitting element or display element, the whole system is quickly installed ready to use. In one embodiment, the sensor unit already disposed at the detection shield 10A before mounting the detection shield 10A.

[0053] As exemplary shown for shelf 12 and its detection shield 12A in FIG. 3B and in the perspective views of FIGS. 5A and 5B, a detection shield 12A (like detection shield 13A) is also easy to install and use.

[0054] The exemplarily shown detection shield 12A includes a front surface 122A facing a customer. At the front surface 122A price tags may be arranged. At an opposite inner surface 120A the sensor unit with its motion sensor 2 is disposed.

[0055] An upper edge of the detection shield 12A may be inwardly bent, for example about 90 or less. The inwardly bent upper edge may make it more likely that a good to be removed from a shelf 12 to which the detection shield 12A is attached contacts the detection shield 12A and causes at least a vibration of the detection shield 12Aa which is sensed by the motion sensor 2 for generating a detection signal.

[0056] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the shelf 12 includes several fastening holes at a front portion. At one or more of this fastening holes of the shelf 12, the detection shield 12A is fixed via fastening pins, bolts, or screws 121. A fastening pin, bolt, or screw 121 extends through a hole 121.1, 121.2, or 121.3 provided at an inwardly extending fastening strip of the detection shield 12A.

[0057] In another embodiment, fastening pins 121 may be integrally formed at a bottom part of the detection shield 12A. These fastening pins 121 may then protrude from the bottom part of the detection shield 12A and may be plugged into the fastening holes at the front portion of a shelf 12.

[0058] In another embodiment, illustrated by FIG. 6, a detection shield 12A for a shelf 12 (or 13) includes a straight fastening bottom edge 121A. This fastening bottom edge 121A may then be plugged into an elongated slot provided at a front portion of the shelf.

[0059] FIG. 6 further illustrates that an inwardly bent upper edge of the detection shield 12A may also be bent more than once in order to increase the likelihood of a contact with a good upon the good's removal from the shelf.

[0060] In one embodiment, a sensor unit with a motion sensor 2 and/or the alarm device 3 further includes a tampering protection device configured to emit a tampering detection signal if a potential manipulation of a motion sensor 2 is electronically detected. It may, for example, be detected whether a detection signal from a motion sensor indicates an ongoing vibrational movement of a detection shield 10A, 12A or 13A exceeding a tampering threshold time. For example, a mechanical impulse on a detection shield 10A, 12A, 13A upon a removal of a good could typically cause a vibration and corresponding detection signal over less than 500 ms, e.g., in the range of 50 to 200 ms. In contrast thereto, if a person tries to manipulate a motion sensor 2, e.g., tries to remove the motion sensor 2 or the whole sensor unit from the respective detection shield 10A, 12A, 13A, a vibration of the detection shield 10A, 12A, 13A and a corresponding detection signal for more than one second, two seconds or even three seconds will occur. A tampering threshold time may thus, for example, be set to one second, two seconds or three seconds. Emission of a tampering alarm may thus be triggered in case a continued vibration of a detection shield 10A, 12A 13A is detected for more than one second, two seconds or three seconds.

[0061] The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be implemented in another embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same elements may also be varied in one or more ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.