Auto-facing unit with sensors
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An auto-facing unit comprising:
- a base, the base having a front and a back and including;
two or more rails,a back clip at the back of the base,a front clip at the front of the base,one or more back engagement features extending from the back of the base,one or more front indexing features extending downwards perpendicularly from the front of the base,a fixed magnet arranged proximate to an underside of the front of the base, anda position sensor to detect a position target;
a data cable extending from the underside of the front of the base; and
a moveable sled retained with respect to the base by the two or more rails, the movable sled comprising;
a sled base including rail engagement features that mechanically engage the two or more rails such that the sled base moves in a linear fashion along the base,a pushplate mounted perpendicularly with respect to the sled base, anda spring coupled to the sled base and having an end of the spring coupled to the front of the base to provide tension; and
wherein the position target is detectable by the position sensor.
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Abstract
Inventory locations in a materials handling facility may be used to store items of various shapes and sizes. Described is an auto-facing unit designed to stow and arrange items against a front of the unit in a uniform fashion. The auto-facing unit may include one or more sensors to generate sensor data. The sensor data may be used to determine a quantity of items remaining in the auto-facing unit. The auto-facing unit and associated structures may be readily reconfigured to accommodate changes in store layout, product presentation, and so forth.
57 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An auto-facing unit comprising:
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a base, the base having a front and a back and including; two or more rails, a back clip at the back of the base, a front clip at the front of the base, one or more back engagement features extending from the back of the base, one or more front indexing features extending downwards perpendicularly from the front of the base, a fixed magnet arranged proximate to an underside of the front of the base, and a position sensor to detect a position target; a data cable extending from the underside of the front of the base; and a moveable sled retained with respect to the base by the two or more rails, the movable sled comprising; a sled base including rail engagement features that mechanically engage the two or more rails such that the sled base moves in a linear fashion along the base, a pushplate mounted perpendicularly with respect to the sled base, and a spring coupled to the sled base and having an end of the spring coupled to the front of the base to provide tension; and wherein the position target is detectable by the position sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An auto-facing apparatus comprising:
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a base having a front and a back, the base including; a first magnet affixed proximate to the front of the base, and a position sensor; a data cable extending from an underside of the base; and a sled that is linearly moveable with respect to the base, the sled comprising; a pushplate, an actuator coupled to the pushplate, and a position target detectable by the position sensor. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system comprising:
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a base having a front and a back; a sled that is linearly moveable with respect to the base, the sled including a pushplate; a position sensor that generates data indicative of a relative position of the sled with respect to the base; and a data cable exiting from an underside of the base proximate to the front of the base and terminated in a plug. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification