System for inventory management

• US 10,535,216 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2017
• Issued: 01/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RTC Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: RTC Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Swafford, Jr., John Wesley, Lembke, Michael Alvin
• Primary Examiner(s): Glass, Russell S
• Application Number:
  US15/794,985
• Publication Number:
  US 20180047243A1
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 705 28
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/126 the pushing device being urged by spring means
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/36 in which the magazines are of helical or spiral form
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/38 in which the magazines are horizontal
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/42 the articles being delivered by motor-driven means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19697 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors generate an alarm themselves

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for detecting and communicating the position of a pusher assembly on a shelf. In an embodiment, a system includes a control module, a pusher assembly, and a laser scanner. The laser scanner is configured to transmit a swept beam to a mirrored reflective surface located behind the pusher assembly. The control module analyzes the laser beam at the laser scanner to detect the position of the pusher assembly on the shelf. In another embodiment, a system includes a control module, a pusher assembly, and an infrared transceiver that sends and receives infrared signals. The transceiver may be located behind the pusher assembly. The control module analyzes the infrared signals to determine the position of the pusher assembly on the shelf.

Claims

1. A system for detecting and communicating a position of a pusher on a shelf comprising:

a pusher assembly that comprises;

a divider wall,

a first floor section on one side of the divider wall,

a second floor section on a second side of the divider wall, and

a pusher,

wherein the first floor section includes a pusher track comprising;

a first rail,

a second rail, and

an elongated aperture between the first rail and the second rail,

a signal transmitter mounted to the pusher, the signal transmitter configured to transmit a signal,

a receiver configured to receive the signal transmitted from the signal transmitter, wherein the receiver is positioned at a stationary location in relation to the pusher; and

a processing device that is configured to receive data regarding the signal and configured to determine a movement of the pusher and a rate of change in a product level and further configured to provide notification when a deviation in a typical movement of the pusher and the rate of change of the product level has occurred.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the receiver is located at a remote location from the shelf.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the remote location is above the shelf.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal is an infrared signal.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal is a radio frequency signal.

6. A system for detecting and communicating a position of a pusher that biases product on a shelf toward a front of the shelf, the system comprising:

a signal transmitter mounted to a pusher, the signal transmitter having a unique identifying code, wherein the signal transmitter is configured to communicate a signal that includes the unique identifying code,

a receiver that is located remote from the signal transmitter and configured to receive the signal communicated by the signal transmitter,

a processing device that is configured to receive information related to the signal communicated by the signal transmitter and is configured to determine a level of a product.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the receiver is located above the shelf.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the signal transmitter is a signal transponder.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the signal transponder is a radio frequency signal transponder.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the processing device is further configured to determine a movement of the pusher and a change in a product level.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the processing device is further configured to transmit a signal regarding the level of the product.

12. The system of claim 6, wherein the processing device is further configured to compare information related to the signal to previous information received from the signal transmitter.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the processing device is further configured to provide notification when a deviation in a typical movement of the pusher and a rate of change of the product level has occurred.

14. A system for detecting and communicating a position of a pusher on a shelf comprising:

a pusher assembly that comprises;

a pusher, wherein a signal transmitter is mounted on the pusher, the signal transmitter configured to transmit a signal,

a floor section including a pusher track comprising a first rail, a second rail, and an elongated aperture between the first rail and the second rail,

a receiver configured to receive the signal transmitted from the signal transmitter, wherein the receiver is positioned at a stationary location in relation to the pusher; and

a processing device configured to receive data regarding the signal and to determine a movement of the pusher and a rate of change in a product level and further configured to provide notification when a deviation in a typical movement of the pusher and the rate of change of the product level has occurred.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the receiver is located on the floor.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the receiver is located on a divider wall adjacent the floor section.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the receiver is located at a remote location from the shelf.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the remote location is above the shelf.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the receiver is configured to transmit an activation signal to the signal transmitter.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the signal includes a unique identifying code.