ITEM PUSHER APPARATUS WITH CHANNEL-BASED SHUTTLE DISPLACEMENT DETECTION AND ASSOCIATED METHODS

• US 20140008382A1
• Filed: 07/09/2013
• Published: 01/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC. (CCL Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC. (CCL Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Christianson, David P.
• Granted Patent: US 9,576,417 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 221/4
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/125 with an article-pushing device
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 2010/025 using stock management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/38 in which the magazines are horizontal
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

According to some example embodiments, systems, apparatus, methods, computer readable media, and computer program products are provided for implementing an item pusher apparatus with channel-based shuttle displacement detection, One example method includes determining a position of a channel engagement member affixed to a shuttle, where the shuttle is movable and configured to at least exert a force on an item to urge the item towards a stopping member. The channel engagement member is configured to at least physically interface with as channel defined such that movement of the shuttle alone, to defined movement path causes movement of the channel engagement member in a direction that is nonparallel to the defined movement path in at least one plane. Example systems apparatuses, methods, computer readable media, and computer program products are also provided.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a movable shuttle configured to at least exert a three on an item stocked within the item pusher to urge the item towards a stopping member;

a channel surface oriented relative to a defined movement path for the shuttle, the channel surface including a channel; and

a channel engagement member affixed to the shuttle, the channel engagement member configured to at least physically interface with the channel;

wherein the channel is defined such that movement of the shuttle along the defined movement path causes movement of the channel engagement member in a direction that is nonparallel to the defined movement path in at least one plane.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a wireless transmitter affixed to the shuttle, the wireless transmitter being configured to at least transmit an indication of a position of the channel engagement member.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a monitoring device configured to detect a position of the channel engagement member and determine a number of items stocked in the item pusher based on the position id the channel engagement member.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a potentiometer, wherein the channel engagement member is affixed to the potentiometer and configured to control an output of the potentiometer.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a slide configured to at least guide the shuttle along the defined movement path, wherein the slide includes the channel surface and the channel.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the channel is non-linear.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a monitoring device configured to at least determine a channel engagement member position and translate the channel engagement member position into a shuttle position.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a monitoring device configured to at least determine a channel engagement member position in response to detecting movement of the shuttle.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a monitoring device configured to at least:

apply an input voltage to an input of a potentiometer in response to detecting movement of the shuttle;

sample an output voltage indicative of a resistance of the potentiometer; and

remove the input voltage to the input of the potentiometer.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a monitoring device configured to at least determine a channel engagement member position in response to detecting movement of the shuttle via an output of a motion detection switch.

11. A method comprising:

receiving a sensor signal from an output of a sensor, the sensor signal being indicative of a position of a channel engagement member; and

determining, by processing circuitry, the position of the channel engagement member that is affixed to a shuttle;

wherein the shuttle is movable and configured to at least exert a force on an item to urge the item towards a stopping member;

wherein the channel engagement member is configured to at least physically interface with a channel defined such that movement of the shuttle along a defined movement path causes movement of the channel engagement member in a direction that is nonparallel in at least one plane to the defined movement path.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising transmitting an indication of the position of the channel engagement member by a wireless transmitter affixed to the shuttle.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising determining a number of net stocked in the item pusher based on the position of the channel engagement member.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising controlling an output of a potentiometer via movement of the channel engagement member.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising translating the position of the channel engagement member into a shuttle position.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising determining the position of the channel engagement member in response to detecting movement of the shuttle.

17. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

applying an input voltage to an input of a potentiometer in response to detecting movement of the shuttle;

sampling an output voltage indicative of a resistance of the potentiometer; and

removing the input voltage to the input of the potentiometer.

18. The method of claim 11 further comprising detecting movement of the shuttle via an output of a motion detection switch.

19. A non-transitory computer readable medium having computer program code stored thereon, the computer program code configured to, when executed, cause an apparatus to perform:

receiving sensor signal from an output of a sensor, the sensor signal being indicative of position of a channel engagement member; and

determining the position of the channel engagement member that is affixed to a shuttle;

wherein the shuttle is movable and configured to at least exert a force on an item to urge the item towards a stopping member;

wherein the channel engagement member is configured to at least physically interface with a channel defined such that movement of the shuttle along a defined movement path causes movement of the channel engagement member in a direction that is nonparallel to the defined movement path in at least one plane.

20. The medium of claim 19 wherein the computer program code is further configured to cause the apparatus to perform determining a number of items stocked in the item usher based on the position of the channel engagement member.