Sensor System for a Display Rack

• US 20200132538A1
• Filed: 10/25/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pure Value Europe, NV, Pure Value Netherlands, BV
• Original Assignee: Pure Value Europe, NV, Pure Value Netherlands, BV
• Inventors: Marivoet, Geert, Schijndel, Bram
• Granted Patent: US 11,680,844 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/0018 Display racks with shelves or receptables racks per se A47B; storage devices for warehouses B65G1/02
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/42 for counting by weighing G01G19/387 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/2287 constructional details of the strain gauges adjustable resistors H01C10/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A display rack comprises shelves and a base. Each shelf comprises a sensor mat comprising a lattice of load sensors. The base is configured for measuring a total weight, which includes weights of any objects positioned on the shelves. The system is configured for determining object addition or removal event data based on in time corresponding changes of: total weight measured at the base; and binary load status of multiple load sensors of a sensor mat of the display rack. A binary load status of a load sensor indicates whether the load sensor at least in part supports an object or not. The event data comprises: an object weight based on said change of total weight measured at the base; and an object support shape and an object location both based on said change of binary load status of multiple load sensors of said sensor mat of the display rack.

Claims

1. System comprising a display rack (1), wherein the display rack comprises multiple shelves (2′

, 2″

, 2′

″

, 2″

″

) and a base (4) for supporting the shelves, wherein each of the shelves comprises a sensor mat (5) comprising a lattice of load sensors, wherein the base is configured for measuring a total weight, wherein the total weight includes weights of any objects positioned on the shelves, wherein, the system is configured for determining object addition or removal event data based on in time corresponding changes of;

total weight measured at the base; and

binary load status of multiple load sensors of a sensor mat of the display rack, wherein a binary load status of a load sensor indicates whether the load sensor at least in part supports an object or not,

wherein the object addition or removal event data comprises;

an object weight based on said change of total weight measured at the base; and

an object support shape and an object location both based on said change of binary load status of multiple load sensors of said sensor mat of the display rack.

2. System according to preceding claim 1, wherein the base comprises a base plate (6) comprising multiple weight sensors (7) for supporting the shelves, wherein the display rack is configured for determining a total weight based on signals from each of said weight sensors.

3. System according to preceding claim 2, wherein the shelves comprise a first shelf (2″

″

), wherein the display rack comprises base support elements (8″

″

), wherein each base support element is hingedly connected (9″

″

) to the base plate (6) and slideably attached (10″

″

) to the first shelf, wherein the base plate is configured for supporting the base support elements via the weight sensors.

4. System according to preceding claim 3, wherein a base support element comprises one or more hinge elements defining a hinge axis for the base support element, wherein the base plate comprises guide rails (9″

″

) for hingedly engaging the one or more hinge elements of the base support element, whereby the guide rails comprise a guide path portion (11) in essence perpendicular to the base plate along which the one or more hinge elements can be translated, wherein the base plate is configured for at least partially sinking the base support element in the base plate and onto one or more weight sensors of said multiple weight sensors via translation of the one or more hinge elements of the base support element along said guide path portion.

5. System according to preceding claim 1, wherein the base comprises a base plate, a support plate for supporting said multiple shelves, and multiple weight sensors positioned in between the base and support plates, wherein the multiple weight sensors connect the base and support plates, wherein the display rack is configured for determining a total weight based on signals from each of said multiple weight sensors.

6. System according to claim 2, wherein said weight sensors are load cells.

7. System according to claim 1, wherein the system comprises a tangible non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising an identification list comprising for each of multiple objects an identification code, a reference weight and a reference support shape, wherein the system is configured for selecting an identification code from the identification list based on comparison of the determined object weight with the reference weights of the identification list and comparison of the determined object support shape with the reference support shapes of the identification list.

8. System according to claim 1, wherein the system is configured for determining a fill status of the display rack, wherein the fill status comprises information on a number of objects in the display rack, a number of objects on a shelf of the display rack, a presence of objects on a desired zone of a shelf of the display rack, a number of objects of a particular type in the display rack, a number of objects of a particular type on a shelf of the display rack and/or a presence of objects of a particular type on a desired zone of a shelf of the display rack, and wherein the system is configured for sending a fill notification in case the fill status reaches a predetermined undesired fill status.

9. System according to claim 1, wherein the system is configured for:

monitoring the total weight measured at the base; and

determining an updated binary load status of the load sensors of the sensor mats upon detecting a change in the total weight measured at the base,

wherein the change in binary load status of multiple load sensors of a sensor mat of the display rack is determined based on comparison of said updated binary load status with a previously determined binary load status.

10. System according to claim 1, wherein the system is configured for:

monitoring the binary load status of the load sensors of the sensor mats; and

measuring an updated total weight at the base upon detecting a change in binary load status of multiple load sensors of a sensor mat of the display rack,

wherein the change in total weight is determined based on said updated total weight and a previously measured total weight.

11. System according to claim 1, wherein the system comprises a computer system comprising at least one processor, wherein the computer system is configured for wired or wireless data communication with the display rack, wherein the computer system is configured for obtaining a total weight measured at the base, obtaining a binary load status of the load sensors of the sensor mats of the display rack, and determining the object addition or removal event data on the computer system via the at least one processor.

15. System according to claim 3, wherein the base support elements are telescopically extendable.

16. System according to claim 5, wherein the multiple weight sensors are four weight sensors.

17. System according to claim 6, wherein the load cells are strain gauge load cells.

18. System according to claim 17, wherein the strain gauge load cells are electrical resistance strain gauge load cells.

19. System according to claim 5, wherein said weight sensors are load cells.

20. System according to claim 19, wherein the load cells are strain gauge load cells.

21. System according to claim 20, wherein the strain gauge load cells are electrical resistance strain gauge load cells.

12. Method for determining an object weight, an object support shape and an object location upon addition or removal of an object from a shelf of a display rack, wherein the display rack comprises multiple shelves and a base for supporting the shelves, wherein each shelf comprises a sensor mat comprising a lattice of load sensors, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

measuring at the base a first total weight prior to said addition or removal and a second total weight posterior to said addition or removal;

determining a first binary load status of the load sensors of the sensor mats of the shelves prior to said addition or removal and a second binary load status of the load sensors of the sensor mats of the shelves posterior to said addition or removal, wherein a binary load status of a load sensor indicates whether the load sensor at least in part supports an object or not;

determining said object weight based on said second and first total weights; and

determining said object support shape and said object location based on said second and first binary load status.

13. Method for identifying an object, comprising the method according to claim 12 and the step of selecting an identification code from an identification list, the identification list comprising for each of multiple objects an identification code, a reference weight and a reference support shape, based on comparison of the determined object weight with the reference weights of the identification list and comparison of the determined object support shape with the reference support shapes of the identification list.

14. Method for sending a fill notification, comprising the method according claim 12 and the steps of:

determining a fill status of the display rack, wherein the fill status comprises information on a number of objects in the display rack, a number of objects on a shelf of the display rack, a presence of objects on a desired zone of a shelf of the display rack, a number of objects of a particular type in the display rack, a number of objects of a particular type on a shelf of the display rack and/or a presence of objects of a particular type on a desired zone of a shelf of the display rack;

determining whether the fill status reaches a predetermined undesired fill status; and

in case the fill status reaches a predetermined undesired fill status, sending a fill notification.