Retail shelf supply monitoring system
First Claim
1. An inventory shelf monitoring system, comprising:
- at least one track system mounted on an associated shelf, the track system including a track receiving a pusher that is biased toward a front end of the track;
a sensor fixed in relation to the track;
an actuator attached to the pusher and in communication with the sensor, the sensor emitting a first output signal corresponding to an instantaneous location of the pusher in relation to the track;
a microprocessor coupled to the sensor, wherein the microprocessor controls power to the sensor and measures pusher position;
an electric bus located adjacent a rear end of the track, wherein the microprocessor is coupled to the electric bus;
a data acquisition and transmitter circuit associated with the associated shelf and in data receiving communication with the sensors of the track system by receipt of the first output signals, the acquisition and transmitter circuit emitting a second output signal corresponding to the identity and location of the pusher of the at least one track system located on the associated shelf as a function of measured pusher position; and
a receiver receiving the second output signals;
wherein the sensor comprises a potentiometer and the actuator comprises a contact member on the pusher, the contact member defining the signal wiper of the potentiometer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An inventory shelf monitoring system includes a plurality of track systems located on at least one shelf of a retail or warehouse establishment. Each track system includes a sensor and actuator that determines the position of a product pusher. The identity and location of the product pusher, for each track system on the at least one shelf, is sent to a data acquisition and transmitter circuit that assembles, formats, and transmits pusher position data to a central receiver, which receives corresponding data from all shelves employing the system in the retail or warehouse establishment. The data is then transmitted to a central processing unit in a user device that maintains data corresponding to product count, availability, and activity associated with each track unit of each shelf employing the system in the retail or warehouse establishment. Inventory control, the prevention of out-of-stock situations, and the assessment of activity indicative of theft or accident is thus monitored in real time for prompt remedial action.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An inventory shelf monitoring system, comprising:
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at least one track system mounted on an associated shelf, the track system including a track receiving a pusher that is biased toward a front end of the track; a sensor fixed in relation to the track; an actuator attached to the pusher and in communication with the sensor, the sensor emitting a first output signal corresponding to an instantaneous location of the pusher in relation to the track; a microprocessor coupled to the sensor, wherein the microprocessor controls power to the sensor and measures pusher position; an electric bus located adjacent a rear end of the track, wherein the microprocessor is coupled to the electric bus; a data acquisition and transmitter circuit associated with the associated shelf and in data receiving communication with the sensors of the track system by receipt of the first output signals, the acquisition and transmitter circuit emitting a second output signal corresponding to the identity and location of the pusher of the at least one track system located on the associated shelf as a function of measured pusher position; and a receiver receiving the second output signals; wherein the sensor comprises a potentiometer and the actuator comprises a contact member on the pusher, the contact member defining the signal wiper of the potentiometer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A product inventory monitoring system, comprising:
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a front rail; a back rail spaced from the front rail; a plurality of track units coupled to the front rail and the back rail to form a modular system, each track unit comprising; a spring-loaded pusher that applies force to one or more associated product packages to urge the one or more associated packages toward the front rail; a contact pad mounted on a bottom face of the pusher in contact with a sensor strip mounted to the track, the sensor strip being electrically coupled to a microprocessor in a sensor circuit, wherein the microprocessor is in turn coupled to a plurality of buses mounted to one of the front rail and the back rail; a power source that supplies a voltage to the one of the front rail and the back rail; and a data acquisition and transmitter circuit that is coupled to the track unit and determines a position of the pusher as a function of a voltage difference between the power supply and a voltage detected across the sensor strip; and a user device that receives pusher position information and generates a report comprising information related to product package count in each of the plurality of track units; wherein the sensor strip includes a slider potentiometer. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification