Item pusher apparatus with channel-based shuttle displacement detection and associated methods

• US 9,576,417 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2013
• Issued: 02/21/2017
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kumar, Rakesh
• Application Number:
  US13/937,471
• Publication Number:
  US 20140008382A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,323 Days
• Field of Search: 221/4
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 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. Example systems apparatuses, methods, computer readable media, and computer program products are also provided.

Claims

1. An item pusher comprising:

a shuttle movable toward a stopping member along a defined movement path and configured to at least exert a force on an item stocked within the item pusher to urge the item toward the stopping member;

a channel surface including a channel; and

a channel engagement member affixed to the shuttle, the channel engagement member configured to slidably engage with the channel;

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

2. The item pusher 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 of the channel engagement member.

3. The item pusher of claim 1 further comprising a potentiometer, wherein the channel engagement member is affixed to the potentiometer and configured to change resistance at an output of the potentiometer as the shuttle moves linearly along the defined movement path.

4. The item pusher 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.

5. The item pusher of claim 1, wherein the channel is linear.

6. The item pusher 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.

7. The item pusher 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.

8. The item pusher 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.

9. The item pusher 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.

10. The item pusher of claim 2, wherein the monitoring device is affixed to the shuttle.

11. The item pusher of claim 2, wherein the monitoring device comprises a wireless transmitter, the wireless transmitter being configured to at least transmit an indication of a position of the channel engagement member.

12. The item pusher of claim 1 further comprising a monitoring device configured to at least determine a channel engagement member position.

13. The item pusher of claim 1 further comprising a monitoring device configured to at least determine a channel engagement member position indicating that a threshold number of items have been removed from the item pusher within a threshold amount of time.

14. The item pusher of claim 1 further comprising a monitoring device configured to at least determine a channel engagement member position and, based on the channel engagement member position, report item pusher activity to a server.

15. The item pusher of claim 1 further comprising a monitoring device configured to at least determine a channel engagement member position and, based on the channel engagement member position, activate an alarm.

16. The item pusher of claim 1 further comprising a monitoring device configured to at least determine a channel engagement member position and, based on the channel engagement member position, send a notification to a mobile device.

17. The item pusher of claim 1 further comprising a monitoring device configured to at least determine a channel engagement member position and, based on the channel engagement member position, log an activity.

18. The item pusher of claim 1 further comprising a monitoring device configured to at least determine a channel engagement member position, the monitoring device comprising a display device.

19. The item pusher of claim 1 further comprising a monitoring device configured to at least determine a channel engagement member position, the monitoring device comprising an alarm.

20. The item pusher of claim 1 further comprising a monitoring device configured to at least determine a channel engagement member position, the monitoring device comprising controllable light elements.