U.S. patent application number 11/852538 was filed with the patent office on 2008-01-03 for self-adjusting goods display system and method.
This patent application is currently assigned to Pacific Bin Corporation. Invention is credited to Robert H. Afflerbach, Peter D. Wilson.
Application Number | 20080000393 11/852538 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34738997 |
Filed Date | 2008-01-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080000393 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wilson; Peter D. ; et
al. |
January 3, 2008 |
SELF-ADJUSTING GOODS DISPLAY SYSTEM AND METHOD
Abstract
A self-adjusting goods display system maintains a proper shelf
level for a display bin containing goods. An implementation has an
open bin with side walls having top edges and a moveable shelf to
receive a pile of goods. A light source and a light receiver are
positioned on the top edges of opposing walls of the bin, and the
light source generates light to be received by the light receiver.
When the pile of goods is reduced so that the pile no longer
obstructs the light from being received by the light receiver a
signal indicates a need to raise the general level of the remaining
pile contained in the bin. A controller receives the signal and
controls operation of a motor to raise the height of the shelf
until the remaining pile of the shelf again blocks the light, or
the shelf is at a position of maximum height.
Inventors: |
Wilson; Peter D.; (Bellevue,
WA) ; Afflerbach; Robert H.; (Bellevue, WA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DAVIS WRIGHT TREMAINE, LLP/Seattle
1201 Third Avenue, Suite 2200
SEATTLE
WA
98101-3045
US
|
Assignee: |
Pacific Bin Corporation
1271 120th Avenue Northeast
Bellevue
WA
98005
|
Family ID: |
34738997 |
Appl. No.: |
11/852538 |
Filed: |
September 10, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10718252 |
Nov 20, 2003 |
|
|
|
11852538 |
Sep 10, 2007 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
108/20 ; 108/23;
108/50.11 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47F 3/14 20130101; B65D
2519/00497 20130101; B65D 19/02 20130101; B65D 2519/00666 20130101;
B65D 2519/00338 20130101; B65D 2519/00805 20130101; B65D 19/44
20130101; B65D 2519/00815 20130101; B65G 1/07 20130101; B65D
2519/00621 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
108/020 ;
108/023; 108/050.11 |
International
Class: |
B65D 19/44 20060101
B65D019/44 |
Claims
1. A produce display comprising: a bin sized to contain a
collection of produce, the bin having an interior space with access
from above the bin; a shelf positioned within the interior space
and sized to support the collection of produce; support members
movably linked to one another and movably coupled to the shelf to
adjust the vertical height for the shelf between a lower position
and an upper position; a motor with a shaft; a converter, the
converter configured to translate rotational motion into linear
motion, the converter linked to the motor and to at least one of
the support members to move the at least one support member and
consequently the support members to raise the shelf when the shaft
of the motor rotates in a first rotational direction; a light
source positioned to project light across at least one of the
following: a portion of the interior space and a portion of space
above the interior space; a light receiver positioned to receive
the light projected from the light source unless the collection of
produce supported by the shelf is positioned to obstruct the light
from reaching the light receiver; and a controller configured to
activate the motor to rotate the shaft in the first rotational
direction to raise the shelf when the light receiver receives the
light and the shelf is below the upper position.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to
activate the motor to rotate the shaft in a second rotational
direction opposite the first rotational direction to lower the
shelf when a lower shelf signal is received by the controller.
3. The system of claim 1 further including a bar coupled to two of
the support members, and wherein the converter includes a screw and
a coupler, the shaft of the motor being drivably coupled to the
screw, and the screw being threadably attached to the bar such that
as the motor rotates the screw the screw applies a linear force to
the coupler which is transmitted to the bar to adjustably move the
two support members to change the vertical height of the shelf.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the motor is an electric motor and
is powered by a battery.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the motor is a pneumatic motor or
source.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller includes a manual
switch to activate the motor.
7. A system comprising: a bin with a plurality of side walls
defining an interior space with an opening to access the interior
space from above the bin; a table positioned in the interior space
including a shelf sized to receive objects thereon and at least one
support member supporting the shelf, the shelf being coupled to the
support member and the support member being movable to adjust the
vertical height for the shelf between a lower position and an upper
position; a motive force source coupled to the support member to
adjustably move the support member; a light source positioned to
project light across at least one of the following: a portion of
the interior space and a portion of space above the interior space;
a light receiver positioned to receive the light projected from the
light source unless at least one object being supported by the
shelf is positioned to obstruct the light from reaching the light
receiver; and a controller configured to activate the motive force
source to apply force to the support member to adjustably move the
shelf in a first direction to raise the vertical height of the
shelf when the light receiver receives the light and the shelf is
below the upper position.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to
activate the motive force source to move the shelf in a second
direction opposite the first direction to lower the vertical height
of the shelf when a lower shelf signal is received.
9. A system comprising: a bin with a plurality of side walls
defining an interior space with an opening to access the interior
space from above the bin; a table positioned in the interior space
including a shelf sized to receive objects thereon and support
members with at least one of the support members supporting the
shelf, the shelf being coupled to the at least one support member
and the support members being movably linked to one another to form
a scissor lift and movable to adjust the vertical height for the
shelf between a lower position and an upper position; a motive
force source coupled to at least one of the support members to
adjustably move the support members; a light source positioned to
project light across at least one of the following: a portion of
the interior space and a portion of space above the interior space;
a light receiver positioned to receive the light projected from the
light source unless at least one object being supported by the
shelf is positioned to obstruct the light from reaching the light
receiver; and a controller configured to activate the motive force
source to apply force to the at least one of the support members to
which the motive force source is coupled to adjustably move the
shelf in a first direction to raise the vertical height of the
shelf when the light receiver receives the light and the shelf is
below the upper position.
10. A system comprising: a bin with a plurality of side walls
defining an interior space with an opening to access the interior
space from above the bin; a table positioned in the interior space
including a shelf sized to receive objects thereon and support
members with at least one of the support members supporting the
shelf, the shelf being coupled to the at least one support member
and the at least one support member being movable to adjust the
vertical height for the shelf between a lower position and an upper
position; first and second pivot members, the support members being
movably linked to one another by the first pivot member and the at
least one support member being movably coupled to the shelf by the
second pivot member; a motive force source coupled to at least one
of the support members to adjustably move the support members; a
light source positioned to project light across at least one of the
following: a portion of the interior space and a portion of space
above the interior space; a light receiver positioned to receive
the light projected from the light source unless at least one
object being supported by the shelf is positioned to obstruct the
light from reaching the light receiver; and a controller configured
to activate the motive force source to apply force to the at least
one of the support members to which the motive force source is
coupled to adjustably move the shelf in a first direction to raise
the vertical height of the shelf when the light receiver receives
the light and the shelf is below the upper position.
11. A system for use with objects comprising: a shelf with a top
surface sized to support at least one of the objects; at least one
support member supportedly coupled to the shelf and configured to
move the shelf to adjust the vertical height for the shelf between
a lower position and an upper position; a motive force source
coupled to the support members to move the support member; a light
source positioned to project light along a light path at least in
part extending above a portion of the top surface of the shelf
while the shelf is in positions below the upper position; a light
receiver positioned to receive the light projected from the light
source and to have the light obstructed by at least one of the
objects supported by the top surface of the shelf when the shelf is
raised to position the at least one object in the light path; and a
controller configured to activate the motive force source to move
the support member to raise the vertical height of the shelf when
the light receiver receives the light while the shelf is in
positions below the upper position.
12. The system of claim 11 wherein the controller is configured to
activate the motive force source to thereby lower the vertical
height of the shelf in response to a lower shelf signal is
received.
13. A system for use with objects comprising: a shelf with a top
surface sized to support at least one of the objects; support
members with at least one of the support members supportedly
coupled to the shelf and configured to move the shelf to adjust the
vertical height for the shelf between a lower position and an upper
position, the support members being movably linked to one another
to form a scissor lift; a motive force source coupled to at least
one of the support members to move the support members; a light
source positioned to project light along a light path at least in
part extending above a portion of the top surface of the shelf
while the shelf is in positions below the upper position; a light
receiver positioned to receive the light projected from the light
source and to have the light obstructed by at least one of the
objects supported by the top surface of the shelf when the shelf is
raised to position the at least one object in the light path; and a
controller configured to activate the motive force source to move
the at least one support member to raise the vertical height of the
shelf when the light receiver receives the light while the shelf is
in positions below the upper position.
14. A system for use with objects comprising: a shelf with a top
surface sized to support at least one of the objects; support
members with at least one of the support members supportedly
coupled to the shelf and configured to move the shelf to adjust the
vertical height for the shelf between a lower position and an upper
position; first and second pivot members, the support members being
movably linked to one another by the first pivot member and the at
least one support member being movably coupled to the shelf by the
second pivot member; a motive force source coupled to at least one
of the support members to move the support members; a light source
positioned to project light along a light path at least in part
extending above a portion of the top surface of the shelf while the
shelf is in positions below the upper position; a light receiver
positioned to receive the light projected from the light source and
to have the light obstructed by at least one of the objects
supported by the top surface of the shelf when the shelf is raised
to position the at least one object in the light path; and a
controller configured to activate the motive force source to move
the at least one support member to raise the vertical height of the
shelf when the light receiver receives the light while the shelf is
in positions below the upper position.
15. A method comprising: shining light toward a light receiver when
the light is obstructed from reaching the light receiver by at
least one of a group of produce piled on a shelf; allowing
customers to remove a portion of the produce piled on the shelf to
leave remaining produce on the shelf that is not obstructing the
light from being received by the light receiver; electronically
determining that light is being received by the light receiver and
raising the shelf in response thereto; and terminating raising of
the shelf when the remaining produce on the shelf obstructs the
light from reaching the light receiver.
16. A method comprising: shining light toward a light receiver when
the light is obstructed from reaching the light receiver by at
least one of a group of objects piled on a shelf; electronically
determining that the light is being received by the light receiver
and raising the shelf in response thereto; and terminating raising
of the shelf when at least one of the group of objects remaining on
the shelf obstructs the light from reaching the light receiver.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/718,252 which was filed on Nov. 20,
2003.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention is directed generally to displays for
goods and, more particularly, to adjustable displays typically for
retail goods such as produce.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
[0003] Many goods such as many produce items can be sold by being
arranged in bins. For instance, produce items such as apples,
oranges, or melons can be placed in a bin to attract customer
attention and to provide accessibility to aid customers in
selection of particular produce items from the bin. Customers will
typically sort through and rearrange the goods in the process of
making a purchase of a small quantity of the goods in the bin so
that much time and expense is required to maintain a neat
appearance of the goods remaining in the bin. Furthermore, each bin
is typically restocked frequently with additional goods so that
some goods remain near the top of the bin to maintain the visual
appeal of the display and easy accessibility of the goods to
potential customers. This frequent restocking also requires
additional time and expense.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention resides in a system having a shelf
with a top surface sized to support objects, at least one support
members supportedly coupled to the shelf and configured to move the
shelf to adjust the vertical height for the shelf between a lower
position and an upper position, and a motive force source coupled
to the support members to move the support member. The system
further includes a light source positioned to project light along a
light path at least in part extending above a portion of the top
surface of the shelf while the shelf is in positions below the
upper position, and a light receiver positioned to receive the
light projected from the light source and to have the light
obstructed by at least one of the objects supported by the top
surface of the shelf when the shelf is raised to position the at
least one object in the light path. A controller is configured to
activate the source of motive force source to move the support
members to raise the vertical height of the shelf when the light
receiver receives the light while the shelf is in positions below
the upper position.
[0005] The controller may be configured to activate the motive
force source to thereby lower the vertical height of the shelf in
response to receipt of a lower shelf signal.
[0006] In an illustrated embodiment the system includes a bin with
a plurality of side walls defining an interior space with an
opening to access the interior space from above the bin. A table is
positioned in the interior space which includes the shelf.
[0007] The present invention may be embodied in a produce display
with a bin sized to contain a collection of produce and having an
interior space with access from above the bin. A shelf is
positioned within the interior space and sized to support the
collection of produce. Support members are movably linked to one
another and movably coupled to the shelf to adjust the vertical
height for the shelf between a lower position and an upper
position. A motor with a shaft and a converter are included. The
converter is configured to translate rotational motion into linear
motion, and is linked to the motor and to at least one of the
support members to move the at least one support member and
consequently the support members to raise the shelf when the shaft
of the motor rotates in a first rotational direction. A light
source is positioned to project light across at least one of the
following: a portion of the interior space and a portion of space
above the interior space, and a light receiver is positioned to
receive the light projected from the light source unless collection
of produce supported by the shelf is positioned to obstruct the
light from reaching the light receiver. A controller is configured
to activate the motor to rotate the shaft in the first rotational
direction to raise the shelf when the light receiver receives the
light and the shelf is below the upper position.
[0008] In this embodiment the controller is configured to activate
the motor to rotate the shaft in a second rotational direction
opposite the first rotational direction to lower the shelf when a
lower shelf signal is received by the controller. The support
members may be movably linked to one another to form a scissor
lift.
[0009] The system may include first and second pivot members with
the support members movably linked to one another by the first
pivot members and with the support members movably coupled to the
shelf by the second pivot members.
[0010] A bar may be coupled to two of the support members, and the
converter may include a screw and a coupler. The shaft of the motor
may be drivably coupled to the screw, and the screw threadably
attached to the bar such that as the motor rotates the screw the
screw applies a linear force to the coupler which is transmitted to
the bar to adjustably move the two support members to change the
vertical height of the shelf.
[0011] The motor may be an electric motor powered by a battery, a
pneumatic motor or some other source of motive force. A manual
switch may be included to activate the motor.
[0012] Other features and advantages of the invention will become
apparent from the following detailed description, taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)
[0013] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an implementation of a
self-adjusting goods display system.
[0014] FIG. 2 is an isometric sectional view of the self-adjusting
goods display system of FIG. 1 showing interior components.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side-elevational view of the
self-adjusting goods display system of FIG. 1 containing a first
quantity of goods.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side-elevational view of the
self-adjusting display system of FIG. 1 containing a second
quantity of goods less than the first quantity of goods.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] As will be discussed in greater detail below, a
self-adjusting goods display system maintains a proper shelf level
for a display bin containing goods. Proper maintenance of shelf
level provides better visual appeal and accessibility to aid in
sales of the goods in the bin. Typical goods include produce such
as stackable fruit and vegetables, sports items such as various
balls, and garden supplies such as bags of various materials, etc.
Self-adjustment of shelf level by the display system can greatly
reduce labor requirements associated with conventional approaches
needed for rearranging and restocking of remaining goods as
portions are sold to maintain a satisfactory visual appeal and
accessibility of the displayed goods.
[0018] An implementation of a self-adjusting goods display system
10 according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 1 as having
an open bin 12 with side walls 13a-d having top edges 14. The
implementation of the open bin 12 is depicted in FIG. 1 as a box
structure having four walls 13a-d. Other implementations of the bin
12 are envisioned as having other numbers of walls and having
symmetrical or asymmetrical shape. A light source 16 and a light
receiver 17 are positioned on the top edges 14 of the opposing
walls 13a and 13c typically near a third wall (e.g. the wall 13d as
shown in FIG. 1) to be less conspicuous, particularly if the third
wall 13d can be located against a store wall or the back of a store
display or other bin. The light source 16 generates light 22 (shown
in FIGS. 3 and 4 as a line). The light 22 is received by the light
receiver 17 when shelf adjustment is needed to raise the general
level of a pile of goods 18 contained in the open bin 14. This
occurs when the pile of goods 18 is no longer obstructing the light
from being received by the light receiver 17, as explained further
below. The bin 12 further includes doors 20 on one or more of the
walls (such as wall 13c depicted in FIG. 1) to provide access to
interior components discussed below.
[0019] Other implementations (not shown) locate the light source 16
and the light receiver 17 along the top edges 14 of the opposing
walls 13a and 13c farther from the third wall 13d than depicted in
FIG. 1. If it is desirable for display purposes to have the walls
13a-d of the open bin 12 always extend generally higher than the
top surface of the pile of goods 18, the light source 16 and the
light receiver 17 can also be located below the top edges 14 either
inside or on interior surfaces of the opposing walls 13a and 13c so
long as the light 22 can be received by the light receiver 17 at
times when the pile of goods 18 are not obstructing the light.
Other implementations (not shown) can use a mirror (not shown)
located on the wall 13c that reflects light from the light source
16 located on the wall 13a back to the same wall 13a where the
light receiver 17 is also located adjacent to the light source.
[0020] The self-adjusting goods display system 10 further includes
a variable height table 23 with its table top providing a shelf 24
on which the pile of goods 18 rests, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and
4. The shelf 24 is supported by a scissor lift 26 having two pairs
of scissor support members, each pair having two support members
28a and 28b. The upper end of support member 28a is pivotally
coupled to the underside of the shelf with a pivot member 30. The
support members 28a and 28b for each pair are coupled together
along their midportion with a pivot member 32. The lower end of
each support member 28b is pivotally coupled to a base mounting
plate 34 with an additional pivot member 30. The lower end of each
support member 28a and the upper end of each support member 28b has
a roller 33 rotatably attached thereto. The rollers 33 of the
support members 28a rollably engage the mounting plate 34 and the
rollers of the support members 28b rollably engage the underside of
the shelf 24 as the support members 28a and 28b pivot about the
pivot members 30 when the scissor lift 26 is operating.
[0021] Coupled between the support member 28a of each pair of
scissor support members is a bar 35 that is moved through use of a
screw 36 coupled to a motor 38 attached to the mounting plate 34.
The motor 38 may be an electric, pneumatic, or hydraulic motor, or
other type of motive force source, and can provide a rotary, linear
or other output. In the illustrated embodiment, the motor 38
rotatably drives the screw 36 and the screw is coupled to the bar
35 with a nut coupler 37. The combination of the screw 36 and the
coupler 37 acts as a converter to convert rotational motion of the
screw into linear motion of the bar 35. As the screw 36 is turned
by the motor 38, the bar 35 is moved toward and away from the motor
38, depending on whether the screw is rotated clockwise or
counter-clockwise. As the bar 35 moves, both of the support members
28a are also moved back and forth to cause the support members 28a
and 28b to pivot about the pivot members 30, and the rollers 33 to
roll along the mounting plate 34 and the underside of the shelf 24.
According to the implementation depicted in FIG. 2, as the bar 35
is moved toward the motor 38, the vertical position of the shelf 24
is lowered by the scissor lift 26 and as the bar is moved away from
the motor the vertical position of the shelf is raised by the
scissor lift.
[0022] The motor 38 is electrically coupled to a battery 40 to
furnish electrical energy to the motor. A controller 42 is
communicatively linked to the light receiver 17 and the motor 38.
In operation, upon receipt of the light 22 from the light source
16, the light receiver 17 generates a signal that is detected by
the controller 42. The controller 42, in turn, activates the motor
38 to raise the shelf 24 until either the light receiver 17 ceases
receiving the light 22 (as a result of obstruction caused by the
newly raised elevation of one or more of the goods in the pile of
goods 18 on the shelf), or the shelf reaches a predetermined
maximum height.
[0023] In normal usage, when enough of the goods are removed from
the pile of goods 18 on the shelf 24 for sale or otherwise that the
light receiver 17 receives the light 22 from the light source 16,
the controller 42 senses the signal generated by the light receiver
and activates the motor 38 to cause the motor to turn the screw 36
in a direction to raise the shelf 24 until the light 22 is again
obstructed by the remaining goods on the shelf and no longer
received by the light receiver. As a result, the controller 42 will
deactivate the motor 38, leaving the shelf 24 at its new elevated
position. Consequently, the shelf 24 may be raised from the lower
position shown in FIG. 3 to its highest position shown in FIG. 4 in
incremental steps sized according to the height of the goods in the
pile of goods 18 remaining on the shelf 24.
[0024] In such fashion, as goods are removed from the pile of goods
18 on the shelf 24 and the pile of goods starts looking somewhat
depleted and the top of the pile of goods is lower than the
original height (thus giving the pile of goods a less attractive
appearance and making reaching down for the goods more
inconvenient), the light 22 from the light source 16 will reach the
light receiver 17 and cause the motor 38 to be activated. This will
raise the shelf 24 until the top of the pile of goods 18 remaining
on the shelf is returned to its original and more desirable
position. This is done automatically and without requiring a person
to restock the display bin 12 to maintain a good visual appearance
for the display and to keep the goods easy accessibility to
potential customers. This helps sell more goods, and saves the time
and expense involved in frequent manual restocking of the bin.
[0025] The controller 42 is programmed to determine when the shelf
24 is at the highest level so that the motor is not activated in
attempts to further raise the shelf upon receipt of the light 22 by
the light receiver 17 when the final obstructing good 18' (see FIG.
4) is removed from the pile of goods 18. In some implementations
the shelf 24 travels between a lower position 13 inches below the
top edge 14 and an upper position 2 inches below the top so as to
keep goods at an ergonomic level of approximately 30 inches above
floor level at all times. Sizing of the self-adjusting goods
display system 10 can differ for other implementations depending
upon the results desired.
[0026] When the pile of goods 18 needs to be restocked due to such
factors as insufficient quantity or expiring shelf life, an
operator will activate the motor 38 typically through a manual
switch 43 located on the controller 42 or elsewhere on the system
10 to lower the shelf 24 to the lower position shown in FIG. 3 or
some other position desired above the lower position. The pile of
goods 18 can then be replaced or augmented with additional goods.
If the top level of the pile of goods 18 projects above the height
of the light 22 in the area of the light 22 passing between the
light source 16 and the light receiver 17, the shelf 24 will remain
at its lower position, or whatever position to which it was lowered
when the manual switch is returned to a position where the
controller 42 again controls operation of the motor 38. As long as
the height of the pile of goods 18 remains high enough in elevation
so that at least one of the goods obstructs the light 22 from being
received by the light receiver 17, the shelf 24 will remain at the
lower position. As described above, as sufficient goods are removed
the shelf 24 will be automatically moved upward.
[0027] Various maintenance procedures can be used to keep the
battery 40 charged. One method lets the battery 40 discharge until
the shelf 24 will not move and then the battery is replaced by a
freshly charged one. Other implementations may utilize charge
indicators located on the system 10 to indicate extent of charge
left in the battery 40.
[0028] From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, although
specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein
for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made
without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. For
instance, the depicted implementation used a battery, but other
implementations can use other motive force systems such as
pneumatic or hydraulic systems. Accordingly, the invention is not
limited except as by the appended claims.
* * * * *