DE202022000025U1 - Goods identification and quantity registration unit - Google Patents

Abstract

Goods identification and quantity recording device in or for a goods sales business in which goods are or can be offered for sale in a shelving system (12), which shelving system is equipped with a plurality of electronic shelf labels (Electronic Shelf Label - ESL) (10), characterized by
- an electronic camera (14) which is able to capture the entire goods display area of the shelving system (12) or at least a part of it,
- a pattern recognition device for the generation of digital data of at least one selected article from the goods recorded by the electronic camera,
- a memory at least for the digital data characterizing the goods (image information, name, price, quantity, weight) that are laid out or laid out in the shelving system,
- a first comparator intended to compare the digital data of the selected article with the corresponding data of this article stored in the memory.

Description

The invention relates to a goods identification and quantity detection device in or for a goods sales business in which goods are offered for sale on a shelf system, which shelf system is equipped with electronic shelf labels (Electronic Shelf Label - ESL).

A shelving system of the aforementioned type is from WO 2021/129934 A1 famous. It describes the monitoring of the electronic labels for position and/or location changes. Each electronic tag is. equipped with a sensor that reports such a change to a central computer system, which is then able to change the display content of the electronic label.

With the aforementioned system, a change in the position and/or location of the electronic label in relation to the intended attachment location can be identified, but not a change in the identity of the goods, their data (name, price, quantity, weight, etc.) and/or the quantity of goods in the shelf area indicated by the electronic tag.

A further problem can be seen in the fact that individual shelf compartments can be bought empty, ie the articles are no longer available although they are still being offered for sale on the electronic label.

The object of the invention is therefore to propose a device with which the contents of the shelving system can be monitored and corrected to ensure that they are correctly and adequately stocked with goods.

The object is met by the features of the first claim.

A goods identification and quantity detection device according to the invention in or for a goods sales shop in which goods are offered for sale in a shelving system, which shelving system is equipped with a plurality of electronic shelf labels (Electronic Shelf Label - ESL), is characterized by an electronic camera which covers the entire goods display area of the shelving system or at least a part of it, a pattern recognition device for the generation of digital data of at least one selected item from the goods recorded by the electronic camera, a memory at least for the digital data characterizing the goods such as image information, name, price, quantity, weight, EAN or QR code to be laid out or to be laid out in the shelving system and a first comparator intended to compare the digital data of the selected item with the corresponding data of this type stored in memory to compare. The article is thus clearly identifiable.

According to a preferred development of the invention, the price display on the electronic shelf label assigned to the identified and thus selected article can be set or is set using the price stored in the memory.

According to another development of the invention, the device is equipped with a second comparator intended to compare the digital data of the selected item with the content of the corresponding electronic shelf label.

If the comparison result of the second comparator is negative, the content of the electronic shelf label assigned to the selected article is matched with the digital data of the selected article.

According to a preferred embodiment of the device, an empty signal is generated when the quantity of goods is 0. This prompts a person in charge of stocking the shelves to replenish the corresponding shelf area or to delete the electronic shelf label if there is insufficient stock. In modern merchandise management systems, the latter takes over this task.

• 1 ein mit elektronischen Regaletiketten bestücktes Warenregal mit einer digitalen Kamera,
• 2 eine Prinzipskizze einer erfindungsgemäßen Anordnung.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It shows

• 1 a merchandise shelf equipped with electronic shelf labels with a digital camera,
• 2 a schematic diagram of an arrangement according to the invention.

In 1 a goods shelf 12 equipped with electronic shelf labels 10 is shown in a perspective view. A digital camera 14 is arranged in such a way that it is able to capture the entire goods display area of the goods shelf 12 .

2 shows the complete product identification and quantity recording device in a schematic sketch. The digital camera 14 and all electronic shelf labels 10 (only one electronic shelf label is shown) are connected via WLAN connections to a wireless connection node 16 (WLAN access point) and this via a per se known local area network 18 (LAN) connected to a server 20. This includes (each not shown) a pattern recognition device, a memory, a first and a second comparator, whose functions and tasks are described above.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• WO 2021/129934 A1 [0002]

Claims (5)

Goods identification and quantity recording device in or for a goods sales business in which goods are or can be offered for sale in a shelving system (12), which shelving system is equipped with a plurality of electronic shelf labels (Electronic Shelf Label - ESL) (10), characterized by - a electronic camera (14) which is able to capture the entire goods display area of the shelving system (12) or at least a part of it, - a pattern recognition device for generating digital data of at least one selected article from the goods captured by the electronic camera, - a memory at least for the digital data characterizing the goods (image information, name, price, quantity, weight) laid out or laid out in the shelving system, - a first comparator designed to compare the digital data of the selected article with those stored in the memory corresponding data of this Art to compare. setup after claim 1 , in which the price display on the electronic shelf label (10) associated with the selected article can be set or is set using the price stored in the memory. setup after claim 1 , with a second comparator designed to compare the digital data of the selected item with the content of the corresponding electronic shelf label (10). setup after claim 3 , in which, if the comparison result of the second comparator is negative, the content of the electronic shelf label (10) assigned to the selected article is brought into agreement with the digital data of the selected article. Device according to one of the preceding claims, in which an empty signal is generated when the quantity of goods is 0.

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