EP2425750A1 - Electronic shelf tag - Google Patents
Electronic shelf tag Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2425750A1 EP2425750A1 EP09844035A EP09844035A EP2425750A1 EP 2425750 A1 EP2425750 A1 EP 2425750A1 EP 09844035 A EP09844035 A EP 09844035A EP 09844035 A EP09844035 A EP 09844035A EP 2425750 A1 EP2425750 A1 EP 2425750A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- key
- electronic shelf
- shelf label
- rail
- arm portion
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
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Classifications
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- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
- G09F3/00—Labels, tag tickets, or similar identification or indication means; Seals; Postage or like stamps
- G09F3/08—Fastening or securing by means not forming part of the material of the label itself
- G09F3/18—Casings, frames or enclosures for labels
- G09F3/20—Casings, frames or enclosures for labels for adjustable, removable, or interchangeable labels
- G09F3/204—Casings, frames or enclosures for labels for adjustable, removable, or interchangeable labels specially adapted to be attached to a shelf or the like
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- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
- G09F3/00—Labels, tag tickets, or similar identification or indication means; Seals; Postage or like stamps
- G09F3/08—Fastening or securing by means not forming part of the material of the label itself
- G09F3/18—Casings, frames or enclosures for labels
- G09F3/20—Casings, frames or enclosures for labels for adjustable, removable, or interchangeable labels
- G09F3/208—Electronic labels, Labels integrating electronic displays
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- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
- G09F9/00—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements
- G09F9/30—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements
- G09F9/35—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements being liquid crystals
Definitions
- the invention relates to an electronic shelf label displaying information related to a product, such as a product name and a product price, by an electrically driven display panel.
- electronic shelf labels having an electrically driven display panel are beginning to be used in stores such as supermarkets and retail shops, instead of paper or plastic price tags on which the price of a product, a product name, and/or the like are written or printed.
- Such an electronic shelf label uses, for example, a liquid crystal panel as a display panel, and displays on this display panel information related to a product, such as a product name and a product price.
- Patent Document 3 As an art to address such a problem, as described in Patent Document 3 for example, one providing an electronic shelf label with a movable pin as a member for engaging with a rail is known.
- the electronic shelf label described in PTL3 when being attached to the rail, is fitted in the rail with the pin being pushed inside, and the push is released at a predetermined position to allow the pin to project from the main body to be inserted in a hole provided in the rail, thereby firmly fixing the label to the rail.
- a release tool having a magnet is placed closely, which draws the pin into the main body by magnetic force to pull the pin out of the hole provided in the rail, thereby releasing fixation to the rail. Therefore, it is possible to achieve, to a certain degree, both easiness of attaching to and detaching from the rail and prevention of theft by unauthorized removal.
- the electronic shelf label described in PTL3 has following problems. First, since the magnet is used for removal, there is a risk of electromagnetic interference occurring in a control circuit or the like by the use of the magnet. Further, the release tool having the magnet has a large size and a heavy weight and hence is of poor portability. Moreover, the part to which magnetic force operates is formed of metal, and thus, when the electronic shelf label is provided with a wireless communication function, the metal may cause interference in wireless communication. Therefore, with the art described in PTL3, it has not been possible to achieve an electronic shelf label which has sufficient usability.
- the invention is made in view of the above-described points, and an object thereof is to enable to prevent theft of an electronic shelf label without impairing an advantage of easiness of attachment to and detachment from a product shelf.
- the invention provides an electronic shelf label displaying information related to a product by an electrically driven display panel, including: as fixing means for detachably fixing the electronic shelf label to a rail provided on a product shelf, a first and a second engagement portions for engaging with an engagement portion provided on a side face of the rail; and an applying means for applying force to the first engagement portion in a direction toward the side face of the rail in a state of being fixed to the rail, and further including: a key hole into which a thin plate-shaped key for releasing fixation of the electronic shelf label to the rail by the fixing means is inserted; and an arm portion provided at a position abutting on the key inserted in the key hole, the arm portion being displaced by a load applied by the key in response to insertion of the key and, accompanying this displacement, displacing the first engagement portion in a direction to depart from the side face of the rail against the bias by the applying means.
- the key hole is formed such that the key is inserted substantially perpendicularly to a bottom face of the rail and in a direction along a side face of the electronic shelf label perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the rail.
- the key has a shape which becomes narrower toward a front end thereof at least within a range in which the key abuts on the arm portion when being inserted in the key hole, the force applied by the applying means acts on the arm portion, and when the key is inserted into the key hole, the arm portion is displaced by the key in a manner to be pushed outward with respect to the insertion direction against the force as the key is inserted.
- the key in a state of being inserted into the key hole until the first engagement portion is displaced to a degree of being released from the engagement portion of the rail, the key is retained between the arm portion and a wall face of the key hole by the force applied by the applying means, and in this state, it is possible to remove the electronic shelf label from the rail using the key as a handle.
- the first engagement portion and the arm portion are an integrated member rotatably fixed to a rear face side of the electronic shelf label, and when the arm portion abuts on the key and is pushed outward, the member rotates to displace the first engagement portion in a direction to depart from the side face of the rail.
- the first engagement portion and the arm portion are an integrated member held on a rear face side of the electronic shelf label in a manner slidable along the rear face, and when the arm portion abuts on the key and is pushed outward, the member slides along the rear face of the electronic shelf label to displace the first engagement portion in a direction to depart from the side face of the rail.
- an obstacle is provided on an inner wall of the key hole, so that only a key having a groove or a cutout corresponding to the obstacle can be inserted into the key hole.
- the rail is provided, on the side face corresponding to the first engagement portion, with a groove which internally includes a hole, as the engagement portion, and the first engagement portion engages with the groove, and includes a guide pin to be inserted into the hole in the groove.
- an exterior including the first and the second engagement portions, the arm portion, the applying means, and the key hole is formed of resin.
- Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 are respectively external perspective views of a front face side and a rear face side of an electronic shelf label 1, which is the first embodiment of the electronic shelf label of the invention.
- the electronic shelf label 1 illustrated in Fig. 1 has a display panel 2 in a front face.
- This display panel 2 is an electrically driven display means for displaying information related to a product, such as a product name and price, and is formed of a liquid crystal panel here.
- a control unit (omitted from illustration) realized by a microcomputer constituted of a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM, and this control unit performs display control processing of the display panel 2.
- This control unit is housed in a housing portion 8.
- fixing means for detachably fixing this electronic shelf label 1 to a rail provided on a product shelf for displaying products are provided.
- a first fixing means is a lock plate 3 attached to an upper portion of a rear face side.
- This lock plate 3 is rotatable about a shaft 7 with the shaft 7 being a fulcrum, and when an arm portion 3e is rotated and displaced upward in the view, the engagement portion 3b and the guide pin 3a are rotated and displaced downward in the view to be in a state of being housed in a housing rack 4.
- the engagement portion 3b corresponds to a first engagement portion.
- a second fixing means is two hooks 5a and 5b provided on a lower portion of the rear face, and front end portions thereof are hooked on and engaged with an engagement portion provided on a side face of the rail of the product shelf opposite to the groove with which the engagement portion 3b is engaged, to thereby fix the electronic shelf label 1 so as not to disengage from the rail.
- These hooks 5a and 5b correspond to a second engagement portion.
- a key attaching portion 6 in which a key is inserted for releasing the fixation by the lock plate 3 to remove the electronic shelf label 1 from the rail.
- An exterior of this electronic shelf label 1 including the lock plate 3, the hooks 5a, 5b, and the key attaching portion 6 is formed entirely of resin, but may be formed of different materials including metal.
- Fig. 3 is a view for describing operation of members provided on the rear face side of the electronic shelf label 1.
- the housing portion 8 is omitted from illustration, and the key attaching portion 6 is illustrated in a partially cut away state.
- the lock plate 3 is an integrally molded member made up of an arm portion 3c having the above-described guide pin 3a and engagement portion 3b, a spring portion 3d, and the other arm portion 3e, and has a shaft hole 3f between the arm portions 3c and 3e. Then, by fitting the shaft hole 3f with the shaft 7 provided on the rear face of the electronic shelf label 1 to attach the lock plate, the lock plate 3 is made rotatable about the shaft 7.
- the spring portion 3d of the lock plate 3 is provided on a lower side of the arm portion 3c in the view, and a front end portion thereof abuts on a bottom face inside the housing rack 4. Then, the spring portion 3d functions as an applying means for applying force to the arm portion 3c of the lock plate 3 from the lower side thereby applying force in arrow A direction. In addition, the spring portion 3d may be fixed to the bottom face inside the housing rack 4.
- the other arm portion 3e of the lock plate 3 has a front end portion inserted in a slit 6b of the key attaching portion 6.
- the lock plate 3 rotates in the arrow A direction to a position where a lower face of the arm portion 3e abuts on a lower face of the slit 6b by the force from the spring portion 3d.
- the lock plate 3 stops at a position, as illustrated in Fig. 2 , preferable for engaging the guide pin 3a and the engagement portion 3b with the groove provided in the rail (this position is illustrated with solid lines (a portion hidden by the housing rack 4 is illustrated with dashed line) in Fig. 3 ).
- the key attaching portion 6 has a key hole 6a which is provided on a side face of the electronic shelf label 1 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the rail in the state of being fixed to the rail, and in which a thin plate-shaped key is inserted, and the above-described slit 6b for restricting the movable range of the arm portion 3e.
- the key hole 6a is formed so that the key is inserted thereinto in a direction substantially perpendicular to the bottom face of the rail and along the side face of the electronic shelf label 1.
- Fig. 4A is an external perspective view of the key
- Fig. 4B is a side view of the same.
- the key 10 is a flat plate-shaped member made of resin for example and is, as illustrated in Fig. 4A , a flat thin plate member having a thickness which is about equal to the width of the key hole 6a of the electronic shelf label 1. Further, when the key 10 is inserted in the key hole 6a, an upper face of the key abuts on the lower face of the arm portion 3e of the lock plate 3, but as illustrated in Fig. 4B , in a longitudinal direction, the key has a shape which becomes narrower toward its front end within a range in which a front end portion 10a abuts on the lower face of the arm portion 3e of the lock plate 3.
- FIG. 5A and Fig. 5B are explanatory views of a procedure and a fixing state in the case of fixing the electronic shelf label 1 to the rail.
- Fig. 5A illustrates a state where a lower portion of the electronic shelf label 1 is inserted in a lower side of the rail
- Fig. 5B illustrates a state where the fixing of the electronic shelf label 1 to the rail is completed.
- the rail is illustrated as a cross section.
- a groove 20a which is the engagement portion for engaging with the engagement portion 3b of the lock plate 3 of the electronic shelf label 1 is provided, and plural holes 20b for fitting the guide pin 3a are provided in a bottom of the groove 20a at predetermined intervals in a longitudinal direction of the rail 20. Further, a side face of a lower side of the rail 20, a groove 20c which is the engagement portion for engaging with the hooks 5a and 5b of the electronic shelf label 1 is provided.
- the guide pin 3a is pressed gradually by an inclined face of the eaves 20d, and the arm portion 3c provided with the engagement portion 3b and the guide pin 3a of the lock plate 3 is gradually pushed down in a downward direction in the view against the force from the spring portion 3d (rotates about the shaft 7 illustrated in Fig. 7 ).
- the electronic shelf label 1 is in a state of being fixed slidably in the longitudinal direction in the rail 20.
- Such operation to fix the electronic shelf label 1 to the rail 20 can be performed easily by one hand, and thus the fixing operation can be performed efficiently. Further, when the electronic shelf label 1 is fixed in the rail 20 in a state where the guide pin 3a is fitted in the hole 20b, it becomes difficult either to pull out the electronic shelf label 1 to a near side to remove it, or to slide the electronic shelf label along the longitudinal direction of the rail 20 to remove it via an end of the rail 20. Thus, theft can be prevented effectively.
- FIG. 6A to Fig. 6C are views for describing a procedure in the case of removing the electronic shelf label 1 from the rail.
- Fig. 6A is a side view illustrating a state before the key is inserted into the key hole of the electronic shelf label
- Fig. 6B is a side view illustrating a state in the middle of inserting the key into the key hole
- Fig. 6C is a side view illustrating a state in the middle of removing the electronic shelf label from the rail after inserting the key into the key hole.
- each rail in these views is illustrated as a cross section, and in Fig. 6B , also the key attaching portion is illustrated in a state of being cut away to make the inside visible.
- the key 10 is inserted into the key hole 6a from the front end portion 10a in arrow E direction in the view with its inclined face of the front end portion 10a of the key 10 directed upward,.
- the front end portion 10a is inserted gradually deeper in the key hole 6a, and as illustrated in Fig. 6B , the inclined face of the front end portion 10a abuts on the lower face of the arm portion 3e of the lock plate 3 arranged deep in the key hole 6a, a thrust load to push upward as shown by arrow F is applied to the arm portion 3e from the inclined face of the front end portion 10a as the key 10 is inserted. Then, by this thrust load, the arm portion 3e is displaced to be pushed upward with respect to the insertion direction of the key 10 against the force from the spring portion 3d.
- the lock plate 3 rotates to be displaced in a direction such that the engagement portion 3b moves away from the groove 20a against the force from the spring portion and the guide pin 3a moves away from the hole 20b (arrow B direction illustrated in Fig. 3 ). Then, when the key 10 is inserted into the key hole 6a until the guide pin 3a is displaced to a position completely separated from both the hole 20b and the groove 20a, fixation of the upper portion of the electronic shelf label 1 is released.
- the front end portion 10a of the key 10 is held by a certain degree of force between the arm portion 3e and an inner wall face of the key hole 6a, and thus force to take out to a front side can be applied to the electronic shelf label 1 using the key 10 as a handle.
- the force to be applied from the hand to the key 10 is mainly in a direction to push the key 10 against the inner side face of the key hole 6a or the arm portion 3e, and thus it is conceivable that pulling off of the key 10 from the key hole 6a by mistake rarely occurs.
- the size of the key hole 6a and the force from the spring portion 3d are preferred to be set so that such a degree of holding force can be obtained.
- the electronic shelf label 1 can be removed from the rail 20 by a simple operation using the compact thin-type key, by inserting the key 10 into the key hole 6a, and pulling out the upper portion from the rail 20 in this inserted state as it is. Therefore, an operation of removal is quite simple, by which high operation efficiency can be achieved.
- the key can be made of a light weight, and hence does not become a load when being carried by a worker.
- Fig. 7 is an external perspective view of a rear face side corresponding to Fig. 2 of the electronic shelf label 31 which is the second embodiment of the electronic shelf label of the invention.
- Fig. 8 is an explanatory view of the same corresponding to Fig. 3 .
- a lock plate 33 is an integrally molded member which has an arm portion 33c having a guide pin 33a and an engagement portion 33b in an upper part, and has a spring portion 33d in a lower portion and an arm portion 33e on a side of one side face.
- the lock plate 33 By housing a portion thereof in a housing portion 34a of a housing rack 34, and inserting a front end portion of the arm portion 33e in a slit 36b of a key attaching portion 36, the lock plate 33 is held in a manner slidable in a vertical direction along a rear face of the electronic shelf label 31.
- the spring portion 33d has a front end portion abutting on a bottom face inside a spring stopping portion 38 provided on the rear face of the electronic shelf label 31, and is an applying means serving to apply upward force to the entire lock plate 33.
- the spring portion 33d may be fixed to the bottom face inside the spring stopping portion 38. Further, in a state where no external force acts on the lock plate 33, the lock plate 33 moves upward to a position where an upper face of the arm portion 33e inserted in the slit 36b abuts on an upper end of the slit 36b by the force from the spring portion 33d, and stops at a position which is preferable for engaging the guide pin 33a and the engagement portion 33b with a groove provided in a rail, as illustrated in Fig. 7 .
- the electronic shelf label 31 with such a structure can be fixed to the rail 20 by the guide pin 33a, the engagement portion 33b, and hooks 35a and 35b in a procedure similar to one described using Fig. 5 regarding the electronic shelf label 1 of the first embodiment. Removal from the rail 20 is mostly similar to the removal described using Fig. 6 regarding the electronic shelf label 1 of the first embodiment.
- the key is inserted into the key hole 36a of the key attaching portion 36 with an inclined face of the front end portion 10a of the key 10 directed downward.
- a thrust load to push downward is applied to the arm portion 33e from the inclined face of the front end portion 10a as the key 10 is inserted.
- the arm portion 33e is displaced to be pushed downward (arrow H direction) with respect to the insertion direction of the key 10 against the force from the spring portion 33d.
- the entire lock plate 33 is displaced in the arrow H direction, and the positions of the guide pin 33a and the engagement portion 33b can be moved to positions lower than an upper face of the main body of the electronic shelf label 31.
- the structure of the lock plate can be more simplified than that of the first embodiment, and thus cost reduction can also be achieved.
- smoothness in movement is slightly lower than the case of rotating about the shaft 7 as in the first embodiment. Therefore, the structure of the desired embodiment may be employed depending on which of cost and smoothness is regarded as more important.
- Fig. 9 is a rear view of a structural example of the case where this modification is applied to the second embodiment.
- a separate spring 40 is provided in a lower portion of the lock plate 33'.
- This spring can be structured as, for example, a helical spring.
- the spring 40 has one end housed in a spring stopping portion 38 provided on a rear face of the electronic shelf label 31', and the other end fitted with a shaft 33g provided on a lower side of the lock plate 33', thereby making it less likely to be dropped from the electronic shelf label 31'.
- the both ends or one end may be fixed to the spring stopping portion 38 or the lock plate 33'.
- Fig. 10A to Fig. 10E are front views illustrating structural examples of key hole of the electronic shelf label in this modification example.
- the structure of the key hole is in common between the electronic shelf label 1 of the first embodiment and the electronic shelf label 31 of the second embodiment, but here the numerals for the electronic shelf label 1 will be used for description.
- the projections 6c may be provided only at certain positions in a key inserting direction, such as only in the vicinity of an opening portion or only on a deep side, and/or may be provided to have a predetermined length in the key hole. Further, in this case, regarding the key to be inserted into the key hole, grooves or cutouts having a corresponding shape may be provided at positions corresponding to the projections in the key hole.
- the number of projections may be any number, or only one projection may be provided.
- an arbitrary shape may be employed, including a triangle shape as illustrated in Fig. 10D or a semicircular shape as illustrated in Fig. 10E .
- the shape may be one completely blocking a part of the key hole.
- the shape of the key hole may be changed to a shape other than the flat plate shape, such as a curving shape or a bending shape, thereby allowing insertion of a key having a corresponding shape only.
- the following ones are also conceivable.
- the insertion direction of the key not only the structure in which the key is inserted from a front face into the electronic shelf label, but a structure in which the key is inserted from a different direction may be employed as long as it is a direction allowing insertion while the electronic shelf label is attached to the rail.
- the key hole may be provided to allow insertion of the key from the longitudinal direction of the rail on the side of a side face of the electronic shelf label.
- the arm portion 3e abuts on the side face of the key
- the arm portion 3e abutting on the key and the arm portion 3c having the guide pin 3a and the engagement portion 3b are not necessarily be an integrated part. There will be no problem as long as they are structured such that displacement of the arm portion 3e is transmitted to the arm portion 3c, and thereby the arm portion 3c can be displaced appropriately in response to displacement of the arm portion 3e.
- the guide pin 3b may be omitted.
- stoppers are provided on both ends in the longitudinal direction of the rail 20 so that the electronic shelf label 1 cannot be removed by sliding, such a structure can also achieve the effect of theft prevention.
- the second engagement portion has an advantage that rotating at the time of removing the electronic shelf label 1 can be performed easily.
- the structures of the embodiments and modification examples which have been described may be combined and applied within a range in which no discrepancy occurs.
- An electronic shelf label according to the present invention is easily attachable to and removable from a product shelf, and is capable of preventing theft. Thus, usability of the electronic shelf label can be improved significantly.
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Abstract
Description
- The invention relates to an electronic shelf label displaying information related to a product, such as a product name and a product price, by an electrically driven display panel.
- In recent years, electronic shelf labels having an electrically driven display panel are beginning to be used in stores such as supermarkets and retail shops, instead of paper or plastic price tags on which the price of a product, a product name, and/or the like are written or printed.
Such an electronic shelf label uses, for example, a liquid crystal panel as a display panel, and displays on this display panel information related to a product, such as a product name and a product price. - For example, when product pricing is changed, arrangements of products are moved, or new products are newly laid out, the above-described paper or plastic price tags require a laborious operation for replacing price tags. On the other hand, in the electronic shelf label, the information displayed on the display panel can be easily changed while it is placed on a product shelf, and thus a work load on a shop clerk can be reduced largely. Further, for example, when a time-limited sales is held, the pricing of sales items can be changed quickly from normal pricing to sales pricing, thereby allowing to sell products without missing a sales opportunity.
For such an electronic shelf label, in addition to having the above-described advantages, price reduction is in progress due to decrease in unit price of liquid crystal panels, and its introduction cost is also decreasing. Thus, further popularization is expected from now on. - Incidentally, many of conventional electronic shelf labels are, for example, ones structured to be inserted and attached via an end of a rail provided on the front end face of a product shelf as the art described in PTL1, or ones provided with hooks on a rear face part for engaging an upper and a lower end inside a rail and attached by fitting the hooks in the rail as the art described in PTL2. However, these electronic shelf labels are easily attachable to and detachable from the rail and, since liquid crystal panels are valuable precision machines which can be reused for or diverted to other things, there has been a problem that the labels are liable to be stolen.
- As an art to address such a problem, as described in
Patent Document 3 for example, one providing an electronic shelf label with a movable pin as a member for engaging with a rail is known. The electronic shelf label described in PTL3, when being attached to the rail, is fitted in the rail with the pin being pushed inside, and the push is released at a predetermined position to allow the pin to project from the main body to be inserted in a hole provided in the rail, thereby firmly fixing the label to the rail. On the other hand, when it is to be removed, a release tool having a magnet is placed closely, which draws the pin into the main body by magnetic force to pull the pin out of the hole provided in the rail, thereby releasing fixation to the rail. Therefore, it is possible to achieve, to a certain degree, both easiness of attaching to and detaching from the rail and prevention of theft by unauthorized removal. - However, the electronic shelf label described in PTL3 has following problems.
First, since the magnet is used for removal, there is a risk of electromagnetic interference occurring in a control circuit or the like by the use of the magnet. Further, the release tool having the magnet has a large size and a heavy weight and hence is of poor portability. Moreover, the part to which magnetic force operates is formed of metal, and thus, when the electronic shelf label is provided with a wireless communication function, the metal may cause interference in wireless communication.
Therefore, with the art described in PTL3, it has not been possible to achieve an electronic shelf label which has sufficient usability. - Further, as other means for preventing theft, it is also conceivable to provide a mechanism to sound a warning buzzer in the event of removal from the rail, or enhance the fixing strength to the rail by the hooks. However, in the former case, even when a clerk of a store having electronic shelf labels removes electronic shelf labels, a complicated operation of stopping the buzzer sound occurs every time of removal. In the latter case, there is a problem that it is difficult to be removed by a clerk, and operation efficiency decreases significantly.
Thus, the conventional electronic shelf labels described above all have a problem that both the easiness of attachment to and detachment from a product shelf and the theft prevention are not achieved sufficiently. - The invention is made in view of the above-described points, and an object thereof is to enable to prevent theft of an electronic shelf label without impairing an advantage of easiness of attachment to and detachment from a product shelf.
- To achieve the above described object, the invention provides an electronic shelf label displaying information related to a product by an electrically driven display panel, including: as fixing means for detachably fixing the electronic shelf label to a rail provided on a product shelf, a first and a second engagement portions for engaging with an engagement portion provided on a side face of the rail; and an applying means for applying force to the first engagement portion in a direction toward the side face of the rail in a state of being fixed to the rail, and further including: a key hole into which a thin plate-shaped key for releasing fixation of the electronic shelf label to the rail by the fixing means is inserted; and an arm portion provided at a position abutting on the key inserted in the key hole, the arm portion being displaced by a load applied by the key in response to insertion of the key and, accompanying this displacement, displacing the first engagement portion in a direction to depart from the side face of the rail against the bias by the applying means.
- In such an electronic shelf label, it is preferable that the key hole is formed such that the key is inserted substantially perpendicularly to a bottom face of the rail and in a direction along a side face of the electronic shelf label perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the rail.
Further, it is preferable that the key has a shape which becomes narrower toward a front end thereof at least within a range in which the key abuts on the arm portion when being inserted in the key hole, the force applied by the applying means acts on the arm portion, and when the key is inserted into the key hole, the arm portion is displaced by the key in a manner to be pushed outward with respect to the insertion direction against the force as the key is inserted. - Furthermore, it is preferable that, in a state of being inserted into the key hole until the first engagement portion is displaced to a degree of being released from the engagement portion of the rail, the key is retained between the arm portion and a wall face of the key hole by the force applied by the applying means, and in this state, it is possible to remove the electronic shelf label from the rail using the key as a handle.
- Moreover, it is preferable that the first engagement portion and the arm portion are an integrated member rotatably fixed to a rear face side of the electronic shelf label, and when the arm portion abuts on the key and is pushed outward, the member rotates to displace the first engagement portion in a direction to depart from the side face of the rail.
Alternatively, it is preferable that the first engagement portion and the arm portion are an integrated member held on a rear face side of the electronic shelf label in a manner slidable along the rear face, and when the arm portion abuts on the key and is pushed outward, the member slides along the rear face of the electronic shelf label to displace the first engagement portion in a direction to depart from the side face of the rail. - Further, it is preferable that an obstacle is provided on an inner wall of the key hole, so that only a key having a groove or a cutout corresponding to the obstacle can be inserted into the key hole.
Furthermore, it is preferable that the rail is provided, on the side face corresponding to the first engagement portion, with a groove which internally includes a hole, as the engagement portion, and the first engagement portion engages with the groove, and includes a guide pin to be inserted into the hole in the groove.
Moreover, it is preferable that an exterior including the first and the second engagement portions, the arm portion, the applying means, and the key hole is formed of resin. - With an electronic shelf label according to the present invention, theft can be prevented without impairing an advantage of easiness of attachment to and removal from a product shelf.
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- [
Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is an external perspective view of a front face side of an electronic shelf label of a first embodiment of the invention. - [
Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is an external perspective view of a rear face side of the electronic shelf label of the first embodiment of the invention. - [
Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is a view for describing operation of members provided on the rear face side of the electronic shelf label of the first embodiment of the invention. - [
Fig. 4A] Fig. 4A is a perspective view illustrating an external appearance of a key used for the electronic shelf label of the first embodiment of the invention. - [
Fig. 4B] Fig. 4B is a side view of the same. -
- [
Fig. 5A] Fig. 5A is an explanatory view of a procedure in the case of fixing the electronic shelf label of the first embodiment of the invention to a rail. - [
Fig. 5B] Fig. 5B is an explanatory view of a procedure and a fixing state in the case of fixing the same electronic shelf label to the rail. - [
Fig. 6A] Fig. 6A is an explanatory view of a procedure in the case of removing the electronic shelf label of the first embodiment of the invention from the rail. - [
Fig. 6B] Fig. 6B is an explanatory view illustrating a continuation thereof. - [
Fig. 6C] Fig. 6C is an explanatory view illustrating a further continuation thereof. - [
Fig. 7] Fig. 7 is an external perspective view of a rear face side corresponding toFig. 2 of an electronic shelf label of a second embodiment of the invention. -
- [
Fig. 8] Fig. 8 is an explanatory view corresponding toFig. 3 of the electronic shelf label of the second embodiment of the invention. - [
Fig. 9] Fig. 9 is a rear view corresponding toFig. 8 and illustrating a structure of a modification example of the invention. - [
Fig. 10A] Fig. 10A is a front view of a key hole in an electronic shelf label of another modification example of the invention. - [
Fig. 10B] Fig. 10B is a view illustrating another example thereof. - [
Fig. 10C] Fig. 10C is a view illustrating still another example thereof. - [
Fig. 10D] Fig. 10D is a view illustrating still another example thereof. - [
Fig. 10E] Fig. 10E is a view illustrating still another example thereof. - 1 and 31: electronic shelf label; 2: display panel; 3 and 33: lock plate; 3a and 33a: guide pin; 3b and 33b: engagement portion; 3c, 3e, 33c and 33e: arm portion; 3d and 33d: spring portion; 3f: shaft hole; 4 and 34: housing rack; 4a and 34a: housing portion; 5a, 5b, 35a and 35b: hook; 6 and 36: key attaching portion; 6a and 36a: key hole; 6b and 36b: slit; 6c: projection; 7: shaft; 8: housing portion; 10: key; 10a: front end portion; 10b: rear end portion; 20: rail; 20a and 20c: groove; 20b: hole; 20d: eaves; 33g: shaft; 38: spring stopping portion; 40: spring
- Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the invention will be described specifically based on the drawings.
- First, a schematic structure of a first embodiment of an electronic shelf label of the invention will be described. Note that in the following description, directions such as "upward", "downward", and the like indicate directions in the drawings, and do not necessarily match the directions when the electronic shelf label is in use.
-
Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 are respectively external perspective views of a front face side and a rear face side of anelectronic shelf label 1, which is the first embodiment of the electronic shelf label of the invention.
Theelectronic shelf label 1 illustrated inFig. 1 has adisplay panel 2 in a front face. Thisdisplay panel 2 is an electrically driven display means for displaying information related to a product, such as a product name and price, and is formed of a liquid crystal panel here. Further, inside theelectronic shelf label 1, there is provided a control unit (omitted from illustration) realized by a microcomputer constituted of a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM, and this control unit performs display control processing of thedisplay panel 2. This control unit is housed in ahousing portion 8. - On the other hand, on a rear side of the
electronic shelf label 1, fixing means for detachably fixing thiselectronic shelf label 1 to a rail provided on a product shelf for displaying products are provided.
As illustrated inFig. 2 , a first fixing means is alock plate 3 attached to an upper portion of a rear face side. When thiselectronic shelf label 1 is fixed to the rail (which will be described later) of the product shelf, anengagement portion 3b and aguide pin 3a are fitted in a groove which is an engagement portion provided in the rail and a hole provided in the groove, respectively, to allow engagement therebetween. Then, by this engagement, theelectronic shelf label 1 is fixed so as not to disengage from the rail and also not to move on the rail along the rail. - This
lock plate 3 is rotatable about ashaft 7 with theshaft 7 being a fulcrum, and when anarm portion 3e is rotated and displaced upward in the view, theengagement portion 3b and theguide pin 3a are rotated and displaced downward in the view to be in a state of being housed in a housing rack 4. Among them, theengagement portion 3b corresponds to a first engagement portion. - A second fixing means is two
hooks 5a and 5b provided on a lower portion of the rear face, and front end portions thereof are hooked on and engaged with an engagement portion provided on a side face of the rail of the product shelf opposite to the groove with which theengagement portion 3b is engaged, to thereby fix theelectronic shelf label 1 so as not to disengage from the rail. Thesehooks 5a and 5b correspond to a second engagement portion. - Further, on a side face of the
electronic shelf label 1, there is provided akey attaching portion 6 in which a key is inserted for releasing the fixation by thelock plate 3 to remove theelectronic shelf label 1 from the rail.
An exterior of thiselectronic shelf label 1 including thelock plate 3, thehooks 5a, 5b, and thekey attaching portion 6 is formed entirely of resin, but may be formed of different materials including metal. - Next, structures of the
lock plate 3 and thekey attaching portion 6, which are characteristic of theelectronic shelf label 1 as described above, will be described further also usingFig. 3 .
Fig. 3 is a view for describing operation of members provided on the rear face side of theelectronic shelf label 1. InFig. 3 , thehousing portion 8 is omitted from illustration, and thekey attaching portion 6 is illustrated in a partially cut away state. - As illustrated in
Fig. 3 , thelock plate 3 is an integrally molded member made up of anarm portion 3c having the above-describedguide pin 3a andengagement portion 3b, aspring portion 3d, and theother arm portion 3e, and has ashaft hole 3f between thearm portions shaft hole 3f with theshaft 7 provided on the rear face of theelectronic shelf label 1 to attach the lock plate, thelock plate 3 is made rotatable about theshaft 7. - Further, the
spring portion 3d of thelock plate 3 is provided on a lower side of thearm portion 3c in the view, and a front end portion thereof abuts on a bottom face inside the housing rack 4. Then, thespring portion 3d functions as an applying means for applying force to thearm portion 3c of thelock plate 3 from the lower side thereby applying force in arrow A direction. In addition, thespring portion 3d may be fixed to the bottom face inside the housing rack 4. - The
other arm portion 3e of thelock plate 3 has a front end portion inserted in aslit 6b of thekey attaching portion 6. When no external force acts on thelock plate 3, thelock plate 3 rotates in the arrow A direction to a position where a lower face of thearm portion 3e abuts on a lower face of theslit 6b by the force from thespring portion 3d. At this point, thelock plate 3 stops at a position, as illustrated inFig. 2 , preferable for engaging theguide pin 3a and theengagement portion 3b with the groove provided in the rail (this position is illustrated with solid lines (a portion hidden by the housing rack 4 is illustrated with dashed line) inFig. 3 ). - On the other hand, the
key attaching portion 6 has akey hole 6a which is provided on a side face of theelectronic shelf label 1 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the rail in the state of being fixed to the rail, and in which a thin plate-shaped key is inserted, and the above-describedslit 6b for restricting the movable range of thearm portion 3e. Here, thekey hole 6a is formed so that the key is inserted thereinto in a direction substantially perpendicular to the bottom face of the rail and along the side face of theelectronic shelf label 1. By thus forming thekey hole 6a, the key can be inserted from a front face of theelectronic shelf label 1. Even when pluralelectronic shelf labels 1 are aligned and fixed to the rail, insertion of the key does not become difficult by an adjacentelectronic shelf label 1, and the key can be inserted easily. - As will be described later, when a load in arrow C direction in the view is applied to the
arm portion 3e by the key inserted into thekey hole 6a of thekey attaching portion 6, thearm portion 3e is displaced in the arrow C direction in the view against the force from thespring portion 3d, and accompanying this, thelock plate 3 rotates in arrow B direction in the view about theshaft 7. Then, by displacing thelock plate 3 to the position denoted by two-dot chain lines in the view for example, the positions of theguide pin 3a and theengagement portion 3b can be moved to a position lower than an upper face the main body of theelectronic shelf label 1, and engagement with the groove provided in the rail can be released.
Moreover, thearm portion 3c of thelock plate 3 is housed in the housing rack 4, and the front end portion of theother arm portion 3e is inserted in theslit 6b, thereby making thelock plate 3 less likely to be dropped from theshaft 7. - Next, the key to be inserted into the
key hole 6a of theelectronic shelf label 1 will be described.
Fig. 4A is an external perspective view of the key, andFig. 4B is a side view of the same.
The key 10 is a flat plate-shaped member made of resin for example and is, as illustrated inFig. 4A , a flat thin plate member having a thickness which is about equal to the width of thekey hole 6a of theelectronic shelf label 1.
Further, when the key 10 is inserted in thekey hole 6a, an upper face of the key abuts on the lower face of thearm portion 3e of thelock plate 3, but as illustrated inFig. 4B , in a longitudinal direction, the key has a shape which becomes narrower toward its front end within a range in which afront end portion 10a abuts on the lower face of thearm portion 3e of thelock plate 3. - Next, a method of fixing the
electronic shelf label 1 to a rail provided on a product shelf and operation of thelock plate 3 in this fixing will be described.
Fig. 5A and Fig. 5B are explanatory views of a procedure and a fixing state in the case of fixing theelectronic shelf label 1 to the rail.Fig. 5A illustrates a state where a lower portion of theelectronic shelf label 1 is inserted in a lower side of the rail, andFig. 5B illustrates a state where the fixing of theelectronic shelf label 1 to the rail is completed. In these views, the rail is illustrated as a cross section. - As illustrated in
Fig. 5A , on a side face of an upper side of therail 20, agroove 20a which is the engagement portion for engaging with theengagement portion 3b of thelock plate 3 of theelectronic shelf label 1 is provided, andplural holes 20b for fitting theguide pin 3a are provided in a bottom of thegroove 20a at predetermined intervals in a longitudinal direction of therail 20. Further, a side face of a lower side of therail 20, agroove 20c which is the engagement portion for engaging with thehooks 5a and 5b of theelectronic shelf label 1 is provided. - When the
electronic shelf label 1 is fixed to therail 20 as described above, first, front ends of thehooks 5a and 5b are inserted in and engaged with thegroove 20c on the lower side of therail 20, as illustrated inFig. 5A .
Thereafter, theguide pin 3a of theelectronic shelf label 1 is brought to abut oneaves 20d of the upper side of therail 20, and force is applied to press an upper portion of theelectronic shelf label 1 in arrow D direction in the view, so as to push the upper portion of theelectronic shelf label 1 into therail 20. Then, theguide pin 3a is pressed gradually by an inclined face of theeaves 20d, and thearm portion 3c provided with theengagement portion 3b and theguide pin 3a of thelock plate 3 is gradually pushed down in a downward direction in the view against the force from thespring portion 3d (rotates about theshaft 7 illustrated inFig. 7 ). - When the position of the
guide pin 3a reaches the position of thegroove 20a of therail 20, pressing by theeaves 20d is released, and thus thearm portion 3c of thelock plate 3 moves upward in the view, that is, the direction to be pushed out into thegroove 20a provided in the side face of therail 20, by the force from thespring portion 3d, thereby theengagement portion 3b and therail 20 engage with each other. In this state, theelectronic shelf label 1 is in a state of being fixed slidably in the longitudinal direction in therail 20. - Thereafter, in this state, when the
electronic shelf label 1 is slid slightly in the longitudinal direction of the rail to align the positions of theguide pin 3a and thehole 20b, theguide pin 3a fits in thehole 20b as illustrated inFig. 5B , and thearm portion 3c of thelock plate 3 is pushed up to the position denoted by solid lines inFig. 3 by the force from thespring portion 3d. In this state, theelectronic shelf label 1 is in a state of being fixed non-slidably in the longitudinal direction in therail 20. - Such operation to fix the
electronic shelf label 1 to therail 20 can be performed easily by one hand, and thus the fixing operation can be performed efficiently.
Further, when theelectronic shelf label 1 is fixed in therail 20 in a state where theguide pin 3a is fitted in thehole 20b, it becomes difficult either to pull out theelectronic shelf label 1 to a near side to remove it, or to slide the electronic shelf label along the longitudinal direction of therail 20 to remove it via an end of therail 20. Thus, theft can be prevented effectively. - Next, a method of removing the
electronic shelf label 1 from the rail of the product shelf and operation of respective parts of theelectronic shelf label 1 in this removal will be described.
Fig. 6A to Fig. 6C are views for describing a procedure in the case of removing theelectronic shelf label 1 from the rail.Fig. 6A is a side view illustrating a state before the key is inserted into the key hole of the electronic shelf label,Fig. 6B is a side view illustrating a state in the middle of inserting the key into the key hole, andFig. 6C is a side view illustrating a state in the middle of removing the electronic shelf label from the rail after inserting the key into the key hole. Note that each rail in these views is illustrated as a cross section, and inFig. 6B , also the key attaching portion is illustrated in a state of being cut away to make the inside visible. - To remove the
electronic shelf label 1 fixed to therail 20 from therail 20, as illustrated inFig. 6A , the key 10 is inserted into thekey hole 6a from thefront end portion 10a in arrow E direction in the view with its inclined face of thefront end portion 10a of the key 10 directed upward,.
When thefront end portion 10a is inserted gradually deeper in thekey hole 6a, and as illustrated inFig. 6B , the inclined face of thefront end portion 10a abuts on the lower face of thearm portion 3e of thelock plate 3 arranged deep in thekey hole 6a, a thrust load to push upward as shown by arrow F is applied to thearm portion 3e from the inclined face of thefront end portion 10a as the key 10 is inserted. Then, by this thrust load, thearm portion 3e is displaced to be pushed upward with respect to the insertion direction of the key 10 against the force from thespring portion 3d. - Accompanying the displacement of the
arm portion 3e, thelock plate 3 rotates to be displaced in a direction such that theengagement portion 3b moves away from thegroove 20a against the force from the spring portion and theguide pin 3a moves away from thehole 20b (arrow B direction illustrated inFig. 3 ).
Then, when the key 10 is inserted into thekey hole 6a until theguide pin 3a is displaced to a position completely separated from both thehole 20b and thegroove 20a, fixation of the upper portion of theelectronic shelf label 1 is released. Further, due to the force from thespring portion 3d of thelock plate 3, thefront end portion 10a of the key 10 is held by a certain degree of force between thearm portion 3e and an inner wall face of thekey hole 6a, and thus force to take out to a front side can be applied to theelectronic shelf label 1 using the key 10 as a handle. - Therefore, as illustrated in
Fig. 6C , when force is applied to pull off the upper portion of theelectronic shelf label 1 in arrow G direction in the view while grabbing arear end portion 10b of the key 10, since fixation of the upper portion of theelectronic shelf label 1 is released, the upper portion of theelectronic shelf label 1 can be removed from inside therail 20 in a manner of pulling out.
Thereafter, by removing thehooks 5a and 5b from thegroove 20c of therail 20, theelectronic shelf label 1 can be removed completely from therail 20. After the label is removed from therail 20, the key 10 can be pulled out from thekey hole 6a with a similar degree of force to insertion, although there is a slight resistance, by applying force in a direction reverse to that of insertion. - Note that when the
rear end portion 10b of the key 10 is grabbed to pull out the upper portion of theelectronic shelf label 1 from therail 20, the force to be applied from the hand to the key 10 is mainly in a direction to push the key 10 against the inner side face of thekey hole 6a or thearm portion 3e, and thus it is conceivable that pulling off of the key 10 from thekey hole 6a by mistake rarely occurs. Further, the size of thekey hole 6a and the force from thespring portion 3d are preferred to be set so that such a degree of holding force can be obtained. - In this manner, the
electronic shelf label 1 can be removed from therail 20 by a simple operation using the compact thin-type key, by inserting the key 10 into thekey hole 6a, and pulling out the upper portion from therail 20 in this inserted state as it is. Therefore, an operation of removal is quite simple, by which high operation efficiency can be achieved. Moreover, the key can be made of a light weight, and hence does not become a load when being carried by a worker. - Further, since no magnet or metal part is necessary to achieve this function, there is no concern of causing electromagnetic interference to an electronic circuit provided in the
electronic shelf label 1 and communication interference in radio communication means.
Moreover, the structures of thelock plate 3, thekey attaching portion 6, and so on necessary for the fixing and removing can be achieved with a small number of parts, and theelectronic shelf label 1 can be produced at low cost. - Next, a second embodiment of the electronic shelf label of the invention will be described.
Regarding theelectronic shelf label 1 of the first embodiment described above, the structural example is described in which fixation is released by pushing up thearm portion 3e of the lock plate to an upper side of theelectronic shelf label 1 with respect to the insertion direction of the key. Anelectronic shelf label 31 of the second embodiment is such that fixation is released by pushing down the arm portion of the lock plate to a lower side of theelectronic shelf label 1 with respect to the insertion direction of the key. Only the structures of the lock plate, the key attaching portion, and the housing rack and movement of the lock plate are different from those in the first embodiment. Thus, mainly these points will be described. -
Fig. 7 is an external perspective view of a rear face side corresponding toFig. 2 of theelectronic shelf label 31 which is the second embodiment of the electronic shelf label of the invention.Fig. 8 is an explanatory view of the same corresponding toFig. 3 .
In theelectronic shelf label 31, as illustrated inFig. 7 andFig. 8 , alock plate 33 is an integrally molded member which has anarm portion 33c having aguide pin 33a and anengagement portion 33b in an upper part, and has aspring portion 33d in a lower portion and anarm portion 33e on a side of one side face. By housing a portion thereof in ahousing portion 34a of ahousing rack 34, and inserting a front end portion of thearm portion 33e in aslit 36b of akey attaching portion 36, thelock plate 33 is held in a manner slidable in a vertical direction along a rear face of theelectronic shelf label 31. - The
spring portion 33d has a front end portion abutting on a bottom face inside aspring stopping portion 38 provided on the rear face of theelectronic shelf label 31, and is an applying means serving to apply upward force to theentire lock plate 33. Thespring portion 33d may be fixed to the bottom face inside thespring stopping portion 38.
Further, in a state where no external force acts on thelock plate 33, thelock plate 33 moves upward to a position where an upper face of thearm portion 33e inserted in theslit 36b abuts on an upper end of theslit 36b by the force from thespring portion 33d, and stops at a position which is preferable for engaging theguide pin 33a and theengagement portion 33b with a groove provided in a rail, as illustrated inFig. 7 . - The
electronic shelf label 31 with such a structure can be fixed to therail 20 by theguide pin 33a, theengagement portion 33b, and hooks 35a and 35b in a procedure similar to one described usingFig. 5 regarding theelectronic shelf label 1 of the first embodiment.
Removal from therail 20 is mostly similar to the removal described usingFig. 6 regarding theelectronic shelf label 1 of the first embodiment. - However, in the case of the
electronic shelf label 31, the key is inserted into thekey hole 36a of thekey attaching portion 36 with an inclined face of thefront end portion 10a of the key 10 directed downward. Then, when thefront end portion 10a is inserted gradually deeper into thekey hole 36a, and the inclined face of thefront end portion 10a abuts on the upper face of thearm portion 33e of thelock plate 33 arranged deep in thekey hole 36a, a thrust load to push downward is applied to thearm portion 33e from the inclined face of thefront end portion 10a as the key 10 is inserted. Then, by this thrust load, thearm portion 33e is displaced to be pushed downward (arrow H direction) with respect to the insertion direction of the key 10 against the force from thespring portion 33d. Accompanying this, theentire lock plate 33 is displaced in the arrow H direction, and the positions of theguide pin 33a and theengagement portion 33b can be moved to positions lower than an upper face of the main body of theelectronic shelf label 31. - Then, when the key 10 is inserted into the
key hole 36a until theguide pin 33a and theengagement portion 33b are both displaced to positions completely separated from thehole 20b and thegroove 20a, fixation of the upper portion of theelectronic shelf label 31 is released. In this state, similarly to the case of the first embodiment, when force is applied to pull off the upper portion of theelectronic shelf label 31 while grabbing therear end portion 10b of the key 10, the upper portion of theelectronic shelf label 31 can be removed from inside therail 20 in a manner of pulling out.
In this state, it is also similar to the first embodiment that, due to the force from thespring portion 33d of thelock plate 33, thefront end portion 10a of the key 10 is held between thearm portion 33e and an inner wall face of thekey hole 36a. - With the structure as described above, effects similar to those of the first embodiment can be obtained. Further, the structure of the lock plate can be more simplified than that of the first embodiment, and thus cost reduction can also be achieved. However, in the case of sliding on the main body of the
electronic shelf label 31 as in this embodiment, smoothness in movement is slightly lower than the case of rotating about theshaft 7 as in the first embodiment. Therefore, the structure of the desired embodiment may be employed depending on which of cost and smoothness is regarded as more important. - In addition, the following modifications are conceivable for the above-described embodiments.
First, it is conceivable to apply the force to the lock plate by a separate spring instead of the spring portion integrated with the lock plate. -
Fig. 9 is a rear view of a structural example of the case where this modification is applied to the second embodiment.
In an electronic shelf label 31' of this modification example, instead of thespring portion 33d of thelock plate 33 in theelectronic shelf label 31 of the second embodiment, as illustrated inFig. 9 , aseparate spring 40 is provided in a lower portion of the lock plate 33'. This spring can be structured as, for example, a helical spring. - The
spring 40 has one end housed in aspring stopping portion 38 provided on a rear face of the electronic shelf label 31', and the other end fitted with ashaft 33g provided on a lower side of the lock plate 33', thereby making it less likely to be dropped from the electronic shelf label 31'. The both ends or one end may be fixed to thespring stopping portion 38 or the lock plate 33'. - Even when upward force is applied to the lock plate 33' by such a
separate spring 40, attachment and removal of the electronic shelf label 31' to/from therail 20 can be performed similarly to the case of theelectronic shelf label 31 of the above-described second embodiment, and thus similar effects can be obtained.
Although illustration is omitted, similar modification can be made to the first embodiment. Moreover, it is also conceivable to give the force by an elastic member other than the spring. - Further, as another modification, instead of forming the
key hole 6a in a simple slit shape, it is also conceivable to provide an obstacle such as a projection on an inner wall so that only a key having a shape corresponding to the shape of the obstacle can be inserted into the key hole.
Fig. 10A to Fig. 10E are front views illustrating structural examples of key hole of the electronic shelf label in this modification example. The structure of the key hole is in common between theelectronic shelf label 1 of the first embodiment and theelectronic shelf label 31 of the second embodiment, but here the numerals for theelectronic shelf label 1 will be used for description. - As the structure of the
key hole 6a, first, as illustrated inFig. 10A to Fig. 10C , it is conceivable to provide pluralrectangular projections 6c on inner walls of thekey hole 6a. Theprojections 6c may be provided only at certain positions in a key inserting direction, such as only in the vicinity of an opening portion or only on a deep side, and/or may be provided to have a predetermined length in the key hole. Further, in this case, regarding the key to be inserted into the key hole, grooves or cutouts having a corresponding shape may be provided at positions corresponding to the projections in the key hole. The number of projections may be any number, or only one projection may be provided. - Further, regarding the shape of obstacles provided on the inner walls of the key hole, an arbitrary shape may be employed, including a triangle shape as illustrated in
Fig. 10D or a semicircular shape as illustrated inFig. 10E . The shape may be one completely blocking a part of the key hole.
By employing such a structure, the electronic shelf label cannot be removed from therail 20 unless the specific key corresponding to the shape of the key hole is used, and thus the risk of unauthorized removal can be reduced more. Further, by meshing between the projections of the key hole and the grooves of the key, the key can be held with stronger force in the key hole than when the projections are not provided. Thus, when the electronic shelf label is removed from therail 20 with the key being a handle, the risk of pulling off the key by mistake can be reduced. - Note that for the obstacles as described above, even ones that allow insertion of an arbitrary key to the middle will suffice as long as they do not allow a key that has no corresponding groove or cutout to be inserted into a degree that the lock plate is displaced sufficiently for removing the electronic shelf label.
Further, other than providing the obstacles, the shape of the key hole may be changed to a shape other than the flat plate shape, such as a curving shape or a bending shape, thereby allowing insertion of a key having a corresponding shape only. Further, it is also conceivable to employ a bar-shaped key and a key hole corresponding to the key. However, in relation with the space of the key hole, it is preferred to use a flat plate-shaped key and a key hole corresponding thereto. - As other modifications, the following ones are also conceivable.
First, regarding the insertion direction of the key, not only the structure in which the key is inserted from a front face into the electronic shelf label, but a structure in which the key is inserted from a different direction may be employed as long as it is a direction allowing insertion while the electronic shelf label is attached to the rail. For example, the key hole may be provided to allow insertion of the key from the longitudinal direction of the rail on the side of a side face of the electronic shelf label. Even when such a modification is made, operation similar to the case of the above-described embodiments is possible by adopting a structure in which, for example, thearm portion 3e of thelock plate 3 is bent in an appropriate direction and extended to a position where it abuts on the key. - Further, not only the structure in which the
arm portion 3e abuts on the side face of the key, it is also conceivable to adopt a structure in which the arm portion abuts on the front end of the key and is displaced by a load applied in the insertion direction of the key in response to a pushing operation of the key, and by this displacement, the engagement portion is displaced in a direction to be removed from thegroove 20a of therail 20.
Further, thearm portion 3e abutting on the key and thearm portion 3c having theguide pin 3a and theengagement portion 3b are not necessarily be an integrated part. There will be no problem as long as they are structured such that displacement of thearm portion 3e is transmitted to thearm portion 3c, and thereby thearm portion 3c can be displaced appropriately in response to displacement of thearm portion 3e. - Further, when the
electronic shelf label 1 is fixed to therail 20, if it is sufficient to fix the label in a manner movable in the rail longitudinal direction, theguide pin 3b may be omitted. When stoppers are provided on both ends in the longitudinal direction of therail 20 so that theelectronic shelf label 1 cannot be removed by sliding, such a structure can also achieve the effect of theft prevention.
Further, having a hook shape like thehooks 5a and 5b, the second engagement portion has an advantage that rotating at the time of removing theelectronic shelf label 1 can be performed easily. However, other than the hook shape, it is also conceivable to have a flat plate shape like theengagement portion 3b, and this part is fitted in the groove on the rail to thereby engage the part with the rail.
Further, the structures of the embodiments and modification examples which have been described may be combined and applied within a range in which no discrepancy occurs. - An electronic shelf label according to the present invention is easily attachable to and removable from a product shelf, and is capable of preventing theft. Thus, usability of the electronic shelf label can be improved significantly.
-
- PTL1: Japanese unexamined patent publication No.
2001-178599 - PTL2: Japanese unexamined patent publication No.
2001-312221 - PTL3: United States Patent No.
6418651
Claims (9)
- An electronic shelf label displaying information related to a product by an electrically driven display panel, comprising:as fixing means for detachably fixing the electronic shelf label to a rail provided on a product shelf,a first and a second engagement portions for engaging with an engagement portion provided on a side face of the rail; andan applying means for applying force to the first engagement portion in a direction toward the side face of the rail in a state of being fixed to the rail,the electronic shelf label further comprising:a key hole into which a thin plate-shaped key for releasing fixation of the electronic shelf label to the rail by the fixing means is inserted; andan arm portion provided at a position abutting on the key inserted into the key hole, the arm portion being displaced by a load applied by the key in response to insertion of the key and, accompanying this displacement, displacing the first engagement portion in a direction to depart from the side face of the rail against the force applied by the applying means.
- The electronic shelf label according to claim 1, wherein
the key hole is formed such that the key is inserted substantially perpendicularly to a bottom face of the rail and in a direction along a side face of the electronic shelf label perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the rail. - The electronic shelf label according to claim 1, wherein
the key has a shape which becomes narrower toward a front end thereof at least within a range in which the key abuts on the arm portion when being inserted into the key hole,
the force applied by the applying means acts on the arm portion, and when the key is inserted into the key hole, the arm portion is displaced by the key in a manner to be pushed outward with respect to the insertion direction against the force as the key is inserted. - The electronic shelf label according to claim 3, wherein
in a state of being inserted into the key hole until the first engagement portion is displaced to a degree of being released from the engagement portion of the rail, the key is retained between the arm portion and a wall face of the key hole by the force applied by the applying means, and in this state, it is possible to remove the electronic shelf label from the rail using the key as a handle. - The electronic shelf label according to claim 3, wherein
the first engagement portion and the arm portion are an integrated member rotatably fixed to a rear face side of the electronic shelf label, and when the arm portion abuts on the key and is pushed outward, the member rotates to displace the first engagement portion in a direction to depart from the side face of the rail. - The electronic shelf label according to claim 3, wherein
the first engagement portion and the arm portion are an integrated member held on a rear face side of the electronic shelf label in a manner slidable along the rear face, and when the arm portion abuts on the key and is pushed outward, the member slides along the rear face of the electronic shelf label to displace the first engagement portion in a direction to depart from the side face of the rail. - The electronic shelf label according to claim 1, wherein
an obstacle is provided on an inner wall of the key hole, so that only a key having a groove or a cutout corresponding to the obstacle can be inserted into the key hole. - The electronic shelf label according to claim 1, wherein
the rail is provided, on the side face corresponding to the first engagement portion, with a groove which internally comprises a hole, as the engagement portion, and
the first engagement portion engages with the groove, and comprises a guide pin to be inserted into the hole in the groove. - The electronic shelf label according to claim 1, wherein
an exterior including the first and the second engagement portions, the arm portion, the applying means, and the key hole is formed of resin.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/JP2009/058578 WO2010125692A1 (en) | 2009-05-01 | 2009-05-01 | Electronic shelf tag |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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EP2425750A1 true EP2425750A1 (en) | 2012-03-07 |
EP2425750A4 EP2425750A4 (en) | 2012-12-05 |
EP2425750B1 EP2425750B1 (en) | 2014-07-09 |
Family
ID=43031854
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP09844035.7A Not-in-force EP2425750B1 (en) | 2009-05-01 | 2009-05-01 | Electronic shelf label |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP2425750B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP5547179B2 (en) |
CN (1) | CN102413740B (en) |
BR (1) | BRPI0924498A2 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2010125692A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2015083005A2 (en) | 2013-12-04 | 2015-06-11 | Opticon Sensors Europe B.V. | Electronic label system |
WO2022135716A1 (en) * | 2020-12-23 | 2022-06-30 | Ses-Imagotag Gmbh | Fastening element for fastening or fixing a display unit to a support device |
Families Citing this family (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN103680322A (en) * | 2013-12-09 | 2014-03-26 | 张家港力普拓科技有限公司 | Electronic shelf label |
CN111631545A (en) * | 2020-06-03 | 2020-09-08 | 浙江联宜电机有限公司 | Material tray positioning mechanism for electronic goods shelf |
JP2022027434A (en) * | 2020-07-31 | 2022-02-10 | 日本電気株式会社 | Inventory tag attachment device |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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EP0683478A2 (en) * | 1994-05-17 | 1995-11-22 | NCR International, Inc. | An electronic shelf label mounting system |
WO1999003174A1 (en) * | 1997-07-11 | 1999-01-21 | The Whitaker Corporation | Electrical connection assembly for rail mounted display |
JP2003233323A (en) * | 2002-02-12 | 2003-08-22 | Nikken Kogyo Kk | Holder for display |
Family Cites Families (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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JPH0723991B2 (en) * | 1992-08-20 | 1995-03-15 | 株式会社アートパネル・コンサルタント | Sign off device |
FR2765019B1 (en) | 1997-06-18 | 1999-10-15 | Label 41 | ELECTRONIC LABELING SYSTEM |
JP2001178599A (en) | 1999-12-22 | 2001-07-03 | Teraoka Seiko Co Ltd | Pop inscription tool for shelf plate |
JP3614083B2 (en) | 2000-04-27 | 2005-01-26 | 株式会社寺岡精工 | Electronic shelf label mounting device |
JP4629510B2 (en) * | 2005-06-15 | 2011-02-09 | 東芝テック株式会社 | Product information display system and electronic shelf label |
-
2009
- 2009-05-01 WO PCT/JP2009/058578 patent/WO2010125692A1/en active Application Filing
- 2009-05-01 BR BRPI0924498A patent/BRPI0924498A2/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2009-05-01 EP EP09844035.7A patent/EP2425750B1/en not_active Not-in-force
- 2009-05-01 JP JP2011511250A patent/JP5547179B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2009-05-01 CN CN200980159051.6A patent/CN102413740B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0683478A2 (en) * | 1994-05-17 | 1995-11-22 | NCR International, Inc. | An electronic shelf label mounting system |
WO1999003174A1 (en) * | 1997-07-11 | 1999-01-21 | The Whitaker Corporation | Electrical connection assembly for rail mounted display |
JP2003233323A (en) * | 2002-02-12 | 2003-08-22 | Nikken Kogyo Kk | Holder for display |
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
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See also references of WO2010125692A1 * |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2015083005A2 (en) | 2013-12-04 | 2015-06-11 | Opticon Sensors Europe B.V. | Electronic label system |
WO2022135716A1 (en) * | 2020-12-23 | 2022-06-30 | Ses-Imagotag Gmbh | Fastening element for fastening or fixing a display unit to a support device |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JPWO2010125692A1 (en) | 2012-10-25 |
JP5547179B2 (en) | 2014-07-09 |
EP2425750A4 (en) | 2012-12-05 |
EP2425750B1 (en) | 2014-07-09 |
CN102413740A (en) | 2012-04-11 |
WO2010125692A1 (en) | 2010-11-04 |
CN102413740B (en) | 2015-05-27 |
BRPI0924498A2 (en) | 2016-02-16 |
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