EP4205606A1

EP4205606A1 - A power supply device for shelves and a power supply shelf

Info

Publication number: EP4205606A1
Application number: EP22215028.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Xiaoyun Liu; Kai Xu
Original assignee: Ningbo Self Electronics Co Ltd; Self Electronics Germany GmbH
Current assignee: Ningbo Self Electronics Co Ltd; Self Electronics Germany GmbH
Priority date: 2021-12-31
Filing date: 2022-12-20
Publication date: 2023-07-05
Also published as: CN114498221A; CN114498221B

Abstract

The invention discloses a power supply device for shelves, comprising at least one power supply module (1000), wherein each power supply module (1000) comprises: a fixed power supply unit (100) having a first fixing member (101) and configured to be electrically connected to a power supply; at least one sliding power supply unit (200) having a first socket (201); at least one flexible conductive strip (300), the two ends of which are electrically connected to the fixed power supply unit (100) and the sliding power supply unit (200), respectively.The present invention also discloses a power supply shelf comprising at least one such power supply device.The power supply device for the shelf and the power supply shelf of the present invention are simple in structure, easy to install and to disassemble and to be modified, and provides a good waterproof effect.

Description

Technical field

The invention relates to the technical field of shelf power supplies, in particular to a power supply device and a power supply shelf, in particular a shelf system comprising at least one such power supply device.

Background of invention

In the context of energy saving and environmental protection, LED lamps are more and more used in the fields of home and commercial lighting because of their high light emission efficiency and good light-gathering performance. Among them, shelf lighting is a kind of commercial lighting. In the installation of existing shelf lighting, there are problems of messy and scattered power wiring methods, complicated installation process, and time-consuming problems, and it takes up more shelf space after installation, resulting in unnecessary waste of space and the problem of low utilization rate. In order to solve these problems, it has been proposed to set up power supply rails (tracks) in shelves or shelf systems, which can be used with the power supply head to avoid messy and scattered power supply wiring. However, the power supply rails are usually all exposed, so that they can easily corrode and be damaged. Moreover, the power supply rails are not waterproof, so it is difficult to apply such shelves or shelf systems in areas under high moisture conditions and humidity, where watertightness is needed.
Therefore, it is important to develop a waterproof and easy to install and dismantle power supply method and setup with important application value for power supply shelves and shelf systems with at least one power supply.

Summary of Invention

In view of this, the present invention is to provide a power supply device for shelves and a power supply shelf to solve the above technical problems.
More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a power supply device for shelves and a power supply shelf, configured to reliably provide electric power to at least one shelf of a shelf system with a low-cost set-up that can be assembled, disassembled and modified in a versatile manner. According to further aspects of the present invention there is to be provided a method for supplying electric power to at least one shelf of a shelf system comprising a back board.
This problem is solved by a power supply device as claimed by claim 1, and by a power supply shelf as claimed by claim 12. Further advantageous embodiments are the subject-matter of the dependent claims.
A power supply device for shelves, comprises at least one power supply module, wherein each power supply module comprises: a fixed power supply unit having a first fixing member and configured to be electrically connected to a power supply; at least one sliding power supply unit having a first socket; at least one flexible conductive strip, the two ends of which are electrically connected to the fixed power supply unit and the sliding power supply unit, respectively.
According to a further embodiment, the flexible conductive strip may be provided with a magnetic element.
According to a further embodiment, the first fixing member may be a T-shaped bump or protrusion provided on one side of the fixed power supply unit, configured to be inserted into a corresponding mounting hole of a back board. More specifically, by first tilting the fixed power supply unit relative to the plane of the back board, then inserting one of the two arms of the T-shaped bump or protrusion, then the protrusion itself and then the second of the two arms of the T-shaped bump or protrusion and then tilting backward the fixed power supply unit so as to be disposed in parallel with the plane of the back board, the T-shaped bump or protrusion may be fixed in a positive-fit manner in the mounting hole of the back board, so as to be disposed fixed at the location of the mounting hole on the back board. As an alternative, the two arms of the T-shaped bump or protrusion may be resiliently biased against a shaft of the T-shaped bump or protrusion, and may be pushed inward towards the shaft so that the shaft may be inserted into a mounting hole of the back board, and after releasing the two arms again, they may return back to their biased home position, to thereby fix the fixed power supply unit in a positive-fit manner in the mounting hole of the back board.
According to a further embodiment, the fixed power supply unit may be provided with a second socket, which may be disposed in particular on a side opposite to that side of the fixed power supply unit where the first socket is provided. Thus, power may also be supplied at the rear side of e.g. a back board of the shelf system.
According to a further embodiment, the fixed power supply unit may further comprise: a second base, one side of which is provided with the second socket; and a second top cover connected to the second base with a space or gap formed therebetween, and having a second insertion hole aligned with the second socket.
According to a further embodiment, the second base and the second top cover may be connected to each other through second connecting pieces arranged on both sides of the second socket.
According to a further embodiment, the sliding power supply unit may comprise: a first base, one side of which is provided with the first socket; a first top cover connected to the first base with a space or gap formed therebetween, and having a first insertion hole 1 aligned with the first socket.
According to a further embodiment, the first base and the first top cover may be connected through first connecting pieces arranged on both sides of the first socket.
According to a further embodiment, a damping unit may be provided between the first base and the first top cover.
According to a further embodiment, the second fixing member may be a square hole.
According to a further embodiment, the power supply module may be provided with at least two fixed power supply units for each power supply module, and the fixed power supply units of each power supply module are electrically connected in sequence.
A power supply shelf according to the present invention comprises at last one back board and at least one shelf supplied with electric power, wherein at least one power supply device as outlined above is provided, and wherein above each shelf there is provided a second fixing member connected to the first fixing member, the corresponding back board comprises a strip-shaped through-hole or guiding slot extending in a longitudinal direction, and each sliding power supply unit is slidably mounted on a strip-shaped through-hole or guiding slot.

Technical effect of the present invention

The power supply device for shelves and the power supply shelf of the present invention have a simple structure, provide a convenient installation, are easy to disassemble and be modified, provide a good waterproof effect, are convenient in use, and provide excellent reliability and low manufacturing cost.

Overview on drawings

Hereinafter, the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1: is a schematic structural diagram of a power supply device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2: is a schematic perspective front view of a power supply rack of the present invention including a power supply device according to the first embodiment;
FIG. 3: is a partial structural schematic diagram of the back of the power supply shelf in the embodiment of Fig. 2;
Fig. 4: is a partial structural schematic diagram of the front of the power supply shelf in the embodiment of Fig. 2;
Fig. 5: is a partial exploded structure of the front of the power supply shelf in the embodiment of Fig. 2;
Fig. 6: is a schematic structural diagram of a power supply device according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 7: is a schematic diagram of a partial structure of a power supply shelf (front) according to another embodiment of the present invention; and
Fig. 8: is a schematic diagram of a partial structure of a power supply shelf (back side) according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Throughout the drawings, the like reference numerals designate the same or technically equivalent members or groups of members.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in further detail below based on the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the following description of the embodiments of the present invention shall not be construed to delimit the scope of protection of the present invention.
As shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the power supply device of this embodiment is generally suitable for supplying electric power to shelves, but can also be applied to any equipment with a vertical backplane, such as cold chain lighting. The power supply device of this embodiment includes two power supply modules 1000, which are preferably electrically connected to each other by a common power supply wire or strip, as shown in Fig. 3. The total number of such power supply modules 1000 may be set e.g. according to the total number of layers (shelves) of the shelf system. Generally, one power supply module 1000 may be provided for each layer of the shelf system. Of course, multiple layers or power supply modules 1000 may also be set for a single layer.
Each power supply module 1000 includes: a fixed power supply unit 100 intended to be fixedly positioned, stationary, at a predetermined location of a back board as outlined hereinafter, a sliding power supply unit 200 that can be moved on a back board by sliding to a desired position, if required, and a flexible conductive strip 300, which electrically connects the fixed power supply unit 100 and the associated sliding power supply unit 200. The fixed power supply unit 100 comprises a first fixing member 101 and is connected to a power supply (not shown in the drawings). The sliding power supply unit 200 comprises a first socket or plug-in interface 201 (see Fig. 5), and the two ends of the flexible conductive strip 300 are electrically connected to the fixed power supply unit 100 and the sliding power supply unit 200, respectively.
After the power supply module 1000 of this embodiment has been installed, e.g. fixedly mounted on a back board as outlined hereinafter in more detail, the fixed power supply unit 100 is connected to an external power supply for power supply, whereas the sliding power supply unit 200 can be moved relative to the fixed power supply unit 100 by sliding, e.g. along grooves or slots provided in the back board, so as to provide a power supply function at a specific position as actually required by the geometry of the shelf system to be supplied with electric power, while the flexible conductive strip 300 is bent accordingly by bending to supply electric power to the sliding power supply unit 200. For this purpose, the length of the flexible conductive strip 300 may basically correspond to the length of a longitudinal guiding slot 3002, 2002 provided in the back board 2000 plus the distance between the mounting position of the fixed power supply unit 100 at the back board to the associated guiding slot 3002, 2002, as shown in Fig. 3.
The fixed power supply units 100 of each power supply module 1000 are electrically connected sequentially, and in this embodiment, the power supply modules 1000 are electrically connected through the flexible conductive strip 300, which is convenient for folding and transportation.
All the above-mentioned components can be conveniently completed to provide a waterproof setting, that is, a flexible waterproof layer may be wrapped on the outside of all the components of a power supply module 1000. In this embodiment, the flexible conductive strip 300 is a wire with an insulating layer applied directly upon it, and the waterproof effect can be realized as long as the insulating layer is waterproof. Other parts or components of the power supply module 1000 are generally waterproofed by encapsulation.
In this embodiment, the flexible conductive strip 300 may be provided with at least one magnetic element 400. The magnetic element 400 can be attracted by a back board of a shelf system including e.g. a ferro-magnetic layer, so that the flexible conductive strip 300 can always maintain a general shape and does not project too far from the rear surface of the associated back board 2000, and is not easily entangled.
The first fixing member 101 should be easy to assemble and disassemble. In this embodiment, the first fixing member 101 is embodied as a T-shaped bump arranged on one side of the fixed power supply unit 100. The T-shaped bump may be fixedly mounted into a mounting hole of the back board, as outlined above.
In this embodiment, the sliding power supply unit 200 includes at least the following: a first base 202 provided with the first socket 201 on one side; a first top cover 203 connected to the first base 202 with a gap for accommodating a back board 2000 or similar holding plate, having a first insertion hole 2031 aligned with the first socket 201.
In this embodiment, the first base 202 and the first top cover 203 are connected through first connecting pieces 204 arranged on both sides of the first socket 201. In this embodiment, a damping unit is provided between the first base 202 and the first top cover 203 so as to maintain a positional relationship and gap between the first base 202 and the first top cover 203, e.g. including resilient members such as springs to resiliently bias the first base 202 and the first top cover 203 against each other. The damping unit may be also embodied as a plurality of protrusions, in particular elastic or resilient protrusions, but it may also be realized in a tight fit manner, and there are many ways, so that it is not necessary to go into the details.
The power supply device of this embodiment is configured to be applied to electric equipment and devices including backplanes, back boards or shelves, and is in particular suited for use with shelves or shelf systems including a back board. The power supply device of this embodiment is applied to shelves or shelf systems. The power supply shelf of this embodiment includes a backplane or back board 2000 and multiple shelves 3000 arranged e.g. one above the other as shown in Fig. 2. The corresponding back board 2000 above each shelf 3000 is provided with a second fixing member 2001 to be connected to the first fixing member 101 of an associated fixed power supply unit 100. Moreover, the backplane or back board 2000 comprises at least one strip-shaped through-hole or guiding slot 2002 extending in a longitudinal direction (which may be a vertical direction of the shelf system to be supplied with electric power), so that each sliding power supply unit 200 can be moved by sliding along the corresponding slot 2002 to a desired position, e.g. a desired vertical position of a shelf system, for power supply, and hence is movably installed on the strip-shaped hole or guiding slot 2002.
In this embodiment, the second fixing member 2001 may be embodied as a square hole, of a shape corresponding to the shaft of a T-shaped bump or protrusion of an associated first power supply unit to be fixed on the back board.
As shown in Fig. 6 to 8, in another embodiment, the fixed power supply unit 100 is provided with a second socket 102 to enable a power supply in a shelf system, e.g. on the rear side or also front side of a back board of the shelf system..
The fixed power supply unit 100 further comprises a second base 103 and a second top cover 104 connected to each other. One side of the second base 103 is provided with the second socket 102, and the second top cover 104 is connected to the second base 103 with a gap between them, with the first socket aligned with the second socket 102 and including two jacks 1041.
The second base 103 and the second top cover 104 are connected through second connecting pieces 205 disposed on both sides of the second socket 102. Here, the second connecting piece 205 serves also as the first fixing member 101, and the second connecting piece 205 can be fixed through the square hole on the back board 2000.
The connectors in this embodiment may be in the form of buckles, etc., which are prior art and will not be described in detail.
As will become apparent to the skilled person, the above describes only preferred exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and shall not be construed to delimit the scope of protection of the present invention. Any modification, equivalent replacement or improvement within the spirit of the present invention is to e covered by the appended claims and their scope of protection.

Claims

A power supply device for shelves, comprising at least one power supply module (1000),
characterized in that each power supply module (1000) comprises:
a fixed power supply unit (100) having a first fixing member (101) and configured to be electrically connected to a power supply;

at least one sliding power supply unit (200) having a first socket (201);

at least one flexible conductive strip (300) the two ends of which are electrically connected to the fixed power supply unit (100) and the at least one sliding power supply unit (200), respectively.
The power supply device for shelves according to claim 1, wherein the flexible conductive strip (300) is provided with a magnetic element (400).
The power supply device for shelves according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first fixing member (101) is a T-shaped bump provided on one side of the fixed power supply unit (100).
The power supply device for shelves according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the fixed power supply unit (100) is provided with a second socket (102).
The power supply device for shelves according to claim 4, wherein the fixed power supply unit (100) further comprises:
a second base (103), one side of which is provided with the second socket (102); and

a second top cover (104) connected to the second base (103) with a space or gap formed therebetween, and having a second insertion hole (1041) aligned with the second socket (102).
The power supply device for shelves according to claim 5, wherein the second base (103) and the second top cover (104) are connected to each other through second connecting pieces (205) arranged on both sides of the second socket (102).
The power supply device for shelves according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the sliding power supply unit (200) comprises:
a first base (202), one side of which is provided with the first socket (201);

a first top cover (203) connected to the first base (202) with a space or gap formed therebetween, and having a first insertion hole (2031) aligned with the first socket (201).
The power supply device for shelves according to claim 7, wherein the first base (202) and the first top cover (203) are connected through first connecting pieces (204) arranged on both sides of the first socket (201).
The power supply device for shelves according to claim 8, wherein a damping unit is provided between the first base (202) and the first top cover (203).
The power supply device for shelves according to claim 8, wherein the second fixing member (2001) is a square hole.
The power supply device for shelves according to any of preceding claims 1 to 6, wherein the power supply module (1000) is provided with at least two fixed power supply units (100) for each power supply module (1000), and the fixed power supply units (100) of each power supply module (1000) are electrically connected in sequence.
A power supply shelf, comprising at last one back board (2000) and at least one shelf (3000) supplied with electric power,
characterized by at least one power supply device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein

above each shelf (3000) there is provided a second fixing member (2001) connected to the first fixing member (101),

the corresponding back board (2000) comprises a strip-shaped through-hole or guiding slot (2002) extending in a longitudinal direction, and

each sliding power supply unit (200) is slidably mounted on a strip-shaped through-hole or guiding slot (2002).
Use of a power supply device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 11, for supplying electric power to at least one shelf (3000) of a shelf system comprising a back board (2000) including at least one strip-shaped through-hole or guiding slot (2002) and an associated mounting hole, wherein
the first fixing member (101) of each fixed power supply unit (100) is mounted to the associated mounting hole provided at the back board so as to fixedly mount the fixed power supply unit (100) at a fixed location at the back board (2000), and

each sliding power supply unit (200) of the at least one sliding power supply unit (200) of each power supply device is mounted to a strip-shaped through-hole or guiding slot (2002) and moved along the strip-shaped through-hole or guiding slot (2002) to a position corresponding to the position of an associated shelf (3000) of the shelf system, for suppling electric power to said associated shelf (3000).
A method for supplying electric power to at least one shelf (3000) of a shelf system comprising a back board (2000) including at least one strip-shaped through-hole or guiding slot (2002) and an associated mounting hole, comprising the steps of:
providing at least one power supply device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 11;

mounting the first fixing member (101) of each fixed power supply unit (100) to the associated mounting hole provided at the back board so as to fixedly mount the fixed power supply unit (100) at a fixed location at the back board (2000), and

mounting each sliding power supply unit (200) of the at least one sliding power supply unit (200) of each power supply device to a strip-shaped through-hole por guiding slot (2002) and moving each sliding power supply unit (200) of the at least one sliding power supply unit (200) along said strip-shaped through-hole or guiding slot (2002) to a position corresponding to the position of an associated shelf (3000) of the shelf system, for suppling electric power to said associated shelf (3000).