EP4305614A1

EP4305614A1 - Supporting apparatus, in particular rack rail, for supporting an electronic device, preferably an electronic display unit

Info

Publication number: EP4305614A1
Application number: EP21712729.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Andreas RÖßL
Original assignee: SES Imagotag GmbH
Current assignee: Vusiongroup GmbH
Priority date: 2021-03-09
Filing date: 2021-03-09
Publication date: 2024-01-17
Also published as: CN117063220A; AU2021432549A1; AU2023100090A4; WO2022188955A1; CA3205820A1; KR20230153388A; JP2024513289A

Abstract

Supporting apparatus (1), preferably in the form of a rack rail, for mechanically mounting an electronic device (20), particularly preferably for mounting an electronic display unit, wherein the supporting apparatus (1) has: a first bounding wall (2), in particular a reference wall (2) defining a reference or positioning plane, on which or adjacent to which the electronic device can be positioned, in particular by way of its rear wall (22), on the supporting apparatus (1), and a second bounding wall (3) oriented at an angle (8) with respect to the first bounding wall (2), wherein the first bounding wall (2) and the second bounding wall (3) bound a receiving area (4) for receiving the electronic device (20), in particular only on two sides, and a conductor carrier (5) having conductor tracks (6) for the electrical supply for the electronic device (20), characterized in that the conductor carrier (5) projects into the receiving area (4) at a distance from the first bounding wall (2) starting from the second bounding wall (3), in particular parallel to the first bounding wall (2).

Description

title

Carrying device, in particular shelf rail, for carrying an electronic device, preferably an electronic display unit

description

technical field

The invention relates to a carrying device, in particular a shelf rail, for carrying an electronic device, preferably an electronic display unit, the carrying device having boundary walls for delimiting a receiving area for receiving the electronic device.

background

WO 2017/153481 A1 discloses a carrying device in the form of a shelf rail, which is designed as an electronic display unit for the mechanical attachment of an electronic device. The shelf rail delimits an accommodating area for accommodating the display unit with three side walls arranged in a U-shape. The recording area is limited here on three sides and the display unit can be inserted into or removed from the shelf rail via the left-over side of the U-shape.

A first, central side wall is formed by a plate. This plate serves as a reference or positioning level on which the display unit can be positioned with its rear wall on the shelf rail. The plate has passages arranged in a grid. These passages are used for contacting electrical conductor tracks through contact pins of the display unit in order to supply the display unit with electricity.

The conductor tracks are arranged on a line carrier which is positioned on that side of the first side wall which is remote from the receiving area. Viewed in the longitudinal direction of the shelf rail, the first side wall is delimited by a second, upper side wall and a third, lower side wall.

The lower side wall has a fastening edge which runs in the longitudinal direction of the shelf rail and which can be gripped by a fastening groove of the display device.

The upper side wall has hole-like recesses arranged in a grid in the longitudinal direction of the shelf rail, into which a retractable and extendable fastening pin of the display device can snap, whereby the position of the display device along the shelf rail can be fixed.

This shelf rail has proven itself excellently in operation because it allows precise positioning of the display device along the shelf rail according to the grid of the hole-like recesses and unintentional displacement due to the second and third side walls in combination with the extended pin engaged in the upper side wall. even unintentional or willful removal of the display unit from the shelf rail without the application of destructive force is largely impossible.

However, the care of the shelf rail has proven to be problematic because dirt can accumulate in the channel formed by the lower side wall between the central panel and the fastening edge, as well as in the openings of the central panel to the cable tracks. On the one hand, this contamination has a negative impact on the visual appearance of the shelf rails. On the other hand, they can also impair the electrical supply of the display unit and thus its functional reliability.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide an improved carrying device and a correspondingly adapted electronic device so that the problems discussed are avoided.

Summary of the Invention

This object is achieved by a carrying device according to claim 1. The object of the invention is therefore a carrying device, preferably implemented as a shelf rail, for mechanical attachment an electronic device, particularly preferably for fastening an electronic display unit, the carrying device having a first boundary wall, in particular a reference wall defining a reference or positioning plane, on or adjacent to which the electronic device, in particular with its rear wall, on of the carrying device, and a second boundary wall oriented at an angle to the first boundary wall, the first boundary wall and the second boundary wall delimiting, in particular only on two sides, a receiving area for accommodating the electronic device, and a cable carrier, the conductor tracks for the electronic supply of the device, characterized in that the line carrier protrudes into the receiving area at a distance from the first boundary wall, starting from the second boundary wall, in particular parallel to the first boundary wall.

Furthermore, this object is achieved by a supply device according to claim 16. The subject of the invention is therefore a supply device for a carrying device, in particular realized as a shelf rail, for the electrical supply of an electronic device that can be carried by the carrying device, particularly preferably an electronic display unit, the supply device being designed in such a way that it has a side or end section the carrying device, which side or end section is designed or provided for accommodating the supply device, can be coupled, the supply device having: supply electronics and contacts connected to the supply electronics for establishing an electrically conductive connection with conductor tracks arranged on a conductor carrier of the carrying device, characterized in that the contacts are realized by a first group of metallic contact strips, each contact strip having a first section, preferably a first end section, which it ste section is connected to the supply electronics, and has a second section, preferably a second end section, which second section is intended for contacting the conductor tracks of the conductor carrier, and each contact strip is curved or angled, preferably at least L-shaped, particularly preferably C-shaped or .U-shaped. Furthermore, this object is achieved by an electronic device according to claim 19. The subject of the invention is therefore an electronic device, in particular an electronic display unit, which has a housing with a rear wall, a front wall, in particular with a screen, and a side wall running between the rear wall and the front wall, the side wall having a substantially parallel path to the rear wall running line carrier groove which is intended for receiving a line carrier of a carrying device, wherein the line carrier has line tracks for the electronic supply of the electronic device, in particular the display unit.

Furthermore, this object is achieved by a system according to claim 29. The subject matter of the invention is therefore a system which has a carrying device according to the invention, a supply device according to the invention coupled thereto and at least one electronic device according to the invention carried by the carrying device.

The measures according to the invention have the advantage that the use of an electronic device is made much easier. Due to the elimination of the fastening edge of the lower side wall associated with the measures according to the invention, as has the known shelf rail, the electronic device can be easily pushed into the carrying device without tilting movements. This means that the electronic device can be pushed in and moved along the first boundary wall, which can also function as a reference wall, towards the second boundary wall, in particular in such a way that the electronic device to be inserted does not have to be lifted from the first boundary wall.

This applies in an equivalent manner to the removal of the electronic device.

By eliminating the disadvantageous design of the prior art, i.e. by eliminating the fastening edge (lower when the shelf rail is installed horizontally) and thus also the channel, there is also the advantage that there is no dirt in the form of solid or liquid substances at this point can accumulate more. The ones on it Optical impairments that can be attributed to it as well as functional disturbances are thus de facto ruled out.

Also, by relocating the conductor tracks of the conductor carrier to an area within the receiving area, which is bordered or delimited by the two boundary walls, it is largely ensured that the conductor tracks there can hardly or not at all become soiled. The same applies mutatis mutandis to the line carrier groove of the electronic device provided for receiving the line carrier, where the contacts of the electronic device are located. When the device is inserted into the carrying device, this line carrier groove is covered, ie protected, by the second boundary wall of the carrying device.

The maintenance intensity of the carrying device, in particular implemented as a shelf rail, or of the entire system can therefore be significantly reduced by the measures according to the invention. Cleaning becomes easier and less necessary because the critical point with regard to dirt is eliminated in the design according to the invention or is now arranged and designed in such a way that the risk of contamination is minimized as much as possible.

In the preferred case, the orientation of the line carrier in relation to the first boundary wall is parallel to the latter. However, a different orientation can also be provided. For example, the line carrier can also be oriented in such a way that, starting from the second boundary wall, its distance from the first boundary wall increases continuously. In the receiving area, the line carrier is then oriented slightly obliquely forward in the direction of the open sides (that is to say not delimited by the boundary walls) of the receiving area. In this case, the orientation of the line carrier groove in relation to the rear wall of the electronic device can also be adjusted accordingly, so that the electronic device can be inserted into the receiving area by sliding along the line carrier towards the first boundary wall.

Also, in the case of the first boundary wall, the rear side of this first boundary wall does not necessarily have to run parallel to the front side of the first boundary wall. Rather, it can also be provided that the front side and the back side of the first boundary wall are oriented in a wedge shape towards the second boundary wall in the viewing direction. The cross section of the first boundary wall can thus also be realized essentially in the shape of a wedge. A distinction can thus be made between the rear side of the boundary wall and a front side of the boundary wall which is inclined in relation thereto (for example referred to as the reference side). In this case, too, the orientation of the line carrier can, as already mentioned, be oriented either parallel to the front side of the boundary wall or at an angle away from it, in which case the orientation of the line carrier groove would have to be adjusted accordingly, as discussed above.

Likewise, it would also be possible not to adjust the orientation of the wire carrier groove but to leave it substantially parallel to the front of the electronic device or also to run centrally between the front and back of the electronic device and the orientation of the back of the electronic device adjust in order to achieve a substantially form-fitting fit of the electronic device used in the carrying device.

The fact that the electronic device is accessible from below on the shelf rail, for example on a horizontally running shelf rail, also makes the entire handling easier.

Furthermore, the measures according to the invention have the advantage that the carrying device becomes more compact and the field of view of objects located behind it, in particular goods, is thus enlarged. For example, with a carrying device according to the invention designed as a shelf rail, a customer can easily inspect the products on the shelf under the shelf rail without being prevented from doing so by structural elements of the shelf rail that protrude downwards.

In general, these measures according to the invention enable the system to appear freer and lighter, especially the carrying device and the electronic devices attached thereto, in particular the electronic display units, and thus enable a better presentation of the goods. The measures according to the invention and the associated omission of the lower fastening edge also enables the use of electronic devices which can have an extension parallel to the first boundary wall (reference wall) that slightly exceeds that of the first boundary wall, if necessary also massively exceeds it. The shelf rail as such can thus be made slimmer in comparison to the display units, which automatically draws attention to the display units without the shelf rail being perceived as a massive, visually disruptive element. The omission of the lower fastening edge thus enables the use of electronic devices with almost any dimension parallel to the first boundary wall or to the reference wall. As a result, almost any electronic device can also be adapted for use with such a carrying device. In particular, electronic display units with very specific and very different screen dimensions as well as large-area electronic interaction media, such as touch screens, etc. can be used. These devices appear to the observer to be held floating in the carrying device because they protrude beyond the carrying device on their lower side, for example.

In principle, the carrying device can be implemented in a variety of ways. For example, it can be a table display that can be set up on a counter or fixed there. It is also possible to design the support structure as a clothing tag that can be fixed there hanging on clothing. For reasons of the compact description of the invention, however, reference is made below exclusively to a shelf rail as a preferred embodiment of the carrying device.

The orientation of the carrying device and thus also the orientation of the devices attached to it can also be arbitrary.

The electrically conductive connection between the supply device and the carrying device can be partially detachable or non-detachable, i.e. in particular materially bonded, e.g. by means of soldered connections.

In many cases it is advantageous if the electrically conductive connection can be easily separated again. Such a connection can be among other things, by means of detachable connections, such as plug connections or screw connections, etc., realize.

The electrically conductive connection is preferably implemented as a detachable connection which has a spring element. Such a spring element ensures that the electrical contact with a minimum force is maintained in a certain area even if the position of the components to be connected changes. Such a change in position can be caused, for example, by manufacturing tolerances, thermal expansion, wear-related deformation, imprecise assembly of the components or mechanical stress on the system components.

The supply device preferably has the first group of metal contact strips, that is to say electrically conductive metal contact strips. These contact strips are designed to provide the electrically conductive connection to the carrying device or to the conductor tracks of the carrying device.

These contact strips can be designed to implement a non-detachable, such as materially bonded, or detachable contact.

In an embodiment for a contact by means of a plug-in connection, the contact strips are designed in such a way that when the supply device is pushed into the carrying device, the contact strips are brought up to the conductor paths. For this purpose, the surroundings of the conductor tracks are designed in such a way that the contact strips are prevented from deviating away from the conductor tracks. Due to local deformation in the elastic area, there is secure contact.

In order to achieve a non-detachable, in particular material-to-material contact, the contact strips can be designed in such a way that they are in contact with the conductor tracks when the carrying device is pushed in, whereupon they can be soldered, for example.

However, a detachable spring-based connection is preferably used, ie a connection that has a spring element. In this case, the contact strips are designed in such a way that, when the supply device is pushed into the carrying device, they are pressed against the conductor tracks by a spring force. in the In contrast to a plug-in connection, the force that ensures the contact is created, i.e. not or not only locally through deformation at the contact point, but also or in particular through deformation, for example bending, at a point that is not the contact point, or along the contact bands.

The contact strips themselves particularly preferably form the spring elements. They are therefore designed as supply spring contact elements.

As mentioned, the contact strips have a first section, preferably a first end section, which is connected to the supply electronics. Furthermore, the contact strips have a second section, preferably a second end section, which is designed to provide the electrically conductive connection or the contact.

The contact strips can be designed in different forms, or the arrangement of the first and second sections can be designed differently.

In a simple embodiment, the contact strip can be designed in the form of a rod, so that the first and second sections lie essentially on one level along the surface of the rod.

It is also possible for the two sections to be slightly offset but essentially parallel to one another, that is to say with one step or several steps or in a z-shape.

It is also possible for both sections to be arranged at an angle relative to one another, so that an L-shape or a V-shape results.

It is also possible that both sections are arranged essentially parallel to one another, but with several angled sections in between, so that a C-shape or U-shape or a W-shape results.

In addition to the forms of construction mentioned, other multi-stage constructions of the sections are also possible, so that, for example, meandering contact strips are produced.

The angled and multi-stage training forms have the advantage that a greater spring deflection with less Material stress is possible, which is why these represent the preferred forms of training. This can also be realized with a curved shape of the metallic contact strips.

Furthermore, the ribbon-like design of the contact ribbons allows them to be guided or shaped in such a way that level differences between the electronics to which they are connected and the level of the conductor tracks to which contact is to be made can be overcome without any problems. This is also accompanied by the effect that the contact can be made with a predefined minimum force (but also maximum force, i.e. within a range of the force that occurs), which can be set or defined by the shape and the elastic properties of the material of the contact strips.

Corrosion-resistant steel strips are preferably used.

Thus, despite the mobility of the contact surfaces or zones, there is no need for complicated individual mechanical components, which can in particular be movable relative to one another.

Further, particularly advantageous configurations and developments of the invention result from the dependent claims and the following description.

As a non-exhaustive list of examples of electronic devices, there are sensor units or sensors such as motion sensors, temperature sensors, light sensors and cameras, input devices such as buttons, touch sensors, touch screens, output devices such as lighting, speakers, printers, e.g. thermal printers, or electronic display units, such as executed by means of liquid crystal displays (LCD) screens, organic light emitting diodes (OLED) screens etc. or e-paper displays or electrophoretic displays.

The supply device supplies the electronic devices both with the necessary supply voltage for operating them and for communication purposes. In addition to the power supply (supply voltage and current), it also takes over the supply of data and signals for the purpose of transmitting information and controlling the electronic device(s). For the purpose of power supply, the supply device with a Power supply unit, with a (rechargeable) battery configuration or by means of "Power over Wi-Fi". In the case of a (also rechargeable) battery or an accumulator, this energy store can preferably be powered with the help of magnets on the carrying device or a neighboring component in the immediate vicinity be attached to the supply device in order to enable a quick and uncomplicated replacement.The carrying device can also be equipped with a photovoltaic module which is used to collect energy for storage in a rechargeable battery.

The supply device or the supply electronics of the supply device can also be designed to process or prepare data, for example to receive data from a server via an access point and to convert it into signals or data that can be read or processed by the electronic device or simply as Forward raw data to the affected (addressed) devices. Data can also be received from the devices and sent to the server via the access point. These transmissions between the access point and the supply facility can be wired or radio-based.

The supply device can be placed independently of the carrying device or attached to it behind the carrying device or on one side of the carrying device and electrically conductively connected to the conductor tracks of the conductor carrier of the carrying device.

In this context, it has proven to be particularly advantageous if the carrying device has a side section which is designed or provided to accommodate the supply device for the purpose of supplying electrical power to electronic devices that can be carried by the carrying device.

The supply device is preferably designed in such a way that it can be accommodated in the side section of the carrying device.

This creates a very compact system, while at the same time the utility against environmental influences, such as eg moisture or mechanical stress, is protected in the structure of the carrying device.

In this way, loose cabling between the supply device and the carrying device can neither be seen nor manipulated.

Full integration of a separate supply device in the rail is preferred, in which case, for example, a housing of the supply device is also adapted to the shape of the carrying device, so that both together give the impression that they are made of one piece.

Furthermore, it has proven to be advantageous if each contact strip has an arc shape on its second section, which is intended for direct contact with one of the conductor tracks.

This arcuate shape prevents the second section of the contact strips from being wedged or caught when the supply device is inserted into the carrying device. Such wedging or snagging could lead to damage to the components, for example to deformation of the contact strips or the conductor paths, if the components are inserted carelessly or quickly. The arc shape therefore allows faster and more economical assembly and maintenance of the system without the risks mentioned.

This shape is also accompanied by improved contact, because the radius of curvature of the arched shape creates a defined contact surface or zone along the metal strip.

In order to optimize the contact between the conductor track and the contact strip, the curved shape of the second section can have a contacting area that is adapted to the shape of the conductor track. For example, the surface of the arcuate shape can have a semicircular notch or groove adapted to the conductor track cross-sections, so that the contact surface or zone is enlarged along the curvature of the conductor track.

According to a further aspect, the supply device has a housing part which is open on at least one side, so that the line carrier can be inserted on the open side of the housing, with the Housing part is shaped in such a way that the second sections of the contact strips and the part of the conductor tracks that can be contacted with it, that is to say the affected part of the conductor carrier, are included.

This form of training offers protection for the enclosed contact strips and conductor tracks. It offers protection in particular against contact, moisture, mechanical stress, thermal stress and an unwanted view of the components, i.e. privacy protection.

The housing part also ensures a defined positioning of the contact strips relative to the conductor tracks. For this purpose, the housing has sections or surfaces on which the housing part interacts with the carrying device and is correspondingly positioned or held there.

At the same time, the housing part gives stability to the supply device and provides the structure to hold all components of the supply device in their desired position.

The housing part can be designed in such a way that it also covers or accommodates part of the line carrier. This measure also makes unauthorized manipulation of the electronic components of the system more difficult in the assembled state. If the housing is also in contact with the cable carrier, this measure ensures mechanical stability at the point where the metallic contact strips press on the cable tracks and consequently on the cable carrier with their force caused by the spring effect.

The cable carrier of the carrying device can be made in one piece or in several pieces. In both cases it is possible for the conductor tracks to lie in one or more planes, with the contact strips of the supply device having to be configured or arranged accordingly in order to make contact with the conductor tracks.

However, it has proven to be particularly advantageous if the line carrier of the carrying device is designed as a line carrier plate.

This represents a very space-saving, slim and at the same time stable form of construction and leaves sufficient space for the cable tracks. On the circuit board, the circuit traces can be positioned on one side of the board or on different sides. the The main advantage of the cable carrier plate is that the cable tracks can run at a sufficient distance from one another along the cable carrier plate, for example in one plane.

When the system is used as intended, the use of a circuit board offers the electronic device defined contact points or zones where the circuit board or the circuit board is in contact with the electronic device. In particular, the position of the device is precisely defined when it is fully inserted into the line carrier groove of the device, which is expressed in particular in the form of reliable electronic contacting.

According to a further aspect, the wiring board has a first dimension, which is measured along the longitudinal extent of the support device, and a second dimension, which is measured in the plane of the wiring board normal to the first dimension of the wiring board, the second dimension of the wiring board being 20 % corresponds to 40% of the corresponding dimension of the first boundary wall.

The result of this is that the line carrier plate is designed to be sufficiently stable and stiff, while at the same time a sufficient distance between the line tracks is also ensured.

Furthermore, these dimensional ratios enable the electronic devices to be easily removed from the carrying device and the electronic devices to be inserted or positioned in the carrying device easily, because the dimensions of the cable carrier plate provide spatial guidance when they are inserted into the carrying device or pulled out of the carrying device established for the movement of the device.

Because these dimensions provide sufficient stability and rigidity when using the usual materials and material thicknesses, misalignments of the cable carrier plate in relation to the first boundary wall can be reliably avoided, which also ensures that the electronic devices can be moved or displaced along the carrying device without jamming. The first dimension preferably extends over the entire length of the carrying device so that the devices can also be supplied along the entire length.

The line carrier can have multiple conductor tracks for the signaling supply and multiple, in particular two, conductor tracks for the power supply. For example, one pair of conductors can be used for the electrical power supply and another ten conductors, for example, can implement a data bus for bidirectional, parallel information transmission.

However, the line carrier preferably has exactly three pieces of the line tracks, which are preferably formed on a single side surface of the line carrier and/or run parallel to one another along the longitudinal extent of the carrying device.

This form of embodiment allows both a signaling supply and a power supply with as few components as possible, in particular contact components, such as specifically the contact strips. A compact and space-saving implementation is thus made possible.

The few components also make this realization less susceptible to malfunctions, which in turn increases operational reliability and consequently reduces the overall maintenance effort. This is also accompanied by cost-effective production.

The design of the cable carrier with exactly three pieces of the cable tracks can be realized in that both the signal or data supply line, which represents one of the cable tracks, and the power supply line, which represents a further cable track, use the same reference potential, with the third cable track, also called reference potential line here, has this reference potential.

In a particularly preferred manner, the conductor tracks are arranged in relation to the insertion direction of the electronic device such that the ground line is arranged first, followed by the signal or data supply line and finally the power supply line. Thus, the circuit between the power supply line and the ground line is only given in the fully inserted state, what Avoids short circuits and damage to the electronic components.

The cable tracks of the carrying device can have different shapes or cross sections.

According to one embodiment, these conductor tracks can be flat or have a square cross-section. This form of construction offers the advantage that, with spring-based connections, a large cable cross-section is ensured at the contact points. Flat conductor tracks can be easily implemented as tracks on the carrier board, e.g. similar to printed circuit boards.

According to a preferred embodiment, however, the conductor tracks are in the form of wires that partially protrude beyond the outer surface of the conductor carrier.

In addition to the advantages in terms of manufacturing technology, this form of embodiment offers advantages with regard to the electrical contacting with the electronic devices.

This is particularly important when the electronic device, in particular the electronic display unit, has, according to a preferred embodiment, contacts for establishing an electrically conductive connection to the conductor tracks of the conductor carrier, with that housing part which forms the conductor carrier groove having first housing openings, through which the contacts protrude from the housing.

The cable carrier groove allows a clearly defined positioning of the electronic device and its contacts in relation to the cable tracks, so that the contacts automatically and reliably establish an electrically conductive connection with the cable tracks without further adjustment as soon as the device is attached to the carrying device, i.e. the Line carrier is positioned in its target position in the line carrier groove.

Wires as conductor tracks have an essentially round cross section, which protrudes in a raised manner over the surface of the conductor carrier. Unlike a flat cross section, which is essentially flush with the surface of the conductor carrier, this cross section allows tactile feedback when the electronic device is inserted. as soon as one of the contacts of the electronic device touches one of the wires. In this way, the user can easily determine whether the respective contact of the device has already reached or passed the cable carrier.

Wires as conductor tracks continue to impress due to their robustness compared to, for example, flat conductor tracks.

The wires are preferably located in the line carrier with at least 50% of their cross section. In this embodiment, there is a secure hold in the line carrier because the line carrier surrounds the respective wire at least slightly more than 180° on the circumference. It is thus reliably prevented that the cable track accidentally falls out of the cable carrier

The conductor tracks can be arranged on the line carrier in such a way that they are arranged on that side of the line carrier which faces away from the first boundary wall or the reference wall.

However, the carrying device is preferably designed in such a way that the conductor tracks are arranged on that side of the conductor carrier which faces the first boundary wall or the reference wall.

The electronic device is consequently preferably designed in such a way that the first housing openings are realized on that side of the line carrier groove which is closest to the rear wall.

The measures of these preferred forms of embodiment are associated with the advantage that the conductor paths are difficult or impossible to see and accidental or intentional contact, in particular with a conductive object, is almost impossible.

As a result, the risk of a short circuit or a transmission fault is also reduced or completely eliminated. This arrangement of the conductor tracks, which is essentially hidden from the view of an observer of the carrying device (e.g. a shelf rail), also offers far-reaching protection against dirt, so that the maintenance effort in this regard is negligible.

According to a further aspect, the electronic device is designed in such a way that in each case one of the housing openings corresponds to the position of precisely one of the conductor tracks when the conductor carrier is inserted into the conductor carrier groove as intended. This ensures that when the devices are assembled with the carrying device, there are always precisely defined contacting zones that lead to precise contacting of the conductor paths in the end or target position. Thus, when the electronic device is fully inserted into the carrying device, correct electrical connections inevitably result without the need for readjustment or correction of the relative position of the two objects.

According to a further aspect, the contacts of the electronic devices are implemented as a second group of metallic contact strips, each contact strip having a first section, preferably a first end section, which first section is connected to device electronics, and a second section, preferably a second end section , Has, which second section is intended for contacting the conductor tracks of the conductor carrier, the second group of metallic contact strips being designed as spring elements, each contact strip preferably being curved or angled, in particular step-shaped.

This allows pressurized contacting. Thus, the advantages mentioned in the context of the first group of metallic contact strips when designed as a spring-based electrically conductive connection also apply here. For example, angle errors and offsets of the contact surfaces can be compensated for here as well.

The contacts known from the prior art, in which a helical spring presses the pin-shaped contact onto the mating contact in a linear movement, have proven to be disadvantageous not only because of their many components, but also because of their susceptibility to failure, especially when dirty.

The design of the second group of metallic contact strips as (essentially one-piece) spring elements overcomes the disadvantages of telescope-based spring contacts. Dirt particles, such as grains or dust or sticky liquids, which in these known systems can be sufficient to cause malfunctions, have no negative effect whatsoever on the embodiment according to the invention. If, according to a preferred embodiment, the contact strips are curved or angled, in particular designed in a stepped manner, this further increases the spring deflection, which additionally reduces the risk of jamming or jamming as a result of dirt or wear.

Corrosion-resistant steel strips are preferably used.

Thus, despite the mobility of the contact surfaces or zones, there is no need for complicated individual mechanical components, in particular those that can move reactively with respect to one another.

According to a preferred embodiment of the electronic device, in particular the electronic display unit, each contact strip of the second group has a raised shape on its second section, which is intended for direct contact with one of the conductor tracks, and at least the raised shape of the contact strip on the associated Housing opening emerges from the housing and protrudes into the spatial area delimited by the line carrier groove.

This raised shape makes it possible to reliably contact only a single conductor track with each contact strip, essentially with pinpoint accuracy at the point of the raised shape, with adjacent areas of the contact strip running at a distance from the conductor track(s), i.e. without contact with the conductor track(s). conduction pathways run.

The raised shape is preferably rounded on that side which is in contact with a conductor track in the assembled state.

This raised shape means the electronic device fits into the carrying device without wedging and with almost no wear can be inserted. When it is pushed in, the second section of the contact strips first slides along the surface of the conductor carrier until it reaches a conductor path. Once there, the second section of the contact strips follows the cross-sectional shape of the conductor track as it is pushed in further without jamming or scraping off the conductor track.

This raised shape can be realized, for example, in that the contact strip is bent at the point in question, so that it has an arc, for example, which represents the raised shape. However, the raised shape can also be achieved, for example, by attaching additional material to an otherwise linear second section of the contact strip. However, the desired shape can also be produced by other forming methods, so that, for example, a nose shape is imposed on a second section made of sheet metal by a stamp.

The contact strips can be shaped in an equivalent manner both for the electronic device and for the supply device.

The line carrier of the carrying device can be materially connected to the second boundary wall of the carrying device. For example, these components can be welded or glued to one another.

The line carrier and the second boundary wall can also be manufactured together from a single material. For example, it can be a cast part.

Furthermore, the line carrier and the second boundary wall can be screwed or riveted together.

The line carrier can also be connected to the carrying device by means of a plug connection, in particular by means of plug connections with barbs.

However, it has proven to be particularly advantageous if the second boundary wall of the carrying device has a receiving shaft, which is provided for receiving the cable carrier, in particular for receiving it that can be pushed in from the side, and the cable carrier has a shape that corresponds to the shape of the receiving shaft, in particular one T-shape or an upside-down L-shape, etc., has and is inserted into the receiving shaft. At the same time, this allows a simple assembly of the line carrier with the supporting structure and at the same time offers good stability. The cable carrier can also be easily removed for maintenance or cleaning. The cable carrier can also be exchanged modularly as a replacement part. For example, the entire carrying device does not have to be replaced in the event of damage.

According to a further aspect, the second boundary wall of the carrying device can have a supporting web which essentially extends along the longitudinal extent of the line carrier and supports it mechanically.

This support web allows the line carrier to be designed to be less stable, which on the one hand makes it possible to use cheaper materials and on the other hand allows the line carrier to have a narrower appearance or simply to make the line carrier more material-saving.

Longer variants of the carrying device can also be realized with the mechanical stiffening. Furthermore, the supporting web counteracts damage to the line carrier during installation or during operation. The protection of the line carrier is also accompanied by increased protection of the line strips, because the line carrier may be affected or deformed less severely under the action of bending moments.

The support bar can be made of plastic, for example, or preferably of metal.

According to one embodiment, the support web is designed to be accommodated next to the line carrier in the receiving shaft of the second boundary wall, with the second boundary wall being accordingly designed to accommodate the line carrier and the support web together. For this purpose, the support bar can have, for example, a T-shape at the corresponding end, which is inserted into the receiving shaft, and the line carrier can have an L-shape, which is fastened to one side of the T-shape of the supporting bar in the receiving shaft . The line carrier is preferably made of plastic.

This enables the conduction paths to be implemented, in particular in the form of wire, without an additional insulating layer. The conductor itself is the insulator here. Furthermore, the production is inexpensive and the weight is low. Plastic is also to be understood as a synonym for macromolecules, so that natural macromolecular substances are also included. Furthermore, the line carrier can be made of fiber-reinforced plastic or laminated paper.

The first boundary wall or the reference wall and the second boundary wall can also be made of plastic.

These parts can be manufactured individually and connected to one another in the ways already discussed.

However, it has proven to be particularly advantageous if the first boundary wall or the reference wall and the second boundary wall, in particular also the supporting web, are designed in one piece, in particular made of steel.

Optimum rigidity of the carrying device is thus possible, which subsequently also ensures a clearly defined position of the contacting, even under load or in particular when the carrying device has a relatively long longitudinal extension. In particular, if the supporting web is made in one piece together with the first boundary wall or the reference wall and the second boundary wall, the line carrier is stably supported over the entire length. Both damage and loss of contact with the conductor tracks are thus avoided.

This can be realized particularly well if these components are made of steel, in particular of bent and possibly welded sheet metal. This embodiment not only offers sufficient stability, but also enables simple and inexpensive manufacture.

In most cases, the electronic device must be coupled to the carrying device in order to prevent it from falling out or being removed unintentionally. This can be achieved, for example, in that the dimensions of the carrying device and the dimensions of the electronic device are chosen such that these are frictionally connected to each other when assembled. For this purpose, for example, the line carrier and the first boundary wall or the reference wall can be dimensioned in such a way that they exert pressure on the inserted electronic device, which, as a result of friction, holds it in the desired position.

According to a preferred embodiment, however, the first boundary wall or the reference wall of the carrying device has recesses arranged in a grid along its longitudinal extension, in particular openings penetrating the first boundary wall or the reference wall, which are intended for non-positive and/or positive coupling with fastening means of an electronic device are.

Such fastening means can be implemented in such a way that the electronic device has fastening housing openings on the rear wall and has a fastening mechanism that can be actuated, preferably manually. The fastening mechanism has at least two movable fastening hooks or lugs which protrude through the fastening housing opening in the non-actuated state and change their position when the fastening mechanism is actuated.

In this case, the recesses can be significantly wider than the fastening hooks or lugs, which allows the electronic device to be positioned steplessly over a wide range along the carrying device.

The recesses are preferably approximately as wide as the fastening hooks or fastening lugs. This allows an exact positioning of the electronic devices along the carrying device in the grid. It also simplifies the positioning of multiple electronic devices at equal intervals along the carrying device. Thus, for example, a shelf can be equipped more quickly with electronic displays and other electronic devices because it is not necessary to measure whether the devices are evenly positioned.

A relatively fine grid also enables finely graduated positioning, so there is as much design freedom as the stepless one Variant, while at the same time exact positioning while maintaining defined minimum distances is possible without re-measuring.

In particular, the relatively fine grid, which essentially extends over the entire length of the carrying device, ensures that the devices attached there cannot be unintentionally displaced along the carrying device.

It has also proven to be particularly advantageous if the grid or the dimensions of the recesses are dimensioned and matched to the dimensions or arrangement of the fastening hooks or lugs in such a way that devices with different widths (measured in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the carrying device ) can be positioned as close as possible to the carrying device in order to be able to optimally utilize the assembly area available there.

Preferably, the attachment mechanism of the electronic device, in particular the electronic display unit, has a manually operable button which is coupled to the attachment hooks or lugs, particularly preferably integrally formed with the attachment hooks or lugs, and which is attached to that of the Longitudinal member groove opposite side wall is freely accessible.

Such a button allows easy operation and quick removal of the electronic devices. This is accompanied by quick and easy maintenance or toleration of the devices. The removal is possible here in particular without special tools.

Depending on the design, operating the button can cause the attachment hooks or lugs to fold into the electronic device, move in the direction of insertion, or both. In all cases, the actuation of the button and the associated movement of the attachment hooks or lugs results in the electronic device being able to be removed from the carrying device.

A one-piece design of the attachment means of the device combines the attachment hooks or lugs and the button, with the attachment hooks or lugs engaging directly in the recesses.

In contrast, a two-part or multi-part design of the device's fastening means can be realized in such a way that the rear housing wall has the grid (or in multiples of Pitch) of the recesses arranged attachment hooks or - has lugs. In particular, the rear housing wall is designed in one piece with the fastening hooks or lugs (in particular two pieces arranged at a grid spacing or according to a multiple of the grid spacing). In this case, the fastening housing openings mentioned are formed by a U-shaped gap which delimits the fastening hooks or lugs designed as a housing wall web.

In the resting position, relaxed in terms of force, the fastening hooks or lugs protrude so far into the recesses of the carrying device that the device is held there. Two fastening hooks or lugs are preferably provided, which are arranged at a sufficient distance in relation to the center of the rear housing wall on the one hand to the left and on the other hand to the right side of the rear housing wall.

The button can have a number corresponding to the number of attachment hooks or lugs and positioned corresponding to their positions for the purpose of releasing the electronic device from the carrying device. These actuating projections are shaped in such a way that, when the button is actuated, they cause the fastening hooks or lugs to pivot in the direction of the inside of the housing of the device, so that the device can be removed from the carrying device. As soon as the button is released, the fastening hooks or lugs pivot back into their rest position due to the elasticity of the housing material and/or the elasticity of the fastening hook or fastening lug material and/or a correspondingly acting spring.

In order to favor the interaction of the attachment hooks or lugs and the control extensions, these can have beveled ends, so that their ends can in fact accompany each other along an inclined plane, exerting forces on each other that lead to the movement of the attachment hooks or - noses.

According to a preferred embodiment, the fastening mechanism includes a fastening mechanism spring element which holds the button in a first position in the unactuated state. In this context, the non-actuated state means that state in which the electronic device is seated in the carrying device according to the invention, ie is not being taken in or out. With respect to the button, the unactuated state means that the button is not pressed.

This fastening mechanism spring element not only ensures easy operation, but also ensures that in order to remove the device from the carrying device, there must be a targeted force on the button that is strong enough to overcome the spring force, possibly plus a friction force component . This prevents the device from being unintentionally released from the carrying device, e.g. by exerting lateral force on the housing, i.e. not on the button.

According to a preferred embodiment, the carrying device is designed in such a way that with respect to that side of the first boundary wall which is oriented towards the receiving area, there is an acute angle between the first boundary wall (or the reference wall or the reference side) and the second boundary wall, in particular a Angle in a range of 35 ° to 85 °, is formed.

The acute angle ensures that the device can no longer fall forwards or downwards out of the carrying device as soon as the electronic device is braced with the fastening mechanism in the day device.

Preferably, the second boundary wall has an edge region running along the longitudinal extent, which is oriented toward the receiving region, is preferably designed in the shape of a nose or hook, particularly preferably is designed in a curved manner.

This means that the second boundary wall has an edge region which, when used as intended, supports that edge of the electronic device which is closest to the second boundary wall in the inserted state, towards the front. In this context, “forwards” means the direction from the first boundary wall to the electronic device. The edge area therefore grasps the electronic device at a front edge of the housing and keeps it protected there below the second boundary wall. The acute angle makes it possible to grasp the extreme upper edge of the device and to brace the device held there against the first boundary wall under the action of the attachment hooks or lugs.

Furthermore, the edge area that overlaps the device has a protective effect against objects that are placed on the shelf or pushed in or removed via the front edge of the shelf.

The angle and the dimensions of the second boundary wall are therefore preferably selected or matched to one another such that the electronic device can be securely contacted on or near its front wall with the edge area of the carrying device and can thus be held in position.

The second boundary wall does not have to be linear to the greatest possible extent and have a constant cross section. In embodiments with more complex shapes of the second boundary wall, the angle can be understood as the angle between the plane spanned by the first boundary wall and the plane between the line of intersection of the first boundary wall and the second boundary wall and the edge region of the second boundary wall.

A further aspect of the invention relates to the correct orientation of the electronic device when it is inserted into the carrying device. In order to ensure this, it has proven to be advantageous for the first boundary wall of the carrying device, in particular in an area spanned by the line carrier, to have a structure of boundary wall ribs and boundary wall gorges in between, which are used to interact with a structure of housing Ribs and intermediate housing canyons of the housing of the device are provided for the purpose of producing a target orientation of the electronic device when the electronic device is used as intended in the carrying device. The electronic device also has on the housing a structure of housing ribs and intermediate housing gorges, which are designed to cooperate with boundary wall ribs and intermediate boundary wall gorges of the first boundary wall for the purpose Production of said target orientation of the electronic device are provided when the electronic device is used as intended in the carrying device.

Expediently, the structures run in a straight line and extend on the one hand at right angles with respect to the longitudinal extent of the carrying device and on the other hand at right angles with respect to the course of the line carrier groove.

When the electronic device is inserted into the carrying device, these coordinated structures produce a target orientation of the electronic device on the carrying device. Incorrect contacts of the conductor tracks, which could lead to malfunctions or even short circuits between the conductor tracks, are thus reliably avoided.

The length of the structures defines that position along the insertion movement from which the target orientation is established. Since the conductor tracks extend along the conductor carrier, it has proven to be particularly advantageous for the length of the structures to be based on the dimensions of the conductor carrier, measured along the direction normal to the longitudinal extent of the conductor carrier and parallel to the plane of the first boundary wall. This should be provided as a minimum in order to establish the desired orientation as soon as the electronic device approaches the line carrier or only when the electronic device touches the line carrier for the first time.

The width of the structures preferably essentially corresponds to the grid dimension of the recesses along the longitudinal extension of the carrying device.

Finally, it should be mentioned that in a preferred embodiment the recesses and the intermediate material webs of the carrying device have identical widths that correspond exactly to the grid dimension, resulting in a periodic sequence of recesses and material webs along the longitudinal extent of the carrying device.

The carrying device can therefore be designed to be more compact overall, so that it has a smaller field of vision in front of the products or covers the shelf. Such a narrower appearance not only gives the system a high-quality appearance, but also allows a better view of the goods that are located behind the carrying device.

These and other aspects of the invention result from the figures discussed below.

Character brief description

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the attached figures using exemplary embodiments, to which the invention is not limited, however. The same components are provided with identical reference symbols in the various figures. They show in a schematic way:

Fig. 1 executed as a carrying device according to the invention

Shelf rail in cross section and an electronic display unit according to the invention positioned on it,

2 shows the electronic display unit attached to the shelf rail,

3 shows a rear view of an area of the shelf rail with recesses in a grid,

4 shows a rear view of the electronic display unit according to a first embodiment,

Fig. 5 is a side view of the electronic display unit,

6A shows electrical contacting of contacts of the electronic display unit and wires of the shelf rail, FIG. 6B shows a metallic contact strip of the electronic display unit,

Fig. 7 shows an embodiment of a shelf rail with

support bridge,

8 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a shelf rail with a support web,

Fig. 9 used laterally in the shelf bills

supply device with largely cut-out housing, 10 shows the electronic connection between the shelf rail and the supply device in a view without its housing,

11 shows a battery unit attached magnetically to the shelf for supplying the electronics of the shelf rail,

12 shows a synopsis of shelf rails and two display units,

13 is a rear view of the shelf rail with the supply device inserted,

12 - 13 details of a second embodiment of the display unit, Fig. 14 - 17 a second embodiment of the display device.

Description of the exemplary embodiments

Figure 1 shows a carrying device implemented as a shelf rail 1 and a device compatible with the shelf rail 1 implemented as an electronic display unit 20 in a lateral viewing direction, wherein the shelf rail 1 can be seen in a section along a cut surface adjacent to the display unit.

The shelf rail 1 has a first boundary wall 2 (reference wall 2), which is shown vertically in the figure.

At its upper end, the first boundary wall or reference wall 2 transitions into a second boundary wall 3 . In this exemplary embodiment, the second boundary wall 3 and the reference wall 2 are made in one piece from steel.

Between the reference wall 2 and the second boundary wall 3 there is a receiving area 4 bounded on two sides by these walls 2 and 3 for receiving the display unit 20.

An acute angle 8 of approximately 53° is formed between the reference wall 2 and the second boundary wall 3 on the side of the display unit 20, ie measured in the spatial area of the recording area 4.

The second boundary wall 3 has a receiving shaft 7 in which a line carrier 5 is inserted, which is designed as a line carrier plate. The line carrier 5 is adapted to the shape of the receiving shaft 7 on the side that is pushed into the receiving shaft 7, that is to say it is essentially T-shaped. Of the Wire carrier 5 can be displaced in the receiving shaft 7 normal to the image plane of FIG.

The line carrier 5 carries three line tracks 6. The line tracks 6 are each made from a single-core copper wire 6 and are designed without an insulation layer. More than 50% of the cross section of the wires 6, about two-thirds of the radial dimension, are embedded in the line carrier 5. In this case, the wire 6 that is closest to the second boundary wall 3 is the power supply line, the middle conductor track 6 is the signal supply line, and the conductor track 6 that is furthest away from the second boundary wall 3 is the reference potential line. The wires 6 are arranged on that side of the line carrier 5 which faces the reference wall 2 .

The line carrier 5 and the reference wall 2 each have a first dimension (longitudinal extent), which represents the length dimension measured out of the image plane or into the image plane, with both being the same size in this exemplary embodiment and being, for example, about 1.5 m long . However, other lengths for the shelf rail 1 can also be provided.

The line carrier 5 has a second dimension 9 (height), which represents the vertical extent of the line carrier 5 in FIG. Correspondingly, the reference wall 2 has a third dimension 10 (height), which indicates the vertical extension of the reference wall 2 in FIG. In this exemplary embodiment, the second dimension 9 of the line carrier 5 is approximately 40% of the third dimension 10 of the reference wall 2. In this exemplary embodiment, the second dimension 9 is approximately 3 cm, for example.

In this exemplary embodiment, the line carrier 5 is made from insulating polypropylene by means of an injection molding process, with the wires 6 already having been embedded during the production process of the line carrier 5 .

In the present case, the line carrier 5 is arranged in a free-standing manner. In contrast, exemplary embodiments with a supporting web 11 are shown in FIGS. In the In FIG. 7, the supporting web 11 is connected to the second boundary wall 3 with a material fit, and the reference wall 2, the second boundary wall 3 and the supporting web 11 together form one component. They are therefore designed in one piece. In FIG. 8, the supporting web 11 is designed as an independent part and is designed to be received or pushed into the receiving shaft 7 together with the line carrier 5 .

The second boundary wall 3 has--as can be seen in FIGS Reference wall 2 can be moved away.

The reference wall 2 has recesses 13 arranged in a grid, which are shown in FIG. 3 and are used for fastening the display unit 20, which will be discussed below.

The display unit 20 is positioned in FIG. 1 in such a way that it can be pushed into the shelf rail 1 in the direction of the second boundary wall 3 from below with a linear movement parallel to the reference wall 2 .

The display unit 20 has a housing 21 with a rear wall 22 . The rear wall 22 here represents that part of the housing 21 which, as can be seen in FIGS. On the side opposite the rear wall 22 there is a front wall 23 which has a screen 24 . The front wall 23 has a step at its upper end which is designed to accommodate the edge area 12 of the shelf rail 1 . The housing 21 is formed by a side wall 25 between the front wall 23 and the rear wall 22 . The side wall 25 running along the top of the display unit 20 has a wire carrier groove 26 whose vertical walls are substantially parallel to the rear wall 22 . The line carrier groove 26 is provided to accommodate the line carrier 5 and is dimensioned to match its dimensions.

The housing 21 has housing openings through the contacts 27 out of the housing 21 in the line carrier groove 26 on the rear wall protrude into the cable carrier groove 26. The contacts 27 are implemented by a group of metal contact strips 27 .

The metal contact strips 27 are shown in more detail in Figure 6A and Figure 6B. FIG. 6B shows the structure or the shape of a contact strip 27, which has a first end section 28, which is soldered to device electronics or display electronics 29, which are only partially shown. Furthermore, the contact band 27 has a second end section 30 which is designed or shaped for contacting with one of the wires 6, as is shown in FIG. 6A.

The second end section 30 has a raised shape 31 as a contact zone. This raised shape 31 is also that part of the metallic contact strips 27 which can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 in the side view of the display unit.

As can be seen in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the two end sections 28, 30 are arranged in parallel but offset in this exemplary embodiment, so that the contact strip 27 forms a step. This level allows for greater spring deflection and a distribution of the bending stress on the springy material. At the same time, it overcomes the distance (level difference) between the level of the display electronics 29 and the level of the contact, which is spanned by the wires 6.

For the sake of clarity, a large number of the components of the electronic display unit 20 are not shown in FIG. 6A in order to reveal a fastening mechanism 32 . The fastening mechanism 32 is made in one piece and has two fastening hooks 33 and a button 34 connected thereto. The fastening mechanism 32 is also in contact with a spring element 35 designed as a helical spring.

As can be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the rear wall 22 has fastening housing openings through which the fastening hooks 33 protrude.

Furthermore, Figure 6A shows a housing connecting element 36, which connects both housing halves (the front and rear housing halves of the Housing 21) connects to each other by means of a plug connection or clamp connection.

The spring element 35 rests on the housing 21 with prestress on the side shown free in FIG. 6A. The spring element 35 thus acts between the fastening mechanism 32 and the housing 21. It therefore pushes the fastening mechanism 32 and thus the fastening hooks 33 and the button 34 parallel to the rear wall 22 in the orientation of Figure 6A downwards away from the line carrier groove 26 .

If the electronic display unit 22 is now pushed, starting from the arrangement shown in Figure 1, parallel to the reference wall 2 in the direction of the second boundary wall 3, so that the display unit 22 is finally positioned and fixed in the shelf rail 1 as shown in Figure 2, the end sections 30 touch of the contact strips 27 the wires 6.

It should also be mentioned here that the line carrier 5 has a bevel at this free end that is oriented towards the first boundary wall or the reference wall 2, which ensures that the raised shape 31 of the contact strips 27 is raised to the level of the wires 6 without any problems if the display unit 22 is pushed into its desired position on the shelf rail 1 from below. Each contact strip 27 is pretensioned. When pushed further into the shelf rail 1, at least two of the three contacts with their raised contact zones slide over two of the wires 6 until all three contacts with their raised contact zones finally reach the respective wire 6 to be contacted and are lifted there from the conductor carrier 5. So the bias is intensified, which contributes to an optimal electrical contact of the wires 6.

It should also be mentioned that when the display unit 20 is pushed into the shelf rail 1, the fastening hooks 33 slide along the reference wall 2 until they reach the recesses 13 in the reference wall 2, in which they automatically hook. In FIG. 3 one can see how the display unit 20 is being inserted into or removed from the shelf rail 1 because the fastening hooks 33 are somewhat removed from the lower edges of the recesses 13. When used, they touch the lower edge of the recesses 13, ie those Edge that is farthest from the second boundary wall 3. The recesses 13 shown in FIG. 3 are approximately as wide as or slightly wider than the fastening hooks 33. This creates a fine but well-defined grid, so that the electronic display units 20 can no longer be continuously displaced along the shelf rail 1. but can be positioned at clearly defined points.

As can be seen in Figure 6A, the spring element 35 acts inside the display unit 1 on the one hand on the housing 21 and on the other hand on the fastening mechanism 32, so that the fastening hook 33 is pressed against the lower edge of the recess 13 of the rear wall 2, whereby the electronic display unit 20 is pressed in the direction of the second boundary wall 3 upwards. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the lower edge or side of the line carrier 5, i.e. that side of the line carrier 5 which is furthest away from the second boundary wall 3, rests at the lowest point in the line carrier groove 26. so that a clearly defined mechanical contact point between the electronic display unit 20 and the shelf rail 1 is created. Two other such defined contact points are located between the edge area 12 and the upper edge of the front wall 23 and between the reference wall 2 and that area of the rear wall 22 that runs in the area of the wires 6 . In the assembled state, these defined contact points enable the body-fixed points of the electronic display unit 20 to be clearly defined in relation to the shelf rail 1 and vice versa. Thus, when inserting the display unit 20 into the shelf rail 1, the spring action of the spring element 35 means that the display unit 20 is reproducibly and automatically always the same or always optimally accommodated and aligned in the shelf rail 1.

If the button 34 is now pressed, the connection between the fastening hooks 33 and the reference wall 2 is released, whereupon the electronic display unit 20 is tilted downwards, possibly also forwards after being lowered by the size of the cable carrier 5, out of the shelf rail 1 can be removed. When the button 34 is actuated, the attachment hook 33 moves upwards on the one hand, ie in the direction of the second boundary wall 3, and on the other hand in the electronic display unit 20 inside, ie away from the reference wall 2, whereby the display unit 20 for removal from the shelf rail 1 is released.

FIG. 4 shows the electronic display unit 20 from behind, that is to say looking at the rear wall 2 . In this view, the positions of the raised shape 31 of the metal contact strips 27 can be seen through the housing openings in the rear wall 2 . There they can be contacted electronically so that the display unit 20 can also be operated and tested outside of the shelf rail 1 .

It can also be seen in FIG. 4 that the rear wall 22 has raised housing ribs 54 arranged in said grid with housing gullies 55 in between. These structures 54 and 55 have the same width and are straight and run at a strict angle of 90° in relation to the longitudinal extent of the cable carrier groove 26, i.e. in the direction from the upper side wall 25 to the lower side wall 25. The shelf rail 1 also indicates its first boundary wall or reference wall 2 in the area parallel to the line carrier 5 boundary wall ribs 56 with boundary wall canyons 57 lying in between. These structures 56 and 57 have the same width and are straight and run at a strict angle of 90° with respect to the longitudinal extent of the shelf rail 1.

The structures 56 and 57 of the shelf rail 1 are each offset by one grid unit relative to the structures 54 and 56 of the housing 25, so that the housing ribs 54 can be inserted into the boundary wall gullies 57, while the boundary wall ribs 57 can be inserted into the casing gullies 55 can become. The position of the housing opening for the fastening hooks or lugs 33 is preferably always at the position of a housing rib 54.

They structures 54 - 57 ensure that the display unit 20 is aligned as precisely as possible at right angles (90°) to the longitudinal extension of the cable carrier 5 early on when it is pushed into the shelf rail 1 in order to avoid contacting errors and short circuits between the wires 6, if necessary. which could occur with a display unit 20 used at an angle. FIG. 5 shows a side view of the electronic display unit 20, in which, in contrast to FIGS. 1 and 2, the display unit 20 is shown without the shelf rail 1, ie the fastening hooks 33 can also be seen.

FIG. 9 shows the supply device 40, which is inserted into the lateral end section of the shelf rail 1 and is coupled to the shelf rail 1 there.

The supply device 40 has a housing part 41, which is shown largely cut away in this view in order to provide a view of the components located therein. The supply device 40 has supply electronics 42, which also includes an antenna 43, with the supply electronics 42 being designed to use the antenna 43 to wirelessly exchange and process data with an access point and to communicate with the devices on the shelf rail 1 by wire or to control them and to supply them with electrical power for their operation.

The supply electronics 42 has contacts which—similar to the contacts of the display device 20—are realized as a second group of metallic contact strips 44 . Each of these contact strips 44 has a first end section 45, which is soldered to the supply electronics 42, and a second end section 46, which has an arc shape 47 as a contact zone.

The first end section 45 and the second end section 46 are arranged substantially parallel to one another and are connected to one another such that each contact band 44 assumes a C-shape and a U-shape, respectively. The side edge of the shelf rail 1 is thus gripped without touching it outside of the desired contact area.

The contact strips 44 are designed to be resilient and, with the arc shape 47 , press against the wires 6 with a pretension which ensures a defined contacting force, with each contact strip 44 being assigned to exactly one wire 6 .

The housing part 41 is open on one side (in the perspective of Figure 9 on the left side) so that the supply device 40 (in the perspective of Figure 9 from the right) in the shelf rail 1 can be inserted, the contact strips 44 with the arc shape 47 slide along the wires 6 and produce an electrically conductive connection. The supply electronics 42 is pushed behind the reference wall 2 of the shelf rail 1, where it is surrounded and protected by parts of the shelf rail 1. The housing part 41 has defined contact zones with which it is in mechanical contact with the shelf rail 1 in order to ensure precise positioning of the supply device 40 in relation to the shelf rail 1.

FIG. 10 shows the supply device 40 introduced into the shelf rail 1, some components, such as the housing part 41 and the antenna 43, being omitted for the sake of clarity.

FIG. 11 shows a rechargeable accumulator unit 50, which has an accumulator (or also a rechargeable battery) 51 and a fastening element 52 and which is connected to the supply device 40 with a cable (not shown). The fastening element 52 is realized with the aid of three magnets arranged in a triangle and has a contact surface for being placed over a large area on a shelf side part 53 made of steel of the shelf. The shelf has been removed from this shelf to reveal the accumulator unit 50.

The shelf rail 1 is mounted at right angles to the side part 53 of the shelf.

During maintenance, the entire accumulator unit 50 can be easily removed and replaced thanks to the magnetic connection.

FIG. 14 shows a section of the shelf rail 1 and the display unit 20 from the rear. These two elements 1 and 20 are shown detached from one another in FIG. 15, with the housing 21 also being shown cut away on its rear wall, revealing the view of the interior of the display unit 20 . 16 shows the rear side of the shelf rail 1 with the display unit 20 inserted, and FIG. 17 shows a section along the section line BB according to FIG are not registered. In contrast to the display unit 20 shown in the previous figures, a multi-part design of the fastening means is used here. In the present case, the housing 21 has two attachment hooks or lugs 58 which are implemented as part of the housing 21 . These fastening hooks or lugs 58 engage in the recesses 13 of the shelf rail 1, as can be clearly seen in FIGS. 14, 16 and 17.

FIG. 15 shows in detail the button 34 with its two actuating extensions 59 which are provided for actuating the two attachment hooks or lugs 58. It can also be seen in FIG. 17 how the actuating extensions 59 interact with the attachment hooks or lugs 58, namely via a plane 60 that is oriented obliquely in relation to its longitudinal extent, i.e. an inclined plane (see also FIG. 17), which is formed at the respective component ends so that the component ends can slide on each other when the button 34 is operated. When the button 34 is actuated, the two fastening hooks or lugs 58 are pressed into the interior of the housing by the longitudinal movement of the actuating projections 59 and the connection between the shelf rail 1 and the display unit 20 is released.

Finally, it is pointed out once again that the figures described in detail above are only exemplary embodiments which can be modified in a wide variety of ways by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. For the sake of completeness, it is also pointed out that the use of the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not rule out the possibility that the relevant characteristics can also be present more than once.

Claims

Expectations

1. Carrying device (1), preferably implemented as a shelf rail, for the mechanical attachment of an electronic device (20), particularly preferably for the attachment of an electronic display unit, the carrying device (1) having:

- A first boundary wall (2), in particular a reference wall (2) defining a reference or positioning plane, on or adjacent to which the electronic device can be positioned, in particular with its rear wall (22), on the carrying device (1). , and

- a second boundary wall (3) oriented at an angle (8) to the first boundary wall (2), wherein the first boundary wall (2) and the second boundary wall (3), in particular only on two sides, have a receiving area (4) for receiving the electronic device (20) limit, and

- a line carrier (5) carrying line tracks (6) for the electronic supply of the electronic device (20), characterized in that the line carrier (5) at a distance from the first boundary wall (2) starting from the second boundary wall (3) , in particular parallel to the first boundary wall (2), protrudes into the receiving area (4).

2. Carrying device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the line carrier (5) is designed as a line carrier plate.

3. Carrying device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the wiring board has a first dimension measured along the longitudinal extent of the carrying device (1) and a second dimension (9) which is normal to the first dimension in the plane of the wiring board of the circuit board is measured, the second dimension of the circuit board corresponding to 20% to 40% of the corresponding dimension (10) of the first boundary wall (2).

4. Carrying device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the line carrier (5) has three pieces of the line tracks (6), which are preferably formed on a single side surface of the line carrier (5) and/or parallel to one another along the longitudinal extent of the carrying device (1) run.

5. Carrying device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the conductor tracks (6) are designed as wires which partially protrude over the outer surface of the conductor carrier (5).

6. Carrying device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the conductor tracks (6) are arranged on that side of the conductor carrier (5) which faces the first boundary wall (2).

7. Carrying device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second boundary wall (3) has a receiving shaft (7) which is provided for receiving, in particular for receiving, the cable carrier (5) which can be pushed in from the side, and the cable carrier ( 5) has a shape corresponding to the shape of the receiving shaft, in particular a T-shape or an upside-down L-shape, and is inserted into the receiving shaft (7).

8. Carrying device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second boundary wall (3) has a support web (11) which extends substantially along the line carrier (5) and supports it mechanically.

9. Carrying device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the line support (5) is made of plastic.

10. Carrying device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first boundary wall (2) and the second boundary wall (3), in particular also the support web (11) according to claim 7, are integrally formed, in particular made of steel.

11. Carrying device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first boundary wall (2) has recesses (13) arranged in a grid along its longitudinal extension, in particular openings penetrating the first boundary wall (2), which are used for positive and/or non-positive locking Coupling with fasteners of an electronic device are determined.

12. Carrying device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein with respect to that side of the first boundary wall (2) which is oriented towards the receiving area (4), between the first boundary wall (2) and the second boundary wall (3). acute angle (8), in particular an angle in a range of 65 ° to 85 °, is formed.

13. Carrying device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second boundary wall (3) has an edge region (12) running along the longitudinal extension, which is oriented towards the receiving region (4), is preferably designed in the shape of a nose or hook, is particularly preferably curved.

14. Carrying device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, which has a side section which is designed or provided to accommodate a supply device (40) for the electrical supply of an electronic device (20) that can be carried by the carrying device (1).

15. Carrying device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first boundary wall (2), in particular in a region spanned by the line carrier (5), has a structure of boundary wall ribs (56) and boundary wall gorges (57) lying between them. which contributes to cooperation with a structure of housing ribs (54) and housing grooves (55) lying between them of the housing (21) of the device (20) in order to establish a desired orientation of the electronic device (20). intended insertion of the electronic device (20) into the carrying device (1).

16. Supply device (40) for a carrying device (1), in particular realized as a shelf rail, for the electrical supply of an electronic device (20) that can be carried by the carrying device (1), particularly preferably an electronic display unit (20), the supply device (40) is designed in such a way that it can be coupled to a side or end section of the carrying device (1), which side or end section is designed or provided for receiving the supply device (40), the supply device (40) having:

- A supply electronics (42) and

- Contacts (44) connected to the supply electronics (42) for establishing an electrically conductive connection with conductor tracks (6) arranged on a conductor carrier (5) of the carrying device (1), characterized in that the contacts (44) are formed by a first group of metallic Contact strips (44) are realized, each contact strip (44) having a first section, preferably a first end section (45), which first section (45) is connected to the supply electronics (42), and a second section, preferably a second end section ( 46), which second section (46) is intended for contacting the conductor tracks (6) of the conductor carrier (5), and wherein each contact strip (44) is curved or angled, preferably at least L-shaped, particularly preferably U-shaped is.

17. Supply device (40) according to claim 16, wherein each contact strip (44) has an arc shape (47) on its second section (46), which is provided for direct contact with one of the conductor tracks (6).

18. Supply device (40) according to any one of the preceding claims 16-17, which has a housing part (41) which at least is open on one side, so that the line carrier (5) can be inserted on the open side of the housing, the housing part (41) being shaped in such a way that the second sections (46) of the contact strips (44) and the part of the line carrier (5) that can be contacted therewith encloses are.

19. Electronic device (20), in particular electronic display unit (20), which has a housing (21) with a rear wall (22), a front wall (23), in particular with a screen (24), and between the rear wall (22) and the side wall (25) running along the front wall (23), the side wall (25) having a line carrier groove (26) running essentially parallel to the rear wall (22) and for receiving a line carrier (5) of a carrying device (1) is intended, the line carrier (5) having line tracks (6) for the electronic supply of the electronic device (20), in particular the display unit (20).

20. Electronic device (20) according to claim 19, the contacts (27) for producing an electrically conductive connection with the conductor tracks (6) of the conductor carrier (5), wherein that housing part which forms the conductor carrier groove (26), first Has housing openings through which the contacts (27) protrude from the housing (21).

21 Electronic device (20) according to claim 20, wherein the first housing openings are realized on that side of the cable carrier groove (26) which is closest to the rear wall (22).

22. Electronic device (20) according to one of claims 20 - 21, wherein one of the housing openings corresponds to the position of precisely one of the conductor tracks (6) when the conductor carrier (5) is inserted as intended into the conductor carrier groove (26).

23. Electronic device (20) according to any one of claims 20-22, wherein the electronic device (20) has a device electronics (29) and wherein the contacts (27) as a second group of metal Contact strips (27) are realized, each contact strip (27) having a first section, preferably a first end section (28), which first section (28) is connected to the device electronics (29), and a second section, preferably a second end section (30), which second section (30) is intended for contacting the conductor tracks (6) of the conductor carrier (5), the second group of metallic contact strips (27) being designed as spring elements, with each contact strip (27) preferably being curved or angled, in particular step-shaped.

24. Electronic device (20) according to claim 23, wherein each contact strip (27) on its second portion (30) has a raised shape (31) which is provided for direct contact with one of the conductor tracks (6), and at least the raised shape (31) of the contact band (27) exits the associated housing opening from the housing (21) and protrudes into the space defined by the line carrier groove (26).

25. Electronic device (20) according to one of Claims 19 - 24, which has fastening housing openings on the rear wall (22) and which has a fastening mechanism (32) that can be actuated, preferably manually, the fastening mechanism (32) having at least two movable fastenings - has hooks or lugs (33) which, in the unactuated state, protrude through the attachment housing opening and change their position when the attachment mechanism (32) is actuated.

The electronic device (20) of claim 25, wherein the attachment mechanism (32) comprises a manually operable knob (34) coupled to the attachment hooks or lugs (33), preferably the attachment hooks or lugs (33) is designed in one piece, and the side wall (25) opposite the longitudinal member groove (26) is freely accessible.

27. The electronic device (20) of claim 26, wherein the mounting mechanism (32) includes a mounting mechanism spring member (35) that holds the button (34) in a first position in the unactuated state.

28. Electronic device (20) according to one of the preceding claims 19 - 27, wherein on the housing (21) a structure of housing ribs (54) and intermediate housing canyons (55) are formed, which for cooperation with boundary wall Ribs (56) and intermediate boundary wall canyons (57) of the first boundary wall (2) are provided for the purpose of producing a desired orientation of the electronic device (20) when the electronic device (20) is inserted into the carrying device (1) as intended.

29. System comprising at least one carrying device (1) according to the invention according to one of claims 1 - 15, a supply device (40) coupled thereto according to one of claims 16 - 18 and at least one electronic device (20) carried by the carrying device (1), in particular an electronic display device (20) according to any one of claims 19 - 28.