FR3022389A1 - LABEL HOLDER - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a label holder arranged to attach an electronic tag (7) to a support (6) comprising a support arm (28). The label holder comprises a label receiving part (2) comprising engagement means (8) of the electronic label (7) and at least one fastening element (12, 12 ') being arranged to attach the label holder to the holder so that the label holder is pivotable relative to the holder and a tilt adjustment portion (4) of the label receiving portion, the tilt adjustment portion (4). ) comprising at least two support surfaces (23a, 23b, 25a, 25b). At least the two support surfaces are arranged to hold the label receiving portion in a first rotational position (I) or a second rotational position (II) while bearing against the support arm (28). In addition, at least two support surfaces connected to the label receiving portion are provided so that the two support surfaces can not move relative to the label receiving portion.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to a label holder which is used to attach an electronic tag to a support.

BACKGROUND Electronic tags or electronic information displays are increasingly being used, for example in supermarkets or hypermarkets, department stores and the like. These electronic tags can be used, for example, to provide information on products that are exposed on pin displays, for example on products arranged in packets threaded on substantially horizontal long pins. Labels typically include an LED or LCD screen for visual presentation of information. The information displayed usually includes price, unit cost, product reference and possibly product name. Compared with traditional paper labels, electronic labels have the advantage of facilitating the change and maintenance of information on the type of product concerned. This can be done, for example, through a central computer store, the displays being arranged to communicate with the computer. When electronic tags are used to provide information about products stored and exposed on such pins, sometimes called hooks, the electronic tag is normally attached to a label holder. The label holder is itself attached to a label holder that can be placed above the pin that carries the products. The support normally comprises a support arm which extends parallel to the spindle and which, at its free end facing the customer, is provided with a cross member or a spacer which extends in the horizontal plane perpendicular to the arm of support. The label holder is attached to the cross member so that the electronic tag is suspended from the cross member and positioned slightly above the product hanging foremost on the spindle. The viewing angle of display units or displays used on electronic tags is normally limited. To allow good readability of electronic tags attached to media at different heights on a spoke, it is therefore very important to be able to adjust and maintain the vertical angle between the tag and the support arm. This angle will be called hereinafter "angle". For this reason, the label holders are normally arranged so as to be able to pivot about the horizontal cross member. To maintain the desired angle, the label holder and / or the holder may be provided with various means to prevent the label holder from rotating in one direction of rotation or both from the desired rotational position. . EP 1 135 761 Bi discloses a tag holder arranged to be pivotably attached to a cross member attached to the free end of a support arm of a label carrier. The label holder is provided with a slider movable linearly in the vertical direction between a retracted position and an extended position. A free end of the slide is disposed in abutment against a longitudinal side surface of the support arm. When the slider is fully retracted, the label holder can assume a vertical position. When the slider has been partially or fully extended, the free end bears against the support arm and prevents the label holder from rotating by a corresponding label angle in a direction that returns it to the vertical position. WO 01/24143 A1 discloses a similar label holder comprising a linearly displaceable slide. In this arrangement, however, the slider is adapted to be horizontally movable and has a number of support surfaces that are intended to abut against an end surface of the support arm. The support surfaces 30 are arranged at different distances from a rear side surface of the label holder. Each surface corresponds to a certain angle of label. Alternatively, the slider may be provided with a single inclined surface that allows for continuous adjustment of the label angle. A problem with the aforementioned known label carriers is that they are relatively complex to manufacture and require a number of separate component parts that are assembled before use respectively before adjusting the angle of the carrier. label. SUMMARY An object of the invention is to provide an improved label holder for attaching an electronic tag to a medium. Another object of the invention is to provide a robust and durable label holder. Another object of the invention is to provide a label holder that can be easily manufactured in one piece. Still another object of the invention is to provide a label holder which can be easily adjusted and manipulated. These and other objects are achieved by a label holder according to the invention. The invention relates to a label holder arranged to attach an electronic tag to a support comprising a support arm. The label holder includes a label receiving portion comprising means for engaging the electronic tag. The label receiving part further comprises at least one fastening element which is arranged to attach the label holder to the holder so that the label holder is pivotable relative to the holder. The label holder further comprises a tilt adjustment portion of the label receiving portion and the tilt adjustment portion comprises at least two support surfaces, wherein at least the two support surfaces. are arranged to hold the label receiving part in a first rotational position, respectively a second rotational position, bearing against the support arm, and wherein at least the two support surfaces are connected to the support portion. receiving the label so that the two support surfaces can not move relative to the label receiving portion.

Such an embodiment of the label holder does not include a mobile component. All the label holder is solid and does not include hinges or other moving components. The label receiving portion may be rotated and held in two different rotational positions by rotation of the entire label holder.

In addition, such a label holder is in comparison easy to manufacture, for example by injection molding or extrusion forming. In another embodiment, the label holder includes another support surface for holding the label receiving portion and the label holder respectively in a third rotational position.

With another support surface, it is possible to rotate and hold the label receiving part in a third rotational position. It is also conceivable to provide other support surfaces to hold the label receiving part in other rotational positions.

According to a variant, the at least one fixing element defines an axis of rotation and the fixing element is arranged to receive a crosspiece of the support so that the receiving part can pivot about an axis of rotation. The label holder is therefore intended to be attached to a support comprising a support arm, which is fixedly connected to a crossmember, the support arm and the crossmember essentially forming a T. Advantageously, the support surfaces are arranged at radial distance from the axis of rotation.

This makes it possible to have a lever for adjusting and supporting the receiving part or the label holder in the first rotational position, the second rotational position, or the third rotational position in a stable manner.

According to one embodiment, some or all of the support surfaces comprise at least one protrusion to prevent the support arm from accidentally disengaging from the support surface concerned. The protuberances are provided to prevent movement in a plane substantially parallel to the support surface so that the support arm can not slip out of engagement with the support surface. To disengage the support arm from a support surface comprising a protuberance, a user must pivot the label holder, to lift the support arm above the relevant protuberance, and at the same time push the label holder along. the axis of rotation.

Alternatively, the tilt adjustment portion includes an open profile including a cam that includes the support surfaces. The open profile is connected to the label receiving part in front of the engagement means of the electronic tag and deforming in a direction away from the engagement means.

The open profile, respectively the cam, provide a well-defined motion path. In addition, the open profile is robust and durable. Advantageously, the open profile is fixedly connected to the receiving part. This provides a stable and robust label holder. In another embodiment, the cam comprises a notch oriented substantially vertical when the label holder is installed on the support. The notch is arranged to receive the support arm so that the label holder can be pivoted about the axis of rotation as the support arm extends through the notch.

According to another embodiment, the cam comprises a first stop in the form of a cutout comprising two support surfaces, a second stop in the form of a cutout comprising two support surfaces and a third stop in the form of a cutout comprising two support surfaces. The first stop, the second stop and the third stop are provided to maintain the receiving part in the first rotational position, respectively the second rotational position, respectively the third rotational position. The stops and the two support surfaces of each stop prevent rotation of the label holder clockwise and counterclockwise when the support arm is disposed in a stop. Advantageously, the label holder is made of a single piece of material. Producing the label carrier from a single piece of material is economical and simple. Alternatively, the means for engagement of the electronic tag comprises a rear wall and the support surfaces are arranged such that the rear wall forms an angle with the vertical of -15 ° to -45 °, preferably from -200 to -4o0, when the label receiving portion is in the first rotational position. According to another variant, the support surfaces are arranged such that the rear wall forms an angle with the vertical of substantially 00, when the label receiving portion is in the second rotational position. According to yet another variant, the support surfaces are arranged such that the rear wall forms an angle with the vertical of 25 ° to 50 °, preferably 30 ° to 48 °, when the label receiving part is in the third rotational position.

The angles described above are chosen to provide good readability of the information on the electronic labels that are installed in the label holders, when the label holders are mounted on a shelf at different heights.

The invention further relates to an arrangement comprising a label holder according to one or more embodiments described above, and a support having the support arm and a pin and preferably a cross member disposed at one end of the support arm, the cross member being arranged to receive the label holder.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments. Generally speaking, all the terms used must be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly defined otherwise. All references to "a / the / the / element, device, arrangement, component, medium, step, etc." must be interpreted as openly referring to at least one occurrence of the element, device, arrangement, component, medium, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. The steps of any process disclosed herein do not necessarily have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless explicitly stated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figure 1 is a perspective view of a carrier with a label holder having an electronic tag; - Figure 2 is another perspective view of the support with the label holder in a second rotational position; - Figure 3 is another perspective view on the one hand of the support and the label holder, the label holder in a first rotational position; - Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, but with the label holder in the second rotational position; - Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3, but with the label holder in a third rotational position; - Figure 6 is another perspective view of the support with the label holder in the first rotational position having an electronic tag; - Figure 7 is another perspective view similar to Figure 6, but with the label holder in the second rotational position; - Figure 8 is another perspective view similar to Figures 6 and 7, but with the label holder in the third rotational position; - Figure 9 is a perspective view from top to bottom of the support, the label holder and the electronic tag; and FIG. 10 is a front view of the electronic tag installed in the label holder. DETAILED DESCRIPTION The invention will now be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments described herein; on the contrary, these embodiments are given by way of example so that this disclosure is exhaustive and complete, and allows the skilled person to fully understand the scope of the invention. The same numerical references refer to the same elements throughout the description.

Figure 1 illustrates a label holder 1 according to an exemplary embodiment, an electronic label attached to the label holder and a support 6 on which the label holder 1 can be installed. The support 6 comprises a support arm 28, a cross member 30, a mounting portion 31 and a pin 33. The cross member 30 is disposed at one end of the support arm 28 and crosses 30 at the other end of the support arm 28. The pin 33 and the support arm 28 are connected to the mounting portion 31 in a fixed manner. Pin 33 is arranged to receive or suspend products for displaying products to customers.

The label holder 1 comprises a label receiving part 2 and a tilt adjusting part 4 of the label receiving part 2. As shown in FIG. 1, the receiving part 2 comprises printing means. engagement 8 to receive the electronic tag 7, the engagement means being formed by a rear wall 10, an upper wall 12 and a bottom wall 14 (see Figure 2). The inclination adjustment part 4 comprises an open profile 18. The open profile 18 is essentially half-tube-shaped, as illustrated in the example according to FIG. 1. However other embodiments of the profile open 18 are possible, for example a semi-rectangular profile, semi-diamond, a C-profile, etc. The open profile 18 is fixed to the label receiving part 2 rigidly or integrally by the rear wall 10. An upper end 19 and a lower end 19 'of the open profile 18 are connected to the rear channel wall 10 in an upper or lower region of the rear wall 10 near the upper wall 12 or the bottom wall 14 respectively. The rigid connection between the open profile 18 and the rear wall 10 is for example made by welding, by injection molding or by extrusion, so monobloc. The open profile 18 is connected to the label receiving part 2 in front of the engagement means 8 of the electronic label 7. The open profile 18 further deforms from the upper and lower ends 19, 19 ' and / or the rear wall 10, in a direction away from the engagement means 8 of the electronic tag 7 and the label receiving portion 2, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6 to 8. Although the open profile 18 is shown with a connection between the upper end 19 and a lower end 19 ', it is possible to have only a connection between the upper end 19 and the rear wall 10, or between the lower end 19 'and rear wall 10. FIG. 1 illustrates the label receiving part 2 in a second rotational position II, where a screen 9 of the electronic tag 7 is substantially not inclined with respect to the vertical. The angle between the vertical and the screen 9 is more or less 00. FIG. 2 illustrates an axis of rotation P, which coincides with a longitudinal axis of the crossmember 30 of the support 6. The label holder 1 is arranged to pivot about an axis of rotation P, respectively of a longitudinal axis of the The open profile 18 comprises a cam 20 arranged to interact with the support arm 28 of the support 6. The cam 20 comprises a notch 21 oriented substantially vertically when the label holder 1 is installed on the support 6 and when the support 6 is installed on a shelf. The notch 21 is further oriented perpendicular to the axis of rotation P. The cam 20, respectively the notch 21, extend in the open profile 18 of an opening 29 to or before the upper end 19 (see Figure 1). The opening 29 is arranged to insert the cross member 30 into the interior of the open profile 18 when the label holder 1 is mounted on the cross member 30 and thus on the support 6. A user will therefore align the cross member 30 with the opening 29 of the cam 20 and the support arm 28 with the notch 21 of the cam 20 to insert the cross member 30 and the support arm 28 into the cam 20. After insertion of the support arm 28 of the cross member 30, an element fastener 12 is snapped around the cross member 30 to connect the label holder 1 to the cross member 30 pivotally.

To keep the label holder 1 in different rotational positions I, II, III, the notch 21 of the cam 20 comprises a first stop 22 in the form of a cutout, a second stop 24 in the form of a cutout and a third stop 26 in the form of a cut.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the label holder 1 and therefore the label receiving portion 2 in the second position II of rotation. The support arm 28 is engaged in the second stop 24 as is well illustrated in FIG. 2. The stops 22, 24, 26 are made in the form of cutouts, which are formed in such a way that the support arm 28 can slide in. .

In Figure 2, two support surfaces 23a, 23b of the first stop 22 are visible. The two support surfaces 23a, 23b are arranged to interact with the support arm 28 when the label receiving portion 2 is in the first rotational position II (see Figures 5 and 8). One of the two support surfaces 23a is arranged such that it can bear against the support arm 28 using gravity and the other of the two support surfaces 23b is arranged to prevent the receiving part the label 2 can not change position when for example a person touches the label holder 1. The two support surfaces 23a, 23b thus prevent rotation in the direction of clockwise and counterclockwise a watch. When a user wants to change the rotational position of the label holder 1, he takes the label holder 1 rotates about the axis of rotation and pushes it along the longitudinal axis L of the cross member 30, so that the Support arm 28 disengages from stop 22, 24, 26. With such movement, support arm 28 slides from stop 24 into notch 21. When support arm 28 extends through the notch the label holder can be pivoted about the axis of rotation P. To put the label holder 1 in the first rotational position I (see Figure 5) the label holder is rotated to the first stop 22 from the second stop 24. To engage or engage the support arm 28 in a stop 22, 24, 26 the label holder 1 is pushed along the longitudinal axis of the cross member 30 so that the support arm 28 engages in the stop 22, 24, 26. When the label holder 1 is in the second position II of rotation c As illustrated in Figure 2, the support 6 with the label holder 1 could be installed on a height of a radius which corresponds more or less to a height of the eyes of customers, so for example at a height of 150 cm to 180 cm measured from the ground. Referring now to Figure 3, the label holder is illustrated on the opposite side to that of Figure 2, with the cam 20, the notch 21 and the third stop 26 in the form of a cut. The support arm 28 is engaged in the third stop 26 is the label holder 1 is in a third position III of rotation. The third position III is used when the support 6 and the label holder 1 are installed at a height on a radius which is below the height of the eyes of the customers, so for example at a height of 10 cm to 150 cm measured from the ground. In the third rotation position III the screen 9 of the electronic label 7, respectively the rear wall 10, form an angle of 15 ° to 55 ° with the vertical, preferably 25 ° to 50 °, more preferably from 30 ° to 48 °. In Figure 3, the upper wall 12 of the engagement means 8 of the label receiving portion 2 is visible. The upper wall 12 and the lower wall 14 (see FIG. 2) are arranged to fix the electronic tag 7 in a resiliently removable clamping manner. The lower walls 14 and upper 12 may alternatively be formed of one or more fishplates.

As can be seen in Figure 3, the third stop 26 includes two support surfaces 27a, 27b and the second stop 24 also includes two support surfaces 25a, 25b, similar to those of the first stop 22 as described above. When the label receiving portion 2 is in the third rotational position III, one of the two support surfaces 27a bears against or is supported by the support arm 28 in a rotational direction. The other support surface 27b prevents the label-receiving part 2 from changing its rotational position when a person touches the label holder 1 in the other direction of rotation, as shown in FIG. stop 26 is disposed near the upper end 19 of the open profile 18. Figure 4 illustrates the label receiving portion 2 in the second rotational position II. One of the two support surfaces 25a of the second stop 24 bears against the support arm 28. The cross member 30 and the pin 33 of the support 6 are also shown in FIG. 4. The cross member 30 is connected to the support arm 28 T. One of the two support surfaces 23a of the first stop 22 comprises a first projecting portion 32 having a protrusion 34. The protrusion 34, for example formed in a half-cylinder manner as illustrated in FIG. 4, avoids that the label holder can slide along the direction of the axis of rotation P and thus that the label receiving portion 2 can not change its rotational position. The protrusion 24 provides resistance to the support arm 28 when the label holder slides along the pivot axis P. One of the two support surfaces 25b, 27b of the second stop 24 and the third stop 26 comprise the same a projecting second portion 36 respectively a third projecting portion 40. Each projecting portion 36, 40 comprises a protrusion 38, 42 (see also Figure 5) with a similar function as described in the paragraph above. The first, second and third protruding portions 32, 36, 40 extend from the open profile 18 to the label receiving portion 2. FIG. 5 illustrates a view similar to FIG. 4 but with the receiving portion of FIG. 2 in a first rotational position I. The second projecting portion 36 having the protuberance 38 is clearly visible.

The projecting parts 32, 36, 40 are each illustrated with a single protrusion 34, 38, 42. Alternatively, it is possible to have several protuberances (not shown in the figures) on the projecting parts 32, 36, 40 to prevent sliding of the support arm in both directions along the axis of rotation P. In another embodiment, not shown in the figures, the protuberances could be installed directly on the support surfaces 23a, 23b, 25a , 25b, 27a, 27b. The first position I is used when the support 6 and the label holder 1 are installed at a height on a radius which is above the height of the eyes of the customers, so for example at a height greater than 180 cm measured from the ground. In the first rotational position I the screen 9 of the electronic tag 7 respectively the rear wall 10 forms an angle relative to the vertical of -15 ° to -45 °, preferably -20 ° to -40 °.

Figure 6 illustrates the support 6 with the label holder 1 in a side perspective view. The label receiving part 2 is in the third rotational position III. The rear wall 10 of the engagement means 8 comprises two fastening elements 12, 12 '. The two fastening elements 12, 12 'define the axis of rotation P and form a channel which is arranged to receive the crosspiece 30. To mount the label holder 1 on the support 6 respectively on the crossbar 30, the crossbar is inserted in the opening 29 (see Figure 2) and the two fasteners 12, 12 'are snapped around the cross member 30 removably and elastically. Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 with the label receiving portion 2 disposed in the second rotational position II on the support 6 respectively on the support arm 28 and the cross member 30. Another similar view of the arrangement comprising the support 6 and the label holder 1 is illustrated in Figure 8 showing the label receiving portion 2 disposed in the first rotational position I.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 8, the support surfaces 23a, 23b, 25a, 25b, 27a, 27b are arranged at a radial distance from the axis of rotation P. One embodiment has been described with an open profile 18 However, it is possible to produce a label holder 1 according to the idea of the invention without using an open profile 18 with a cam 20. The support surfaces 23a, 23b, 25a, 25b, 27a , 27b could, for example, be arranged directly on the first, second and third protruding portions 32, 36, 40. In such a case the projecting portions 32, 36 40 could be connected directly to the receiving part of the housing. 2 so that the protruding portions 32, 36, 40 can not move relative to the label receiving portion 2. In such an embodiment, the open profile 18 and the cam 20 are not needed. Figure 9 illustrates the arrangement 11 of the support 6 and the label holder 1 as a view from top to bottom. The electronic tag 7 is installed in the engagement means 8 of the tag receiving part 2. Fig. 10 shows a front view of the electronic tag 7 including the screen 9 to show information about the tags. products which are suspended from the arrangement 11. The electronic tag 7 is held by the upper wall 12 and the lower wall 14 of the engagement means 8.

The invention has mainly been described above with reference to some embodiments. However, as will readily be understood by an expert, embodiments other than those described above are also conceivable within the scope of the invention.

Claims (15)

REVENDICATIONS1. Label holder (1) arranged to attach an electronic label (7) to a support (6) comprising a support arm (28), the label holder comprising: - a label receiving part (2) comprising means of engagement (8) of the electronic label (7) and at least one fastening element (12, 12 ') being arranged to attach the label holder to the support so that the label holder can pivot relative to the support; - a tilt adjustment portion (4) of the label receiving portion, the tilt adjusting portion (4) comprising at least two support surfaces (23a, 23b, 25a, 25b); characterized in that at least both of the support surfaces are arranged to hold the label receiving portion in a first rotational position (I) respectively a second rotational position (II) while bearing against the support arm (28), and in that at least both of the support surfaces are connected to the label receiving portion such that the two support surfaces can not move relative to the receiving portion of the label. The label holder of claim 1, including a further support surface (27a, 27b) for holding the label receiving portion in a third rotational position (III). 3. The label holder according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one fastener defines an axis of rotation (P) and wherein the fastener is arranged to receive a cross member (30) of 25 support so that the receiving portion is pivotable about the axis of rotation (P). 4. The label holder according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the support surfaces are disposed at a radial distance from the axis of rotation (P). 5. The label holder according to one of the preceding claims, wherein each or a few support surfaces comprise at least one protuberance (34, 38, 42) to prevent the support arm from accidentally disengaging from the surface. concerned. The label holder according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the inclination adjusting portion comprises an open profile (18) comprising a cam (20) having the support surfaces, the open profile being connected to the label receiving portion opposite the engagement means of the electronic tag and deforming in a direction away from these means. The label holder of claim 6, wherein the open profile is fixedly connected to the receiving portion. 8. The label holder according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the cam comprises a notch (21) oriented substantially vertically when the label holder is installed on the support, the notch being arranged to receive the support arm ( 28) so that the label holder can be pivoted about an axis of rotation (P) when the support arm extends through the notch. 9. The label holder according to one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the cam 20 comprises a first stop (22) in the form of a cutout comprising two support surfaces (23a, 23b), a second stop (24). ) in the form of a cutout comprising two support surfaces (25a, 25b) and a third stop (26) in the form of a cutout comprising two support surfaces (27a, 27b), the first stop, the second stop and the third stop being provided 25 to maintain the receiving portion in a first position (I) of rotation, respectively a second position (II) of rotation, respectively a third position (III) of rotation. 10. The label holder according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the label holder is made of a single piece of material. 11. The label holder according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the means for the engagement of the electronic tag comprise a rear wall (10) and wherein the support surfaces (23a, 23b) are disposed of such so that the rear wall forms an angle with the vertical of -15 ° to -45 °, preferably -20 ° to -40 °, when the label receiving portion is in the first position (I) of rotation. The label holder of claim 10, wherein the support surfaces (25a, 25b) are arranged such that the rear wall forms an angle with the vertical substantially 00, when the label receiving portion 10 is in the second position (II) of rotation. The label holder according to claim 10, wherein the support surfaces (27a, 27b) are arranged such that the rear wall forms an angle with the vertical of 25 ° to 50 °, preferably 30 ° to 48 °, when the label receiving part is in the third (III) rotational position. 15 14. An arrangement (11) comprising a support (6) having a support arm (28) and a spindle (33) and a label holder (1) according to one of claims 1 to 13. An arrangement according to claim 14, wherein the support comprises a cross member (30) disposed at one end of the support arm (28).