FR3083067A1 - INTELLIGENT RACK SYSTEM - Google Patents

Abstract

    Intelligent garment system, including     - at least one clothes stand to hang clothes hangers on,     - a device for detecting hangers hung on said at least one stand,     - a remote electronic control unit, capable of receiving data relating at least to the detection of hanging hangers,     - a control apparatus, suitable for managing said hanger detection device and information relating to the number of hangers measured, and equipped with a communication module with said remote electronic control unit,     whereby in said remote electronic control unit at least the data relating to the number of hangers present in said at least one stand is stored.   

Description

DESCRIPTION

Technical field

The present invention relates to the field of clothing warehouse management equipment, and in particular it has as its object an intelligent garment-carrying system which allows the present clothes to be monitored constantly and effectively! in a warehouse.

State of the art

As is well known, online commerce is now becoming increasingly popular in the clothing sector as well. Many clothing chains, in addition to the physical store, have virtual stores! network that allow clients! order the clothes directly from home.

One of the typical problems of this sector is linked to the fact that often the virtual store and the physical store have substantially the same "stock" of clothing, which is present in the physical store or (warehouse). It can therefore happen that the virtual shop presents! availability of a certain item of clothing, but this is actually already sold out in the actual store.

Purpose and summary of the invention

The object of the present invention is to provide an "intelligent" garment system, that is, it allows to check and verify in real time the presence or absence of garments in a warehouse.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide an intelligent garment system which allows the number and presence of clothing to be communicated to an electronic control unit. in a warehouse.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a garment system which can adapt to already existing garment equipment.

Not least important object of the present invention is to provide a clothes hanger system which is structurally simple and reliable over time.

These and other objects, which will become clearer thereafter, are achieved with an intelligent garment system, comprising

-at least one clothes stand to hang clothes hangers on,

- a device for detecting the hangers hung on said at least one stand,

-a remote electronic control unit, capable of receiving data relating at least to the detection of hanging hangers,

- a control apparatus, capable of managing at least said hangers detection devices and information relating to at least the number of hangers measured by said devices, and equipped with a communication module with said remote electronic control unit, so in said electronic control unit remote is stored at least the data relating to the number of hangers present! in said at least one stand.

In practice, with the system according to the invention, it is possible to know, remotely, how many clothes are present! on a stand, and therefore how many clothes are actually available, at a given moment, for network commerce.

According to preterite embodiments, the device for detecting the hangers is an optical or optoelectronic or radio frequency device.

Preferably, the hanger detection device comprises a light radiation emitter, such as laser, infrared or other.

Other types of devices are possible. For example, an optical device with video / photo sensor may be present, capable of recognizing the shape of the hangers, or part of them, and of counting them. Again, for example, the hangers can be associated with electronic labels such as NFC or RFID, and the detection device is an electronic device capable of electronically reading these labels. Again, for example, hangers can be associated with graphic labels, such as an alphanumeric code or a bar code or QR, and the detection device is an optical device capable of visually reading these labels.

Suitably, according to the preterite embodiments, the system also comprises a plurality of elements! identification of respective areas on the stand, corresponding to areas that can be occupied by hangers with clothes of predetermined characteristics, since there is a device for recognizing these elements!

identifiers managed by said control apparatus, whereby, in combination with the hanger detection device, the system is suitable for identifying the zones and the number of hangers present in the respective zones and for transmitting these data to the remote control unit. In practice, the stand is divided into areas that can be occupied by homogeneous clothing (for example: model, color, size); for example a stand relates to a specific model and is divided into zones corresponding to the color and each zone is further divided into other zones corresponding to the sizes of that color and therefore the elements! identifiers can identify the garment model, color and size.

In preferred embodiments, the stand comprises at least one beam along which hangers are hung. In such cases, the aforementioned areas occupied by hangers with clothes of predetermined characteristics are defined in succession on the beam, with the identification elements placed at the top or at the end of the respective areas.

Preferably, the identification elements are removable, so that they can be moved, reused, modified for other stands and types of clothing, etc.

According to preferred embodiments, the device for recognizing said identification elements is an optical or optoelectronic or radio frequency device.

Preferably, the identification elements are electronic labels, preferably of the NFC or RFID type, and said recognition device for said identification elements is an electronic label recognition device.

Other types of devices are possible. For example, an optical device with video / photo sensor may be present, capable of recognizing the shape of the identification elements. Again, for example, the identification elements can be of a graphic type, such as an alphanumeric code or a bar code or QR, and the detection device is an optical device capable of visually reading these identification elements.

According to preferred embodiments, the device for recognizing said identification elements is arranged in a trolley movable along the beam, preferably spaced from it, whereby said device is able to pass in succession on the identification elements, detecting their presence.

According to preferred embodiments, the device for detecting the hangers is arranged in a trolley movable along said beam, preferably spaced from it, for which said device is able to pass in succession on the hooks of said hangers, detecting their presence.

Appropriately, the element recognition device! identifiers and the device for detecting the hangers are placed in the same mobile trolley along said beam, preferably spaced from it, whereby said devices are adapted to pass in succession on the hooks of the hangers and on the elements! identifiers, detecting their presence.

Preferably, I am present! means for guiding the carriage along the beam, such as for example a pair of rods or one or more elements! flexible such as a cable or a belt, placed parallel to the beam, above it or along its side.

The trolley can be movable above said beam or along the side of the beam.

Preferably, the trolley is equipped with its own internal electric motor, preferably powered by one or more batteries. The battery can be internal to the trolley, or external to it and connected to it by suitable wiring. In other embodiments, the trolley can be powered by a cable connection to the electrical network.

In other embodiments, the motorization of the trolley can be external, for example fixed on the structure of the stand, and connected to the trolley for example by means of a cable or a movement belt.

Preferably, the aforementioned control apparatus is arranged fixed to the structure of the stand and communicates with the trolley via cable or wireless communication, in a per se known manner.

Preferably, the aforementioned control apparatus is powered by one or more batteries. In other embodiments, it can be powered by a cable connection to the electrical network. In the case of association with a trolley equipped with an element recognition device! identification and / or device for detecting hangers, in the event that this trolley is powered by one or more batteries external to the trolley itself, this battery or batteries can power both the trolley and the control apparatus. In other embodiments, the apparatus and trolley can be powered separately.

According to another aspect, the invention also relates to a kit for transforming a stand with a hanger support beam, existing, traditional, into an intelligent garment system according to what is envisaged in one or more of the system configurations described above, and therefore the kit includes, basic

- a device for detecting hangers hanging on said at least one stand,

-a control apparatus, able to manage said hanger detection device and information relating to the number of hangers measured by said device, and equipped with a communication module with a remote electronic control unit (the latter not necessarily being part of the kit).

Obviously the kit can include all the variants! to the system described above.

Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of two preferred but not exclusive embodiments thereof, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein figure 1 represents a schematic axonometric view of a system according to 'invention;

figure 2 represents a schematic side view of the upper portion of a stand of a system as in figure 1;

figure 3 represents an axonometric schematic view of a system according to the invention, variant with respect to the previous figures !;

Figure 4 is a schematic cross sectional view of the upper portion of a stand of a system as in Figure 3, Figure 5 represents a schematic side view of the upper portion of a stand of a system as in Figure 3

Detailed description of an embodiment of the invention

With reference to the previously mentioned figures, an example of an intelligent garment system according to the invention is indicated as a whole with the number 10.

This system includes a clothes stand 11 to hang clothes hangers, the latter indicated with the number 12.

In this example, the stand has an overall shape of a known type per se and comprises a structure formed by a base 13, preferably equipped with wheels, from which uprights 14 develop, which support at the ends a beam 15, on which are hanging hangers 12.

A control apparatus 16 is fixed to the structure of the stand, preferably at one end of the beam 15, the function of which is better described below.

I'm present! guide means 17 for a motorized trolley 18 which develop along the beam 15. These means are embodied, for example, in a pair of cables, which act as a track, placed above and parallel to the beam (or, according to another example illustrated below , laterally to the beam). The carriage 18 slides on these cables 17 along the beam 15, spaced from it.

On the trolley 18 there is a device 19 for detecting the hooks of the hangers hanging from the beam 15, operatively connected with the control apparatus 16. The detection device 19 comprises in this example a light radiation emitter, such as for example a head 19A which emits a laser beam over the beam. When the laser beam, moving with the trolley, meets the hook of a hanger, the variation of the resulting beam is interpreted by the detection device 19 as the presence of a hanger and sends a signal to the control apparatus 16, the which is thus able to detect the number of hangers encountered along the path of the trolley, or the number of hangers hanging on the beam 15, or the number of items present! on the stand.

Along the beam 15 there is a plurality of elements! 20ij (with i from 1 to n and j chosen from s, m and I) identifiers of respective areas on the stand, corresponding to areas occupied by hangers with pre-established characteristics. For example, on a given stand there is a given model K of clothing. The elements! Identifiers 20ij subdivide the beam into areas relating to homogeneous colors and the latter into further sub-areas relating to the size of the garment (see the diagram in figure 2). For example, placing the case of a number of colors "i" with i from 1 to n, and three sizes "small" s, "medium" m and "large" I, the elements! identifiers identify Ki areas relating to colors, with i from 1 to n, and for each of these zones, three further Kij zones (with i from 1 to n and j chosen from s, m, I).

Conveniently, on the trolley 18 there is a device 21 for recognizing these elements! identification 20ij, operationally connected with the control apparatus 16. At the passage of trolley 18 above the elements! identification 20ij, the recognition device 21 is able to recognize each identification element 20ij and transmit this information to the control apparatus 16, so that, in combination with the detection device of the hangers 19, the control apparatus 16 is suitable to identify the Kij areas and the number of hangers present! in them.

In this example, the elements! Identifiers 20ij are, for example, removable rings, so that they can be moved, reused, modified for other stands and types of clothing, etc. .. and include programmable electronic labels, preferably of the NFC type. Consequently, the recognition device 21 is an electronic label recognition device of the NCF type.

Both for the hanger detection device 19 and for the element recognition device 21! identification 20ij, other types of embodiments are possible (not shown in the figures).

For example, the hanger detection device 19 present in the trolley 18 can be an optical device with video / photo sensor, capable of recognizing the shape of the hangers, or part of them, and of counting them. Again, for example, the hangers can be associated with electronic labels such as NFC or RFID, and the detection device can be an electronic device capable of reading these labels electronically. Again, for example, hangers can be associated with graphic labels, such as an alphanumeric code or a bar code or QR, and the detection device is an optical device capable of visually reading these labels.

Similarly, the element recognition device 21 too! ID 20ij can be an optical device with video / photo sensor, capable of recognizing the shape of the elements! identification. Again, for example, the elements! identifiers can be of a graphic type, such as an alphanumeric code or a bar code or QR, and the detection device is an optical device capable of visually reading these elements! identification.

Note that integration into the trolley is not the only possible embodiment for devices 19 and 21. For example, the trolley may not be present and the devices can be fixed to a portion of the stand and interact with the hangers, not moving compared to these, and with the elements! 20ij identifiers, for example by means of vision systems comprising fields of vision that embrace the whole beam, or montant! on an oscillating head which, instead of moving like the trolley, performs an angular scan of the beam. Obviously other examples are possible.

In this example, the trolley 18 has an electric motor inside the trolley itself, which allows it to move on the guide cables 17. The electric power supply of the motor is guaranteed, for example, by a battery 22 placed at the base of the stand, which supplies also the control apparatus 16, and is connected to these by means of suitable wiring 23 (the power supply to the trolley, in the last section, can be guaranteed through the guide cables 17).

Communication with the trolley by the control apparatus 16 can take place via cable (for example through the guide cables 17) or through communication systems without files (for example wifi or zigbee).

The control unit 16 is equipped with a communication module 24 with a remote electronic control unit 25, for example of the wireless type, preferably using ZigBee technology, so as to send to it the data relating to the number of hangers present! in each specific area, or data relating to the model of garment on the stand, or for this model, the number of items present! divided by color and size.

Appropriately, 16 are present on the control apparatus! one more indicator! bright. For example, I'm present! two indicators! 26, one green and one red, which respectively indicate the need to take a piece of clothing from the stand and the need to check the stock on the stand. In the latter case, for example through the use of a puisante 27, always present on the control apparatus 16), the system makes this perform a translation along the beam, with consequent analysis of the items present.

Conveniently, there is a device 28 for detecting the movement of the hangers, suitable for checking whether a hanger is picked up or inserted into the stand. For example, this device for detecting the movement of the hangers 28 comprises a photocell 29 / or other photoelectric or optoelectronic sensor) located just above (or alongside) the beam, at one end of the beam, operatively connected with the apparatus control 16, adapted to emit a beam of light along the beam. Each time a hanger is placed on the beam, or removed from it, the hanger hook is intercepted by the light beam of photocell 29, and this sends a signal to the control apparatus.

The control apparatus, after a certain amount of time from this signal, (for example, one minute, will automatically activate a "scan" of the beam, that is, it will command the movement of the trolley along the beam.

Figures 3, 4 and 5 show a second embodiment of the described sopara system, variant in the means for guiding and driving the trolley. The other elements! they are the same as the previous example and will carry the same numbering.

In this example, the trolley, now indicated with 118, is not motorized but is fixed to a flexible motion transmission element, placed laterally to the beam, which simultaneously acts as a guide and a means of movement. This flexible element is for example a belt 117, preferably toothed, closed in a ring, sent between a motorized pinion 130 and a return roller 131, fixed to the structure of the clothes-stand 11.

For example, the motorized pinion 130 is fixed at one end of the beam 15 and the roller 131 at the opposite end.

The rotation axis of the pinion 130 is preferably vertical.

In this example, the beam 15 has two extendable portions 15A, 15B, slidingly inserted in the central portion of the beam (and lockable once the correct position has been found), which allow to increase the capacity of the clothes stand. Preferably, the control apparatus 16 and the pinion 130 are fixed at one end of an extendable portion 15A, while the roller is fixed at the end of the opposite extendable portion 15B.

The trolley 118 is placed above the belt 117, blocked on a branch 117A of the latter by a locking plate 133. This plate is screwed onto the trolley, and sandwiches the belt against the trolley. Therefore, movement of the belt 117 causes the carriage 118 to translate along the side of the beam 15 (including the two extendable portions 15A and 15B).

To facilitate the movement of the trolley 118, keeping the two branches of the belt 117A and 117B always at the same distance from the carriage, the latter has a fork 134 open downwards through which the branch 117B of the belt passes opposite the one 117 on which it is there is the locking plate 133.

Two end-of-travel elements 135 are fixed on the belt 117, so that when the carriage 118 reaches the end of its travel, at one end or at the opposite end of the beam (including the extendable portions), the corresponding end-of-travel element is detected by a suitable proximity sensor (not shown in the figures), operatively connected with the control apparatus 16 which controls the motorized pinion 130, which interrupts the movement of the belt, i.e. the advancement of the trolley. For example, the proximity sensor is of the pressure type, so when the limit switch element impacts the sensor, it intervenes by sending a signal to the control unit.

In this example, the trolley is operatively connected with the control apparatus 16 by means of a helical cable136.

The operation of the system can be as follows.

The remote electronic control unit 25 is connected to a database connected to an online sales site. The database includes the various models of clothing to sell, with related colors and sizes available. The garments are hung by hangers on relative stands as described above. Each model can correspond to a model (multiple stands may have the same models and / or different models). In each stand (relative to a model) there is a beam divided, in succession, into Kij areas marked by element! identifiers indicating the color (i) and the relative size (j) for that color.

When an order is made for a garment relating to a model, a given color and a given size, an operator reaches the relevant stand and picks up the garment.

At that point, the operator can command a system operation by operating the trolley, which, moving over the beam, reads the elements in succession! identification of the various areas and the number of hangers present! in such areas.

The control system receives these data and sends them to the remote electronic control unit, which updates the database of available garments, relating to that model.

In the event that a hanger is removed or inserted into the stand, the photocell 29 will automatically activate a "scan" of the beam by default. The database then automatically receives a warehouse update: an operator does not need to activate the trolley every time he removes a hanger.

You can start a scan manually via puisante 27 (to validate a warehouse verification request or to immediately start a scan after putting a stand in order, for example).

The trolley can also be operated remotely and not necessarily by direct operator control.

The verification of the items present in a stand can be done at any time and not necessarily after a sale.

The invention also relates to a kit to make a stand of a known type "intelligent". This kit basically includes, in this specific example, the control apparatus, the trolley with the relative devices, the guide cables, and possibly the battery. Obviously, to create a system, it will be necessary to connect the stand with the new kit to a remote electronic control unit, equipped with the appropriate software.

It is understood that what is illustrated represents only possible non-limiting embodiments of the invention, which can vary in the forms and provisions without departing from the scope of the concept underlying the invention. The possible presence of reference numbers in the attached claims has the sole purpose of facilitating their reading in light of the above description and the attached drawings and does not in any way limit their scope of protection.

Claims (12)

1) Intelligent garment system, comprising - at least one clothes stand to hang clothes hangers, - a device for detecting hangers hung on said at least one stand, - a remote electronic control unit, capable of receiving data relating at least to the detection of hanging hangers, - a control apparatus, suitable for managing said hanger detection device and information relating to the number of hangers measured, and equipped with a communication module with said remote electronic control unit, so that at least the data relating to the number of hangers present! in said at least one stand. 2) System according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of elements! identification of respective areas on said stand corresponding to areas occupied by hangers with clothes of predetermined characteristics, since a device for recognizing said elements is present! identifiers managed by said control apparatus, whereby, in combination with said hanger detection device, the system is adapted to identify said areas and the number of hangers present! in respective of said zones. 3) System according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said stand comprises at least one beam along which hangers are hung; said areas being defined in succession on said beam, with said elements! identifiers placed at the top or bottom of the respective areas. 4) System according to claim 3, wherein said elements! identifiers are removable. 5. System according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said hanger detection device is an optical or optoelectronic or radio frequency device. 6. System according to claim 5, wherein said elements! identifiers are removable wherein said hanger detection device comprises a light radiation emitter, such as laser, infrared or other. 7. System according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said device for recognizing said elements! identification is an optical or optoelectronic or radio frequency device. System according to one or more of claims 2 to 7, wherein said elements! identifiers are electronic labels, preferably of the NFC or RFID type, and said recognition device for said elements! identification is an electronic label recognition device. 9) System according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said hanger detection device is arranged in a trolley movable along said beam, spaced from it, whereby said device is adapted to pass in succession on a portion of said hangers , preferably the hooks, detecting their presence. 10. System according to claims 2 and 9, wherein said device for recognizing said elements! identification is also arranged in said trolley, so that said device is able to pass in succession on said elements! identifiers, recognizing them. System according to one or more of claims from 3 to 10, comprising a device for detecting the movement of the hangers, suitable for checking whether a hanger is removed or inserted into the stand; preferably said device for detecting the movement of the hangers comprises a photocell, or other photoelectric or optoelectronic sensor, placed near the beam, preferably at one end thereof, operatively connected with said control apparatus, suitable for emitting a beam of light along the beam; every time a hanger is placed on the beam, or removed from it, the hanger hook is intercepted by the light beam of the photocell, and this sends a signal to the control apparatus. 12) Kit to be associated with a clothes stand to create an intelligent garment system according to one or more of the preceding claims, including - a device for detecting the hangers hanging on said at least one stand, and preferably also a plurality of said elements! identification and said device for recognition of said elements! identification, a control apparatus, able to manage said hanger detection device and information relating to the number of measured hangers, and equipped with a communication module with said remote electronic control unit.