Stocking level indication apparatus and method
AssigneeWalmart Apollo, LLC
InventorsNicholaus A. Jones, Matthew A. Jones
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses, and methods are described herein including a shelf assembly that utilizes the accumulated weight of products stocked thereon to compress a compression member disposed within the assembly. An electronic imaging device can be mounted proximate to the assembly and can be oriented to capture an image of the compression member to determine whether a particular shelf needs to be restocked and avoid having to manipulate or remove products from a shelf to determine a current stock level.
Claims9
A stock level indication assembly for a retail product storage structure, the stock level indication assembly comprising:
- a shelf member;
- a compression member disposed below the shelf member, the compression member configured to visibly compress in response to a weight exerted by one or more products stocked on the shelf member;
- a computing device including a control circuit configured to:
- receive a signal including a compression level of the compression member,
- obtain a total weight of the products stocked on the shelf member and a weight of each one of the products stocked on the shelf member;
- and
- estimate a number of the products stocked on the shelf member based on the received compression level, the total weight of the products stocked on the shelf member, and the weight of each one of the products stocked on the shelf member.
A method for providing a visual indication of stock level on a retail product storage structure, the method comprising:
- providing a shelf member;
- providing a compression member disposed below the shelf, the compression member configured to visibly compress in response to a weight exerted by one or more products stocked on the shelf member;
- receiving the one or more products on the shelf assembly;
- receiving, via a computing device including a control circuit, a signal including a compression level of the compression member in response to the compression member compressing in response to the weight exerted by the one or more products stocked on the shelf member;
- obtaining, via the control circuit, a total weight of the products stocked on the shelf member and a weight of each one of the products stocked on the shelf member;
- and
- estimating, via the control circuit, a number of the products stocked on the shelf member based on the received compression level, the total weight of the products stocked on the shelf member, and the weight of each one of the products stocked on the shelf member.
A method for installing a stock level indication assembly for a retail product storage structure, the method comprising:
- mounting a shelf member;
- disposing a compression member below the shelf member;
- stocking one or more products on the shelf member such that the weight of the products compresses the compression member;
- and
- providing a computing device including a control circuit configured to:
- receive a signal including a compression level of the compression member,
- obtain a total weight of the products stocked on the shelf member and a weight of each one of the products stocked on the shelf member;
- and
- estimate a number of the products stocked on the shelf member based on the received compression level, the total weight of the products stocked on the shelf member, and the weight of each one of the products stocked on the shelf member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.