Showing stand

Abstract

A display stand (10, 110) for items (14, 114) for selection and / or sale, the display stand comprising a frame (11, 111) and one or more shelves (13, 113) associated with the frame (11, 111); the display stand (10, 110) comprises means (15, 115) for automatically detecting the presence / absence of one or more items (14, 114) for selection and / or sale.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a display stand. Background Art

[0002] Nowadays, in order to display objects, especially in shops, shelving units or display racks are often used.

[0003] Typically, display racks consist of a plurality of parallel shelves secured to a vertical support frame.

[0004] To purchase an item, a customer enters the store, identifies an item of interest, and purchases it after taking it from a display shelf.

[0005] This known technique has a number of disadvantages.

[0006] In fact, in order to be able to restock the display shelves and know what types of items need to be restocked, staff members need to physically visit the display shelves to check the remaining items and return to restock those items if necessary.

[0007] This makes replenishment operations lengthy and inconvenient.

[0008] In addition, in order to be able to verify the attractiveness of the items for sale and, therefore, their popularity with the consumer public, it is necessary to check:

[0009] - Missing goods from the display racks,

[0010] - or accounting records of sales.

[0011] This also makes the verification operation lengthy and cumbersome.

[0012] Furthermore, if the price of an item on a display rack needs to be changed, an operator needs to personally visit the display rack to change or replace the price tag (usually fixed to the corresponding partition), and the ensuing operation is lengthy and cumbersome. Summary of the invention

[0013] It is an object of the present invention to provide a display stand which improves the known art in one or more of the above-mentioned aspects.

[0014] Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a display stand that enables immediate and automatic verification of the goods to be replenished and that does not require manual verification by staff.

[0015] Another object of the present invention is to design a display that enables immediate and automatic verification of the attractiveness of goods to the consumer public and that does not require manual verification of the display or sales records.

[0016] Another object of the present invention is to provide a display stand which makes it possible to change the prices of displayed items remotely and without requiring personnel to personally perform the operation on the display stand.

[0017] Another object of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the known art in a manner different from any existing solutions.

[0018] Another object of the present invention is to provide a display stand which has high reliability, is easy to implement and has low cost.

[0019] This aim and these and other objects which will become more apparent hereinafter are achieved by a display stand for items for selection and / or sale, the display stand comprising a frame and one or more shelves associated with the frame, wherein the display stand comprises means for automatically detecting the presence / absence of one or more items for selection and / or sale. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the description of some preferred but not exclusive embodiments of the display stand according to the invention, which are illustrated for the purpose of non-limiting examples in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0021] - Figure 1 is an overall perspective view of a display stand in a use configuration according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] - Figure 2 yes Figure 1 The overall three-dimensional image of the display rack without any items on display;

[0023] - Figure 3 yes Figure 1 and Figure 2 A diagram of the components of the display stand in FIG.

[0024] - Figure 4a and Figure 4b Items that can be displayed in a display stand according to the present invention are shown;

[0025] - Figure 5 is an overall perspective view of a display stand in a use configuration according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] - Figure 6a yes Figure 5 The overall three-dimensional image of the display rack without any items on display;

[0027] - Figure 6b is an overall stereogram of a display stand according to different embodiments of the present invention;

[0028] - Figure 7yes Figures 5 to 6b Figure 2 shows a diagram of the components of a display stand. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] With reference to the drawings, a display stand according to a first embodiment of the present invention is generally indicated by reference numeral 10 .

[0030] The display stand 10 comprises a frame 11 having a vertical configuration for use, the frame being provided with at least one shoulder 12 , and one or more shelves 13 associated with the frame 11 and fixed to the shoulder 12 .

[0031] Preferably, the frame 11 and the shelf 13 are made of metal.

[0032] In the display stand 10, a plurality of items 14 may be displayed for selection and / or sale.

[0033] One of the unique features of the display stand 10 is that it includes a device 15 for automatically detecting the presence / absence of one or more items 14 .

[0034] This device 15 for automatic detection comprises:

[0035] - a central device 16 for reading one or more identification elements 17 , each of which is associated with an object 14 ,

[0036] - A plurality of antennas 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d, 18e, 18f, 18g, . . . , 18n, connected to the central device 16.

[0037] Advantageously, the central device 16 is a UHF RFID reader (Ultra High Frequency Radio Frequency Identification), for example of the type known under the trade name “URA8 Fixed Android RFID Reader” by Shenzhen Lianwei Information Technology Co., Ltd. of Shenzhen, China.

[0038] In particular, the central device 16 is a fixed UHF RFID reader based on the Android operating system, having eight ports 19, integrated with a chip known under the trade name "RFID Impinj E710 / R2000" from Impinj Inc. of Seattle, USA.

[0039] The central device 16 is powered by the mains via a connection 20 and is connected to a user interface (not shown in the figure), such as a tablet computer and / or a smartphone and / or a PC (Personal Computer), via a data link as follows:

[0040] - Wi-Fi 21,

[0041] - and / or 4G LTE (fourth generation long term evolution)22,

[0042] - and / or LAN (Local Area Network) 23,

[0043] - and / or USB (Universal Serial Bus) 24,

[0044] - and / or HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface)25.

[0045] In particular, the plurality of antennas 18a-18n include near field / short range and / or circular high gain UHF RFID antennas.

[0046] Advantageously, such antennas 18a-18n are one or more of the antennas known under the following trade names:

[0047] - "A1130 Near Field / Short Range UHF RFID Antenna" by Times-7 Research Ltd. of Petone, New Zealand

[0048] - "A1163 Near Field / Short Range UHF RFID Antenna" by Times-7 Research Ltd. of Petone, New Zealand

[0049] - "A7030C Circular High Gain Antenna" by Times-7 Research Ltd. of Petone, New Zealand,

[0050] - "A5060C Circular High Gain Antenna" by Times-7 Research Ltd. of Petone, New Zealand.

[0051] The identification element 17 is a UHF RFID tag / label associated with / applied to the item 14 or its packaging.

[0052] Specifically, the antennas 18a - 18n are associated with the shoulder 12 of the display stand 10 at one or more compartments 27 defined between two consecutive shelves 13 and / or with the underside 26 of one or more corresponding shelves 13 .

[0053] In this specification, the term "lower side" refers to a surface below the shelf 13, that is, a surface of the shelf 13 that points toward the next shelf that is lower below.

[0054] It should be noted that the type of antennas 18a - 18n and their distribution on the display stand 10 enable a three-dimensional reading of the identification element 17 of the object 14 .

[0055] In this specification, the expression "three-dimensional reading" means that the UHF RFID tag 17 can be read in the compartment 27 placed in any position relative to the antennas 18a-18n as long as it is not blocked.

[0056] It should also be noted that the use of antennas 18a - 18n operating at radio frequencies in the UHF band enables large numbers of readings of elements in a confined volume such as compartment 27 .

[0057] Before being placed on the display rack 10 , the items 14 are marked with a suitable identification element 17 , which is suitable for being read by a central device 16 .

[0058] Advantageously, such UHF RFID tags / labels constituting the identification element 17 are those known under one or more of the following trade names:

[0059] - "AD-229r6" of Avery Dennison Xtron, Kedah, Malaysia, for articles or packaging made of paper-based materials and / or plastics,

[0060] - "AD-383u7" of Avery Dennison Xtron, Kedah, Malaysia, for articles or packaging made of metal materials or metallized paperboard,

[0061] - “AX'Label Classic” by Axem Technologies, Creteil, France, for articles14 or packaging made of paper and / or plastic.

[0062] - “AX'Label Platina” by Axem Technologies of Creteil, France, for articles14 or packaging made of metallic materials or metallized cardboard.

[0063] Advantageously, the identification element 17 is arranged:

[0064] - is located at a distance of at least a few centimeters from the shoulder 12 so as to be readable by the antennas 18a-18n,

[0065] - located at a distance of at least 5 cm from a corresponding high-gain circular antenna,

[0066] - are located at a distance such that the identification elements do not touch each other.

[0067] For example, the following may be arranged in compartment 27:

[0068] - a high-gain circular antenna with a power of 9 dBm on the shoulder 12 and a high-gain circular antenna with a power of 15 dBm on the underside 26 of the upper shelf 13;

[0069] - and / or, two near field / short range antennas with a power of 27 dBm on the shoulder 12 and a high gain circular antenna with a power of 15 dBm on the underside 26 of the upper shelf 13;

[0070] - and / or, a near field / short range antenna on the shoulder 12 with a power of 30 dBm.

[0071] The display stand 10 includes a spacer (not shown) having an L-shaped cross section for maintaining a distance of at least two centimeters between the article 14 and the shoulder 12 .

[0072] Specifically, such a spacer has:

[0073] - a core, associated with the upper surface of the shelf 13 at / near the shoulder 12,

[0074] - Wings, parallel to the shoulders12.

[0075] In some other embodiments, the display rack comprises one or more auxiliary spacers 28, each of which is arranged between two consecutive articles 14, in order to avoid overlapping of identification elements 17 and to allow antennas 18a-18n to read these identification elements.

[0076] The operation of the display stand 10 according to the present invention is as follows.

[0077] The central device 16 detects / reads, by means of antennas 18a-18n, the identification elements 17 previously associated with the respective objects 14 arranged on the partition 13 and automatically transmits the read data and the presence / absence of the given object 14 presented to the user interface.

[0078] In this way, you can:

[0079] - Quickly and automatically count the displayed goods without manual verification,

[0080] - Quickly and easily arrange replenishment of displayed items 14 without manual verification,

[0081] - Automatically verify sales trends for a given item 14, thereby verifying appeal to the consumer public, without the need for manual verification or checking of sales records.

[0082] Figures 5 to 7 Different embodiments of the display stand according to the invention are shown.

[0083] exist Figures 5 to 6b In these embodiments, the same elements as the first embodiment (in Figures 1 to 4b Corresponding elements are represented by the same numerals increased by 100.

[0084] The display stand 110 is provided with means 150 for remotely modifying the price of the item 114 .

[0085] Such means 150 for remotely modifying the price of an item 114 comprises:

[0086] - one or more displays 151, each of which is fixed to a corresponding shelf 113 and arranged at a row of identical items, in data communication with the central device 116,

[0087] As previously mentioned, such a central device 116 is in data communication with the user interface.

[0088] In particular, the display 151 is in data communication with the central device 116 via one or more antennas 118a-118n.

[0089] It should be noted that, by means of the central device 116:

[0090] - detecting / reading, by means of antennas 118a-118n, an identification element 117 previously associated with a respective item 114,

[0091] - and automatically transmits the read data to the user interface,

[0092] The price of the item shown on the display 151 can be changed directly and remotely, and no personal visit to the display shelf 110 is required.

[0093] In practice, it has been found that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects by providing a display stand that enables immediate and automatic verification of the goods to be replenished and that does not require manual verification by staff.

[0094] It should be noted that by utilizing the present invention, a display has been designed that is able to immediately and automatically verify the attractiveness of goods to the consumer public and does not require manual verification of the display or sales records.

[0095] Furthermore, the present invention provides a display stand that enables the price of displayed items to be changed remotely without requiring a person to personally perform an operation on the display stand.

[0096] The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, all the details may be replaced by other technically equivalent elements.

[0097] In practice, the materials employed, provided they are compatible with the specific use intended, and the dimensions and shapes where applicable, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

[0098] The contents of Italian Patent Applications No. 102022000013933 and 102023000012516 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

[0099] In case any technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference numerals, the sole purpose of inserting such reference numerals is to increase the intelligibility of the claim and such reference numerals do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by such reference numerals by way of example.

Claims

1. A display stand (10, 110) for items (14, 114) for selection and / or sale, the display stand comprising a frame (11, 111) and one or more shelves (13, 113) associated with the frame (11, 111), characterized in that: The display stand (10, 110) includes means (15, 115) for automatically detecting the presence / absence of one or more of the items (14, 114) for selection and / or sale.

2. The display stand (10, 110) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The frame (11, 111) has a vertical configuration for use and is provided with at least one shoulder (12, 112) to which the one or more shelves (13, 113) are secured.

3. A display stand (10, 110) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The device (15, 115) for automatic detection comprises: - a central device (16, 116) for reading one or more identification elements (17, 117), each of said identification elements being associated with one of said objects (14, 114), - A plurality of antennas (18a, 18b, 18c, 18d, 18e, 18f, 18g, 18n, 118a, 118b, 118c, 118d, 118e, 118f, 118g, 118h, 118n) connected to the central device (16, 116).

4. The display stand (10, 110) according to claim 3, characterized in that: The central device (16, 116) is a UHF RFID reader.

5. Display stand (10, 110) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that The central device (16, 116) is of the type known under the trade name "URA8 Fixed Android RFID Reader" by Shenzhen Lianwei Information Technology Co., Ltd. of Shenzhen, China.

6. Display stand (10, 110) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that The central device (16, 116) is a fixed UHF RFID reader based on the Android operating system, having eight ports (19, 119), integrated with a chip known under the trade name "RFID Impinj E710 / R2000" from Impinj Inc. of Seattle, USA.

7. Display stand (10, 110) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that The central device (16, 116) is powered by a mains power supply via a connection (20, 120) and is connected to a user interface via the following data link: - Wi-Fi (21, 121), - and / or 4G LTE (22, 122), - and / or LAN (23, 123), - and / or USB (24, 124), - and / or HDMI (25, 125).

8. Display stand (10, 110) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that The plurality of antennas (18a, 18b, 18c, 18d, 18e, 18f, 18g, 18n, 118a, 118b, 118c, 118d, 118e, 118f, 118g, 118h, 118n) include the following UHF RFID antennas: - Near field / short range, - and / or round high gain.

9. Display stand (10, 110) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that The plurality of antennas (18a, 18b, 18c, 18d, 18e, 18f, 18g, 18n, 118a, 118b, 118c, 118d, 118e, 118f, 118g, 118h, 118n) are antennas known by one or more of the following trade names: - "A1130 Near Field / Short Range UHF RFID Antenna" by Times-7 Research Ltd. of Petone, New Zealand - "A1163 Near Field / Short Range UHF RFID Antenna" by Times-7 Research Ltd. of Petone, New Zealand - "A7030C Circular High Gain Antenna" by Times-7 Research Ltd. of Petone, New Zealand, - "A5060C Circular High Gain Antenna" by Times-7 Research Ltd. of Petone, New Zealand.

10. Display stand (10, 110) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that The antenna (18a, 18b, 18c, 18d, 18e, 18f, 18g, 18n, 118a, 118b, 118c, 118d, 118e, 118f, 118g, 118h, 118n) is associated with the shoulder (12, 112) at one or more compartments (27, 127) defined between two consecutive shelves (13, 113) and / or with the underside (26, 126) of one or more corresponding shelves (13, 113).

11. Display stand (10, 110) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that The display rack comprises one or more of the identification elements (17, 117), which are UHF RFID tags / labels associated with / applied to the items (14, 114) or their packaging.

12. Display stand (10, 110) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that The UHF RFID tags / labels are known by one or more of the following trade names: - "AD-229r6" from Avery Dennison Xtron in Kedah, Malaysia, - "AD-383u7" from Avery Dennison Xtron in Kedah, Malaysia, - "AX'Label Classic" by Axem Technologies, Cretel, France, - "AX'Label Platina" by Axem Technologies, Cretel, France.

13. Display stand (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that The identification element (17) is arranged to: - is located at a distance of at least several centimeters from said shoulder (12), - located at a distance of at least 5 cm from a corresponding high-gain circular antenna, - are located at a distance such that said identification elements do not touch each other.

14. Display stand (110) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that The display stand comprises: - means (150) for remotely modifying the price of said item (114).

15. The display stand (110) according to claim 14, characterized in that: The device (150) for remotely modifying the price of the item (114) comprises: - one or more displays (151), each of which is fixed to a corresponding shelf (113) and arranged at a row of identical items (114), the one or more displays being in data communication with the central device (116), - The central device (116) performs data communication with the user interface.

16. Display stand (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that The display stand comprises a spacer having an L-shaped cross section, the spacer having: - a core associated with an upper surface of a respective one of said shelves (13) at / near said shoulder (12), - Wings, parallel to the shoulder (12).

17. Display stand (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that The display rack comprises one or more auxiliary spacers (28), each of which is arranged between two consecutive articles (14).

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