Energy storage device, supply device and carrier rail system for supplying electric power to units that can be mounted on carrier rails

Abstract

An energy storage device for supplying electric power to a supply device that is located at least in part on the rear side of a carrier rail and that is provided for supplying electric power to at least one electronic apparatus that can be installed on the front side of the carrier rail, wherein the energy storage device comprises a first coupling device that is designed for direct, that is to say wireless, electrical and mechanical coupling of the energy storage device to the supply device.

Description

[0001] title

[0002] Energy storage device, supply device and support rail system for the electrical supply of devices that can be mounted on support rails.

[0003] Technical field

[0004] The invention relates to an energy storage device for the electrical supply of devices mountable on a support rail.

[0005] background

[0006] Electronic price displays, also known as Electronic Shelf Labels (ESLs), are now largely powered by batteries, which are typically housed within the ESLs. However, such a battery within the ESL significantly complicates maintenance, as various steps, such as charging or replacing the battery, must be performed individually for each ESL. The labor required therefore increases with the number of ESLs in a store.

[0007] WO 2022 / 188956 A1 discloses a bus system integrated into a shelf rail, which enables a plurality of ESLs on the shelf rail to be supplied with energy storage from an energy storage device embodied as a battery module with a rechargeable battery configuration. This battery configuration is attached to a lateral support of a shelf below a shelf base using magnets and is connected to a supply device attached to the shelf rail via a cable and a plug, from where the ESLs attached to the shelf rail are supplied with electrical power via the bus system. While these measures have reduced the labor required for energy storage-related maintenance per ESL, the installation of the battery configuration itself has continued to prove problematic. The attachment to the support must be adapted to the length of the cable.The cable then has to be connected to the power supply at the rear of the rack in an area below the shelf, but this area below the shelf is not easily or even completely visible to maintenance personnel without physically contorting themselves to look under the shelf. If visual inspection is not possible, the only option is to spend a long time feeling around to find the correct position. There is also the potential risk that the cable, plug, or socket that receives the plug could be damaged if the battery module is removed without experience. This is because the battery module is grabbed and excessive tension is inadvertently applied to the cable before it has been detached from the power supply.

[0008] The invention therefore has the object of providing an energy storage device for a support rail, a supply device for the support rail fitted thereto and a support rail system comprising the support rail and at least the energy storage device, so that simple and unproblematic maintenance of the energy storage device is possible.

[0009] Summary of the invention

[0010] This object is achieved by an energy storage device according to claim 1. The subject matter of the invention is therefore an energy storage device for the electrical supply of a supply device located at least partially on the rear side of a support rail, which is provided for the electrical supply of at least one electronic device attachable to the front side of the support rail, wherein the energy storage device has a first coupling device which is designed for the direct, i.e. cable-free, electrical and mechanical coupling of the energy storage device to the supply device.

[0011] This object is further achieved by a supply device according to claim 16. The invention therefore relates to a supply device for the electrical supply of at least one electronic device which can be attached to a front side of a support rail, wherein the supply device is designed to engage laterally or engage behind the support rail along its rear side and is thus located at least partially on the rear side of the support rail when installed in the support rail, wherein the supply device has a second coupling device which is designed for the direct, i.e. cable-free, electrical and mechanical coupling of the supply device to an energy storage device which serves to supply the supply device electrically.

[0012] The object is further achieved by a support rail system according to claim 27. The invention therefore relates to a support rail system which has: a support rail for supporting at least one electronic device, a supply device which is provided and designed for the electrical supply of the electronic device attachable to the front of the support rail and which, when inserted into the support rail, is at least partially located on the rear side of the support rail, and an energy storage device which is provided and designed for the electrical supply of the supply device which is at least partially located on the rear side of the support rail, wherein the supply device and the energy storage device are designed such that they are coupled to one another directly, i.e. cable-free, on the rear side of the support rail, both electrically and mechanically.

[0013] The measures according to the invention have the advantage that an easy-to-handle energy supply and its unproblematic maintenance are possible directly on the support rail.

[0014] This advantage is due, on the one hand, to the fact that the energy storage device and the supply device are not designed as a single piece, but separately from each other.

[0015] This advantage is also due to the fact that a cable between the energy storage device and the supply device is deliberately omitted, and a direct connection between the energy storage device and the supply device is implemented. This direct coupling provides both the electrical connection (the electrically conductive connection) between the two devices for the purpose of electrical energy supply and the mechanical connection between the two devices for the purpose of mutual power transmission for the purposes of positioning and / or guidance relative to each other.Since both the energy storage device and the part of the supply device relevant for its coupling are located on the rear of the support rails—directly coupled to one another—it is very easy for maintenance personnel to locate the energy supply device, even without visual contact, by feeling along the rear of the support rail adjacent to the supply device and performing the necessary operations there to remove, attach, or replace the energy storage device. This ensures the most intuitive handling possible, because the position of the energy storage device in relation to the supply device is always known, which is not necessarily the case with a cable connecting the two devices.

[0016] Furthermore, it is ensured that if the support rail is completely removed from a structure to which the support rail is attached (e.g., from an adapter rail for adaptation to a shelf or other fastening structure for fastening or placing the support rail on or on a table or basket, or even for hanging fastening), the energy storage device does not have to be handled separately, because it is directly electrically and mechanically coupled to the supply device and is therefore removed with it. This allows the removed support rail to be easily turned over so that its back is oriented towards the maintenance personnel handling it, and only then can the energy storage device be removed from the support rail.This allows access to the energy storage device even in situations where the rear of the support rail attached to the other structure would not be freely accessible to maintenance personnel.

[0017] Apart from the previously envisaged mounting options for the support rail, it should also be mentioned at this point that a particularly preferred embodiment of the support rail is a shelf rail that is attached either directly to the front edge of a shelf or to this front edge with the aid of an adapter or adapter rail. Further, particularly advantageous embodiments and developments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and the following description.

[0018] The energy storage device can, for example, contain a simple battery as an energy storage device or a battery configuration that includes not just a single battery or battery cell, but several. An accumulator or a rechargeable battery configuration can also be provided. In addition to its primary function as an energy storage device for providing electrical power to operate the electronic devices installed on the support rail, the energy storage device can also have electronic "intelligence." This intelligence can be implemented using an appropriately programmed microcontroller. Furthermore, this microcontroller can be equipped with analog and / or digital peripheral electronics. With the help of the microcontroller, for example, the power or energy supply as well as the temporal course of usage (discharge, charge, downtime, etc.) can be controlled.) of the energy storage system are automatically recorded, digitally documented, and made available for later evaluation using contactless technology or via a wired or bus connection. Using the microcontroller or the dedicated interface, the recorded energy storage parameters can be accessed from outside the energy storage device, or the energy management system can be actively controlled from outside.

[0019] The support rail is designed to support the electronic devices and for this purpose has a fastening structure (e.g. rail or shaft structure) along its front side, and if necessary also along its back side, which enables the electronic devices to be inserted and removed.

[0020] Preferably, the support rail has a bus line system accessible from its front side, with the aid of which the electronic devices attached to it are supplied with power and / or communication technology.

[0021] The bus line system is fed by the supply device, which is attached to the side of the support rail or engages with the structure of the front and rear of the support rail. It is partially located at the front to contact the bus line system and partially located at the rear to connect to the energy storage device. The supply device surrounds the support rail both mechanically and electrically at the side, forming the connection between the front of the support rail or the electronic devices mounted there and the rear of the support rail or the energy storage device located there.

[0022] In a minimal configuration, the supply device can be designed only to supply electrical power to the electronic devices. Preferably, it provides communications support for these devices or selected devices installed on the front of the support rail. In this preferred embodiment, the supply device forms a gateway for the devices installed on the support rail so that they can communicate with a higher-level communications infrastructure. Such a communications infrastructure can be implemented, for example, by a wireless and / or wired network that connects the supply device to a computer or server. Software for managing and / or controlling or using the electronic devices can be executed on the computer or server. This can also be implemented using a cloud-based software solution that is available over the Internet.Such management software is used, for example, in modern supermarkets, where product and / or price information is displayed directly on the shelf or product presentation table, etc., with the help of electronic display devices implemented by electronic devices.

[0023] The electronic devices can, as mentioned, be electronic display devices, such as extremely energy-saving electrophoretic display devices for displaying still images, or video playback devices for playing back videos. The electronic devices can also be sensors for detecting physical environmental parameters or cameras for capturing images of the surroundings of the support rail, or input devices for user interaction, etc. The electronic devices can also form radio devices, or radio devices can be provided as part of the previously mentioned device classes, for example, to receive or transmit unidirectional radio signals or to communicate bidirectionally via radio signals.

[0024] The support rail can be made of metal or a metallic alloy. This gives it high stability and robustness in a highly harsh application environment, such as that encountered in a business premises during careless, hasty, or rushed handling. A cable carrier, made of plastic, for example, can also be provided to support the bus cable system. This cable carrier can be made of non-insulated cables (i.e., bare cables or wires) of the bus cable system, insulated from one another by the cable carrier itself, and makes them available for contact along the entire length of the support rail. Depending on the design, this cable carrier can be inserted along the support rail or inserted transversely to it. Furthermore, the entire support rail can also be made of plastic. This offers a weight advantage over a metallic design.Installation can also be made easier because the entire support rail can be designed to be elastically deformable within defined limits.

[0025] As mentioned, the power supply unit forms a bridge between the front of the support rail and the rear of the support rail, making electrical contact with the bus line system at the front or edge. At the rear, it is electrically coupled to the energy storage unit if an energy storage unit is coupled to it and contains the electronic components required to provide a regulated supply voltage for the electrical power supply of the electronic devices mounted or mountable on the front of the support rail.Furthermore, its electronics are designed to communicate with the electronic devices via the bus line system according to a first communication protocol and to communicate via cable or radio with the higher-level communication infrastructure for the purposes of controlling and / or querying the electronic devices according to a further communication protocol, i.e. to act as a gateway as mentioned above.

[0026] In principle, the first coupling device can be designed such that it allows coupling from any direction from behind the support device. For example, a coupling direction can be provided transversely to the rear of the support rail, so that the energy storage device can be coupled to the supply device from this direction, i.e. guided by the hand of the maintenance personnel. The energy storage device can thus, for example, come from behind the support rail and be plugged directly onto the part of the supply device extending along the rear of the support rail, so that the part of the supply device located there is located directly along the rear of the support rail, and the energy storage device is located behind it.According to a preferred embodiment of the energy storage device, the first coupling device is designed for coupling the energy storage device to the supply device along the rear side of the support rail. This enables personnel to first place the energy storage device against the rear side of the support rail and then move it along the rear side of the support rail towards the supply device, with the energy storage device being guided by the rear side of the support rail. With such a guided movement, maintenance personnel only have to control or implement the movement towards the supply device and no longer need to worry about other degrees of freedom of movement that would otherwise be available without the guide along the rear side and would complicate the coupling. The same naturally also applies to the coupling solution.

[0027] The design of the supply device is analogous to the design of the energy storage device, in which, according to a preferred embodiment, the second coupling device is designed to couple the energy storage device to the supply device along the rear side of the support rail, which is accompanied by the effects mentioned above.

[0028] The design used to achieve the coupling can be diverse. For example, the structure of the coupling means can be lance- or rod-shaped, or even stamp- or tubular, etc. Preferably, the first coupling device of the energy storage device has a shaft with an open, in particular substantially rectangular, shaft edge, which is designed to receive a substantially rigid connecting part of the supply device. The shaft provides direction-stabilizing guidance, in particular during the entire coupling process. The rectangular design also prevents incorrectly oriented coupling, which would be possible with a square cross-section of the shaft viewed along its shaft opening (or even a cuboid shaft) if no other measures were provided.

[0029] The design of the supply device is analogous to the design of the energy storage device, with the second coupling device of the supply device comprising a substantially rigid, in particular cuboid-shaped, connecting part that is dimensioned such that it can be accommodated in the designated shaft of the energy storage device. Particularly preferably, the two designs of the shaft and the connecting part are coordinated with one another in such a way that the connecting part can be easily inserted into the shaft and, at the same time, the shaft walls act as a longitudinal guide.This allows the desired alignment of the connecting part in the shaft (or conversely, the alignment of the shaft with respect to the connecting part) to be ensured during the insertion process, resulting in the most intuitive and simple handling possible and subsequently leading to optimized electrical and mechanical coupling. The lengths of the connecting part and the shaft can also be coordinated in such a way that the connecting part is completely accommodated in the shaft when coupled. The circumferential side of the connecting part is thus adapted to the shape of the shaft opening in order to maintain the guiding effect when moving in and out. In terms of its length, the connecting part can be approximately the same length as or shorter than the depth of the shaft.

[0030] Particularly preferably, the open shaft edge of the energy storage device is delimited by a shaft opening which, when the energy storage device is inserted into the support rail, runs transversely or transversely from the rear of the support rail. This ensures that the connecting part is already encompassed circumferentially at the beginning of the coupling process and the orienting effect takes effect immediately. When inserted into the support rail, the opening surface of the shaft is thus oriented normal to the rear of the support rail. If one considers the surface normal of the opening surface of the shaft, it is oriented parallel to the rear of the support rail and along (i.e., in the direction of) the longitudinal extension of the support rail towards the connecting part.

[0031] According to a further aspect of the energy storage device, the shaft is shaped, viewed along its depth, such that, when the energy supply device is inserted into the support rail, it extends parallel to the rear side of the support rail along the rear side of the support rail. The depth of the shaft thus extends from the shaft opening along the rear side of the support rail into the energy storage device.

[0032] The design of the supply device is analogous to the design of the energy storage device, whereby when the supply device is inserted into the support rail, the rigid connecting part extends along its longitudinal extent at a distance from the back of the support rail and parallel to the back of the support rail. This enables at least one side wall of the shaft to penetrate between the back of the support rail and the rigid connecting part, i.e. to be able to slide in between there while the coupling is established. Since the supply device is basically already attached to the support rail in its desired position before the energy storage device is coupled to it, the slotted orA gap-shaped distance between the back of the support rail and the rigid connecting part forms a guide structure (more precisely a guide gap), whereby this guide structure stabilizes the shaft in its desired orientation when the rigid connecting part penetrates into it.

[0033] In order to establish the electrical connection between the supply device and the energy storage device, the shaft of the energy storage device has a number of electrically conductive first contact elements for electrical contacting on one of its shaft side walls, more precisely the shaft inner walls.

[0034] The design of the supply device is analogous to the design of the energy storage device, wherein the rigid connecting part of the supply device has a number of electrically conductive second contact elements for electrical contacting on one of its connecting part outer walls.

[0035] Regarding the number of electrically conductive contact elements, it should be noted that this generally includes at least two per device to provide a supply voltage relative to a reference potential. If signal and / or data transmission is also provided between the energy storage device and the supply device, preferably between one and three additional contact elements are added per device. The minimum number of contact elements can be provided on the energy storage device side, while several contact elements are provided on the supply device side in order to be prepared for the case of signal and / or data transmission with a correspondingly designed energy storage device.

[0036] The positioning of the contact elements is selected on both the energy storage device and the supply device in such a way that functionally corresponding contact elements (voltage supply / signal and / or data transmission) of the energy storage device and the supply device are in contact with each other in the coupled state, i.e. are electrically conductively contacted with each other.

[0037] The position of the contact elements on the energy storage device, or more precisely the shaft, can be selected as desired. They can therefore be grouped on any shaft interior wall or individually distributed across different shaft interior walls. However, it has proven particularly advantageous if the shaft side wall containing the first number of contact elements is the one immediately adjacent to the rear of the support rail. This way, this side wall can be supported, for example, on the rear of the support rail, while the corresponding contact elements of the supply device press onto it from inside the shaft. This makes it possible to create a pressurized electrical contact, which is advantageous for the lowest possible electrical contact.

[0038] To maintain this contact formation, it has proven effective for the supply unit to have the outer wall of the connecting part containing the second contact elements be the outer wall that, when the supply unit is inserted into the shelf rail, is oriented toward the rear of the support rail. This orientation also protects the second contact elements from unintentional or even intentionally provoked contact by objects other than the first contact elements designed for this purpose. In the worst case, this could lead to damage to the electronic components of the supply unit or even to the electronic devices connected to it via the bus system.

[0039] Furthermore, it can be provided that in the energy storage device the first contact elements run along the depth of the shaft and are positioned at a distance from one another transversely to the longitudinal extent of the shaft, wherein this longitudinal extent runs along the rear side of the support rail when the energy supply device is inserted into the support rail.

[0040] The design of the supply device is analogous to the design of the energy storage device, wherein the second contact elements run along the longitudinal extent of the connecting part, wherein this longitudinal extent runs along the rear side of the support rail when the supply device is inserted into the support rail, and are positioned at a distance from one another transversely to the longitudinal extent of the connecting element.

[0041] In this configuration of the first and second contact elements, the contact elements can be slid over one another along a straight path during the coupling movement along the back of the support rail until the electrical connection between them is established. Thanks to this configuration, unwanted electrically conductive contact between non-corresponding contact elements of the two devices is reliably prevented during the coupling movement along the back. The same applies when disengaging the coupling.

[0042] Preferably, the contact element which provides the reference potential is arranged and designed offset along the longitudinal extent of the shaft or the rigid connecting part relative to the other contact elements of the respective device such that it is contacted first during the coupling process, thereby ensuring reliable functioning of both the energy storage device and the supply device.

[0043] It has proven particularly advantageous for the first contact elements of the energy storage device to terminate at a distance from the open shaft edge. This measure has the advantage of providing a safety distance to the open shaft edge in the shaft, which protects against inadvertent contact with the first contact elements, in particular the two contact elements intended for power supply. The difficult-to-reach position of the first contact elements from outside the shaft prevents damage to the energy storage device or an unwanted, uncontrolled sudden discharge of the energy storage device caused by a short circuit between the two contact elements intended for power supply.

[0044] The design of the supply device is analogous to the design of the energy storage device, with the second contact elements terminating at a distance from the outer or free end of the connecting part. In this device, the special design primarily provides protection against mechanical damage to the often quite fragile second contact elements because they are not positioned at the front edge of the rigid connecting part.

[0045] However, it has proven particularly advantageous in the coupled state that the first and second contact elements are positioned inside the shaft, which offers reliable protection against environmental influences that could adversely affect the electrical contact.

[0046] The first contact elements as well as the second contact elements can be implemented as pins (contact pins) and / or springs or similar. However, it has proven particularly advantageous for the first contact elements to be implemented as metal strips or contact surfaces that extend from the shaft to the components that provide electrical power and / or data or signal processing components of the energy storage device, and that electrically contact these components directly or via additional conductive elements. This design has proven to be extremely robust and resilient and can also be implemented (at least partially) as a conductive path on a printed circuit board.

[0047] The design of the supply device is analogous to the design of the energy storage device, with the second contact elements being realized as metal strips that are raised at their outer first end regions, where they emerge from the connecting part, and that are electrically connected to electronic components of the supply device at their second end region. The metal strips of the supply device can have elastic properties that ensure pressure-loaded contact with the metal strips or contact surfaces of the energy storage device.

[0048] In order to continuously ensure the coupling established by means of the shaft and the rigid connecting part inserted therein, it has proven advantageous for the first coupling device of the energy storage device to have, at least in the vicinity of that region of the energy storage device intended for coupling, a first fastening element which is provided and designed for fastening the energy storage device to the supply device.

[0049] The design of the supply device is analogous to the design of the energy storage device, wherein the second coupling device of the supply device has, at least in the vicinity of that region of the supply device intended for coupling, a second fastening element which is provided and designed for fastening the supply device to the energy storage device.

[0050] The two complementary or matching fastening elements are designed and provided for the releasable connection of the energy storage device to the supply device.

[0051] In this case, it has proven particularly advantageous that the first fastening element forms a substantially rigid first locking element of a snap-in hook system, in which a movable or deformable second locking element of the snap-in hook system formed on the supply device snaps into place in the coupled position of the energy storage device with the supply device, preventing the energy storage device from being released from the supply device.

[0052] Accordingly, it is advantageous that the second fastening element of the supply device forms a substantially elastically deformable or spring-mounted second locking element of a snap-hook system, which, in the case of a substantially rigid first locking element formed on the energy storage device, snaps into place in the coupled position of the energy storage device with the supply device, preventing the energy storage device from being released from the supply device.

[0053] To ensure optimal interlocking or holding of the two locking elements, it has proven particularly advantageous for the first locking element to extend beyond the periphery of the shaft like a tab and extend beyond the second locking element when coupled. Adjacent to the overlapping area, the housing of the supply device can have an externally accessible actuation panel or a button that can be actuated there, which causes the first locking element to be released by the second locking element.

[0054] Furthermore, it can be provided that guide rails are provided on the edge of a housing of the energy storage device, which guide rails are designed and intended to engage in guide shafts of the support rail and are intended to guide the energy storage device along the rear of the support rail. These guide rails promote or facilitate coupling along the rear of the support rail. The same applies to decoupling. The guide shafts of the support rail can be provided on the rear in a receiving shaft running along the rear and intended to accommodate the energy storage device. Viewed transversely to the longitudinal extent, the guide shafts are preferably located at the upper and lower ends or edge region of the receiving shaft.The dimensions of the guide rails are dimensioned in relation to the receiving shafts in such a way that the guide rails can be easily inserted, pivoted or pressed into the guide shafts and ensure at least a minimal hold there, which is sufficient to prevent the energy storage device from falling out of the support rail due to its own weight.

[0055] It has proven particularly advantageous if, viewed in its longitudinal direction, the first end region of the energy storage device is provided for direct coupling, and if, viewed in its longitudinal direction, the guide rails are only formed in its second end region. This has the effect that, when moving along the shelf rail, the energy storage device also finds support in the support rail at its end facing away from the first coupling device, in particular the shaft, and is already guided longitudinally there before the actual coupling process is completed at its other end region intended for direct coupling.

[0056] To facilitate the coupling and uncoupling of the energy storage device, in particular to simplify the application of force when moving along the rear of the support rail, it has proven particularly advantageous if the energy storage device has a handle on its other, second end region facing away from the first end region intended for coupling. The handle preferably extends in a plane parallel to the rear of the support rail and is essentially flush with the rest of the housing rear of the energy storage device. Therefore, it does not project beyond the housing rear of the energy storage device in a direction transverse to the extension of the rear of the support rail.

[0057] Furthermore, it has proven advantageous if the thickness of the energy storage device, i.e., the distance between its housing front, which faces the rear of the support rail when inserted into the support rail, and its housing rear, is so small that the energy storage device can be completely accommodated in the support rail's receiving slot. This dimensioning of the energy storage device is unproblematic because it can be designed to be sufficiently long to accommodate all of its electronic components or those intended for storing electrical energy in its housing. Apart from the laterally mounted power supply, there are no structural restrictions on the rear of the support rail that would limit the length of the energy storage device.Dimensioned in such a way, the energy storage device allows the support rail to be held at the rear by an adapter rail that is as slim as possible - essentially flat - whereby the adapter rail easily enables attachment to the structure provided for it, such as a shelf, due to its adapted design.

[0058] The adapter rail has an optimized design on its front for attaching the support rail to itself and on the back for attaching it to another object.

[0059] As long as the adapter rail is attached to the back of the support rail, the adapter rail also conceals direct visual contact and / or direct access to the energy storage device.

[0060] Finally, it should be mentioned in general terms that the electronic devices discussed (e.g. the energy storage device, the power supply device, the shelf labels, etc.) naturally have electronics. The electronics can be discrete or integrated electronics, or a combination of both. Microcomputers, microcontrollers, Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), possibly in combination with analog or digital electronic peripheral components, can also be used. Many of the device functionalities mentioned are implemented - possibly in conjunction with hardware components - with the help of software that runs on a processor in the electronics. Devices designed for radio communication usually have an antenna configuration for sending and receiving radio signals as part of a transceiver module.The electronic devices can also have an internal electrical power supply, which can be implemented, for example, with a replaceable or rechargeable battery. The devices can also be powered wired, such as via an external power supply, or wirelessly, such as via "Power over WLAN / WiFi."

[0061] These and other aspects of the invention are apparent from the figures discussed below.

[0062] Short character description

[0063] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying figures using exemplary embodiments, to which, however, the invention is not limited. In the various figures, identical components are provided with identical reference numerals. They show schematically:

[0064] Fig. 1 a shelf rail with two electronic shelf labels attached to its front and a supply device attached to the side of the shelf rail,

[0065] Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the shelf rail according to a section shown in Figure 1,

[0066] Fig. 3 a view of the cut shelf rail with focus on the supply device,

[0067] Fig. 4 a rear view of the sectioned support rail with focus on a supply device coupled

[0068] Energy storage device,

[0069] Fig. 5 shows the supply device in a view obliquely from the front, Fig. 6 shows the energy storage device in a view obliquely from the rear, Fig. 7 - 10 shows a coupling process of the energy storage device with the supply device guided along the shelf rail.

[0070] Description of the embodiments

[0071] Figure 1 shows a shelf rail 1 viewed from a lateral position and tilted slightly forward, i.e. viewed diagonally from above in front. The visualization shows a front side V of the shelf rail 1. A rear side H of the shelf rail 1 is not visible in this view, but is indicated by the reference symbol. Furthermore, the positions or directions top 0, bottom U, left L and right R are entered in relation to the shelf rail 1. These positions or directions 0, U, L and R arise from natural usage when viewing the front V of the shelf rail 1 from the front. These positions or directions O, U, L and R are also entered consistently in the other figures in order to clearly define the orientation of the shelf rail 1 and / or the devices visible on it in the respective viewing perspective.The same applies to the marking of the front V and the back H.

[0072] Two electronic shelf labels 2 are attached to the front side V of the shelf rail 1. Viewed from the front side V, the shelf rail 1 is closed off on the right-hand side by a supply device 3, which is inserted into the structure of the shelf rail 1 from the right. The left side of the shelf rail 1 is closed off with a cover plate 4. In the direction of view of the front side V, a central web 5 can be seen, which extends from the left to the right edge of the shelf rail. At the head end, the shelf rail 1 is delimited by a cover plate 6, which is oriented diagonally forward and downwards and runs along its entire longitudinal extent. Below this, a lower part of a cable carrier 7 can be seen, which also extends from the left to the right side of the shelf rail 1 below the cover plate 6, parallel to the web 5.The cable carrier 7 carries a cable bus (not visible here - however, see Figure 2), which serves to supply the shelf chains 2. The cable carrier 7 is held by the shelf labels 2 at the top or encompassed from below, where the shelf labels 2 also contact the cable bus. The shelf labels 2 are used to display price and / or product information and are supplied with communication technology and electrical power for their operation by the supply device 3, which is in electrically conductive contact with the cable bus at the right edge of the shelf rail 1.

[0073] Figure 1 also shows a schematic sectional area F which is oriented essentially transversely to the extension of the web 5 from top O to bottom U, wherein, for the purpose of discussing the invention, the part of the shelf rail 1 located to the right of this sectional area F is discussed below.

[0074] Figure 2 visualizes the shelf rail 1 cut according to the cutting surface F in the viewing direction from its left edge to its right edge, i.e. in the direction of the supply device 3, whereby the integration of the cable carrier 7 into the shelf rail 1 and the cable bus present on the cable carrier 7, which consists of three wires 8, 9 and 10, which can be contacted continuously along its entire length on the rear side of the cable carrier 7, are visible. The wires 8, 9 and

[0075] 10 are designed as bare wires without insulation. The free space in front of the web 5 serves to accommodate the shelf labels 2, which are inserted into the shelf rail 1 from below. The free space behind the web 5 serves to accommodate an energy storage device 11, visible in this view, which is electrically and mechanically coupled to the supply device 3 and stores or provides the energy required for the electrical operation of the supply device 3 and the shelf labels 2.

[0076] Figure 2 also shows a section through an adapter rail 12, which extends along the shelf rail and is intended for attaching the shelf rail 1 to a shelf of a rack (neither shown) or another mechanically supporting structure. In the subsequent illustrations, as in Figure 1, the adapter rail is omitted because it obscures the view of the rear side R.

[0077] In detail, the view in Figure 2 shows that the shelf rail 1 has a guide shaft 13 and 14 extending along the entire longitudinal extent, immediately adjacent to the web 5, at the head end and foot end. Guide rails 15 and 16 formed on a housing of the energy storage device 11 are received in the respective guide shaft 13 and 14 at the edges (both in the longitudinal direction and in the transverse direction - see also Figures 4 and 6), which facilitates the longitudinal guidance of the energy storage device.

[0078] Furthermore, it can be seen that the thickness of the energy storage device

[0079] 11 is dimensioned such that it can be completely accommodated in the free space behind the web 5, in such a way that, when viewed in the cross-sectional view, the adapter rail 12 delimits the said free space outwards behind the energy storage device 11, flush with the contour and running parallel to the web 5 over a large area.

[0080] The energy supply device 11 further has a bow-shaped handle 17 at its left, free end, by which the energy storage device 11 can be grasped by maintenance personnel. The handle 17 facilitates coupling to the supply device 3 as well as decoupling from the supply device 3. The handle 17 runs essentially along the entire free end of the energy storage device 11 and there with sufficient distance from the web 5 (i.e., from the front of the energy supply device 11) so that the service personnel can grasp the handle 17 with at least one finger of one hand. Viewed transversely to the course of the web 5, the handle 17 has a thickness that is slightly less than half the thickness of the energy storage device 11.

[0081] The supply device 3 is fastened to the shelf rail 1 by means of a screw 20, of which only a threaded bolt can be seen in this visualization, which is screwed into a longitudinally slotted tube 21 of the shelf rail 1.

[0082] The web 5 structurally separates the front side V from the rear side R of the shelf rail 1, which is clearly visible in this illustration. The shelf rail 1 thus has a rear receiving area or receiving shaft, which extends to the left of the web 5 in this view and is intended to receive part of the supply device and the energy storage device, and a front receiving area or receiving shaft, which extends to the right of the web 5 in this view and is intended to receive part of the supply device and the shelf labels 2.

[0083] Figure 3 shows the section of the shelf rail 1 shown in Figure 2 from the front right, so that it can be seen how the supply device 3 surrounds the shelf rail 1 at its right edge from the front V to the back R.

[0084] Figure 4 shows the section of the shelf rail 1 shown in Figure 2, viewed diagonally from the rear left, wherein the coupling of the supply device 3 to the energy storage device 11 can be seen adjacent to the right edge of the shelf rail 1 on its rear side R. The two devices 3 and 11 are in a coupled position, wherein in this position a first fastening element 18 of the energy storage device 11 overlaps with a second fastening element 19 of the supply device and in the overlap area these fastening elements 18 and 19 are locked to one another or interlocked. The second fastening element 19 has an actuation field 22. If a finger is pressed on this actuation field, the connection between the two fastening elements 18 and 19 is released, so that the two devices 3 and 11 can be pulled by pulling on the energy storage device 11 orwhose handle 17 are separated from each other, i.e. decoupled.

[0085] In this view, rectangular openings 23, of which only one is provided with the reference symbol, can also be seen on the web 5, which are arranged in a grid along the longitudinal extent of the shelf rail 1 and which serve to fasten the shelf labels 2 in the predefined grid.

[0086] It should also be mentioned here that the guide rail 16 is not visible in the present perspective, but its edge-side position within the rear receiving area of ​​the shelf rail 1 is indicated by the reference symbol.

[0087] Detailed views of the supply device 3 and the energy storage device 11 are described below.

[0088] In Figure 5, the supply device 3 is shown detached from the shelf rail 1 and the energy storage device 11 in a view similar to each of Figures 1 from the front left. In this illustration, an upwardly open wire contacting shaft 24 can be seen. If the supply device 11 is inserted into the shelf rail 1, the wire contacting shaft 24 extends only along the front side V, only on the right edge area of ​​the shelf rail 1. The cable carrier 7 fits into it. It has three contact elements 25, 26 and 27 for contacting the three wires 8, 9 and 10. The wire contacting shaft 24 is therefore accessible on the front side of the shelf rail 1 (in front of the web 5). A first housing section 28 extends along the edge and forms the right-hand side lateral closure for the shelf rail 1.It houses electronics (not shown), in particular electronics for radio communication in a radio network provided for controlling the shelf labels 2. This first housing section 28 merges into a second housing section 29 extending along the rear side R, which also has electronics (not shown) provided in particular for providing the electrical supply for the shelf labels as well as for communication with the shelf labels or in the radio network.

[0089] In Figure 6, the energy storage device 11 is shown detached from the shelf rail 1 and the supply device 3, viewed diagonally from the rear right. The energy storage device 11 has a housing 30 which, viewed in the longitudinal direction, has the handle 17 at one end and which has a first coupling device in the form of a substantially square shaft 31 at its other end, which serves for the electrically conductive and mechanical coupling to the supply device 3. Electrical energy storage cells (not shown) and further electronics (also not shown) that control the charging and discharging of the energy storage cells are accommodated within the housing 30.In the shaft 31, on the shaft wall 32 facing the web 5 when inserted into the support rail 1, electrical contact surfaces 33 for establishing an electrically conductive connection with the supply device 3 are visible. These contact surfaces 33 are arranged on a printed circuit board and located at a safe distance from the open shaft edge.

[0090] It should also be mentioned here that the upper guide rail 15 is not visible in the present perspective, but its edge-side position is indicated by the reference symbol.

[0091] The supply device 3 shown in Figure 5 has, for the purpose of establishing the coupling, a substantially cuboid-shaped connecting part 34 adjoining the second housing section 29. On its side wall, which is oriented toward the web 5 when inserted into the support rail 1, resilient metallic contacts 35 for contacting the contacting surfaces 33 emerge through housing openings. The shape and dimensions of the connecting part 34 are matched to the shape and dimensions of the shaft 31 in order to ensure easy insertion into the shaft 31, guidance along the internal structure of the shaft 31, and at the same time precise positioning of the metallic contacts 35 at the positions of the contacting surfaces 33.Depending on the functional capability of the energy storage device 11, the number of metallic contacts 35 may be greater or less than that of the contacting surfaces in order to ensure functional downward compatibility.

[0092] With reference to Figure 5, it should also be mentioned that the supply device 3 also has its own edge-side guide rails 36 and 37, which, however, in the present case extend along the entire length of the second housing section 29 and, when incorporated in the shelf rail 1, are accommodated in the guide shafts 13 and 14. These guide rails 36 and 37 stabilize and secure the supply device 3 in the rear structure of the shelf rail 1. In contrast to the edge-side guide rails 15 and 16 of the energy supply device 11, they are dimensioned such that the supply device 3 can only be pushed completely out of the shelf rail 1 to the right along the shelf rail 1.In contrast, the relatively short design and slim dimensioning of the edge-side guide rails 13 and 14 allows the energy storage device 11, as soon as it is completely separated from the supply device, to be pivoted out of the rear receiving area of ​​the shelf rail 1 at any point on the shelf rail 1 in order to remove it there, or to be inserted into the rear receiving area at any point on the shelf rail 1 outside the area occupied by the supply device 3.

[0093] Figures 7 to 10 further illustrate the handling process during insertion into the shelf rail 1. The focus here is on the aspect that the coupling of the energy storage device 11 to the supply device 2 can only be carried out along the shelf rail 1 due to the special design of the first and second coupling devices.

[0094] Figure 7 shows a starting position in which the energy storage device 11 has not yet been inserted into the shelf rail 1. The energy storage device 11 is then first inserted into the shelf rail 1, i.e., into its rear receiving area, with the right-hand end intended for coupling at the rear R, and then moved into the shelf rail 1 at its end having the handle 17 until the guide strips 15 and 16 engage in the guide shafts 13 and 14, which corresponds to the state shown in Figure 8. The energy storage device 11 is then guided along the shelf rail toward the supply device 3 until the connecting part 34 penetrates the shaft 31, which corresponds to the state shown in Figure 9.As the movement continues, the connecting part 34 is completely received in the shaft 31 and the two fastening elements 18 and 19 engage with each other, so that the coupling between the supply device 3 and the energy storage device 11 is fixed, which corresponds to the state shown in Figure 10.

[0095] To remove the energy storage device 11 from the shelf rail

[0096] I, the holding connection between the two fastening elements 18 and 19 must first be released by applying pressure to the actuating field 22. The energy storage device 11 can then be removed in the reverse order of the sequence shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9. At the beginning of the removal process, i.e. initially to release the coupling, a movement of the energy storage device along the support rail 1

[0097] II away from the supply device 3 in order to release the coupling. Only then, i.e., when the shaft 31 is detached from the connecting part 34, can the energy storage device 11 be lifted out of the support rail 1.

[0098] Finally, it should be noted once again that the figures described in detail above are merely exemplary embodiments that can be modified in a variety of ways by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. For the sake of completeness, it should also be noted that the use of the indefinite articles "a" or "an" does not exclude the possibility that the relevant features may be present multiple times.

Claims

Claims 1. Energy storage device (11) for the electrical supply of a supply device (3) located at least partially on the rear side (H) of a support rail (1), which is provided for the electrical supply of at least one electronic device (2) attachable to the front side of the support rail, wherein the energy storage device (11) has a first coupling device which is designed for the direct, i.e. cable-free, electrical and mechanical coupling of the energy storage device (11) to the supply device (3).

2. Energy storage device (11) according to claim 1, wherein the first coupling device is designed for coupling the energy storage device (11) to the supply device (3) along the rear side of the support rail (1).

3. Energy storage device (11) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first coupling device has a shaft (31) with an open, in particular substantially rectangular, shaft edge, which is designed to receive a substantially rigid connecting part (34) of the supply device (3).

4. Energy storage device (11) according to claim 3, wherein the open shaft edge delimits a shaft opening which, when the energy storage device (11) is inserted into the support rail (1), runs transversely to the rear side (H) of the support rail (1).

5. Energy storage device (11) according to claim 3 to 4, wherein the shaft (31) is shaped, viewed along its depth, such that, when the energy supply device (11) is inserted into the support rail (1), it extends parallel to the rear side (H) of the support rail (1) along the rear side (H) of the support rail (1).

6. Energy storage device (11) according to claim 3 to 5, wherein the shaft (31) has on one of its shaft side walls (32) a number of electrically conductive first contact elements (33) for electrical contacting.

7. Energy storage device (11) according to claim 6, wherein the shaft side wall (32) having the number of first contact elements (33) is the one which runs immediately adjacent to the rear side (H) of the support rail (1).

8. Energy storage device (11) according to one of claims 6 to 7, wherein the first contact elements (33) run along the depth of the shaft (31) and are positioned at a distance from one another transversely to the longitudinal extent of the shaft (31), which extends along the rear side (H) of the support rail (1) when the energy supply device (11) is inserted into the support rail (1).

9. Energy storage device (11) according to one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the first contact elements (33) end at a distance from the open shaft edge.

10. Energy storage device (11) according to one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the first contact elements (33) are designed as metal strips or Contacting surfaces are realized which extend from the shaft (31) to those components providing the electrical power and / or data or signal processing components of the energy storage device (11) and electrically contact these directly or via further conductive elements.

11. Energy storage device (11) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first coupling device has, at least in the vicinity of that region of the energy storage device (11) intended for coupling, a first fastening element (18) which is provided and designed for fastening the energy storage device (11) to the supply device.

12. Energy storage device (11) according to claim 11, wherein the first fastening element (18) forms a substantially rigid first locking element of a snap hook system, in which a movable or deformable second locking element formed on the supply device (3) snaps into place in the coupled position of the energy storage device (11) with the supply device (3) to prevent the energy storage device (11) from being released from the supply device (3).

13. Energy storage device (11) according to one of the preceding claims, which has guide strips (15, 16) formed on the edge of a housing (30) of the energy storage device (11), which are designed and provided for engaging in guide shafts (13, 14) of the support rail (1) and are intended for guiding the energy storage device (11) along the rear side (H) of the support rail (1).

14. Energy storage device (11) according to claim 13, wherein, viewed in its longitudinal extent, its first end region is provided for direct coupling and, viewed in its longitudinal extent, the guide strips (15, 16) are formed only in their second end region.

15. Energy storage device (11) according to one of the preceding claims, which has a handle (17) on its other, second end region facing away from the first end region provided for coupling.

16. Supply device (3) for the electrical supply of at least one electronic device (2) which can be attached to a front side (V) of a support rail (1), wherein the supply device (3) is designed to engage laterally or behind the support rail (1) along its rear side (H) and is thus located at least partially on the rear side (H) of the support rail (1) when installed in the support rail (1), wherein the supply device (3) has a second coupling device, which is designed for the direct, i.e. cable-free, electrical and mechanical coupling of the supply device (3) to an energy storage device (11) which serves to electrically supply the supply device (3).

17. Supply device (3) according to claim 16, wherein the second coupling device is designed for coupling the energy storage device (11) to the supply device (3) along the rear side (H) of the support rail (1).

18. Supply device (3) according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the second coupling device has a substantially rigid, in particular cuboid-shaped, connecting part (34) which is dimensioned such that it can be received in a shaft (31) of the energy storage device (11) provided for this purpose, in particular a substantially cuboid-shaped shaft.

19. Supply device (3) according to claim 18, wherein when the supply device (11) is inserted into the support rail (1), the rigid connecting part (34) extends along its longitudinal extent at a distance from the rear side (H) of the support rail (1) parallel to the rear side (H) of the support rail (1) along the rear side (H) of the support rail (1).

20. Supply device (3) according to claim 18 or 19, wherein the rigid connecting part (34) has on one of its connecting part outer walls a number of electrically conductive second contact elements (35) for electrical contacting.

21. Supply device (3) according to claim 20, wherein the connecting part outer wall carrying the second contact elements (35) is the outer wall which is oriented towards the rear side (H) of the support rail (1) when the supply device (3) is inserted into the support rail (1).

22. Supply device (3) according to claim 20 or 21, wherein the second contact elements (35) run along the longitudinal extent of the connecting part (34), which runs along the rear side (H) of the support rail (1) when the supply device (3) is inserted into the support rail (81), and are positioned at a distance from one another transversely to the longitudinal extent of the connecting part (34).

23. Supply device (3) according to one of claims 20 to 22, wherein the second contact elements (34) end at a distance from the outer or free connecting part end.

24. Supply device (3) according to one of claims 20 to 23, wherein the second contact elements (35) are realized as metal strips which are raised at their outer first end regions and emerge there from the connecting part (34) and which are electrically conductively connected at their second end region to electronic components of the supply device (3).

25. Supply device (3) according to one of the preceding claims 15 to 24, wherein the second coupling device has, at least in the vicinity of that region of the supply device (3) intended for coupling, a second fastening element (19) which is provided and designed for fastening the supply device (3) to the energy storage device (11).

26. Supply device (3) according to claim 25, wherein the second fastening element (19) forms a substantially elastically deformable or spring-mounted second locking element of a snap-hook system, which, in the case of a substantially rigid first locking element formed on the energy storage device (11), snaps into place in the coupled position of the energy storage device (11) with the supply device (3), preventing the energy storage device (11) from being released from the supply device (3).

27. Support rail system comprising: - a support rail (1) for supporting at least one electronic device (2), - a supply device (3) which is provided and designed for the electrical supply of the electronic device (2) which can be attached to the front side (V) of the support rail (1) and which, when inserted into the support rail (1), is located at least partially on the rear side (H) of the support rail (1), and - an energy storage device (11) which is provided and designed to electrically supply the supply device (3) located at least partially on the rear side (H) of the support rail (1), wherein the supply device (3) and the energy storage device (11) are designed such that they are coupled to one another directly, i.e. cable-free, both electrically and mechanically on the rear side (H) of the support rail (1).

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