Display tray, product display apparatus, and control method therefor

Abstract

This display tray includes: a tray body that is movable forward and / or rearward with respect to a reference position; and a movement mechanism that moves commodities placed on the tray body forward.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a display tray, a product display device, a control method therefor, a program, and a store management system.BACKGROUND ART

[0002] PTL 1 discloses an example of a product replenishment system that replenishes a product to a product shelf. A control device for controlling a product replenishment system of PTL 1 includes: a detection unit for detecting a satisfaction state of a product on a product shelf, a first control unit for issuing, to a conveyance device, an instruction to convey a product necessary for satisfying the product shelf from a storage space toward the product shelf based on the satisfaction state, a second control unit for issuing, to a replenishment device, an instruction to move to the product shelf based on the satisfaction state, a third control unit for issuing, to the product shelf, an instruction to slide an arrangement region from an inner side of the product shelf to a front side of the product shelf such that the replenishment device can access the arrangement region where the product is arranged on the product shelf, and a fourth control unit for allowing the replenishment device to lift the product conveyed by the conveyance device and replenish the product to the arrangement region where the product is slid forward.CITATION LISTPatent Literature

[0003] PTL 1: JP 2019-202844 ASUMMARY OF INVENTIONTechnical Problem

[0004] In the technique described in the above-described literature, the replenishment processing is performed in a case where the satisfaction rate of the product shelf falls below a predetermined rate, but there is a problem that the work efficiency is poor because the product is grasped by the hand portion provided at the distal end of the arm of the replenishment device to replenish the replenishing region of the product shelf.

[0005] In view of the above-described problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a display tray, a product display device, a control method therefor, a program, and a store management system that improve efficiency of product replenishment work.Solution to Problem

[0006] A display tray according to the present disclosure includes

[0007] a tray main body movable to at least one of a front side and a rear side with respect to a reference position, and

[0008] a moving means for moving a product placed on the tray main body forward.

[0009] A product display device according to the present disclosure is used with a display shelf having a display tray that can be pulled out to a front side, the product display device including

[0010] a holding means for holding a conveyance tray on which a product for filling is mounted,

[0011] at least one movable unit capable of moving the product, and

[0012] a control means for controlling the movable unit, wherein

[0013] the control means controls, in a case where the product is replenished to the display tray, the movable unit to

[0014] move the display tray forward,

[0015] bring the conveyance tray adjacent to the display tray, and

[0016] move the product in the conveyance tray to the display tray.

[0017] A store management system according to the present disclosure includes,

[0018] a display tray, and

[0019] a product display device for replenishing products to the display tray, wherein

[0020] the display tray includes

[0021] a tray main body movable to at least one of a front side and a rear side with respect to a reference position, and

[0022] a moving means for moving a product placed on a bottom surface of the tray main body forward,

[0023] the product display device is used with a display shelf having the display tray that can be pulled out to a front side, and includes,

[0024] a holding means for holding a conveyance tray on which the product for filling is mounted,

[0025] at least one movable unit capable of moving the product, and a control means for controlling the movable unit, and

[0026] the control means controls, in a case where the product is replenished to the display tray, the movable unit to

[0027] move the display tray forward,

[0028] bring the conveyance tray adjacent to the display tray, and

[0029] move the product in the conveyance tray to the display tray.

[0030] A control method according to the present disclosure is a control method of a product display device for replenishing a product to a display tray including

[0031] a tray main body movable to at least one of a front side and a rear side with respect to a reference position, and

[0032] a moving means for moving a product placed on a bottom surface of the tray main body forward, wherein

[0033] the product display device is used with a display shelf having the display tray that can be pulled out to a front side, the product display device including

[0034] a holding means for holding a conveyance tray on which the product for filling is mounted, and

[0035] at least one movable unit capable of moving the product, and

[0036] one or more computers for implementing the product display device controls, in a case where the product is replenished to the display tray, the movable unit to

[0037] move the display tray forward,

[0038] bring the conveyance tray adjacent to the display tray, and

[0039] move the product in the conveyance tray to the display tray.

[0040] A program according to the present disclosure is a program for causing a computer for controlling a movable unit of a product display device that is used with a display shelf having a display tray that can be pulled out to a front side and includes,

[0041] a holding means for holding a conveyance tray on which the product for filling is mounted, and

[0042] at least one movable unit capable of moving the product, to execute processing of

[0043] in a case where the product is replenished to the display tray,

[0044] moving the display tray forward,

[0045] bringing the conveyance tray adjacent to the display tray, and

[0046] moving the product in the conveyance tray to the display tray.

[0047] Another example of the present disclosure may be a program that causes at least one or more computers to execute the method of the above disclosure, or a computer readable recording medium recording such a program. The recording medium includes a non-transitory tangible medium.

[0048] The computer program includes a computer program code that, if executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform a control method and a management method on a product display device or a management device.

[0049] Arbitrary combinations of the above components and modifications of the expressions of the present disclosure among methods, apparatuses, systems, recording media, computer programs, and the like are also effective as aspects of the present disclosure.

[0050] The various components of the present disclosure do not necessarily have to be independent from each other, and a plurality of components may be formed as one member, one component may be formed of a plurality of members, a certain component may be a part of another component, a part of a certain component may overlap with a part of another component, and the like.

[0051] In the method and the computer program of the present disclosure, a plurality of procedures are described in order, but the described order does not limit the order of executing the plurality of procedures. Therefore, in a case where the method and the computer program of the present disclosure are implemented, the order of the plurality of procedures can be changed within a range in which there is no problem in content.

[0052] The plurality of procedures of the method and computer program of the present disclosure are not limited to being executed at individually different timings. Therefore, another procedure may be executed during the execution of a certain procedure, the execution timing of a certain procedure may partially or entirely overlap with the execution timing of another procedure, or the like.Advantageous Effects of Invention

[0053] According to the present disclosure, a display tray, a product display device, a control method therefor, a program, and a store management system that improve efficiency of product replenishment work are obtained.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0054] FIG. 1 It is a diagram for describing a tray according to the present disclosure.

[0055] FIG. 2 It is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a product display device according to the present disclosure.

[0056] FIG. 3 It is a diagram for describing the tray according to the present disclosure.

[0057] FIG. 4 It is a diagram for explaining a product replenishment work by the product display device according to the present disclosure.

[0058] FIG. 5 It is a diagram for explaining a moving mechanism of the tray according to the present disclosure.

[0059] FIG. 6 It is a diagram for explaining the moving mechanism of the tray according to the present disclosure.

[0060] FIG. 7 It is a diagram for explaining the moving mechanism of the tray according to the present disclosure.

[0061] FIG. 8 It is a diagram illustrating a detailed structural example of a tray main body of the tray according to the present disclosure.

[0062] FIG. 9 It is a diagram illustrating a detailed structural example of the tray according to the present disclosure.

[0063] FIG. 10 It is a diagram illustrating a detailed structural example of the tray main body of the tray according to the present disclosure.

[0064] FIG. 11 It is a diagram illustrating a detailed structural example of the tray according to the present disclosure.

[0065] FIG. 12 It is a diagram for explaining a product moving unit of the product display device according to the present disclosure.

[0066] FIG. 13 It is a diagram conceptually illustrating a system configuration of a store management system according to the present disclosure.

[0067] FIG. 14 It is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a computer that implements the control device of the product display device and the server device according to the present disclosure.

[0068] FIG. 15 It is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the control device of the product display device according to the present disclosure.

[0069] FIG. 16 It is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation of the control device of the product display device according to the present disclosure.

[0070] FIG. 17 It is a flowchart showing a detailed processing operation of step S109 in FIG. 16.

[0071] FIG. 18 It is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of a management device according to the present disclosure.

[0072] FIG. 19 It is a diagram illustrating a data structure example of robot information according to the present disclosure.

[0073] FIG. 20 It is a diagram illustrating a data structure example of display shelf inventory management information according to the present disclosure.

[0074] FIG. 21 It is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation of the management device according to the present disclosure.

[0075] FIG. 22 It is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the management device according to the present disclosure.

[0076] FIG. 23 It is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation of the management device according to the present disclosure.

[0077] FIG. 24 It is a diagram for explaining a product replenishment work by the product display device according to the present disclosure.

[0078] FIG. 25 It is a diagram for explaining a product replenishment work by the product display device according to the present disclosure.EXAMPLE EMBODIMENT

[0079] Hereinafter, in the present disclosure, the drawings are associated with one or more example embodiments. In all the drawings, similar components are denoted by similar reference signs, and descriptions thereof will be omitted as appropriate. In each of the following drawings, a configuration of a portion not related to the essence of the present disclosure is omitted and not illustrated.

[0080] In the present disclosure, the “acquisition” includes at least one of an own device going to obtain data or information stored in another device or a storage medium (active acquisition) and an own device receiving data or information output from another device (passive acquisition). Examples of the active acquisition include requesting or inquiring another device and receiving a reply thereto and accessing another device or a storage medium and reading the data or information. Examples of passive acquisition include reception of information to be distributed (alternatively, transmission, push notification, and the like). Furthermore, “acquisition” may be selecting and acquiring from among received data or information or selecting and receiving distributed data or information.Configuration Example

[0081] FIG. 1 is a diagram for describing a tray 10 according to the present disclosure.

[0082] The tray 10 includes a tray main body 12 and a moving mechanism 20. The tray 10 is a display tray arranged on a display shelf on which products 30 are displayed.

[0083] The tray main body 12 is movable at least to one of forward or rearward with respect to a reference position P1.

[0084] The moving mechanism 20 moves the product 30 placed on the tray main body 12 forward (in the direction from the reference position P1 to the position P2).Operation Example

[0085] As illustrated in FIG. 1, in a case where the tray main body 12 is pulled out forward, the moving mechanism 20 converts a pulling force f1 into a force for pulling the product 30 placed on the tray main body 12 forward, and moves the product 30 toward the front side of the tray main body 12 by a mechanical mechanism. In this example, the moving mechanism 20 converts the force f1 for pulling out the tray main body 12 into a force for abutting a push-out plate 22 to the product 30 and moving the push-out plate to the front side of the tray main body 12 (force f2 for bringing the product closer).

[0086] According to the tray 10, the product 30 placed on the tray main body 12 can be moved forward by the moving mechanism 20 simply by pulling out the tray main body 12 forward, and thus a space behind the tray main body 12 becomes vacant, and the product 30 can be replenished to the vacant space. Accordingly, the efficiency of the product replenishment work can be improved.Configuration Example

[0087] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a product display device 100 according to the present disclosure. Hereinafter, the product display device 100 is also referred to as a robot 100. The product display device 100 includes a camera 102, at least one arm (movable unit) 104, a robot supporting column 106, a tray holding unit 112, a moving mechanism 120, and a control device 130 (not illustrated in FIG. 2).

[0088] The robot 100 is used together with the above-described display shelf having a display tray 10 that can be pulled out forward. The tray holding unit 112 holds a conveyance tray 110 on which replenishment products 30 to be replenished (displayed) on the display shelf 80 are mounted. The arm 104 can move the product 30, and can also move the display tray 10 and the conveyance tray 110. The control device 130 controls the arm 104.

[0089] The robot supporting column 106 is placed on the tray holding unit 112 and supports the camera 102 and the arm 104. The robot supporting column 106 may be movable or may not be movable. The moving mechanism 120 is controlled by the control device 130 to move the robot 100 to a predetermined region (e.g., in the store 5 and in the backyard 7). The moving mechanism 120 is not particularly limited, but for example, rotates a rotary member such as a crawler to move the robot 100.

[0090] In a case where the product 30 is replenished to the display tray 10, the control device 130 controls the arm 104 to move the display tray 10 forward, bring the conveyance tray 110 adjacent to the display tray 10, and move the product 30 in the conveyance tray 110 to the display tray 110.

[0091] The camera 102 images a display shelf 80 of the store 5 and generates an image.

[0092] The camera 102 may include a mechanism that performs control of the orientation of the camera main body or the lens, zoom control, focusing, and the like according to the position and orientation of the imaging target.

[0093] The image generated by the camera 102 is preferably captured in real time and transmitted to the control device 130 or a server device 200. However, the image transmitted to the control device 130 or the server device 200 may not be directly transmitted from the camera 102, and may be an image delayed by a predetermined time. The image captured by the camera 102 may be temporarily stored in another storage device, and the control device 130 or the server device 200 may read the image sequentially or at predetermined intervals from the storage device. Furthermore, the image transmitted to the control device 130 or the server device 200 is preferably a moving image, but may be a frame image at predetermined intervals or a still image.

[0094] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the front surface of the tray main body 12 has a protrusion 24 that can be gripped by the arm 104 of the robot 100. The robot 100 can grasp the protrusion 24 of the tray main body 12 with the arm 104 and pull out the tray main body 12 forward.Operation Example

[0095] Hereinafter, the replenishment work of the product 30 by the product display device 100 will be described with reference to FIG. 4.

[0096] In this example, two types of products 30a and 30c are displayed side by side. The product 30a is placed on the display tray 82a, and the product 30c is placed on the display tray 82c. Here, the replenishment work of the product 30a will be described.

[0097] First, the robot 100 pulls out the display tray 82a of the product 30a forward to move the product 30a to the front side of the display tray 82a, and creates a space for replenishing products behind the display tray 82a. Next, the robot 100 moves the display tray 82a of the product 30a further forward so as not to overlap the display tray 82c of the product 30c. That is, the robot 100 makes a space adjacent to the display tray 82a of the product 30a. The robot 100 brings the conveyance tray 84 adjacent to the empty space. On the conveyance tray 84, a product 30b for replenishment is placed in advance. Then, the robot 100 slidably moves the product 30b for replenishment placed on the conveyance tray 84 to the space for product replenishment of the adjacent display tray 82a. Then, the robot 100 removes the conveyance tray 84 and returns the display tray 82a to the original position.

[0098] The product display device 100 includes a tray holding unit 112, an arm 104, and a control device 130. In a case where the product is replenished to the display tray 82, the control device 130 controls the arm 104 to move the display tray 82 forward, bring the conveyance tray 84 adjacent to the display tray 82, and move the products 30 in the conveyance tray 84 to the display tray 82.

[0099] As described above, according to the present example embodiment, the efficiency of the product replenishment work can be improved by using the product display device 100 and the tray 10.

[0100] Hereinafter, a detailed example of the tray according to the present disclosure will be described.First Example EmbodimentTray 10

[0101] Hereinafter, description will be given with reference to FIG. 1.

[0102] The tray 10 includes the tray main body 12 and the moving mechanism 20. The tray 10 is a display tray arranged on a display shelf on which products 30 are displayed.

[0103] The planar shape of the tray main body 12 is a rectangle in which the front surface side and the rear surface side are short sides.

[0104] The bottom surface of the tray main body 12 is substantially horizontal in a state of being accommodated on the display shelf. In this example, the tray main body 12 is movably placed on the upper surface of the shelf board 81 of the display shelf.

[0105] The tray main body 12 is movable at least to one of forward or rearward with respect to a reference position P1.

[0106] The moving mechanism 20 moves the product 30 placed on the tray main body 12 forward (in the direction from the reference position P1 to the position P2).

[0107] The tray 10 has a movable member that moves by movement of the tray main body 12. The moving mechanism 20 moves the product 30 forward using kinetic energy generated in the movable member.

[0108] The movable member is a rotary member. The moving mechanism 20 includes a push-out member for pushing the product 30 forward accompanying the rotation of the rotary member.Moving Mechanism 20

[0109] Next, a detailed example of the moving mechanism 20 of the tray 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7.First Example

[0110] The tray 10 of FIG. 5 includes, as the moving mechanism 20, a guide 52, a belt 54, and a push-out plate 22.

[0111] The belt 54 has one end connected to the push-out plate 22 and the other end connected to one end 81a of the shelf board 81 of the display shelf, and is movably accommodated in the guide 52. In a case where the tray main body 12 is at the reference position P1, the guide 52 is installed at a place located at the center on the back side of the bottom surface of the tray main body 12 along the long side direction of the bottom surface of the tray main body 12.

[0112] Furthermore, the guide 52 is curved along a curve drawn by the belt 54 in which the belt 54 is directed upward from the back side of the bottom surface of the tray main body 12 and one end is connected to the push-out plate 22.

[0113] In a case where the tray main body 12 moves from the reference position P1 to the position P2 on the front side by the pulling force f1, the pulling force f1 is converted into a force f2 for pulling the product 30 forward. Specifically, since the other end of the belt 54 moves to the right side in the drawing along the guide 52 by the pulling force f1, one end of the belt 54 is pushed out in a direction of moving the push-out plate 22 to the left side in the drawing, that is, to the front side. In this way, the push-out plate 22 moves forward. Thus, in this example, the belt 54 is both a movable member and a push-out member. The push-out plate 22 is an example of a push-out member.

[0114] According to the tray 10, the product 30 placed on the tray main body 12 can be moved forward by the moving mechanism 20 simply by pulling out the tray main body 12 forward, and thus a space behind the tray main body 12 becomes vacant, and the product 30 can be replenished to the vacant space. Accordingly, the efficiency of the product replenishment work can be improved.Second Example

[0115] The tray 10 of FIG. 6 includes, as the moving mechanism 20, a first rack 44, a second rack 45, a pinion 46, a gear 48, and the push-out plate 22.

[0116] The rotation shaft 42 of the pinion 46 and the gear 48 is installed on the rear side of the bottom surface of the tray main body 12 in parallel with the short side direction. The second rack 45 is installed on the shelf board 81 of the display shelf, and if the tray main body 12 moves from the reference position P1 to the position P2 on the front side, the second rack 45 moves to the right side in the drawing, and the gear 48 rotates in a direction of moving forward on the second rack 45. By this rotation, the first rack 44 and the push-out plate 22 move to the left side in the drawing, that is, to the front side of the tray main body 12.

[0117] In this example, the pinion 46 and the gear 48 are examples of the movable member, and the first rack 44 and the push-out plate 22 are examples of the push-out member.

[0118] In this manner, the force f1 for pulling out the tray main body 12 is converted into the force f2 for pulling the product 30 forward.

[0119] According to the tray 10, the product 30 placed on the tray main body 12 can be moved forward by the moving mechanism 20 simply by pulling out the tray main body 12 forward, and thus a space behind the tray main body 12 becomes vacant, and the product 30 can be replenished to the vacant space. Accordingly, the efficiency of the product replenishment work can be improved.Third Example

[0120] The tray 10 of FIG. 7 includes, as the moving mechanism 20, a tire 60, a pair of gears 64, and a belt 66 that meshes with the two gears 64 installed spaced apart. The belt 66 moves only in the forward direction by the ratchet mechanism of the gear 64. The surface of the upper belt 66 is exposed to the upper surface of the bottom surface of the tray main body 12, and the product 30 is placed on the surface of the belt 66.

[0121] The rotation shafts 62 of the two gears 64 are provided on the rear side and the front side of the tray main body 12 in parallel to the short side direction, and are arranged such that the belt 66 moves along the long side direction of the tray main body 12. The tire 60 moving on the shelf board 81 of the display shelf is installed coaxially with the rotation shaft 62 of the rear gear 64.

[0122] If the tray main body 12 moves from the reference position P1 to the position P2 on the front side, the tire 60 rotates and moves on the display shelf. At this time, since the gear 64 coaxial with the tire 60 also rotates, the belt 66 meshing with the gear 64 moves, and the front gear 64 also rotates. Since the upper belt 66 moves toward the front side of the tray main body 12, the product 30 placed on the upper surface of the belt 66 moves toward the front side of the tray main body 12.

[0123] In this example, the tire 60 and the gear 64 are examples of a rotary member, and the belt 66 is an example of a push-out member.

[0124] According to the tray 10, the product 30 placed on the tray main body 12 can be moved forward by the moving mechanism 20 simply by pulling out the tray main body 12 forward, and thus a space behind the tray main body 12 becomes vacant, and the product 30 can be replenished to the vacant space. Accordingly, the efficiency of the product replenishment work can be improved.

[0125] As described above, according to the tray 10 of the present example embodiment, the product 30 placed on the tray main body 12 can be moved forward by the moving mechanism 20 only by pulling out the tray main body 12 forward with a simple structure, and thus a space behind the tray main body 12 becomes vacant, and the product 30 can be replenished to the vacant space. Accordingly, the efficiency of the product replenishment work can be improved.Tray Main Body 12

[0126] Next, a detailed example of the structure of the tray main body 12 will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 11.First Example

[0127] As illustrated in FIG. 8, a planar shape of the tray main body 12 of the display tray 82 is a rectangle in which the front surface side and the rear surface side are short sides. The tray main body 12 of the display tray 82 includes a side surface 16 on at least one of the long sides of a rectangle. In the example of FIG. 8, the tray main body 12 of the display tray 82 further has side surfaces 18 on both short sides of the rectangle. Furthermore, on the side surface 18 on the front surface of the tray main body 12 of the display tray 82, a label 88 on which information that can specify the product 30 placed on the tray main body 12 of the display tray 82 is described is provided. Furthermore, as described later, the label 88 may further include a two-dimensional code or a marker in which information that can specify at least one of the tray main body 12 and the position of the tray main body 12 of the display tray 82 is recorded.

[0128] As illustrated in FIG. 8(b), in a case where the product 30 is replenished to the display tray 82, the conveyance tray 84 is arranged in such a way as to be adjacent to the display tray 82. The planar shape of the tray main body 12 of the conveyance tray 84 is a rectangle in which the front surface side and the rear surface side are short sides. The tray main body 12 of the conveyance tray 84 includes a side surface 16 on a side not adjacent to the display tray 82 among the long sides of the rectangle. Furthermore, the tray main body 12 of the conveyance tray 84 has side surfaces 18 on both short sides of the rectangle.

[0129] The bottom surface 14 of the display tray 82 and the bottom surface 14 of the conveyance tray 84 are arranged in such a way as to be flush with each other. As described above, since the tray main body 12 of the conveyance tray 84 has the side surface 16 on the side not adjacent to the conveyance tray 84 among the long sides of the rectangle, it is possible to slide and move the product 30 placed on the conveyance tray 84 from the conveyance tray 84 to the empty area of the display tray 82 without lifting up the product to replenish the product.Second Example

[0130] As illustrated in FIG. 9, the display tray 82 has a moving belt 70 on the bottom surface 14. The moving belt 70 comes into contact with the product 30 and moves the product 30 toward the front surface of the tray main body 12. The moving belt 70 is, for example, a belt 66 that is moved by the moving mechanism 20 of FIG. 7 described above. The surface of the moving belt 70 is made of a material having a surface frictional force equal to or greater than a first threshold value and equal to or smaller than a second threshold value with the contact surface of the product 30. That is, the product 30 is moved to the front side of the tray main body 12 with the movement of the moving belt 70 by the surface frictional force equal to or greater than the first threshold value. On the other hand, in a case where the product 30 is moved to the front side of the tray main body 12 by the surface frictional force equal to or smaller than the second threshold value, abuts with the side surface 18 on the front side of the tray main body 12 or the product 30 placed on the front side, and thereafter the moving belt 70 is moved to move another product 30, the product 30 in the above state is stopped, and only the moving belt 70 can move.

[0131] As illustrated in the top view of FIG. 9(b), the moving belt 70 is inclined with respect to the long side in such a way as to approach from one long side to the other long side as it approaches the front surface of the tray main body 12. The tray main body 12 has a side surface 16 on the other long side. Therefore, if the product 30 is pushed out to the front surface of the tray main body 12, the product moves in a direction in which the side surface 16 exists, so that the product 30 can be prevented from falling from the one long side in which the side surface 16 does not exist.Third Example

[0132] As illustrated in FIG. 10, the planar shape of the tray main body 12 is a rectangle in which the front surface side and the rear surface side are short sides. A plurality of tray main bodies 12 can be coupled in the short side direction. The tray main body 12 in FIG. 10 can be applied to both the display tray 82 and the conveyance tray 84.

[0133] FIG. 10(a) illustrates a state in which two tray main bodies 12 are coupled. FIG. 10(b) illustrates a state in which three tray main bodies 12 are coupled. The tray in which three tray main bodies 12 are coupled in FIG. 10(b) allows the product 30b having a larger size to be placed than the tray in which two tray main bodies 12 are coupled in FIG. 10(a).

[0134] However, although not illustrated in this example, the side surface 16 is provided on one of the long sides of the rectangle of the coupled tray main bodies 12.Fourth Example

[0135] As illustrated in FIG. 11, the tray main body 12 of the conveyance tray 84 includes at least one moving member 72 that moves the product 30 to be placed toward the display tray 82 in the short side direction of the rectangle. The moving member 72 can have, for example, a structure in which a belt and a gear are combined as illustrated in FIG. 7. However, in this example, the gear rotates by rotation of a motor (not illustrated) driven by power supplied from the robot 100 to move the belt.Fifth Example

[0136] FIG. 12 illustrates an example of a product moving unit 72 included in the robot 100. In the example of FIG. 12, the product moving unit 72 is a part of the movable unit (arm 104) of the robot 100, and moves the product 30 to the display tray 82. The product moving unit 72 is a push-out member (plate) that pushes out the product 30 placed on the tray main body 12 of the conveyance tray 84 to an empty area of the display tray 82. The product moving unit 72 is grasped by the arm 104 of the robot 100, abuts on the product 30b placed on the conveyance tray 84, and slidably moves the product 30b from the conveyance tray 84 to the empty area of the display tray 82.

[0137] The push-out member can simultaneously move the plurality of products 30 to the display tray 82. In this example, two products 30b are simultaneously moved from the conveyance tray 84 to the display tray 82.

[0138] As described above, according to the tray 10 of the present example embodiment, the movement of the product 30 from the conveyance tray 84 to the display tray 82 can be achieved only by slidably moving the product 30 without lifting, so that the efficiency of the product replenishment work can be improved.Second Example EmbodimentSystem Overview

[0139] A detailed example of a store management system including a tray and a product display device according to the present disclosure will be described.

[0140] FIG. 13 is a diagram conceptually illustrating a system configuration of a store management system 1 according to the present disclosure.

[0141] The store management system 1 automates a shelf stocking operation of the display shelf 80 in the store 5 using a product display device (robot) 100. The store 5 is, for example, a retail store such as a supermarket, a drug store, or a convenience store. In such retail stores, shelf stocking operation accounts for approximately 20% of the overall operations. The shelf stocking work is a hard work. In addition, if there is a delay in shelf stocking, it may lead to a loss of sales opportunities. For this reason, since the shelf stocking work is the most important operation, there is a possibility that customer service operation leading to customer satisfaction and sales is neglected due to being pressed by the shelf stocking work.

[0142] The store management system 1 according to the present disclosure goes around in the store 5, checks the remaining number of each product 30, and automatically performs a shelf stocking operation of conveying the product 30 from the backyard 7 and displaying the product on the display shelf 80 before the product runs out. According to the store management system 1, a loss of sales opportunities due to an item deficiency can be reduced, and employees can focus on serving customers without being pressed by the shelf stocking work.

[0143] Store management system 1 includes the server device 200, the product display device 100, and the tray 10. The server device 200 and the product display device 100 are connected via a communication network 3. Since the tray 10 has been described in the above example embodiment, a detailed description thereof will be omitted in the present example embodiment.

[0144] The server device 200 includes a storage device 220. The storage device 220 may be provided inside the server device 200 or may be provided outside. That is, the storage device 220 may be hardware integrated with the server device 200, or may be hardware separate from the server device 200.

[0145] The robot 100 performs a shelf stocking work in accordance with an instruction from the server device 200. The shelf stocking work will be described later.

[0146] The server device 200 instructs the robot 100 to perform the shelf stocking work by using the information regarding the deficiency of the products 30 detected by the robot 100 and the information regarding the display of the display shelf 80. Furthermore, in an example embodiment to be described later, the server device 200 performs demand prediction of the product 30 and instructs the robot 100 to perform a work of replacing the product according to the demand.Hardware Configuration Example

[0147] FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a computer 1000 that implements the control device 130 of the product display device 100 and the server device 200 according to the present disclosure.

[0148] The computer 1000 includes a bus 1010, a processor 1020, a memory 1030, a storage device 1040, an input / output interface 1050, and a network interface 1060.

[0149] The bus 1010 is a data transmission path for the processor 1020, the memory 1030, the storage device 1040, the input / output interface 1050, and the network interface 1060 to transmit and receive data to and from each other. However, the method for connecting the processor 1020 and the like to each other is not limited to the bus connection.

[0150] The processor 1020 is a processor implemented by a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), or the like.

[0151] The memory 1030 is a main storage device implemented by a Random Access Memory (RAM) or the like.

[0152] The storage device 1040 is an auxiliary storage device implemented by a Hard Disk Drive (HDD), a Solid State Drive (SSD), a memory card, a Read Only Memory (ROM), or the like. The storage device 1040 stores a program module for implementing functions of the control device 130 of the product display device 100 (a movement control unit 132, a tray position acquisition unit 134, a deficient number acquisition unit 136, a tray control unit 138, a product replenishing unit 140, etc. to be described later) and functions of the server device 200 (a robot position information acquisition unit 202, a display shelf information acquisition unit 204, a robot work information acquisition unit 206, a robot instruction unit 208, a history information acquisition unit 210, an event information acquisition unit 212, a demand prediction unit 214, and a display information generation unit 216, a work information generation unit 218, etc. to be described later). The processor 1020 implements the functions associated with the program modules by reading and executing the program modules on the memory 1030. In addition, the storage device 1040 may also store each data of the storage device 220 of the server device 200.

[0153] The program module may be recorded in a recording medium. The recording medium that records the program module includes a non-transitory tangible medium that can be used by the computer 1000, and a program code readable by the computer 1000 (processor 1020) may be embedded in the medium.

[0154] The input / output interface 1050 is an interface that connects the computer 1000 and various input / output devices. The input / output interface 1050 also functions as a communication interface that performs near field radio communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or Near Field Communication (NFC).

[0155] The network interface 1060 is an interface for connecting the computer 1000 to the communication network 3. The communication network 3 is, for example, a Local Area Network (LAN) or a Wide Area Network (WAN). A method of connecting the network interface 1060 to the communication network 3 may be wireless connection or wired connection.

[0156] Then, the computer 1000 is connected to a necessary device (e.g., a display, a touch panel, an operation button, a touch pad, a keyboard, a mouse, a speaker, a microphone, a camera, a printer, etc. of the server device 200, such as the camera 102, the arm 104, the robot supporting column 106, the tray holding unit 112, the moving mechanism 120, the speaker, or the microphone of the product display device 100) via the input / output interface 1050 or the network interface 1060.

[0157] Each component of the control device 130 of the product display device 100 and the server device 200 according to the present disclosure in each drawing is achieved by an arbitrary combination of hardware and software of the computer 1000 in FIG. 14. Those skilled in the art will understand that there are various modifications of the implementation method and device. A functional block diagram illustrating the control device 130 of the product display device 100 and the server device 200 according to the present disclosure in each drawing illustrates a logical functional unit block instead of a hardware unit configuration.

[0158] Furthermore, the control device 130 of the product display device 100 according to the present disclosure may be achieved as one chip or device, or may be achieved in a form of being mounted on the product display device 100.

[0159] Furthermore, the camera 102 of the robot 100 includes an imaging element such as a lens and a Charge Coupled Device (CCD) image sensor. The camera 102 may be, for example, a network camera such as an Internet Protocol (IP) camera. The network camera has, for example, a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) communication function, and is connected to the server device 200 via a relay device (not illustrated) such as a router of the communication network 3.Functional Configuration Example

[0160] First, the control device 130 of the robot 100 according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIG. 15.

[0161] The control device 130 includes a movement control unit 132, a tray position acquisition unit 134, a deficient number acquisition unit 136 (deficient number specifying means), a tray control unit 138 (control unit), and a product replenishing unit 140 (control unit).

[0162] The movement control unit 132 controls the moving mechanism 120 of the robot 100 in FIG. 2 to move the robot 100 in the store 5 and the backyard 7.

[0163] As the movement of the moving mechanism 120 is controlled by the movement control unit 132, the robot 100 can perform the following works.

[0164] (Work 1) Open a package 32 of the product 30 and take out the product 30, place the product 30 on the conveyance tray 84 and prepare for shelf stocking in the backyard 7 at a predetermined timing according to the schedule. However, in the case of a convenience store or the like, there is a case where the backyard 7 cannot secure a sufficient size, and thus, the preparation work may be performed in the warehouse for the product 30 and carried into the store 5.

[0165] (Work 2) Go around in the store 5, move to the front of the display shelf 80, image the display shelf 80 with the camera 102, and detect deficiency of the products 30 at a predetermined timing according to a schedule.

[0166] (Work 3) In response to the detection of the deficiency of the product 30, accommodate the plurality of conveyance trays 110 in FIG. 2 on which the deficient product 30 is placed in the tray holding unit 112 of the robot 100 in FIG. 2 in the backyard 7.

[0167] (Work 4) Move into the store 5 and move to the front of the display shelf 80 on which the product 30 is displayed.

[0168] (Work 5) After displaying (replenishing) the product 30 on the display shelf 80, and return to the backyard 7.

[0169] The tray position acquisition unit 134 processes an image of the display shelf 80 imaged using the camera 102 to acquire position information of the display tray 82. A method of acquiring the position information of the display tray 82 is exemplified below, but is not limited thereto.

[0170] (Acquiring method 1) Give a two-dimensional code 86 indicating identification information that can specify the display tray 82 to a label 88 provided on a side surface 18 in front of the display tray 82. The two-dimensional code 86 is read by processing the image 90, and identification information of the display tray 82 is acquired. Furthermore, a two-dimensional code or a marker indicating information that can specify the position of the shelf board 81 of the display shelf 80 in which the display tray 82 is accommodated is provided in front of the shelf board 81. By processing the image 90, the two-dimensional code or the marker is read, and the position of the shelf board 81 of the display shelf 80 in which the display tray 82 is accommodated is specified. Information indicating the position specified in the identification information of the display tray 82 is acquired in association.

[0171] (Acquiring method 2) Using the image 90 obtained by imaging the entire display shelf 80 or a predetermined region, a predetermined position (e.g., the upper left corner position) of the label 88 on the display tray 82 in the image 90 is detected. The position in the image 90 is specified in two-dimensional coordinates (x, y) as a relative position in the entire display shelf 80 or in a predetermined region included in the image 90. Positional information of each of the plurality of display trays 82 included in the region is associated with information that can specify the entire display shelf 80 or the predetermined region.

[0172] In addition, on the label 88, the name of the product 30 placed on the tray main body 12 is described. Furthermore, the label 88 may describe identification information that can specify the product 30. The tray position acquisition unit 134 may read and acquire at least one of the name and the identification information of the product 30 placed on the tray main body 12 from the label 88.

[0173] The deficient number acquisition unit 136 processes the image of the display shelf 80 and specifies the deficient number of the products 30. Various methods for specifying the deficient number of the products 30 by the deficient number acquisition unit 136 are conceivable and exemplified below, but are not limited thereto.

[0174] (Specifying method 1) Specify a region of the product 30 of the tray main body 12 and an entire region of the tray main body 12 by image processing. The number of products 30 that can be placed on the tray main body 12 and the number of products 30 placed on the tray main body 12 are calculated from a region occupied by one product 30 placed on the tray main body 12. The number of products 30 placed on the tray main body 12 is subtracted from the number of the products 30 that can be placed on the tray main body 12 to calculate the deficient number of the products 30. The product 30 placed on the tray main body 12 may be specified by performing image processing on the label 88 as described above. Alternatively, the product 30 may be specified by collating the feature amount of each product 30 stored in advance in the memory 1030 or the storage device 1040 (hereinafter, referred to as a storage unit of the control device 130) of the computer 1000 with the feature amount extracted from the product 30 in the image 90 by the image processing.

[0175] (Specifying method 2) Specify a region of the tray main body 12 where the product 30 is not placed by image processing. The number of products 30 that can be placed in the region is calculated from the region occupied by one product 30 placed on the tray main body 12, and is taken as the deficient number of the products 30.

[0176] (Specifying method 3) Specify the number of products 30 placed on the tray main body 12 by image processing. The number of products 30 that can be placed on the tray main body 12 stored in advance in the storage unit of the control device 130 is acquired. Alternatively, the number of products 30 that can be placed on the tray main body 12 calculated by the method of the specifying method 1 may be used.

[0177] However, in a case where there are a plurality of types of shapes and sizes of the tray main body 12, the number of products 30 that can be placed on the tray main body 12 is stored in the storage unit of the control device 130 for each type of the tray main body 12. Furthermore, information that can specify the type of the tray main body 12 is recorded on the label 88 of the tray main body 12. The type of the tray main body 12 is specified by image processing. The number of products 30 placed on the tray main body 12 is subtracted from the number of the products 30 that can be placed on the tray main body 12 to calculate the deficient number of the products 30.

[0178] (Specifying method 4) Provide a predetermined mark on the bottom surface of the tray main body 12. The marker is detected by image processing, and a region where the product 30 is not placed is calculated according to a detection rate of the marker. That is, the marker in the region where the product 30 is placed of the bottom surface of the tray main body 12 is hidden by the product 30 and thus is not included in the image 90. On the other hand, a marker in a region where the product 30 is not placed of the bottom surface of the tray main body 12 is included in the image 90. Therefore, a region where the product 30 is not placed is calculated by calculating a detection rate (e.g., area ratio or number ratio) of the detected marker with respect to the marker provided in advance in the tray main body 12.

[0179] The deficient number acquisition unit 136 associates the position information of the tray main body 12 acquired by the tray position acquisition unit 134 with the deficient number of the products 30, and stores the information in the storage unit of the control device 130 as the deficiency information of the products 30. The deficient number acquisition unit 136 may transmit the deficiency information to the server device 200.

[0180] The tray control unit 138 controls the arm 104 to control the movement of the display tray 82 and the conveyance tray 84.

[0181] The product replenishing unit 140 replenishes the product 30 deficient in the display tray 82 by moving the product 30 from the conveyance tray 84 to the display tray 82.

[0182] Details of operations of the tray control unit 138 and the product replenishing unit 140 will be described later.Operation Example

[0183] The operation of the control device 130 of the robot 100 will be described with reference to FIG. 16.

[0184] First, the movement control unit 132 controls the moving mechanism 120 of the robot 100 to move the robot 100 to the front of the display shelf 80 (step S101). Then, the tray position acquisition unit 134 images the display shelf 80 using the camera 102 to generate an image 90. Then, the tray position acquisition unit 134 acquires the position information of the tray main body 12 by processing the image 90 (step S103).

[0185] Then, the deficient number acquisition unit 136 specifies the deficient number of the products 30 in each tray main body 12 by processing the image 90 (step S105). The deficiency information in which the deficient number of the products 30 of each tray main body 12 acquired by the deficient number acquisition unit 136 is associated with the position information of the tray main body 12 is transmitted to the server device 200.

[0186] The movement control unit 132 controls the moving mechanism 120 to move the robot 100 to the backyard 7. In accordance with the instruction received from the server device 200, the tray control unit 138 accommodates the conveyance tray 84 on which the product 30 that needs to be replenished is placed in the tray holding unit 112 (step S107). The instruction transmitted from the server device 200 includes a work content in which the conveyance tray 84 to be accommodated in the tray holding unit 112 is associated with information capable of specifying the display tray 82 where the product 30 in the conveyance tray 84 is to be replenished.

[0187] The tray control unit 138 and the product replenishing unit 140 perform a processing of replenishing the products 30 by moving the display tray 82 and the conveyance tray 84 and moving the products 30 from the conveyance tray 84 to the display tray 82 (step S109).

[0188] FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed processing operation in step S109.

[0189] First, the control device 130 of the robot 100 detects its own current position (step S121). Various methods for acquiring the position information of the robot 100 are conceivable, and are exemplified below, but are not limited thereto.

[0190] (Acquiring method 1) Acquire Positional information from a Global Positioning System (GPS) reception unit included in the robot 100.

[0191] (Acquiring method 2) Specify a position in the store 5 or a display shelf 80 by performing image processing on an imaged image of the camera 102 of the robot 100. The store 5 or the display shelf 80 is provided with a two-dimensional code in which information capable of specifying the position in the store 5 and the display shelf 80 is recorded. By processing an image obtained by imaging the two-dimensional code with the camera 102, at least one of the position in the store 5 and the display shelf 80 is specified from the two-dimensional code.

[0192] The movement control unit 132 controls the moving mechanism 120 to move the robot 100 to the front of the display shelf 80 instructed to replenish the products 30 by using the position information indicating the current position of the robot 100 acquired in step S121 and the information capable of specifying the position of the display shelf 80 instructed to replenish the products 30 from the server device 200 (step S123).

[0193] Then, the tray control unit 138 images the display shelf 80 with the camera 102 to generate an image 90. Then, the tray control unit 138 processes the image 90 to identify the display tray 82 instructed to be replenished and specify the position (step S125).

[0194] The tray control unit 138 controls the arm 104 to grasp the protrusion 24 of the display tray 82 specified in step S125 and pull out the display tray 82 forward (step S127). As described above, in a case where the display tray 82 is pulled out, the product 30 placed on the display tray 82 is moved forward by the moving mechanism 20, and an empty area is generated behind the display tray 82.

[0195] The tray control unit 138 controls the arm 104 to take out the conveyance tray 84 from the tray holding unit 112 and bring the conveyance tray 84 alongside the display tray 82 pulled out in step S127 to be adjacent thereto (step S129). At this time, the bottom surface of the display tray 82 and the bottom surface of the conveyance tray 84 are flush with each other.

[0196] The product replenishing unit 140 controls the arm 104 to slidably move and replenish the product 30 from the conveyance tray 84 to the empty area of the display tray 82 (step S131). Then, the tray control unit 138 controls the arm 104 to remove and collect the conveyance tray 84 from next to the display tray 82, and accommodates the conveyance tray 84 in the tray holding unit 112 (step S133). The robot 100 repeats this processing until the replenishment of the products 30 in the conveyance tray 84 accommodated in the tray holding unit 112 is ended. In a case where the replenishment of the products 30 in the conveyance tray 84 accommodated in the tray holding unit 112 is completed, the movement control unit 132 controls the moving mechanism 120 to return the robot 100 to the backyard 7.Server Device 200functional Configuration Example

[0197] Hereinafter, a management device (server device) 200 according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIG. 18.

[0198] The server device 200 includes a robot position information acquisition unit 202, a display shelf information acquisition unit 204, a robot work information acquisition unit 206, and a robot instruction unit 208.

[0199] The robot position information acquisition unit 202 acquires current position information from the robot 100.

[0200] The robot work information acquisition unit 206 acquires information indicating the work state of the robot 100. The work state of the robot 100 is, for example, any one of standby, movement, display, and replenishment. Furthermore, the work state of the robot 100 may include stop (power off etc.) indicating the operation state of the robot 100.

[0201] In a case where the position information of the robot 100 and the information indicating the work state are acquired from each robot 100, the server device 200 stores the information in the storage device 220 or the memory 1030 or the storage device 1040 of the computer 1000 as the robot information 230.

[0202] Various types of information described below may be similarly stored in the storage device 220, or the memory 1030 or the storage device 1040 of the computer 1000. In the following description, it is described as “stored in the storage device 220”, but this description means “stored in the storage device 220 or the memory 1030 or the storage device 1040 of the computer 1000”.

[0203] FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a data structure example of the robot information 230.

[0204] The robot information 230 stores, for each robot 100, identification information (in the figure, robot ID) that can specify the robot 100, position information acquired by the robot position information acquisition unit 202, and information indicating a work state acquired by the robot work information acquisition unit 206 in association with information indicating date and time at which information is acquired or date and time at which information is recorded. In addition to the example of FIG. 19, the robot information 230 may store, for each robot 100, identification information (in the figure, robot ID) that can specify the robot 100, position information acquired by the robot position information acquisition unit 202, and information indicating a work state acquired by the robot work information acquisition unit 206 in association with information indicating date and time at which information is acquired or date and time at which information is recorded.

[0205] Returning to FIG. 18, the display shelf information acquisition unit 204 acquires display status information indicating a display status of products on the display shelf 80 of the store 5. Specifically, the display shelf information acquisition unit 204 acquires deficiency information indicating the deficient number of the products 30 for each display shelf 80 acquired by the robot 100 going around in the store 5. The display shelf information acquisition unit 204 stores the acquired information in the storage device 220 as the display shelf inventory management information 240.

[0206] FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a data structure example of the display shelf inventory management information 240.

[0207] The display shelf inventory management information 240 includes, for each shelf board 81 of the display shelf 80, identification information (in the drawing, indicated as a product rack ID) that can specify the display shelf 80, identification information (in the drawing, indicated as a shelf ID) that can specify the shelf board 81, position information indicating a position of the shelf board 81 in the display shelf 80 of the shelf board 81, information (in the figure, indicated as a product code) that can specify the products 30 placed on the display tray 82 accommodated at the position of the shelf board 81, and information indicating a deficient number of the products 30 in association with each other.

[0208] In the example of FIG. 20, the display shelf inventory management information 240 stores the deficient number of the products 30, but in another example, the display shelf inventory management information 240 may store the remaining number of the products 30 in the display tray 82 and the number of the products 30 that can be accommodated in the display tray 82. The deficient number of the products 30 can be calculated from the remaining number of the products 30 in the display tray 82 and the number of the products 30 that can be accommodated in the display tray 82.

[0209] Returning to FIG. 18, the robot instruction unit 208 determines to which robot 100 to assign the replenishment work of which product 30 by using the robot information 230 and the display shelf inventory management information 240, and generates instruction information indicating a work content for each robot 100. The robot instruction unit 208 transmits the generated instruction information to each robot 100 via the communication network 3.Operation Example

[0210] Processing operation of the control device 130 of the robot 100 will be described below with reference to FIG. 21.

[0211] First, the robot position information acquisition unit 202 acquires position information of the robot 100 from each robot 100 (step S201).

[0212] Next, the display shelf information acquisition unit 204 acquires, from each robot 100, deficiency information indicating the deficient number of the products 30 for each display shelf 80 acquired by the robot 100 going around in the store 5. The display shelf information acquisition unit 204 stores the acquired information in the storage device 220 as the display shelf inventory management information 240 (step S203).

[0213] Then, the robot work information acquisition unit 206 acquires information indicating the work state of the robot 100 from each robot 100 (step S205). The robot work information acquisition unit 206 stores the position information acquired in step S201 and the information indicating the work state acquired in step S205 in the storage device 220 in association with each other as the robot information 230.

[0214] The robot instruction unit 208 determines to which robot 100 to assign the replenishment work of which product 30 by using the robot information 230 and the display shelf inventory management information 240, and generates instruction information indicating a work content for each robot 100 (step S207).

[0215] The robot instruction unit 208 transmits the generated instruction information to each robot 100 via the communication network 3 (step S209). Upon receiving the instruction information from the server device 200, the robot 100 can perform work according to the work content indicated by the instruction information.

[0216] As described above, the store management system 1 of the present example embodiment includes the server device 200, the product display device (robot) 100, and the tray 10. The robot 100 goes around in the store 5 to acquire the display status of the display shelf 80 and transmits the display status to the server device 200. The server device 200 generates instruction information indicating the replenishment work of the product 30 by using the display status of the display shelf 80 (the deficient number of the products 30, etc.) received from the robot 100, and transmits the instruction information to the robot 100. The robot 100 performs the shelf stocking work of the product 30 according to the received instruction information. In a case where the tray 10 is pulled out by the robot 100 by the moving mechanism 20, the tray moves to the front of the tray main body 12 in the tray main body 12 thus forming a product replenishing region. Then, the robot 100 causes the product moving unit to replenish the product replenishing region with the product 30.

[0217] As described above, according to the store management system 1 of the present example embodiment, the same effects as those of the above example embodiment are obtained, and furthermore, a series of shelf stocking works from the detection of the deficiency of the product 30 in the store 5 to the replenishment of the product 30 can be automated by the robot 100, the server device 200, and the tray 10, so that the efficiency of the product replenishment work can be improved.Third Example EmbodimentFunctional Configuration Example

[0218] FIG. 22 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the server device 200 according to the present disclosure. The server device 200 of FIG. 22 is the same as the server device 200 of FIG. 18 except that it has a configuration in which demand prediction of a product is further performed and replacement or replenishment of the product is performed according to a prediction result. Although the configuration of FIG. 18 is not illustrated in FIG. 22, the server device 200 of FIG. 22 may also include each element of FIG. 18. Each element in FIG. 22 may be combined with each element in one or more example embodiments as long as there is no contradiction.

[0219] The server device 200 includes a history information acquisition unit 210, an event information acquisition unit 212, a demand prediction unit 214, a display information generation unit 216, and a work information generation unit 218. Furthermore, the server device 200 includes at least a robot instruction unit 208 in FIG. 18 (not illustrated in FIG. 22).

[0220] The history information acquisition unit 210 acquires sales history information of the product held by the store system of the store 5. This sales history information is used by the demand prediction unit 214 to create a demand prediction of products by daily time zone, day of the week, month, season, or the like. For example, the demand prediction unit 214 can create the demand prediction by using the sales history information for each of the commuting time zone, the lunch time zone, the dinner time zone, and the home arrival time zone on weekdays.

[0221] The event information acquisition unit 212 acquires event information including information regarding the holding of various events (e.g., a firework event, an athletic meet, etc.) in the surrounding area of the store 5, information indicating calendar events (e.g., Mother's Day, Father's Day, Christmas, New Year's Day, etc.), information regarding the holding of sales promotion events and campaigns, and the like.

[0222] Various methods for acquiring the event information are conceivable, and are exemplified below, but are not limited thereto.

[0223] (Acquiring method 1) Acquire event information by accepting an input by an operator's operation using an input screen including a User Interface (UI) that accepts an input of information indicating a type of an event and information indicating a date and time the event is to be held.

[0224] (Acquiring method 2) Collect various pieces of event information of the surrounding area of the store 5 from each web site on the Internet.

[0225] (Acquiring method 3) Register information regarding a calendar event in advance in the storage device 220, and read and acquire the registered information.

[0226] The demand prediction unit 214 generates information indicating a demand prediction for each specific date and time (e.g., a specific time on a specific day (e.g., 8:00 to 10:00) or a specific time zone on weekdays (e.g., home arrival time zone)) by using the event information acquired by the event information acquisition unit 212 and the sales history information acquired by the history information acquisition unit 210.

[0227] The display information generation unit 216 generates product display information by using information indicating demand prediction for a specific date and time. The product display information is display information corresponding to an event on a specific date and time or the like. For example, in a case where a firework event is scheduled to be held in a surrounding area of the store 5 at night on a specific day, the display information generation unit 216 generates display information for displaying products such as beer and snacks in a region of the display shelf 80 where sales promotion target products are displayed in a period from 15:00 to 22:00 in the evening of the specific day.

[0228] The work information generation unit 218 acquires information indicating a display status of the display shelf 80 at a time point before the specific date and time. The information indicating the display status may be information indicating the display status specified from the imaged image 90 actually using the robot 100 by the display shelf information acquisition unit 204 described above, or may be acquired from display information planned in advance.

[0229] The work information generation unit 218 generates instruction information indicating work contents for replacing and replenishing products by using the display information of the specific date and time and the display information of a time point before the specific date and time. The generated instruction information is transmitted to the robot 100 by the robot instruction unit 208. Upon receiving the instruction information, the robot 100 performs work according to the work content.

[0230] However, the instruction information may include information indicating a date and time of performing the work The robot 100 may monitor the date and time of performing the work and start the work at that date and time.

[0231] Furthermore, the instruction information is created before the specific date and time, and may further include information indicating a date and time at which the instruction information is to be transmitted. The work information generation unit 218 assigns work to each robot 100 and creates a work plan by using information indicating the work schedule of each robot 100. The robot instruction unit 208 transmits the instruction information to each robot 100 according to the date and time at which the instruction information is to be transmitted. However, as described above, in a case where the instruction information to the robot 100 includes information indicating the date and time of performing the work, the instruction information may be transmitted to the robot 100 in advance. The robot 100 may monitor the date and time of performing the work and start the work at that date and time.Operation Example

[0232] FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation of the server device 200 according to the present disclosure. Hereinafter, description will be given with reference to FIG. 23.

[0233] The history information acquisition unit 210 acquires the sales history information of the product held by the store system of the store 5 (step S221). The event information acquisition unit 212 acquires event information including information regarding holding of various events in the surrounding area of the store 5, information indicating calendar events, and the like (step S223).

[0234] The demand prediction unit 214 generates information indicating a demand prediction for a specific date and time by using the event information acquired by the event information acquisition unit 212 and the sales history information acquired by the history information acquisition unit 210 (step S227). The display information generation unit 216 generates product display information by using information indicating demand prediction for a specific date and time (step S227).

[0235] The work information generation unit 218 acquires information indicating a display status of the display shelf 80 at a time point before the specific date and time (step S229). The work information generation unit 218 generates instruction information indicating work contents for replacing and replenishing products by using the display information of the specific date and time and the display information of a time point before the specific date and time (step S231).

[0236] The robot instruction unit 208 transmits the generated instruction information to each robot 100 via the communication network 3 (step S209). Upon receiving the instruction information from the server device 200, the robot 100 can perform work according to the work content indicated by the instruction information.

[0237] As described above, the server device 200 of the present example embodiment includes the history information acquisition unit 210, the event information acquisition unit 212, the demand prediction unit 214, the display information generation unit 216, and the work information generation unit 218. The demand prediction unit 214 generates a demand prediction of a product for a specific date and time of the store 5 by using the sales history information acquired by the history information acquisition unit 210 and the event information acquired by the event information acquisition unit 212. The display information generation unit 216 generates product display information by using information indicating demand prediction for a specific date and time. The work information generation unit 218 acquires information indicating a display status of the display shelf 80 at a time point before the specific date and time. Furthermore, the work information generation unit 218 generates instruction information indicating work contents for replacing and replenishing products by using the display information of the specific date and time and the display information of a time point before the specific date and time. Then, the robot instruction unit 208 transmits the instruction information to the robot 100 to cause the robot to perform the shelf stocking work.

[0238] As described above, according to the present example embodiment, the same effects as those of the above example embodiment are obtained, and furthermore, demand prediction is performed using the past sales history information of the store 5 and the event information of the surrounding area of the store 5, and a shelf stocking work instruction is generated using the display information created according to the prediction to cause the robot 100 to perform the shelf stocking work, so that the product on the display shelf 80 can be replaced and replenished according to the demand of the customer. Therefore, it is possible to raise the customer purchase unit price without missing the sales opportunity of the product.

[0239] Although the example embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, these are examples of the present invention, and various configurations other than the above can be used.Other Example Embodiments

[0240] Hereinafter, the product replenishment work in the case of two-face display in which the same product 30 is displayed side by side in two rows will be described with reference to FIGS. 24 and 25.

[0241] First, the robot 100 moves the product 30 to the front side of the display tray 82a by pulling out one display tray 82a forward, thus creating a space for replenishing the product behind the display tray 82a. In addition, the robot 100 moves the product 30 to the rear side of the display tray 82b by pushing out the other display tray 82b rearward.

[0242] Next, the robot 100 returns the display tray 82a and the display tray 82b to the original positions. Then, the robot 100 slidably moves the product 30b on the display tray 82b to the space for replenishing the product in the display tray 82b. The robot 100 removes the empty display tray 82b from the display shelf 80. The removed display tray 82b is accommodated in the tray holding unit 112 of the robot 100. Then, the robot 100 installs the conveyance tray 84, on which the product 30b for replenishment is placed, next to the display tray 82a. The conveyance tray 84 is used as the display tray 82 as it is.

[0243] Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 25, the product 30 on the display tray 82 and the conveyance tray 84 is half-rotationally moved. This movement can be achieved, for example, by the moving belt 70 of FIG. 9 (in combination with the gear 64 of FIG. 7). The moving belt 70 is moved with rotation of the gear 64 by the rotation of a motor (not illustrated) driven by power supplied from the robot 100.

[0244] As a result, the products 30 remaining on the display tray 82a and the display tray 82b before replenishment can be arranged in front of the two trays, and the newly replenished products 30 on the conveyance tray 84 can be arranged behind the two trays.

[0245] According to this configuration, even in the case of two-face display, the product replenishment work can be efficiently performed.

[0246] While the present disclosure has been particularly shown and described with reference to example embodiments thereof, the present disclosure is not limited to these example embodiments. It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the claims. And each example embodiment can be appropriately combined with other example embodiments.

[0247] In addition, in the plurality of flowcharts used in the above description, a plurality of steps (processing) are described in order, but the execution order of the steps executed in each example embodiment is not limited to the described order. In each example embodiment, the order of the illustrated steps can be changed as long as nothing interferes in terms of content.

[0248] Some or all of the example embodiments described above may be described as the following Supplementary Notes, but are not limited to the following.

[0249] 1. A display tray including:

[0250] a tray main body movable to at least one of a front side and a rear side with respect to a reference position, and

[0251] a moving means for moving a product placed on the tray main body forward.

[0252] 2. The display tray according to 1., further including:

[0253] a movable member that moves by movement of the tray main body, in which

[0254] the moving means moves the product forward using kinetic energy generated in the movable member.

[0255] 3. The display tray according to 2., in which

[0256] the movable member is a rotary member, and

[0257] the moving means includes a push-out member for pushing out the product forward accompanying rotation of the rotary member.

[0258] 4. The display tray according to any one of 1. to 3., in which

[0259] a planar shape of the tray main body is a rectangle in which a front surface side and a rear surface side are short sides, and

[0260] the tray main body includes a side surface on at least one of long sides of the rectangle.

[0261] 5. The display tray according to 4., further including:

[0262] a belt that comes into contact with the product and moves the product toward a front surface of the tray main body, in which

[0263] the belt is inclined with respect to the long side in such a way as to approach one long side as the front surface is approached.

[0264] 6. The display tray according to any one of 1. to 5., in which

[0265] a planar shape of the tray main body is a rectangle in which a front surface side and a rear surface side are short sides, and

[0266] a plurality of the tray main bodies can be coupled in the short side direction.

[0267] 7. A product display device used with a display shelf having a display tray that can be pulled out to a front side, the product display device including:

[0268] a holding means for holding a conveyance tray on which a product for filling is mounted,

[0269] at least one movable unit capable of moving the product, and

[0270] a control means for controlling the movable unit, in which

[0271] the control means controls, in a case where the product is replenished to the display tray, the movable unit to

[0272] move the display tray forward,

[0273] bring the conveyance tray adjacent to the display tray, and

[0274] move the product in the conveyance tray to the display tray.

[0275] 8. The product display device according to 7., in which

[0276] the conveyance tray includes a product moving unit that is a part of the movable unit and moves the product to the display tray.

[0277] 9. The product display device according to 8., in which

[0278] the product moving unit includes a push-out member for pushing out the product toward the display tray.

[0279] 10. The product display device according to 9., in which

[0280] the push-out member is capable of simultaneously moving a plurality of the products to the display tray.

[0281] 11. The product display device according to any one of 7. to 10., further including:

[0282] a current position acquisition means for acquiring current position information indicating a current position of the product display device,

[0283] a movement control means for moving the product display device by controlling a moving means for moving the product display device, and

[0284] a tray position acquisition means for specifying a position of the display tray and acquiring position information of the display tray by imaging the display shelf using an imaging means and processing an image of the display shelf generated by the imaging means, in which

[0285] the movement control means controls, upon receiving an instruction indicating a work content in which the conveyance tray to be accommodated in the holding means and information capable of specifying the display tray to which the product in the conveyance tray is to be replenished are associated with each other, the moving means to move the product display device from the current position of the product display device to a position where the conveyance tray exists,

[0286] the control means controls the movable unit to

[0287] cause the holding means to accommodate the conveyance tray to be accommodated in the holding means indicated by the work content,

[0288] the movement control means controls the moving means to,

[0289] move the product display device to the front of the display shelf including the display tray to which the product in the conveyance tray is to be replenished indicated by the work content, and

[0290] the control means controls the movable unit to

[0291] perform a work of replenishing the product in the conveyance tray to the display tray according to the work content.

[0292] 12. The product display device according to 11., further including:

[0293] a deficient number specifying means for specifying a deficient number of the product for each of the display trays specified by the tray position acquisition means by being moved to the front of the display shelf by the movement control means and processing an image of the display shelf generated by the imaging means, in which

[0294] the work content is generated using the deficient number of the product for each display tray.

[0295] 13. A store management system including:

[0296] a display tray, and

[0297] a product display device for replenishing products to the display tray, in which

[0298] the display tray includes:

[0299] a tray main body movable to at least one of a front side and a rear side with respect to a reference position, and

[0300] a moving means for moving a product placed on a bottom surface of the tray main body forward,

[0301] the product display device is used with a display shelf having the display tray that can be pulled out to a front side, and includes,

[0302] a holding means for holding a conveyance tray on which the product for filling is mounted,

[0303] at least one movable unit capable of moving the product, and

[0304] a control means for controlling the movable unit, and

[0305] the control means controls, in a case where the product is replenished to the display tray, the movable unit to

[0306] move the display tray forward,

[0307] bring the conveyance tray adjacent to the display tray, and

[0308] move the product in the conveyance tray to the display tray.

[0309] 14. The store management system according to 13., further including

[0310] a management device, in which

[0311] the management device includes:

[0312] a display information acquisition means for acquiring display status information indicating a display status of the product on the display shelf of a store,

[0313] a work information generation means for generating work information of the product display device based on the display status information, and

[0314] a control means for instructing the product display device to perform display work based on the work information.

[0315] 15. The store management system according to 14., in which

[0316] the product display device includes:

[0317] a movement control means for moving the product display device by controlling a moving means for moving the product display device, and

[0318] a tray position acquisition means for specifying a position of the display tray and acquiring position information of the display tray by imaging the display shelf using an imaging means and processing an image of the display shelf generated by the imaging means,

[0319] in the product display device, the movement control means controls, upon receiving from the management device an instruction of the display work including a work content in which the conveyance tray to be accommodated in the holding means and information capable of specifying the display tray to which the product in the conveyance tray is to be replenished are associated with each other, the moving means to move the product display device to a position where the conveyance tray exists,

[0320] the control means controls the movable unit to

[0321] cause the holding means to accommodate the conveyance tray to be accommodated in the holding means indicated by the work content,

[0322] the movement control means controls the moving means to,

[0323] move the product display device to the front of the display shelf including the display tray to which the product in the conveyance tray is to be replenished indicated by the work content, and

[0324] the control means controls the movable unit to

[0325] perform the display work of replenishing the product in the conveyance tray to the display tray according to the work content.

[0326] 16. The store management system according to 15., in which

[0327] the product display device includes:

[0328] a deficient number specifying means for specifying a deficient number of the products for each of the display trays specified by the tray position acquisition means by being moved to the front of the display shelf by the movement control means and processing an image of the display shelf generated by the imaging means, and

[0329] the management device generates the work content by using the deficient number of the products for each of the display trays specified by the product display device.

[0330] 17. The store management system according to any one of 14. to 16., in which

[0331] the display information acquisition means of the management device acquires the display status information indicating a display status of the product on the display shelf specified by processing an image of the display shelf generated by the imaging means of the product 18. The store management system according to any one of 14. to 17., further including:

[0332] a plurality of the product display devices, in which

[0333] the management device includes:

[0334] a current position acquisition means for acquiring current position information indicating a current position of the product display device from the plurality of product display devices, and

[0335] a work state acquisition means for acquiring information indicating a work state of the product display device from each of the plurality of product display devices, and

[0336] in the management device,

[0337] the work information generation means generates work information of a plurality of the product display devices for each of the product display devices by using current position information indicating a current position of each of the product display devices, information indicating the work state of each of the product display devices, and the display status information acquired from each of the plurality of product display devices.

[0338] 19. The store management system according to any one of 14. to 18., in which

[0339] the management device includes:

[0340] a sales history acquisition means for acquiring sales history information of the store,

[0341] an event information acquisition means for acquiring event information regarding an event in a surrounding area of the store, and

[0342] a demand prediction means for performing a demand prediction processing by using the sales history information and the event information and generating information indicating a demand prediction for each of the products, and

[0343] in the management device,

[0344] the work information generation means generates work information of the product display device by using the display status information and display information generated using information indicating the demand prediction for each product generated by the demand prediction means.

[0345] 20. A control method of a product display device for replenishing a product to a display tray which includes

[0346] a tray main body movable to at least one of a front side and a rear side with respect to a reference position, and

[0347] a moving means for moving a product placed on a bottom surface of the tray main body forward, in which

[0348] the product display device is used with a display shelf having the display tray that can be pulled out to a front side, the product display device including:

[0349] a holding means for holding a conveyance tray on which the product for filling is mounted, and

[0350] at least one movable unit capable of moving the product, and

[0351] one or more computers for implementing the product display device performs, in a case where the product is replenished to the display tray, by controlling the movable unit,

[0352] causing the display tray to move forward,

[0353] causing the conveyance tray to bring adjacent to the display tray, and

[0354] causing the product in the conveyance tray to move to the display tray.

[0355] 21. The control method of the product display device according to 20., in which

[0356] the conveyance tray includes a product moving unit that is a part of the movable unit and moves the product to the display tray.

[0357] 22. The control method of the product display device according to 21., in which

[0358] the product moving unit includes a push-out member for pushing out the product toward the display tray.

[0359] 23. The control method of the product display device according to 22., in which

[0360] the push-out member is capable of simultaneously moving a plurality of the products to the display tray.

[0361] 24. The control method of the product display device according to any one of 20. to 23., in which the one or more computers perform

[0362] acquiring current position information indicating a current position of the product display device,

[0363] causing the product display device to move by controlling a moving means for moving the product display device, and

[0364] specifying a position of the display tray and acquiring position information of the display tray by imaging the display shelf using an imaging means and processing an image of the display shelf generated by the imaging means,

[0365] in a case where the product display device is moved,

[0366] upon receiving an instruction indicating a work content in which the conveyance tray to be accommodated in the holding means and information capable of specifying the display tray to which the product in the conveyance tray is to be replenished are associated with each other, by controlling the moving means, causing the product display device to move from the current position of the product display device to a position where the conveyance tray exists,

[0367] by controlling the movable unit,

[0368] causing the holding means to accommodate the conveyance tray to be accommodated in the holding means indicated by the work content,

[0369] by controlling the moving means,

[0370] causing the product display device to move to the front of the display shelf including the display tray to which the product in the conveyance tray is to be replenished indicated by the work content, and

[0371] by controlling the movable unit,

[0372] performing a work of replenishing the product in the conveyance tray to the display tray according to the work content.

[0373] 25. The control method of the product display device according to 24., in which

[0374] the one or more computers perform

[0375] specifying a deficient number of the products for each of the specified display trays by moving the product display device to the front of the display shelf and processing an image of the display shelf generated by the imaging means, and

[0376] the work content is generated by using the deficient number of the products for each of the display trays.

[0377] 26. A program for causing a computer for controlling a movable unit of a product display device that is used with a display shelf having a display tray that can be pulled out to a front side and includes,

[0378] a holding means for holding a conveyance tray on which a product for filling is mounted, and

[0379] at least one movable unit capable of moving the product, to execute processing of:

[0380] in a case where the product is replenished to the display tray,

[0381] moving the display tray forward,

[0382] bringing the conveyance tray adjacent to the display tray, and

[0383] moving the product in the conveyance tray to the display tray.

[0384] 27. The program according to 26., in which

[0385] the conveyance tray includes a product moving unit that is a part of the movable unit and moves the product to the display tray.

[0386] 28. The program according to 27., in which

[0387] the product moving unit includes a push-out member for pushing out the product toward the display tray.

[0388] 29. The program according to 28., in which

[0389] the push-out member is capable of simultaneously moving a plurality of the products to the display tray.

[0390] 30. The program according to any one of 26. to 29., further causing the computer to execute:

[0391] a current position acquisition processing of acquiring current position information indicating a current position of the product display device,

[0392] a movement control processing of moving the product display device by controlling a moving means for moving the product display device, and

[0393] a tray position acquisition processing of specifying a position of the display tray and acquiring position information of the display tray by imaging the display shelf using an imaging means and processing an image of the display shelf generated by the imaging means, in which

[0394] the computer is further caused to execute:

[0395] in the movement control processing,

[0396] controlling, upon receiving an instruction indicating a work content in which the conveyance tray to be accommodated in the holding means and information capable of specifying the display tray to which the product in the conveyance tray is to be replenished are associated with each other, the moving means to move the product display device from the current position of the product display device to a position where the conveyance tray exists,

[0397] control the movable unit to cause the holding means to accommodate the conveyance tray to be accommodated in the holding means indicated by the work content,

[0398] control the moving means in the movement control processing to move the product display device to the front of the display shelf including the display tray to which the product in the conveyance tray is to be replenished indicated by the work content, and

[0399] control the movable unit to perform a work of replenishing the product in the conveyance tray to the display tray according to the work content.

[0400] 31. The program according to 30., in which the computer is caused to execute processing of:

[0401] in the movement control processing, specify a deficient number of the product for each of the display trays specified in the tray position acquisition processing by moving the product display device to the front of the display shelf and processing an image of the display shelf generated by the imaging means, and

[0402] the work content is generated by using the deficient number of the product for each of the display trays.

[0403] 32. A computer readable recording medium stored with a program for causing a computer for controlling a movable unit of a product display device that is used with a display shelf having a display tray that can be pulled out to a front side and includes,

[0404] a holding means for holding a conveyance tray on which a product for filling is mounted, and

[0405] at least one movable unit capable of moving the product, to execute processing of:

[0406] in a case where the product is replenished to the display tray,

[0407] moving the display tray forward,

[0408] bringing the conveyance tray adjacent to the display tray, and

[0409] moving the product in the conveyance tray to the display tray.

[0410] 33. The computer readable recording medium stored with the program according to 32., in which

[0411] the conveyance tray includes a product moving unit that is a part of the movable unit and moves the product to the display tray.

[0412] 34. The computer readable recording medium stored with the program according to 33., in which

[0413] the product moving unit includes a push-out member for pushing out the product toward the display tray.

[0414] 35. The computer readable recording medium stored with the program according to 34., in which

[0415] the push-out member is capable of simultaneously moving a plurality of the products to the display tray.

[0416] 36. The computer readable recording medium stored with the program according to any one of 32. to 35., further causing the computer to execute processing of:

[0417] a current position acquisition processing of acquiring current position information indicating a current position of the product display device,

[0418] a movement control processing of moving the product display device by controlling a moving means for moving the product display device, and

[0419] a tray position acquisition processing of specifying a position of the display tray and acquiring position information of the display tray by imaging the display shelf using an imaging means and processing an image of the display shelf generated by the imaging means, in which

[0420] the computer is further caused to execute:

[0421] in the movement control processing,

[0422] controlling, upon receiving an instruction indicating a work content in which the conveyance tray to be accommodated in the holding means and information capable of specifying the display tray to which the product in the conveyance tray is to be replenished are associated with each other, the moving means to move the product display device from the current position of the product display device to a position where the conveyance tray exists,

[0423] control the movable unit to cause the holding means to accommodate the conveyance tray to be accommodated in the holding means indicated by the work content,

[0424] control the moving means in the movement control processing to move the product display device to the front of the display shelf including the display tray to which the product in the conveyance tray is to be replenished indicated by the work content, and

[0425] control the movable unit to perform a work of replenishing the product in the conveyance tray to the display tray according to the work content.

[0426] 37. The computer readable recording medium stored with the program according to 36., in which the computer is caused to execute processing of:

[0427] in the movement control processing, specify a deficient number of the product for each of the display trays specified in the tray position acquisition processing by moving the product display device to the front of the display shelf and processing an image of the display shelf generated by the imaging means, and

[0428] the work content is generated by using the deficient number of the product for each of the display trays.

[0429] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese patent application No. 2023-105957, filed on Jun. 28, 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.REFERENCE SIGNS LIST1 store management system

[0431] 3 communication network

[0432] 5 store

[0433] 7 backyard

[0434] 10 tray

[0435] 12 tray main body

[0436] 14 bottom surface

[0437] 16 side surface

[0438] 18 side surface

[0439] 20 moving mechanism

[0440] 22 push-out plate

[0441] 24 protrusion

[0442] 30, 30a, 30b, 30c product

[0443] 42 rotation shaft

[0444] 44 first rack

[0445] 45 second rack

[0446] 46 pinion

[0447] 48 gear

[0448] 52 guide

[0449] 54 belt

[0450] 60 tire

[0451] 62 rotation shaft

[0452] 64 gear

[0453] 66 belt

[0454] 70 moving belt

[0455] 72 moving member (product moving unit)

[0456] 80 display shelf

[0457] 81 shelf board

[0458] 82, 82a, 82b, 82c display tray

[0459] 84 conveyance tray

[0460] 86 two-dimensional code

[0461] 88 label

[0462] 90 image

[0463] 100 product display device (robot)

[0464] 102 camera

[0465] 104 arm

[0466] 106 robot supporting column

[0467] 110 conveyance tray

[0468] 112 tray holding unit

[0469] 120 moving mechanism

[0470] 130 control device

[0471] 132 movement control unit

[0472] 134 tray position acquisition unit

[0473] 136 deficient number acquisition unit

[0474] 138 tray control unit

[0475] 140 product replenishing unit

[0476] 200 server device

[0477] 204 display shelf information acquisition unit

[0478] 206 robot work information acquisition unit

[0479] 208 robot instruction unit

[0480] 210 history information acquisition unit

[0481] 212 event information acquisition unit

[0482] 214 demand prediction unit

[0483] 216 display information generation unit

[0484] 218 work information generation unit

[0485] 220 storage device

[0486] 230 robot information

[0487] 240 display shelf inventory management information

[0488] 1000 computer

[0489] 1010 bus

[0490] 1020 processor

[0491] 1030 memory

[0492] 1040 storage device

[0493] 1050 input / output interface

[0494] 1060 network interface

Examples

first example embodiment

Tray 10

[0101]Hereinafter, description will be given with reference to FIG. 1.

[0102]The tray 10 includes the tray main body 12 and the moving mechanism 20. The tray 10 is a display tray arranged on a display shelf on which products 30 are displayed.

[0103]The planar shape of the tray main body 12 is a rectangle in which the front surface side and the rear surface side are short sides.

[0104]The bottom surface of the tray main body 12 is substantially horizontal in a state of being accommodated on the display shelf. In this example, the tray main body 12 is movably placed on the upper surface of the shelf board 81 of the display shelf.

[0105]The tray main body 12 is movable at least to one of forward or rearward with respect to a reference position P1.

[0106]The moving mechanism 20 moves the product 30 placed on the tray main body 12 forward (in the direction from the reference position P1 to the position P2).

[0107]The tray 10 has a movable member that moves by movement of the tray main b...

first example

[0127]As illustrated in FIG. 8, a planar shape of the tray main body 12 of the display tray 82 is a rectangle in which the front surface side and the rear surface side are short sides. The tray main body 12 of the display tray 82 includes a side surface 16 on at least one of the long sides of a rectangle. In the example of FIG. 8, the tray main body 12 of the display tray 82 further has side surfaces 18 on both short sides of the rectangle. Furthermore, on the side surface 18 on the front surface of the tray main body 12 of the display tray 82, a label 88 on which information that can specify the product 30 placed on the tray main body 12 of the display tray 82 is described is provided. Furthermore, as described later, the label 88 may further include a two-dimensional code or a marker in which information that can specify at least one of the tray main body 12 and the position of the tray main body 12 of the display tray 82 is recorded.

[0128]As illustrated in FIG. 8(b), in a case wh...

second example

[0130]As illustrated in FIG. 9, the display tray 82 has a moving belt 70 on the bottom surface 14. The moving belt 70 comes into contact with the product 30 and moves the product 30 toward the front surface of the tray main body 12. The moving belt 70 is, for example, a belt 66 that is moved by the moving mechanism 20 of FIG. 7 described above. The surface of the moving belt 70 is made of a material having a surface frictional force equal to or greater than a first threshold value and equal to or smaller than a second threshold value with the contact surface of the product 30. That is, the product 30 is moved to the front side of the tray main body 12 with the movement of the moving belt 70 by the surface frictional force equal to or greater than the first threshold value. On the other hand, in a case where the product 30 is moved to the front side of the tray main body 12 by the surface frictional force equal to or smaller than the second threshold value, abuts with the side surfac...

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a display tray, a product display device, a control method therefor, a program, and a store management system.BACKGROUND ART

[0002] PTL 1 discloses an example of a product replenishment system that replenishes a product to a product shelf. A control device for controlling a product replenishment system of PTL 1 includes: a detection unit for detecting a satisfaction state of a product on a product shelf, a first control unit for issuing, to a conveyance device, an instruction to convey a product necessary for satisfying the product shelf from a storage space toward the product shelf based on the satisfaction state, a second control unit for issuing, to a replenishment device, an instruction to move to the product shelf based on the satisfaction state, a third control unit for issuing, to the product shelf, an instruction to slide an arrangement region from an inner side of the product shelf to a front side of the product shelf such that the replenishment device can access the arrangement region where the product is arranged on the product shelf, and a fourth control unit for allowing the replenishment device to lift the product conveyed by the conveyance device and replenish the product to the arrangement region where the product is slid forward.CITATION LISTPatent Literature

[0003] PTL 1: JP 2019-202844 ASUMMARY OF INVENTIONTechnical Problem

[0004] In the technique described in the above-described literature, the replenishment processing is performed in a case where the satisfaction rate of the product shelf falls below a predetermined rate, but there is a problem that the work efficiency is poor because the product is grasped by the hand portion provided at the distal end of the arm of the replenishment device to replenish the replenishing region of the product shelf.

[0005] In view of the above-described problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a display tray, a product display device, a control method therefor, a program, and a store management system that improve efficiency of product replenishment work.Solution to Problem

[0006] A display tray according to the present disclosure includes

[0007] a tray main body movable to at least one of a front side and a rear side with respect to a reference position, and

[0008] a moving means for moving a product placed on the tray main body forward.

[0009] A product display device according to the present disclosure is used with a display shelf having a display tray that can be pulled out to a front side, the product display device including

[0010] a holding means for holding a conveyance tray on which a product for filling is mounted,

[0011] at least one movable unit capable of moving the product, and

[0012] a control means for controlling the movable unit, wherein

[0013] the control means controls, in a case where the product is replenished to the display tray, the movable unit to

[0014] move the display tray forward,

[0015] bring the conveyance tray adjacent to the display tray, and

[0016] move the product in the conveyance tray to the display tray.

[0017] A store management system according to the present disclosure includes,

[0018] a display tray, and

[0019] a product display device for replenishing products to the display tray, wherein

[0020] the display tray includes

[0021] a tray main body movable to at least one of a front side and a rear side with respect to a reference position, and

[0022] a moving means for moving a product placed on a bottom surface of the tray main body forward,

[0023] the product display device is used with a display shelf having the display tray that can be pulled out to a front side, and includes,

[0024] a holding means for holding a conveyance tray on which the product for filling is mounted,

[0025] at least one movable unit capable of moving the product, and a control means for controlling the movable unit, and

[0026] the control means controls, in a case where the product is replenished to the display tray, the movable unit to

[0027] move the display tray forward,

[0028] bring the conveyance tray adjacent to the display tray, and

[0029] move the product in the conveyance tray to the display tray.

[0030] A control method according to the present disclosure is a control method of a product display device for replenishing a product to a display tray including

[0031] a tray main body movable to at least one of a front side and a rear side with respect to a reference position, and

[0032] a moving means for moving a product placed on a bottom surface of the tray main body forward, wherein

[0033] the product display device is used with a display shelf having the display tray that can be pulled out to a front side, the product display device including

[0034] a holding means for holding a conveyance tray on which the product for filling is mounted, and

[0035] at least one movable unit capable of moving the product, and

[0036] one or more computers for implementing the product display device controls, in a case where the product is replenished to the display tray, the movable unit to

[0037] move the display tray forward,

[0038] bring the conveyance tray adjacent to the display tray, and

[0039] move the product in the conveyance tray to the display tray.

[0040] A program according to the present disclosure is a program for causing a computer for controlling a movable unit of a product display device that is used with a display shelf having a display tray that can be pulled out to a front side and includes,

[0041] a holding means for holding a conveyance tray on which the product for filling is mounted, and

[0042] at least one movable unit capable of moving the product, to execute processing of

[0043] in a case where the product is replenished to the display tray,

[0044] moving the display tray forward,

[0045] bringing the conveyance tray adjacent to the display tray, and

[0046] moving the product in the conveyance tray to the display tray.

[0047] Another example of the present disclosure may be a program that causes at least one or more computers to execute the method of the above disclosure, or a computer readable recording medium recording such a program. The recording medium includes a non-transitory tangible medium.

[0048] The computer program includes a computer program code that, if executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform a control method and a management method on a product display device or a management device.

[0049] Arbitrary combinations of the above components and modifications of the expressions of the present disclosure among methods, apparatuses, systems, recording media, computer programs, and the like are also effective as aspects of the present disclosure.

[0050] The various components of the present disclosure do not necessarily have to be independent from each other, and a plurality of components may be formed as one member, one component may be formed of a plurality of members, a certain component may be a part of another component, a part of a certain component may overlap with a part of another component, and the like.

[0051] In the method and the computer program of the present disclosure, a plurality of procedures are described in order, but the described order does not limit the order of executing the plurality of procedures. Therefore, in a case where the method and the computer program of the present disclosure are implemented, the order of the plurality of procedures can be changed within a range in which there is no problem in content.

[0052] The plurality of procedures of the method and computer program of the present disclosure are not limited to being executed at individually different timings. Therefore, another procedure may be executed during the execution of a certain procedure, the execution timing of a certain procedure may partially or entirely overlap with the execution timing of another procedure, or the like.Advantageous Effects of Invention

[0053] According to the present disclosure, a display tray, a product display device, a control method therefor, a program, and a store management system that improve efficiency of product replenishment work are obtained.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0054] FIG. 1 It is a diagram for describing a tray according to the present disclosure.

[0055] FIG. 2 It is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a product display device according to the present disclosure.

[0056] FIG. 3 It is a diagram for describing the tray according to the present disclosure.

[0057] FIG. 4 It is a diagram for explaining a product replenishment work by the product display device according to the present disclosure.

[0058] FIG. 5 It is a diagram for explaining a moving mechanism of the tray according to the present disclosure.

[0059] FIG. 6 It is a diagram for explaining the moving mechanism of the tray according to the present disclosure.

[0060] FIG. 7 It is a diagram for explaining the moving mechanism of the tray according to the present disclosure.

[0061] FIG. 8 It is a diagram illustrating a detailed structural example of a tray main body of the tray according to the present disclosure.

[0062] FIG. 9 It is a diagram illustrating a detailed structural example of the tray according to the present disclosure.

[0063] FIG. 10 It is a diagram illustrating a detailed structural example of the tray main body of the tray according to the present disclosure.

[0064] FIG. 11 It is a diagram illustrating a detailed structural example of the tray according to the present disclosure.

[0065] FIG. 12 It is a diagram for explaining a product moving unit of the product display device according to the present disclosure.

[0066] FIG. 13 It is a diagram conceptually illustrating a system configuration of a store management system according to the present disclosure.

[0067] FIG. 14 It is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a computer that implements the control device of the product display device and the server device according to the present disclosure.

[0068] FIG. 15 It is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the control device of the product display device according to the present disclosure.

[0069] FIG. 16 It is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation of the control device of the product display device according to the present disclosure.

[0070] FIG. 17 It is a flowchart showing a detailed processing operation of step S109 in FIG. 16.

[0071] FIG. 18 It is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of a management device according to the present disclosure.

[0072] FIG. 19 It is a diagram illustrating a data structure example of robot information according to the present disclosure.

[0073] FIG. 20 It is a diagram illustrating a data structure example of display shelf inventory management information according to the present disclosure.

[0074] FIG. 21 It is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation of the management device according to the present disclosure.

[0075] FIG. 22 It is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the management device according to the present disclosure.

[0076] FIG. 23 It is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation of the management device according to the present disclosure.

[0077] FIG. 24 It is a diagram for explaining a product replenishment work by the product display device according to the present disclosure.

[0078] FIG. 25 It is a diagram for explaining a product replenishment work by the product display device according to the present disclosure.EXAMPLE EMBODIMENT

[0079] Hereinafter, in the present disclosure, the drawings are associated with one or more example embodiments. In all the drawings, similar components are denoted by similar reference signs, and descriptions thereof will be omitted as appropriate. In each of the following drawings, a configuration of a portion not related to the essence of the present disclosure is omitted and not illustrated.

[0080] In the present disclosure, the “acquisition” includes at least one of an own device going to obtain data or information stored in another device or a storage medium (active acquisition) and an own device receiving data or information output from another device (passive acquisition). Examples of the active acquisition include requesting or inquiring another device and receiving a reply thereto and accessing another device or a storage medium and reading the data or information. Examples of passive acquisition include reception of information to be distributed (alternatively, transmission, push notification, and the like). Furthermore, “acquisition” may be selecting and acquiring from among received data or information or selecting and receiving distributed data or information.Configuration Example

[0081] FIG. 1 is a diagram for describing a tray 10 according to the present disclosure.

[0082] The tray 10 includes a tray main body 12 and a moving mechanism 20. The tray 10 is a display tray arranged on a display shelf on which products 30 are displayed.

[0083] The tray main body 12 is movable at least to one of forward or rearward with respect to a reference position P1.

[0084] The moving mechanism 20 moves the product 30 placed on the tray main body 12 forward (in the direction from the reference position P1 to the position P2).Operation Example

[0085] As illustrated in FIG. 1, in a case where the tray main body 12 is pulled out forward, the moving mechanism 20 converts a pulling force f1 into a force for pulling the product 30 placed on the tray main body 12 forward, and moves the product 30 toward the front side of the tray main body 12 by a mechanical mechanism. In this example, the moving mechanism 20 converts the force f1 for pulling out the tray main body 12 into a force for abutting a push-out plate 22 to the product 30 and moving the push-out plate to the front side of the tray main body 12 (force f2 for bringing the product closer).

[0086] According to the tray 10, the product 30 placed on the tray main body 12 can be moved forward by the moving mechanism 20 simply by pulling out the tray main body 12 forward, and thus a space behind the tray main body 12 becomes vacant, and the product 30 can be replenished to the vacant space. Accordingly, the efficiency of the product replenishment work can be improved.Configuration Example

[0087] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a product display device 100 according to the present disclosure. Hereinafter, the product display device 100 is also referred to as a robot 100. The product display device 100 includes a camera 102, at least one arm (movable unit) 104, a robot supporting column 106, a tray holding unit 112, a moving mechanism 120, and a control device 130 (not illustrated in FIG. 2).

[0088] The robot 100 is used together with the above-described display shelf having a display tray 10 that can be pulled out forward. The tray holding unit 112 holds a conveyance tray 110 on which replenishment products 30 to be replenished (displayed) on the display shelf 80 are mounted. The arm 104 can move the product 30, and can also move the display tray 10 and the conveyance tray 110. The control device 130 controls the arm 104.

[0089] The robot supporting column 106 is placed on the tray holding unit 112 and supports the camera 102 and the arm 104. The robot supporting column 106 may be movable or may not be movable. The moving mechanism 120 is controlled by the control device 130 to move the robot 100 to a predetermined region (e.g., in the store 5 and in the backyard 7). The moving mechanism 120 is not particularly limited, but for example, rotates a rotary member such as a crawler to move the robot 100.

[0090] In a case where the product 30 is replenished to the display tray 10, the control device 130 controls the arm 104 to move the display tray 10 forward, bring the conveyance tray 110 adjacent to the display tray 10, and move the product 30 in the conveyance tray 110 to the display tray 110.

[0091] The camera 102 images a display shelf 80 of the store 5 and generates an image.

[0092] The camera 102 may include a mechanism that performs control of the orientation of the camera main body or the lens, zoom control, focusing, and the like according to the position and orientation of the imaging target.

[0093] The image generated by the camera 102 is preferably captured in real time and transmitted to the control device 130 or a server device 200. However, the image transmitted to the control device 130 or the server device 200 may not be directly transmitted from the camera 102, and may be an image delayed by a predetermined time. The image captured by the camera 102 may be temporarily stored in another storage device, and the control device 130 or the server device 200 may read the image sequentially or at predetermined intervals from the storage device. Furthermore, the image transmitted to the control device 130 or the server device 200 is preferably a moving image, but may be a frame image at predetermined intervals or a still image.

[0094] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the front surface of the tray main body 12 has a protrusion 24 that can be gripped by the arm 104 of the robot 100. The robot 100 can grasp the protrusion 24 of the tray main body 12 with the arm 104 and pull out the tray main body 12 forward.Operation Example

[0095] Hereinafter, the replenishment work of the product 30 by the product display device 100 will be described with reference to FIG. 4.

[0096] In this example, two types of products 30a and 30c are displayed side by side. The product 30a is placed on the display tray 82a, and the product 30c is placed on the display tray 82c. Here, the replenishment work of the product 30a will be described.

[0097] First, the robot 100 pulls out the display tray 82a of the product 30a forward to move the product 30a to the front side of the display tray 82a, and creates a space for replenishing products behind the display tray 82a. Next, the robot 100 moves the display tray 82a of the product 30a further forward so as not to overlap the display tray 82c of the product 30c. That is, the robot 100 makes a space adjacent to the display tray 82a of the product 30a. The robot 100 brings the conveyance tray 84 adjacent to the empty space. On the conveyance tray 84, a product 30b for replenishment is placed in advance. Then, the robot 100 slidably moves the product 30b for replenishment placed on the conveyance tray 84 to the space for product replenishment of the adjacent display tray 82a. Then, the robot 100 removes the conveyance tray 84 and returns the display tray 82a to the original position.

[0098] The product display device 100 includes a tray holding unit 112, an arm 104, and a control device 130. In a case where the product is replenished to the display tray 82, the control device 130 controls the arm 104 to move the display tray 82 forward, bring the conveyance tray 84 adjacent to the display tray 82, and move the products 30 in the conveyance tray 84 to the display tray 82.

[0099] As described above, according to the present example embodiment, the efficiency of the product replenishment work can be improved by using the product display device 100 and the tray 10.

[0100] Hereinafter, a detailed example of the tray according to the present disclosure will be described.First Example EmbodimentTray 10

[0101] Hereinafter, description will be given with reference to FIG. 1.

[0102] The tray 10 includes the tray main body 12 and the moving mechanism 20. The tray 10 is a display tray arranged on a display shelf on which products 30 are displayed.

[0103] The planar shape of the tray main body 12 is a rectangle in which the front surface side and the rear surface side are short sides.

[0104] The bottom surface of the tray main body 12 is substantially horizontal in a state of being accommodated on the display shelf. In this example, the tray main body 12 is movably placed on the upper surface of the shelf board 81 of the display shelf.

[0105] The tray main body 12 is movable at least to one of forward or rearward with respect to a reference position P1.

[0106] The moving mechanism 20 moves the product 30 placed on the tray main body 12 forward (in the direction from the reference position P1 to the position P2).

[0107] The tray 10 has a movable member that moves by movement of the tray main body 12. The moving mechanism 20 moves the product 30 forward using kinetic energy generated in the movable member.

[0108] The movable member is a rotary member. The moving mechanism 20 includes a push-out member for pushing the product 30 forward accompanying the rotation of the rotary member.Moving Mechanism 20

[0109] Next, a detailed example of the moving mechanism 20 of the tray 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7.First Example

[0110] The tray 10 of FIG. 5 includes, as the moving mechanism 20, a guide 52, a belt 54, and a push-out plate 22.

[0111] The belt 54 has one end connected to the push-out plate 22 and the other end connected to one end 81a of the shelf board 81 of the display shelf, and is movably accommodated in the guide 52. In a case where the tray main body 12 is at the reference position P1, the guide 52 is installed at a place located at the center on the back side of the bottom surface of the tray main body 12 along the long side direction of the bottom surface of the tray main body 12.

[0112] Furthermore, the guide 52 is curved along a curve drawn by the belt 54 in which the belt 54 is directed upward from the back side of the bottom surface of the tray main body 12 and one end is connected to the push-out plate 22.

[0113] In a case where the tray main body 12 moves from the reference position P1 to the position P2 on the front side by the pulling force f1, the pulling force f1 is converted into a force f2 for pulling the product 30 forward. Specifically, since the other end of the belt 54 moves to the right side in the drawing along the guide 52 by the pulling force f1, one end of the belt 54 is pushed out in a direction of moving the push-out plate 22 to the left side in the drawing, that is, to the front side. In this way, the push-out plate 22 moves forward. Thus, in this example, the belt 54 is both a movable member and a push-out member. The push-out plate 22 is an example of a push-out member.

[0114] According to the tray 10, the product 30 placed on the tray main body 12 can be moved forward by the moving mechanism 20 simply by pulling out the tray main body 12 forward, and thus a space behind the tray main body 12 becomes vacant, and the product 30 can be replenished to the vacant space. Accordingly, the efficiency of the product replenishment work can be improved.Second Example

[0115] The tray 10 of FIG. 6 includes, as the moving mechanism 20, a first rack 44, a second rack 45, a pinion 46, a gear 48, and the push-out plate 22.

[0116] The rotation shaft 42 of the pinion 46 and the gear 48 is installed on the rear side of the bottom surface of the tray main body 12 in parallel with the short side direction. The second rack 45 is installed on the shelf board 81 of the display shelf, and if the tray main body 12 moves from the reference position P1 to the position P2 on the front side, the second rack 45 moves to the right side in the drawing, and the gear 48 rotates in a direction of moving forward on the second rack 45. By this rotation, the first rack 44 and the push-out plate 22 move to the left side in the drawing, that is, to the front side of the tray main body 12.

[0117] In this example, the pinion 46 and the gear 48 are examples of the movable member, and the first rack 44 and the push-out plate 22 are examples of the push-out member.

[0118] In this manner, the force f1 for pulling out the tray main body 12 is converted into the force f2 for pulling the product 30 forward.

[0119] According to the tray 10, the product 30 placed on the tray main body 12 can be moved forward by the moving mechanism 20 simply by pulling out the tray main body 12 forward, and thus a space behind the tray main body 12 becomes vacant, and the product 30 can be replenished to the vacant space. Accordingly, the efficiency of the product replenishment work can be improved.Third Example

[0120] The tray 10 of FIG. 7 includes, as the moving mechanism 20, a tire 60, a pair of gears 64, and a belt 66 that meshes with the two gears 64 installed spaced apart. The belt 66 moves only in the forward direction by the ratchet mechanism of the gear 64. The surface of the upper belt 66 is exposed to the upper surface of the bottom surface of the tray main body 12, and the product 30 is placed on the surface of the belt 66.

[0121] The rotation shafts 62 of the two gears 64 are provided on the rear side and the front side of the tray main body 12 in parallel to the short side direction, and are arranged such that the belt 66 moves along the long side direction of the tray main body 12. The tire 60 moving on the shelf board 81 of the display shelf is installed coaxially with the rotation shaft 62 of the rear gear 64.

[0122] If the tray main body 12 moves from the reference position P1 to the position P2 on the front side, the tire 60 rotates and moves on the display shelf. At this time, since the gear 64 coaxial with the tire 60 also rotates, the belt 66 meshing with the gear 64 moves, and the front gear 64 also rotates. Since the upper belt 66 moves toward the front side of the tray main body 12, the product 30 placed on the upper surface of the belt 66 moves toward the front side of the tray main body 12.

[0123] In this example, the tire 60 and the gear 64 are examples of a rotary member, and the belt 66 is an example of a push-out member.

[0124] According to the tray 10, the product 30 placed on the tray main body 12 can be moved forward by the moving mechanism 20 simply by pulling out the tray main body 12 forward, and thus a space behind the tray main body 12 becomes vacant, and the product 30 can be replenished to the vacant space. Accordingly, the efficiency of the product replenishment work can be improved.

[0125] As described above, according to the tray 10 of the present example embodiment, the product 30 placed on the tray main body 12 can be moved forward by the moving mechanism 20 only by pulling out the tray main body 12 forward with a simple structure, and thus a space behind the tray main body 12 becomes vacant, and the product 30 can be replenished to the vacant space. Accordingly, the efficiency of the product replenishment work can be improved.Tray Main Body 12

[0126] Next, a detailed example of the structure of the tray main body 12 will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 11.First Example

[0127] As illustrated in FIG. 8, a planar shape of the tray main body 12 of the display tray 82 is a rectangle in which the front surface side and the rear surface side are short sides. The tray main body 12 of the display tray 82 includes a side surface 16 on at least one of the long sides of a rectangle. In the example of FIG. 8, the tray main body 12 of the display tray 82 further has side surfaces 18 on both short sides of the rectangle. Furthermore, on the side surface 18 on the front surface of the tray main body 12 of the display tray 82, a label 88 on which information that can specify the product 30 placed on the tray main body 12 of the display tray 82 is described is provided. Furthermore, as described later, the label 88 may further include a two-dimensional code or a marker in which information that can specify at least one of the tray main body 12 and the position of the tray main body 12 of the display tray 82 is recorded.

[0128] As illustrated in FIG. 8(b), in a case where the product 30 is replenished to the display tray 82, the conveyance tray 84 is arranged in such a way as to be adjacent to the display tray 82. The planar shape of the tray main body 12 of the conveyance tray 84 is a rectangle in which the front surface side and the rear surface side are short sides. The tray main body 12 of the conveyance tray 84 includes a side surface 16 on a side not adjacent to the display tray 82 among the long sides of the rectangle. Furthermore, the tray main body 12 of the conveyance tray 84 has side surfaces 18 on both short sides of the rectangle.

[0129] The bottom surface 14 of the display tray 82 and the bottom surface 14 of the conveyance tray 84 are arranged in such a way as to be flush with each other. As described above, since the tray main body 12 of the conveyance tray 84 has the side surface 16 on the side not adjacent to the conveyance tray 84 among the long sides of the rectangle, it is possible to slide and move the product 30 placed on the conveyance tray 84 from the conveyance tray 84 to the empty area of the display tray 82 without lifting up the product to replenish the product.Second Example

[0130] As illustrated in FIG. 9, the display tray 82 has a moving belt 70 on the bottom surface 14. The moving belt 70 comes into contact with the product 30 and moves the product 30 toward the front surface of the tray main body 12. The moving belt 70 is, for example, a belt 66 that is moved by the moving mechanism 20 of FIG. 7 described above. The surface of the moving belt 70 is made of a material having a surface frictional force equal to or greater than a first threshold value and equal to or smaller than a second threshold value with the contact surface of the product 30. That is, the product 30 is moved to the front side of the tray main body 12 with the movement of the moving belt 70 by the surface frictional force equal to or greater than the first threshold value. On the other hand, in a case where the product 30 is moved to the front side of the tray main body 12 by the surface frictional force equal to or smaller than the second threshold value, abuts with the side surface 18 on the front side of the tray main body 12 or the product 30 placed on the front side, and thereafter the moving belt 70 is moved to move another product 30, the product 30 in the above state is stopped, and only the moving belt 70 can move.

[0131] As illustrated in the top view of FIG. 9(b), the moving belt 70 is inclined with respect to the long side in such a way as to approach from one long side to the other long side as it approaches the front surface of the tray main body 12. The tray main body 12 has a side surface 16 on the other long side. Therefore, if the product 30 is pushed out to the front surface of the tray main body 12, the product moves in a direction in which the side surface 16 exists, so that the product 30 can be prevented from falling from the one long side in which the side surface 16 does not exist.Third Example

[0132] As illustrated in FIG. 10, the planar shape of the tray main body 12 is a rectangle in which the front surface side and the rear surface side are short sides. A plurality of tray main bodies 12 can be coupled in the short side direction. The tray main body 12 in FIG. 10 can be applied to both the display tray 82 and the conveyance tray 84.

[0133] FIG. 10(a) illustrates a state in which two tray main bodies 12 are coupled. FIG. 10(b) illustrates a state in which three tray main bodies 12 are coupled. The tray in which three tray main bodies 12 are coupled in FIG. 10(b) allows the product 30b having a larger size to be placed than the tray in which two tray main bodies 12 are coupled in FIG. 10(a).

[0134] However, although not illustrated in this example, the side surface 16 is provided on one of the long sides of the rectangle of the coupled tray main bodies 12.Fourth Example

[0135] As illustrated in FIG. 11, the tray main body 12 of the conveyance tray 84 includes at least one moving member 72 that moves the product 30 to be placed toward the display tray 82 in the short side direction of the rectangle. The moving member 72 can have, for example, a structure in which a belt and a gear are combined as illustrated in FIG. 7. However, in this example, the gear rotates by rotation of a motor (not illustrated) driven by power supplied from the robot 100 to move the belt.Fifth Example

[0136] FIG. 12 illustrates an example of a product moving unit 72 included in the robot 100. In the example of FIG. 12, the product moving unit 72 is a part of the movable unit (arm 104) of the robot 100, and moves the product 30 to the display tray 82. The product moving unit 72 is a push-out member (plate) that pushes out the product 30 placed on the tray main body 12 of the conveyance tray 84 to an empty area of the display tray 82. The product moving unit 72 is grasped by the arm 104 of the robot 100, abuts on the product 30b placed on the conveyance tray 84, and slidably moves the product 30b from the conveyance tray 84 to the empty area of the display tray 82.

[0137] The push-out member can simultaneously move the plurality of products 30 to the display tray 82. In this example, two products 30b are simultaneously moved from the conveyance tray 84 to the display tray 82.

[0138] As described above, according to the tray 10 of the present example embodiment, the movement of the product 30 from the conveyance tray 84 to the display tray 82 can be achieved only by slidably moving the product 30 without lifting, so that the efficiency of the product replenishment work can be improved.Second Example EmbodimentSystem Overview

[0139] A detailed example of a store management system including a tray and a product display device according to the present disclosure will be described.

[0140] FIG. 13 is a diagram conceptually illustrating a system configuration of a store management system 1 according to the present disclosure.

[0141] The store management system 1 automates a shelf stocking operation of the display shelf 80 in the store 5 using a product display device (robot) 100. The store 5 is, for example, a retail store such as a supermarket, a drug store, or a convenience store. In such retail stores, shelf stocking operation accounts for approximately 20% of the overall operations. The shelf stocking work is a hard work. In addition, if there is a delay in shelf stocking, it may lead to a loss of sales opportunities. For this reason, since the shelf stocking work is the most important operation, there is a possibility that customer service operation leading to customer satisfaction and sales is neglected due to being pressed by the shelf stocking work.

[0142] The store management system 1 according to the present disclosure goes around in the store 5, checks the remaining number of each product 30, and automatically performs a shelf stocking operation of conveying the product 30 from the backyard 7 and displaying the product on the display shelf 80 before the product runs out. According to the store management system 1, a loss of sales opportunities due to an item deficiency can be reduced, and employees can focus on serving customers without being pressed by the shelf stocking work.

[0143] Store management system 1 includes the server device 200, the product display device 100, and the tray 10. The server device 200 and the product display device 100 are connected via a communication network 3. Since the tray 10 has been described in the above example embodiment, a detailed description thereof will be omitted in the present example embodiment.

[0144] The server device 200 includes a storage device 220. The storage device 220 may be provided inside the server device 200 or may be provided outside. That is, the storage device 220 may be hardware integrated with the server device 200, or may be hardware separate from the server device 200.

[0145] The robot 100 performs a shelf stocking work in accordance with an instruction from the server device 200. The shelf stocking work will be described later.

[0146] The server device 200 instructs the robot 100 to perform the shelf stocking work by using the information regarding the deficiency of the products 30 detected by the robot 100 and the information regarding the display of the display shelf 80. Furthermore, in an example embodiment to be described later, the server device 200 performs demand prediction of the product 30 and instructs the robot 100 to perform a work of replacing the product according to the demand.Hardware Configuration Example

[0147] FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a computer 1000 that implements the control device 130 of the product display device 100 and the server device 200 according to the present disclosure.

[0148] The computer 1000 includes a bus 1010, a processor 1020, a memory 1030, a storage device 1040, an input / output interface 1050, and a network interface 1060.

[0149] The bus 1010 is a data transmission path for the processor 1020, the memory 1030, the storage device 1040, the input / output interface 1050, and the network interface 1060 to transmit and receive data to and from each other. However, the method for connecting the processor 1020 and the like to each other is not limited to the bus connection.

[0150] The processor 1020 is a processor implemented by a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), or the like.

[0151] The memory 1030 is a main storage device implemented by a Random Access Memory (RAM) or the like.

[0152] The storage device 1040 is an auxiliary storage device implemented by a Hard Disk Drive (HDD), a Solid State Drive (SSD), a memory card, a Read Only Memory (ROM), or the like. The storage device 1040 stores a program module for implementing functions of the control device 130 of the product display device 100 (a movement control unit 132, a tray position acquisition unit 134, a deficient number acquisition unit 136, a tray control unit 138, a product replenishing unit 140, etc. to be described later) and functions of the server device 200 (a robot position information acquisition unit 202, a display shelf information acquisition unit 204, a robot work information acquisition unit 206, a robot instruction unit 208, a history information acquisition unit 210, an event information acquisition unit 212, a demand prediction unit 214, and a display information generation unit 216, a work information generation unit 218, etc. to be described later). The processor 1020 implements the functions associated with the program modules by reading and executing the program modules on the memory 1030. In addition, the storage device 1040 may also store each data of the storage device 220 of the server device 200.

[0153] The program module may be recorded in a recording medium. The recording medium that records the program module includes a non-transitory tangible medium that can be used by the computer 1000, and a program code readable by the computer 1000 (processor 1020) may be embedded in the medium.

[0154] The input / output interface 1050 is an interface that connects the computer 1000 and various input / output devices. The input / output interface 1050 also functions as a communication interface that performs near field radio communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or Near Field Communication (NFC).

[0155] The network interface 1060 is an interface for connecting the computer 1000 to the communication network 3. The communication network 3 is, for example, a Local Area Network (LAN) or a Wide Area Network (WAN). A method of connecting the network interface 1060 to the communication network 3 may be wireless connection or wired connection.

[0156] Then, the computer 1000 is connected to a necessary device (e.g., a display, a touch panel, an operation button, a touch pad, a keyboard, a mouse, a speaker, a microphone, a camera, a printer, etc. of the server device 200, such as the camera 102, the arm 104, the robot supporting column 106, the tray holding unit 112, the moving mechanism 120, the speaker, or the microphone of the product display device 100) via the input / output interface 1050 or the network interface 1060.

[0157] Each component of the control device 130 of the product display device 100 and the server device 200 according to the present disclosure in each drawing is achieved by an arbitrary combination of hardware and software of the computer 1000 in FIG. 14. Those skilled in the art will understand that there are various modifications of the implementation method and device. A functional block diagram illustrating the control device 130 of the product display device 100 and the server device 200 according to the present disclosure in each drawing illustrates a logical functional unit block instead of a hardware unit configuration.

[0158] Furthermore, the control device 130 of the product display device 100 according to the present disclosure may be achieved as one chip or device, or may be achieved in a form of being mounted on the product display device 100.

[0159] Furthermore, the camera 102 of the robot 100 includes an imaging element such as a lens and a Charge Coupled Device (CCD) image sensor. The camera 102 may be, for example, a network camera such as an Internet Protocol (IP) camera. The network camera has, for example, a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) communication function, and is connected to the server device 200 via a relay device (not illustrated) such as a router of the communication network 3.Functional Configuration Example

[0160] First, the control device 130 of the robot 100 according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIG. 15.

[0161] The control device 130 includes a movement control unit 132, a tray position acquisition unit 134, a deficient number acquisition unit 136 (deficient number specifying means), a tray control unit 138 (control unit), and a product replenishing unit 140 (control unit).

[0162] The movement control unit 132 controls the moving mechanism 120 of the robot 100 in FIG. 2 to move the robot 100 in the store 5 and the backyard 7.

[0163] As the movement of the moving mechanism 120 is controlled by the movement control unit 132, the robot 100 can perform the following works.

[0164] (Work 1) Open a package 32 of the product 30 and take out the product 30, place the product 30 on the conveyance tray 84 and prepare for shelf stocking in the backyard 7 at a predetermined timing according to the schedule. However, in the case of a convenience store or the like, there is a case where the backyard 7 cannot secure a sufficient size, and thus, the preparation work may be performed in the warehouse for the product 30 and carried into the store 5.

[0165] (Work 2) Go around in the store 5, move to the front of the display shelf 80, image the display shelf 80 with the camera 102, and detect deficiency of the products 30 at a predetermined timing according to a schedule.

[0166] (Work 3) In response to the detection of the deficiency of the product 30, accommodate the plurality of conveyance trays 110 in FIG. 2 on which the deficient product 30 is placed in the tray holding unit 112 of the robot 100 in FIG. 2 in the backyard 7.

[0167] (Work 4) Move into the store 5 and move to the front of the display shelf 80 on which the product 30 is displayed.

[0168] (Work 5) After displaying (replenishing) the product 30 on the display shelf 80, and return to the backyard 7.

[0169] The tray position acquisition unit 134 processes an image of the display shelf 80 imaged using the camera 102 to acquire position information of the display tray 82. A method of acquiring the position information of the display tray 82 is exemplified below, but is not limited thereto.

[0170] (Acquiring method 1) Give a two-dimensional code 86 indicating identification information that can specify the display tray 82 to a label 88 provided on a side surface 18 in front of the display tray 82. The two-dimensional code 86 is read by processing the image 90, and identification information of the display tray 82 is acquired. Furthermore, a two-dimensional code or a marker indicating information that can specify the position of the shelf board 81 of the display shelf 80 in which the display tray 82 is accommodated is provided in front of the shelf board 81. By processing the image 90, the two-dimensional code or the marker is read, and the position of the shelf board 81 of the display shelf 80 in which the display tray 82 is accommodated is specified. Information indicating the position specified in the identification information of the display tray 82 is acquired in association.

[0171] (Acquiring method 2) Using the image 90 obtained by imaging the entire display shelf 80 or a predetermined region, a predetermined position (e.g., the upper left corner position) of the label 88 on the display tray 82 in the image 90 is detected. The position in the image 90 is specified in two-dimensional coordinates (x, y) as a relative position in the entire display shelf 80 or in a predetermined region included in the image 90. Positional information of each of the plurality of display trays 82 included in the region is associated with information that can specify the entire display shelf 80 or the predetermined region.

[0172] In addition, on the label 88, the name of the product 30 placed on the tray main body 12 is described. Furthermore, the label 88 may describe identification information that can specify the product 30. The tray position acquisition unit 134 may read and acquire at least one of the name and the identification information of the product 30 placed on the tray main body 12 from the label 88.

[0173] The deficient number acquisition unit 136 processes the image of the display shelf 80 and specifies the deficient number of the products 30. Various methods for specifying the deficient number of the products 30 by the deficient number acquisition unit 136 are conceivable and exemplified below, but are not limited thereto.

[0174] (Specifying method 1) Specify a region of the product 30 of the tray main body 12 and an entire region of the tray main body 12 by image processing. The number of products 30 that can be placed on the tray main body 12 and the number of products 30 placed on the tray main body 12 are calculated from a region occupied by one product 30 placed on the tray main body 12. The number of products 30 placed on the tray main body 12 is subtracted from the number of the products 30 that can be placed on the tray main body 12 to calculate the deficient number of the products 30. The product 30 placed on the tray main body 12 may be specified by performing image processing on the label 88 as described above. Alternatively, the product 30 may be specified by collating the feature amount of each product 30 stored in advance in the memory 1030 or the storage device 1040 (hereinafter, referred to as a storage unit of the control device 130) of the computer 1000 with the feature amount extracted from the product 30 in the image 90 by the image processing.

[0175] (Specifying method 2) Specify a region of the tray main body 12 where the product 30 is not placed by image processing. The number of products 30 that can be placed in the region is calculated from the region occupied by one product 30 placed on the tray main body 12, and is taken as the deficient number of the products 30.

[0176] (Specifying method 3) Specify the number of products 30 placed on the tray main body 12 by image processing. The number of products 30 that can be placed on the tray main body 12 stored in advance in the storage unit of the control device 130 is acquired. Alternatively, the number of products 30 that can be placed on the tray main body 12 calculated by the method of the specifying method 1 may be used.

[0177] However, in a case where there are a plurality of types of shapes and sizes of the tray main body 12, the number of products 30 that can be placed on the tray main body 12 is stored in the storage unit of the control device 130 for each type of the tray main body 12. Furthermore, information that can specify the type of the tray main body 12 is recorded on the label 88 of the tray main body 12. The type of the tray main body 12 is specified by image processing. The number of products 30 placed on the tray main body 12 is subtracted from the number of the products 30 that can be placed on the tray main body 12 to calculate the deficient number of the products 30.

[0178] (Specifying method 4) Provide a predetermined mark on the bottom surface of the tray main body 12. The marker is detected by image processing, and a region where the product 30 is not placed is calculated according to a detection rate of the marker. That is, the marker in the region where the product 30 is placed of the bottom surface of the tray main body 12 is hidden by the product 30 and thus is not included in the image 90. On the other hand, a marker in a region where the product 30 is not placed of the bottom surface of the tray main body 12 is included in the image 90. Therefore, a region where the product 30 is not placed is calculated by calculating a detection rate (e.g., area ratio or number ratio) of the detected marker with respect to the marker provided in advance in the tray main body 12.

[0179] The deficient number acquisition unit 136 associates the position information of the tray main body 12 acquired by the tray position acquisition unit 134 with the deficient number of the products 30, and stores the information in the storage unit of the control device 130 as the deficiency information of the products 30. The deficient number acquisition unit 136 may transmit the deficiency information to the server device 200.

[0180] The tray control unit 138 controls the arm 104 to control the movement of the display tray 82 and the conveyance tray 84.

[0181] The product replenishing unit 140 replenishes the product 30 deficient in the display tray 82 by moving the product 30 from the conveyance tray 84 to the display tray 82.

[0182] Details of operations of the tray control unit 138 and the product replenishing unit 140 will be described later.Operation Example

[0183] The operation of the control device 130 of the robot 100 will be described with reference to FIG. 16.

[0184] First, the movement control unit 132 controls the moving mechanism 120 of the robot 100 to move the robot 100 to the front of the display shelf 80 (step S101). Then, the tray position acquisition unit 134 images the display shelf 80 using the camera 102 to generate an image 90. Then, the tray position acquisition unit 134 acquires the position information of the tray main body 12 by processing the image 90 (step S103).

[0185] Then, the deficient number acquisition unit 136 specifies the deficient number of the products 30 in each tray main body 12 by processing the image 90 (step S105). The deficiency information in which the deficient number of the products 30 of each tray main body 12 acquired by the deficient number acquisition unit 136 is associated with the position information of the tray main body 12 is transmitted to the server device 200.

[0186] The movement control unit 132 controls the moving mechanism 120 to move the robot 100 to the backyard 7. In accordance with the instruction received from the server device 200, the tray control unit 138 accommodates the conveyance tray 84 on which the product 30 that needs to be replenished is placed in the tray holding unit 112 (step S107). The instruction transmitted from the server device 200 includes a work content in which the conveyance tray 84 to be accommodated in the tray holding unit 112 is associated with information capable of specifying the display tray 82 where the product 30 in the conveyance tray 84 is to be replenished.

[0187] The tray control unit 138 and the product replenishing unit 140 perform a processing of replenishing the products 30 by moving the display tray 82 and the conveyance tray 84 and moving the products 30 from the conveyance tray 84 to the display tray 82 (step S109).

[0188] FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed processing operation in step S109.

[0189] First, the control device 130 of the robot 100 detects its own current position (step S121). Various methods for acquiring the position information of the robot 100 are conceivable, and are exemplified below, but are not limited thereto.

[0190] (Acquiring method 1) Acquire Positional information from a Global Positioning System (GPS) reception unit included in the robot 100.

[0191] (Acquiring method 2) Specify a position in the store 5 or a display shelf 80 by performing image processing on an imaged image of the camera 102 of the robot 100. The store 5 or the display shelf 80 is provided with a two-dimensional code in which information capable of specifying the position in the store 5 and the display shelf 80 is recorded. By processing an image obtained by imaging the two-dimensional code with the camera 102, at least one of the position in the store 5 and the display shelf 80 is specified from the two-dimensional code.

[0192] The movement control unit 132 controls the moving mechanism 120 to move the robot 100 to the front of the display shelf 80 instructed to replenish the products 30 by using the position information indicating the current position of the robot 100 acquired in step S121 and the information capable of specifying the position of the display shelf 80 instructed to replenish the products 30 from the server device 200 (step S123).

[0193] Then, the tray control unit 138 images the display shelf 80 with the camera 102 to generate an image 90. Then, the tray control unit 138 processes the image 90 to identify the display tray 82 instructed to be replenished and specify the position (step S125).

[0194] The tray control unit 138 controls the arm 104 to grasp the protrusion 24 of the display tray 82 specified in step S125 and pull out the display tray 82 forward (step S127). As described above, in a case where the display tray 82 is pulled out, the product 30 placed on the display tray 82 is moved forward by the moving mechanism 20, and an empty area is generated behind the display tray 82.

[0195] The tray control unit 138 controls the arm 104 to take out the conveyance tray 84 from the tray holding unit 112 and bring the conveyance tray 84 alongside the display tray 82 pulled out in step S127 to be adjacent thereto (step S129). At this time, the bottom surface of the display tray 82 and the bottom surface of the conveyance tray 84 are flush with each other.

[0196] The product replenishing unit 140 controls the arm 104 to slidably move and replenish the product 30 from the conveyance tray 84 to the empty area of the display tray 82 (step S131). Then, the tray control unit 138 controls the arm 104 to remove and collect the conveyance tray 84 from next to the display tray 82, and accommodates the conveyance tray 84 in the tray holding unit 112 (step S133). The robot 100 repeats this processing until the replenishment of the products 30 in the conveyance tray 84 accommodated in the tray holding unit 112 is ended. In a case where the replenishment of the products 30 in the conveyance tray 84 accommodated in the tray holding unit 112 is completed, the movement control unit 132 controls the moving mechanism 120 to return the robot 100 to the backyard 7.Server Device 200functional Configuration Example

[0197] Hereinafter, a management device (server device) 200 according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIG. 18.

[0198] The server device 200 includes a robot position information acquisition unit 202, a display shelf information acquisition unit 204, a robot work information acquisition unit 206, and a robot instruction unit 208.

[0199] The robot position information acquisition unit 202 acquires current position information from the robot 100.

[0200] The robot work information acquisition unit 206 acquires information indicating the work state of the robot 100. The work state of the robot 100 is, for example, any one of standby, movement, display, and replenishment. Furthermore, the work state of the robot 100 may include stop (power off etc.) indicating the operation state of the robot 100.

[0201] In a case where the position information of the robot 100 and the information indicating the work state are acquired from each robot 100, the server device 200 stores the information in the storage device 220 or the memory 1030 or the storage device 1040 of the computer 1000 as the robot information 230.

[0202] Various types of information described below may be similarly stored in the storage device 220, or the memory 1030 or the storage device 1040 of the computer 1000. In the following description, it is described as “stored in the storage device 220”, but this description means “stored in the storage device 220 or the memory 1030 or the storage device 1040 of the computer 1000”.

[0203] FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a data structure example of the robot information 230.

[0204] The robot information 230 stores, for each robot 100, identification information (in the figure, robot ID) that can specify the robot 100, position information acquired by the robot position information acquisition unit 202, and information indicating a work state acquired by the robot work information acquisition unit 206 in association with information indicating date and time at which information is acquired or date and time at which information is recorded. In addition to the example of FIG. 19, the robot information 230 may store, for each robot 100, identification information (in the figure, robot ID) that can specify the robot 100, position information acquired by the robot position information acquisition unit 202, and information indicating a work state acquired by the robot work information acquisition unit 206 in association with information indicating date and time at which information is acquired or date and time at which information is recorded.

[0205] Returning to FIG. 18, the display shelf information acquisition unit 204 acquires display status information indicating a display status of products on the display shelf 80 of the store 5. Specifically, the display shelf information acquisition unit 204 acquires deficiency information indicating the deficient number of the products 30 for each display shelf 80 acquired by the robot 100 going around in the store 5. The display shelf information acquisition unit 204 stores the acquired information in the storage device 220 as the display shelf inventory management information 240.

[0206] FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a data structure example of the display shelf inventory management information 240.

[0207] The display shelf inventory management information 240 includes, for each shelf board 81 of the display shelf 80, identification information (in the drawing, indicated as a product rack ID) that can specify the display shelf 80, identification information (in the drawing, indicated as a shelf ID) that can specify the shelf board 81, position information indicating a position of the shelf board 81 in the display shelf 80 of the shelf board 81, information (in the figure, indicated as a product code) that can specify the products 30 placed on the display tray 82 accommodated at the position of the shelf board 81, and information indicating a deficient number of the products 30 in association with each other.

[0208] In the example of FIG. 20, the display shelf inventory management information 240 stores the deficient number of the products 30, but in another example, the display shelf inventory management information 240 may store the remaining number of the products 30 in the display tray 82 and the number of the products 30 that can be accommodated in the display tray 82. The deficient number of the products 30 can be calculated from the remaining number of the products 30 in the display tray 82 and the number of the products 30 that can be accommodated in the display tray 82.

[0209] Returning to FIG. 18, the robot instruction unit 208 determines to which robot 100 to assign the replenishment work of which product 30 by using the robot information 230 and the display shelf inventory management information 240, and generates instruction information indicating a work content for each robot 100. The robot instruction unit 208 transmits the generated instruction information to each robot 100 via the communication network 3.Operation Example

[0210] Processing operation of the control device 130 of the robot 100 will be described below with reference to FIG. 21.

[0211] First, the robot position information acquisition unit 202 acquires position information of the robot 100 from each robot 100 (step S201).

[0212] Next, the display shelf information acquisition unit 204 acquires, from each robot 100, deficiency information indicating the deficient number of the products 30 for each display shelf 80 acquired by the robot 100 going around in the store 5. The display shelf information acquisition unit 204 stores the acquired information in the storage device 220 as the display shelf inventory management information 240 (step S203).

[0213] Then, the robot work information acquisition unit 206 acquires information indicating the work state of the robot 100 from each robot 100 (step S205). The robot work information acquisition unit 206 stores the position information acquired in step S201 and the information indicating the work state acquired in step S205 in the storage device 220 in association with each other as the robot information 230.

[0214] The robot instruction unit 208 determines to which robot 100 to assign the replenishment work of which product 30 by using the robot information 230 and the display shelf inventory management information 240, and generates instruction information indicating a work content for each robot 100 (step S207).

[0215] The robot instruction unit 208 transmits the generated instruction information to each robot 100 via the communication network 3 (step S209). Upon receiving the instruction information from the server device 200, the robot 100 can perform work according to the work content indicated by the instruction information.

[0216] As described above, the store management system 1 of the present example embodiment includes the server device 200, the product display device (robot) 100, and the tray 10. The robot 100 goes around in the store 5 to acquire the display status of the display shelf 80 and transmits the display status to the server device 200. The server device 200 generates instruction information indicating the replenishment work of the product 30 by using the display status of the display shelf 80 (the deficient number of the products 30, etc.) received from the robot 100, and transmits the instruction information to the robot 100. The robot 100 performs the shelf stocking work of the product 30 according to the received instruction information. In a case where the tray 10 is pulled out by the robot 100 by the moving mechanism 20, the tray moves to the front of the tray main body 12 in the tray main body 12 thus forming a product replenishing region. Then, the robot 100 causes the product moving unit to replenish the product replenishing region with the product 30.

[0217] As described above, according to the store management system 1 of the present example embodiment, the same effects as those of the above example embodiment are obtained, and furthermore, a series of shelf stocking works from the detection of the deficiency of the product 30 in the store 5 to the replenishment of the product 30 can be automated by the robot 100, the server device 200, and the tray 10, so that the efficiency of the product replenishment work can be improved.Third Example EmbodimentFunctional Configuration Example

[0218] FIG. 22 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the server device 200 according to the present disclosure. The server device 200 of FIG. 22 is the same as the server device 200 of FIG. 18 except that it has a configuration in which demand prediction of a product is further performed and replacement or replenishment of the product is performed according to a prediction result. Although the configuration of FIG. 18 is not illustrated in FIG. 22, the server device 200 of FIG. 22 may also include each element of FIG. 18. Each element in FIG. 22 may be combined with each element in one or more example embodiments as long as there is no contradiction.

[0219] The server device 200 includes a history information acquisition unit 210, an event information acquisition unit 212, a demand prediction unit 214, a display information generation unit 216, and a work information generation unit 218. Furthermore, the server device 200 includes at least a robot instruction unit 208 in FIG. 18 (not illustrated in FIG. 22).

[0220] The history information acquisition unit 210 acquires sales history information of the product held by the store system of the store 5. This sales history information is used by the demand prediction unit 214 to create a demand prediction of products by daily time zone, day of the week, month, season, or the like. For example, the demand prediction unit 214 can create the demand prediction by using the sales history information for each of the commuting time zone, the lunch time zone, the dinner time zone, and the home arrival time zone on weekdays.

[0221] The event information acquisition unit 212 acquires event information including information regarding the holding of various events (e.g., a firework event, an athletic meet, etc.) in the surrounding area of the store 5, information indicating calendar events (e.g., Mother's Day, Father's Day, Christmas, New Year's Day, etc.), information regarding the holding of sales promotion events and campaigns, and the like.

[0222] Various methods for acquiring the event information are conceivable, and are exemplified below, but are not limited thereto.

[0223] (Acquiring method 1) Acquire event information by accepting an input by an operator's operation using an input screen including a User Interface (UI) that accepts an input of information indicating a type of an event and information indicating a date and time the event is to be held.

[0224] (Acquiring method 2) Collect various pieces of event information of the surrounding area of the store 5 from each web site on the Internet.

[0225] (Acquiring method 3) Register information regarding a calendar event in advance in the storage device 220, and read and acquire the registered information.

[0226] The demand prediction unit 214 generates information indicating a demand prediction for each specific date and time (e.g., a specific time on a specific day (e.g., 8:00 to 10:00) or a specific time zone on weekdays (e.g., home arrival time zone)) by using the event information acquired by the event information acquisition unit 212 and the sales history information acquired by the history information acquisition unit 210.

[0227] The display information generation unit 216 generates product display information by using information indicating demand prediction for a specific date and time. The product display information is display information corresponding to an event on a specific date and time or the like. For example, in a case where a firework event is scheduled to be held in a surrounding area of the store 5 at night on a specific day, the display information generation unit 216 generates display information for displaying products such as beer and snacks in a region of the display shelf 80 where sales promotion target products are displayed in a period from 15:00 to 22:00 in the evening of the specific day.

[0228] The work information generation unit 218 acquires information indicating a display status of the display shelf 80 at a time point before the specific date and time. The information indicating the display status may be information indicating the display status specified from the imaged image 90 actually using the robot 100 by the display shelf information acquisition unit 204 described above, or may be acquired from display information planned in advance.

[0229] The work information generation unit 218 generates instruction information indicating work contents for replacing and replenishing products by using the display information of the specific date and time and the display information of a time point before the specific date and time. The generated instruction information is transmitted to the robot 100 by the robot instruction unit 208. Upon receiving the instruction information, the robot 100 performs work according to the work content.

[0230] However, the instruction information may include information indicating a date and time of performing the work The robot 100 may monitor the date and time of performing the work and start the work at that date and time.

[0231] Furthermore, the instruction information is created before the specific date and time, and may further include information indicating a date and time at which the instruction information is to be transmitted. The work information generation unit 218 assigns work to each robot 100 and creates a work plan by using information indicating the work schedule of each robot 100. The robot instruction unit 208 transmits the instruction information to each robot 100 according to the date and time at which the instruction information is to be transmitted. However, as described above, in a case where the instruction information to the robot 100 includes information indicating the date and time of performing the work, the instruction information may be transmitted to the robot 100 in advance. The robot 100 may monitor the date and time of performing the work and start the work at that date and time.Operation Example

[0232] FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation of the server device 200 according to the present disclosure. Hereinafter, description will be given with reference to FIG. 23.

[0233] The history information acquisition unit 210 acquires the sales history information of the product held by the store system of the store 5 (step S221). The event information acquisition unit 212 acquires event information including information regarding holding of various events in the surrounding area of the store 5, information indicating calendar events, and the like (step S223).

[0234] The demand prediction unit 214 generates information indicating a demand prediction for a specific date and time by using the event information acquired by the event information acquisition unit 212 and the sales history information acquired by the history information acquisition unit 210 (step S227). The display information generation unit 216 generates product display information by using information indicating demand prediction for a specific date and time (step S227).

[0235] The work information generation unit 218 acquires information indicating a display status of the display shelf 80 at a time point before the specific date and time (step S229). The work information generation unit 218 generates instruction information indicating work contents for replacing and replenishing products by using the display information of the specific date and time and the display information of a time point before the specific date and time (step S231).

[0236] The robot instruction unit 208 transmits the generated instruction information to each robot 100 via the communication network 3 (step S209). Upon receiving the instruction information from the server device 200, the robot 100 can perform work according to the work content indicated by the instruction information.

[0237] As described above, the server device 200 of the present example embodiment includes the history information acquisition unit 210, the event information acquisition unit 212, the demand prediction unit 214, the display information generation unit 216, and the work information generation unit 218. The demand prediction unit 214 generates a demand prediction of a product for a specific date and time of the store 5 by using the sales history information acquired by the history information acquisition unit 210 and the event information acquired by the event information acquisition unit 212. The display information generation unit 216 generates product display information by using information indicating demand prediction for a specific date and time. The work information generation unit 218 acquires information indicating a display status of the display shelf 80 at a time point before the specific date and time. Furthermore, the work information generation unit 218 generates instruction information indicating work contents for replacing and replenishing products by using the display information of the specific date and time and the display information of a time point before the specific date and time. Then, the robot instruction unit 208 transmits the instruction information to the robot 100 to cause the robot to perform the shelf stocking work.

[0238] As described above, according to the present example embodiment, the same effects as those of the above example embodiment are obtained, and furthermore, demand prediction is performed using the past sales history information of the store 5 and the event information of the surrounding area of the store 5, and a shelf stocking work instruction is generated using the display information created according to the prediction to cause the robot 100 to perform the shelf stocking work, so that the product on the display shelf 80 can be replaced and replenished according to the demand of the customer. Therefore, it is possible to raise the customer purchase unit price without missing the sales opportunity of the product.

[0239] Although the example embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, these are examples of the present invention, and various configurations other than the above can be used.Other Example Embodiments

[0240] Hereinafter, the product replenishment work in the case of two-face display in which the same product 30 is displayed side by side in two rows will be described with reference to FIGS. 24 and 25.

[0241] First, the robot 100 moves the product 30 to the front side of the display tray 82a by pulling out one display tray 82a forward, thus creating a space for replenishing the product behind the display tray 82a. In addition, the robot 100 moves the product 30 to the rear side of the display tray 82b by pushing out the other display tray 82b rearward.

[0242] Next, the robot 100 returns the display tray 82a and the display tray 82b to the original positions. Then, the robot 100 slidably moves the product 30b on the display tray 82b to the space for replenishing the product in the display tray 82b. The robot 100 removes the empty display tray 82b from the display shelf 80. The removed display tray 82b is accommodated in the tray holding unit 112 of the robot 100. Then, the robot 100 installs the conveyance tray 84, on which the product 30b for replenishment is placed, next to the display tray 82a. The conveyance tray 84 is used as the display tray 82 as it is.

[0243] Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 25, the product 30 on the display tray 82 and the conveyance tray 84 is half-rotationally moved. This movement can be achieved, for example, by the moving belt 70 of FIG. 9 (in combination with the gear 64 of FIG. 7). The moving belt 70 is moved with rotation of the gear 64 by the rotation of a motor (not illustrated) driven by power supplied from the robot 100.

[0244] As a result, the products 30 remaining on the display tray 82a and the display tray 82b before replenishment can be arranged in front of the two trays, and the newly replenished products 30 on the conveyance tray 84 can be arranged behind the two trays.

[0245] According to this configuration, even in the case of two-face display, the product replenishment work can be efficiently performed.

[0246] While the present disclosure has been particularly shown and described with reference to example embodiments thereof, the present disclosure is not limited to these example embodiments. It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the claims. And each example embodiment can be appropriately combined with other example embodiments.

[0247] In addition, in the plurality of flowcharts used in the above description, a plurality of steps (processing) are described in order, but the execution order of the steps executed in each example embodiment is not limited to the described order. In each example embodiment, the order of the illustrated steps can be changed as long as nothing interferes in terms of content.

[0248] Some or all of the example embodiments described above may be described as the following Supplementary Notes, but are not limited to the following.

[0249] 1. A display tray including:

[0250] a tray main body movable to at least one of a front side and a rear side with respect to a reference position, and

[0251] a moving means for moving a product placed on the tray main body forward.

[0252] 2. The display tray according to 1., further including:

[0253] a movable member that moves by movement of the tray main body, in which

[0254] the moving means moves the product forward using kinetic energy generated in the movable member.

[0255] 3. The display tray according to 2., in which

[0256] the movable member is a rotary member, and

[0257] the moving means includes a push-out member for pushing out the product forward accompanying rotation of the rotary member.

[0258] 4. The display tray according to any one of 1. to 3., in which

[0259] a planar shape of the tray main body is a rectangle in which a front surface side and a rear surface side are short sides, and

[0260] the tray main body includes a side surface on at least one of long sides of the rectangle.

[0261] 5. The display tray according to 4., further including:

[0262] a belt that comes into contact with the product and moves the product toward a front surface of the tray main body, in which

[0263] the belt is inclined with respect to the long side in such a way as to approach one long side as the front surface is approached.

[0264] 6. The display tray according to any one of 1. to 5., in which

[0265] a planar shape of the tray main body is a rectangle in which a front surface side and a rear surface side are short sides, and

[0266] a plurality of the tray main bodies can be coupled in the short side direction.

[0267] 7. A product display device used with a display shelf having a display tray that can be pulled out to a front side, the product display device including:

[0268] a holding means for holding a conveyance tray on which a product for filling is mounted,

[0269] at least one movable unit capable of moving the product, and

[0270] a control means for controlling the movable unit, in which

[0271] the control means controls, in a case where the product is replenished to the display tray, the movable unit to

[0272] move the display tray forward,

[0273] bring the conveyance tray adjacent to the display tray, and

[0274] move the product in the conveyance tray to the display tray.

[0275] 8. The product display device according to 7., in which

[0276] the conveyance tray includes a product moving unit that is a part of the movable unit and moves the product to the display tray.

[0277] 9. The product display device according to 8., in which

[0278] the product moving unit includes a push-out member for pushing out the product toward the display tray.

[0279] 10. The product display device according to 9., in which

[0280] the push-out member is capable of simultaneously moving a plurality of the products to the display tray.

[0281] 11. The product display device according to any one of 7. to 10., further including:

[0282] a current position acquisition means for acquiring current position information indicating a current position of the product display device,

[0283] a movement control means for moving the product display device by controlling a moving means for moving the product display device, and

[0284] a tray position acquisition means for specifying a position of the display tray and acquiring position information of the display tray by imaging the display shelf using an imaging means and processing an image of the display shelf generated by the imaging means, in which

[0285] the movement control means controls, upon receiving an instruction indicating a work content in which the conveyance tray to be accommodated in the holding means and information capable of specifying the display tray to which the product in the conveyance tray is to be replenished are associated with each other, the moving means to move the product display device from the current position of the product display device to a position where the conveyance tray exists,

[0286] the control means controls the movable unit to

[0287] cause the holding means to accommodate the conveyance tray to be accommodated in the holding means indicated by the work content,

[0288] the movement control means controls the moving means to,

[0289] move the product display device to the front of the display shelf including the display tray to which the product in the conveyance tray is to be replenished indicated by the work content, and

[0290] the control means controls the movable unit to

[0291] perform a work of replenishing the product in the conveyance tray to the display tray according to the work content.

[0292] 12. The product display device according to 11., further including:

[0293] a deficient number specifying means for specifying a deficient number of the product for each of the display trays specified by the tray position acquisition means by being moved to the front of the display shelf by the movement control means and processing an image of the display shelf generated by the imaging means, in which

[0294] the work content is generated using the deficient number of the product for each display tray.

[0295] 13. A store management system including:

[0296] a display tray, and

[0297] a product display device for replenishing products to the display tray, in which

[0298] the display tray includes:

[0299] a tray main body movable to at least one of a front side and a rear side with respect to a reference position, and

[0300] a moving means for moving a product placed on a bottom surface of the tray main body forward,

[0301] the product display device is used with a display shelf having the display tray that can be pulled out to a front side, and includes,

[0302] a holding means for holding a conveyance tray on which the product for filling is mounted,

[0303] at least one movable unit capable of moving the product, and

[0304] a control means for controlling the movable unit, and

[0305] the control means controls, in a case where the product is replenished to the display tray, the movable unit to

[0306] move the display tray forward,

[0307] bring the conveyance tray adjacent to the display tray, and

[0308] move the product in the conveyance tray to the display tray.

[0309] 14. The store management system according to 13., further including

[0310] a management device, in which

[0311] the management device includes:

[0312] a display information acquisition means for acquiring display status information indicating a display status of the product on the display shelf of a store,

[0313] a work information generation means for generating work information of the product display device based on the display status information, and

[0314] a control means for instructing the product display device to perform display work based on the work information.

[0315] 15. The store management system according to 14., in which

[0316] the product display device includes:

[0317] a movement control means for moving the product display device by controlling a moving means for moving the product display device, and

[0318] a tray position acquisition means for specifying a position of the display tray and acquiring position information of the display tray by imaging the display shelf using an imaging means and processing an image of the display shelf generated by the imaging means,

[0319] in the product display device, the movement control means controls, upon receiving from the management device an instruction of the display work including a work content in which the conveyance tray to be accommodated in the holding means and information capable of specifying the display tray to which the product in the conveyance tray is to be replenished are associated with each other, the moving means to move the product display device to a position where the conveyance tray exists,

[0320] the control means controls the movable unit to

[0321] cause the holding means to accommodate the conveyance tray to be accommodated in the holding means indicated by the work content,

[0322] the movement control means controls the moving means to,

[0323] move the product display device to the front of the display shelf including the display tray to which the product in the conveyance tray is to be replenished indicated by the work content, and

[0324] the control means controls the movable unit to

[0325] perform the display work of replenishing the product in the conveyance tray to the display tray according to the work content.

[0326] 16. The store management system according to 15., in which

[0327] the product display device includes:

[0328] a deficient number specifying means for specifying a deficient number of the products for each of the display trays specified by the tray position acquisition means by being moved to the front of the display shelf by the movement control means and processing an image of the display shelf generated by the imaging means, and

[0329] the management device generates the work content by using the deficient number of the products for each of the display trays specified by the product display device.

[0330] 17. The store management system according to any one of 14. to 16., in which

[0331] the display information acquisition means of the management device acquires the display status information indicating a display status of the product on the display shelf specified by processing an image of the display shelf generated by the imaging means of the product 18. The store management system according to any one of 14. to 17., further including:

[0332] a plurality of the product display devices, in which

[0333] the management device includes:

[0334] a current position acquisition means for acquiring current position information indicating a current position of the product display device from the plurality of product display devices, and

[0335] a work state acquisition means for acquiring information indicating a work state of the product display device from each of the plurality of product display devices, and

[0336] in the management device,

[0337] the work information generation means generates work information of a plurality of the product display devices for each of the product display devices by using current position information indicating a current position of each of the product display devices, information indicating the work state of each of the product display devices, and the display status information acquired from each of the plurality of product display devices.

[0338] 19. The store management system according to any one of 14. to 18., in which

[0339] the management device includes:

[0340] a sales history acquisition means for acquiring sales history information of the store,

[0341] an event information acquisition means for acquiring event information regarding an event in a surrounding area of the store, and

[0342] a demand prediction means for performing a demand prediction processing by using the sales history information and the event information and generating information indicating a demand prediction for each of the products, and

[0343] in the management device,

[0344] the work information generation means generates work information of the product display device by using the display status information and display information generated using information indicating the demand prediction for each product generated by the demand prediction means.

[0345] 20. A control method of a product display device for replenishing a product to a display tray which includes

[0346] a tray main body movable to at least one of a front side and a rear side with respect to a reference position, and

[0347] a moving means for moving a product placed on a bottom surface of the tray main body forward, in which

[0348] the product display device is used with a display shelf having the display tray that can be pulled out to a front side, the product display device including:

[0349] a holding means for holding a conveyance tray on which the product for filling is mounted, and

[0350] at least one movable unit capable of moving the product, and

[0351] one or more computers for implementing the product display device performs, in a case where the product is replenished to the display tray, by controlling the movable unit,

[0352] causing the display tray to move forward,

[0353] causing the conveyance tray to bring adjacent to the display tray, and

[0354] causing the product in the conveyance tray to move to the display tray.

[0355] 21. The control method of the product display device according to 20., in which

[0356] the conveyance tray includes a product moving unit that is a part of the movable unit and moves the product to the display tray.

[0357] 22. The control method of the product display device according to 21., in which

[0358] the product moving unit includes a push-out member for pushing out the product toward the display tray.

[0359] 23. The control method of the product display device according to 22., in which

[0360] the push-out member is capable of simultaneously moving a plurality of the products to the display tray.

[0361] 24. The control method of the product display device according to any one of 20. to 23., in which the one or more computers perform

[0362] acquiring current position information indicating a current position of the product display device,

[0363] causing the product display device to move by controlling a moving means for moving the product display device, and

[0364] specifying a position of the display tray and acquiring position information of the display tray by imaging the display shelf using an imaging means and processing an image of the display shelf generated by the imaging means,

[0365] in a case where the product display device is moved,

[0366] upon receiving an instruction indicating a work content in which the conveyance tray to be accommodated in the holding means and information capable of specifying the display tray to which the product in the conveyance tray is to be replenished are associated with each other, by controlling the moving means, causing the product display device to move from the current position of the product display device to a position where the conveyance tray exists,

[0367] by controlling the movable unit,

[0368] causing the holding means to accommodate the conveyance tray to be accommodated in the holding means indicated by the work content,

[0369] by controlling the moving means,

[0370] causing the product display device to move to the front of the display shelf including the display tray to which the product in the conveyance tray is to be replenished indicated by the work content, and

[0371] by controlling the movable unit,

[0372] performing a work of replenishing the product in the conveyance tray to the display tray according to the work content.

[0373] 25. The control method of the product display device according to 24., in which

[0374] the one or more computers perform

[0375] specifying a deficient number of the products for each of the specified display trays by moving the product display device to the front of the display shelf and processing an image of the display shelf generated by the imaging means, and

[0376] the work content is generated by using the deficient number of the products for each of the display trays.

[0377] 26. A program for causing a computer for controlling a movable unit of a product display device that is used with a display shelf having a display tray that can be pulled out to a front side and includes,

[0378] a holding means for holding a conveyance tray on which a product for filling is mounted, and

[0379] at least one movable unit capable of moving the product, to execute processing of:

[0380] in a case where the product is replenished to the display tray,

[0381] moving the display tray forward,

[0382] bringing the conveyance tray adjacent to the display tray, and

[0383] moving the product in the conveyance tray to the display tray.

[0384] 27. The program according to 26., in which

[0385] the conveyance tray includes a product moving unit that is a part of the movable unit and moves the product to the display tray.

[0386] 28. The program according to 27., in which

[0387] the product moving unit includes a push-out member for pushing out the product toward the display tray.

[0388] 29. The program according to 28., in which

[0389] the push-out member is capable of simultaneously moving a plurality of the products to the display tray.

[0390] 30. The program according to any one of 26. to 29., further causing the computer to execute:

[0391] a current position acquisition processing of acquiring current position information indicating a current position of the product display device,

[0392] a movement control processing of moving the product display device by controlling a moving means for moving the product display device, and

[0393] a tray position acquisition processing of specifying a position of the display tray and acquiring position information of the display tray by imaging the display shelf using an imaging means and processing an image of the display shelf generated by the imaging means, in which

[0394] the computer is further caused to execute:

[0395] in the movement control processing,

[0396] controlling, upon receiving an instruction indicating a work content in which the conveyance tray to be accommodated in the holding means and information capable of specifying the display tray to which the product in the conveyance tray is to be replenished are associated with each other, the moving means to move the product display device from the current position of the product display device to a position where the conveyance tray exists,

[0397] control the movable unit to cause the holding means to accommodate the conveyance tray to be accommodated in the holding means indicated by the work content,

[0398] control the moving means in the movement control processing to move the product display device to the front of the display shelf including the display tray to which the product in the conveyance tray is to be replenished indicated by the work content, and

[0399] control the movable unit to perform a work of replenishing the product in the conveyance tray to the display tray according to the work content.

[0400] 31. The program according to 30., in which the computer is caused to execute processing of:

[0401] in the movement control processing, specify a deficient number of the product for each of the display trays specified in the tray position acquisition processing by moving the product display device to the front of the display shelf and processing an image of the display shelf generated by the imaging means, and

[0402] the work content is generated by using the deficient number of the product for each of the display trays.

[0403] 32. A computer readable recording medium stored with a program for causing a computer for controlling a movable unit of a product display device that is used with a display shelf having a display tray that can be pulled out to a front side and includes,

[0404] a holding means for holding a conveyance tray on which a product for filling is mounted, and

[0405] at least one movable unit capable of moving the product, to execute processing of:

[0406] in a case where the product is replenished to the display tray,

[0407] moving the display tray forward,

[0408] bringing the conveyance tray adjacent to the display tray, and

[0409] moving the product in the conveyance tray to the display tray.

[0410] 33. The computer readable recording medium stored with the program according to 32., in which

[0411] the conveyance tray includes a product moving unit that is a part of the movable unit and moves the product to the display tray.

[0412] 34. The computer readable recording medium stored with the program according to 33., in which

[0413] the product moving unit includes a push-out member for pushing out the product toward the display tray.

[0414] 35. The computer readable recording medium stored with the program according to 34., in which

[0415] the push-out member is capable of simultaneously moving a plurality of the products to the display tray.

[0416] 36. The computer readable recording medium stored with the program according to any one of 32. to 35., further causing the computer to execute processing of:

[0417] a current position acquisition processing of acquiring current position information indicating a current position of the product display device,

[0418] a movement control processing of moving the product display device by controlling a moving means for moving the product display device, and

[0419] a tray position acquisition processing of specifying a position of the display tray and acquiring position information of the display tray by imaging the display shelf using an imaging means and processing an image of the display shelf generated by the imaging means, in which

[0420] the computer is further caused to execute:

[0421] in the movement control processing,

[0422] controlling, upon receiving an instruction indicating a work content in which the conveyance tray to be accommodated in the holding means and information capable of specifying the display tray to which the product in the conveyance tray is to be replenished are associated with each other, the moving means to move the product display device from the current position of the product display device to a position where the conveyance tray exists,

[0423] control the movable unit to cause the holding means to accommodate the conveyance tray to be accommodated in the holding means indicated by the work content,

[0424] control the moving means in the movement control processing to move the product display device to the front of the display shelf including the display tray to which the product in the conveyance tray is to be replenished indicated by the work content, and

[0425] control the movable unit to perform a work of replenishing the product in the conveyance tray to the display tray according to the work content.

[0426] 37. The computer readable recording medium stored with the program according to 36., in which the computer is caused to execute processing of:

[0427] in the movement control processing, specify a deficient number of the product for each of the display trays specified in the tray position acquisition processing by moving the product display device to the front of the display shelf and processing an image of the display shelf generated by the imaging means, and

[0428] the work content is generated by using the deficient number of the product for each of the display trays.

[0429] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese patent application No. 2023-105957, filed on Jun. 28, 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.REFERENCE SIGNS LIST1 store management system

[0431] 3 communication network

[0432] 5 store

[0433] 7 backyard

[0434] 10 tray

[0435] 12 tray main body

[0436] 14 bottom surface

[0437] 16 side surface

[0438] 18 side surface

[0439] 20 moving mechanism

[0440] 22 push-out plate

[0441] 24 protrusion

[0442] 30, 30a, 30b, 30c product

[0443] 42 rotation shaft

[0444] 44 first rack

[0445] 45 second rack

[0446] 46 pinion

[0447] 48 gear

[0448] 52 guide

[0449] 54 belt

[0450] 60 tire

[0451] 62 rotation shaft

[0452] 64 gear

[0453] 66 belt

[0454] 70 moving belt

[0455] 72 moving member (product moving unit)

[0456] 80 display shelf

[0457] 81 shelf board

[0458] 82, 82a, 82b, 82c display tray

[0459] 84 conveyance tray

[0460] 86 two-dimensional code

[0461] 88 label

[0462] 90 image

[0463] 100 product display device (robot)

[0464] 102 camera

[0465] 104 arm

[0466] 106 robot supporting column

[0467] 110 conveyance tray

[0468] 112 tray holding unit

[0469] 120 moving mechanism

[0470] 130 control device

[0471] 132 movement control unit

[0472] 134 tray position acquisition unit

[0473] 136 deficient number acquisition unit

[0474] 138 tray control unit

[0475] 140 product replenishing unit

[0476] 200 server device

[0477] 204 display shelf information acquisition unit

[0478] 206 robot work information acquisition unit

[0479] 208 robot instruction unit

[0480] 210 history information acquisition unit

[0481] 212 event information acquisition unit

[0482] 214 demand prediction unit

[0483] 216 display information generation unit

[0484] 218 work information generation unit

[0485] 220 storage device

[0486] 230 robot information

[0487] 240 display shelf inventory management information

[0488] 1000 computer

[0489] 1010 bus

[0490] 1020 processor

[0491] 1030 memory

[0492] 1040 storage device

[0493] 1050 input / output interface

[0494] 1060 network interface

Examples

first example embodiment

Tray 10

[0101]Hereinafter, description will be given with reference to FIG. 1.

[0102]The tray 10 includes the tray main body 12 and the moving mechanism 20. The tray 10 is a display tray arranged on a display shelf on which products 30 are displayed.

[0103]The planar shape of the tray main body 12 is a rectangle in which the front surface side and the rear surface side are short sides.

[0104]The bottom surface of the tray main body 12 is substantially horizontal in a state of being accommodated on the display shelf. In this example, the tray main body 12 is movably placed on the upper surface of the shelf board 81 of the display shelf.

[0105]The tray main body 12 is movable at least to one of forward or rearward with respect to a reference position P1.

[0106]The moving mechanism 20 moves the product 30 placed on the tray main body 12 forward (in the direction from the reference position P1 to the position P2).

[0107]The tray 10 has a movable member that moves by movement of the tray main b...

first example

[0127]As illustrated in FIG. 8, a planar shape of the tray main body 12 of the display tray 82 is a rectangle in which the front surface side and the rear surface side are short sides. The tray main body 12 of the display tray 82 includes a side surface 16 on at least one of the long sides of a rectangle. In the example of FIG. 8, the tray main body 12 of the display tray 82 further has side surfaces 18 on both short sides of the rectangle. Furthermore, on the side surface 18 on the front surface of the tray main body 12 of the display tray 82, a label 88 on which information that can specify the product 30 placed on the tray main body 12 of the display tray 82 is described is provided. Furthermore, as described later, the label 88 may further include a two-dimensional code or a marker in which information that can specify at least one of the tray main body 12 and the position of the tray main body 12 of the display tray 82 is recorded.

[0128]As illustrated in FIG. 8(b), in a case wh...

second example

[0130]As illustrated in FIG. 9, the display tray 82 has a moving belt 70 on the bottom surface 14. The moving belt 70 comes into contact with the product 30 and moves the product 30 toward the front surface of the tray main body 12. The moving belt 70 is, for example, a belt 66 that is moved by the moving mechanism 20 of FIG. 7 described above. The surface of the moving belt 70 is made of a material having a surface frictional force equal to or greater than a first threshold value and equal to or smaller than a second threshold value with the contact surface of the product 30. That is, the product 30 is moved to the front side of the tray main body 12 with the movement of the moving belt 70 by the surface frictional force equal to or greater than the first threshold value. On the other hand, in a case where the product 30 is moved to the front side of the tray main body 12 by the surface frictional force equal to or smaller than the second threshold value, abuts with the side surfac...

Claims

1. A display tray comprising:a tray main body movable to at least one of a front side and a rear side with respect to a reference position; anda moving unit that moves a product placed on the tray main body forward.

2. The display tray according to claim 1, further comprising:a movable member that moves by movement of the tray main body, whereinthe moving unit moves the product forward using kinetic energy generated in the movable member.

3. The display tray according to claim 1, whereina planar shape of the tray main body is a rectangle in which a front surface side and a rear surface side are short sides, andthe tray main body comprises a side surface on at least one of long sides of the rectangle.

4. The display tray according to wherein 1,a planar shape of the tray main body is a rectangle in which a front surface side and a rear surface side are short sides, anda plurality of the tray main bodies can be coupled in the short side direction.

5. The display tray according to claim 2, whereinthe movable member is a rotary member, andthe moving unit comprises a push-out member for pushing out the product forward accompanying rotation of the rotary member.

6. The display tray according to claim 4, further comprising:a belt that comes into contact with the product and moves the product toward a front surface of the tray main body, whereinthe belt is inclined with respect to a long side in such a way as to approach one long side as the front surface is approached.

7. A product display apparatus used with a display shelf comprising a display tray that can be pulled out to a front side, the product display apparatus comprising:a holding unit that holds a conveyance tray on which a product for filling is mounted;at least one movable unit capable of moving the product; andat least one memory storing instructions; andat least one processor configured to execute the instructions to control, in a case where the product is replenished to the display tray;move the display tray forward;bring the conveyance tray adjacent to the display tray; andmove the product in the conveyance tray to the display tray.

8. The product display apparatus according to claim 7, whereinthe conveyance tray comprises a product moving unit that is a part of the movable unit and moves the product to the display tray.

9. The product display apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the instructions toacquire current position information indicating a current position of the product display apparatus;move the product display apparatus by controlling a moving unit that moves the product display apparatus;specify a position of the display tray and acquire position information of the display tray by imaging the display shelf using an imaging unit and processing an image of the display shelf generated by the imaging unit;control, upon receiving an instruction indicating a work content in which the conveyance tray to be accommodated in the holding unit and information capable of specifying the display tray to which the product in the conveyance tray is to be replenished are associated with each other, the moving unit to move the product display apparatus from the current position of the product display apparatus to a position where the conveyance tray exists,control the movable unit tocause the holding unit to accommodate the conveyance tray to be accommodated in the holding unit indicated by the work content,control the moving unit to,move the product display apparatus to the front of the display shelf including the display tray to which the product in the conveyance tray is to be replenished indicated by the work content, andcontrol the movable unit toperform a work of replenishing the product in the conveyance tray to the display tray according to the work content.

10. The product display apparatus according to claim 8, whereinthe product moving unit comprises a push-out member for pushing out the product toward the display tray.

11. The product display apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the instructions to:specify deficient number of the product for each of the display trays specified by being moved to the front of the display shelf and processing an image of the display shelf generated by the imaging unit, whereinthe work content is generated using the deficient number of the product for each display tray.

12. The product display apparatus according to claim 10, whereinthe push-out member is capable of simultaneously moving a plurality of the products to the display tray.13.-15. (canceled)16. A control method of a product display apparatus for replenishing a product to a display tray which comprisesa tray main body movable to at least one of a front side and a rear side with respect to a reference position, anda moving unit that moves a product placed on a bottom surface of the tray main body forward, whereinthe product display apparatus is used with a display shelf comprising the display tray that can be pulled out to a front side, the product display apparatus comprising:a holding unit that holds a conveyance tray on which the product for filling is mounted, andat least one movable unit capable of moving the product; andone or more computers for implementing the product display apparatus perform, in a case where the product is replenished to the display tray, by controlling the movable unit,causing the display tray to move forward,causing the conveyance tray to bring adjacent to the display tray, andcausing the product in the conveyance tray to move to the display tray.

17. (canceled)

Images