Application system for inventory management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Retail stores face challenges in inventory management, including high costs due to manual labor for inventory counting, product theft, inefficiencies in tracking product levels, and maintaining excess inventory due to lack of real-time data on shelf availability.
Innovation Solution
A display management system with a pusher assembly and sensor assembly that detects product movement, generating electronic data to track inventory levels and detect potential theft, and communicates with a store computer to automate inventory tracking and restocking processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual inventory counting is performed, then inventory levels can be determined, but significant manual labor is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical counting with an automated optical sensing system. Sensors detect product presence and movement on shelves, automatically transmitting data to a central computer that calculates inventory levels, eliminating the need for manual labor while maintaining accurate measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The inventory system performs self-counting through sensors that automatically detect product placement and removal. The system continuously monitors itself without human intervention, with the central computer processing sensor data to maintain real-time inventory records.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If in-store cameras are used to monitor theft, then security monitoring is provided, but theft detection effectiveness is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces pusher assemblies as intermediary devices between products and sensors. These pushers detect product removal attempts and trigger sensor activation, serving as a mechanical mediator that enhances the precision of theft detection beyond what cameras alone can achieve.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection by positioning sensors and pushers to detect product removal attempts before they complete. The pusher assemblies are pre-positioned to detect when products are taken, allowing early warning and more effective intervention.
3Reliability
If excess inventory is maintained on shelves, then product availability is ensured, but inventory management costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback system where sensors continuously monitor inventory levels and transmit data to the central computer. The system provides real-time feedback on product availability, allowing managers to maintain optimal inventory levels rather than excess stock, while ensuring products are available when needed.
4Loss of information
If scanner systems are used to track product sales, then purchase data is collected, but product removal tracking is incomplete
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the inventory monitoring function from the sales scanning function. Sensors are placed at the shelf level to detect all product movements, while scanners at the checkout only record purchased items. This segmentation allows independent tracking of product removal regardless of whether a purchase occurs.
Data Source
AI summary
Sensor-equipped display management systems and methods that may be used to calculate a number of products removed from a display management system based upon motion of one or more mechanisms within the display management system. Additionally, the systems and methods may be used to detect patterns from the sensor data, which may be indicative of attempted theft of products stored within the display management system.