Commodity replenishment method and device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional commodity replenishment methods in shopping places require high labor costs and are inefficient due to manual calculations and adjustments, which can't dynamically account for shelf sizes or adjust commodity placement based on sales data.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that determine warehouse-out information and association relations of commodities using historical sales data, adjust shelf layouts, and automate the placement and replenishment of commodities based on attributes and remaining quantities, utilizing a shelf management system and commodity conveying system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual calculation and adjustment methods are used for commodity replenishment, then flexibility in handling various situations is maintained, but labor costs increase and operational efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommodity replenishment efficiencyVSAvoidreplenishment system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automatic self-service replenishment by using sensors to detect commodity quantities on shelves, automatically calculating replenishment needs based on historical sales data, and triggering replenishment actions without manual intervention. The shelf management system autonomously monitors and manages commodity levels, eliminating the need for manual counting and decision-making while improving efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical operations with an automated electronic system. Sensors, controllers, and computer systems substitute for human workers in detecting commodity levels, calculating replenishment quantities, and managing the replenishment process. This mechanical-to-electronic substitution dramatically improves productivity while the modular system design keeps complexity manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If fixed shelf layouts are used, then shelf management is simplified, but the ability to optimize commodity placement based on sales data is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshelf layout adaptabilityVSAvoidshelf management system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shelf layout transitions from static to dynamic through the integration of sensors and control systems. The system continuously monitors commodity performance and automatically adjusts shelf assignments, placement positions, and display configurations based on real-time sales data. This dynamic adaptability allows the shelf layout to optimize itself without manual reconfiguration, and the system manages complexity through automated algorithms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If manual commodity placement is used, then placement accuracy based on commodity attributes can be achieved, but time consumption increases and efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommodity placement speedVSAvoidcommodity placement precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses sensors to continuously monitor commodity quantities, shelf status, and sales data, feeding this information back to the control system. The controller automatically adjusts placement decisions based on real-time feedback, ensuring precise commodity positioning according to attributes like category, turnover rate, and association relationships. This closed-loop feedback mechanism maintains high placement precision while dramatically increasing speed through automation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

4Measurement precision

If frequent manual inventory checks are performed, then commodity quantity accuracy is maintained, but operational time and labor costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommodity quantity measurement accuracyVSAvoidinventory checking time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor system provides continuous, real-time monitoring of commodity quantities on shelves, eliminating the need for periodic manual inventory checks. The measurement action continues uninterrupted, automatically tracking commodity levels as they change during sales. This continuous monitoring maintains high measurement accuracy while saving significant time and labor resources compared to discrete manual checking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS11481727B2Commodity replenishment method and device
Publication Date: 2022.10.25 BEIJING JINGDONG SHANGKE INFORMATION TECH CO LTD
  • US11481727B2 patent drawing
  • US11481727B2 patent drawing
  • US11481727B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A commodity replenishment method and device, which relate to the technical field of smart shopping, the method includes determining warehouse-out information and an association relation of shelved commodities according to historical sales information of the commodities; determining placement information of the shelved commodities on shelves based on commodity attributes, the warehouse-out information, the association relationship and shelf information; controlling a shelf management system to adjust shelf layout according to the placement information; determining a replenishment quantity and replenishment position of the shelved commodities according to the current remaining quantity of the shelved commodities; controlling a commodity conveying system to place replenished commodities to the replenishment position.