Shelf inventory management system, shelf inventory management method, and program
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Solution Overview
Problem
The cost of constructing a shelf inventory management system increases when a mass sensor is provided in each storage box.
Innovation Solution
A shelf inventory management system that includes a first sensor for detecting mass changes across each row of storage boxes and a second sensor for detecting when a storage box is pulled out, with a management unit determining which article has been taken out based on the sensor data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a mass sensor is provided in each storage box to detect mass changes, then inventory management accuracy is improved, but system construction cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the shelf into multiple rows, with each row equipped with its own mass sensor. This segmentation allows the sensor to detect mass changes in specific row sections rather than requiring sensors in every storage box, reducing the total number of sensors needed while maintaining inventory management accuracy through localized measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a pull-out detection sensor as an intermediary device that detects when storage boxes are removed from the shelf. This additional sensor provides complementary information that, when combined with mass sensor data, enables accurate inventory management without requiring mass sensors in every individual storage box, thereby reducing overall system cost.
2Measurement precision
If mass sensors are installed in each storage box to track article removal, then inventory tracking precision is improved, but the number of sensors required increases cost
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of placing mass sensors in each storage box, the system segments the monitoring function by installing mass sensors at the row level. Each mass sensor monitors a specific row section, and combined with pull-out detection data, this segmentation approach achieves accurate inventory tracking with fewer sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the functionality of mass detection and pull-out detection into an integrated inventory management approach. By combining data from mass sensors (detecting weight changes) and pull-out detection sensors (detecting box removal), the system achieves precise inventory tracking without requiring individual mass sensors in every storage box.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration reduces the number of mass sensors needed, thereby suppressing the increase in cost compared to systems where mass sensors are provided in each storage box.
Implementation Method 1
a first sensor provided for each row of the shelf to detect a mass change of the storage boxes
Data Source
AI summary
A shelf inventory management system includes: a shelf including a plurality of storage boxes each of which is identified; a first sensor provided for each row of the shelf to detect a mass change of the storage boxes, and a second sensor for detecting that each of the storage boxes is pulled out from the shelf; and a management unit that manages an inventory of an article stored in each of the storage boxes. The management unit determines which article has been taken out from which of the storage boxes, based on detection results of the first sensor and the second sensor.