Shelf tag attachment apparatus

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing shelf tag attachment apparatuses with complex structures are prone to allow the display surface of shelf tags to rotate beyond a desired vertical orientation, complicating the design and potentially leading to misalignment.

Innovation Solution

A shelf tag attachment apparatus with a shelf tag holding portion and a support member that allows rotation about a lateral axis, featuring a stopper to prevent the display surface from rotating beyond a predetermined range, using a simple structure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If abutment between intermediate member and tip engagement member is used to suppress downward rotation, then the display surface orientation is controlled, but the device structure becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay surface orientation controlVSAvoidadaptor structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the rotation suppression function from the complex abutment mechanism between intermediate member and tip engagement member, and implements it through a dedicated stopper member that contacts the bar member. This separates the rotation control function from the engagement mechanism, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining orientation control precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The stopper member acts as an intermediary element between the bar member and the price display tool, providing rotation suppression without requiring direct abutment between the intermediate member and tip engagement member. This intermediary mechanism simplifies the interaction between components while achieving the same functional result.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If complex abutment configuration is used, then downward rotation is suppressed, but the adaptor requires more components and assembly steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverotation suppressionVSAvoidadaptor assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The rotation suppression function is extracted from the multi-component abutment system and assigned to a single stopper member. This reduces the number of components requiring assembly while maintaining reliable rotation suppression, thereby improving ease of manufacture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The stopper member integrates the rotation control function into a single component that works with the existing bar member structure. By merging the rotation suppression function into the engagement mechanism rather than adding separate abutment features, the assembly process is simplified.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS12426725B2Shelf tag attachment apparatus

Publication Date: 2025.09.30 NEC CORP

AI summary

A shelf tag attachment apparatus (100) includes a shelf tag holding portion (103) for holding an electronic shelf tag (101), and a support member (102) that supports the shelf tag holding portion rotatably about a rotation axis P extending in a left-right direction of the electronic shelf tag (101). The shelf tag holding portion (103) includes a bearing portion for rotating about the rotation axis P relative to the support member (102). The support member (102) includes an arm portion (110) that is provided with a shaft portion (112), and that sandwiches the bearing portion from the left-right direction. The shelf tag holding portion (103) includes a stopper (130) that contacts the arm portion (110), and thereby locks in such a way that a display surface (104) of the electronic shelf tag (101) does not rotate beyond a previously determined range in a direction to face downwards.