Transparent Shelf Display Plate for Clear Item Recognition
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing length and complexity of item designations on storage and sales shelves make it difficult to distinguish between objects, especially as the number of unique items grows, leading to visibility issues for potential customers.
Innovation Solution
A presentation device with an adjustable, partially transparent plate that attaches to the shelf, displaying the item itself rather than its designation, featuring undercut grooves for secure attachment and cable ties to prevent unintentional removal, ensuring easy installation and secure fixation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If item designations are made longer and more detailed to identify unique objects, then identification precision is improved, but visibility and distinguishability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses optical copies (photographs or images) of the actual objects as designations on the shelf. Instead of displaying text labels that describe objects, the system displays visual replicas that customers can instantly recognize. This resolves the contradiction by providing precise identification through visual recognition without requiring lengthy text, thereby maintaining visibility while achieving accurate object identification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs visual properties including color, shape, and transparency variations in the display plates to enhance object distinguishability. By varying these visual characteristics across different plates, the system enables customers to quickly differentiate between objects without relying on long textual designations, thus improving both identification precision and visibility.
2Loss of information
If traditional text designations are used on shelves, then information completeness is improved, but ease of recognition deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces text-based information with visual copies of objects displayed on transparent or translucent plates. These images convey complete object identification information through visual recognition, eliminating the need for customers to read and interpret text labels. This maintains full information completeness while dramatically improving ease of recognition through intuitive visual cues.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If display plates are made opaque to improve visibility of designations, then readability is improved, but view of packaging behind plate deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different transparency properties to different parts of the display system. The display plates are made transparent or translucent rather than opaque, allowing light to pass through and enabling customers to see both the printed designations on the plates and the actual packaging behind them simultaneously. This local quality adjustment resolves the contradiction by maintaining readability through high-contrast printing while preserving visibility of the product packaging through material transparency.
4Ease of manufacture
If attachment mechanism is simplified for easy installation, then ease of manufacture is improved, but security of attachment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the attachment mechanism into separate functional components: adhesive layers for bonding and mechanical features (such as recesses or protrusions) for positioning and reinforcement. This segmentation allows the adhesive to provide secure attachment while mechanical features ensure proper alignment and prevent accidental displacement, achieving both ease of installation and reliable security without requiring complex assembly procedures.
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The displaying device has a plate (5) which has an adjustable holder for displaying one object at its front side. A device which is to be displayed is mounted at the front side of the rack compartment. The plate is at least partially transparent.