Abstract:
A method of operating a report generation system for a merchandiser including a case defining a product display area, and a refrigeration system operable to condition the product display area. The method comprises sensing at least one condition of the merchandiser using a sensing device, generating a signal indicative of the merchandiser condition, retrieving the signal indicative of the merchandiser condition using a controller, and automatically generating a data report including the signal indicative of the merchandiser condition using a report generation device

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a report generation system for a merchandiser that supports product in a conditioned space. More particularly, the present invention relates to a report generation system for a merchandiser that generates and distributes data reports related to data retrieved from the merchandiser. 
         [0002]    Generally, merchandisers include a product display area that supports product. Often, the temperature of the product display area is recorded manually and periodically by an operator to monitor operation of refrigeration system components. Typically, the product display area temperature is recorded by the operator based on a predetermined schedule. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    In one embodiment, the invention provides a method of operating a report generation system for a merchandiser including a case defining a product display area, and a refrigeration system operable to condition the product display area. The method includes sensing at least one condition of the merchandiser using a sensing device, generating a signal indicative of the merchandiser condition, retrieving the signal indicative of the merchandiser condition using a controller, and automatically generating a data report including the signal indicative of the merchandiser condition using a report generation device. 
         [0004]    In another embodiment, the invention provides a method of operating a report generation system for a merchandiser including a case defining a product display area, a refrigeration system operable to condition the product display area, and a sensing device in communication with the merchandiser. The method includes sensing at least one condition of the merchandiser using a sensing device, generating a signal indicative of the merchandiser condition, generating a data report including the signal indicative of the merchandiser condition, and generating a delivery condition associated with the delivery of the data report to an end destination. The method further includes retrieving the delivery condition from the end destination, and automatically generating a delivery report including the delivery condition. 
         [0005]    In another construction, the invention provides a report generation system for a merchandiser including a case defining a product display area, a sensing device in communication with the merchandiser, and a refrigeration system operable to condition the product display area. The report generation includes a controller in communication with the sensing device to retrieve at least one signal that is sensed and generated by the sensing device, the signal indicative of a condition of the merchandiser, and a report generation device in communication with the controller, and programmed to automatically retrieve the signal indicative of the merchandiser condition and to automatically generate a data report having the signal indicative of the merchandiser condition. 
         [0006]    Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a merchandiser embodying the invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of the merchandiser and a report generation system that is coupled to the merchandiser. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view of an exemplary data report generated by the report generation system of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of an exemplary delivery report of the report generation system of  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further, “connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings. 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  shows a merchandiser  10  for displaying product (e.g., frozen food, fresh food, beverages, etc.) available to consumers in a retail setting (e.g., a supermarket or grocery store, etc.). The refrigerated merchandiser  10  includes a case  15  that has a base  20 , side walls  25 , a case top or canopy  30 , and a rear wall  35 . The base  20 , the side walls  25 , the case top  30 , and the rear wall  35  cooperate to define a product display area  40 . The product is supported on shelves  45  within the product display area  40 . 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  shows that the case  15  includes a casing  50  adjacent a front of the merchandiser  10 . The casing  50  includes vertical mullions  55  that define openings  60 , and doors  65  positioned over the openings  60 . The openings  60  and the doors  65  allow access to product stored in the product display area  40 . The mullions  55  are spaced horizontally along the case  15  to provide structural support for the case  15 . Each mullion  55  is defined by a structural member that can be formed from a non-metallic or metallic material. A handle  70  is positioned along an edge of each door  65  to move the door  65  between an open position and a closed position. 
         [0014]    Each door  65  includes a frame  75  that attaches a translucent member  80  to the door  65  to allow viewing of the product from outside the case  15 . The translucent member  80  can be formed from glass, or alternatively, from other materials that are substantially translucent (e.g., acrylic, etc.). In some constructions, the case  15  can include doors  65  without attachment of the doors  65  to mullions  55 . In still other constructions, the case  15  can be an open-front case without the mullions  55  and doors  65 , or any other refrigerated case used to display perishable food product. 
         [0015]    With further reference to  FIG. 2 , the merchandiser  10  also includes a refrigeration system  85 , and sensing devices  90 . The refrigeration system  85  is coupled to the case  15  to refrigerate the product display area  40 . In some constructions, at least a portion of the refrigeration system  85  may be located outside or away from the case  15 . In other constructions, the merchandiser  10  may include an air circulation system or a heating system to heat the product display area  40 . In still other constructions, the merchandiser  10  may include more than one conditioning system. The conditioning systems (e.g. the refrigeration system  85 , the air circulation system, etc.) discussed herein are only exemplary, and other conditioning systems are possible and considered herein. 
         [0016]    The sensing devices  90  are in communication with the merchandiser  10  to sense conditions of the merchandiser  10 , and to generate a signal that is indicative of the associated merchandiser condition. In some constructions, one or more of the sensing devices  90  can be positioned in or adjacent to the product display area  40  to sense one or more conditions of the case  15  (e.g., temperature, humidity, pressure, case status, lighting characteristics, shelf weight, etc.). In other constructions, one or more of the sensing devices  90  can be located on the merchandiser to sense one or more conditions of the refrigeration system  85  (e.g., refrigerant capacity, refrigerant temperature, refrigerant pressure, operational characteristics of components of the refrigeration system, etc.). In still other constructions, the sensing devices  90  can be used to sense other conditions of the merchandiser  10 . Hereinafter, the term “merchandiser condition” shall be used to represent all conditions of the merchandiser  10  that can be sensed by the sensing devices  90 , including but not limited to conditions of the case  15  and conditions of the refrigeration system  85 . In the illustrated construction, the merchandiser  10  includes three sensing devices  90  that are coupled to the case  15  within the product display area  40 . In other constructions, the merchandiser  10  may include more or fewer than three sensing devices  90 . 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  shows a report generation system  140  that is in communication with the sensing devices  90  via a first communication link  145 . In some constructions, the report generation system  140  is in wireless communication with the sensing devices  90 . In other constructions, the report generation system  140  can be in wired communication with the sensing devices  90 . In still other constructions, the report generation system  140  can be in communication with the sensing devices  90  using a combination of wired and wireless connections. 
         [0018]    In some constructions, the report generation system  140  is in communication with the case  15  and the product display area  40  of a single merchandiser  10 . In other constructions, the report generation system  140  can be in communication with a plurality of cases  15  and a plurality of product display areas  40  of one or more merchandisers  10  (e.g., a merchandiser  10  that includes two or more cases  15  and/or product display areas  40 , or two or more merchandisers  10  that include one or more cases and/or product display areas  40 , etc.). The report generation system  140  can be located remotely from the merchandiser  10 , or alternatively, the report generation system  140  can be coupled to the merchandiser  10 . For example, the report generation system  140  may be located directly on the case  15 . 
         [0019]      FIG. 2  shows that the report generation system  140  includes a processing system  155  and a communication device  160  for communicating information to and from the processing system  155 . The processing system  155  includes a controller  165 , a database  170 , and a report generation device  172 . The controller  165  is in communication with the sensing devices  90  via the first communication link  145  to automatically retrieve the signals indicative of the merchandiser conditions from the sensing devices  90 . The controller  165  also is in communication with the database  170  to automatically deliver the retrieved signals indicative of the merchandiser conditions to the database  170 . In some constructions, the controller  165  can be programmed to retrieve the signals from the sensing devices  90  at predetermined intervals. In other constructions, the controller  165  may continuously retrieve the signals from the sensing devices  90 . In other constructions, the controller  165  generates data indicative of identifying information (e.g., the date, the time, the location, etc.) of the signal when retrieved, and stores the data and signal in the database  170 . 
         [0020]    As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the database  170  is integrated with or subsumed in the processing system  155 . In other constructions, the database  170  may be separate from the processing system  155 . The database  170  stores the signals and data until called upon for delivery. In some constructions, the database  170  also stores data entered by an end user or operator as user-defined data. In some constructions, the database  170  can be in wireless communication with the controller  165 . In other constructions, the database  170  can be in wired communication with the controller  165 . In still other constructions, the database  170  may be in communication with the controller  165  using a combination of a wireless and wired connection. 
         [0021]    As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the report generation device  172  is in communication with the controller  165  and is subsumed in the controller  165 . In other constructions, the report generation device  172  can be external of the controller  165 . The report generation device  172  is in communication with the database  170  to retrieve the signals and data stored in the database  170 . The report generation device  172  also generates a data report (an exemplary data report  175  is shown in  FIG. 3 ) that includes the signals  150  indicative of the merchandiser conditions, and the data indicative of identifying information of the signals  150 . In some constructions, the report generation device  172  automatically retrieves the signals and data, and automatically generates the data report  175  based on a predetermined interval. In other constructions, the predetermined interval can be varied by the end user. The report generation device  172  also is in communication with the communication device  160  to deliver the data report  175  to an end destination  176 . In some constructions, the report generation device  172  automatically delivers the data report  175  to the end destination  176 . 
         [0022]    In other constructions, the report generation device  172  retrieves the signals from the sensing devices  90  and generates a data report  175  without storing the signals in the database  170  prior to generating the data report  175 . For example, the report generation device  172  retrieves the signals from the sensing devices  90 , generates data indicative of identifying information of the signals similar to data generated by the controller, and generates a data report  175  that includes the retrieved signals and generated data. 
         [0023]    Generally, the communication device  160  is capable of sending information between the processing system  155  and the end destination  176  at predetermined intervals, which can be programmed by the end user. The end destination  176  can be located anywhere relative to the merchandiser  10  (e.g., adjacent the merchandiser  10 , remotely located from the merchandiser  10 , etc.). As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the end destination  176  can include one or more of an intranet  180 , an email server  185 , a network printer  190 , a remote terminal  195 , and a FTP (file transfer protocol) server  200 . In some constructions, the communication device  160  also may be in communication with other end destinations. 
         [0024]    The communication device  160  is in communication with each end destination  176  via a second communication link  178 . In some constructions, the second communication link  178  between the communication device  160  and each end destination is a wired connection. In other constructions, the second communication link  178  can be a wireless connection. In still other constructions, the second communication link  178  can be a combination of a wireless and wired connection. Furthermore, the second communication link  178  can be a one-way or two-way communication link between the communication device  160  and each end destination  176 . For example, in constructions of the report generation system  140  that include a one-way communication link between the communication device  160  and the end destinations  176 , the second communication link  178  can deliver data from the communication device  160  to the end destinations  176 . In constructions of the report generation system  140  that include a two-way communication link, the second communication link  178  can deliver information between the communication device  160  and the end destinations  176 . 
         [0025]    The report generation system  140  can automatically generate a plurality of data reports  175  simultaneously or sequentially. Each automatically-generated data report  175  is stored in the database  170 . Generally, the data reports  175  can have any format and include a variety of information related to the signal  150  indicative of the merchandiser condition that is retrieved by the controller  165 . The data report  175  is stored in the database  170 . The data report  175  can also be delivered to the appropriate end destination  176  concurrent with storage of the data report  175  in the database  170 , or some later predetermined time. In some constructions, the report generation system  140  can generate one or more data reports that include signals  150  related to one particular merchandiser condition. For example, the report generation system  140  may generate two data reports (e.g., a morning data report and an afternoon data report) that each has a plurality of signals  150  relating to the temperature (e.g., one merchandiser condition) of the product display area  40  during two particular time cycles (e.g., the morning and the afternoon). 
         [0026]    In other constructions, the report generation system  140  can automatically generate a plurality of data reports such that each data report includes signals  150  related to a different, particular merchandiser condition. For example, one data report may include signals  150  related to temperature and another data report may include signals  150  related to lighting characteristics. 
         [0027]    In still other constructions, the report generation system  140  can generate one or more data reports such that each data report includes signals related to a plurality of merchandiser conditions. For example, a single data report may include signals related to temperature, humidity, pressure, and shelf weight. 
         [0028]      FIG. 3  shows an exemplary data report  175  that is automatically generated by the report generation system  140  and automatically stored in the database  170 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the data report  175  includes signals  150  indicative of the merchandiser conditions, time stamp data  215  and sensing device location data  220 . The signals  150  are compiled by the sensing devices  90 , and are indicative of the sensed merchandiser conditions (e.g., temperature, humidity, case status, etc.). The time stamp data  215  and sensing device location data  220  are compiled by either of the controller  165  or the report generation device  172 , and are indicative of the identifying information of the signals (e.g., the date, the time, the location, etc.). Specifically, the time stamp data  215  is indicative of the time at which the signal is retrieved from the sensing device  90  and recorded by the controller  165 , and the sensor location data  220  is indicative of the location or position of each sensing device  90  within the merchandiser  10  from which the signal is retrieved. The data report  175  also includes user-defined data  225  that is compiled by the operator, and indicative of information the operator desires to contribute to the data report. For example, the user-defined data  225  may include information related to the type of product in the product display area  40  and retailer information (e.g., the name of the retail company). In other constructions, the data report  175  can include other data and information related to the merchandiser  10 , required temperature, parameters, or product information. 
         [0029]    The report generation system  140  also automatically generates delivery reports  230 . Each delivery report  230  includes delivery data that is generated by the controller  165  and that is retrieved from the end destination  172 . In some constructions, the delivery data is generated by the report generation device  172 . Generally, the delivery data is related to generation and delivery of the data report  175 . Examples of generated delivery data include the date and time that the data report  175  is generated, the date and time that the data report  175  is delivered to each end destination  176 , and the identification of the end destination  176  to which the data report  175  has been delivered. Examples of retrieved delivery data include delivery conditions received from the end destination  176  via the communication device  160  and related to the delivery status of the data report (e.g., delivered, pending, canceled, in route, etc.). The delivery report can also include other data and conditions related to the delivery and/or storage of the data report  175  not discussed herein. The delivery report  230  is generated by the report generation device  172 , and includes the delivery data generated by either the controller  165  or the report generation device  172  and the delivery conditions retrieved from the end destination  176 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 4  shows an exemplary delivery report  230  that is generated by the report generation system  140 . The illustrated delivery report  230  includes delivery location data  235  related to the end destination  176  to which the data report  175  has been delivered, and delivery date/time data  240  associated with the date and time of the delivery of the data report  175 . 
         [0031]    Generally, the report generation system  140  automatically generates the delivery report  230  for each data report  175  that is delivered to an end destination  176 . In some constructions, the report generation system  140  can generate the delivery report  230  in response to instructions from the operator. In still other constructions, one delivery report  230  can be automatically generated by the report generation system  140  for a plurality of data reports  175 . The communication device  160  is in communication with the end destinations  176  to communicate the delivery report  230  from the end destinations  176  to the database  170  so that the delivery report  230  can be stored for access by an authorized operator, 
         [0032]    In operation, each sensing device  90  senses a condition (e.g., temperature) of the case  15  and/or the product display area  40 , and generates a signal  150  that is indicative of the merchandiser condition. As discussed above, the signal  150  indicative of the merchandiser condition is compiled or retrieved by the controller  165 . The controller  165  retrieves the signal  150  via the first communication link  145 , and stores the signal  150  in the database  170 . In some constructions, the controller  165  can automatically generate the data report  175  using the report generation device  172  when the signal  150  is retrieved. In other constructions, the controller  165  can automatically generate the data report  175  using the report generation device  172  after the case data  150  is stored in the database  170 . Generally, the controller  165 , using the report generation device  172 , automatically generates and formats the data report  175  to include the signals and data that is to be delivered to the end destination  176  via the communication device  160  and the second communication link  178 . 
         [0033]    In some constructions, the controller  165  generates the data report  175  based on predetermined intervals that are programmed into the processing system  155 . In other constructions, the report generation device  172  can automatically generate the data report  175  based on inputs or commands from an operator. In still other constructions, the report generation device  172  may generate the data report  175  as soon as the signal  150 , and other data, is retrieved and compiled. After the data report  175  is generated, the data report  175  can be stored in the database  170 , or alternatively, sent to one or more end destinations  176  via the communication device  160  and the second communication link  178 . 
         [0034]    The controller  165  delivers the data report  175  to the end destination  176  using the communication device  160 . Generally, the communication device  160  delivers a plurality of data reports  175  to the predetermined end destination(s)  176  at the same time. In other constructions, the communication device  160  can deliver one data report  175  at a time to the predetermined end destination(s)  176 . In still other constructions, the communication device  160  can deliver data reports  175  at spaced apart or predetermined intervals that are programmed into the processing system  155 . 
         [0035]    Delivery conditions (e.g., delivery status of data report, identification of the end destinations  176 , etc.) are communicated from the end destination  176  to the database  170  via the communication device  160  and the second communication link  178 . Upon receipt of the delivery conditions and generation of the delivery report  230 , the report generation system  140  automatically generates and formats a report profile. The report profile includes the data report  175  and the associated delivery report  230 , and is stored in the database  170  for archival of the reports  175 ,  230 . The report profile, including the data report  175  and the delivery report  230 , can be retrieved from the database  170  automatically or manually by an authorized operator. 
         [0036]    In other constructions, the controller  165  or the report generation device  172  can convert the signal into a particular format to store in the database  170  and to include in the data report  175 . 
         [0037]    Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.