Patent Description:
In the traditional shopping mode of the retail industry, every supermarket or convenience store needs specialized salesmen and cashiers, and the labor cost is high. With the development of electronic payment technology, identity recognition technology and cloud computing technology, unmanned supermarket projects have high feasibility in technology. In the unmanned supermarket project, a basic problem to be solved urgently is the problem of determination and recording of the goods purchased by the user, and specifically, the server needs to accurately determine the goods which are selected, put back, and taken from the supermarket by each user. Relevant prior art is <CIT>.

In the prior art, the goods purchased by a user may be determined with camera technology. But this method requires calculating a large amount of data, which causes a high data processing cost. And this method has large errors in goods recognition which may be caused by the user to fool the camera, resulting in the loss of the goods. The goods purchased by a user may be determined with RFID reader in the entrance/exit of the supermarket or convenience store. And every item of the goods is arranged with a RFID tag which requires high costs, resulting in the high price of the goods. In addition, if a user eats the edible goods before leaving the store and leaves the package in the supermarket, the RFID reader cannot sense and determine the real consumption amount of the user, and this kind of unmanned supermarket has a high operational risk. <CIT> discloses a product information processing system, method and apparatus.

The purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a shelf for hanging goods, which can accurately identify the weight of all the goods hanging on the shelf, and judge, according to the change of the weight, whether the goods are removed from the shelf, thereby solving the technical problems of poor accuracy, large errors and loss of goods.

According to the disclosure, there is provided a shelf for hanging goods, including: a shelf support; and a rack detachably mounted to the shelf support; where the rack includes: a mounting bracket; a weight sensing device above the mounting bracket; a suspension bracket base above the weight sensing device; a suspension bracket having one end detachably mounted to the suspension bracket base, a vertical mounting plate; a baffle protruding from an edge of the vertical mounting plate; a mounting plate cavity surrounded by the vertical mounting plate and at least two baffles; and a mounting plate through hole that penetrates through the vertical mounting plate and is opposite to the suspension bracket base. One end of the suspension bracket is detachably mounted to the suspension bracket base through the mounting plate through hole. The suspension bracket base comprises: a base body; and a bracket clamping slot recessed on a top of the base body; wherein the suspension bracket comprises: a hanging rod; and a bracket buckle at one end of the hanging rod, and detachably engaged to the bracket clamping slot.

Further, in some embodiments, the rack further includes: a mounting plate bayonet that penetrates through the vertical mounting plate and is located around the mounting plate through hole.

Further, in some embodiments, the rack further includes: a circuit board mounting slot in the mounting plate cavity; a circuit board detachably mounted in the circuit board mounting slot; where the circuit board is provided with a communication interface and is connected to a server; the weight sensing device is connected to the circuit board by a wire, and real-time sensing data is sent to the server through the communication interface.

Further, in some embodiments, the mounting bracket is fixedly mounted into the mounting plate cavity; and both ends of the mounting bracket are connected to two opposite baffles, respectively.

Further, in some embodiments, a bottom surface of one end of the weight sensing device is connected to the mounting bracket, and a gap exists between a bottom surface of the other end of the weight sensing device and the mounting bracket.

Further, in some embodiments, the rack further includes: a gasket disposed between the bottom surface of one end of the weight sensing device and a top surface of the mounting bracket.

Further, in some embodiments, the bracket buckle includes: a first card plate inserted into the bracket clamping slot; a second card plate that is parallel to the first card plate and fixedly coupled to the hanging rod; and a connecting plate having one end connected to the first card plate and the other end connected to the second card plate.

Further, in some embodiments, the shelf for hanging goods further includes: a second suspension bracket detachably engaged to the vertical mounting plate.

Further, in some embodiments, the shelf for hanging goods further includes: a second suspension bracket detachably mounted to the vertical mounting plate; where the second suspension bracket includes: a second hanging rod; a second baffle at one end of the second hanging rod and opposite to the mounting plate through hole; a second racket buckle protruding from a surface of the second baffle toward a side of the mounting plate through hole, and detachably engaged to the mounting plate bayonet; and a second baffle through hole penetrating the second baffle; where when the second racket buckle snap fits into the mounting plate bayonet, the hanging rod of the suspension bracket passes through the second baffle through hole.

Further, in some embodiments, the second suspension bracket further includes: a cross-bar perpendicularly connected to one end of the second hanging rod that is far away from the second baffle; and an identification board that is rotatably or fixedly mounted to the cross-bar.

Further, in some embodiments, the shelf support further includes: a bracket body that is a rectangular cuboid set in vertical; and at least one bracket bayonet recessed and evenly distributed on a side wall of the bracket body; where the rack includes: at least one clamping claw at one end edge of the vertical mounting plate and detachably clamped to the bracket bayonet.

Further, in some embodiments, the shelf support further includes: a first connector having two ends detachably connected to top ends of two bracket bodies, respectively; and/or a second connector having two ends detachably connected to lower ends of the two bracket bodies, respectively; and/or at least one connecting plate, having two ends detachably connected to the two bracket bodies, respectively.

The disclosure provides a shelf for hanging goods capable of sensing goods, having the weight sensing function of the goods, which can monitor the real-time weight sensing value of the goods on the shelf in real time, sense the weight change of each suspension bracket in real time, and the data processing equipment can infer what type of goods has been taken away or put back according to the change of weight value of all suspension brackets on the shelf. The data processing equipment can further determine the type and quantity of the goods that are taken or put back according to the weight value of each item of goods and the bracket number of the suspension bracket. The data processing device can further determine the identity of a user who takes away or puts back the goods according to the real-time location of the user and the hanging location of each goods pre-stored in the data processing device.

In <FIG>, each component is referenced as follows:.

Preferred embodiments of the disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, so that the technical contents thereof will be clear and understood. The disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

In the drawings, elements having the same structure are denoted by the same reference numerals, and elements having similar structures or functions are denoted by similar reference numerals. The terms representing directions mentioned in the present disclosure, for example, up, down, front, back, left, right, inside, outside, top surface, bottom surface, side, top, bottom, front, rear, end, etc., mean the directions in the drawings, and they are only used to explain and illustrate the present disclosure, but not to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

When an element is referred to as being "on" another element, it can be directly on the other element; there may also be an intermediate element, the element being disposed on the intermediate element and the intermediate element being disposed on the other element. When an element is referred to as being "mounted to" or "connected to" another element, it is to be understood that the element is directly "mounted to" or "connected to" the other element or that the element is indirectly "mounted to" or "connected to" the other element through an intermediate element.

Referring to <FIG>, in this example, the shelf for hanging goods includes a shelf support <NUM> and at least a rack <NUM>. The rack <NUM> detachably mounts to the shelf support <NUM>, and the rack <NUM> is provided with a suspension bracket <NUM> extending outwards for hanging the goods.

The shelf support <NUM> includes two rectilinear bracket bodies <NUM> that are set in parallel, and at least a bracket bayonet <NUM>. The bracket body <NUM> is a rectangular cuboid set in vertical, and two bracket bodies <NUM> are parallel to each other. A side wall of each bracket body <NUM> is provided with at least one bracket bayonet <NUM> recessed in the side wall; when there are more than two bracket bayonets <NUM>, a plurality of bracket bayonets <NUM> are evenly distributed along a straight line on a side wall of the bracket body <NUM>. For example, the bracket bayonets <NUM> of two bracket bodies <NUM> are located on the same plane.

The shelf support <NUM> further includes a first connector <NUM> and a second connector <NUM>; if necessary, the shelf support <NUM> further includes at least one connecting plate <NUM>. Two ends of the first connector <NUM> are respectively detachably connected to the top ends of the two bracket bodies <NUM>; and/or two ends of the second connector <NUM> are respectively detachably connected to the ends of the two bracket bodies <NUM>; and/or the ends of each connecting plate <NUM> are respectively detachably connected to the two bracket bodies <NUM>. The connecting plate <NUM> is provided in the gap between any two racks <NUM> arranged one above the other, or in the gap between one rack <NUM> and the first connector <NUM> or the second connector <NUM>.

If a plurality of racks <NUM> are connected to each other, and a space between the two bracket bodies <NUM> can be filled, then there is no need to mount the connecting plate <NUM>. In this case, the distance between the two rows of suspension brackets <NUM> on two adjacent racks <NUM> is small, and only the goods with small length can be hung on the suspension brackets <NUM>. If the distance between two rows of adjacent suspension brackets <NUM> needs to be enlarged to hang goods with larger length on the suspension brackets <NUM>, one or more connecting plates <NUM> are provided between two adjacent racks <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the rack <NUM> includes a vertical mounting plate <NUM>, a baffle <NUM> and a mounting plate cavity <NUM>. The vertical mounting plate <NUM> is perpendicular to the horizontal plane, and is detachably mounted to the shelf support <NUM>.

The vertical mounting plate <NUM> is rectangular, and the edges of the four sides of the vertical mounting plate <NUM> are provided with protruding baffles <NUM>. The baffle <NUM> is perpendicular to the vertical mounting plate <NUM>, and four baffles <NUM> are located on the same side of the vertical mounting plate <NUM>. One vertical mounting plate <NUM> and four baffles <NUM> enclose a mounting plate cavity <NUM>.

The baffle <NUM> is provided with a plurality of baffle through holes <NUM>, when a plurality of racks <NUM> are sequentially mounted between two shelf supports <NUM> from bottom to top, the baffle through holes <NUM> can be used to fixedly mount a plurality of racks <NUM> and a plurality of connecting plates <NUM> together.

The rack <NUM> further includes a clamping device <NUM> that is provided at the left or right edge of the vertical mounting plate <NUM>. The clamping device <NUM> includes at least a clamping claw <NUM>, and each clamping claw <NUM> is detachably clamped to one corresponding bracket bayonet <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the rack <NUM> further includes a mounting bracket <NUM>, a weight sensing device <NUM>, a suspension bracket base <NUM> and a suspension bracket <NUM>.

The mounting bracket <NUM> is a rectilinear and rectangular member, and it is horizontally fixedly mounted into the mounting plate cavity <NUM>. Two ends of the mounting bracket <NUM> are respectively connected to two opposite baffles <NUM> on the left and right sides.

The weight sensing device <NUM> is preferably a weight sensor and provided above the mounting bracket <NUM>. The bottom surface of one end of the weight sensing device <NUM> is connected to the mounting bracket <NUM>, a gasket <NUM> is provided between this bottom surface and the top of the mounting bracket <NUM>, and there is a gap between the bottom of the other end of the weight sensing device <NUM> and the mounting bracket <NUM>. In this example, the gasket <NUM> forms a fulcrum below the left end of the weight sensing device <NUM>, and when the pressure on the middle or right side of the weight sensing device <NUM> changes, the weight sensing device <NUM> can accurately sense the magnitude of the pressure value changes. The suspension bracket base <NUM> is provided above the weight sensing device <NUM>; specifically, the suspension bracket base <NUM> is above the middle and/or right side of the weight sensing device <NUM>.

The suspension bracket base <NUM> is used to mount to the suspension bracket <NUM>, and it includes a base body <NUM> and a bracket clamping slot <NUM>. The bracket clamping slot <NUM> is rectilinear and is recessed on the top of the base body <NUM>.

The rack <NUM> further includes a circuit board mounting slot <NUM> and a circuit board (not shown in figures). The circuit board mounting slot <NUM> is provided in the mounting board cavity <NUM>, the circuit board is detachably mounted on the circuit board mounting slot <NUM>, and a communication interface (not shown in figures) is provided on the circuit board mounting slot <NUM>, which is connected to a data processing device <NUM> (preferably a server). The weight sensing device <NUM> is connected to the circuit board <NUM> through a wire <NUM>, and real-time sensing data is sent to the data processing device <NUM> through the communication interface.

At the rear of the two shelf supports <NUM>, one or more covers (not shown in figures) are provided on the side opposite to the suspension bracket <NUM> to protect various components inside the rack <NUM>. The covers are provided one or more cover through holes (not shown in figures), the positions of which correspond to the positions of the communication interfaces, and the data processing device <NUM> can be connected to each communication interface through the cover through holes through wires to facilitate the connection with various weight sensing devices <NUM>, so the data processing device <NUM> may obtain the real-time weight sensing value from each weight sensing device <NUM> in real time.

Referring to <FIG>, the data processing device <NUM> is preferably a computer or server, which includes a data storage unit <NUM>, a weight value updating unit <NUM>, a weight difference calculation unit <NUM>, a judgment unit <NUM>, a bracket matching unit <NUM>, and a weight matching unit <NUM>.

The data storage unit <NUM> is used to store the weight value of each item of goods and the corresponding suspension bracket number for each goods. The weight value updating unit <NUM> is used to store and update the real-time weight value of all products which located on each suspension bracket. In the initial state, all the suspension brackets are full of goods, and the weight value updating unit <NUM> stores the weight value of all the goods on each suspension bracket. When a user picks a certain item from a certain suspension bracket or returns a certain product on a certain suspension bracket, a weight sensing device obtains the real-time weight sensing values of all the goods on the suspension bracket at this time, and the weight difference calculation unit <NUM> calculates the weight difference value between this real-time weight value and the real-time weight value of all the goods on this suspension bracket stored in the weight value updating unit <NUM>. The judgment unit <NUM> is used to determine the pick-or-place information change of the goods according to the weight difference value. When the weight difference value is less than <NUM>, it is determined that the goods are taken away. When the weight difference value is less than <NUM>, the bracket matching unit <NUM> is used to acquire the suspension bracket number corresponding to the weight sensor. The weight matching unit <NUM>, based on the suspension bracket number, matches the absolute value of the weight difference value with the weight value of single item on the suspension bracket to determine the type and quantity of the removed goods. For example, four kinds of goods X, Y, Z and W are respectively hung on the four suspension brackets A, B, C, and D on the same rack, and the corresponding unit weight values are <NUM> grams, <NUM> grams, <NUM> grams, and <NUM> grams, respectively. When a user takes two items from the suspension bracket B, the weight sensing device corresponding to the suspension bracket B acquires the real-time weight sensing value, and the weight difference calculation unit <NUM> calculates the difference value between the real-time weight sensing value and the previous real-time weight value of the suspension bracket B which is <NUM> grams. The weight of single item corresponding to the suspension bracket B stored in the data storage unit <NUM> is <NUM> grams, and the weight matching unit <NUM> can calculate the quantity of the removed goods to be two. The data processing equipment <NUM> can record the position of the tray which is lighter than before as well as the changing time, and can acquire the shopping behavior of each user in real time. The shopping behavior refers to when, where, what quantity, and what kind of goods are taken away, and together with the user identification technology, it can confirm who, when, where, what quantity and what kind of goods are taken away, so that the shopping record of every user can be recorded in detail. When the user leaves the shopping area, automatic settlement for the user can be performed. Referring to <FIG>, the vertical mounting plate <NUM> is provided with a mounting plate through hole <NUM> which penetrates the vertical mounting plate <NUM> and is arranged opposite to a suspension bracket base <NUM>. The suspension bracket <NUM> includes a hanging rod <NUM> and a bracket buckle <NUM>. The hanging rod <NUM> passes through the mounting plate through hole <NUM>, one end of the hanging rod <NUM> is provided with the bracket buckle <NUM> which is detachably mounted to a suspension bracket base <NUM>, the other end of the hanging rod <NUM> is bent upward to form a bending part <NUM>, and the bending part <NUM> and the hanging rod <NUM> form an angle of <NUM>-<NUM> degrees. Many goods have a set of holes on the outer packaging (such as bagged goods), which can be placed on the suspension bracket <NUM> from the bending part <NUM>. Since the bending part <NUM> is bent upward, the goods will slide to the hanging rod <NUM> without slipping.

The bracket buckle <NUM> includes a first card plate <NUM>, a second card plate <NUM> and a connecting plate <NUM>. The first card plate <NUM> can be inserted into the bracket clamping slot <NUM>. The second card plate <NUM> is parallel to the first card plate <NUM>. The hanging rod <NUM> is perpendicularly connected to the second card plate <NUM>. One end of the connecting plate <NUM> is connected to the first card plate <NUM>, and the other end is connected to the second card plate <NUM>. When a bracket buckle <NUM> is mounted to a suspension bracket base <NUM>, the first card plate <NUM> is inserted into the bracket clamping slot <NUM>, and a side of the second card plate <NUM> is tangent to a side of the base body <NUM>. The depth of the bracket clamping slot <NUM> is greater than <NUM> centimeter, which is generally about <NUM>-<NUM>% of the thickness of the suspension bracket base <NUM> to ensure that the suspension bracket <NUM> can be mounted stably.

Referring to <FIG>, the vertical mounting plate <NUM> is provided with a mounting plate bayonet <NUM> that penetrates the vertical mounting plate <NUM> and is located around the mounting plate through hole <NUM>.

In this example, the shelf for hanging goods further includes a second suspension bracket <NUM>, which is detachably mounted to the vertical mounting plate <NUM>. The second suspension bracket <NUM> includes a second hanging rod <NUM>, a second baffle <NUM>, a second bracket buckle <NUM> and a second baffle through hole <NUM>.

The second baffle <NUM> is disposed at one end of the s second hanging rod <NUM> and is opposite to a mounting plate through hole <NUM>. The second bracket buckle <NUM> protrudes from the second baffle <NUM> toward a side surface of the mounting plate through hole <NUM>, and is detachably engaged onto the mounting plate bayonet <NUM>. The second baffle through hole <NUM> penetrates through the second baffle <NUM>. When the second bracket buckle <NUM> is engaged in the mounting plate bayonet <NUM>, the second baffle <NUM> blocks the mounting plate through hole <NUM>, and the hanging rod <NUM> of the suspension bracket <NUM> passes through the second baffle through hole <NUM>.

One end of the second hanging rod <NUM> is perpendicularly connected to the second baffle <NUM>, and the other end thereof is bent upward to form a second bending part <NUM>, which forms an angle of <NUM>-<NUM> degrees with the second hanging rod <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the second suspension bracket <NUM> further includes a cross-bar <NUM> and an identification board <NUM>. The cross-bar <NUM> is perpendicularly connected to the end of the second hanging rod <NUM> which is far away from the second baffle <NUM>, that is, the end of the second bending part <NUM>. The identification board <NUM> is rotatably or fixedly mounted to the cross-bar <NUM>. The identification board <NUM> includes a first rotary plate <NUM> and a second rotary plate <NUM> that are detachably assembled into one body. The first rotary plate <NUM> and the second rotary plate <NUM> can rotate around the cross-bar <NUM> by a certain angle after being assembled. The first rotary plate <NUM> and the second rotary plate <NUM> are made of transparent materials. A replaceable label <NUM> is provided between the first rotary plate <NUM> and the second rotary plate <NUM>, and the product name, type, model, origin, unit price and other information are written on the label <NUM>.

Every second suspension bracket <NUM> corresponds to a suspension bracket <NUM>, which is generally located above the suspension bracket <NUM>, and the identification board <NUM> can be affixed with a product logo, so the user can acquire the corresponding goods information of the suspension bracket <NUM>.

In this example, each rack <NUM> is provided with a vertical mounting plate <NUM> and a mounting bracket <NUM>. The same vertical mounting plate <NUM> is provided with a plurality of mounting plate through holes <NUM> (generally <NUM>-<NUM>, preferably <NUM> or <NUM>). A plurality of weight sensing devices <NUM> are provided on the same mounting bracket <NUM>, a suspension bracket base <NUM> is provided above each weight sensing device <NUM>, each suspension bracket base <NUM> is provided with a suspension bracket <NUM> that passes a mounting plate through hole <NUM>, and a second hanging bracket <NUM> is mounted at each mounting plate through hole <NUM>. The mounting plate through hole <NUM>, the weight sensing device <NUM>, suspension bracket base <NUM>, the suspension bracket <NUM> and the second suspension bracket <NUM> are all in a one-to-one correspondence.

In this example, the same type of goods with the same or similar weight is hung on each suspension bracket. When a user takes or puts back the goods, the total weight of the goods suspended on each suspension bracket <NUM> will change, the weight sensing device <NUM> can acquire the real-time weight sensing value of the goods on each suspension bracket <NUM>, and the data processing device determines the quantity change of the goods on each suspension bracket. In this example, the method and principle of goods identification of the shelf for hanging goods will be described as following.

Firstly, a bracket number is set for each rack and each suspension bracket, and the same type of goods of the same or similar weight are hung on each suspension bracket. In this way, all products on the same suspension bracket can be distinguished according to weight, and the identification information corresponding to each goods is established in a one-to-one correspondence with the product information. The product information of the goods includes the product name of the goods, product number, price, manufacturer, etc. The identification information of the goods includes the weight value of the goods, the number of the suspension bracket to which it belongs, etc. The identification information and the product information corresponding to each goods, and the corresponding relationship are stored in the data processing device <NUM>.

Secondly, each weight sensing device <NUM> (such as weight sensor) collects the weight sensing value of each suspension bracket <NUM> in real time. The data collection interval is <NUM>-<NUM> seconds, and preferably <NUM> seconds. The real-time weight value collected by each weight-sensing device <NUM> is sent to the data processing device <NUM>, and after being compared with the previous real-time weight value collected by the weight sensing device <NUM>, it is stored in the data processing device <NUM> to complete the data update and overwriting.

Finally, in this example, during each data collection process, there are six weight sensing devices <NUM> simultaneously acquire six pieces of data, respectively compared with the last six pieces of data pre-stored in the data processing device <NUM>. The last six pieces of data are the weight values collected by the six gravity sensors at previous time. In the comparison process, the weight difference value between the newly real-time weight value and the last moment real-time weight value from each weight-sensing device <NUM> is acquired, and if all the weight difference values are <NUM>, the data processing device <NUM> does not need other operations, and the weight sensing device <NUM> needs to collect a new weight difference value again.

If the weight difference value corresponding to a certain gravity sensor is less than <NUM>, it can be determined that the goods on the suspension bracket corresponding to the gravity sensor have been taken away, and the data processing device <NUM> acquires the bracket number of the suspension bracket. According to the bracket number, the absolute value of the weight difference is matched with the known weight value of each goods on the suspension bracket to determine the type of the removed goods. In this example, the gravity sensor measures accurately, and the weight value can be accurate to gram, but the weight of the goods itself may have errors. So in general, when the difference between the absolute value of the weight difference and the weight value of a certain goods range between -<NUM> grams to <NUM> grams, it can be considered there is a successful match, and thus the data processing device <NUM> can determine which goods was taken.

Further, this example may be used in combination with a shopping application software (APP) of a mobile phone, the data processing device <NUM> achieves data exchange with the mobile phone of a user through wireless communication (such as WIFI or cellular communication or Bluetooth), and the goods is automatically added to the shopping cart of the shopping software in the mobile of the user for later settlement.

Claim 1:
A shelf for hanging goods, comprises:
a shelf support (<NUM>); and
a rack (<NUM>) detachably mounted to the shelf support;
wherein the rack comprises:
a mounting bracket (<NUM>);
a weight sensing device (<NUM>) above the mounting bracket;
a suspension bracket base (<NUM>) above the weight sensing device;
a suspension bracket (<NUM>) having one end detachably mounted to the suspension bracket base;
a vertical mounting plate (<NUM>); at least two baffles (<NUM>) protruding from an edge of the vertical mounting plate; and
a mounting plate cavity (<NUM>) surrounded by the vertical mounting plate and the at least two baffles;
a mounting plate through hole (<NUM>) that penetrates through the vertical mounting plate and is opposite to the suspension bracket base; one end of the suspension bracket being detachably mounted to the suspension bracket base through the mounting plate through hole;
characterized in that the suspension bracket base comprises:
a base body (<NUM>); and
a bracket clamping slot (<NUM>) recessed on a top of the base body;
wherein the suspension bracket comprises:
a hanging rod (<NUM>); and
a bracket buckle (<NUM>) at one end of the hanging rod, and detachably engaged to the bracket clamping slot.