EP0831445A2 - Vorrichtung zur einstellbaren Montage von elektronischen Etiketten an Regalen und dergleichen - Google Patents

Vorrichtung zur einstellbaren Montage von elektronischen Etiketten an Regalen und dergleichen Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0831445A2
EP0831445A2 EP97830452A EP97830452A EP0831445A2 EP 0831445 A2 EP0831445 A2 EP 0831445A2 EP 97830452 A EP97830452 A EP 97830452A EP 97830452 A EP97830452 A EP 97830452A EP 0831445 A2 EP0831445 A2 EP 0831445A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
joint
plate
coupling
solar cell
plates
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP97830452A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0831445A3 (de
Inventor
Francesco Bracci
Marco Faita
Paolo Toniol
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Interlabel SpA
Original Assignee
Interlabel SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Interlabel SpA filed Critical Interlabel SpA
Publication of EP0831445A2 publication Critical patent/EP0831445A2/de
Publication of EP0831445A3 publication Critical patent/EP0831445A3/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F3/00—Labels, tag tickets, or similar identification or indication means; Seals; Postage or like stamps
    • G09F3/08—Fastening or securing by means not forming part of the material of the label itself
    • G09F3/18—Casings, frames or enclosures for labels
    • G09F3/20—Casings, frames or enclosures for labels for adjustable, removable, or interchangeable labels
    • G09F3/204—Casings, frames or enclosures for labels for adjustable, removable, or interchangeable labels specially adapted to be attached to a shelf or the like
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F3/00—Labels, tag tickets, or similar identification or indication means; Seals; Postage or like stamps
    • G09F3/08—Fastening or securing by means not forming part of the material of the label itself
    • G09F3/18—Casings, frames or enclosures for labels
    • G09F3/20—Casings, frames or enclosures for labels for adjustable, removable, or interchangeable labels
    • G09F3/208—Electronic labels, Labels integrating electronic displays
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F3/00—Labels, tag tickets, or similar identification or indication means; Seals; Postage or like stamps
    • G09F3/08—Fastening or securing by means not forming part of the material of the label itself
    • G09F3/18—Casings, frames or enclosures for labels
    • G09F3/20—Casings, frames or enclosures for labels for adjustable, removable, or interchangeable labels
    • G09F3/201—Enclosures enveloping completely the labels

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to electronic labels for supermarkets and the like, and in particular to an adjustable device for coupling said labels to the shelves of the point of sale.
  • electrolabs is used here with reference to a displaying device essentially consisting of a liquid crystal display (LCD) controlled by a microprocessor and fed by a solar cell.
  • LCD liquid crystal display
  • An example of such a device is disclosed in the international patent application WO 95/25300 to which reference is made for structural details.
  • the solar cell In order to assure this supply, the solar cell must therefore have a minimum size which in the present case is equal to 95 x 28 mm. Also the display must obviously have a proper size, similar to that of the cell, so as to allow an easy reading of the displayed data.
  • the thickness of the shelves is usually between 30 and 35 mm, while the label width must be limited to 120 mm.
  • a height greater than 35 mm would result in the label projecting above or below from the shelf thickness, with consequent difficulties in placing or removing the goods from the shelf.
  • a width greater than 120 mm would not allow a full exploitation of the shelves in the case of small goods placed on the shelves with a high density, or it would result in having the label positioned below two adjacent products.
  • an electronic label has a size larger than a conventional paper label, in particular due to the LCD display which must come along with the relevant solar cell as mentioned previously.
  • the LCD display which must come along with the relevant solar cell as mentioned previously.
  • it is not possible to reduce the size of the solar cell and/or the display neither can be ignored the above-mentioned room limits on the shelves. Due to these reasons it is not possible to use a label wherein the solar cell and the display are arranged horizontally or vertically on the same plane.
  • the electronic labels have other specific needs which paper labels do not have.
  • the solar cell must be oriented so as to be exposed to a light flow as large as possible, otherwise it can not assure a sufficient supply to the LCD display.
  • the LCD display has to be oriented differently according to the height of its position since the best view angle is quite small.
  • a first object of the present invention is therefore to provide a coupling device which meets all the above-mentioned requirements.
  • a further object of the present invention is to provide a device which allows the coupling and uncoupling of the label only to the authorized personnel so as to prevent an easy removal of the labels by the customers, since their value is not negligible.
  • the fundamental advantage of the device according to the present invention is to assure that all the above-mentioned requirements are met by a very simple and cheap structure, yet strong and versatile.
  • Another advantage of the present device is that it can be easily made with a kind of universal mechanical "interface" so that it can be adapted to any type of shelves.
  • the device according to the present invention essentially consists of a first plate 1 and a second plate 2 mutually hinged along a side through a joint 3, each plate 1, 2 being provided with a coupling element 4 arranged along the side opposite to the hinge side.
  • Both plates 1, 2 are made of a transparent material (plastic) at least on the face looking outwards (upper side in fig.2), and have an inner cavity suitable to receive respectively the solar cell C and the display D, which is fed by cell C through the supply wires E passing through joint 3.
  • the cavities which receive cell C and display D are hermetically sealed by airtight lids so as to protect the members of the electronic label by external agents (humidity, dust, liquids, etc.).
  • this joint 3 allows the adjustment of the angle ⁇ between plates 1 and 2, so as to be able to respect the room limits.
  • fig.1a clearly illustrates that by arranging plate 1 in a horizontal position and plate 2 in an almost vertical position, with an angle ⁇ of about 120° between the two plates, the label can remain within the height H (30-35 mm) of the shelf R of the set of shelves since the thickness of plate 1 is a few mm.
  • fig. 1b clearly illustrates that also the front room limit is respected, since the two plates 1, 2 vertically superimposed remain within the width limit L equal to 120 mm.
  • Figure 3 illustrates three examples of positions which the present device can take according to the height of the shelf R on which it is mounted. Since the lighting usually comes from above, obviously plate 1 containing cell C will be placed in a substantially horizontal or slightly inclined upper position. On the contrary, plate 2 will be arranged in a more vertical position, inclined downwards or upwards depending whether the label is placed respectively higher or lower than the eye level of the customers.
  • supply wires E are provided with a length sufficient to maintain the connection between cell C and display D at any position of angular adjustment.
  • a first embodiment of joint 3 which connects the two plates 1, 2.
  • This first solution provides a "fork-like" joint obtained by forming on one of the two plates, plate 1 in the illustrated example, two outer hollow lugs 5 making up a “fork” wherein an inner hollow lug 6 formed on the other plate is inserted (fig.4a, the play between the parts is exaggerated for the sake of representation).
  • the connection between the two plates is carried out by a pin 7 which is transversally inserted and then secured in any known way (fig.4b).
  • pin 7 is preferably hollow for the reason which will be explained further on.
  • Figures 5a and 5b illustrate a second embodiment of joint 3, which does not allow a complete freedom of the angle between the plates as in the above-described first embodiment, but does not require a separate element (pin 7) for assembling the device.
  • the joint is made up of two coaxial cylindrical bodies 8, 9 in mutual contact, respectively formed along facing sides of plates 1 and 2.
  • the outer cylindrical body 9 lacks about 1/4 of the lateral surface so as to allow its rotation around the inner cylindrical body 8. It is clear that this type of joint has a limited angular stroke, ranging from the position of greatest angle between the two plates (fig.5a) to the position of smallest angle (fig.5b), which can be defined on the base of the missing portion of cylinder 9.
  • angular extension of cylinder 9 has to be such as to assure a permanent connection between the two plates, i.e. the integrity of the joint, in any angular position. It is obvious that nothing changes if the position of the two cylindrical bodies 8, 9 is inverted by forming the inner body on plate 2 and the outer body on plate 1.
  • This interface essentially consists of a pair of vertical end supports T, secured to the shelf S by means of connecting elements F such as screws or the like, with two or more rods B (three in the illustrated example) extending between them with a circular cross-section.
  • Supports T may be provided with mechanisms for adjusting the position of rods B and/or with a plurality of mounting seats for rods B so as to change their arrangement.
  • the coupling of the electronic label to shelf S is carried out by slipping the coupling elements 4 on rods B suitably arranged so as to achieve the desired angle a between plates 1 and 2, i.e. between solar cell C and display D.
  • joint 3 is slipped on a rod B (for this reason pin 7 is hollow).
  • the labels form a unitary body with the shelf and rods B take up the frontal bumps that the labels may receive from the shopping trolleys, while preventing side bumps.
  • the illustration of fig.7 shows said type of mounting of the labels through the coupling device of figs.4a, 4b.
  • the coupling elements 4 consist of complete cylinders, the labels have to be inserted on rods B at the end, one after the other, but this is unpractical when an intermediate label has to be replaced. therefore, it is preferable that the coupling elements 4 are semicircular so that the label can be mounted directly in the desired position and subsequently removed without touching the adjacent labels.
  • An example of this solution is illustrated in figs.5a and 5b, wherein the semicircular coupling elements 4' are completed by respective rear shells 4" which also provide the locking of the label in the required position by exerting a little friction on rods B.
  • the coupling elements 4 provide a tough anchoring for the label, nonetheless it is useful to provide the coupling device with an anti-theft sensor which indicates the unauthorized removal of the label.
  • This sensor is housed in one of the coupling elements 4 so that it abuts against rod B when the label is positioned, and it may consist of a sliding electric contact (if rod B is of conducting material) or a membrane microswitch.
  • This sensor is connected to an input of the label which monitors its logic state and therefore also the possible change of the logic state of said input in case of removal from rod B or if the label is pulled out of its seat in plate 2.
  • the label transmits by radio an alarm signal to the system which controls the label apparatus, unless this check function has been previously deactivated by means of a proper command issued by a portable transmitter supplied to the personnel of the point of sale.
  • joint 3 may be obtained through other types of mechanically equivalent structures, and the same can be said for the coupling elements 4 which may have a shape different from the hollow cylindrical shape shown in the figures.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Devices For Indicating Variable Information By Combining Individual Elements (AREA)
  • Fittings On The Vehicle Exterior For Carrying Loads, And Devices For Holding Or Mounting Articles (AREA)
EP97830452A 1996-09-20 1997-09-16 Vorrichtung zur einstellbaren Montage von elektronischen Etiketten an Regalen und dergleichen Withdrawn EP0831445A3 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITMI961941 1996-09-20
IT96MI001941A ITMI961941A1 (it) 1996-09-20 1996-09-20 Dispositivo regolabile per l'aggancio di etichette elettroniche a scaffali e simili

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0831445A2 true EP0831445A2 (de) 1998-03-25
EP0831445A3 EP0831445A3 (de) 1998-09-23

Family

ID=11374910

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP97830452A Withdrawn EP0831445A3 (de) 1996-09-20 1997-09-16 Vorrichtung zur einstellbaren Montage von elektronischen Etiketten an Regalen und dergleichen

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0831445A3 (de)
IT (1) ITMI961941A1 (de)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1870872A3 (de) * 2006-06-21 2009-04-01 Promaco BVBA Montagevorrichtung für Etiketten und/oder elektronische Etiketten auf Fachboden
AT524736A1 (de) * 2021-02-10 2022-08-15 Umdasch Store Makers Man Gmbh Aufnahmevorrichtung für ein elektronisches Preisschild
WO2025151681A1 (en) * 2024-01-09 2025-07-17 Ambient Photonics, Inc. Photovoltaic-powered electronic shelf labels

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2249854A (en) * 1990-10-17 1992-05-20 Sainsbury J Plc Electronic labels
SE501413C2 (sv) * 1993-04-05 1995-02-13 Pricer Norden Ab System för elektronisk hyllkantsprismärkning
US6069596A (en) * 1994-05-17 2000-05-30 Ncr Corporation Electronic shelf label mounting system

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1870872A3 (de) * 2006-06-21 2009-04-01 Promaco BVBA Montagevorrichtung für Etiketten und/oder elektronische Etiketten auf Fachboden
AT524736A1 (de) * 2021-02-10 2022-08-15 Umdasch Store Makers Man Gmbh Aufnahmevorrichtung für ein elektronisches Preisschild
EP4044158A1 (de) 2021-02-10 2022-08-17 umdasch Store Makers Management GmbH Aufnahmevorrichtung für ein elektronisches preisschild
WO2025151681A1 (en) * 2024-01-09 2025-07-17 Ambient Photonics, Inc. Photovoltaic-powered electronic shelf labels

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ITMI961941A1 (it) 1998-03-20
EP0831445A3 (de) 1998-09-23

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US7530188B2 (en) Adapter for attaching an electronic shelf label to a blister hook
US4271618A (en) Frame construction
USD327788S (en) Floor-mounted display for displaying retail merchandise with top shelf
USD431566S (en) Computer liquid crystal display monitor
JPH06324628A (ja) 価格表示器取付装置
US4786025A (en) Anti-twist signholder support assembly
EP0831445A2 (de) Vorrichtung zur einstellbaren Montage von elektronischen Etiketten an Regalen und dergleichen
USD359311S (en) Display sign
USD427824S (en) Shelf for merchandise display
US20220036768A1 (en) Peg hook label apparatus
JP7278311B2 (ja) 電子棚表示タグおよび電動棚支持トラックシステム、装置および使用方法
CN208957459U (zh) 一种自动升降装置
CA2136390A1 (en) Antenna pedestal
JP3288354B2 (ja) 回動式価格表示板
USD327385S (en) Display stand for retail merchandise
USD317992S (en) Display rack
CA2175412A1 (en) Protective display for card-type item
CN213786482U (zh) 一种便于拆装的展示柜
CN219936468U (zh) 一种售货柜
FI120066B (fi) Järjestely tietoa esittävän näytön yhteydessä
CN100414372C (zh) 液晶显示装置
CN219940200U (zh) 一种具有防盗报警功能的3d观览展示柜
USD356554S (en) Monitor for a computer
CN212878627U (zh) 一种用于展馆的多功能展示柜
CN2236253Y (zh) 具有旋开门的手表展示架

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE

PUAL Search report despatched

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A3

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE

AKX Designation fees paid
RBV Designated contracting states (corrected)
STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 19990324

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: 8566