JP2019191617A - Article management system - Google Patents

Abstract

To manage the number of remaining articles without labor.SOLUTION: When at least one of plural articles that are packed orderly from a predesignated leading position and then disposed is picked up, a movement unit 101 moves to a position dependent on the number of remaining articles. A detection unit 102 detects whether the movement unit 101 has moved to a predesignated detection position. When it is detected by the detection unit 102 that the movement unit 101 has moved to the detection position, a transmission unit 103 transmits identification information on the article to a processing unit 104.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

  The present invention relates to a merchandise management system.

  A clerk of a store such as a convenience store or a supermarket is required to replenish the product when the remaining quantity of the product placed at the store becomes small. Here, it is very troublesome for the store clerk to constantly check the remaining quantity of the products placed in the store. Therefore, various techniques for reducing such labor are currently known.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a merchandise management system that manages the remaining quantity of merchandise placed in a store. In the product management system disclosed in Patent Literature 1, when the remaining quantity is acquired based on information received from the wireless tag attached to each product and it is determined that replenishment is required based on the acquired remaining quantity, Notify the specified person of the replenishment request.

Japanese Patent No. 5239399

  However, with the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to attach a wireless tag to each product, which requires a lot of labor. For this reason, there is a need for a technique for managing the remaining quantity of merchandise without labor.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a product management system that manages the remaining quantity of products without taking time and effort.

In order to achieve the above object, the product management system according to the present invention includes:
A moving means for moving to a position corresponding to the remaining quantity of the plurality of products when at least one product is taken out of the plurality of products arranged in order from a predetermined starting position;
Detecting means for detecting that the moving means has moved to a predetermined detection position;
A transmission unit configured to transmit identification information of the product to a predetermined processing unit when the detection unit detects that the moving unit has moved to the detection position.

The moving means is a product dummy imitating the product,
The product dummy may be disposed adjacent to a product farthest from the head position among the plurality of products and at a position farther from the head position than the farthest product.

  The moving means may be a part of an extrusion mechanism that pushes out a product having the longest distance from the head position among the plurality of products toward the head position.

The moving means includes a wireless tag that stores tag information,
The detection means is an antenna that receives the tag information from the wireless tag when the wireless tag is disposed at the detection position;
The transmitting means may transmit the product identification information to the processing means when the tag information is received by the antenna.

When at least one second product is taken out of a plurality of second products arranged in order from a predetermined second head position, the position is determined according to the remaining quantity of the plurality of second products. A second moving means for moving;
The second moving means includes a second wireless tag that stores second tag information,
The detection means further detects that the second movement means has moved to a predetermined second detection position,
The antenna serving as the detection means is an antenna whose reception target area is an area including the detection position and the second detection position. When the wireless tag is disposed at the detection position, the wireless tag Receiving the tag information from the second radio tag when the second radio tag is disposed at the second detection position, and receiving the second tag information from the second radio tag,
When the tag information is received by the antenna, the transmission means transmits the product identification information to the processing means. When the second tag information is received by the antenna, the transmission means identifies the second product. Information may be transmitted to the processing means.

Unlike the weight of the moving means and the weight of the product,
The detection means is a weight sensor that measures the weight of an article arranged at the detection position,
The transmission unit may transmit the product identification information to the processing unit when the weight of the moving unit is measured by the weight sensor.

The weight difference between the weight of the moving means and the weight of the product is equal to or greater than a predetermined weight threshold,
The detection means is a weight sensor that measures the weight of an article arranged at the detection position,
The transmission means may transmit the product identification information to the processing means when the weight measured by the weight sensor changes by more than the weight threshold.

Unlike the thermal conductivity of the moving means and the thermal conductivity of the commodity,
The detection means is a temperature sensor that measures a temperature in the vicinity of an article arranged at the detection position,
The transmission unit may transmit the product identification information to the processing unit when the temperature measured by the temperature sensor changes by a predetermined temperature threshold or more.

Unlike the color of the moving means and the color of the product,
The detection means is a color sensor that measures the color of an article arranged at the detection position,
The transmission unit may transmit the product identification information to the processing unit when the color sensor detects the color of the moving unit.

Unlike the color of the moving means and the color of the product,
The detection means is a color sensor that measures the color of an article arranged at the detection position,
The transmission unit may transmit the product identification information to the processing unit when the color measured by the color sensor changes.

Further comprising the processing means;
The processing means includes
Receiving means for receiving identification information of the product transmitted from the transmitting means;
And display means for displaying information indicating the quantity associated with the detected position when the product identification information is received by the receiving means.

  According to the present invention, the remaining quantity of merchandise can be managed without taking time and effort.

1 is a configuration diagram of a product management system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Configuration diagram of transmitting apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention The block diagram of the processing apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. The figure which shows a mode that the movement part moved to the detection position is detected by the antenna. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of the antenna which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention, (A) is a top view, (B) is sectional drawing of an AA line Functional configuration diagram of the product management system according to the first embodiment of the present invention The figure which shows a mode that an extrusion mechanism pushes goods toward the head position Configuration diagram of commodity management system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention The top view of the communication sheet which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention Functional configuration diagram of the product management system according to the second embodiment of the present invention The figure which shows a mode that the weight sensor detects that a moving part moved to the detection position. The figure which shows a mode that the temperature sensor detects that a moving part moved to the detection position. The figure which shows a mode that the color sensor detects that a moving part moved to the detection position.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a product management system 1000 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The merchandise management system 1000 is a system for notifying the manager that the remaining quantity of merchandise placed on the store shelves has decreased. Therefore, it can be said that the product management system 1000 is a system that supports product management by an administrator. The manager is, for example, a store manager or a store clerk. On the other hand, when the administrator is notified that the remaining quantity of the product has decreased, the manager replenishes the display shelf with the product.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the product management system 1000 includes a transmission device 100, a processing device 200, product dummies 410, 420, 430, antennas 510, 520, 530, and an inclined plate 600. The transmission device 100 and the processing device 200 are connected to each other via a communication network 700. Transmitting apparatus 100 is connected to antenna 510 via communication line 518, connected to antenna 520 via communication line 528, and connected to antenna 530 via communication line 538. In addition, on the inclined plate 600, a plurality of products 310 and product dummies 410 are arranged in a line without gaps, and a plurality of products 320 and a product dummy 420 are arranged in a line with no gaps. The product 330 and the product dummy 430 are arranged in a line without any gap.

  The transmission device 100 detects that the remaining quantity of the product 310 has decreased based on the information received from the antenna 510. The transmission device 100 detects that the remaining quantity of the product 320 has decreased based on the information received from the antenna 520. The transmission device 100 detects that the remaining quantity of the product 330 has decreased based on the information received from the antenna 530. The transmission device 100 transmits information indicating that the remaining quantity of each of the products 310, 320, and 330 has decreased to the processing device 200 via the communication network 700. The transmission device 100 may be dedicated hardware including a microcomputer or the like, or may be a general-purpose terminal device such as a desktop personal computer, a notebook personal computer, a tablet terminal, or a smartphone. Hereinafter, the configuration of the transmission apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the transmission device 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, a flash memory 14, an RTC (Real Time Clock) 15, and a touch screen. 16, a first communication interface 17 and a second communication interface 18. The components included in the transmission device 100 are connected to each other via a bus.

  The CPU 11 controls the overall operation of the transmission device 100. The CPU 11 operates according to a program stored in the ROM 12 and uses the RAM 13 as a work area. The ROM 12 stores a program and data for controlling the overall operation of the transmission device 100. The RAM 13 functions as a work area for the CPU 11. That is, the CPU 11 temporarily writes programs and data in the RAM 13 and refers to these programs and data as appropriate.

  The flash memory 14 is a nonvolatile memory that stores various types of information. The RTC 15 is a time measuring device. The RTC 15 includes, for example, a battery and keeps timing while the power of the transmission device 100 is off. The RTC 15 includes an oscillation circuit including a crystal oscillator, for example. The touch screen 16 detects a touch operation performed by the user and supplies a signal indicating the detection result to the CPU 11. The touch screen 16 displays an image based on the image signal supplied from the CPU 11. As described above, the touch screen 16 functions as a user interface of the transmission device 100.

  The first communication interface 17 is an interface for connecting the transmission device 100 to the communication network 700. The transmission device 100 communicates with the processing device 200 connected to the communication network 700 via the communication network 700. The first communication interface 17 includes, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network) interface (for example, a NIC (Network Interface Card)).

  The second communication interface 18 is an interface for connecting the transmission device 100 to each of the antennas 510, 520, and 530. The second communication interface 18 is connected to the antenna 510 via the communication line 518, is connected to the antenna 520 via the communication line 528, and is connected to the antenna 530 via the communication line 538. The second communication interface 18 radiates radio waves from each of the antennas 510, 520, and 530 according to control by the CPU 11. Further, the second communication interface 18 supplies the CPU 11 with information indicated by radio waves received by the antennas 510, 520, and 530, respectively. That is, the CPU 11 and the second communication interface 18 cooperate to function as a reading device that reads tag information.

  The processing device 200 receives information indicating that the remaining quantity of each of the products 310, 320, and 330 has decreased from the transmission device 100 via the communication network 700. The processing device 200 notifies the administrator that the remaining quantity of each of the products 310, 320, and 330 has decreased by displaying an image. The processing device 200 is, for example, a desktop personal computer, a notebook personal computer, a tablet terminal, or a smartphone. Hereinafter, the configuration of the processing apparatus 200 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As illustrated in FIG. 3, the processing device 200 includes a CPU 21, a ROM 22, a RAM 23, a flash memory 24, an RTC 25, a touch screen 26, and a first communication interface 27. The components included in the processing device 200 are connected to each other via a bus.

  The CPU 21 controls the overall operation of the processing device 200. The CPU 21 operates in accordance with a program stored in the ROM 22 and uses the RAM 23 as a work area. The ROM 22 stores programs and data for controlling the overall operation of the processing device 200. The RAM 23 functions as a work area for the CPU 21. That is, the CPU 21 temporarily writes programs and data in the RAM 23 and refers to these programs and data as appropriate.

  The flash memory 24 is a nonvolatile memory that stores various types of information. The RTC 25 is a time measuring device. The RTC 25 includes, for example, a battery and keeps timing even while the processing apparatus 200 is powered off. The RTC 25 includes an oscillation circuit including a crystal oscillator, for example. The touch screen 26 detects a touch operation performed by the user and supplies a signal indicating the detection result to the CPU 21. The touch screen 26 displays an image based on the image signal supplied from the CPU 21. As described above, the touch screen 26 functions as a user interface of the processing device 200.

  The first communication interface 27 is an interface for connecting the processing device 200 to the communication network 700. The processing device 200 communicates with the transmission device 100 connected to the communication network 700 via the communication network 700. The first communication interface 27 includes, for example, a LAN interface (for example, NIC).

  Each of the products 310, 320, and 330 is a product that is arranged in a line on a display shelf of a store and sold to a customer. The products 310, 320, and 330 are products such as can drinks, plastic bottle drinks, bottle drinks, and tobacco. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the product 310, the product 320, and the product 330 are different products. FIG. 1 shows an example in which the remaining quantity of the product 310 is 5, the remaining quantity of the product 320 is 2, and the remaining quantity of the product 330 is 4. Further, in this embodiment, when the remaining quantity becomes two, it is assumed that the administrator is notified that the remaining quantity has decreased.

  The product dummies 410, 420, and 430 are products imitating the products 310, 320, and 330, respectively. Therefore, the product dummies 410, 420, and 430 are not sold to customers. The product dummy 410 has the same shape as the product 310, and a wireless tag 411 is attached to the lower part (the bottom surface or a side surface near the bottom surface). The product dummy 420 has the same shape as the product 320, and a wireless tag 421 is attached to the lower part (the bottom surface or a side surface near the bottom surface). The product dummy 430 has the same shape as the product 330, and a wireless tag (not shown) is attached to the lower part (the bottom surface or a side surface near the bottom surface). The product dummies 410, 420, and 430 are arranged side by side at the tail of the products 310, 320, and 330, respectively. Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 4, a state in which the product 310 and the product dummy 410 are arranged on the inclined plate 600 will be described using the product 310 and the product dummy 410 as an example.

  As shown in FIG. 4, on the inclined plate 600, the plurality of products 310 and the product dummies 410 are sequentially packed from the top position and arranged in a row. Note that the number of the products 310 arranged on the inclined plate 600, that is, the remaining number of the products 310 is five. Here, the head position is a position surrounded by the region 311. The product 310 arranged at the head position is basically the product closest to the customer, and is the product that the customer is most likely to take. The product 310 and the product dummy 410 have a force acting toward the head position due to gravity. However, when the product 310 and the product dummy 410 move to the top position, the product 310 and the product dummy 410 are stopped by the protrusion 610 provided at the end of the inclined plate 600. That is, as long as the remaining quantity of the product 310 does not become zero, the product 310 is always arranged at the head position.

  The position surrounded by the region 312 is the end position. The product 310 arranged at the end position is basically the product farthest from the customer and the product most difficult for the customer to pick up. The start position does not move regardless of the remaining quantity of the product 310, but the end position moves according to the remaining quantity of the product 310. The product dummy 410 is adjacent to the product 310 arranged at the end position, and is arranged at a position farther from the head position than the end position. Here, when the customer takes out the product 310 arranged at the head position from the product shelf, the remaining four products 310 and the product dummy 410 are shifted toward the head position by one product 310. Similarly, every time the product 310 arranged at the head position is taken out from the product shelf, the remaining product 310 and the product dummy 410 are shifted toward the head position by one product 310. As described above, when the product 310 is taken out from the product shelf, the product dummy 410 moves toward the top position together with the remaining product 310.

  A position surrounded by the region 313 is a detection position. When the product dummy 410 moves to the detection position, the wireless tag 411 attached to the product dummy 410 enters the leaching area 517 of the antenna 510. Therefore, the antenna 510 receives tag information from the wireless tag 411. The antenna 510 transmits the received tag information to the transmission device 100 via the communication line 518. On the other hand, the transmission device 100 transmits the received tag information to the processing device 200 via the communication network 700.

  Note that the tag information includes, for example, identification information of the product 310 and number information indicating the remaining quantity of the product 310. The number information included in the tag information indicates the number according to the detection position, that is, the position on the inclined plate 600 where the antenna 510 is disposed. Specifically, the number information included in the tag information indicates a value obtained by dividing the distance from the detection position to the head position by the length in the moving direction of the product 310. For example, in the example illustrated in FIG. 4, the number information included in the tag information indicates two.

  Next, the configuration of the antenna 510 will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the antenna 520 and the antenna 530 have basically the same configuration as the antenna 510. As shown in FIG. 5, the antenna 510 is a sheet-like antenna. 5A is a plan view of the antenna 510, and FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA shown in FIG. 5A. As shown in FIG. 5A, the antenna 510 includes a sheet-like conductor 511 in which mesh-shaped openings are formed on one surface in the thickness direction. As shown in FIG. 5B, the antenna 510 has a sheet-like conductor 512 disposed on the other surface in the thickness direction so as to face the sheet-like conductor 511, and has two layers of sheet-like conductors 511. , 512 has a dielectric 513. Note that a protective sheet 514 such as vinyl chloride is attached to the upper surface of the sheet-like conductor 511 in preparation for the case where water is spilled.

  Each of the sheet-like conductor 511 and the sheet-like conductor 512 is made of, for example, an aluminum laminate having a thickness of about 32 μm. The dielectric 513 is made of, for example, a foamed polyolefin having a thickness of about 2 cm. The dielectric 513 may be formed of a fiber structure such as a woven fabric, a knitted fabric, a wet nonwoven fabric, or a dry nonwoven fabric. Further, an insulator (for example, a glass epoxy material) may be used instead of the dielectric 513, and air may be used between the sheet-like conductors 511 and 512 without using the dielectric 513 itself. Note that the antenna 510 can be cut and used as necessary. That is, the antenna 510 is cut into an appropriate size according to the area of the place where the antenna 510 is installed, and is installed at a desired place.

  The antenna 510 has a connector 515 for connecting to the communication line 518. The second communication interface 18 is connected to the other end of the communication line 518. In addition, as shown in FIG. 5B, the antenna 510 has a terminal 516 for adjusting impedance at the end opposite to the side where the connector 515 is provided. The second communication interface 18 is a reading device that transmits electromagnetic waves to the antenna 510 and reads tag information from the wireless tag 411 attached to the product dummy 410 via a near field generated by the transmitted electromagnetic waves.

  More specifically, the second communication interface 18 repeatedly transmits an electromagnetic wave in the UHF band (a radio wave having a wavelength of about 30 cm) to the antenna 510 via a communication line 518 at a predetermined cycle (for example, 1 second). To do. The electromagnetic wave transmitted from the second communication interface 18 is transmitted through the antenna 510. And the near field arises because the electromagnetic wave which transmits the inside of the antenna 510 oozes out from the surface of the antenna 510.

  More specifically, the electromagnetic wave transmitted from the second communication interface 18 is transmitted in the dielectric 513 between the two-layer sheet-like conductors 511 and 512 and between the connector 515 and the terminal end 516. . An electromagnetic wave transmitted through the dielectric 513 is leached from a mesh-shaped opening formed in the sheet-like conductor 511, thereby leaching a leaching region 517 (in FIG. 5B) in the very vicinity of the sheet-like conductor 511. Leak (leaching) into the area indicated by. The leached electromagnetic wave (evanescent wave) is not propagated far away, and forms a near field in the leaching region 517 very close to the sheet-like conductor 511.

  The amount of electromagnetic waves leached from the surface of the sheet-like conductor 511, that is, the size of the leaching region 517 is mainly determined by the interval between meshes formed on the sheet-like conductor 511 and the relative dielectric constant of the dielectric 513. Note that the electromagnetic wave transmitted through the dielectric 513 is not leached from the sheet-like conductor 512 side because no hole is formed on the surface of the antenna 510 on the sheet-like conductor 512 side and is shielded.

  The inclined plate 600 is a plate in which the products 310, 320, and 330 and the product dummies 410, 420, and 430 are arranged for each type of product, and has an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. . The inclined plate 600 is provided with an inclined surface so that the products 310, 320, and 330 and the product dummies 410, 420, and 430 are arranged close to the leading position according to gravity. The inclined surface is preferably a material or surface shape having a small friction coefficient so that the frictional force generated between the products 310, 320, 330 and the product dummies 410, 420, 430 is small.

  The communication network 700 is a network constructed in a store, and is a network for devices connected to the communication network 700 to communicate with each other. The communication network 700 is a wireless LAN, for example.

  Next, basic functions of the merchandise management system 1000 will be described with reference to FIG. The product management system 1000 functionally includes a moving unit 101, a detecting unit 102, a transmitting unit 103, and a processing unit 104. In the following description, it is assumed that the target product is the product 310.

  The moving unit 101 moves to a position corresponding to the remaining quantity of the plurality of products 310 when at least one product 310 is extracted from the plurality of products 310 arranged in order from a predetermined starting position. To do. The function of the moving unit 101 is realized by the product dummy 410, for example. In this case, the moving unit 101 includes a wireless tag 411.

  The detecting unit 102 detects that the moving unit 101 has moved to a predetermined detection position. The function of the detection unit 102 is realized by the function of the antenna 510, for example. In this case, when the tag information can be received from the wireless tag 411, the detection unit 102 can determine that the moving unit 101 has moved to the detection position.

  When the detection unit 102 detects that the moving unit 101 has moved to the detection position, the transmission unit 103 transmits the identification information of the product 310 to the predetermined processing unit 104. The identification information of the product 310 may not be the name or the product code of the product 310 as long as the processing apparatus 200 can finally identify the product 310. The identification information of the product 310 is included, for example, in tag information. The transmission unit 103 may transmit the tag information received from the detection unit 102 to the processing unit 104. The function of the transmission unit 103 is realized by the function of the transmission unit 103, for example.

  Here, it is preferable that the moving unit 101 is a product dummy 410 imitating a product. In this case, the product dummy 410 is adjacent to the product 310 farthest from the head position among the plurality of products 310 and is disposed at a position farther from the head position than the farthest product 310.

  As described above, the moving unit 101 preferably includes the wireless tag 411 that stores tag information. In this case, the detection unit 102 is preferably an antenna 510 that receives tag information from the wireless tag 411 when the wireless tag 411 is disposed at the detection position. Then, when the tag information is received by the antenna 510, the transmission unit 103 transmits the identification information of the product 410 to the processing unit 104.

  The processing unit 104 includes a receiving unit 105 and a display unit 106. The receiving unit 105 receives the identification information of the product 310 transmitted from the transmitting unit 103. On the other hand, when the receiving unit 105 receives the identification information of the product 310, the display unit 106 displays information indicating the quantity associated with the detected position. The function of the processing unit 104 is realized by the function of the processing device 200, for example. The function of the receiving unit 105 is realized by the function of the first communication interface 27, for example. And the function of the display part 106 is implement | achieved, for example, when CPU21 and the touch screen 26 cooperate.

  In this embodiment, every time the product 310 is taken out, the product dummy 410 is shifted together with the product 310 toward the top position. When the product dummy 410 reaches the detection position, the tag information transmitted from the wireless tag 411 attached to the product dummy 410 is received by the antenna 510. Here, when tag information is received by the antenna 510, identification information of the product 310 is transmitted to the processing device 200 by the transmission device 100. In the present embodiment, even if the wireless tags 411 are not attached to all the products 310, the administrator is notified that the remaining quantity of the products 310 is equal to or less than the threshold value. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the remaining quantity of the product 310 can be managed without taking time and effort. There is also a demand that the wireless tag 411 that is not used after purchase of the product does not want to be attached to the product 310 only for acquiring the remaining quantity. According to the present embodiment, the remaining quantity of the product 310 can be managed while meeting such a demand.

(Embodiment 2)
In the first embodiment, an example in which the moving unit 101 is the product dummy 410 has been described. The moving unit 101 may not be the product dummy 410. For example, the moving unit 101 may be a part of the extrusion mechanism 412 that extrudes the product 310. Hereinafter, this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the moving unit 101 may be a part (moving member 413) of the extrusion mechanism 412 that pushes the product 310 having the longest distance from the head position out of the plurality of products 310 toward the head position. Good. The extruding mechanism 412 includes a moving member 413, an extending member 414, and a fixed member 415. The moving member 413 is a member to which a force is applied from the extension member 414 in the direction toward the head position. The moving member 413 abuts on the product 310 arranged at the end position, and applies a force in the direction toward the top position to the product 310 arranged at the end position. A wireless tag 411 is attached to a lower portion (a bottom surface or a side surface near the bottom surface) of the moving member 413. The moving member 413 is, for example, a plate-like member.

  The extension member 414 is a member that applies a force to the moving member 413 and the fixed member 415 so that the moving member 413 and the fixed member 415 are separated from each other. Specifically, the extending member 414 applies a force toward the moving member 413 in a direction away from the fixed member 415, that is, in a direction where the leading position is. The extension member 414 is a member that extends, for example, like a spring. The fixing member 415 is fixed to the end of the horizontal plate 620. The fixing member 415 does not move even when a force is applied from the extending member 414. The horizontal plate 620 is a plate disposed on the display shelf and is a plate having a parallel surface that is a surface parallel to the horizontal direction. In the present embodiment, a force toward the leading direction is applied to the product 310 by the extrusion mechanism 412, and thus the horizontal plate 620 is used instead of the inclined plate 600.

  In the present embodiment, when the product 310 is taken out from the display shelf by the customer, the product 310 and the moving member 413 that existed in the end position direction with respect to the taken-out product 310 move toward the head direction. When the moving member 413 moves to the detection position, the wireless tag 411 attached to the moving member 413 enters the leaching area 517. As a result, the transmission device 100 receives tag information from the wireless tag 411 and transmits identification information of the product 310 to the processing device 200. Therefore, also in this embodiment, even if the wireless tags 411 are not attached to all the products 310, the administrator is notified that the remaining quantity of the products 310 is equal to or less than the threshold value. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the remaining quantity of the product 310 can be managed without taking time and effort.

(Embodiment 3)
In the first embodiment, the example in which the antennas 510, 520, and 530 are provided for the product dummies 410, 420, and 430, that is, the example in which one antenna is provided for one product dummy has been described. One antenna may be provided for a plurality of product dummies.

  FIG. 8 shows the configuration of a product management system 1100 according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8, in this embodiment, one antenna 540 is provided for three product dummies (product dummies 410, 420, 430). The antenna 540 is a sheet-like antenna having a sufficiently long length in the longitudinal direction with respect to the width direction. The antenna 540 is formed, for example, by cutting the antenna 510 so as to form a leaching region 517 having an appropriate size with respect to any of the product dummies 410, 420, and 430.

  If the antenna 510 is not desired to be cut, there is a method of forming the antenna 540 by limiting the leaching region 517 so that the leaching region 517 having an appropriate size is formed on the antenna 510. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, sheet-like conductors 541 and 542 may be overlaid on the antenna 510 in portions where the leaching region 517 is not desired to be formed. According to this configuration, the leaching region 517 having a desired shape and size can be formed on the surface of the antenna 510 without processing the antenna 510. In the present embodiment, the antenna 540 is connected to the transmission device 100 via the communication line 548.

  Next, basic functions of the product management system 1100 will be described with reference to FIG. The product management system 1100 functionally includes a moving unit 101, a detecting unit 102, a transmitting unit 103, a processing unit 104, and a second moving unit 107. In the following description, it is assumed that the target products are the products 310 and 320. Note that the description of the same configuration as that of the first embodiment is omitted.

  When the second moving unit 107 picks up at least one second product (product 320) out of a plurality of second products (product 320) arranged in order from a predetermined second head position. And move to a position corresponding to the remaining quantity of the plurality of second products (products 320). The function of the second moving unit 107 is realized by the function of the product dummy 420, for example. The second moving unit 107 includes a second wireless tag (wireless tag 421) that stores second tag information. Here, the detection unit 102 further detects that the second moving unit 107 has moved to a predetermined second detection position.

  The antenna 540 serving as the detection unit 102 is an antenna whose reception target area is an area including the detection position and the second detection position. The antenna 540 receives tag information from the wireless tag 411 when the wireless tag 411 is disposed at the detection position. The antenna 540 receives the second tag information from the second wireless tag (wireless tag 421) when the second wireless tag (wireless tag 421) is disposed at the second detection position.

  Here, when the tag information is received by the antenna 540, the transmission unit 104 transmits the identification information of the product 310 to the processing unit 104. When the second tag information is received by the antenna 540, the transmission unit 104 transmits the identification information of the second product (product 320) to the processing unit 104.

  In the present embodiment, a plurality of tag information corresponding to a plurality of types of products is acquired by one antenna 540. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to manage the remaining quantity of a plurality of types of products without trouble.

(Embodiment 4)
In the first embodiment, in order to detect that the product dummy 410 is arranged at the detection position, a wireless tag 411 is attached to the product dummy 410, and the antenna 510 that receives tag information from the wireless tag 411 is used as the detection unit 102. The example to employ | adopt was demonstrated. The method for detecting that the product dummy 410 is arranged at the detection position is not limited to this example. It can be detected by various sensors that the product dummy 410 is arranged at the detection position. In the present embodiment, a method for detecting that the product dummy 410 is arranged at the detection position using the weight sensor 800 will be described.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the weight sensor 800 is embedded in the inclined plate 600 so that the detection surface of the weight sensor 800 is exposed on the inclined surface of the inclined plate 600. And the position where the weight sensor 800 is arrange | positioned becomes a detection position of the product dummy 410. FIG. Here, the weight sensor 800 is connected to the second communication interface 18 included in the transmission device 100 via the communication line 801.

  In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the weight of the product dummy 410 and the weight of the product 310 are different. Preferably, the weight difference between the weight of the product dummy 410 and the weight of the product 310 is preferably equal to or greater than a predetermined weight threshold. The weight threshold is, for example, several tens to several hundreds percent of the weight of the product 310. It is preferable that the product dummy 410 is heavier than the product 310. In this case, it is possible to expect the product dummy 410 to push out the product 310 toward the top position, and to smoothly shift the product 310 and the product dummy 410. On the other hand, when a part of the extrusion mechanism 412 (moving member 413) is adopted as the moving unit 101, the weight of the moving member 413 may be lighter than the weight of the product 310.

  The weight sensor 800 measures the weight of the article placed at the detection position. Here, the article that may be placed at the detection position is any one of the goods 310 and the goods dummy 410. Therefore, the weight sensor 800 transmits weight information indicating the weight of the product 310 or weight information indicating the weight of the product dummy 410 to the transmission unit 103. The method in which the transmission unit 103 determines whether or not the product dummy 410 is arranged at the detection position based on the weight information received from the weight sensor 800 can be appropriately adjusted. For example, three methods are conceivable.

  In the first method, the transmission unit 103 stores weight information indicating the weight of the product dummy 410 in a storage unit (for example, the flash memory 14), and the weight indicated by the weight information received from the weight sensor 800. The weight indicated by the weight information stored in the storage unit is compared. Then, when the weight difference between the two weights is equal to or less than a predetermined weight threshold, the transmission unit 103 determines that the product dummy 410 is disposed at the detection position. On the other hand, when the weight difference between the two weights exceeds the weight threshold, the transmission unit 103 determines that the product 310 is placed at the detection position. In the second method, the transmitting unit 103 can be expected to accurately determine whether or not the product dummy 410 is arranged at the detection position.

  In the second method, the transmission unit 103 stores weight information indicating the weight of the product 310 in a storage unit (for example, the flash memory 14), and stores the weight and the weight indicated by the weight information received from the weight sensor 800. The weight indicated by the weight information stored in the part is compared. And the transmission part 103 discriminate | determines that the goods 310 are arrange | positioned in the detection position, when the weight difference of two weights is below a predetermined weight threshold value. On the other hand, when the weight difference between the two weights exceeds the weight threshold, the transmission unit 103 determines that the product dummy 410 is disposed at the detection position. In the second method, the transmitting unit 103 can be expected to accurately determine whether or not the product dummy 410 is arranged at the detection position.

  In the third method, the transmission unit 103 determines whether or not the weight indicated by the weight information received from the weight sensor 800 has changed by a predetermined weight threshold value or more. When the weight indicated by the weight information changes by a weight threshold value or more, the transmission unit 103 determines that the product dummy 410 is disposed at the detection position. On the other hand, when the weight indicated by the weight information has not changed by the weight threshold or more, the transmission unit 103 determines that the product 310 is disposed at the detection position. In the third method, the transmission unit 103 determines a weight difference caused when the article placed at the detection position is switched from the product 310 to the product dummy 410. In the third method, the transmission unit 103 can determine whether or not the product dummy 410 is arranged at the detection position even when the weight of the product dummy 410 or the product 310 is not known.

  In addition, the transmission part 103 transmits the identification information of the goods 310 to the process part 104, when it determines with the goods dummy 410 being arrange | positioned in the detection position. In the present embodiment, since the transmission unit 103 does not receive tag information including identification information of the product 310, it is necessary to store the identification information of the product 310 in a storage unit (for example, the flash memory 14) in advance. For example, the identification information of the product 310 may be stored in the storage unit in association with the identification information of the weight sensor 800 corresponding to the product 310. In the present embodiment, it is possible to detect whether or not the remaining quantity of the product 310 is equal to or less than a threshold value based on a change in weight.

(Embodiment 5)
In the fourth embodiment, the method of detecting that the product dummy 410 is arranged at the detection position using the weight sensor 800 has been described. In the present embodiment, a method for detecting that the product dummy 410 is arranged at the detection position using the temperature sensor 810 will be described.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 12, the temperature sensor 810 is disposed in a hole 630 provided in the inclined plate 600. The position where the temperature sensor 810 is arranged becomes the detection position of the product dummy 410. Here, the temperature sensor 810 is connected to the second communication interface 18 included in the transmission device 100 via the communication line 811.

  In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the thermal conductivity of the product dummy 410 is different from the thermal conductivity of the product 310. Preferably, the difference in thermal conductivity between the thermal conductivity of the product dummy 410 and the thermal conductivity of the product 310 is preferably equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold. When the thermal conductivity of the product dummy 410 is different from the thermal conductivity of the product 310, for example, when cold air or warm air is blown from above the product dummy 410 or the product 310, the temperature at the lower part of the product dummy 410 It is considered that there is a difference between the temperature at the bottom of the product 310 and the product 310.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the temperature sensor 810 measures the temperature near the article placed at the detection position, and transmits temperature information indicating the measured temperature to the transmission unit 103. Then, when the temperature indicated by the received temperature information is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature threshold, the transmission unit 103 determines that the product dummy 410 is placed at the detection position. On the other hand, when the temperature indicated by the received temperature information is less than the temperature threshold, the transmission unit 103 determines that the product dummy 410 is not placed at the detection position. In addition, the transmission part 103 transmits the identification information of the goods 310 to the process part 104, when it determines with the goods dummy 410 being arrange | positioned in the detection position. In the present embodiment, it is possible to detect whether or not the remaining quantity of the product 310 is equal to or less than a threshold value due to a temperature change.

(Embodiment 6)
In the fifth embodiment, the method for detecting that the product dummy 410 is arranged at the detection position using the temperature sensor 810 has been described. In the present embodiment, a method for detecting that the product dummy 410 is arranged at the detection position using the color sensor 820 will be described.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 13, the color sensor 820 is disposed on the lower surface of the inclined plate 640. In this case, the inclined plate 640 is made of a transparent material as a whole, a portion where the color sensor 820 is arranged is made of a transparent material, or a through hole is formed in a portion where the color sensor 820 is arranged. Is preferably provided. The position where the color sensor 820 is arranged becomes the detection position of the product dummy 410. Here, the color sensor 820 is connected to the second communication interface 18 included in the transmission device 100 via the communication line 821. The color sensor 820 controls, for example, LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) for three primary colors of red, green, and blue light, one phototransistor, and the light emission amount of the LEDs for the three primary colors and outputs from the phototransistor. And a microcomputer for acquiring the recorded information.

  In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the color of the product dummy 410 and the color of the product 310 are different. Preferably, the color difference between the color of the product dummy 410 and the color of the product 310 is preferably equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value. In the present embodiment, the color sensor 820 measures the color of the article placed at the detection position, and transmits color information indicating the measured color to the transmission unit 103. The method in which the transmission unit 103 determines whether or not the product dummy 410 is arranged at the detection position based on the color information received from the color sensor 820 can be adjusted as appropriate. For example, three methods are conceivable.

  In the first method, the transmission unit 103 stores color information indicating the color of the product dummy 410 in a storage unit (for example, the flash memory 14), and the color indicated by the color information received from the color sensor 820. The color indicated by the color information stored in the storage unit is compared. Then, when the color difference between the two colors is equal to or less than a predetermined color threshold, the transmission unit 103 determines that the product dummy 410 is disposed at the detection position. On the other hand, when the color difference between the two colors exceeds the color threshold, the transmission unit 103 determines that the product 310 is arranged at the detection position. In the first method, the transmission unit 103 can be expected to accurately determine whether or not the product dummy 410 is arranged at the detection position.

  In the second method, the transmission unit 103 stores color information indicating the color of the product 310 in a storage unit (for example, the flash memory 14), and stores the color and color indicated by the color information received from the color sensor 820. The color indicated by the color information stored in the section is compared. Then, when the color difference between the two colors is equal to or less than a predetermined color threshold, the transmission unit 103 determines that the product 310 is disposed at the detection position. On the other hand, when the color difference between the two colors exceeds the color threshold, the transmission unit 103 determines that the product dummy 410 is disposed at the detection position. In the second method, the transmitting unit 103 can be expected to accurately determine whether or not the product dummy 410 is arranged at the detection position.

  In the third method, the transmission unit 103 determines whether the color indicated by the color information received from the color sensor 820 has changed by a predetermined color threshold or more. When the color indicated by the color information changes by a color threshold value or more, the transmission unit 103 determines that the product dummy 410 is disposed at the detection position. On the other hand, when the color indicated by the color information has not changed by the color threshold or more, the transmission unit 103 determines that the product 310 is arranged at the detection position. In the third method, the transmission unit 103 determines a color difference caused when the article placed at the detection position is switched from the product 310 to the product dummy 410. In the third method, the transmission unit 103 can determine whether or not the product dummy 410 is arranged at the detection position even when the color of the product dummy 410 or the product 310 is not known. In addition, the transmission part 103 transmits the identification information of the goods 310 to the process part 104, when it determines with the goods dummy 410 being arrange | positioned in the detection position. In the present embodiment, it is possible to detect whether or not the remaining quantity of the product 310 is equal to or less than a threshold value based on a color change.

(Modification)
As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, when implementing this invention, a deformation | transformation and application with a various form are possible.

  In the present invention, which part of the configuration, function, and operation described in the above embodiment is adopted is arbitrary. Further, in the present invention, in addition to the configuration, function, and operation described above, further configuration, function, and operation may be employed. Further, the above-described embodiments can be freely combined as appropriate. Of course, materials, sizes, electrical characteristics, and the like that can be employed in the present invention are not limited to those shown in the above embodiment.

  In the first embodiment, the example in which the product for which the remaining quantity is to be detected is a product arranged on the display shelf in the store has been described. In the present invention, the product for which the remaining quantity is to be detected is not limited to the product placed on the display shelf in the store, and may be a product placed in another place. For example, the product for which the remaining quantity is to be detected may be a product arranged in a vending machine. Examples of such products arranged in the vending machine include canned beverages, plastic bottle beverages, bottled beverages, and tobacco. Of course, other products may be used. When applied to products in a vending machine, for example, it is preferable that a relatively small communication device such as a microcomputer is the transmission unit 103 and a smartphone or a mobile phone held by an administrator or the like is the processing unit 104. In this case, information indicating that the product identification information and the remaining quantity of the product are small are transmitted from the transmission unit 103 accommodated in the vending machine to the processing unit 104 held by the administrator or the like.

  In the first embodiment, an example in which a sheet-like antenna is employed as an antenna that receives tag information from the wireless tag 411 has been described. In the present invention, various antennas can be employed as an antenna that receives tag information from the wireless tag 411. As an antenna to be adopted, an antenna in which tag information can be received and an area in which tag information cannot be received is clearly distinguished. For example, it is preferable to employ an antenna on a blade disclosed in JP-A-2015-198372.

  In the first embodiment, the example in which the sheet surfaces of the antennas 510, 520, and 530 that are sheet-like antennas are substantially parallel to the inclined surface of the inclined plate 600 has been described. In the present invention, the angles of the sheet surfaces of the antennas 510, 520, and 530 are not limited to this example. For example, the sheet surfaces of the antennas 510, 520, and 530 may be substantially orthogonal to the inclined surface of the inclined plate 600.

  In the first embodiment, the example in which the width of the antenna 510 that is a sheet-like antenna is substantially the same as the width of the product 310 has been described. In the present invention, the width of the antenna 510 may be different from the width of the product 310, and may be an integer multiple of the width of the product 310, for example. According to such a configuration, even when a plurality of products 310 are taken out from the display shelf, it is easy to detect that the product dummy 410 has moved to the detection position.

  In the first embodiment, an example in which many functions of the transmission apparatus 100 and the processing apparatus 200 are realized by software (or firmware), that is, many functions of the transmission apparatus 100 and the processing apparatus 200 are executed by a processor. Realized by. In the present invention, such a function may be realized by hardware. In this case, for example, the transmission device 100 and the processing device 200 include a processing circuit instead of the CPU 11 and the CPU 21. This processing circuit is configured by, for example, a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or a combination thereof.

  The personal computer functions as the transmission device 100 or the processing device 200 according to the present invention by applying the operation program that defines the operation of the transmission device 100 or the processing device 200 according to the present invention to an existing personal computer or information terminal device. It is also possible to make it. Further, such a program distribution method is arbitrary. For example, the program is stored and distributed in a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disk Read-Only Memory), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), or a memory card. Alternatively, it may be distributed via a communication network (for example, the Internet).

11, 21 CPU, 12, 22 ROM, 13, 23 RAM, 14, 24 Flash memory, 15, 25 RTC, 16, 26 Touch screen, 17, 27 First communication interface, 18 Second communication interface, 100 Transmitting device, 101 moving unit, 102 detecting unit, 103 transmitting unit, 104 processing unit, 105 receiving unit, 106 display unit, 107 second moving unit, 200 processing device, 310, 320, 330 product, 311, 312, 313 region, 410, 420, 430 Product dummy, 411 Wireless tag, 412 Extrusion mechanism, 413 Moving member, 414 Extension member, 415 Fixing member, 421 Second wireless tag, 510, 520, 530, 540 Antenna, 511, 512, 541, 542 Sheet shape Conductor 513 dielectric 514 protection 515 connector, 516 terminal end, 517 leaching area, 518, 528, 538, 548, 801, 811, 821 communication line, 600, 640 inclined plate, 610 protrusion, 620 horizontal plate, 630 hole, 700 communication Network, 800 weight sensor, 810 temperature sensor, 820 color sensor, 1000, 1100 commodity management system

Claims (11)

A moving means for moving to a position corresponding to the remaining quantity of the plurality of products when at least one product is taken out of the plurality of products arranged in order from a predetermined starting position;
Detecting means for detecting that the moving means has moved to a predetermined detection position;
A transmission unit that transmits identification information of the product to a predetermined processing unit when the detection unit detects that the movement unit has moved to the detection position;
Product management system. The moving means is a product dummy imitating the product,
The product dummy is adjacent to a product farthest from the head position among the plurality of products, and is disposed at a position farther from the head position than the farthest product.
The merchandise management system according to claim 1. The moving means is a part of an extrusion mechanism that pushes out a product having the longest distance from the head position among the plurality of products toward the head position.
The merchandise management system according to claim 1. The moving means includes a wireless tag that stores tag information,
The detection means is an antenna that receives the tag information from the wireless tag when the wireless tag is disposed at the detection position;
The transmission means transmits the product identification information to the processing means when the tag information is received by the antenna.
The merchandise management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3. When at least one second product is taken out of a plurality of second products arranged in order from a predetermined second top position, the position is determined according to the remaining quantity of the plurality of second products. A second moving means for moving;
The second moving means includes a second wireless tag that stores second tag information,
The detection means further detects that the second movement means has moved to a predetermined second detection position,
The antenna serving as the detection means is an antenna whose reception target area is an area including the detection position and the second detection position. When the wireless tag is disposed at the detection position, the wireless tag Receiving the tag information from the second radio tag when the second radio tag is disposed at the second detection position, and receiving the second tag information from the second radio tag,
When the tag information is received by the antenna, the transmission means transmits the product identification information to the processing means. When the second tag information is received by the antenna, the transmission means identifies the second product. Sending information to the processing means;
The merchandise management system according to claim 4. Unlike the weight of the moving means and the weight of the product,
The detection means is a weight sensor that measures the weight of an article arranged at the detection position,
The transmission means transmits the product identification information to the processing means when the weight of the moving means is measured by the weight sensor.
The merchandise management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The weight difference between the weight of the moving means and the weight of the product is equal to or greater than a predetermined weight threshold,
The detection means is a weight sensor that measures the weight of an article arranged at the detection position,
The transmission means transmits the identification information of the product to the processing means when the weight measured by the weight sensor changes by more than the weight threshold;
The merchandise management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3. Unlike the thermal conductivity of the moving means and the thermal conductivity of the commodity,
The detection means is a temperature sensor that measures a temperature in the vicinity of an article arranged at the detection position,
The transmission means transmits the product identification information to the processing means when the temperature measured by the temperature sensor changes by a predetermined temperature threshold value or more.
The merchandise management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3. Unlike the color of the moving means and the color of the product,
The detection means is a color sensor that measures the color of an article arranged at the detection position,
The transmission means transmits the product identification information to the processing means when the color sensor detects the color of the moving means.
The merchandise management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3. Unlike the color of the moving means and the color of the product,
The detection means is a color sensor that measures the color of an article arranged at the detection position,
The transmission means transmits the product identification information to the processing means when the color measured by the color sensor changes.
The merchandise management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3. Further comprising the processing means;
The processing means includes
Receiving means for receiving identification information of the product transmitted from the transmitting means;
Display means for displaying information indicating the quantity associated with the detection position when the product identification information is received by the receiving means;
The product management system according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

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