Self-adjusting goods display system and method

Abstract

A self-adjusting goods display system maintains a proper shelf level for a display bin containing goods. An implementation has an open bin with side walls having top edges and a moveable shelf to receive a pile of goods. A light source and a light receiver are positioned on the top edges of opposing walls of the bin, and the light source generates light to be received by the light receiver. When the pile of goods is reduced so that the pile no longer obstructs the light from being received by the light receiver a signal indicates a need to raise the general level of the remaining pile contained in the bin. A controller receives the signal and controls operation of a motor to raise the height of the shelf until the remaining pile of the shelf again blocks the light, or the shelf is at a position of maximum height.

1 . A produce display comprising: 
 a bin sized to contain a collection of produce, the bin having an interior space with access from above the bin;    a shelf positioned within the interior space and sized to support the collection of produce;    support members movably linked to one another and movably coupled to the shelf to adjust the vertical height for the shelf between a lower position and an upper position;    a motor with a shaft;    a converter, the converter configured to translate rotational motion into linear motion, the converter linked to the motor and to at least one of the support members to move the at least one support member and consequently the support members to raise the shelf when the shaft of the motor rotates in a first rotational direction;    a light source positioned to project light across at least one of the following: a portion of the interior space and a portion of space above the interior space;    a light receiver positioned to receive the light projected from the light source unless the collection of produce supported by the shelf is positioned to obstruct the light from reaching the light receiver; and    a controller configured to activate the motor to rotate the shaft in the first rotational direction to raise the shelf when the light receiver receives the light and the shelf is below the upper position.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the controller is configured to activate the motor to rotate the shaft in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction to lower the shelf when a lower shelf signal is received by the controller.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  further including a bar coupled to two of the support members, and wherein the converter includes a screw and a coupler, the shaft of the motor being drivably coupled to the screw, and the screw being threadably attached to the bar such that as the motor rotates the screw the screw applies a linear force to the coupler which is transmitted to the bar to adjustably move the two support members to change the vertical height of the shelf.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the motor is an electric motor and is powered by a battery.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the motor is a pneumatic motor or source.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the controller includes a manual switch to activate the motor.  
     
     
         7 . A system comprising: 
 a bin with a plurality of side walls defining an interior space with an opening to access the interior space from above the bin;    a table positioned in the interior space including a shelf sized to receive objects thereon and at least one support member supporting the shelf, the shelf being coupled to the support member and the support member being movable to adjust the vertical height for the shelf between a lower position and an upper position;    a motive force source coupled to the support member to adjustably move the support member;    a light source positioned to project light across at least one of the following: a portion of the interior space and a portion of space above the interior space;    a light receiver positioned to receive the light projected from the light source unless at least one object being supported by the shelf is positioned to obstruct the light from reaching the light receiver; and    a controller configured to activate the motive force source to apply force to the support member to adjustably move the shelf in a first direction to raise the vertical height of the shelf when the light receiver receives the light and the shelf is below the upper position.    
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the controller is configured to activate the motive force source to move the shelf in a second direction opposite the first direction to lower the vertical height of the shelf when a lower shelf signal is received.  
     
     
         9 . A system comprising: 
 a bin with a plurality of side walls defining an interior space with an opening to access the interior space from above the bin;    a table positioned in the interior space including a shelf sized to receive objects thereon and support members with at least one of the support members supporting the shelf, the shelf being coupled to the at least one support member and the support members being movably linked to one another to form a scissor lift and movable to adjust the vertical height for the shelf between a lower position and an upper position;    a motive force source coupled to at least one of the support members to adjustably move the support members;    a light source positioned to project light across at least one of the following: a portion of the interior space and a portion of space above the interior space;    a light receiver positioned to receive the light projected from the light source unless at least one object being supported by the shelf is positioned to obstruct the light from reaching the light receiver; and    a controller configured to activate the motive force source to apply force to the at least one of the support members to which the motive force source is coupled to adjustably move the shelf in a first direction to raise the vertical height of the shelf when the light receiver receives the light and the shelf is below the upper position.    
     
     
         10 . A system comprising: 
 a bin with a plurality of side walls defining an interior space with an opening to access the interior space from above the bin;    a table positioned in the interior space including a shelf sized to receive objects thereon and support members with at least one of the support members supporting the shelf, the shelf being coupled to the at least one support member and the at least one support member being movable to adjust the vertical height for the shelf between a lower position and an upper position;    first and second pivot members, the support members being movably linked to one another by the first pivot member and the at least one support member being movably coupled to the shelf by the second pivot member;    a motive force source coupled to at least one of the support members to adjustably move the support members;    a light source positioned to project light across at least one of the following: a portion of the interior space and a portion of space above the interior space;    a light receiver positioned to receive the light projected from the light source unless at least one object being supported by the shelf is positioned to obstruct the light from reaching the light receiver; and    a controller configured to activate the motive force source to apply force to the at least one of the support members to which the motive force source is coupled to adjustably move the shelf in a first direction to raise the vertical height of the shelf when the light receiver receives the light and the shelf is below the upper position.    
     
     
         11 . A system for use with objects comprising: 
 a shelf with a top surface sized to support at least one of the objects;    at least one support member supportedly coupled to the shelf and configured to move the shelf to adjust the vertical height for the shelf between a lower position and an upper position;    a motive force source coupled to the support members to move the support member;    a light source positioned to project light along a light path at least in part extending above a portion of the top surface of the shelf while the shelf is in positions below the upper position;    a light receiver positioned to receive the light projected from the light source and to have the light obstructed by at least one of the objects supported by the top surface of the shelf when the shelf is raised to position the at least one object in the light path; and    a controller configured to activate the motive force source to move the support member to raise the vertical height of the shelf when the light receiver receives the light while the shelf is in positions below the upper position.    
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the controller is configured to activate the motive force source to thereby lower the vertical height of the shelf in response to a lower shelf signal is received.  
     
     
         13 . A system for use with objects comprising: 
 a shelf with a top surface sized to support at least one of the objects;    support members with at least one of the support members supportedly coupled to the shelf and configured to move the shelf to adjust the vertical height for the shelf between a lower position and an upper position, the support members being movably linked to one another to form a scissor lift;    a motive force source coupled to at least one of the support members to move the support members;    a light source positioned to project light along a light path at least in part extending above a portion of the top surface of the shelf while the shelf is in positions below the upper position;    a light receiver positioned to receive the light projected from the light source and to have the light obstructed by at least one of the objects supported by the top surface of the shelf when the shelf is raised to position the at least one object in the light path; and    a controller configured to activate the motive force source to move the at least one support member to raise the vertical height of the shelf when the light receiver receives the light while the shelf is in positions below the upper position.    
     
     
         14 . A system for use with objects comprising: 
 a shelf with a top surface sized to support at least one of the objects;    support members with at least one of the support members supportedly coupled to the shelf and configured to move the shelf to adjust the vertical height for the shelf between a lower position and an upper position;    first and second pivot members, the support members being movably linked to one another by the first pivot member and the at least one support member being movably coupled to the shelf by the second pivot member;    a motive force source coupled to at least one of the support members to move the support members;    a light source positioned to project light along a light path at least in part extending above a portion of the top surface of the shelf while the shelf is in positions below the upper position;    a light receiver positioned to receive the light projected from the light source and to have the light obstructed by at least one of the objects supported by the top surface of the shelf when the shelf is raised to position the at least one object in the light path; and    a controller configured to activate the motive force source to move the at least one support member to raise the vertical height of the shelf when the light receiver receives the light while the shelf is in positions below the upper position.    
     
     
         15 . A method comprising: 
 shining light toward a light receiver when the light is obstructed from reaching the light receiver by at least one of a group of produce piled on a shelf;    allowing customers to remove a portion of the produce piled on the shelf to leave remaining produce on the shelf that is not obstructing the light from being received by the light receiver;    electronically determining that light is being received by the light receiver and raising the shelf in response thereto; and    terminating raising of the shelf when the remaining produce on the shelf obstructs the light from reaching the light receiver.    
     
     
         16 . A method comprising: 
 shining light toward a light receiver when the light is obstructed from reaching the light receiver by at least one of a group of objects piled on a shelf;    electronically determining that the light is being received by the light receiver and raising the shelf in response thereto; and    terminating raising of the shelf when at least one of the group of objects remaining on the shelf obstructs the light from reaching the light receiver.