Retail supply system

Abstract

An automatic system for replenishing display shelves in retail businesses. The display shelves each including a shelf board having a conveyor belt circulating around the respective shelf board. Each of the display shelves further including a stop bar and a removable fall-off guard at respective front and rear sides of the display shelves to prevent goods from falling off the display shelves and, wherein, the display shelf is designed to cooperate with a shelf-stocking vehicle such that the fall-off guard is automatically opened when the display shelves are refilled by the shelf-stocking vehicle.

1 - 67 . (canceled) 
     
     
         68 . A device for transporting goods for sale into a display shelf comprising:
 a transport route, at least one of a delivery area and an automated small parts store, at least one display shelf and a shelf-stocking vehicle, the transport route extending from at least one of a delivery area and an automated small parts store to the display shelf and the shelf-stocking vehicle being moved along the transport route and receiving the goods and transferring them automatically to the display shelf.   
     
     
         69 . The device in accordance with  claim 68 , wherein the transport route is in the form of one or more transport loops or endless loops, which are connected to each other by transfer points for the goods, each transport loop comprising one or more permanently assigned transport vehicles and the transport route comprising a primary-supply loop and one or more shelf-stocking loops. 
     
     
         70 . The device in accordance with  claim 68 , wherein the transport route is at least partially guided between two display shelves, wherein the display shelves can be stocked from the transport route aisle. 
     
     
         71 . The device in accordance with  claim 68 , wherein the shelf-stocking vehicles and the display shelf are matched to each other such that at least one of automatic loading of the display shelf and automatic tracking of the goods in the display shelf by the shelf-stocking vehicle can take place. 
     
     
         72 . The device in accordance with  claim 68 , wherein the shelf-stocking vehicle is fitted with a drive, the drive comprising at least one component of the group comprising a drive wheel, a drive shaft and a drive roll, by means of which the conveyor belt of the shelf board of the display shelf can be driven. 
     
     
         73 . The device in accordance with  claim 68 , wherein the display shelf has at least one movable transition element for bridging a gap between a shelf board and the shelf-stocking vehicle, which is actuated by the shelf-stocking vehicle and simultaneously defines a fall-off guard for the goods in the display shelf. 
     
     
         74 . The device in accordance with  claim 68 , wherein at least one control unit is provided, which controls the device including at least one of the group comprising loading of the shelf-stocking vehicles, movement of the shelf-stocking vehicles, loading and unloading of the shelf-stocking vehicles, loading of the display shelf and tracking of the goods in the display shelf. 
     
     
         75 . The device in accordance with  claim 74 , wherein at least one of the group comprising capturing devices, scanners and cameras are provided, which capture at least one of the type, quantity and the position of the goods in the display shelf for transferring this information to the control unit for tracking the goods to the display side of the display shelf. 
     
     
         76 . The device in accordance with  claim 68 , wherein repacking and/or unpacking stations for the delivered goods are provided for. 
     
     
         77 . The device in accordance with  claim 68 , wherein one or more passageways for the purchasers are provided between display shelves in which the transport route is provided above the passageway. 
     
     
         78 . The device in accordance with  claim 68 , wherein the transport route is provided between two movable display shelves or movable display shelf parts. 
     
     
         79 . The device in accordance with  claim 68 , wherein the display shelf comprises a frame and one or more shelf boards stored therein with, on the upper side of the shelf boards, a storage space provided for receiving the goods, wherein, at least at one end face of the shelf boards, the display shelf has a display side at which the customers can remove the goods for sale, and wherein the shelf boards have one or more conveyor belts, which are provided above the storage surface on the upper side of the shelf boards and are transported in an endless loop via the end faces and the underside of the shelf boards. 
     
     
         80 . The device in accordance with  claim 79 , wherein the display shelf is open at least at one end face of the shelves, wherein this end face forms the display side, at which the customers can remove the goods for purchase, and wherein, at the display side of the display shelf, a stop bar is provided, which is spaced apart from the shelf board and which defines a gap between it and the shelf board, through which gap the conveyor belt is transported, wherein the display shelf at the side opposite the display side has a removable fall-off guard for the goods, which at least partially closes or blocks the shelf opening, wherein the conveyor belt has one or different surfaces, which, at the side facing the shelf board, facilitate simple gliding on the shelf board and, at the side facing the goods, taking along of the goods and simultaneous gliding of the goods on the surface. 
     
     
         81 . The device in accordance with  claim 79 , wherein drive means for driving the conveyor belts are provided, the drive means are driven by a shelf-stocking vehicle. 
     
     
         82 . The device in accordance with  claim 68 , wherein the shelf-stocking vehicle comprises a transport surface for receiving the goods, movement means for moving the vehicle and drive means for driving the movement means or the vehicle, wherein the vehicle is equipped such that it can automatically move along the transport route, and the transport surface can be aligned two-dimensionally along two directions of spatial coordinates relative to the display shelf, and wherein assigned to the transport surface are handling means for the goods on the transport surface, wherein, with the aid of the handling means, the goods can be propelled parallel to the transport surface towards the display shelf and vice-versa. 
     
     
         83 . The device in accordance with  claim 82 , wherein the handling means comprise at least one or more elements from the group comprising pushers for pushing the goods, conveyor belts, which are provided on the upper side of the transport surface and are guided in a type of endless loop over the end faces and at the underside of the transport surface, gliding elements for conveyor belts, guide elements for conveyor belts and drive rolls for conveyor belts. 
     
     
         84 . The device in accordance with  claim 82 , wherein at least one transition element is provided in an extension of the transport surface towards the pushing direction of the handling means to form a pushing surface. 
     
     
         85 . The device in accordance with  claim 82 , wherein the shelf-stocking vehicle comprises a frame, which is formed into parts with an upper part and a lower part, wherein the upper part comprises the movement means and drive means, while the lower part has the transport surface and the handling means, and wherein upper and lower part are arranged so as to be movable relative to each other, comprising a rope, belt or strap drive. 
     
     
         86 . The device in accordance with  claim 85 , wherein the shelf-stocking vehicle comprises a goods protection cover which is provided opposite the transport surface, said cover protecting the goods by wedging when the upper and lower parts close together and wherein the goods protection cover comprises an elastic material on the goods side. 
     
     
         87 . The device in accordance with  claim 82 , wherein at least one movable bracing element is provided for lateral bracing against at least one display shelf during transfer of the goods to a display shelf or for wedging the shelf-stocking vehicle between two opposing display shelves. 
     
     
         88 . The device in accordance with  claim 82 , wherein the device comprises a repacking station for repacking goods from transport into presentation containers, wherein the repacking station comprises a turning module, which comprises at least one receptacle for transport and presentation containers, wherein at one side of the receptacle a rotary axis is arranged, such that the receptacle can be turned upside down and wherein, in the receptacle, an adjustable support is provided which secures the goods during rotating at the upper side and forms a support for the goods after rotation. 
     
     
         89 . The device in accordance with  claim 82 , wherein the device comprises a transfer system for the transfer of loose goods or objects from a transport container to a placement surface comprising a transport container having a double floor, wherein the upper part of the floor is freely movable, and a lifting device, which is arranged such that the upper floor part can be raised by the lifting device, wherein a pushing arrangement is assigned to the lifting device, which arrangement has a pusher for moving the objects arranged on the upper floor part, and wherein at least one of the container and the pusher arrangement have guide elements for the objects to be pushed. 
     
     
         90 . A method for transporting goods for sale into a display shelf comprising the step of providing a device having a transport route, at least one of a delivery area and an automated small parts store, at least one display shelf and a shelf-stocking vehicle, the transport route extending from at least one of a delivery area and an automated small parts store to the display shelf wherein the shelf-stocking vehicle receives the goods from at least one of the delivery area and the automated small parts store and wherein the shelf-stocking vehicle is moved along the transport route and transfers the goods automatically to the display shelf. 
     
     
         91 . The method in accordance with  claim 90 , wherein the goods are automatically tracked constantly or in fixed or flexible time intervals in the display shelf. 
     
     
         92 . The method in accordance with  claim 90 , wherein the goods are automatically replenished in the shelves, once the sale of a certain quantity of sold goods has been exceeded. 
     
     
         93 . The method in accordance with  claim 92 , wherein the sold quantity is determined by registered data collected at a cash desk or by capturing devices provided in the device.