Product count tracking device

Abstract

In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses and methods are described herein useful to indicate the number of products on a merchandising unit. Counting devices as described herein maintain an accurate count of the number of products on a given merchandising unit and provides a display of the count.

1 . A method of tracking a product number count of merchandised products, the method comprising:
 tracking, using a counting mechanism coupled to a merchandising unit configured to support one or more products in a row, a number of products supported by the merchandising unit to keep a count of the number of products, wherein the counting mechanism comprises:
 a pusher configured to track a first depth of the row; 
 an adjustable, spring-driven drum coupled to the pusher by a string wrapped around the adjustable, spring-driven drum and configured to be adjusted so that a circumference of the adjustable, spring-driven drum is generally equal to a second depth of a product of the number of products, wherein the pusher is driven rearwardly or forwardly by the second depth of the product as the product is placed in or removed from the row while the adjustable, spring-driven drum makes a full rotation to increase or decrease the count on a display by one respectively; and 
 a gear driven by the adjustable, spring-driven drum; and 
   displaying the count on the display provided on the merchandising unit through a first rotation of the gear that causes a blocking portion of the display to be driven, wherein the blocking portion comprises teeth along a top of the blocking portion that couple to the gear, wherein a second rotation of the adjustable, spring-driven drum causes the gear to rotate by one position causing the blocking portion to drive forwardly or rearwardly one position accordingly, and wherein the display comprises: a front portion having a number of windows, a background portion, and the blocking portion disposed between the front portion and the background portion.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising calibrating the counting mechanism to the second depth of the product, the counting mechanism coupled to the merchandising unit. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein calibrating the counting mechanism comprises receiving a first signal that a number of pressure sensors of the counting mechanism have the product placed thereon and receiving a second signal indicating that the number of pressure sensors corresponds to the second depth of the product. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein tracking the number of products supported by the merchandising unit comprises tracking the number of products supported by the merchandising unit in a plurality of rows. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising installing the counting mechanism and the display on the merchandising unit. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising illuminating a light source of the display in response to determining that the count dropped below a predetermined number. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising transmitting the count to a remote computing device with a communication unit. 
     
     
         8 . A method of tracking a product number count of merchandised products, the method comprising:
 tracking, using a counting mechanism coupled to a merchandising unit configured to support one or more products in a row, a number of products supported by the merchandising unit to keep a count of the number of products, wherein the counting mechanism comprises:
 a pusher configured to track a first depth of the row; 
 an adjustable member configured to be adjusted so that a circumference of an adjustable gear is generally equal to a second depth of a product of the number of products, the adjustable gear coupled to the pusher, such that as the product is placed in or removed from the row, the pusher is driven rearwardly or forwardly by the second depth of the product while the adjustable gear makes a full rotation to increase or decrease the count on a display by one respectively; and 
 a numbered gear having numbers disposed on a periphery thereof and operatively coupled to the adjustable member such that one rotation of the adjustable member causes the numbered gear to rotate one position displaying a number of the numbers disposed on the periphery corresponding to a current count of products in the row; and 
   displaying the count on the display provided on the merchandising unit, the display comprising a window configured to align with the number corresponding to the current count of products in the row.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising calibrating the counting mechanism to the second depth of the product, the counting mechanism coupled to the merchandising unit. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein calibrating the counting mechanism comprises receiving a first signal that a number of pressure sensors of the counting mechanism have the product placed thereon and receiving a second signal indicating that the number of pressure sensors corresponds to the second depth of the product. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein tracking the number of products supported by the merchandising unit comprises tracking the number of products supported by the merchandising unit in a plurality of rows. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising installing the counting mechanism and the display on the merchandising unit. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising illuminating a light source of the display in response to determining that the count dropped below a predetermined number. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising transmitting the count to a remote computing device with a communication unit.