Shelving assembly of a container

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11445836-B2
Application number	US-201916582255-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 25, 2019
Priority date	Jul 25, 2019
Publication date	Sep 20, 2022
Grant date	Sep 20, 2022

Abstract

A shelving assembly is provided for a container. The shelving assembly includes a first shelf movably positioned in the container and configured to support a first stock. The shelving assembly further includes a plurality of first support members configured to support the first shelf and displace the first shelf between a first position and a second position in the container based on a weight sensed by at least one first weight sensor to maintain the first stock at an opening of the container. Additionally, the shelving assembly includes a second shelf positioned adjacent within the container and configured to support a second stock. The first shelf is configured to be removed at the second position to facilitate the first stock descending onto the second stock on the second shelf. Accordingly, the shelving assembly facilitates first in first out stock rotation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A shelving assembly for a container, the shelving assembly comprising:
a first shelf movably positioned within the container, wherein an upper surface of the first shelf is configured to support a first stock;
a second shelf movably positioned within the container, wherein an upper surface of the second shelf is configured to support a second stock; and
a plurality of first support members configured to support the first shelf,
wherein the plurality of first support members are configured to displace the first shelf between a first position and a second position in the container based on a weight of the first stock sensed by at least one first weight sensor to position the first stock at an opening of the container when a portion of the first stock is removed.

2. The shelving assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of second support members configured to support the second shelf, wherein the plurality of second support members are configured to displace the second shelf between the first position and the second position in the container based on a weight of the second stock sensed by at least one second weight sensor.

3. The shelving assembly of claim 2 , further comprising a control unit configured to:
actuate the plurality of first support members based on the weight of the first stock sensed by the at least one first weight sensor; and
actuate the plurality of second support members based on the weight of the second stock sensed by the at least one second weight sensor.

4. The shelving assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first shelf is configured to be removable at the second position to facilitate the first stock descending onto the second stock on the second shelf, and wherein the second shelf is configured to displace the first stock in an upward direction when moved from the first position toward the second position to position the first stock at the opening of the container.

5. The shelving assembly of claim 4 , wherein after the first shelf is removed from the container at the second position, the first shelf is configured to be re-insertable into the container below the second shelf to support a third stock within the container.

6. The shelving assembly of claim 2 , further comprising:
a first stopper configured to prevent displacement of the first shelf and the second shelf below the first position; and
a second stopper configured to prevent displacement of the first shelf and the second shelf above the second position.

7. The shelving assembly of claim 6 , further comprising at least one sensor associated with the second stopper and configured to determine whether at least one of the first shelf or the second shelf has reached the second position.

8. The shelving assembly of claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of clamps, wherein one or more of the clamps is (1) coupled to at least one of (a) one of the first support members or (b) one of the second support members, and (2) configured to support at least one of (a) a lower surface of the first shelf or (b) a lower surface of the second shelf.

9. The shelving assembly of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of first support members and the plurality of second support members include at least one of a hydraulic actuator, an electric actuator, or a pneumatic actuator.

10. The shelving assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first shelf includes a conveyor belt.

11. The shelving assembly of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of first support members include roller drives configured to drive the conveyor belt.

12. The shelving assembly of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of first support members are configured to displace the first shelf in a forward direction between the first position and the second position based on the weight of the first stock sensed by the at least one first weight sensor to position the first stock at the opening of the container.

13. A container assembly, comprising:
a container defining an opening; and
a shelving assembly coupled to the container, the shelving assembly comprising:
a first shelf movably coupled to the container and having an upper surface configured to support a plurality of first products;
a second shelf movably coupled to the container and having an upper surface configured to support a plurality of second products; and
a plurality of first support members configured to move the upper surface of the first shelf between a first position and a second position, wherein the plurality of first support members are configured to move the upper surface of the first shelf toward the opening in response to a decrease in a weight supported by the first shelf.

14. The container assembly of claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of second support members configured to move the second shelf between the first position and the second position, wherein the plurality of second support members are configured to move the upper surface of the second shelf toward the opening in response to a decrease in a weight supported by the second shelf.

15. The container assembly of claim 14 , wherein the container includes a series of walls defining a plurality of grooves, and wherein each of the grooves receives at least one of (a) at least one of the first support members or (b) at least one of the second support members.

16. The container assembly of claim 13 , further comprising a door pivotally coupled to the container, wherein the door is operable to facilitate access to the first shelf and the second shelf for loading the first products and the second products.

17. A method of operating a shelving assembly of a container, comprising:
determining, by a first weight sensor, an amount of weight supported by a first shelf;
in response to a determination that the amount of weight supported by the first shelf has decreased, moving the first shelf from a first position toward a second position, wherein a distance between the first position and an opening of the container is greater than a distance between the second position and the opening of the container;
determining, by a second weight sensor, an amount of weight supported by a second shelf; and
in response to a determination that the amount of weight supported by the second shelf has decreased, raising the second shelf from the first position toward the second position.

Assignees

• Toshiba Tec Kk

Inventors

• Gupta Rahul
• Selvaraj Kathiresan

Classifications

• A47F1/12

  dispensing from the side of an approximately horizontal stack {(A47F1/087 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• A47F2010/025

  using stock management systems · CPC title

• A47F10/02 Primary

  for self-service type systems, e.g. supermarkets (A47F10/06 takes precedence; hand-carts B62B; baskets B65D) · CPC title

• A47B51/00

  Cabinets with means for moving compartments up and down {(for cabinets with parts rotating about a horizontal axis A47B46/005; for show or display A47F3/06)} · CPC title

• G01G21/28

  Frames, Housings · CPC title