Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a product shelf filling system that allows locating products again in empty product shelves without the need for user intervention.

The present invention particularly relates to a product shelf filling system that allows products in a different location to be positioned on the shelf and the shelf to be refilled without the need for user intervention in case products such as packaged food products are reduced or absent on the shelves.

State of the Art

Many products such as packaged food products sold in places such as markets and shopping malls are positioned on product shelves and the customers are allowed to take these products to be purchased from these shelves. Areas that are difficult to be reached by the customer, such as the rear sections of the product shelves or shelf systems, which are far from the user, or the top shelf of the shelf system, which is far from the floor, are left empty so as to allow the customers to reach the products easily. This condition causes a reduction in the total amount of area suitable for placing the products and a decrease in the number of products placed on the product shelf or shelf system. Products located in a different location are required to be transported by an employee/user to the location of said shelf, and the product shelf is required to be filled manually by the employee/user, in case the product shelves become empty as a result of the products on the product shelves are purchased by the customers or the product type on the shelves are required to be changed. Therefore, it is provided that the product shelves or products on the shelf system are renewed or replaced. However, this process is a very time-consuming process when the total amount of products in the market or shopping center is increased, and thus while this causes an increase in the workload of the employee/user, it also increases the total cost.

In a patent document numbered US8695878B2 included in the state of the art, a product shelf monitoring system and method that enables the control of the amount of products in retail product shelves is disclosed. Said system comprises electrical sensors located within the shelves, barcodes located on the shelves and a control unit that enables the detection of the product amount in line with the information received from the electrical sensors. Therefore, it ensures the detection of product amounts on the shelf, newly added and missing products by using radio frequency identification (RFID) and barcode technologies. Said product shelf monitoring system also comprises a product distribution unit located on the shelf. Said product distribution unit comprises rail element that is located on the shelf and is suitable for product positioning thereon, push plate that provides the products on the rail element to be pushed towards the user from the far side of the shelf and includes a band spring. The products on the shelf are pushed closer to the user so that the user can easily access the products by means of this push plate and rail element. However, in said document, the use of the top shelf of the product shelf system, which is difficult to reach by the user or the customer or to increase the total usage area in the product shelf system, is not mentioned. Moreover, the system described in said document does not provide a solution to prevent the loss of time and cost caused by filling each empty shelf in the product shelf system separately by an employee/user.

In another patent document numbered US7792711 B2 included in the state of the art, an inventory management system that enables tracking the amount of product located on the product shelf is disclosed. Said system comprises the following; base element positioned on the shelf and suitable for positioning thereon, separating element that rises perpendicular to the floor in connection with the base element and enables the shelf to be divided into two sections, push element that is connected to the base element and allows the remaining products to be brought closer to the edge of the shelf close to the user when the number of products on the base element decreases, spring mechanism that allows the push element to be moved horizontally to the floor on the shelf. The system further comprises sensor element that enables the detection of the position of the push element and control unit that enables the determination of the amount of product remaining on the shelf in connection with the sensor element. In case, there is a reduction in the amount of product, ordering new products is ensured by the control unit. In said document, the use of the top shelf of the product shelf system, which is difficult to access by the user or the customer, or to increase the total usage area in the product shelf system is not disclosed. Moreover, in said document, there is no statement in terms of providing solution to the problems of loss of time and cost caused by filling each empty shelf in the product shelf system separately by an employee/user.

As a result a product shelf filling system that allows increasing the total usage area of the shelf system and therefore the total amount of products displayed on the shelf, enables products in a different location to be positioned on the shelf and the shelf to be refilled without the need for user intervention in case products such as packaged food products are reduced or absent on the shelves, is required to be developed. Aim of the Invention

The present invention is related to a product shelf filling system which fulfills the abovementioned requirements, eliminates all disadvantages and brings some additional advantages.

The main purpose of the inventive product shelf filling system is to provide a product shelf filling system that allows products in a different location to be transferred and to be located on the empty shelf without the need for user intervention in case product amount on the product shelves reduced or finished.

Another aim of the invention is to provide an efficient product shelf filling system that increases the total amount of products exhibited on the product shelf or shelf system by increasing the total usage area in the product shelf or shelf system.

Another aim of the invention is to provide an efficient product shelf filling system that enables the filling process to be carried out quickly and practically without the need to fill the product shelves manually, and therefore provides reducing the total operation time and cost.

In order to fulfill the abovementioned aims generally, it is a product shelf filling system that is suitable for use with at least one shelf body comprising at least two product shelves, each of which is suitable for positioning at least one product thereon, allows the emptied product to be transferred and positioned on the product shelves, it comprises at least one carrying element that enables the product to be carried and positioned on the product shelves. Further it also comprises the following; at least one first movement unit that allows holding the carrying element and enables the product shelf to be picked up from the product shelf or positioned on the product shelf; at least one second movement unit that enables the first movement unit and the product shelf to be moved in two different directions on the axis parallel to the extension direction and the floor; at least one third movement unit that enables the second movement unit to be connected to the shelf body and to move the second movement unit in two different directions on the axis perpendicular to the floor.

The structural and characteristic features of the present invention will be understood clearly by the following drawings and the detailed description made with reference to these drawings and therefore the evaluation shall be made by taking these figures and the detailed description into consideration. Figures Clarifying the Invention

In order to understand the advantages of the present invention with its structure and additional elements, it shall be evaluated with the following defined figures.

Figure - 1 : Is a perspective view of the inventive product shelf filling system.

Figure - 2: Is an opposite view of the inventive product shelf filling system.

Figure - 3: Is another an opposite view of the inventive product shelf filling system.

Figure - 4: Is another opposite view of the inventive product shelf filling system.

Figure - 5: Is another opposite view of the inventive product shelf filling system.

Figure - 6: Is a perspective view of the inventive product shelf filling system and shelf body. Figure - 7: Is a perspective view of the protection element in the inventive product shelf filling system.

Part References

1. Shelf body

1a. Product shelf

2. Carrying element

2a. Protrusion

3. First movement unit

3a. Nail

3b. First drive element

3c. First movement transfer element

4. Second movement unit

4a. Second drive element

4b. Second movement transfer element

5. Third movement unit

5a. Third drive element

5b. Third movement transfer element

6. Protection member

7. Product access cover

8. System control cover

P. Product Detailed Description of the Invention

In this detailed description, the preferred embodiments of the inventive product shelf filling system is described only for clarifying the subject matter in a manner such that no limiting effect is created.

Product shelf filling system, the representative view of which is given in Figure 1 , developed with the present invention, contains at least two product shelves (1a) that are suitable for positioning at least one product (P) on each, extending parallel to the ground and to each other, preferably in the form of a plane, is suitable for use with at least one shelf body (1), preferably in skeletal structure, which enables said product (P) to be carried and/or displayed, enables the product (P) in a different location to be transferred to the product shelves (1a), which is emptied as a result of the decrease or exhaustion of the amount of product (P) on it, comprises at least one carrying element (2) that is preferably in the form of a planar tray, enables one or more products (A) to be transported and positioned on said product shelves (1a). Furthermore, it comprises the following; at least one first movement unit (3) that allows holding said carrying element (2) and provides said product shelf (1a) to be taken over said product shelf (1a) by moving it in a first direction on the axis that is perpendicular to the extension direction and parallel to the floor or provides said product shelf (1a) to be positioned on said product shelf (1a) by moving it in a second direction on the axis perpendicular to its extension direction and parallel to the floor; at least one second movement unit (4) that is in connection with said first movement unit (3), enables said first movement unit (3) and said product shelf (1a) to be moved in two different directions on the axis parallel to the extension direction and the floor; at least one third movement unit (5) that is in connection with said second movement unit (4) and said shelf body (1), enables said second movement unit (4) to be connected to said shelf body (1) and to move said second movement unit (4) in two different directions on the axis perpendicular to the floor.

In an exemplary embodiment of the product shelf filling system developed with the present invention, holding said carrying element (2), which is located on the product shelf (1a), which is distant from the user and/or the floor and has one or plurality of products (P) positioned on it, by means of said first movement element (3) and taking it over said product shelf (1a) by moving it in said first direction, is enabled. Then, it is provided that said second movement unit (4), said first movement unit (3) connected with said second movement unit (4) and said conveying element (2) that is held by said first movement unit (3), has product (P) thereon move along an axis perpendicular to the floor to the level of an empty product shelf (1a) with a small amount of product (P) or without product (P) by means of said third movement unit (5). It is ensured that the said carrying element (2) and the products (P) on said carrying element (2) are carried in a manner corresponding to an empty area on the product shelf (1a) which is close to the user and/or the floor according to another by enabling said first movement element (3) and said carrying element (2) to be moved on the axis parallel to the floor and the product shelf (1a) by means of said second movement element (4). Then, it is provided that said carrying element (2) and the products (P) are positioned on the product shelf (1a) which is close to the user and/or the floor with respect to one another by moving said carrying element (2) in said second direction by means of said first movement element (3). In case the amount of product (P) on said carrying element (2) and therefore on the said product shelf (1a) decreases or ends, It is ensured that said carrying element (2) is carried over the product shelf (1a), which is distant from the user and/or the floor by means of said first movement element (3), said second conveying element (4) and said third conveying element (5), and the above mentioned processes are repeated. Therefore, the empty product shelves (1a) are refilled without the need for user intervention, and the product shelves (1a), which are difficult to access by the user or the customer, are provided to be used.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the product shelf filling system comprises at least one protrusion (2a) that is located on the edge of said carrying element (2) close to said first movement element (3) and helps said first carrying member (3) to grip/hold said carrying element (2).

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the product shelf filling system comprises at least one nail (3a) that is located on the edge of said first movement element (3) close to said carrying element (2) and clamps with said protrusions (2a) so as to grip/hold said carrying element (2).

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the product shelf filling system comprises at least one first movement unit (3) that provides the necessary mechanical energy to move said carrying element (2) in said first direction and said second direction, comprises at least one first drive element (3b) , which is preferably a motor, at least one first movement transfer element (3c) that enables the transfer of mechanical movement generated by said first drive element (3b) in connection with said first drive element (3b) to said carrying element (2), is preferably a chain or belt.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the product shelf filling system comprises at least one second movement unit (4) that provides the mechanical energy required to move the said first movement unit (3) in two different directions on the axis parallel to the extension direction of the product shelf (1a) and to the floor, comprises at least one second drive element (4a), preferably a motor and at least one second movement transfer element (4b), preferably a chain or belt, enabling the transfer of mechanical motion generated by said second drive element (4a) in connection with said second drive element (4a) to said first movement unit (3)

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the product shelf filling system comprises at least one third movement unit (5) that provides the mechanical energy required to move the said second movement unit (4) on the axis perpendicular to the floor in a way to move closer or away from the floor, comprises at least one third drive element (5a), preferably a motor and at least one third movement transfer element (5b), preferably a chain or belt, enabling the transfer of mechanical motion generated by said third drive element (5a) in connection with said third drive element (5a) to said second movement unit (4).

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, said product shelf filling system comprises at least one control unit that is connected with said first drive element (3b), said second drive element (4a), said third drive element (5a), provides operation and control of said first drive element (3b), said second drive element (4a), said third drive element (5a).

In an alternative preferred embodiment of the invention, the product shelf filling system comprises at least one protection element (6) that is positioned to surround said shelf body (1) in connection with said shelf body (1), ensures said system, said shelf body (1), said products (P) to be protected from external interventions and prevent unwanted interventions to said system with said products (P).

In an alternative preferred embodiment of the invention, the product shelf filling system comprises at least one product access cover (7) that is located on said protection element (6), allows the user or customer to access the products (P) located on the said product shelves (1a).

In an alternative preferred embodiment of the invention, the product shelf filling system comprises at least one system control cover (8) that is located on said protection element (6), allows the user to access the elements of said system and /or said control unit.

While empty product shelves (1a) are filled quickly and practically without the need for user intervention and at the same time, the unused product shelves (1a) in the shelf body (1) that are difficult to access by the customer are used and thus the total amount of used space in the shelf body (1) is increased by means of the product shelf filling system developed with the present invention. Therefore, an efficient, effective and safe product shelf filling system is obtained, which reduces the time spent for refilling the product shelves (1a) and the total cost expenses.