Seven & i has patented a system for counting items in a rack using sensors, a magnet, and a circuit board. The system accurately determines the number of items stored based on the position of the magnet in relation to the sensors. GlobalData’s report on Seven & i gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Seven & i, was a key innovation area identified from patents. Seven & i's grant share as of February 2024 was 50%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
System for counting items stored in a rack
A recently granted patent (Publication Number: US11922371B1) describes a system for counting items stored in a rack. The system includes a longitudinal rack storing items between a front and rear end, a shoe attached to the rack that moves back and forth, a magnet on the shoe, a circuit board with sensors corresponding to item thickness, a memory storing sensor data, and a processor monitoring sensor values to determine the number of items in the rack. The processor can also generate alerts if the item count falls below a threshold and communicate with a master controller.
Additionally, the patent includes a detailed description of the circuit board used in the system, with sensors arranged to detect the presence of the magnet above them. The processor analyzes sensor data to accurately count the items in the rack. The system can be expanded to include multiple racks connected in a daisy chain configuration, with a master controller overseeing the counting process. The patent also covers variations in the system, such as the inclusion of a mechanism to drive items towards the front of the rack and a magnet carrier to hold the magnet in place. Overall, the patent outlines a comprehensive system for efficiently and accurately counting items stored in a rack, with potential applications in inventory management and logistics.
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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
