IP2M Logo
IP2M

Patent Information & Production OptionsAutomated Folding Store Shelf That Pushes Products Up to the Customer · Patent CN109645754B

Patent CN109645754B: bibliographic data, legal status, family, a plain-language reading of the claims, plus customization, US compliance points and how a manufacturing project runs.

At a glance

Patent numberCN109645754B (application CN201811414841)
TypeChina invention patent (发明专利) - examined; protects the technical solution
Original titleSupermarket shelf (超市货架)
Patent ownerHunan Institute of Engineering
InventorsLiu Changsong, Cao Guihong
Filing date2018-11-26
Grant date2020-04-28
Status (China)In force - no termination recorded; a China invention patent lasts at most 20 years from filing (to 2038-11-26)
Patent familyChinese filings only - no US, European, Japanese, PCT or other filings listed
Cited by2 later documents
SourceGoogle Patents (search for CN109645754B)

What the claims cover, in plain language

Claim 1 (the only claim) - a supermarket shelf with a shelf assembly and, symmetrically on both sides, a bottom placing device with a first and/or second placing device above it. The shelf assembly has a vertical panel frame and base frames hinged to both sides of its lower end. The bottom placing device has a folding traction push rod on the base frame and three identical L-shaped folding tiers (bottom, middle, upper) hinged in series, the upper one hinged to the panel frame. Each tier has a vertical plate, a flat plate hinged to it and a back support plate. Pushing screws on the back support plates feed goods trays along transverse channels; the flat plates have delivery openings with spring-loaded fan-shaped flaps, and lift cylinders with push rods under the openings raise the trays. The claim continues with corresponding details for the other placing devices.

This is a simplified reading for orientation only. The legal scope is defined by the exact claim wording in the official Chinese document.

What this means for US production

This patent was filed only in China. It is still in force in China, so making or selling this design in China would need the owner’s permission while it lasts (at most until 2038-11-26). It has no US or other foreign counterpart and does not restrict the design outside China.

Two points to settle early:

  • Other patents may exist. Automated and sensor-equipped retail shelving is a busy patent area - product pushers, weight-sensing shelves and cashier-less store systems are patented by large retailers, fixture makers and technology companies - so a freedom-to-operate (FTO) review covering both the mechanism and any sensing or checkout features should come before tooling.
  • Scope of the first product. The patent describes a full mechanized fixture plus a store control system; a buyer may start with the folding tiers and tray feed and add sensing later.

Customization and manufacturing

What can be customized

AreaOptions
SizeRun length, height, number of tiers and trays per side; single- or double-sided
FramePowder-coated sheet steel, aluminum extrusions, wood or laminate facing
DrivesLead screws with small DC motors; electric linear actuators in place of pneumatic cylinders
SensingLoad cells per tray, IR beams, RFID readers, camera mounts
ControlStand-alone controller or API link to your store software
BrandingHeader signs, colored panels, price-label rails, LED strips

Things to plan for (US market)

  • UL 962 listing - powered store fixtures with motors and controls are normally listed as furnishings with electrical parts; retailers often require an NRTL mark.
  • FCC Part 15 - controllers, wireless modules and sensors must meet FCC limits.
  • Pinch-point guarding - moving trays, flaps and folding tiers in a public store need guards and stop functions so customers cannot trap fingers.
  • Tip-over and load rating - fixtures must be anchored or rated for stability under full load.
  • ADA reach ranges - self-service fixtures in public stores should keep key products within accessible reach heights.

How a project runs

  1. Inquiry - store type, products, fixture size and quantity.
  2. Design - frame, tier geometry, drives, sensing and control interface.
  3. Prototype - one working bay tested for feed reliability, safety and noise.
  4. Pilot run - a small set of fixtures installed in a trial store.
  5. Production - volume production, flat-pack or assembled shipping.

Quantities & timeline

The frame and tiers need sheet-metal stamping or laser cutting and bending tools, the drives need motor and screw sourcing, and the controller needs a circuit board and firmware; safety listing runs alongside the pilot. Most development time goes into reliable tray feeding and guarding. Send us your store format, product mix, fixture size, quantity and target price and we will reply with options.

Patent drawings

Automated Folding Store Shelf That Pushes Products Up to the Customer - Patent Fig. 1
Fig. 1 - The double-sided shelf, overall view.
Automated Folding Store Shelf That Pushes Products Up to the Customer - Patent Fig. 2
Fig. 2 - Front view of the shelf.
Automated Folding Store Shelf That Pushes Products Up to the Customer - Patent Fig. 3
Fig. 3 - The bottom placing device with its folding tiers.
Automated Folding Store Shelf That Pushes Products Up to the Customer - Patent Fig. 4
Fig. 4 - The tiers and lift parts from another angle.
Automated Folding Store Shelf That Pushes Products Up to the Customer - Patent Fig. 5
Fig. 5 - Stepped tiers with delivery openings.
Automated Folding Store Shelf That Pushes Products Up to the Customer - Patent Fig. 6
Fig. 6 - Tray channels and pushing screws.
Automated Folding Store Shelf That Pushes Products Up to the Customer - Patent Fig. 7
Fig. 7 - A tier housing with its channel.
Automated Folding Store Shelf That Pushes Products Up to the Customer - Patent Fig. 8
Fig. 8 - Pusher and guide detail.
Automated Folding Store Shelf That Pushes Products Up to the Customer - Patent Fig. 9
Fig. 9 - Further mechanism detail.

Drawings reproduced from the public patent document for reference.

🔥 Popularity – views

Bring this product to market

  1. ✓ Patent vetted China-only family and legal status checked
  2. 2 Product brief · now How it works, uses and options written up
  3. 3 Prototype First samples for buyers to review
  4. 4 Pilot run Small first batch for launch customers
  5. 5 Volume production Repeat orders at scale

Buyer interest

– of 100 buyers needed to start prototyping

or request a quote Share to speed it up:

One click, no sign-up. Each vote is one real visitor, and products with the most interest go to prototyping first.

Build team: no members yet. Need a partner, co-funding or skills to build this? Join and we introduce the team once it forms.

Join the build team

Want to develop this product with others? Tell us what you can bring. When the team has enough people, we introduce the members to each other by email.

I can help with (pick any)

Letters only. The team list on this page shows your country and the first 5 letters of your name (e.g. "Micha**"); leave the name blank to appear as "Anonymous".

No money is collected on this site. IP2M does not hold or manage funds, and pledges are non-binding. We email you a link to confirm; only confirmed members are introduced to each other. See our privacy policy.

Interested in building this?

Tell us your target market, quantity and timeline. We reply with options for prototyping, small-batch runs or volume production.

More product-ready patents

All Retail Display patents →
Motorized Shelf Display That Presents a Product to Shoppers - patent drawing

Retail Display

Motorized Shelf Display That Presents a Product to Shoppers

Shelf unit that lifts a product over the price rail toward shoppers when a sensor detects them.

Patent CN215077184U

Portable Advertising Light Box with Spinning LED Display - patent drawing

Retail Display

Portable Advertising Light Box with Spinning LED Display

Portable ad box whose spinning LED bars draw images and text; content changes by wireless or USB.

Patent CN207425291U

Motorized Rotating Display Pedestal with Lift Column, Info Screen and Clip-On Display Racks - patent drawing

Retail Display

Motorized Rotating Display Pedestal with Lift Column, Info Screen and Clip-On Display Racks

Mobile pedestal: motorized rotating cube with lit faces and racks, electric lift column and info screen.

Patent CN208875862U

This page is based on the public patent document CN109645754B, assigned to Hunan Institute of Engineering. IP2M is an independent manufacturing service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or licensed by the patent owner. Images marked as concept renderings are illustrations, not photos of an existing product. Patent status information is provided for reference only and is not legal advice; confirm freedom to operate for your market before production. Full disclaimer.