SHELF MOUNTING STRUCTURE INDICATION
In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to quickly and accurately determine a height for mounting shelves to a shelving unit. More specifically, a visual indication of a correct mounting height for the shelves is provided to aid in assembly and subsequent inspection of the shelving unit. Pursuant to this, light sources are mounted adjacent to mounting structures of the shelving unit and are configured to selectively illuminate next to mounting structures intended to have a shelf mounted thereto.
1 . A system for indicating shelf mounting height for a shelving unit, the system comprising:
a shelving unit including:
a base;
an upstanding wall secured to the base and having lateral edge portions;
mounting structures of the lateral edge portions spaced along a height thereof, pairs of the mounting structures configured to have a shelf mounted thereto to thereby mount the shelf to the upstanding wall;
light sources mounted to the upstanding wall adjacent to each pair of mounting structures;
a power source configured to energize the light sources; and
a control circuit in communication with the light sources; the control circuit configured to:
determine planned pairs of mounting structures intended to have shelves mounted thereto based on location and stocking information for the shelving unit; and
illuminate the light sources adjacent to the planned pairs of mounting structures.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the mounting structures comprises notches.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the light sources are mounted to the upstanding wall adjacent to each mounting structure.
4 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a mobile computing device having the control circuit therein.
5 . The system of claim 4 , further comprising an interface mounted to the shelving unit and configured to have the mobile computing device connect thereto, the interface being wired to the light sources.
6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the interface includes connectors for physically coupling to the mobile computing device.
7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the mobile computing device includes the power source, the mobile computing device providing power to the light sources through the interface.
8 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the mobile computing device includes storage having the stocking information stored thereon.
9 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the mobile computing device is configured to determine a location of the shelving unit.
10 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a database device having the stocking information stored thereon.
11 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a light assembly including an elongate member having the light sources mounted thereto, the elongate member configured to be mounted to the upstanding wall adjacent to the mounting structures.
12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the shelving unit includes the power source disposed therein and a receiver configured to receive signals from the control circuit.
13 . A method for determining correct mounting height for shelves on a shelving unit including a base, an upstanding wall secured to the base and having lateral edge portions, mounting structures of the lateral edge portions spaced along a height thereof, pairs of the mounting structures configured to have a shelf mounted thereto to thereby mount the shelf to the upstanding wall, and light sources mounted to the upstanding wall adjacent to each pair of mounting structures, the method comprising:
determining with a control circuit planned pairs of the mounting structures intended to have shelves mounted thereto with a control circuit based on stocking information for the shelving unit; and
illuminating individual ones of the light sources that are mounted adjacent to the planned pairs of mounting structures.
14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising providing power to the light sources with a power source of a mobile computing device coupled to an interface of the shelving unit.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the mobile computing device includes the control circuit; and determining the planned pairs of the mounting structures comprises the mobile computing device accessing the stocking information from a storage device thereof.
16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising determining a location of the shelving unit with the mobile computing device.
17 . A method for mounting shelves to a shelving unit including a base, an upstanding wall secured to the base and having lateral edge portions, mounting structures of the lateral edge portions spaced along a height thereof, and light sources mounted to the upstanding wall adjacent to each pair of mounting structures the method comprising:
determining a pair of mounting structures of the mounting structures intended for having a shelf mounted thereto using location and stocking information for the shelving unit by illuminating a light source mounted to the upstanding wall adjacent to the pair of mounting structures; and
mounting a shelf to the pair of mounting structures.
18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising connecting a mobile computing device to an interface of the shelving unit electrically coupled to the light sources.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein connecting the mobile computing device comprises physically coupling the mobile computing device to the interface.
20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising selecting the shelving unit with a user input of the mobile computing device to thereby provide the location information.