Security System for Cigarette Display Case

The present invention relates to alarm systems, and more particularly to alarm systems for display cases such as those for cigarette cartons.

A wide variety of display cases has been developed for displaying products and making the products accessible for customer removal. Such display cases are used in particular for the vending of cigarette cartons. Typically, such cases include a plurality of shelves on which the cartons are stacked and a security shield or gate on each shelf to permit only the bottom carton on each shelf to be withdrawn. The cartons remaining on the shelf then drop to fill the void created by removal of the bottom carton.

Unfortunately, theft or pilferage from such display cases is an increasingly common problem. Often, the cases are located in convenience stores or gas stations wherein the employees cannot give their full attention to the monitoring of all products within the store. Because of the large number of cartons available within the display case, a shoplifter may easily remove a number of cartons within a few seconds.

Prior artisans have attempted to develop alarm systems for such cases. One weight-actuated system is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,819,015 issued Apr. 4, 1989 to Bullivant et al and entitled ANTI-THEFT PRODUCT RACK AND METHOD. The Bullivant case includes a number of weight-sensing detectors for monitoring the weight of product within the case. A control system is coupled to the weight sensors, and weight deviations are monitored and distinguished as either a disturbance or a product removal. Based on this distinction, the control circuit then determines whether a theft or pilferage pattern has occurred. The control system sounds an alarm if such a pattern is detected. However, the Bullivant alarm system is not without its drawbacks. First, the weight sensors are subject to miscalibration--both initially and during subsequent use. Second, the control circuitry must be sophisticated to discriminate between disturbances and removals and then to further distinguish between theft conditions and acceptable product movement. Third, all of the product within the display case is accessible simultaneously to the consumer. This results in cartons being accidentally knocked out of the case and also creates a more attractive target for the shoplifter.

Optical detection systems are known in the hotel room bar vending area. Exemplary teachings are provided in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,791,411 issued Dec. 13, 1988 to Staar and entitled MANUAL FREE-ACCESS VENDING MACHINE; and 4,629,090 issued Dec. 16, 1986 to Harris et al and entitled HOTEL ROOM BAR WITH OPTICAL SENSING SYSTEM. The Staar system includes an optical detector associated with each product location. The Harris system includes an optical sensor at each product exit opening. In both systems, the optical detectors sense product removal, and the systems provides an automatic billing function in response to such removal. These systems are not designed to, and do not provide, any type of alarm. Further, they make no attempt to distinguish between acceptable and unacceptable product removal.

The aforementioned problems are overcome in the present invention which provides a security system for accurately and simply monitoring acceptable and unacceptable product removal from a display case. The system includes a plurality of optical detectors, one associated with each product exit opening so that the removal of each individual product can be monitored. The system further includes an alarm and a control system for actuating the alarm when predetermined theft conditions are detected In the preferred embodiment, one alarm condition is the removal of a predetermined number of cartons within a predetermined time period (e.g. four cartons within 15 seconds). A second preferred alarm condition is the presence of a product within an exit opening for a predetermined time period (e.g. 6.5 seconds).

The optical sensing of product removal enhances the reliability of the system over previous display case alarms Each product removal is positively sensed and need not be inferentially calculated from weight. Further, the optical sensors are not subject to miscalibration or subsequent deviation with use and/or age. Further, the defined alarm conditions more accurately discriminate between acceptable and unacceptable product removal. Such discrimination is important, first, to minimize the number of "false" alarms potentially embarrassing to customers and, second, to sound the alarm as soon as actual theft is occurring.

These and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reference to the detailed description of the preferred embodiment and the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cigarette display case with the security system of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of one bank of shelves of the display case with the security system installed;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of one optical sensor at one shelf exit; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the display case security system.

A security system for a cigarette display case is illustrated in FIG. 4 and generally designated 10. The system includes a plurality of infrared (IR) receivers 12, a plurality of IR emitters 14, a processor 16, and an alarm 18. The receiver/emitter pairs 12, 14 are mounted adjacent each shelf exit opening (see FIG. 2) to monitor product removal. The processor 16 is responsive to the detector signals and discriminates between acceptable and unacceptable product removal. If the product removal is unacceptable, the alarm 18 is actuated to alert store personnel of the potential theft situation.

The cigarette display case 20 (FIG. 1) on which the security system 10 is installed is generally well known to those having ordinary skill in the display case art and will not be described in detail. An exemplary case is that sold as Model System 2000 by Harbor Industries, Inc. of Grand Haven, Michigan. Generally, the case 20 includes a plurality of shelf units 22a, 22b, and 22c, which are arranged in a U-shaped configuration. Each shelf unit 22a includes seven shelves 23 and is topped by a header 24. The header includes a front panel 26 for displaying advertising information 28 and an internal void or space 30.

As more clearly illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, a security shield or gate 32 is pivotally mounted over each shelf. Each gate 32 includes a frame 34 supporting a transparent panel 36. The gates 32 are mounted in conventional fashion on the display case and are hinged at their upper edge to be pivotal between an open position (not shown), wherein the gate extends out from the shelf unit 22, and a closed position, illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

The shelves 23 are vertically spaced enabling a plurality of products or cartons 39 to be vertically stacked on each shelf. A product exit opening 40 is defined between the lower edge of each gate 32 and the associated shelf 23. The height of the exit opening 40 is selected to be greater than the height of a single product but less then the height of two stacked products. Consequently, only one product in the vertical stack on the shelf may be withdrawn through the exit opening 40 at a time. After a product is withdrawn, the remaining products in the stack previously above the withdrawn products drop to the shelf to place a new product in position for removal.

One IR receiver 12 and one IR emitter 14 are mounted at opposite ends of each shelf across the exit opening 40 (FIG. 2). The emitter 14 directs IR light toward the receiver 12. The beam is unbroken when products are not within the exit opening 40, and the beam is broken when a product is in the exit opening.

The receiver 12 is illustrated in greatest detail in FIG. 3 and includes a housing/bracket assembly 50 having a housing portion 52 and a bracket portion 54. The housing portion 52 is a rectangular parallelopiped enclosing the receiver element 54. The bracket portion 54 is secured using screw 56 to the conventional slotted bracket support 58 of the case 20. The receiver element 54, namely a phototransistor, is connected through wires 60 to plug 62. The processor 16 (see FIG. 4) is coupled via wires 64 to plug 66. The plugs 62 and 66 can be interfitted to connect the receiver element 54 with the processor 16. The wires 64 and plugs 62 and 66 can be covered or hidden using moldings (not illustrated).

The emitters 14 (FIG. 2), namely light-emitting diodes (LEDs), are mounted in a housing/bracket not illustrated in detail. However, the emitter mounting arrangement is generally identical to the receiver mounting arrangement, being the mirror image thereof.

All components of the security system illustrated in FIG. 4, other than the receivers 12 and the emitters 14, are contained within a housing 67 (FIG. 1). The housing is preferably placed or located in the header void 30 to be inconspicuous. An antenna 69 is mounted on the housing for RF transmissions. The alarm/pager 18 includes both a speaker in the housing 67 and a conventional pager with audible alarm to be carried by a store employee. Other alarm means may be used to emit other than audible alarms.

Turning to FIG. 4, the receivers 12 and the emitters 14 are coupled via the multiplexers (MUX) 68 and 71, respectively, to the microprocessor 16. The processor or control means 16 in the preferred embodiment is that sold as Model MC68705P3 by Motorola. Of course, other digital devices may be substituted therefor. A conventional power supply 76 is provided to couple the five-volt processor 16 with 110-volt line power.

The shelf-enable switches 72 (FIG. 4) are coupled to the microprocessor 16. In the preferred embodiment, these are DIP switches located on the face of the housing 67. In the preferred embodiment, the processor 16 is capable of monitoring up to 32 shelves. One shelf enable switch 72 is provided for each possible shelf. The switch is turned on if an emitter/receiver pair is associated with the input (i.e. mounted on a shelf) and is turned off if a pair is not associated with the input (i.e. not mounted on a shelf). Therefore, the shelf enable switches 72 enable the unit to accommodate anywhere between one and 32 shelves, inclusive.

The option-select switches 74 (FIG. 4) are interposed between the processor 16 and the alarm/pager 18. In the preferred embodiment, the option-select switch 74 is a four-switch pad accessible on the face of the control unit. The four switches are denominated and have associated functions as follows:

Prior to actuation of the alarm system, the display case 20 is filled with cartons as necessary. Restocking is accomplished in conventional fashion by lifting all of the gates or security shields 32 to the open position and inserting cartons onto the shelves. The gates 32 are then closed, and the case is ready for actuation of the alarm system.

Power is supplied to the system by power supply 76. Through multiplexer 68, the processor 16 sequentially polls each receiver/emitter pairs 12, 14 indicated to be active by the shelf-enable switches 72. As each pair is sequentially active, the IR emitter produces IR light having a wave length of approximately 880 nanometers (nm). In the preferred embodiment, each emitter/receiver pair 12, 14 is polled 16 times per second. The sequential polling of the pairs prevents cross talk between emitters, which might result in erroneous signals.

The amplifier 70 amplifies the signals received from the multiplexer 68 to an appropriate level for use by the processor 16. The amplifier is of conventional design and will depend on the particular components used.

The processor monitors the signal condition of each emitter/receiver pair 12, 14 to detect theft or pilferage conditions or patterns of signals. A first theft condition is defined as a predetermined or preselected number of product movements at any of the shelf exits 40 within a predetermined or preselected period of time. In the preferred embodiment, such condition is defined as four product movements anywhere within the case in any 15 second interval. A second alarm condition is defined as the presence of a product within, or blocking, an exit opening for a predetermined or preselected period of time. In the preferred embodiment, this is defined as 6.5 seconds.

Programming of the processor 16 will be readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art. An exemplary algorithm is appended hereto as Appendix 1. Generally speaking, the processor 16 monitors for product presence in each of the exit openings 40. When a product is present, a 15-second time interval is initiated. If three additional product movements are detected within the 15-second period, an alarm signal is sent to the option select block 74. Additionally, the processor 16 monitors the duration of each product-present signal at each exit opening 32. If a product is present in any opening for 6.5 seconds, an alarm signal is sent to the option select block 74.

Depending on the options selected using the switches 74 as discussed above, the alarm signal will be sent to the alarm/pager 18. If the speaker is actuated, an audible alarm will be sounded at the housing 67. If the pager is actuated, an RF transmission occurs using antenna 69 to activate the remote pager, which also sounds an audible alarm.

The present invention positively and accurately monitors product movement and determines with improved accuracy product movement patterns indicative of theft or pilferage. At the same time, the system minimizes false alarms, providing a system of enhanced simplicity and reliability.

The above description is that of a preferred embodiment of the invention. Various alternations and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention as defined in the appended claims, which are to be interpreted in accordance with the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents.