Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
~ D_20]'~
GRAVITY FEED MERCHANDISE DISPENSING DE~ICE
This invention relates to a merchandise dispensing device
of the gravity feed type. The device is particularly useful
together with other such devices in forming a compact,
automatic feed merchandise display rack.
Merchandise display racks of the gravity feed type are
used where it is desirable that articles of merchandise for
sale successively are advanced forwardly of the rack so that
they are always in view of, and readily accessible to the
customer.
In recent years large capacity bottles made from plastics
material have been developed for the sale of e.g. soft drinks.
Such bottles are tall and relatively light in comparison to
their size and do exhibit some degree of instability when free
standing, particularly if used on known merchandising display
devices.
Many of these large capacity plastics bottles are rormed
with a projecting flange around the bottle neck used as a
-- 3
gripping element for handling the bottle prior to the point of
sale. One aspect of this invention utiliæes to advantage the
provision of neck flanges on such bottles by providing a merchan-
dising device which allows the bottles to be suspended by their
neck flanges. The manner in which the bottles are suspended in
the device according to the present invention is similar to the
manner in which bottles are suspended in the well known soft drink
vending machines having a series of parallel metal rails arranged
to provide parallel slots for holding bottles underneath their
neck flanges.
One aspect of the invention provides a gravity feed merchan-
dise dispensing device comprising a track for supporting in tandem
a row of similar bottles of the type having an annular flange on
the neck of the bottle, the track comprising a pair of rails
spaced apart to receive between them the necks of suitably sized
bottles such that the underside of each bottle neck flange engages
the rails whereby the bottles are suspended by their flanges for
movement relative to the track, the track normally being inclined
so as to permit the suspended bottles to gravity feed one after the
other to the front of the track as the lead bottles in the row
successively are unloaded, and stop means provided adjacent said
front end of the track to arrest movement of each lead bottle.
According to a feature of this aspect of the invention,
means may be provided for supporting said rails in a fixed position,
and each of said rails may comprise a downwardly sloping portion
for effecting feed of bottles by gravity, an upwardly sloping
portion following said d~wnwardly sloping portion in the direction
of feed of bottles for retarding the movement of said bottles,
said stop means comprising a tab integral with and extending
upwardly from said sloping portion for effecting stoppage of a
bottle by engagement with its neck flange, and whereby for
removal, a bottle must be lifted so that its neck flange clears
the tab.
~ ~t~
According to another aspect of the invention there is
provided a gravity feed merchandise dispensing device for bottles
having externally projecting neck flanges, which device comprises
track means providing a pair of substantially parallel supporting
surfaces having opposed edges spaced from each other to form a
slot of substantially uniform width adapted to receive the necks
of said bottles underneath said neck flanges, and means for
supporting said track means in a fixed position, characterized in
that said track means comprises at least one removable elongate
lo element including first and second flanges having different widths
measured in directions transverse to the direction of elongation,
and in that said supporting means and said track means include
means for removably supporting said elongate element in a first
position in which its first flange serves as one of said sub-
stantially parallel supporting surfaces and in a second positionin which its second flange serves as one of said substantially
parallel supporting surfaces, whereby bottles having different
neck flange sizes can be accommodated.
In the following description preferred embodiments of the
invention is described in detail in conjunction with the accompan-
ying drawings, in which:-
Figure 1 shows schematically a side view of a merchandise display
rack incorporating a number of vertically spaced gravity feed
devices,
Figure 2 is a front view of a top portion of the rack shown in
Figure 1,
Figure 3 shows in more detail the pivotal mounting of the tracks
of a gravity feed device according to the invention,
Figure 4 is a side view of a modified track,
Figure 5 is a cross-section through a series of modified tracks,
-- 5 --
Figure 6 is an oblique perspective view showing a track
support unit in accordance with the invention with a track
installed in it comprising a pair of track members,
Figure 7 is an oblique perspective view of a single track
member,
Figure 8 is a transverse section of a track shcwing the manner
in which the track members cooperate with the support and with
a bottle,
Figure 9 is a transverse section similar to Figure 8 except
that the track elements are reversed in order to accommodate a
larger bottle,
Figure 10 is a transverse section of a track illustrating the
manner in which the track elements are installed and removed,
and
Figure 11 is a vertical section of a support member taken on
the plan 10-10 indicated in Figure 6.
Referring first to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is
shown a merchandise display rack 10 of the gravity feed type
comprising a base structure 11 permitting free standing of the
rack 10, a pair of spaced back support posts 12 (only one of
which is shown) and a pair of spaced front support posts 13
- (Figure 2). The support posts extend vertically from base
structure 11 and are connected together by base space bars 14,
top spacer bars 15 and front spacer bar 16 (Figure 2), thereby
providing an 'open' frame display rack.
Pivotally mounted within the frame are five sets of
vertically spaced gravity feed devices 17. Each device 17
basically comprises a series of five tracks 18 in each of which
a row of bottles ~9 is supported in tandem for gravity feed to
h l ~?.. ~
6 --
the forward end of rack lo, and stop means comprising a
stirrup like structure 20. The series of tracks 18 of each
device and their mounting within the rack 10 is shQwn in more
detail in Figure 3.
Each device 17 insludes a track support rod 21 which
extends transversely of the tracks and terminates in a trunnion
22 at its opposite ends each of which trunnions are journalled
in bearings 23 provided in both front support posts 13. The
rod 21 includes a sheath 21a from which depend the series of
tracks 18. The tracks 18 are welded or otherwise fixed to
sheath 21a. The track series is formed by a number of elongate
components 24 of sheet material having a 'U'-shaped cross-
section. The base 25 of the 'U' is connected as by welding to
the sheath 2la of support rod 21 so as to provide an inverted
'U'-shaped element. The limbs 26, 27 respectively of element
24 terminate in outwardly turned flanges 26a, 27a each of which
provides a rail on which the neck flange l9a of a suitable
bottle can engage. As can be seen from Figure 3 the rail pair
of each track 18 is provided by adjacent 'U'-elements 24 so
that one 'U'-shaped element provides the adjacent rails of
neighbouring tracks. Thus, a series of tracks are formed each
having a pair of spaced parallel rails on which the neck flange
l9a of suitable bottles can engage (see Figure 2). The spacing
between adjacent rails of a track can be altered by means of
detachable strips 28 (Figure 3). Strips 28 are pressed OntQ
the free edge of such rail of a pair to decrease the distance
between the rails whereby the track can receive a bottle having
a relatively small neck flange. Advantageously, the detachable
strips 28 are formed from a material having a low coefficient
-- 7
of friction such as Teflorl (Registered Trade Mark) to enhance
the sliding gravit~ reed of bottles relative to ths track.
t is also envis,ged that the device 17 comprises on'y one track
18 or alternately a series of in~ependently pivotable tracks
18. In the lat er case the construction shown in Figure 3 is
mo-lified by split ing the sheath 21a at appropriate locations
between adjacent tracks 18 to provide a seri~s of sheath
portions and also separating each 'U'-shaped component along
its base 25 so as to prsovide a pair of track elements. Instead
of separating the "U" components it is also envisaged that the
base 25 of the 'U' could be attached intermediate the ends of
a sheath portion so 'hat it would be loc~ted immediately above
the bottle tops, in which case the flanges 26a, 27a would be
turned inwardly to face one another in order to provide the
rails of the track.
The stirrup like structure 20 is provided at the forward
end of each device 17 to stop gravity feed movement of the
lead bottles in the device, and also to present a bottle ~
a prospective purchaser and to facilitate loading the device.
Each stirrup like structure 20 comprises a support platform
29 having side walls 30 and a front wall 31. The stirrup 20
is supported by arms 32, 33 extending from adjacent the
forward end of the first and last tracks 18 in a series of
tracks such that the support platform itself is slung bel~
and immediately forward the series of tracks.
When a device is empty, i.e. when no bottles are
p-esent on its tracks, the device adopts the posi~ion shown
by the lowermost device in Figure 1. In this position the
series of tracks 18 are pivoted into a loading configuration,
in which the back end of the ~irst and last tracks abuts
one stop 34 of a pair of limiting stops 34, 35. The
limiting stops 34, 35 are provided to limit the pivotal
movement of th? series of tracks within the frame structure.
However, other appropriate stop devices also are envisaged.
For example, sheath 21a could be radially slotted to receive
a projection carried by rod 21 in order to prevent tilting
movement of the device. In the view shown, when the tracks
are in abutment wit:~ stops 34 they are inclined forwardly
at an angle of about 3 to the horizontal. In this loading
position bottles can be loaded one after another onto the
tracks by sliding them along th~ rails without there being
a tendency for those bottles to slide forwardly off the
tracks. Hence, the gravity feed effect is minimized. The
3 angle at which the tracks are constrained to adopt during
loading can, of course, be ~aried depending on the weight
of bottles, the relative coefficient of friction between
the bottles and the rails and on a number of other factors.
The fulcrum of the device is chosen such that the
series of tracks will be maintained in the loading position
until such time as the last lead bottle has been received
on the support platform 29 of the stirrup 20.
The condition is shown in the lowermost device of
Figure 1 where all the tracks are fully loaded each with
four bottles and bottles have yet to be accommodated in the
stirrup 20 to complete the loading of the device. As can
be seen, the pivotal mounting of the rod 21 to the front
support posts 13 is positioned further toward the forward
- 9
end of the tracks than the rearward end.
When the last lead bottle has been received in stirrup
20, the series of tracks thus becoles 'front heavy' and the
tracks pivot into a dispensing position in which the tracks
are inclined orwardly at an angle of about 6 to the
horizontal. This 'dispensing' angle may also be changed
depending on the load conditions.
Further pivot21 movement is restricted by limiting
stops 35. In the dispensing position the row of bottles
19 in each track 18 can gravity feed one after the other
to the front (stirrup) end of the track as the lead bottles
in that row successively are unloaded. When a lead bottle
is removed from the stirrup 20 the next succeeding bottle
slides along to the forward end of the track and then
leaves the track. Immediatsly upon leaving the track that
bottIe is received in the stirrup so that the bottle base
engages the substantially horizontal support plat~orm 29
whereupon further gravity feed of the bottle is halted.
In this location the bottle is presented to a prospective
customer. The front wall 31 of the stirrup 20 prevents
the lead bottle from overturning and being dislodged from
the device.
It is, of course, envisaged that the fulcrum could
be positioned elsewhere than as shown depending for
example on the load capacity of each device. In some
circumstances it may be desirable for the tracks to be
inclined rearwardly i.e. reverse tilted to achieve easy
loading of the device.
10 --
~ s is shown in Fi~ure 1 of the drawings a plurality
of gravity feed devices 17 can be mounted in vertically
spaced relationship within a free-standing frame 10. In the
embodiment illustrated there are five such devices each
having a series of five tracks holding five bottles each.
However, as previously mentioned the device may be used with
only a single track if desired.
It is, of course, necessary to ensure that the spacing of
adjacent devices is chosen such that the loading and dispensing
operation of the one device is not impeded by that of an
adjacent device, but at the same time achieving a compact
construction with minimum wasted space.
Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings show another embodiment
of the invention comprising a modified track construction in
which the stirrup 20 is omitted and in which each track
includes two pair of rails. The modified track 36 comprises
an upper pair of rails 37 and a lower pair of rails 38
which are connected together as described hereinafter. To
arrest movement of each lead bottle the rails 37, 38 are
provided with portions 37a, 38a, respectively, at their front
ends which are upturned relative to the remainder of the rails.
Thus, unlike the previous embodiment the lead bottles
received on the modified tracks do not leave the rails when
arriving at their dispensing positions. In the construction the
lead bottles gravity feed down the track and are braked to a
stop by causing those bottles to move along an inclined path
provided by the upturned front portion of the track. The track
construction is shawn in more detail in Figure 5 of the drawings~
Each track is provided by a pair of connected track components
such as those designated by the reference numerals 39, 40.
Track component 39 includes a pair of generally channel section
elements 41, 42 each having a base portion 41a, 42a respectively.
Upstanding from base 41a is a pair of integral divergent limbs
41b, 41c which terminate in outwardly projecting flanges 41d,
41e, respectively. Each of the flanges 41d and 41e provide an
upper rail for adjacent tracks.
Similarly, the channel section element 42 includes a pair
of integral divergent limbs 42b, 42c extending from base 42a.
The limbs 42b, 42c terminate in outwardly projecting flanges
42d, 42e each of which provides a lower rail for adjacent tracks.
It will be seen that track component 40 which is only partially
15 shown lncludes rail flanges 43d and 44d projecting from channel
section elements 43 and 44 respectively.
The flanges 41e and 43d are spaced apart by a distance 'x'
and provide an upper pair of rails on which the neck flange of
a suitable bottle can slide. The flanges 42e and 44d are spaced
20 apart by a distance 'y' and provide a lower pair of rails on
which the neck flange of a suitable bottle can slide. Distance
'x' is greater than distance 'y' so that bottles having two
different standard diameter neck flanges can be received in the
tracks. The distance 'z' is chosen to be such as to provide
25 sufficient space in which to receive the tops of the bottles.
Of course, whichever rail size is required for use needs to be
located lowermost in the device and this may be achieved simply
by removing the rails from the support stand, turning over the
_ ]2 -
tracks and then replacing them in the stand. It i8 also
envisaged that such rail 'reversal' can be achieved by instal_
ling each series of tracks so that they are pivotally mounted
within the stand in a manner similar to that described with
reference to the previous embodiment.
The track components are connected together by means of
tie_bars 45, 46 (see Figure 4). As can be seen tie-bar 45
extends across the rear end of the upper rails 37 and the tie-
bar 46 extends across the rear end of the lowermost rails 38.
In order to assemble a series of tracks in a suitable
stand such as that shown in Figure 1 it is simply necessary to
provide a suitable channel 47 into which the back ends of the
tracks can be slotted (Figure 4) and a pin and fork assembly
48, 49 respectively, by which the mid-section of the track can
be mounted. Naturally, the tracks are assembled in the frame
so as to be inclined forwardly of the stand to provide the
necessary gravity feed effect. As mentioned the tracks can be
pivotally mounted in the frame, in which case the pin and fork
assembly 48, 49 could be replaced by a pivotal mounting similar
to that described in the previous embodiment. It will be seen
in Figure 4 that the upturned portion of the lower rails
projects forwardly of the rear end of the upper rails. This
feature of course allows the lead bottles 50 to be disposed in
a readily accessible position at the front end of the tracks
for removal by a prospective customer. The angle of the incline
can of course be varied to increase or decrease the braking
effect desired as can the angle at which the tracks are mounted
in the stand.
l ~i l~
Figures 6 to 11 of the drawings i~lustrate a preferred embodi-
ment of the invention.
Referring to Figure 6, a beverage display stand or
"merchandiser" in accordance with the preferred embodiment of
the in~7ention comprises one or more track support units of the
kind shown in Figul-e 6 removably mounted on a rack (not shown).
The rack can be a conventional four-post rack or alternatively a
rack con~isting of a base having a vertically extending back
wall on which the track support un:.ts are cantilevered. In
general, each merchandiser will have several track support units
arranged one above another.
The track support unit in Figure 6 is designed for use in
a four_post rack. It is forl!led entirely of sheet metal, and
comprises side members 51 and 52, cross members 53 and 54, and
a number of trac~s, only one of which i3 shown. The track com-
prises removable track members 55 and 56.
Side members 51 and 52 have an inverted L-shapsd transverse
cross-section. Hooks are formed at the ends of the side members
at 57, 58, 59 a~ 60. These hooks are adapted to engage slots in
the four_post rack. If desired, in a four-post system, the side
members can be identical to each other since the front and rear
hooks can be symmetrical. When the track support is designed
for use in a rack having a back extending upwardly from the rear
of a base, the side members are designed differently, and are
provided with special slot-engaging tabs such as those shown in
Suttles patent 3,983,822, dated October 5, 1976.
Transverse elements 53 and 54 are preferably identical,
and have cross-sections of the shape shown in Figure 11.
Elements 53 and 54 extend between side elements 51 and 52, and
are secured underneath the horizontal flanges of elements 51 and
_ 14 --
52 by spot welding, or by suitable fasteners. Transverse
element 53 i~; positioned near the front of the track support
unit, while transverse element 54 is positioned near the rear
of the unit.
The transvF~rse elements support the track elements so
that the tracks slope downwardly and forwardly at a small angle,
e.g. 10 degrees, to allcw bottles to be carried to the front of
the track by gravity.
Referring to Figure 11, each trans~erse element of the
10 track support unit comprises a horizontal web 61 for attachment
to the side elements, a rear, L_shaped reinforcing flange 62,
and a depending front flange 63. As shown in Figure 6, flange
63 of transverse element 53 is provided with a series of evenly
spaced slots of complex shape. The slots in element 53 are
15 indicated at 64, 65, 66 ~d 67.
The complex shape of the slots is best seen in Figure 10
which shows the details of slot 64. Slot 64 comprises a
horizontal edge 68 which is parallel to and spaced upwardly from
lc~ er edge 69 of flange 63. At its left_hand end, flange 63
20 curves downwardly at 70, to meet another horizontal, downwardly
facing edge 71, which is positioned at a level below edge 68.
Horizontal edge 71 is the upper boundary of an opening 72, the
lower boundary of which, at 73, is the upper edge of a horizon-
tal extension 74. At the right-hand end of horizontal extension
25 74, there is provided a vertical extension 75 having a horizontal
upper edge 76, and an upwardly extending tab 77.
Preferably, the left-hand edge 78 of extension 75 extends
obliquely from lower boundary 73 of opening 72 to horizontal
f~
_ 1-5 -
edge 76. Horizontal edge 76 is positioned at a level bel~w
the level of downwardly facing edge 71, the vertical spacing
between th-se two edges being equal to the thickness of the sheet
metal from which the track elements are made. Opening 72 s'nould
be large enough to provide clearance for the larger of the two
track element flanges.
The configuration of the right_hand end of slot 64 is a
mirror image of the configuration of the left-hand end, and need
not be separately described.
The two track elements 55 and 56 are preferably identical
and track element 56 is shown in detail in Figure 7. The track
element is formed from a unitary piece of sheet metal, and
comprises a vertical web 79 having a first flange 80 extending
perpendicularly from its upper edge, and a second flange 81
extending perpendicularly from its lower edge in the opposite
direction. Thus, throughout most of its length, the track element
has a Z-shaped cross-section. Flange 81 is wider than flange 80.
At the front end of track element 56, flange 80 is
separated from the upper edge of the web, and is bent downwardly
at 82 to form an obtuse angle (e.g. approximately 138) with the
main part of flange 80 to provide a ramp'83. Ramp 83 terminates
in a flan~e 84 which is substan~ially perpendicular to ramp 83,
and extends downwardly therefrom. A similar ramp 85 is formed
at the opposite end of flange 80, and terminates in a d~wnwardly
extending flange 86.
Flange 80 is provided with a small opening 87 spaced a
short distance from bend 82. Opening 87 is positioned adjacent
web 79. A similar opening 88 in flange 80 i~ spaced from bend B9
by a dlstance equal to the spacing between opening 87 and bend 82.
l~f;l~
_ 16 --
Wide flange 81 on the opposite side of the track member
is similarly bent to provide ramps 9o and 91, which terminate
respectively in flanges 92 and 93. Flange 81 is also provided
with openings (not shown) corresponding to openlngs 87 and 88,
and the openings in flange 81 are at the same longitudinal
positions as openings 87 and 88.
Figure 8 shows track element 56 installed in slot 64.
The right-hand face 94 of web 79 bears against vertical edge
95, while the underside of flange 80 bears against horizontal
10 edge 96. Tab 97 extends upwardly through opening 87. A
similar track element 98 is supported on the opposite side of
slot 64 in the same manner. Flanges 81 and 99 of the res-
pective track elements have parallel edges 100 and 101 which
form a slot for receiving the neck 102 of bottle 103. Bottle
15 103 has an outwardly projecting annular neck flange 104, which
extends beyond edges 100 and 101, thereby permitting the bottle
to be supported by engagement of neck flange 104 with the
upwardly facing sides of flanges 99 and 81. The weight of the
bottle causes face 94 of web 79 to bear against vertical edge
20 95, while the engagement of tab 97 in opening 87 prevents the
web from rotating away from edge 95. The weight on track
element 56 is supported by edge 96.
In Figure 9, track elements 56 and 98 are reversed.
A larger bottle 105 rests on shorter flanges 80 and 106, while
25 longer flanges 99 and Bl engage surfaces 107 and 96 to provide
vertical support.
By simply reversing the ~rack elements, the track can be
modified to accommodate larger bottles such as bottle 105.
As sh~wn in Figure lO, a track element, such as element
98, is easily installed by tilting the track element, and
causing its upper flange to enter cpening 72, and thereafter
rotating the track element until tab 77 enters opening 108.
The manipulation of the track element in installation, of
course, also involves the engagement of the ~rack element in a
similar manner with the rear transverse track support element
54 (Figure 6).
Returning to Figure 6, soft drink bottle lO9 is shown
held in the track comprising track elements 55 and 56. As bottle
lO9 slides down the track, it will normally reach the position
indicated by bottle 110, which is shown in broken lines. The
bottles behind the foremost bottle in a track cause the foremost
bottle to assume the tilted position indicated at llO. The
bottle at llO is removed by a customer simply by lifting it
upwardly in order to cause its neck ring to clear the upwardly
extending tabs at the ends of the ramps. By reason of the
presence of the ramps and the tabs at the ends of the ramps, the
bottle behind the foremost bottle is prevented from causing
accidental disengagement of the foremost bottle from the track.
An important feature of this aspect of the invention is the
prevention of a "see-saw" effect, which could cause accidental
disengagement of the removable track elements from their
support~ when a single bottle is positioned at the front of
the track. The weight of a bottle positioned forward of front
cross member 53 causes the track elements to tend to pivot
about the front cross member. The rear ends of the track
elements are urged upwardly with a resulting tendency for the
track elements to become disengaged from the rear cross member
54. Such disengagement is prevented by reason of the fact that
~ti'~
_ 18 -
the upper flange of each track element is in engagement with
a downwardly facing edge corresponding to edge 71 in Figure lO.
So long as at least one bottle is present in the track, the
engagement between the upper flange and the downwardly facing
edge is maintained. Consequently, the track elements of a
particular track cannot be removed from the track support unit
until all of the bottles are removed from the track.
In summary, the merchandising device in accordance with
this aspect of the invention has numerous advantages including
its structural simplicity, ease of manufacture, ease of con-
version to accommodate bottles with different neck sizes, its
small vertical space requirement, the ease with which bottles
can be removed from its tracks, the prevention of accidental
removal of bottles, and the simple manner in which the track
elements are locked in place so long as bottles are present in
the track. The device gives rise to a number of additional
advantages not previously mentioned. For example, since the
slot widths of the tracks can be chan~ed individually, this
merchandising device gives the merchant a high degree of
flexibility; he can place large-necked and small_necked bottles
on adjacent tracks if he so chooses. It is possible to
accommodate three different size~ of bottles with two identical
track elements of the type shown in Figure 7. It is also
possible to accommodate four different bottle sizes, using a
pair of non-identical track elements.
If a completely new bottle is made available on the
market, it can be accommodated simply by providing new track
elements, without the need for replacing the entire track unit
of Figure 6.
_ 19 --
For ease of manufacture, the entire track unit of
Figure 6 can be constructed from elements of only three
different types, since elements 53 and 54 can be identical,
elements 51 and 52 can be identical, and elements 55 and 56
can be identical.
While the preferred embodiments of the invention have
been shown and described, various modifications can be made to
it. For example, in the embodiment described with reference
to Figures 6 to ll with suitable modifications of the track
support slots, the track elements can be made with cross-sec-
tional shapes other than the Z-shaped shown. For example, the
track elements can be L-shaped, in which event t'ne two legs of
the L are usable alternatively as supporting surfaces for the
neck flanges of the bottles. The track elements can also be
C-shaped. These and still other modifications may be made
without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in
the follcwing claims.
