AU2012203585A1

AU2012203585A1 - Gravity feed shelf

Info

Publication number: AU2012203585A1
Application number: AU2012203585A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Gerard Suttie
Original assignee: PMG Engineering Services Pty Ltd
Current assignee: PMG Engineering Services Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2011-07-07
Filing date: 2012-06-20
Publication date: 2013-01-24
Anticipated expiration: 2032-06-20
Also published as: AU2012203585B2

Abstract

-13 A gravity-feed, plastic shelf has a gridwork made up of a number of load bearing glides arranged lengthwise in parallel across the shelf and a series of short, lateral, cylindrical lateral shafts between the glides; a number of split-segment, interlockable rollers each formed of two identical half segments can be snap-fitted together onto respective shafts between glides , each roller segment has a flat front face with a slot which extends axially entirely through each roller segment and extends radially from perimeter through the centre to terminate in a concave surface portion or base to form part of a cylindrical rotational bearing surface when placed against a cylindrical shaft in association with an opposed concave rotational bearing surface of the other mating roller segment; extending rearwardly behind the slot of each segment is an axial projection a concave extension of the base of the slot so that when separate segments are rotated through 180 degrees and inner faces opposed and brought together each projection is able to be slid through an associated mat are provided if desired to increase the number of rows of product. [ 1 5a 13 11 14 16 15 FIG1 11a 11 b 14

Description

ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performance known to us: Invention Title GRAVITY-FEED SHELF Name of Applicant PMG ENGINEERING SERVICES PTY.LTD IP Australia 2 0 JUN 2012 -1 This invention relates in general to gravity feed systems for supporting rows of items loaded onto an inclined mat or shelf enabling the items to slide from back to front for dispensing and for replacing items taken from the front row. The invention relates in particular to a plastic grid-like gravity-feed shelf having multiple parallel and longitudinal-low-friction, load bearing glide members supported on cross members , special segmented plastic rollers are designed to be snap-fitted onto axles between the load bearing glides According to the invention, there is provided a gravity-feed D0 mat or shelf for dispensing merchandise, and which has a plurality of laterally disposed and longitudinally-spaced shafts or axles adapted to rotatably support thereon a plurality of interlockable rollers of two identical, segments adapted to be snap-fitted together onto a respective shaft or axle common to the segments and mounted to or formed on a load-bearing member, each roller segment having undercut portions for snap-fitting the segments together about the axle in a gap on the mat or shelf and being formed with inner concave surface portions forming with an associated segment, a cylindrical rotational bearing surface when the roller segments are snapped together around the shaft or axle... A In a preferred form the gravity-feed mat or shelf comprises an open laterally discontinuous surface formed into a gridwork by a plurality of -2 parallel, longitudinal load-bearing members or glides joined by cross members extending between the glides, the glides have side walls and top and bottom edges and are formed or fitted with shafts or axles which extend between the side walls for supporting a plurality of rollers each roller being formed by a pair of identical segments with co-operating surfaces enabling the segments to be snap-fitted together when placed around a shaft or axle and between load-bearing members.. In a particular form of the invention, the load-bearing members are glides formed of synthetic polymeric material with a longitudinally 1O undulating top edge with crests and troughs, the crests forming friction reducing merchandise item-contacting surface and more particularly the upper edge of the glides is,when viewed laterally, convex in profile In a preferred construction, the gravity-feed shelf is additionally provided with a plurality of flat, rectangular dividers which are removably 1 attached to or are adapted to be attached to cross members of the shelf by a plurality of profiled projections extending downwardly from a bottom edge thereof and the dividers are adapted to extend vertically upwards from the mat at horizontally- spaced intervals to subdivide the mat into longitudinally extending rows. 2 0 .More particularly, the bottom edge of the dividers is formed with a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart flat, L-shaped hook-like members each with a horizontal slot and wherein all hook-like members having the slot -3 thereof facing in the same direction for snap-fitting onto cross members between glides. In an alternative structure the glides have steel stub axles extending between them. In one particular construction of the glides of the invention, the crests and troughs forming the top edge of the glides are horizontally offset with respect to the crests and troughs of adjacent glides. In the gravity-feed mat or shelf according to the invention each roller segment is generally cylindrical in form with a flat front face having a slot opening thereinto which extends radially partly therethrough and beyond the centrepoint and extends axially completely therethrough and terminates at its radial inward innermost extent in a concave surface to form a part cylindrical rotational bearing surface for placement about an axle in association with an opposed part-cylindrial rotational bearing surface provided by another identical mating roller segment; the face opposite the flat front face of each roller has cutaway portions and a common axial projection which in association with undercut surfaces of each segment enables the roller segments to be snap-fitted together around the common axle. '. ~Another feature of the invention is that when installed on the gravity feed shelf , the rollers project above the convex crests forming the upper edge of the glides.

4 A still further feature of the invention is that, when viewed in section, the glides have sides which taper downwardly from the convex top edge to a straight bottom edge the tapered sides assisting with rotation of rollers placed between the glides.. Some non-limiting examples and practical arrangements of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of a gravity-feed shelf constructed in accordance with the invention. Figure 2 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the shelf of Figure 1 showing a roller fitted between longitudinal load bearers or glides. Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in elevation of a section of the shelf with the roller fitted between glides of Figures 1 and Figure 2 and fitted with one embodiment of a clip-on vertical divider. Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in elevation of another embodiment of divider for the shelf and roller also fitted between glides of Figures 1 and 2. Figures 5 to 7 are views of a typical dual-segment, snap-fit roller for the shelf of Figures 1, 2 and 7 . Figure 5 is a perspective, front-face view of one of two identical roller segments for snap-fitting upon shafts or axles between parallel 5 load bearing members or glides of Figures 1 to 3 and 7. Figure 6 is a perspective , rear face view of another roller segment identical to that of Figure 5 for assembly therewith and for subsequent fitment to the shelf of Figures 1 to 3 and 7. Figures 5, 6 and 7 show in elevation the method of assembly of the roller segments of Figures 5 and 6 fitted to stub axles between glides of the shelf of Figures 1 to 4 and 7. Referring to the drawings and first of all to Figure 1 there is shown a gravity feed (when inclined) shelf designed to dispense merchandise such as bottles, cans from the rear to the front by constraining a row or rows of merchandise to move from the rear of the shelf to the front under the force of gravity and with the assistance of profiles and rollers described. The shelf 10 is moulded from any suitable material such as a synthetic polymeric material, for example, polyurethane and preferably high density polyethylene to which may have been added a silicone compound and in this example the shelf is in the form of an open gridwork comprising a plurality of parallel, longitudinal elongate structural members in the form of product load- contacting and load-bearing glides 11, 12 connected by cross members 13, 14 and 15 and end members and at the lower or front end Q0 member there is one or more vertical front of the mat to prevent merchandise from falling out of the lower end or front of the inclined shelf or mat. There is adapted to be snap-fitted on respective axles mounted or 6 formed between glides a plurality of small plastic dual-segmented rollers such as the on labelled 16 in Figures 1 to 3 and 7 (the axle of which is concealed) but is typified by an adjacent axle shown and labelled 17 on Figure 1. The top surface of each of the glides is undulating being formed with a plurality of alternating shallow troughs and crests such as those labelled 11 a and 12a in Figure 2. Figures 5 and 6 illustrate on a larger scale two identical, interlockable plastic roller segments 16A and 16B formed with a combination of both planar and non-planar faces, grooves or slots and comprising a cylindrical outer surface 18 (of the first segment 16A shown in Figure 5 - or f 0 18a of the second segment 16B shown in Figure 6. A flat outer or "front" face 19 on the first segment corresponds to face 19a on the second segment the outer face is mainly circular the perimeter or edge of which is interrupted by an axially-extending,outwardly-tapered, radial slot 20 or 20a respectively which extends radially inwards past centre point and terminates in a concave base 21 or 21a which is designed to house part of a cylindrical common shaft or axle 17 (shown in Figure 7). The concave base 21 of the slot 20 extends axially completely through each roller segment forms a concave inner surface on a rearward projection 22 or 22a which terminates in a flat rear face 23 or 23a which is in a plane parallel to that of the front face. All of the concave, 7: inner (inwardly facing) faces of both roller segments which extend axially through the segment have an internal diameter which, when the segments are -7 snap-fitted together, are radially inwardly opposed so as to form split bearing surfaces enabling them when mated to be rotatably housed upon the shaft or axle 22 (Figure 7). Prior to assembly by clicking them together, the roller segments are mutually rotated 180 degrees with the flat circular outer face of each facing axially outwards and with slots facing in opposite radial directions are together moved mutually radially inwards towards each other then snap fitted and locked together around common axle 22 between walls of a pair of adjacent glides two of which 11 and 12 are shown in Figure 7. The anterior of the roller segment behind the single flat front face is formed with a pair of U o flat, rearwardly-facing faces 24 and 25 respectively respectively located on either side of the slot and in both in the same plane which is perpendicular to the axis of rotation and between front and rear faces. Faces 24 and 25 extend radially inward to abut against side walls of the axial rear projection 22. Spaced above faces 24 and 25 and on either side of the slot 20, 20a are two overhanging undercut portions one of these being the undercut member 26 (the right-hand face in segment 16A) which has a forwardly inclined, upwardly tapered and ramped face 27. Radially opposite to this overhang 27 on the other side of the slot is a second undercut overhung portion 28 also with a forwardly-inclined and upwardly tapered face 29 (in 2 0 both instances the inclination is with respect to a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis of the roller). Underneath the second undercut portion curves slot and associated circumferential undercuts in each segment enables the -8 roller segments to be snap-fitted together after placement in abutment with a shaft. Preferred features are that longitudinal top edges of glides are of wave-like form with crests and troughs and each crest of each glide is of convex profile. Plate-like dividers with hook-lile projections on their lower edges for clipping onto the downwardly and rearwardly then terminates in a face 30 orientated in a plane parallel to the rotational axis and which extends radially outward to the cylindrical outer surface of the segment. The shelf is provided with one or more snap-on dividers such as those two shown in Figures 3 and 4 and labelled 120 and 220 respectively to increase the number of rows of merchandise items able to be carried by the shelf and is adapted to be snap-fitted together around a stub axle or shaft 18 then mounted in the gap between the glides 11, 12 . In the embodiment of the divider 120 shown in Figure 3 the bottom edge is formed with a plurality of projections 121 and 122 and in the embodiment of divider 220 shown in 7 i Figure 4, the projections comprise a plurality of hook-like members 221 and 222 each formed with a parallel-walled lateral slot designed to be in parallel alignment with the bottom edge of the divider 220. Suitable materials of construction for the micro-roller segments are synthetic polymeric resins such as acetal resin and both roller segments are 12.0 provided with mating correspondingly undercut radial mating surfaces to enable snap fitting together in opposed radially inward directions as shown by the directional arrows in Figure 7

Claims

1. A gravity-feed shelf having a plurality of laterally disposed and longitudinally-spaced axles adapted to rotatably support thereon a plurality of interlockable rollers of identical, split-segments adapted to be snap-fitted together onto a respective axle common to the segments and mounted to or formed on a load-bearing surface member, each roller segment having undercut portions for snap-fitting the segments together about the axle in a gap on the mat and being formed with inner concave surface portions forming with an associated segment, a cylindrical rotational bearing surface when the roller segments are snapped together around one of the axles which are placed or formed between the load- bearing surface

2. The shelf according to claim 1 and which comprises a gridwork an open laterally discontinuous surface formed into a gridwork by a plurality of parallel, longitudinal load-bearing members or glides joined by cross members extending between the glides, the glides have side walls and top and bottom edges and are formed or fitted with shafts or axles which extend between the side walls for supporting a plurality of rollers each roller being formed by a pair of identical segments with co-operating surfaces enabling the segments to be snap-fitted together when placed around a shaft or axle and between load-bearing members..

3. The shelf according to claim 1 or 2 wherein, the glides have side walls and top and bottom edges and are formed or fitted with 10 cylindrical shafts extending between the side walls for snap-fitment thereto of the split-segment rollers.

4. The shelf according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the glides are formed of synthetic polymeric material and have a longitudinally-undulating top edge with crests and troughs, the crests forming friction-reducing merchandise item-contacting surfaces.

5. The shelf according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the upper edge of the glides is, when viewed laterally, of convex profile.

6. The shelf according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein each roller segment is generally cylindrical in form with a flat front face having a slot extending radially partly therethrough and axially completely therethrough and terminating at its inward extent in a concave surface to form part of a rotational bearing surface for placement about a common axle in association with an opposed rotational bearing surface provided by another identical mating roller segment; the face opposite the flat front face of each roller has cutaway portions and a common axial projection which in association with circumferentially undercut curved surfaces of each segment enables the roller segments to be snap-fitted together around the common axle. .

7. The shelf according to any one of claims 1 to 4 which includes one or more plate-like dividers attached to or adapted to be 11 attached to the upper surface of the gravity feed mat to extend vertically upwards from the mat at horizontally-spaced intervals to subdivide the mat into rows, the dividers having an upper edge and a lower edge, the lower edge of the divider being formed with a plurality of members projecting downwardly therefrom for snap-fitting the dividers onto the mat.

8. The shelf according to claim 7 wherein the downwardly projecting members are flat, L-shaped hook-like projections, each having a lateral slot, the slot of all projections facing in one direction to enable snap-fitting of the divider into a gap or slot between glides of the mat and around cross members or shafts between the glides.

9. The shelf according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the lower edge of each divider is provided with a plurality of hook-like members each having formed therein a lateral slot all slots being orientated in the same lateral direction.

10. The shelf according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the crests and troughs forming the top edge of the glides are horizontally offset with respect to the crests and troughs of an adjacent glide.

11. The shelf according to any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein when installed on the mat, the rollers project above the convex crests of the upper edge of the glides.

12. The shelf according to any one of claims 1 to 11 12 wherein when viewed in section, the glides have sides tapering downwardly from the convex top edge.

13. A gravity-feed shelf substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. A gravity-feed shelf divider for substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

15. A gravity-feed shelf divider for substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1, and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

16. A gravity-feed shelf, dual segment snap-together micro-roller substantially as hereinbefore described with particular reference to Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.

17. A gravity-feed shelf, dual-segment, snap-together micro-roller substantially as hereinbefore described with particular reference to Figures , 5 to 7 of the accompanying drawings. Dated this I qday of June 2012 PMG ENGINEERING SERVICES PTY.LTD By Our Patent Attorney John L.Davies & Co by John L.Davies