EP3202286B1 - Goods presentation unit - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a goods presentation unit according to claim 1

The present disclosure relates to the field of retail product storage and presentation units. More particularly, the disclosure relates to retail merchandise presentation units in which the product packages or bundles are loaded from a front end of the presentation unit.

The US 2008/156752 A1 . WO 2015/191398 A1 . US 2005/077259 A1 . US 2007/158281 A1 . WO 96/25074 A1 . US 6 142 317 A WO 02/089104 A2 and US 2014/190917 A1 show known conveyors for goods.

Goods presentation units are known in particular as modular goods presentation units that can be mounted on a shelf individually, side by side or vertically separated from each other. The product packages or bundles may be driven by gravity to a front end of the merchandising unit, for example, a sloping floor and a plurality of rollers may be used, so that the drive is realized solely by gravity. At the front end, the product packaging will pass through held a barrier. Once product packaging is removed, the remaining product packages are forced by gravity toward the barrier.

Other types of merchandise display units use a pretensioned platen or pusher which contacts the rearmost product package and urges all packages arranged on the merchandise display unit in a row toward the front end of the merchandise display unit.

In some configurations, the goods presentation units are loaded from the top. In the case of gravity-driven goods presentation units, the product packages are simply placed on the bottom of the goods presentation unit. In pusher-driven merchandise display units, the pusher is moved backwards and product packaging is inserted into the space between the barrier and the pusher. Then the pusher is put into operation.

The object of the present invention is to provide a product handling unit which is easier to handle, in which the product packages are efficiently forced to the front end of the goods presentation unit.

This object is achieved with the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

The invention is based on the idea to provide a goods presentation unit in which a goods presentation base is modularly formed with a pusher track, which is formed by latching means with a pusher bar for latching with a pusher and / or has at least a gravity-operated barrier at a front end of the goods presentation base , which is designed to be rotatable about an axis extending substantially perpendicular to the plane of the Pusherbahn. The above-described alternatives are intended to be particularly disclosed as independent inventions and in combination with each of the features described below.

According to an alternative aspect of the invention that can be combined in particular with the present invention or disclosed aspects of the invention, the goods presentation unit has at least one pusher which can be mounted with the pusher bar and is guided along the pusher bar and can be moved up to the front end cap. This is preferably spring actuated, in particular by means of a helical spring, wherein the front end cap preferably has a retaining groove for a arranged at the end of the coil spring tongue, and wherein the at least one pusher preferably at its bottom inwardly directed sidebars, which has a channel for inserting the pusher bar define.

According to a further aspect of the invention which can be combined, in particular independently or in combination with the presently disclosed aspects of the invention, a product presentation unit is disclosed with a pusher having an adjustable pusher surface. By adjustable is meant in particular the size of the pusher surface and / or the shape of the pusher surface, in particular by unfolding or extending one, preferably designed as Rotierarm, movable on the pusher arranged component. The component is preferably latched or latched to the pusher housing.

According to a development of the goods presentation unit, the latter has at least one product row separator which extends in particular in a direction parallel to the at least one pusher track and / or in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the at least one pusher track. Preferably, the at least one product row separator with the at least one pusher track and the front end cap is formed as a unit, in particular inseparable and / or from a single material. According to the invention, the goods presentation unit has a rear barrier at a longitudinal end of the at least one pusher track opposite the front end cap. In a development of the present invention, the pusher track, the front end cap and the rear barrier are formed as a unit, preferably inseparable and / or from a single material.

According to a further advantageous aspect of the present invention, the front end cap has mounting features for fixing / securing the front end cap on a front strip extending in a direction transverse to the length of the at least one pusher track.

In a development of the present invention, the goods presentation unit has, in particular, means for urging the product packages along the goods presentation base in the direction of the front end cap. The means for urging in particular have a roller conveyor with a plurality of rollers. The roller conveyor is preferably inclined, in particular with a gradient, so that the force of gravity Product packaging in the direction of the gravity-actuated barrier is formed urgent.

Insofar as method features are disclosed in the above description, these should also be regarded as being disclosed in accordance with the device or be claimable as a method.

Figur 1

eine Warenpräsentationsbasis mit einer schwerkraftbetriebenen Frontbarriere gemäß einer Ausführungsform der Erfindung,

Figur 2

Pusherleisten zur Verwendung mit einer Ausführungsform der Warenpräsentationseinheit,

Figur 3

eine Ausführungsform einer montierten Warenpräsentationseinheit mit zwei Produktbehälterreihen, jede mit einem Pusher, um die Produktbehälter in Richtung einer Barriere am vorderen Ende der Warenpräsentationseinheit zu drängen,

Figur 4

Teile einer Ausführungsform eines Pushers zur Verwendung mit einer Ausführungsform der Warenpräsentationseinheit,

Figur 5

eine Expositionsansicht einer Ausführungsform einer schwerkraftbetriebenen Frontbarriere,

Figur 6

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer doppelseitigen, schwerkraftbetriebenen Frontbarriere in einem geschlossenen Zustand,

Figur 7

eine Ansicht der Barriere gemäß Figur 6 in einem geöffneten Zustand zum Einführen einer Produktverpackung,

Figur 6A

eine alternative Ausführungsform einer Frontbarriere mit einer Rücksetzfeder,

Figur 7A

eine perspektivische Detailansicht der Ausführungsform gemäß Figur 6A in einem geöffneten Zustand der Frontbarriere,

Figur 8

eine Vorderansicht der Ausführungsform gemäß Figur 3 in geschlossenem Zustand der schwerkraftbetriebenen Barriere,

Figur 9

eine Vorderansicht gemäß Figur 8 in geöffnetem Zustand der Frontbarriere,

Figur 10

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung mit einstellbaren Pushern in einer minimalen Flächenstellung,

Figur 11

eine Ansicht der Ausführungsform gemäß Figur 10 mit einer maximalen Flächenstellung mit maximaler Breitenausdehnung,

Figur 12

eine Ansicht der Ausführungsform gemäß Figur 10 mit einer maximalen Flächeneinstellung mit maximaler Höhe,

Figur 13

eine perspektivische Detailansicht des Pushers gemäß Figuren 10 bis 12,

Figur 14

eine geschnittene Seitenansicht der Ausführungsform gemäß Figur 13,

Figur 15

eine geschnittene Frontansicht der Ausführungsform gemäß Figur 13 mit einer Rastnase und einem Zahnrad,

Figur 16

eine perspektivische Expositionsdarstellung einer Ausführungsform des Pushers,

Figur 17

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Pushers mit einer Schraubenfeder,

Figur 18 bis Figur 21

Montageschritte zur Montage der Ausführungsformen gemäß Figur 17 mit einer Warenpräsentationseinheit,

Figuren 22 bis 24

perspektivische Darstellungen zur Montage einer Ausführungsform der Produktleiste mit einer Ausführungsform einer Warenpräsentationsbasis,

Figuren 25 und 26

eine Querschnittsdarstellung einer Montage einer Ausführungsform einer Pusherleiste mit einer Pusherbahn,

Figuren 27A und 27B

eine alternative Ausführungsform von Pushern,

Figuren 28 und 29

eine alternative Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Warenpräsentationseinheit mit Montageschritten zur Montage an einer Frontleiste, und

Figur 30

eine perspektivische Darstellung einer Ausführungsform einer Warenpräsentationseinheit.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments and from the drawing. This shows in:

FIG. 1

a merchandise display base having a gravity-operated front barrier according to an embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2

Pusher bars for use with an embodiment of the merchandise presentation unit,

FIG. 3

an embodiment of an assembled goods display unit with two product container rows, each with a pusher to urge the product containers towards a barrier at the front end of the goods presentation unit,

FIG. 4

FIG. 1 shows parts of an embodiment of a pusher for use with an embodiment of the merchandise presentation unit; FIG.

FIG. 5

an exposure view of an embodiment of a gravity-driven front barrier,

FIG. 6

a perspective view of a double-sided, gravity-driven front barrier in a closed state,

FIG. 7

a view of the barrier according to FIG. 6 in an opened state for introducing a product package,

FIG. 6A

an alternative embodiment of a front barrier with a reset spring,

FIG. 7A

a detailed perspective view of the embodiment according to FIG. 6A in an opened state of the front barrier,

FIG. 8

a front view of the embodiment according to FIG. 3 in the closed state of the gravity-driven barrier,

FIG. 9

a front view according to FIG. 8 in the open state of the front barrier,

FIG. 10

a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention with adjustable pushers in a minimum area position,

FIG. 11

a view of the embodiment according to FIG. 10 with a maximum surface position with maximum width extension,

FIG. 12

a view of the embodiment according to FIG. 10 with a maximum surface adjustment with maximum height,

FIG. 13

a detailed perspective view of the pusher according to FIGS. 10 to 12 .

FIG. 14

a sectional side view of the embodiment according to FIG. 13 .

FIG. 15

a sectional front view of the embodiment according to FIG. 13 with a latch and a gear,

FIG. 16

a perspective exposure representation of an embodiment of the pusher,

FIG. 17

a perspective view of a pusher with a coil spring,

FIG. 18 to FIG. 21

Assembly steps for mounting the embodiments according to FIG. 17 with a goods presentation unit,

FIGS. 22 to 24

perspective views for mounting an embodiment of the product bar with an embodiment of a goods presentation base,

FIGS. 25 and 26

a cross-sectional view of an assembly of an embodiment of a pusher bar with a Pusherbahn,

Figures 27A and 27B

an alternative embodiment of pushers,

FIGS. 28 and 29

an alternative embodiment of a goods display unit according to the invention with assembly steps for mounting on a front panel, and

FIG. 30

a perspective view of an embodiment of a goods presentation unit.

In the figures, the same components or components with the same function with the same reference numerals.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a goods presentation unit with a goods presentation base 11 as described below. The goods presentation base 11 has in particular at least one pusher track 18, which extends in particular from a front end cap 16 to a rear barrier 14. A product row separator 12 may be attached to the merchandise presentation base 11 and oriented in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the pen web 18. In the embodiment shown, a second push track 18 is disposed on the opposite side of the product row separator 12. The second Pusherbahn 18, in particular on the edge of a shelf, be omitted / omitted. Furthermore, a gravity-operated front barrier 20 may be mounted on an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the pusher track 18 and / or parallel to the product row separator 12. The front barrier 20 may include one or two gravity-operated front barrier doors, discussed below with respect to FIG FIG. 5 be explained. The goods presentation base 11, in particular with the exception of the front barrier 20, as an individual part, in particular by injection molding of a suitable plastic, preferably one, preferably impact-resistant, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene or another suitable plastic with appropriate mechanical properties are formed.

FIG. 2 shows examples of a pusher bar 19, which can be clipped into the corresponding Pusherbahnen 18 to a corresponding pusher 22 (see FIG. 3 ) to be mounted on the merchandise presentation base 11. The pusher bar 19 is in relation to the FIGS. 20 to 24 explained in detail and may in particular be made of metal, preferably made of aluminum, or of plastic or formed of another material having suitable mechanical properties.

FIG. 3 FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of a composite merchandise display unit 10 including two pushers 22 and a two-panel front barrier 20 assembled with the merchandise presentation base 11.

FIG. 4 11 shows an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of a pusher adjustable pusher 22. The pusher may include a rotatable rotating arm 22A having a product contact surface. Product contact area is the area of the pusher 22 which points in the direction of the front end cap 16 or in a goods feed direction. Furthermore, the pusher 22 has a pusher housing 22B on which the rotary arm 22A can be mounted. An exemplary embodiment of the pusher 22 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS FIGS. 10 to 16 described.

FIG. 5 11 shows an exploded view of one embodiment of a gravity-operated front barrier 20 having at least one (first) gravity-operated barrier door 20C rotatably mounted to the merchandise presentation base 11 by a hinge pin 20B. Furthermore, the front barrier 20 may have a second gravity-actuated barrier door 20A rotatably disposed on the merchandise presentation base 11, in particular using the same hinge pin 20B. The first barrier door 20C may include an oblique hinge 20C1 that cooperates with a hinge 20A2 on the second barrier door 20A so that the first barrier door 20C is raised along the axis of the hinge pin 20B as the first barrier door 20C is rotated, the plane of the first barrier door 20C being rotated first barrier door 20C is moved in the direction of the plane of the product line separator 20 (see arrow in FIG FIG. 6 ). In this way, gravity will cause the first barrier door 20C to be in the closed position according to FIG FIG. 1 rotates. The second barrier door 20A may have a corresponding oblique hinge 20A1 which cooperates with the hinge 20C2 on the first barrier door 20C to realize the second gravity closure function according to the first barrier door 20C. In some embodiments, particularly at the edge of a shelf, only a single (first) barrier door 20C may be used. In this case, features may be provided on the hinge pins 20B corresponding to the hinge 20A2 of the second barrier door to fix the slant hinge 20C1 and to realize the gravity closing of the first barrier door 20C.

In an alternative embodiment, the first barrier door 20C and / or the second barrier door 20A may be weighted, in particular by casting, to have a suitable shape and / or weight distribution in the barrier door material such that gravity forces the barrier doors to close (also without closing) Installation of a slanted joint 20C1 / 20A1), wherein the barrier doors are preferably pivotally coupled to the goods presentation base, which is preferably inclined in the direction of the barrier doors.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective detail view of a double-sided, gravity-operated front barrier 20. The first barrier door 20C and the second barrier door 20A are shown in a closed position so that product containers are prevented from falling off the merchandise presentation base 11, although they are urged toward the front end cap 16 by gravity or pushers. FIG. 6 also shows the separator 12 and one of the pusher bars 19 and the front end cap 16. FIG. 7 shows a similar view according to FIG. 6 wherein the barrier doors 20C and 20A are arranged in an open position. In order to open the barrier doors 20A, 20C, according to the embodiment shown, it is sufficient to push the product packaging through the respective barrier door 20A, 20C towards the rear barrier of the merchandise presentation base 11. Once the product packaging has been passed through the barrier doors 20A, 20C, the barrier doors will be gravity locked in place FIG. 6 shown closed position, so that the product packages are held by the product presentation of the base 11 and the separator 12 series. Product packages can be removed by lifting them individually or together over the corresponding barrier door 20A, 20C.

According to one in the Figures 6A and 7A In the alternative embodiment shown, the front barrier doors 20A, 20C are replaced by one or more springs 20D upon returning to the closed position shown in FIG FIG. 6A supported. The springs 20D cooperate with the oblique hinge 20A1, 20C1 to push the barrier door down, forcing the front barrier doors 20A, 20C to the closed position. As far as the barrier doors 20A, 20C are opened, the springs 20D are compressed, exerting additional force in cooperation with the oblique hinges to close the barrier doors 20A, 20C.

FIG. 8 shows a front view of the goods display unit 10 with the barrier doors 20A, 20C in the closed position. The corresponding pushers 22 are also in FIG. 8 shown. FIG. 9 shows a front view of the goods display unit 10, wherein the barrier doors 20A, 20C in the open position for introducing product packaging (not shown) are arranged. Furthermore, a channel 27 can be seen, through which the pusher bar 19 is connected to the pusher 22. The channel 27 may in particular be formed by two opposing, inwardly facing sidebars 25, the purpose of the channel 27 being described below with respect to FIG FIGS. 22 to 24 is described in detail.

The FIGS. 10 to 12 11 show perspective views of an embodiment of the merchandise presentation unit 10 to explain the function of the adjustable surfaces of the pushers 22. The adjustability of the product contact surfaces of the pushers 22 serves to optimally force product packages of different sizes toward the barrier doors 20A, 20C without damaging, jumbling and / or pinching the product packages. In FIG. 12 The rotary arm 22A is in a closed position relative to the pusher housing 22B to minimize the contact area of the pusher for smaller product packages. In FIG. 11 For example, the rotating arms 22A are in a horizontal position to maximize the width of the contact surface of the pusher 22 to optimally push wide product packages toward the front barrier doors 20A, 20C. In FIG. 12 the rotating arms 22A are in an opposite to the closed position according to FIG FIG. 10 oriented position or upwards to push high product packaging particularly good forward. As for FIGS. 13 to 16 further explained, the rotatable arms 22A may also be used in directions other than the three exemplified in FIG FIGS. 10 to 12 be oriented directions in order to optimally apply different types of packaging.

FIG. 13 shows a front view of an embodiment of a pusher 22. The pusher 22 may be formed of two different components, in particular the rotary arm 22A and the pusher housing 22B. At the bottom of the pusher housing 22B, in particular at least one and in the present embodiment, two spring receptacle 22C may be provided, of which a spring (see FIG. 17 ) to exert a spring force on the pusher 22 in the direction of the front barrier 20.

FIG. 14 shows a sectional side view of the pusher according to FIG. 13 , The pusher housing 22B has in particular latching tabs 22B1 arranged in a circular pattern (see FIG FIG. 16 ) are arranged to hold the rotary arm 22A on the pusher housing 22B. In particular, the rotary arm 22A may have a circular opening 22A1 to define the latch tabs 22B1 and allow rotation of the rotary arm 22A about the axis of the latch tabs 22B1.

FIG. 15 FIG. 12 shows an exemplary embodiment of the rotary arm 22 having a pay wheel 22A2 that may be formed as a single unit with a rotating arm 22A. The gear 22A2 defines a detent pin 22B2 that may be integrally formed with the pusher housing 22. The detent pin 22B2 (as well as the pusher housing 22) may be formed of a material that is resilient to the extent that the gear 22A2 is held in a selected rotational position by the detent pin 22B2, in particular allowing rotation of the rotary arm 22A by manual force.

FIG. 16 shows an exploded perspective view of the pusher housing 22B and the Rotierarms 22A, wherein the locking tabs 22B1 are clearly visible than in the previous figures. The pusher 22 can be mounted on the locking tabs 22B1 by pressing the rotating arm 22A with the rotary arm 22A locked to the pusher housing 22B. FIG. 17 shows a rear view of the pusher 22, wherein a recess in the back of the pusher housing 22 B receives a flat coil spring 23. One end of the spring 23 extends through one of the slots 22C, so that the coil spring 23 is unwound when the pusher 22 is pressed toward the back 14 of the merchandise display base 11. Here, the coil spring 23 is biased toward the front of the goods presentation base 11.

The FIGS. 18 to 21 show an embodiment of a connection between the end of the spring 23 and the end cap 16 of the merchandise display base 11. The spring 23 may have at its end a notched tongue 23A engageable with a slot 16A in the end cap 16 by rotation of the pusher 22 is inserted into the slot 22 that the narrow portions of the grooved tongue 23 A in the slot 16 A are joined (see FIGS. 19 and 20 ). In the in FIG. 21 As shown, the pusher 22 is rotated back to its original position to attach it to the merchandise presentation base thereby locking the tongue 23A in the slot 16A.

The FIGS. 22 to 24 show the joining of the pusher bar 19 at the Pusherbahn 18. In FIG. 22 the spring 23 is attached to the end cap 16 as described above with respect to FIGS FIGS. 18 to 21 has been described. The push bar 19 can then pass through the channel 27 (see FIG. 8 ), which is formed by the inwardly directed sidebars 25. In FIG. 23 the pusher bar 19 is lowered with the mounted pusher 22 on the Pusherbahn 18, wherein the pusher bar 19 in the in FIG. 24 shown position with the Pusherbahn 18 locked (locking means).

In the embodiment shown, the pusher bar 19 is clipped into the pusher track 18 so that it snaps there by appropriate Formations are provided on the bottom of the pusher bar 19 and on the Pusherbahn 18. Such forms are exemplary in the FIGS. 25 and 26 shown. According to FIG. 25 can the pusher bar 19 at the bottom of two oppositely outwardly projecting latching strip 19 A have from which may be formed on the bottom of the pusher bar 19. The latching strips 19A may extend in sections or over the entire length of the pusher strip 19. If the pusher bar 19 is produced, for example, by extrusion, in particular extruded aluminum, the in FIG. 25 shown used for the extruder. In other embodiments, the pusher bar 19 made of plastic, in particular thermoplastic, formed and the cross section according to FIG. 25 can be used for the mold. In the embodiment described above, the pusher track 18 may have two opposing inwardly projecting tabs 18A which cooperate with the latch tabs 19A of the pusher bar 19 to lock them together. Thus, the push bar 19 can be assembled by pressing the pusher bar 19 in the Pusherbahn 18 with this, so that the corresponding latching strips 19A, 18A interlock to lock the pusher bar 19 on the Pusherbahn 18. A composite cross-sectional view of the pusher bar 19 and the pusher track 18 is shown in FIG FIG. 26 shown.

The Figures 27A and 27B show a goods presentation unit 10 'with an alternative pusher 22', which is designed like the pusher 22 described above with the exception of the formation of an expansion surface, which is formed in the embodiment shown here as an extension plate 40, the side of a in Figure 27B shown position with a minimal pusher surface into one Figure 27A shown position can be pulled out with a maximum pusher surface. For this purpose, the pusher 22 'has a corresponding to the extension plate 40 Receiving channel, wherein the maximum extraction position according to Figure 27A is realized by a stop, not shown.

Furthermore, the pusher 22 'on its underside in the direction of the front end cap 16 arranged support 41, so that a voltage applied to the pusher product packaging is not only applied to the pusher surface, but also rests on the support surface 41.

The support surface 41 has in particular at the front lower edge of a chamfer 42 which abuts in a maximum retracted position in the direction of the front end cap 16 on a counter to the chamfer 42 corresponding inclined surface 42 to limit the maximum feed of the pusher 22 '.

According to a further embodiment, the goods presentation unit 10 can be fastened to a front strip 24 which permits a lateral movement of the goods presentation unit 10 in order to be able to receive additional goods presentation units of different width and configuration.

In FIG. 27 an embodiment of the merchandise display unit 10 is shown mounted on the front panel 24, the end cap 16 having means for holding the merchandise display unit 10 on the front panel 24 while allowing lateral movement along the front panel 24 transversely to the length of the merchandise display unit 10.

According to FIG. 28 The end cap 16 has an upwardly directed projection 16A which fits into a corresponding groove 24A on the front panel 24. Preferably, the projection 16A and the groove 24A are the only holding elements for fixing the goods display unit 10 to the front panel 24. The projection 16A is activated by raising / tilting the goods display unit 10 the rear barrier is inserted into the groove 24A and fixed by lowering the merchandise display unit 10, the merchandise display unit 10 being held by the weight of the merchandise display unit 10 and, optionally, the product packages stored thereon. Thus, the goods presentation unit 10 in the simplest way with the front panel 24 can be mounted.

FIG. 30 shows a non-inventive example of a goods display unit 10 with a gravity-operated front barrier or door as in relation to FIGS. 1 to 7 described. The Pusherbahn 18 has in the present case a roller conveyor 32 with a plurality of rollers 32A. This is fixed at its front end to a front panel 34. A separator 12A can be fixed to the front strip 34. A pusher is not needed. A rear barrier 29 may be disposed at a selected position along the length of the row separator 12A, so that the depth of the product row may be restricted. The roller conveyor 32 can be mounted so that it is inclined in the direction of the front panel 34, that has a slope. The gravity-operated door or barrier 20 may be fixed to the front panel 34 and may have means that the door or barrier 20 is self-closing after product packages have been inserted through the door or barrier 20 into the product line.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

Product display unit

11

Product display base

12

Product line separator

14

rear barrier

16

front end cap

16A

head Start

18

Pusherbahn

19

Pusherleiste

20

front Accessible

20A

hinged doors

20A2

joint

20B

hinge pin

20C

barrier door

20C1

oblique joint

20C2

joint

20D

feather

22, 22 '

pusher

22A

Rotierarm

22A1

opening

22A2

gear

22B

Pushergehäuse

22B1

snap tab

22B2

Indexing plungers

22C

spring slot

23

coil spring

23A

notched tongue

24

front bar

24A

groove

25

sidebars

32

roller conveyor

32A

roll

34

front bar

40

pusher plate

41

edition

42

chamfer

43

sloping surface

Claims (11)

1. A product display unit, comprising:

   a product display unit base (11) comprising a forward end cap (16) at one longitudinal end of the product display unit base (11);

   at least one pusher track (18) extending in a longitudinal direction of the product display unit base (11) from the forward end cap (16) to a rear barrier (14), the pusher track (18) comprising a locking feature for retaining a pusher rail (19) in the pusher track (18), the pusher rail (19) comprising a corresponding locking feature such that the pusher rail (19) is locked or lockable into the at least one pusher track (18) by compression of the pusher rail (19) against the at least one pusher track (18); and

   at least one pusher (22) guided along and mountable with the pusher rail (19), the at least one pusher (22) being movable until the forward end cap (16).
2. The product display unit of claim 1 wherein the at least one pusher (22) comprises an adjustable area pusher face.
3. The product display unit of claim 2 wherein the adjustable area pusher face comprises a rotatable paddle (22A) mounted to the pusher (22).
4. The product display unit of claim 3 wherein the pusher housing comprises locking tabs, in particular arranged in a circular pattern, extended through an opening in the rotatable paddle (22A).
5. The product display unit of claim 4 wherein the rotatable paddle (22A) or the pusher housing comprises a toothed wheel and the other of the pusher housing or the rotatable paddle (22A) comprises a detent pin such that the rotatable paddle is locked in a selected rotational orientation with respect to the pusher housing.
6. The product display unit of claim 1 further comprising:

   at least one gravity operated barrier disposed proximate the forward end cap (16), the at least one gravity operated barrier is particularly rotatable along an axis substantially perpendicular to a plane of the at least one pusher track (18) in a direction away from the forward end cap (16) whereby product containers are insertable through the gravity operated barrier by longitudinal movement against the at least one gravity operated barrier.
7. The product display unit of claim 6 wherein the at least one gravity operated barrier comprises a beveled hinge disposed on a hinge pin, the beveled hinge cooperatively contacting a second hinge on the hinge pin such that rotating the at least one gravity operated barrier lifts the at least one gravity operated barrier vertically away from a plane of the at least one pusher track (18).
8. The product display unit of claim 10 further comprising at least one spring cooperatively engaged with the beveled hinge to urge the at least one gravity operated barrier, in particular downwardly.
9. The product display unit of claim 1 further comprising at least one product lane divider (12) extending in a direction parallel to the at least one pusher track (18) and/or in a plane substantially normal to a plane of the at least one pusher track (18), wherein the at least one product lane divider (12), the at least one pusher track (18) and the forward end cap (16) are formed as a unit, in particular inseparable and/or made of a single material.
10. The product display unit of claim 1 the pusher rail (19) comprising two opposed, outwardly projecting snap fit locking strips (19A) formed into the bottom of the pusher rail (19).
11. The product display unit of claim 1 wherein pusher rails (19) are clip mounted or clippable into respective pusher tracks (18).

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