GB2418912A - Product feed and display arrangement - Google Patents

Abstract

A product feed apparatus comprises a chassis 1 with an elongate slot 7. A shuttle unit 2 has shaped formations (8,9 fig 3) that enable it to slide within the slot 7. The shuttle unit 2 has a pusher plate 11 attached to it and extending upwardly from it. One end of an elastic tether 5 is attached to the shuttle and extends around a pulley 3, mounted about a shaft 4, and the other end is anchored to a point 12 towards the rear of the apparatus. A plurality of products located for sale or display on the apparatus are sequentially moved forwards by the biasing action of the elastic tether as each product at the front of the stack is removed.

Description

' 2418912

VARIABLE RATE FEEDER

This invention relates to a variable rate, anti jam, product feeder.

Product feeders are well known items m every day use, by which the product for sale or on display is pushed forwards by a spring driven unit These spring driven units are however notorious for being aggressive in their action, of limited variation in rate throughout their range, having a sharp spring accessible by the customer, and are prone to jamming in a fashion which can damage the product, make it cliff cult to load and overall project a poor corporate image.

According to the present invention there is a pusher unit attached to a hidden elasticated drive mechanism which is protected from extraneous matter and the public by its design, which gives an extremely linear variation in thrust throughout the range of the unit, enabling the unit to provide a consistent product pressure at the delivery end of the unit.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig I is a longitudinal side section of the unit.

Fig 2 is a plan view of the unit showing the tether stretched.

Fig 3 is a perspective view of the shuttle unit.

Fig 4 is a cross section of the chassis.

The chassis I fig l is formed of a rigid material and is designed in a box section I f g 4 with a slot 7 along the majority of its length. The shuttle unit 2 fig 3 engages with this slot 7, with the rubbing surfaces 8 engaging with the inside of the chassis l fig I and the rubbing surfaces 9 fig 3 which are designed in such a way as to prevent dirt or debris affecting them, engaging with the outer surface of the chassis 1 fig l enabling the shuttle unit 2 fig 3 to slide within the chassis I fig I. The rubbing surfaces 8 fig 3 and 9 fig 3 preventing the shuttle unit 2 from being removed from the chassis!. A chassis end cap 12 fig I is held in place by a fixing or bonding, providing a stop for the shuttle 2 and a fixing point for the tether or tethers 5.

A pulley 3 fig 1 or plurity of pulleys, is attached to the chassis l by way of a shaft 4 (or shafts), the pulley 3 (or pulleys) rotating freely on the shaft or shafts 4. A tether 5 (or plurity of tethers) is threaded through an orifice 13 in the shuttle 2 and crimped or knotted 6, alternatively the tether 4 can be bonded to the shuttle 2. The tether 5 is made of an elasicated material such as rubber, silicone, latex, or any material with an elastic stretch :- of 100% or more. This tether 5 is wrapped round the pulley 3, turning it through 180 degrees. The tether 5 then passes down the length of the chassis I and is attached to the chassis I at the opposite end to the pulley by a crimp 6, adhesive or other form of fixing.

The shuttle 2 fig 3 has a pushing plate 11 attached to or as part of the shuttle 2. When the product is loaded onto the unit the pushing plate 11 pushes the shuttle 2 along the length of the chassis I stretching the elasicated tether 5. The effort the tether 5 exerts on the shuttle 2 increases in a linear fashion as the shuttle 2 is pushed backwards or loaded. This effort can be adjusted by any or all of the following to give the correct characteristics for the product the unit is required to push number of tethers 5, sectional area of tether or tethers 5, type of material the tether or tethers 5 is made from and pre-load of the tether or tethers 5.

The complete unit is effective in any orientation.

Claims (12)

1. Claims 1. A product feeder arrangement comprising a shuttle pusher secured

   to a drive mechanism comprising an elastic member anchored to a chassis base, the elastic member extending about a pulley end to bias the shuttle pusher towards the pulley end in a pull direction.
2. 2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pulley end is secured on a shaft.
3. 3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the elastic member is allowed to slip relative to the pulley end.
4. 4. An arrangement as claimed in any of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the pulley end rotates upon extension and contraction of the elastic member.
5. 5. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the chassis base is substantially rigid.
6. 6. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the chassis base has a box section to accommodate the drive mechanism.
7. 7. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the chassis base has a slot.
8. 8. An arrangement as claimed in claim 7 wherein the shuttle pusher enters the slot and is guided to the pull direction.
9. 9. An arrangement as claimed in claim 8 wherein opposed parts of the slot and the shuttle pusher are in rubbing contact.
10. 10. An arrangement as claimed in any of claims 7 - 9 wherein the slot has an end cap.
11. 11. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the shuttle pusher has an upstanding pusher plate to co-operate with the chaises base to define a display for products.
12. 12. A product feeder arrangement substantially hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

    12. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the l O pull direction is linear.

    13. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim where there is a plurality of elastic members and respective pulley ends.