GB2439624A

GB2439624A - Improvements in dispensing apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2439624A
Application number: GB0613131A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Anthony Wilbert Lewis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-06-29
Filing date: 2006-06-29
Publication date: 2008-01-02
Also published as: GB0613131D0

Abstract

A pushing element 10 is incorporated into a guide 20. The gap between the pushing element 10 and the stop 21 is an area where one or more articles (not shown) can be placed. As more articles are placed on the guide 20, the pusher element 10 will be moved back along the guide 20 and the distance between the pusher element 10 and the stop 20 will increase. As the pushing element 10 is moved back along the guide 20 away from the stop 21, the teeth 11 of cog 12 will interact with teeth 110 on a track 22 of an underside of the guide 20 causing the cog to rotate. Rotation of the cog will wind a spring 14.

Description

"IMPROVEMENTS IN DISPENSING APPARATUS" This invention relates to

dispensing apparatus and more particularly to dispensing apparatus used to keep articles stored on a guide at one end thereof, such that as the S endmost article is removed the dispensing apparatus will push another into its place.

A conventional dispensing apparatus comprises a pusher element, which is moveable along an elongated guide, and a spring, one end of which is anchored to an end of the guide, the other end of which is coiled around a spool on the pusher element. As the pusher element is moved away from the anchored end of the spring, the coil unwinds; once the pusher element is released, the action of the spring will move the pusher element toward the anchored end. Any article on the guide between the anchored end and the pusher element will be moved with the pusher element toward said end of the guide. A stop at the terminal of the guide will prevent the article from being pushed off the guide altogether.

Disadvantages of the conventional system are that the length of spring required will vary according to the length of the guide: a long guide will require a spring trailing along all its length, with the potential for metal fatigue that this entails in the spring.

Further, because the spring is anchored at one end, the pusher element must follow a straight path along the guide. This last is disadvantageous because in a commercial store it may be desired to move articles along a guide so that rather than being perpendicular to the end of the guide they are stored at an angle thereto to attract consumers' attention.

It is an object of the present invention to remedy the above disadvantages.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dispensing apparatus adapted to be used with an elongated guide, the apparatus comprising a pusher element movable along such a guide so as to displace an article placed on the guide toward one end thereof, wherein the pusher element is driven by a spring which is wound by rotation of a wheel located on the pusher element and in contact with the guide as the pusher element is moved along the guide toward its other end.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided an elongated guide for use with a dispensing apparatus, wherein the guide is provided with a track along which the wheel runs.

"Guide" includes a platform such as a shelf on which an article may be placed, or a bracket from which an article may be suspended.

Preferably the guide is curved.

Preferably the wheel is a toothed cog and the track is formed with complementary * teeth.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be discussed by way of non-limitative example with reference to the following Figures, where:

Figure 1 shows an example of the prior art;

Figure 2 shows a front perspective elevation of the present invention; Figure 3 shows a rear perspective view of the present invention with cut-away details of the pusher element and the guide; and Figure 4 shows how the present invention may be used to create a modular shelving system.

A conventional dispensing apparatus as shown in Figure 1 comprises a pushing element I incorporated into a guide 2. In this case the guide 2 is a shelf on which articles (not shown) may be stored. The guide 2 could equally be a bracket from which an article may be suspended. The gap 3 between the pushing element 1 and one end 2A of the guide 2 is where one or more articles (not shown) will be placed.

As more articles are placed on the guide 2, the pushing element 1 will be moved back along the guide 2 and the distance between the pushing element I and the end 2A of the guide 2 will increase. The pushing element 1 comprises a spool 5 around which is wound a spring 4. One end of the spring (not shown) is fastened to the spool 5. The other end 6 of the spring 4 is anchored to said end 2A of the guide 2. The spring 4 is biased so as to move the pushing element I to the end 2A of the guide 2. As articles (not shown) are placed on the guide 2 between the end 2A and the pushing element 1, the distance between the pushing element 1 and the end 2A of the guide 2 will increase. As articles (not shown) are removed from the end 2A of the guide, the biasing of the spring 4 will drive the pushing element 1 toward th end 2A of the S guide 2. Any remaining articles (not shown) stored on the guide 2 will be moved along with the pushing element 1 toward the end 2A of the guide 2.

The present invention as shown in Figure 2 comprises a pushing element 10 incorporated into a guide 20. In this case the guide 20 is a shelf on which articles (not shown) may be stored. The guide 20 could equally be a bracket from which an article may be suspended. The gap 30 between the pushing element 10 and a stop 21 at the end of the guide 20 is where one or more articles (not shown) will be placed. As more articles are placed on.the guide 20, the pusher element 10 will be moved back along the guide 20 and the distance between the pusher element 10 and the stop 21 at the end of the guide 20 will increase.

Looking now at Figure 3, as the pushing element 10 is moved back along the guide 20 away from the stop 21, teeth 11 of a cog 12 of the pushing element 10 will interact with complementary teeth 110 on a track 22 of an underside of the guide 20, causing the cog 12 to rotate. Rotation of the cog 12 will turn an axle 13 to which the cog 12 is attached which will in turn wind a spring 14 wound round the axle 13. One end of the spring 14 is secured to the axle 13, its free end 16 being anchored to a stop 15 integral with the pushing element 10. As the spring 14 unwinds, the axle 13 will rotate, causing the cog 12 to rotate and drive the pushing element 10 toward the end of the guide 20. Any articles (not shown) stored on the guide 20 will be moved along with the pushing element 10 toward the stop 21.

Figure 4 shows how a plurality of pushing elements 10 and guides 20 may be placed together for example to create a shelf in a supermarket. Articles (not shown) stored on a conventional shelf will be perpendicular to the end 40 thereof, an article (not shown) stored in accordance with the present invention will be substantially perpendicular to the stop 21 and hence face at an angle with respect to the end 40 of a conventional shelf. An article (not shown) thus stored will be more prominent to a consumer travelling in th direction shown by the arrow.

Claims

* CLAIMS: 1. Dispensing apparatus adapted to be used with an elongated

guide, the apparatus comprising a pusher element movable along such a guide so as to displace an article placed on the guide toward one end thereof, wherein the pusher element is driven by a spring which is wound by rotation of a wheel located on the pusher element and in contact with the guide as the pusher element is moved along the guide toward its other end. 10'

2. An elongated guide for use with a dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, * wherein the guide is provided with a track along which the wheel runs.

3. An elongated guide as claimed in claim 2, wherein the guide is curved.

4. A dispensing apparatus and elongated guide as hereinbefore claimed, wherein the-wheel is a toothed cog and the track is formed with complementary teeth.

5. A dispensing apparatus substantially as herembefore described, as shown in and with reference to Figures 2,3 & 4 of the accompanying drawings.

6. An elongated guide substantially as hereinbefore described, as shown in and wth reference to Figures 2,3 & 4 of the accompanying drawings.