IES950529A2 - Dispensing system for merchandise - Google Patents

Abstract

A dispensing system for merchandise comprising a number of receptacles (10) for receiving and retaining units of goods (11) includes means (12,14), for pushing said units (11) forward on removal of a unit (11) forward to the pushing means (12,14). The pushing means (12,14) includes a member (14) engagable with a portion of a rear surface of a unit (11) disposed innermost in the receptacle (10) and means for indicating the number of units of goods remaining at any given time. The receptacle (1) is provided with an extension receptacle (26) which is slidable therein. Extension of the extension receptacle (26) allows for the loading of fresh goods (27) to the rear of existing goods (11). A strut (28) is provided for supporting the extension receptacle (26) in the fully extended position. <Fig.5>

Description

This invention relates to a dispensing system for merchandise, more particularly to a dispensing system for branded goods in retail outlets.

New products and varieties of consumer goods are continually marketed through retail outlets. However, retail shelf space is limited. Maintaining existing shelf space allocation and gaining further space for new products and varieties is a critical problem for all manufacturers of such goods.

Throughout the course of any shopping day consumers pick and choose products from the shelves. This results in many products being displaced from the manufacturers’ assigned and recommended position. It also detracts from the aesthetics of shelf displays.

As consumers remove products from shelf displays, the remaining products tend to be relegated towards the backs of the shelves. This results in the visual impact of the product on-shelf being continuously lessened, thereby, reducing the possibility of purchase of the product.

If any given product is sold out, this creates a gap on-shelf and means that there is no pack representation for a sold-out product.

In order to count on-shelf stock with existing shelf systems, the shelf must first be tidied, brand by brand and variety by variety into individual rows. Units of goods in each row are then counted as accurately as is visually possible, depending on the space between rows and the space between shelves. This method is both inefficient and very often inaccurate.

Competition for shelf space in retail outlets is a critical issue for manufacturers of consumer products. Thus, deriving maximum benefit from allocated shelf space is of major importance to manufacturers.

OPEN TO PUB' l··.

SECTION 28 AND RULE 23 [ JNL. No. *77*7.....OF fat fa ij 950519 In the case of individual and unique pack and bottle shapes, the above problems are magnified and become even more critical.

It will be appreciated that manufacturers and retailers alike wish to avoid out of date product on-shelf and cannot afford to have any product that has reached its expiry date on-shelf. However, to ensure that this problem does not occur, persons stacking shelves must often remove any remaining product from the shelf, stack new product to the rear and reload remaining stock. All of these operations are extremely time consuming and expensive in terms of personnel assigned to these tasks. It will be appreciated that current methods are inefficient, time consuming, laborious and subject to risk of human error.

There is currently no dispensing system for merchandise which solves all of the above identified problems.

The invention provides a receptacle for receiving and retaining units of goods, means for pushing said units forward on removal of a unit forward of said pushing means, said pushing means including a member engagable with a portion of a rear surface of a unit disposed innermost in said receptacle, and means for indicating the number of units of goods remaining at any given time.

The dispensing system according to the invention overcomes the abovementioned problems as hereinafter described.

Preferably, the pushing means is a tension spring.

Further, preferably, the tension spring is located internally of the floor of the receptacle.

Preferably, the unit engaging member is a paddle disposed at the unit engaging end of the tension spring.

This arrangement ensures that goods are pushed forward to the front or top of the receptacle each time one unit of goods is removed. 950929 It will be appreciated that the dispensing system according to the invention results in products being maintained in position despite units of goods being removed, thereby, preserving shelf aesthetics.

As the remaining product is constantly urged to the front or top of the receptacle this increases the possibility of purchase, in contradistinction to current dispensing systems.

The dispensing system according to the invention allows the manufacturer and, indeed, the retailer to derive maximum benefit from allocated shelf space.

The dispensing system according to the invention is ideally suited to individual and unique pack and bottle shapes and sizes.

Further, preferably, the paddle has brand information displayed on its unit engaging surface.

No gaps are created on-shelf and there is pack representation for sold out product.

This feature ensures that when all units of goods have been removed, the purchaser is provided with brand image.

In one embodiment, the receptacle is adapted to receive an extension receptacle which is slidable therein, extension of the extension receptacle allowing for the loading of fresh goods to the rear of existing goods.

Further, preferably, full extension of the extension receptacle disarms the tension spring.

The above embodiment minimises the risk of out of date product remaining on-shelf, because new product can be efficiently and readily loaded at the rear of existing stock. 950529 Preferably, means are provided for supporting the extension receptacle in the fully extended position.

Preferably, the means for indicating the number of units comprises a numbering system disposed on inner walls of the receptacle housing the units and a device for pushing the units to the rear of the receptacle to reveal said numbers and, thereby, permit a calculation of the remaining units to be made.

Suitably the pushing device is a telescopic rod, more especially a telescopic rod which is capable of being extended by variable fixed lengths.

Further, preferably, the pushing device has an arcuate shaped end for engaging units of goods.

By using the pushing device, an operator can push units of goods from the front of a receptacle to the rear thereof, thereby revealing a numbering system on a side wall. The number thereby revealed represents the number of units remaining in the receptacle at any given time.

The receptacle is suitably a tray when the dispensing system is intended for products displayed in a horizontal position on shelves in a retail outlet.

Suitably, such trays are provided with means for engaging adjacent trays so that one can build up a system of any size. Suitably the trays are provided with a male engaging unit on one side which is capable of interengaging with a female unit on an adjacent tray.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention a canopy unfurls revealing branding display as units are removed from the tray housing said units. 95052®' Thus, as units of goods are removed from the front of the tray, the canopy extends along the tray revealing branding display.

In an alternative embodiment, the receptacle is a sheath which is partially or completely transparent.

This embodiment is particularly suited for the dispensing of cans of soft drinks.

The receptacle can be provided with cooling means.

Alternatively, a plurality of the receptacles can be accommodated in a refrigeration unit.

The invention will be further illustrated by the following description of embodiments thereof given by way of Example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a receptacle for use in the dispensing system according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of a side view of the receptacle of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of a number of receptacles of the type depicted in Fig. 1 showing how the receptacles are joined together; Fig. 4 is a schematic representation of a device for moving product in the dispensing system according to the invention; Fig. 5 is a schematic representation of the dispensing system according to the invention provided with extension means; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a receptacle with extension means; 950929 Fig. 7 depicts a spring mechanism used in the dispensing system according to the invention; and Fig. 8 is a schematic representation of a dispensing system for cans of soft drinks in accordance with the invention.

Referring to Figs. 1-3, there is indicated generally at 10 a receptacle which forms part of a dispensing system for merchandise according to the invention. The merchandise in the form of packets of product 11 is accommodated as a snug fit in the receptacle 10. A spring 12 (shown in greater detail in Fig. 7) is accommodated in floor 13 of the receptacle 10 and has a paddle 14 at one end 15 which engages the product 11 and urges it towards front 16 of the receptacle . Paddle 14 can have brand information displayed on its product engaging surface 17. Front 16 can also have brand information displayed thereon.

Each receptacle 10 is provided on its sides 18 with means 19 for engaging adjacent receptacles 10, so that a number of the receptacles 10 can be assembled side by side. Receptacles 10 can also be arranged in a shelf-like arrangement as shown in Fig. 5. In Fig. 3 only male engaging means 19 are depicted.

Referring to Fig. 4, numbers 20 are displayed which are disposed on internal wall 21 of one side 18 of receptacle 10. A device, indicated generally at 22, is provided for pushing product 11 to rear 23 of receptacle 10 so as to reveal the numbers 20 and, thereby, enable one to determine how many units of product 11 remain at any time.

The device 22 is a telescopic rod 24 having an arcuate shaped end 25 for engaging and moving units of product 11.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, there is illustrated receptacles 10 provided with an extension receptacle 26 slidable therein. The extension receptacle 26 allows for loading of fresh product 27 to the rear of existing product 11. When the extension receptacle 26 is fully extended (Fig. 5) the spring 12 is disarmed. Means in the form of a 0 5 2 9? strut 28 are provided for supporting the extension receptacle 26 in the fully extended position.

Referring to Fig. 6, there is indicated a receptacle 10 equipped with an extension receptacle 26. The paddle 14 is shown to travel in a slot 29 provided in floor 13. Vertical lines drawn on internal wall 21 indicate where numbers 20 are displayed in use.

Referring to Fig. 7, there is shown in greater detail spring 12 which is accommodated in floor 13 of the receptacle 10. The spring 12 is anchored at 30 and is constrained to follow the outer edges of receptacle 10 by means of guides 31. At its end 15 spring 12 is attached to paddle 14 and urges said paddle 14 towards front 16 of the receptacle 10. As product 11 is removed a canopy (not shown) can unfurl revealing branding display thereon. Even when all product 11 is removed, the consumer is presented with brand image and also this prompts the store personnel to replace the product.

Referring to Fig. 8, there is depicted an alternative embodiment of the invention with the receptacle for product in the form of a sheath or tube 40 which is transparent and accommodates a number of cans 41 of a cola or other soft drink. A spring 42 is accommodated in base 43 of the sheath 40 and urges cans 41 to the top 44 of the sheath 40.

Sheath 40 can be free standing and can be provided with cooling means (not shown) such as an insulating jacket or insulated walls to keep cans 41 chilled. Alternatively, a plurality of sheaths 40 can be accommodated in a refrigerated unit.

The sheath 40 can be opened adjacent its base 43 to allow cans 41 to be loaded from below. A free-standing sheath 40 will normally be positioned on the customer-side of the counter in a newsagents or store and will be at the same height as the confectionery counter or counters. A can 41 will protrude above top 44 as long as any product remains due to the spring mechanism 42. 9505?·^ The dispensing system according to the invention is a multifunctional retail dispensing system that can fit onto existing in-store shelving units or can be designed specifically as customised shelving units. The receptacles in the form of trays or tubes guard allocated shelf space against all competition advances. Furthermore, the system enables one to keep product within the manufacturer's recommended position in orderly and assigned rows.

The spring mechanism or other means of urging product constantly to the front or to the top, as appropriate, of the receptacle housing the product creates the optimum on-shelf display achievable, which encourages maximum opportunity for consumer purchase.

The system also allows for consistent on-shelf pack representation.

The inclusion of means for indicating the number of units of goods remaining at any given time in the dispensing system according to the invention increases retailer/manufacturer shelf stock counting efficiencies and accuracy in the maintenance of orderly rows. Furthermore, a single action enables one to determine the exact number of product units on-shelf at any given time.

The provision of the extension receptacle in the dispensing system according to the invention encourages personnel stacking shelves to load new product to the rear of the extended receptacle with minimum effort and consequent advantages.

Furthermore, the provision of a strut for supporting the fully extended extension receptacle enables the shelf stacker to extend a long tray to its full length and have complete flexibility to load with both hands.

The dispensing system in accordance with the invention can be designed to accommodate various shelf sizes and will allow products 950529 previously unstackable to be stacked, thus utilising to the maximum allocated shelf space.

Claims (5)

1. Claims: 1. A dispensing system for merchandise, comprising a receptacle for receiving and retaining units of goods, means for pushing said units forward on removal of a unit forward of said pushing means, said pushing means including a member engagable with a portion of a rear surface of a unit disposed innermost in said receptacle, and means for indicating the number of units of goods remaining at any given time.

2. A system according to Claim 1, wherein the pushing means is a tension spring located internally of the floor of the receptacle, and the unit engaging member is a paddle disposed at the unit engaging end of the tension spring.

3. A system according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the receptacle is adapted to receive an extension receptacle which is slidable therein, extension of the extension receptacle allowing for the loading of fresh goods to the rear of existing goods.

4. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the means for indicating the number of units comprises a numbering system disposed on inner walls of the receptacle housing the units and a device for pushing the units to the rear of the receptacle to reveal said numbers and, thereby, permit a calculation of the remaining units to be made.

5. A dispensing system substantially as hereinbefore described, with particular reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1-7 and Fig. 8 of the accompanying drawings.