US2917354A - Article merchandiser - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 15, 1959 E. R. NATKE ARTICLE MERCHANDISER s Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 1, 1955 .Il VII.

Dec. 15, 1959 E. R. NATKE ARTICLE MERCHANDISER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 1, 1955 iled Nov. 1, 1955 NATKE 3 Sheet -g 3 United States PatentOfilice 2,917,354 Patented Dec. 15, 1 959 ARTICLE MERCHANDISER Edmund R. Natke, Forest Park, 111.

Application November 1, 1955, Serial No. 544,201

1 Claim. (Cl. 31271) This invention relates to a new and improved article merchandiser.

The grocery store has undergone considerable evolution in the past years. The availability of a store clerk to wait on a customer is now a thing of the past. Everything is self service. In view of this the display and merchandising arrangementv of the goods in a grocery store must cater to and be designed to encourage customers to buy goods in addition to those which they intended to. purchase in the same manner as was accomplished by the verbal urgings'of the old time store clerk. It has been found by actual test that the merchandise which is most effectively sold is located at customer eye range or convenient grasping level. In other words the customer is reluctant to bend down or reach up especially for those goods which they did not intend to purchase when they entered the store.

It is thus a principal object of this invention to provide a merchandising device which will tend to maintain more goods at customer eye range without increasing the floor space of the grocery store.

An important object of this invention resides in the provision of means wherein a vertical stack of goods, such as canned goods, is automatically maintained with the top can thereof at customer eye range.

Another important object of this invention is to sup-. ply a canned goods merchandiser wherein a plurality of stacks thereon are uniformly maintained with the top can thereof atthe same height regardless of how many cans are removed from any of the stacks thereof.

Still another important object of this invention is to provide a canned goods merchandiser wherein the stacks are maintained with the top can thereof at customer eye rangeby means of electrical mechanisms to effect an energizing of a clutch means or the like to cause the mechanical raising of the particular stack wherein a can or cans have been removed so that the new top can thereof is again at customer eye range.

Other andfurther important objects and advantages will become apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the article merchandiser of this invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

t Figure 3 is a perspective view detail of one of the merchandise carrying shelves as employed in the device of Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4- is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the. top portion of the device as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing the switch mechanism thereon in shifted position.

Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 1.

Figure 8 shows a wiring diagram for the electricalcircuits as employed in the article merchandiser of this invention. As shown in the drawings: The reference numeral 10 indicates generally an article merchandiser having a back wall 11 and end walls 12 and 13. The device as shown in Figure 1 is preferably arranged and constructed'to set on the floor by means of small legs or the like 14, but it should be understood that the device may be in the form of a wall fixture and still operate'in the same manner. Generally the article merchandiser is employed to maintain articles for sale or dispensing at substantially customer eyc range or convenient grasping or reading level to increase and enhance the sales of those articles. merchandising stand or case is also a means for display ing the merchandise. Particularly the device is "well suited to the dispensing of canned goods or any goods or articles of uniform size and shape. i The article merchandiser as shown in Figure 2 has a bottom 15 spaced above the short floor engaging legs 14 and constituting the bottom for the merchandise to be positioned in this apparatus. The back, ends, base, and legs constitute the frame supporting structure of this dispenser. The operating mechanism is contained in a chamber beneath the bottom 15 and above the legs 14. This chamber has a front door 16 hinged at 17 to permit access thereto for servicing and/or adjusting the operating mechanism of the device. The gate or door 16 is easily raised about its hinge 17 merely by pulling upwardly and forwardly at the bottom thereof. After the door is swung up against the front surface of the merchandiser the operating mechanisms are exposed for any attention necessary.

The merchandise dispenser or display stand conprises a plurality of laterally spaced divider elements 18 positioned at regular intervals along the length of the merchandiser and leaving spaces therebetween of a size to receive the merchandise desired to be dispensed thereby. Although the spacings of the dividers 18 have been shown uniform in Figure 1 it should be understood that such spacing could be of varying widths to accommodate various sizes of cans or other merchandise which might be placed in this dispenser. Similarly the depth of the dispenser need not be for a plurality of cans or other objects, but may be only for one article or any number as desired. However, it is preferable to employ a dispenser having substantial depth to take and receive numerous articles to be dispensed. A front wall 19, preferably of some transparent material such as clear plastic or glass is employed as an enclosure for the merchandise within the dispenser and yet permit an unimpaired display of the contents to the customers in the store or the like.. The front wall 19 extends upwardly to a position closely adjacent the top of the dividers 18 and defines the top or outermostlevel of goods from which customers remove such merchandise from the dispenser. Figure 4 shows a sectional view through a number of the dividers 18 wherein there is included a plurality of sprockets 20 at the bottom thereof and sprockets 21 adjacent the top thereof. Figure 2 shows an enlarged elevational view through the inside of one of the sections 18 wherein a sprocket 22 is positioned at the rear and top of the divider 18 and a sprocket 23 is disposed at the rear and bottom of the divider 18. A shaft 24 extends transversely through the length of the dispenser as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 4 and carries the plurality of sprockets 20 in spaced apart position thereon. Stub shafts 25 are provided in and secured adjacent the tops of the dividers 18 to receive the sprockets 21. shafts 26 are provided to carry the sprockets 22 and finally a shaft 27 is employed to receive the sprockets 23. It should be noted that the sprockets 20 are drive Further the- Similarly stub 3 sprockets and the sprockets 21 22, and 23 are idlers and define generally a rectangular path for chains 28 which are extended around each set of these four sprockets. Each .divider 18 carries two such sets of sprockets and accompanying shafts and chain to provide for the separate independent lifting of the merchandise shelf 29 between each of the several dividers 18. With this construction the shelves 29 may be at various levels within the dispenser as shown in Figure 4 to thus compensate for irregular removal of certain of the goods from various positions within the entire dispenser.

The detail construction of the merchandise shelf 29 as mployed between each of the dividers 18 in this dispenser is important to the operation of the entire device. The shelves 29 include a top platform 30 upon which the canned goods or other merchandise to be dispensed is piled. The top 30 has downwardly extending side flanges 31 and 32 extending the depth of the shelf. In other words the shelf is long and narrow and extends from the front of the dispenser at the transparent front wall 19 to the back wall 11 of the device. The front end of the shelf 29 has laterally bent flanges 33 and 34 constituting extensions of the side flanges 31 and 32 respectively. These tab ends 33 and 34 act as guide members for the shelf at the front thereof to prevent cocking or other irregular movement of the shelf as it moves vertically within the dispenser. The back or rearward end of the shelf 29 comprises similar tabs 35 and 36 h c e b nt l e y f m th s de f an es 31 and 3. r pect ve y n con itut gu e men s the s el at the'rear of the dispenser. In other words the flanges 35 and 36 abut against the back wall 11 of the dispenser for sliding movement thereon. Similarly the front flanges 33 and 34 slide against the transparent front wall 19 of the dispenser. Intermediate the front and rear ends of the shelf 29 is a member to which is attached the lifting chains 28 and 28a. This member has a projection 37 on one side thereof coming through the wall 31 with a rearwardly bent portion 38 having holes 39 therein. Similarly the member projects laterally through the side wall flange 32 of the shelf 29 as shown at 40 with a rearwardly bent end 41 having openings 42 therein. The openings 42 are axially aligned with the openings 39 and provide for uniform attachment to the spaced chains 28 and 28a.

As best shown in Figure 2 a slot or slit 43 extends vertically substantially midway between the front and rear of the divider members 18. This slot provides passage for the extensions 37 and 40 of the member carry.- ing the merchandise shelf 29. The flanges 38 and 141 are held to the roller chains 28 and 28a by means of rivets or the like 44. It will thus be apparent that movement upwardly or downwardly of the inner flight of the chain 28 will cause a concurrent upward or downward movement of the shelves 29. The shelves move translationally with respect to the base 15 thereof causing the merchandise thereon to be raised to a position where a customer may easily remove articles from the top thereof through the top openings between the several dividers 18. The shelf guide flanges 33, 34, 35, and 36 provide for the stabilized movement of each shelf 29 andprevent tipping or cocking during the vertical movement thereof.

Representative samples of canned goods 45 are applied to the dispenser as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5. The stacks of cans are of a height to enable the top can thereof to project above the front edge of the transparent front wall 19 to permit a customer to remove that top can. When the last exposed can has been removed from between adjacent dividers 18 the entire shelf 29 is automatically raised to a position where the succeeding row of cans 45 is exposed for customer purchase. In order to clearly describe the article dispenser or merchandiser of this invention the spaces between the dividers 18 are identified by he ener l 46. As b shown in Figure 4 th ar icle Shelves or carriage members 29 may be and are disposed at various levels. The function of the different levels may be understood when it is explained that perhaps a customer or a series of customers will remove more cans or goods from one column of goods whereupon that particular shelf 29 will be raised more rapidly within the dispenser than the other shelves. In such event the shelf having the top row of cans or other goods removedtherefrom will be raised so that succeeding rows of merchandise are successively displayed at the top thereof. This upward movement of the shelves 29 will continue untilthere is no longer any merchandise in that column 46. However, as the entire dispenser contains a plurality of spaces 46 there may be several devoted to one type of canned goods or other similar merchandise whereupon it will take substantial periods of time to empty the entire apparatus of this particular goods. And, it should be understood that as long as a position closely adjacent the uppermost displayed row on a switch arm 54a.

of cans 45. This switch actuator is shown more particularly in Figures 5 and 6 wherein the actuator 47 is spring hinged as at 48 to the side wall of the divider 18. A short stud like member 49 is attached to the leaf actuator member 47 and projects through an opening in the wall of the divider 18. On the innerend of the stud 49 there is provided a strip or bar member 50. This member 50 is arranged and constructed to contact a pinlike member 51 which is journally mounted in a bracket 52 dependent from the top of the divider 18. An angle extension member 51:: is integral with the pin or stud 51 and is arranged to engage a spring switch arm 53. The arm 53 carries a contact 53a for engagement or disengagement with a contact 54 suspended or carried In the position of the device in Figure 5 the can 45 on the shelf 29 is disposed at the top or outermost position of the dispenser and has caused the switch actuator 47 to be depressed against the surface of the wall of the divider 18 whereupon the switch contacts 53a and 54 are separated thus breaking the electrical circuit to be subsequently described. The wiring diagram is shown in Figure 8. However, when the last can in the uppermost row between any of the two dividers 18 is removed the switch actuating member 47 is permitted to swing outwardly thus causing reengagement of the switch contact points 53a and 54 to complete the electrical circuit and cause the shelf 29 to be raised until a succeeding can or cans or other articles of merchandise move up into the top or outermost position to again depress the switch actuator 47. If, of course, there are no more articles in the dispenser the shelf will be moved to its uppermost position and thereafter the shelf will stop until such time as more goods are placed therein for display and sale.

The actuating mechanism for the shelf movement of this article merchandiser includes an electric motor 55 which is mounted by supporting brackets 56 to the end wall 12 of the dispenser. A shaft 57 driven by the motor 55 extends laterally from the motor into a gear box 58 also fixedly mounted on the end wall 12 of the dispenser.

is fastened to the shaft 24 by means of a cross pin 64. As shown in Figures 4 and 7 the drive shaft 24 has mounted thereon electrical coils 65 and 65a beneath the floor 15 of the dispenser and adjacent each of the sprockets 20 and 20a carried on the drive shaft 24. It should be understood that the sprockets are merely journalled over the shaft 24 and are not driven directly thereby. However, the electrical coils 65 and 65a are keyed as at 66 and 66a respectively to the drive shaft so that as the shaft 24 is rotatably driven so are the coils 65 and 65a. These electrical coils provide the electro-magnetic means of a clutch to impart drive to the sprockets 2t and 20a to thereby effect a drive of the roller chains 28 and 28a and a raising or lowering of the merchandise shelves 29. A clutch plate 67 forms an integral part of the electrical coils 65 and 65a and provides the mag netic surface for attracting a ratchet wheel 68 which is fastened to the sprocket 20 and similarly journally mounted for free running over the drive shaft 24. When the coil 65 is energized the ratchet wheel 68 and thus also the sprocket 20 will be gripped tightly to the clutch plate 67 by reason of the magnetic attraction created by the coils 65 to provide for the concurrent rotation of the ratchet wheel 68 and the sprocket 20 with the rotating coil and clutch plate 67. This of course causes a raising of the merchandise shelves 29 to place the merchandise at eye level for customers. Movement or energizing of the coils 65 and 65a is occasioned only when there is no merchandise at the top of the chamber 46 between the dividers 18 to thus permit the switch actuator 47 to swing outwardly into the space 46 and thereupon com plete the electrical circuit for energizing the coils. In view of the fact the solenoids rotate with the shaft 24 the electrical connections thereto are of the conventional ring and brush type. As best shown in Figure 7 the end of the solenoid 65 is equipped with radially spaced annular rings 80 and 81 which constitute the terminal endings of the solenoid coils. Electrical contact brushes 82 and 83 springingly engage and make contact with the rings 80 and 81 respectively. The brushes are formed on and are integral with brackets 84 and 85 which are fastened to the underside of the dispenser stationary bottom 15.

As best shown in Figure 2 a pawl 69 having a ratchet engaging portion 70 is pivoted at 71 for rocking movement therearound. The pawl and ratchet 68, 69, 7t and 71 is arranged and constructed to permit rotation of the shaft 24 in one direction only. In other words the shelf 29 may only be moved upwardly by reason of operation of the motor 55 and the energizing of the magnetic clutch 6567 with the ratchet 68 and sprocket 243. A spring 72 anchored at 73 to the housing of this dispenser normally causes the pawl member 70 to engage the ratchet teeth. When it is desired to reload the dispenser of this invention the door 16 is raised permitting the operator to engage the handle 74 which is an extension of the pawl member 69 whereby the operator may push the hand lever 74 downwardly causing the ratchet engaging portion 70 to be raised away from the ratchet wheel 68 against the action of the spring 72 to thus permit the shelves 29 to be moved downwardly for reloading with merchandise to be displayed and sold.

The wiring diagram of Figure 8 shows a source of electro-motive-force 75 being delivered to an electrical circuit containing one side 76 and another side 77. A master switch 78 controls operation of the device. When this switch is closed the motor 55 may be energized when the contacts 53a and 54 of the actuating switch at the top of the dividers 18 are closed. In such event the particular electrical coils 65 and 65a for controlling one shelf 29 causes the magnetic clutch for that shelf to become engaged and thereupon provide for an immediate raising of that shelf. In view of the separate coils for each shelf 29 it is possible to actuate them independently of each other with but a single motor by reason of the employment of the magnetic clutches. Further the mo- 6 tor 55 will only run when any one or more of the plural contacts 53a and 54 are closed. In the device as shown in these drawings it is contemplated the motor will continue to run after all articles are dispensed from the shelf until such time as more articles are placed on the shelf or the master switch 78 is manually turned off.

In the operation of the device of this invention merchandise such as canned goods or the like 45 is piled into the spaces 46 between the dividers 18. The upper surface of the dispenser is preferably at customer eye range level. The dispenser or merchandiser 10 is for the purpose of maintaining goods to. be sold at customer eye level or in a convenient position without constant attendance by a clerk. When the goods such as 45 have been removed from any particular space 46 along the entire depth of the top of that space the switch actuator 47 is allowed to swing outwardly by reason of its inherent spring nature as shown in Figure 6 to thereupon close the electrical contacts 53a and 54 to thus energize the coils 65 and 65a associated with that particular shelf 29 in that particular chamber 46. Thus the magnetic clutch 67 grasps the ratchet-wheel 68 to thus impart rotation to that ratchet wheel and the adjoining sprocket 26 to thereupon cause movement of the roller chain 28 and the spaced apart chain 28a by reason of the energizing of the coil 65a at the same time to thereupon uniformly raise both sides of the relatively narrow and well guided merchandise shelf 29 until such time as the articles on that shelf come upwardly or outwardly into the position of the switch actuator 47 to thereupon depress the leaf spring actuator 47 and open the contacts 53a and 54 to break the electrical circuit and stop further movement of the shelf 29 until such time as that row of goods is removed by customers or the like. It will thus be seen that goods to be displayed and sold are constantly at customer eye range level for convenient taking and to promote sales thereof without the urgings of a store clerk. It should also be understood that the size of the dispenser of this invention may be unlimited and may if desired occupy an entire wall of a store and be filled with one or numerous articles of merchandise to be sold. When the dispenser or merchandiser is emptied it requires an attendant to raise the door 16 and disengage any one of the pawl members 70 by depressing one of the handles 74 to thereupon permit one shelf 29 to be moved downwardly without backing up rotation of the shaft 24 and thus attempt to back drive through the gear box 58 or the motor 55. In other words the clutch 6567 is disengaged when the shelf 29 is lowered at which time new merchandise may be placed in the dispenser and operation of the device may be resumed to dispense articles and maintain them at substantially eye range level as previously explained.

I am aware that numerous details of construction may be varied throughout a wide range Without departing from the principles desclosed herein and I therefore do not propose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A merchandise dispenser comprising a box structure having an open top, a plurality of laterally spaced apart vertically disposed divider members positioned within said box structure and defining a plurality of side-byside vertically disposed compartments, a shaft disposed transversely through said box structure near the bottom thereof and passing through each compartment, a lifting shelf mounted in each of said compartments for vertical translational movement, sprocket means flanking both sides of each compartment and located within each of said divider members at the bottom and top thereof, said bottom sprocket means journalled on said shaft, an electrical circuit including a source of electrical power, and an electric motor, said electric motor arranged to rotate said shaft, chain means mounted on said sprocket means in said divider members, each of said lifting shelves at- 7v tached to one of said chain means on both sides of each of said compartments, said electrical circuit including independent electrically operated clutch means journalled on said shaft within each compartment, said independent electrically operated clutch means drivingly interposed between said sprocket means and said shaft for selectively raising each lifting shelf, said electrical circuit further including a hinged leaf type electrical switch means adjacent the top of said box'structure on one side of each of said divider members and extending substantially the depth of said divider members so there is one such switch means in each of said compartments, said switch means arranged and constructed to individually close said electrical circuit to actuate said electric motor and simultaneously the independent electrically operated 15 clutch means located in the same compartment to thereby effect a raising of the lifting shelf in that compartment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,284,225, Norris May 26, 1942 2,289,807 Schaevitz July 14, 1942 2,479,396 Nelson Aug. 16, 1949 2,604,996 Smith July 29, 1952 2,698,699 Skillman Ian. 4, 1955 2,707,142 Waite Apr. 26 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 421,513 Italy of 1947

Images