Patent ID: 8905246
Filing Date: 2014-12-09
Classification: A47F

Abstract:
1. An article dispensing apparatus comprising: a first product dispenser assembly for supporting and dispensing a series of articles comprising a product of first quality, a second product dispenser assembly, said second dispenser assembly for supporting and dispensing a series of articles of a second quality, said first product support assembly occupying a defined first space, and said second dispenser assembly occupying a defined second space proximal to said defined first space, a supporting frame, said supporting frame defining a third space for housing both said first product dispenser assembly and said second product dispenser assembly, wherein said first product dispenser assembly is mounted on said supporting frame to define a first shelf, wherein said first shelf includes at least a first pair of substantially parallel guide rails for supporting and dispensing said series of articles comprising said product of first quality, wherein said first shelf further includes at least a second pair of substantially parallel guide rails for supporting and dispensing said articles comprising said product of first quality, said second pair of substantially parallel guide rails being spaced transversely on said first shelf with respect to said first pair of substantially parallel guide rails, and wherein said second product dispenser assembly is juxtaposed in a transverse space between said first pair of substantially parallel guide rails and said second pair of substantially parallel guide rails, said second product dispenser assembly being connected to one of said substantially parallel guide rails in said first pair of substantially parallel guide rails, such that said apparatus is adapted to dispense both said products of first quality and said products of said second quality from said third space defined by said supporting frame, and wherein said first space defined by said first product dispenser assembly and said second space defined by said second product dispenser assembly is confined within said third space defined by said supporting frame, wherein said second product dispenser assembly for supporting and dispensing a series of articles of second quality comprises a support for dispensing said row of said articles of second quality, said row comprising at least first and second articles in said row aligned serially and axially with respect to each other on said support, said support having a first end and a second end, said first end defining a display location for said first article in said row of articles, and means for automatically axially indexing said row of articles longitudinally on said support such that said second article in said row of articles is moved to and occupies said display location upon removal of said first article from said display location, wherein said means for automatically axially indexing said row of articles longitudinally on said support includes a pusher member on said support adapted to axially engage said second article in said row, and a first resilient member operatively coupled between said support and said pusher member for urging said pusher member toward said display location in an axial direction extending from said second end of said support toward said first end of said support, further including a second resilient member on said support proximal to said display location for engaging said first article in said row when it is positioned at said display location.