Patent ID: 8047400
Filing Date: 2011-11-01
Classification: A47F,G07F

Abstract:
1. An improvement in a gravity-feed display and dispensing apparatus in which rolling articles, each having a generally circular profile configuration including a center of rotation and a predetermined diameter, are advanced by gravity in a first generally longitudinal direction along an upper chute from a loading location to a transition location where the rolling articles are transferred to a lower chute located vertically below the upper chute to advance by gravity in a second generally longitudinal direction, opposite to the first longitudinal direction, to a dispensing location, the apparatus including a transition chute at the transition location, the improvement including a retarding arrangement at the transition chute for retarding the speed of movement of a rolling article as the rolling article moves from the loading location to the dispensing location, the retarding arrangement comprising: a plurality of retarding members placed at the transition location in position serially along the transition chute to engage a rolling article, first above the center of rotation of the rolling article for directing the rolling article downwardly along the transition chute, then below the center of rotation so as to direct the engaged rolling article toward the second longitudinal direction, and then above the center of rotation so as to direct the engaged rolling article from the transition chute into the lower chute for advancement along the lower chute in the second longitudinal direction to the dispensing location; the serially positioned retarding members thereby gradually retarding the speed of movement of the rolling article through the transition chute to limit the magnitude of forces generated by reversal of the direction of movement of the rolling article and to avoid excessive speed of movement of the rolling article upon arrival of the rolling article adjacent the dispensing location.