Abstract:
A system for controlled advancement of product. Systems of this invention includes a track and pusher system as well as a motor. The motor couples to the track and pusher system, controlling forward movement of the pusher along the track and thereby controlling the speed at which product is advanced for access by the consumer.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION DATA  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/674,880, filed Apr. 25, 2005, incorporated herein by this reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates generally to a system for advancing product on a shelf and, in particular, to a device allowing controlled forward movement of product.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     Theft of small items in retail stores is an all too common problem. Items that are in high demand by thieves include over-the-counter (OTC) products such as analgesics and cough and cold medications, razor blades, camera film, batteries, videos, DVDs, smoking cessation products and infant formula. Shelf sweeping is a particular problem for small items. Shelf sweeping occurs when individuals or groups remove all the shelf stock and exit the store, similar to a “smash and grab” shoplifting technique. Shelf sweeping relies on excessive quantities of product being available on the shelf. Retailers must keep substantial inventory on shelf or incur the cost, including labor costs, of constantly restocking.  
         [0004]     In addition to preventing theft, retail stores may want to limit the purchase of certain items. For example, to make methamphetamine, large quantities of cold medication are needed. Pseudoephedrine, the sole active ingredient in many cold medicines and decongestants, is also a key ingredient in methamphetamine, a powerful and highly addictive stimulant.  
         [0005]     Retailers are constantly challenged to balance the needs of legitimate consumers&#39; access to high theft items with measures to minimize the incidence of theft. Because theft has become so rampant in certain product categories, such as razors and infant formula, many retail stores are taking the products off the shelves and placing them behind the counter or under lock and key. Customers must request the products in order to make a purchase. This requires additional labor costs to provide individual service to customers who would normally not require it. It also makes it difficult for customers to compare products. Furthermore, it may be impossible where the space behind the counter is limited and is needed for prescription medications. In some cases, products are simply unavailable due to high pilferage rates. Therefore, a device or dispensing apparatus that minimizes the incidence of product theft is needed.  
         [0006]     A common problem at pharmacies and grocery stores is ensuring that consumers have access to cold medication, but at the same time deterring theft or multiple purchases for the production of drugs. A solution to the problem of sweeping is to limit the amount of cold medicine each customer is allowed to purchase. However, this requires additional labor and is not feasible where many stores now allow customers the option to check themselves out without the help of a cashier. Furthermore, this solution also keeps lawful products out of the hands of lawful consumers. Finally, legislation may be required to in order to limit such purchases.  
         [0007]     Studies have shown that a desirable form of theft deterrence is to cause time delay between the dispensing of multiple products. Would be thieves are less likely to steal products if there is a substantial delay between the dispensing of individual products. It is also desirable to achieve time delayed dispensing of products in cost effective manner.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0008]     Systems of this invention provide controlled advancement of product on a shelf unit. As a first product is removed from the shelf unit, the products located behind the one that was removed must move forward. A pushing device of one embodiment of this invention includes a pusher, a track and a motor. The motor couples to the track and pusher system, controlling forward movement of the pusher along the track and thereby controlling the speed at which product is advanced for access by the consumer.  
         [0009]     Forward movement may be controlled using a resistance motor. External gear components on the motor engage gear components on the pushing device track, so that limitation of rotation of the external gear components controls movement of the pusher of the pushing device. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a pushing device according to embodiments of the invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the pushing device of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the motor of the pushing device of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a rear view of the pushing device of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged perspective view of the track of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view in partial cross-section of the pushing device of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the spring of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0017]     Certain embodiments of the invention comprise a pushing device  10 , such as a product pushing device, for advancing product. For example, it may be desirable to position product close to the edge of a shelf unit. As a first product is removed from the shelf unit, the products located behind the one that was removed must move forward. A pushing device may be used to accomplish the forward movement of product.  
         [0018]     According to certain embodiments, pushing device  10 , shown in  FIGS. 1-2  and  4 - 5 , comprises a pusher  12 , a track  16 , and a motor  18 . Pusher  12  includes a pushing ram  20  that engages product (not shown) and pushes product forward. As shown in  FIG. 1 , pushing ram  20  includes a front surface  22  for engaging product and a rear surface  24 . In one embodiment, shown in the figures, the pushing ram  20  is rectangular plate, although other suitable shapes and geometries may also be used. Pusher  12  includes gusset  26  (shown in  FIG. 2 ), reinforcing pusher  12  and providing a housing for spring  48  (further described below).  
         [0019]     As shown in  FIG. 4 , extension  28  of pusher  12  extends beyond the bottom portion  26  of pushing ram  20 . In this manner, extension  28  engages lip  30  of track  16 , so that pusher  12  is in sliding engagement with track  16 .  
         [0020]     As shown in  FIGS. 1, 4  and  5 , track  16  includes a central channel  42  having side walls  38 . Exposed gear teeth  44  on side walls  38  of central channel  42  project into channel  42  and engage external gear of the motor  18 , as further described below. It should be understood that the gear teeth may be positioned in various other manners along the track and maintain the functionality of the pushing device.  
         [0021]     As shown in  FIG. 6 , spring  48  extends through a small slot  49  in the pusher  12  and attaches to the lip  51  of the track  16 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , end  53  of spring  48  includes aperture  54  that engages post  55  of track  16 . Spring  48  may also be attached to pushing device  10  in any other suitable manner. Movement of pusher  12  toward the back end of the track  16  unwinds spring  48  so that spring  48  urges pusher  12  in the forward direction. The spring may preferably be a constant force spring, such as those sold under the trademark Conforce®g, but many other types of springs, such as a variable force spring, may also be used.  
         [0022]     Motor  18  is attached to pusher  12 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , motor  18  includes a housing  50  and an external gear  46 . Motor  18  is positioned on pusher  12  so that external gear  46  extend into channel  42  of track  16  and engage gear teeth  44 . According to certain embodiments, one such motor is a resistance motor, such as the resistance motor Model #w217 sold by Vigor, although other types of motors may also be used.  
         [0023]     The pushing device may preferably be associated with a display device (not shown) for housing displayed product It may be preferable that the display device be made of a translucent material such that the products stored within the display case are visible. Product can be loaded in pushing device  10  by forcing pushing ram  20  backwards along track  16  and placing multiple units of the product against the pushing ram  20 . A lip or wall may be located at the front of the display device so that the multiple units of product are located between pushing ram  20  of product pusher  10  and the lip. As described above, spring  48  causes the pushing ram  20  to exert force on the products towards the front of the track  16 . Resistance motor  18  preferably allows pushing ram  20  to be forced backwards freely for loading of the product.  
         [0024]     As one product is selected from the front of pushing device  10 , the compression of the spring  48  causes pushing ram  20  to move forward and the external gear  46  to rotate along gear teeth  36  of track  16 . This in turn causes the remaining product to move forward along track  16  until the remaining products engage the front lip  51 . Resistance motor  18 , however, substantially reduces the speed of this forward progression. The internal gears of the resistance motor are preferably configured to provide resistance to the forward movement by limiting the rotation of the external gear  46 . Because the external gear  46  engages gear teeth  44  of track  16  and the external gear rotation is limited, the movement of pushing ram  20  and therefore the remaining product to the front of track  16  is substantially slowed.  
         [0025]     The display device is preferably configured so that only one product may be removed at a time. The display device is also preferably configured so that product may only be removed when it is at the front of the display device. This requires someone who wants to remove more than one product from the device to wait for several seconds between removal of each product, which has been found to be a substantial deterrence to product theft.  
         [0026]     According to certain embodiments, the pusher and track may all be made from molded plastic, although numerous other materials may be used if desired. The gear teeth may preferably be molded into the track in the desired orientation.  
         [0027]     According to certain embodiments, the pushing device may be used with product hanging hooks (not shown). Product hanging hooks may be configured to slide along the track. As a first product is selected, a spring may cause the subsequent product to move forward along the track. Resistance motors may preferably be used with each hook to slow the progression of the subsequent product by limiting the rotation of the external gear along the gear teeth of the rack gear.  
         [0028]     While the invention has been described in detail with particular reference to the disclosed embodiments, it will be understood that variations and modifications can be affected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described herein.