Abstract:
A serpentine product dispenser has a substantially “S”-shaped down chute between a cartridge containing rolling products, an exit port, and a lower feed channel leading to a product selection area. Jam-free feeding of cans from the cartridge is accomplished by forming the down chute in three arcuate sections. An upper arcuate section causes a first can falling through the exit port to impact a second can still in the dispenser, delaying motion of the second can, such that a third can follows the first can. A central arcuate section causes the first can to maintain rolling contact with a second can still in the cartridge, further facilitating the movement of the third can toward and into the down chute. A lower arcuate section directs cans toward the dispenser lower feed ramp and product selection area after they traverse the down chute upper and central arcuate sections.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims one or more inventions which were disclosed in Provisional Application No. 61/871,705, filed Aug. 29, 2013, entitled “Product Dispenser With An S-Shaped Down Chute”; Provisional Application No. 61/871,692, filed Aug. 29, 2013, entitled “Dispenser For Rolling Product And Dispenser Cartridges”; and, Provisional Application No. 61/871,711, filed Aug. 29, 2013, entitled “Dispenser With Wedge For Rolling Products”. The benefit under 35 USC §119(e) of the United States provisional applications is hereby claimed, and the aforementioned applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The invention pertains to the field of product dispensers. More particularly, the invention pertains to a serpentine product dispensing unit that is filled from a bulk rolling product cartridge, container, or hopper. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    A dispenser with a cartridge containing multiple rolling product packages, Bauer (U.S. Pat. No. 7,992,747 for example), accommodates a variety of different bulk packed product shipping cartons [henceforth referred to as “cartridge(s)”] with a variety of can counts or arrangements packed therein. As shown in prior art  FIGS. 1 and 2 , it is often desirable to stack cans two or more wide in the cartridge  10  in its shipping orientation (with the cans vertical therein), or two or more rows high in the “at use” position (when the cartridge  10  is inside the dispenser  20  as shown in prior art  FIGS. 4-18 ). 
         [0006]    This configuration is most commonly known from cartridges  10  for canned soda and other carbonated beverages; however almost any product packed in cans, bottles, or other configuration capable of rolling can be so packaged. This is also true for stacks of nested cans, as shown in prior art  FIG. 3 , where each nested stack functions as if it was a single can. One skilled in the art of dispensers  20  and bulk shipping cartridges  10  will therefore appreciate that the operation of dispensers  20  and cartridges  10  described herein applies equally to rows of single cans, stacks of nested cans, and any packaging configuration that is capable of rolling. Similarly, one skilled in the art will appreciate that dispensers  20  that have hoppers for cans that are manually filled rather than utilizing a pre-fill cartridge  10  function similarly, as the hopper substantially orients cans in the same way a pre-filled cartridge  10  does when the cartridge  10  is inserted into a dispenser. Such bulk shipping cartridges  10  and associated dispensers  20  are more flexible for retailers or brand marketers and assist with the efficient management of supply chains and sales. 
         [0007]    When a pre-filled cartridge  10  is inserted into the cartridge holding area  24  ( FIG. 4 ) of completely empty matching dispenser  20 , such as shown in  FIGS. 4-11 , the cartridge  10  loads and products feed through the dispenser and are generally dispensed to shoppers according to design expectations. Prior art  FIG. 4  shows a cartridge  10  being loaded into a prior art dispenser  20  cartridge holding area  24  after an opening has been made in the bottom of the rear end of the cartridge  10  to allow cans to exit the cartridge  10  and enter the dispenser  20  through an exit port  45 . 
         [0008]    The sequence of events after loading is shown in prior art  FIGS. 5-11  in detail. Starting with prior art  FIG. 5 , the first four cans 1, 2, 3, 4, (henceforth, “can” or “cans” includes, but is not limited to, a conventional metal can or cans, a stack of nested cans, stacks of nested cans, and any other packaging form that is capable of rolling), that exit the cartridge  10  during feeding are critical to the proper operation of the cartridge  10  and dispenser  20  system. It has been found that, after these first four cans 1, 2, 3, 4, exit the cartridge  10  the balance of cans in the cartridge  10  have sufficient room to move inside the cartridge  10  so that no jamming occurs thereafter. The exiting of these first four cans 1, 2, 3, 4 no matter the size or weight of the cans, therefore determines the efficient and reliable feeding of all the cans from the cartridge  10  into and through the dispenser  20  to a product selection location  25  where they can be selected by the consumer. 
         [0009]    Referring again to prior art  FIG. 5 , immediately after the cartridge  10  is loaded into the dispenser  20 , can 1 is free to exit the cartridge  10 , drop vertically downward through the exit port  34 , roll along the down chute  30 , and then roll along the lower feed ramp  40  to the product selection area  25 . Similarly, as shown in prior art  FIG. 6 , can 2 is generally free to also follow can 1, falling vertically downward from the cartridge  10 , through the exit port  45 , into the dispenser  20 , and roll to the product selection area  25 . 
         [0010]    However, experience has shown that successful feeding of cans 3, 4 is largely due to the impacts and vibrations caused by the first cans 1, 2 transiting the dispenser. Impacts and vibrations dislodge products lodged in the cartridge  10  or stuck in between the dispenser down chute  30  and loading ramp  35 , as illustrated in prior art  FIGS. 7 ,  8 , and  10  for example. Thus, reliable dispenser feeding is more a matter of chance rather than a result of a truly functional dispenser  20 /cartridge  10 /can 1, 2, 3, 4 interaction. As shown in prior art  FIGS. 7 and 8 , after cans 1 and 2 exit the cartridge  10 , cans 3 and 4 may be positioned such that they cause a feed jam. While the impact of cans 1 and 2 with the down chute  30  (prior art  FIG. 7 ), or the product selection area  25  (prior art  FIG. 8 ) may cause sufficient vibration in the dispenser  20  to dislodge the feed jam, this is by no means guaranteed and is not always the case. However, assuming such impacts do occur and free can 4 (prior art  FIG. 9 ), it is then free to roll along the down chute  30  to the product selection area  25 , and can 3 follows suit (prior art  FIG. 10 ), followed by the rest of the cans in the cartridge  10  until the dispenser  20  is full of product (prior art  FIG. 11 ). 
         [0011]    Referring now to prior art  FIGS. 12-18 , while restocking the dispenser  20  by inserting a new cartridge  10  full of cans into the cartridge holding area  24  when the lower feed ramp  40  is not empty, there is insufficient can 1, 2, 3, 4 movement to cause such impacts and vibrations. The sequence of events in this circumstance is similar to the events illustrated in prior art  FIGS. 5-8 , that occur when filling an empty dispenser  20 . 
         [0012]    Prior art  FIG. 12  shows a full cartridge  10  being inserted into the cartridge holding area  24  of a dispenser  20  that remains partially filled with previously loaded cans. Immediately after inserting the cartridge  10  (prior art  FIG. 13 ), can 1 is free to move through the exit port  45 , and roll along the down chute  30 , but only until it contacts the rearmost previously loaded can in the lower channel. As shown in prior art  FIG. 14 , can 2 drops immediately down behind can 1, and can 4 is biased to roll over can 3. This restocking situation thus shortens the distance cans 1 and 2 move in the dispenser, which significantly reduces the previously described impacts and vibrations. As shown in prior art  FIG. 15 , when a can is removed from the product selection area  25 , can 1 and can 2 move along the down chute  30 , with can 4 biased to follow by rolling over the top of can 3. At this point, shown in prior art  FIGS. 15-16 , can 3 and can 4 are in a position that may potentially result in a jam. While the cans remaining in the dispenser  20  lower feed ramp  40  may still be selected, the jam (prior art  FIG. 17 ) prevents product movement from the cartridge  10  through the exit port  45 . 
         [0013]    As a result of this sequence of events, products tend to jam either inside the cartridge  10  prior to exiting the exit port  45 , as shown in prior art  FIGS. 12-17 , or within the down chute  30  of the dispenser (prior art  FIG. 18 ), depending on the various relationships between the exit port  45  size, the can diameter, the down chute  30  configuration, and other factors. Such jams are unacceptable because dispensing cans to shoppers becomes unreliable and increases, rather than decreases, the manual labor and time needed to maintain the system, as presently occurs with similar prior art dispensers in stores. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    A serpentine product dispenser is constructed to create a cartridge holding area into which a cartridge holding multiple rows of cans is inserted to load the dispenser. An exit port below the cartridge holding area at the back of the dispenser allows cans to move from the cartridge into the dispenser. A loading ramp at the bottom of the cartridge holding area is oriented at an angle of approximately seven degrees or less, sloping from the dispenser front to the exit port, and biases cans in the cartridge to roll toward the back of the dispenser and into the exit port. A substantially “S”-shaped down chute formed from three arcuate sections is located below the exit port and directs cans through the exit port in a controlled fashion to a lower feed ramp and a product selection area where the cans may be selected by a consumer. Jam-free feeding of cans from the cartridge through the exit port down chute is accomplished by forming the down chute in three arcuate sections. An upper arcuate section causes a first can moving through the exit port to maintain contact with a second can still in the cartridge, delaying the motion of the second can, such that a third can moves into a space previously occupied by the first can. A central arcuate section causes the first can to maintain rolling contact with a second can in the cartridge, further facilitating the movement of a third can into a position previously occupied by the first can as the first can continues to move into the dispenser. A lower arcuate section directs the first can toward the dispenser lower feed ramp and product selection area after it has traversed the down chute upper and central arcuate sections. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  shows an end view of a prior art double row product cartridge. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  shows a side view of a prior art double row product cartridge. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  shows a side view of a prior art stacked double row product cartridge. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  shows a side view of a prior art double row product cartridge partially inserted in a prior art product dispenser. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  shows a side view of a prior art double row product cartridge in a prior art dispenser with a down chute prior to dispensing cans from the cartridge. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  shows a side view of a prior art double row product cartridge at the start of a typical dispensing sequence, with the first cans in each row of product moving toward the prior art dispenser down chute. 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  shows a side view of a prior art double row product cartridge after the first cans in each row of product have entered the prior art dispenser down chute, and the second can of the second row has started to move toward the down chute. 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  shows a side view of a prior art double row product cartridge in which the second can of the second row of product contained in the cartridge has caused a feed jam inside the cartridge. 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  shows a side view of a prior art double row product cartridge in which the feed jam inside the cartridge has been cleared and the second can in the second row of product in the cartridge has moved into the prior art dispenser down chute. 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  shows a side view of a prior art double row product cartridge in which the feed jam inside the cartridge has been cleared and the second can and third can in the first row of product in the cartridge are free to feed normally into the prior art dispenser down chute. 
           [0025]      FIG. 11  shows a side view of a prior art double row product cartridge in which the lower feed ramp of the prior art dispenser has been filled with cans, and the cans remaining in the cartridge are free to feed normally. 
           [0026]      FIG. 12  shows a side view of a full prior art double row product cartridge partially inserted into a prior art dispenser that is partially full. 
           [0027]      FIG. 13  shows a side view of a prior art double row product cartridge in a prior art dispenser with a down chute and a lower feed ramp partially full of cans prior to dispensing cans from the cartridge. 
           [0028]      FIG. 14  shows a side view of a prior art double row product cartridge and partially full prior art dispenser, while the first cans in the first and second rows of product in the cartridge move toward the down chute. 
           [0029]      FIG. 15  shows a side view of a prior art double row product cartridge and partially full dispenser and the motion of cans in the cartridge when a can is removed from the product selection area of the prior art dispenser. 
           [0030]      FIG. 16  shows a side view of a prior art double row product cartridge in which the second can of the second row of product contained in the cartridge has caused a feed jam inside the cartridge. 
           [0031]      FIG. 17  shows a side view of a prior art double row product cartridge in which the second can of the second row of product contained in the cartridge causes a feed jam inside the cartridge even as product is dispensed from a product selection area. 
           [0032]      FIG. 18  shows a side view of a prior art double row product cartridge in which product contained in the cartridge causes a feed jam inside the dispenser when the size of the exit port is increased. 
           [0033]      FIG. 19  shows a perspective view of a prior art down chute and loading ramp. 
           [0034]      FIG. 20A  shows a side view of a substantially “S” shaped down chute and loading ramp with down chute geometry. 
           [0035]      FIG. 20B  shows a side view of a substantially “S” shaped down chute and loading ramp with down chute geometry accounting for cartridge material thickness. 
           [0036]      FIG. 21  shows a perspective view of a substantially “S” shaped down chute and lower feed ramp. 
           [0037]      FIG. 22  shows a side view of a substantially “S” shaped down chute and a lower feed ramp. 
           [0038]      FIG. 23  shows a side view of a product dispenser having a substantially “S” shaped down chute and a lower feed ramp with a product cartridge inserted in a restocking situation. 
           [0039]      FIG. 24  shows a side view of a product dispenser having a substantially “S” shaped down chute as the first cans in each row of product in the cartridge move into the down chute. 
           [0040]      FIG. 25  shows a side view of a product dispenser having a substantially “S” shaped down chute as the first can from the first row of product in the cartridge moves through the down chute. 
           [0041]      FIG. 26  shows a side view of a product dispenser having a substantially “S” shaped down chute and the position of cans from the first and second row of product in the cartridge moving through the down chute after a can is removed from the dispensing area. 
           [0042]      FIG. 27  shows a side view of a product dispenser having a substantially “S” shaped down chute as the first can from the second row of product in the cartridge moves through the down chute. 
           [0043]      FIG. 28  shows a side view of a product dispenser having a substantially “S” shaped down chute and the position of the second can from the second row of product in the cartridge after a can is removed from the dispensing area. 
           [0044]      FIG. 29  shows a side view of a product dispenser having a substantially “S” shaped down chute as the second can from the second row of product in the cartridge moves through the down chute. 
           [0045]      FIG. 30  shows a side view of a product dispenser having a substantially “S” shaped down chute and the position of the second cans from the first and second row of product in the cartridge after a can is removed from the dispensing area. 
           [0046]      FIG. 31  shows a perspective and partial cut away of one embodiment of a substantially “S” shaped down chute and a lower feed ramp within a product dispenser holding a product cartridge. 
           [0047]      FIG. 32  shows a dispenser with a down chute having upper and lower arcuate sections when a full cartridge is inserted. 
           [0048]      FIG. 33  shows the motion of can one through the exit port of a dispenser with a down chute having upper and lower arcuate sections. 
           [0049]      FIG. 34  shows the motion of can two through the exit port of a dispenser with a down chute having upper and lower arcuate sections. 
           [0050]      FIG. 35  shows the motion of can four through the exit port of a dispenser with a down chute having upper and lower arcuate sections. 
           [0051]      FIG. 36  shows the motion of can three through the exit port of a dispenser with a down chute having upper and lower arcuate sections. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0052]    Previous dispenser  20  and packaging design efforts have reasonably assumed that cans would, as shown for example in prior art  FIG. 5 , exit a cartridge  10  in the numbered order according to their starting location in a cartridge  10 ; first can 1, then can 2, then can 3, and then can 4. Various past trial and error attempts to solve product jamming issues were unsuccessful because the cartridges  10  are made from opaque paperboard and it is impossible to see the movement and interactions of the cans 1, 2, 3, 4 inside them. Utilizing a dispenser  20  and cartridge  10  of transparent material it has been found that cans 1, 2, 3, 4 are actually naturally biased to exit, as illustrated in  FIGS. 23-30 , the cartridge  10  in the order: can 1, can 2, can 4, and finally can 3, as can 4 will roll over the top of can 3 before can 3 is able to roll rearward far enough to exit the cartridge  10  through the exit port  45 . 
         [0053]    Accordingly, the general operational goal of the dispenser described herein is to facilitate the dispenser&#39;s natural affinity to have the cans exit in the 1, 2, 4, 3 order, and reliably prevent jamming. To do this, in an easy, simple, elegant, and cost effective manner, it has proven beneficial to impede the rearward movement of can 3, until after can 4 rolls over it and is able to pass by it downwardly into and through the exit port  45 . A number of designs have been explored to accomplish this goal, and jam-free feeding embodiments are included herein that are useful for different diameters and weights of canned products. 
         [0054]    Referring to prior art  FIGS. 4 and 12 , for example, it has been determined through experiments using different loading ramp  35  angles, that a preferable cartridge loading ramp  35  angle of approximately four degrees, up to as much as six degrees, is sufficiently steep to enable cans of some sizes and weights to roll within the cartridge  10 , yet maintain the resting inertia of the lower row (Row 1) of cans sufficiently to allow can 4 to roll over the top of can 3 and downwardly toward the exit port  45 . However, this specification alone is unreliable for two reasons. First, relying on resting inertia alone causes this solution to be entirely dependent on the size and mass of the rolling products (cans). Large, heavy cans tend to work best with this modification because they possess the right combination of resting inertia and gravitational weight to feed most reliably with this specific loading ramp  35  angle. 
         [0055]    On the other hand, as rolling products (cans) become smaller and/or lighter, they are more likely to still jam with this solution alone, because the force of gravity on can 2 and/or 4 is insufficient to overcome the rearward rolling force of can 3 and the balance of the lower row (Row 1) of cans. As a result, as shown in prior art  FIGS. 16-17 , occasionally can 4 still becomes wedged between can 3 and the rear wall  12  of the cartridge  10 . Can 4 is slightly impeded in this case and any vibration at all, such as created by the first two cans 1, 2 impacting and transiting the dispenser&#39;s  20  down chute  30  and lower feed channel  40 , would (as shown in prior art  FIGS. 7-11 ) often, but not always, dislodge can 4 and continue the feeding of all of the cans in the cartridge  10  thereafter. As such, this solution alone is not sufficiently reliable to implement in a commercial setting as it does not completely solve the problems of the prior art. Further when reducing the cartridge  10  loading ramp angle to less than approximately four degrees, the cans fail to overcome friction and do not roll within the cartridge  10 , while angles steeper than approximately eight degrees worsen jamming, and increase dispenser height thus unnecessarily wasting valuable store shelf height space. 
         [0056]    Therefore, additional structural changes are implemented to temporarily impede the rearward movement of can 3 and the other cans in the cartridge  10  lower row (Row 1), so that can 4 may reliably exit the cartridge  10  ahead of can 3. By using the loading ramp  35  angle of approximately four to six degrees and modifying the shape of the dispenser  20  down chute  50 , as shown in  FIGS. 20A-22 , into what can substantially be described as an “S”-shape, cans 1 and 2 naturally align themselves in the down chute  50  and impede, as shown in  FIGS. 23-27 , the rearward movement of can 3 in a controlled manner. 
         [0057]    Prior art  FIG. 19  shows typical dispenser  20  elements that are disposed between the side walls of a dispenser  20 , and define a dispenser  20  back wall  22 , a down chute  30 , lower feed ramp  40 , and a product selection area  25  within the dispenser  20 . Such a down chute  30  contributes significantly to product feed jams as described herein. Referring to  FIGS. 21 and 22 , an improved down chute  50  is shown along with a dispenser  20  back wall  22 , lower feed ramp  40 , and product selection area  25 . 
         [0058]    Referring to  FIG. 22 , the three major sections of the improved down chute  50  are: the upper arcuate section  50   a , the central arcuate section  50   b , and the lower arcuate section  50   c .  FIG. 31  shows the improved down chute  50  in a dispenser  20  in relation to other dispenser  20  elements such as the loading ramp  35 , far side wall  23  (near side wall not shown for clarity), the back wall  22 , the lower feed ramp  40 , the cartridge holding area  24 , the product selection area  25 , and a cartridge  10  containing two rows of cans (Lower Row 1 and Upper Row 2). 
         [0059]    Referring to  FIG. 20A , the improved down cute  50  is formed from three arcuate sections  50   a ,  50   b ,  50   c , connected by generally arcuate transitions. The upper most arcuate section  50   a  has a convex curvature toward the front and top of the dispenser  20 . The central arcuate section  50   b  and lower arcuate section  50   c  have concave curvatures away from the top and front of the dispenser  20 . Together, the three arcuate sections  50   a ,  50   b ,  50   c  form a down chute  50  that is substantially an “S”-curve in shape, wherein the central arcuate section  50   b  of the “S” substantially forms a saddle along with its connections to adjacent arcuate sections  50   a ,  50   c.    
         [0060]    The central arcuate section  50   b  has a concave radius of curvature, “R”, that is preferably slightly larger than three times the radius, “r”, of one of the cans, for example can 3, in the cartridge  10  to direct movement of the cans 1, 2, 3, 4 as they transit the down chute  50 . This embodiment is also applicable to dispensers  20  that use a hopper volume  79 ,  FIG. 20A , for bulk storage of cans rather than a pre-filled cartridge  10 , where the hopper volume  79  is at least the loading ramp  35 , dispenser  20  sides  23  and back  22 . 
         [0061]    As shown in  FIG. 20B , additional tolerances “d” can be added to allow for the thickness “d” of any cartridge material  13  (a cartridge  10  opening flap, for example) that may be moved into contact with the “S”-curved down ramp, as well as the thickness of cartridge material along the cartridge bottom  14 , and back wall  12 . 
         [0062]    Referring again to  FIG. 20A , the down chute  50  central arcuate section  50   b  forms a surface with a radius of curvature preferably slightly larger than “R” (where R is approximately three times the radius “r” of a single can), with that radius having an origin preferably located a distance “r” perpendicular to, and above, the loading ramp  35 , and a distance of “R” perpendicular to, and forward from, the dispenser back wall  22 . In other words, the curvature of concave arcuate section  50   b , as defined by “R”, is generally concentric to the curvature of the outermost contact surface of can 3 in its starting position in the cartridge  10 . 
         [0063]    Shown in  FIG. 20B , the radius of curvature “R” of the central arcuate section  50   b  is increased by at least “d”, where “d” is the cartridge material thickness accounting for cartridge material, such as a cartridge opening flap  13 , extending downward onto the down chute  50 , for example. 
         [0064]    Generally, the arc length of the central arcuate section  50   b  will vary with can size (diameter) and mass. The arc length is preferably dimensioned so that as can 1 and can 2 transit the exit port  45 , can 3 is held stationary long enough for can 4 to pass by it and transit the exit port  45  ahead of can 3. The dimensioning of the arc length at the lower end of the central arcuate section  50   b , as shown in  FIGS. 20A-20B , is such that the central arcuate section  50   b  is preferably maintained, at its extreme forward point, a distance from the rear most and lowest extent of the loading ramp  35  that is greater than one can diameter (&gt;2r). Distances smaller than this value would block can movement through the down chute  50 . Additionally, the central arcuate section  50   b  preferably does not become substantially horizontal at its lower extent, as such a condition may result in cans losing momentum while transiting through the down chute  50  and thereby coming to rest on the central arcuate section  50   b  causing a jam. 
         [0065]    At its upper extent, the central arcuate section  50   b  is preferably below the exit port  45  far enough to allow a can 1, 2, 4 passing through the exit port  45  enough room to gather momentum as it moves out of the cartridge  10  so that the can 1, 2, 4 is moved forwardly when it contacts the upper arcuate section  50   a . This forward movement, as opposed to a simple vertical drop as in the prior art, begins rolling contact with can 3 and enables the can 1, 2, 4 to continue to block rearward movement of can 3 as it transits the exit port  45 , just as it would when the can 1, 2, 4 was previously disposed between can 3 and the rear  12  and  22  of the cartridge  10  and dispenser  20 , respectively. 
         [0066]    The radius of curvature of the lower arcuate section  50   c  is preferably greater than one can radius. The radius of curvature of the upper arcuate section  50   a  will depend on the dimensioning of the central arcuate section  50   b , and generally describe an arc from the rear most portion of the exit port  45  (lower end of the dispenser back wall  22 ) to the upper most aspect of the central arcuate section  50   b . Generally, the transitions between each of the arcuate sections  50   a ,  50   b , and  50   c  are arcuate to facilitate smooth can movement along the down chute  50 , although the precise shape of these transitions is not critical to the function of the down chute  50 , provided they do not impede can 1, 2, 3, 4 movement along the down chute  50 . 
         [0067]    In operation, as shown in  FIG. 23 , when can 1 moves downward and through the exit port  45 , it contacts the down chute  50  upper arcuate section  50   a  and is diverted slightly forward, causing can 1 to maintain contact with can 3 as it enters the exit port  45 , and thus inhibit movement of can 3 long enough for can 1 to fully move to the second arcuate section  50   b , and can 2 to drop behind can 1. 
         [0068]    Referring to  FIGS. 24-25 , the radius of curvature and position of the central arcuate section  50   b , constrains the movement of can 1 such that its circumference remains in rolling contact (see small arrows in  FIG. 25 ) with the circumference of can 3 on the one side, and the down chute  50  central arcuate section  50   b  on the other side as it moves through the exit port  45  and along the down chute  50 . 
         [0069]    Thus, as shown for example in  FIG. 26 , all cans in the row (Row 1) behind can 3 are also held in their position in the cartridge  10 , and can 2 is free to move down into the space previously occupied by can 1. Can 2 now blocks movement of can 3 and all other cans in the lower row (Row 1) of the cartridge  10 , and can 4 is free to roll rearward and downward in contact with the circumference of can 3, and behind can 2. The complete motion of can 2 as it moves from its original position in the cartridge  10  to a position where it is free to move along the lower feed ramp  40  to the dispensing location  25 , is shown in  FIG. 27 . As can be seen in this figure, the upper arcuate section  50   a  and central arcuate section control the movement of can 2 so that rolling contact between can 2 and can 3 is maintained at all times as can 2 transits through the exit port  45  and can 3 cannot move toward the exit port  45 . 
         [0070]    Referring to  FIG. 28 , when a consumer removes a can from the dispensing area  25 , can 4 moves into a position to restrict movement of can 3 and the other cans in the lower row (Row 1) of the cartridge  10 . The complete motion of can 4 as it moves from its original position in the cartridge  10  to a position where it is free to move along the lower feed ramp  40  to the dispensing location  25 , is shown in  FIG. 29 . As was the case with can 2, the upper arcuate section  50   a  and central arcuate section control the movement of can 4 so that rolling contact between can 4 and can 3 is maintained at all times as can 4 transits through the exit port  45  and can 3 cannot move toward the exit port  45 . 
         [0071]    Finally, as shown in  FIG. 30 , as another can is removed from the product dispensing area  25 , can 4 moves through the down chute  50 , allowing the weight of cans in the upper row (Row 2) and lower row (Row 1) of the cartridge  10  to move can 3 to the exit port  45  and downwardly into the down chute  50 . Once this sequence is complete, the remaining cans in the cartridge  10  are free to move, as all the jam related cans have been dispensed through the exit port  45  and along the substantially “S”-shaped down chute  50 . 
         [0072]    In addition to the above substantially “S”-shaped down chute  50  configuration, it has been found that the loading ramp  35  angle of approximately four degrees is preferably increased to a loading ramp  35  angle of between approximately five and seven degrees for very small lightweight rolling products such as cat food tins, tuna fish cans, potted meat products, and the like. 
         [0073]    In an alternative embodiment, shown in  FIGS. 32-36 , the down chute  50  only includes an upper arcuate section  50   a  and a lower arcuate section  50   c . When cans packed in the bulk cartridge or hopper are generally mid-sized, as opposed to small or very large and are of a medium weight, condensed soup cans for example, a central arcuate section  50   b  may be unnecessary in some cases. In this embodiment, cans 1, 2, 4 exit the cartridge  10  and are guided forward by the down chute  50  upper arcuate section  50   a  as they transit the exit port  45 , and held in rolling contact with can 3 in the cartridge  10 , sufficiently to inhibit the motion can 3 and the cans in row behind it, so that cans 1, 2, 3, 4 all exit the cartridge  10  in the one, two, four, three order that prevents jamming. 
         [0074]      FIG. 32  shows a dispenser  20  having a down chute  50  having an upper arcuate section  50   a  and a lower arcuate section  50 C when a full cartridge  10  is first inserted. In contrast to the prior art, where can 1 would simply fall vertically downward through the exit port  45 , the upper arcuate section  50   a  guides can 1 as it moves through the exit port  45 . As shown in  FIG. 33 , as can 1 enters and begins to transit the exit port  45 , it is guided forward by the upper arcuate section  50   a . Can 1 is thus held in rolling contact (see small arrow) with can 3 in the dispenser  20 . Can 3 is thus inhibited from moving toward the down chute  50 , and can 2 moves vertically downward behind can 1 toward the exit port  45 . 
         [0075]    Referring to  FIG. 34 , when can 1 has transited the exit port  45  and reaches the down chute  50  lower arcuate section  50   c , can 2 begins to transit the exit port  45  and is also held in rolling contact (see small arrow) with can 3. Can 3 is again inhibited from moving toward the down chute  50 , and can 4 is free to roll over can 3 (arrow in  FIG. 33 ) and follow can 2 toward be toward the exit port  45 . 
         [0076]    Referring to  FIG. 35 , when can 1 and can 2 have transited the exit port  45  and reach the down chute  50  lower arcuate section  50   c  and lower feed ramp  40 , can 4 begins to transit the exit port  45  and is also held in rolling contact (see small arrow) with can 3. Can 3 is again inhibited from moving toward the down chute  50  until can 4 has moved past the down chute upper arcuate section  50   a.    
         [0077]    Referring to  FIG. 36 , when cans 1, 2, 4 have transited the exit port  45  and reach the down chute  50  lower arcuate section  50   c  and lower feed ramp  40 , can 3 transits the exit port  45 . Hence, the motion of the critical first four cans 1, 2, 3, 4 in the cartridge  10  is controlled so that the cans 1, 2, 3, 4 enter the dispenser  20  in the one, two, four, three order that has been found to prevent jamming. 
         [0078]    Those skilled in the art of dispensers will appreciate that while the word “cans” has been used interchangeably with “rolling products” or “packages”, the improved down chute  50  described herein will work equally well with any products capable of rolling from cartridges  10  and through dispensers  20 . Furthermore, although the improved down chute  50  has been discussed herein primarily with relation to dispensers  20  that accept pre-filled cartridges  10 , as shown in  FIG. 20B , the down chute  50  can also be implemented in dispensers that have bulk loading hoppers that are manually loaded and do not rely on cartridges, as reflected in  FIG. 20A . In dispensers  20  that do not use pre-loaded cartridges  10 , cans align themselves in the bulk loading hopper in such a manner that jams described in  FIGS. 5-18  also occur. Hence the down chute  50  can be equally applied to such dispensers  20 . 
         [0079]    Accordingly, it is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention herein described are merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Reference herein to details of the illustrated embodiments is not intended to limit the scope of the claims, which themselves recite those features regarded as essential to the invention.