Abstract:
A shelf structure is disclosed including multiple module units that are vertically arranged, where a module unit is adapted to receive articles at each article&#39;s location of manufacture to be displayed for purchase in a retail store from the module unit. The module unit includes a main body with at least one hollow section defining an article storage location, where the hollow section is enclosed within a number of panels. A top panel vertically engages and supports an adjacent base panel of another module unit. The shelf structure includes transfer means to engage a material handling device to move the module unit. When multiple module units are stacked in a vertical arrangement, articles displayed within each module unit are freely accessible by a member of the purchasing public in the retail store, when at least one of the panels of the module unit has been removed.

Description:
TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This invention relates to a method and apparatus for managing the display of articles for sale in a supermarket or the like with the aid of a modular shelving arrangement. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    Presently there are a great many steps and large quantities of packaging material required in order to make available to the purchasing public articles for consumption or alternative uses. 
         [0003]    Take for example the current management of having a packet of biscuits made available for sale on a supermarket shelf or the like from its point of manufacture within a factory or the like. 
         [0004]    Generally such a management system requires that once the individual biscuits are wrapped into a sealed package, each of these packs are then re-handled to be stored in most commonly a cardboard container or box. 
         [0005]    Therefore at least the first step in handling the processed article, in this example, of a packet of biscuits, will involve the packing of a series of these biscuits packets into a carton or box. This box needs to be sealed which can be achieved by passing it through an appropriately designed machine to carry out that task or alternatively have an individual or robot available with the means to apply tape or the like to secure the carton or box closed. 
         [0006]    Once the box has been sealed the box itself will require further handling by then being stacked on a pallet or the like, where it will wait until the pallet itself has received enough boxes for a complete load. The pallet with the series of boxes thereon is then wrapped and then sealed and placed in storage for on forwarding to a warehouse or the like of a supermarket that has ordered a particular quantity of these biscuits. 
         [0007]    The pallet full of boxes containing the individual packets of biscuits remains at the warehouse or some kind of storage facility of the supermarket until it is required to be stacked on the shelf or the like within the aisles of the supermarket. When the individual packets of biscuits are required, the individual boxes will have to be opened and then brought to that place along the aisle of the supermarket, and each individually hand-packed or the like into the existing shelf structure making up the aisle. 
         [0008]    Problems with such an arrangement are numerous. 
         [0009]    The individual biscuits require not only the packaging to secure them together as the one item “i.e. as a packet of biscuits” but also the further requirement of at least the carton or box to which the packet is placed into, the pallet in order to transport the cardboard boxes, as well as a shelf structure within the supermarket in order to display the packet of biscuits thereon. 
         [0010]    Therefore beyond the package of biscuits itself, there still is a requirement for a carton box, pallet or the like, as well as an existing shelf structure within the aisle of a supermarket or the like, in order to display this article to the relevant purchasing public for sale. 
         [0011]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for managing the display of articles for sale in a supermarket or the like without the need of packing individual items for sale within a container or the like that then has to be re-opened before the said items can be made available to the purchasing public for sale. 
         [0012]    A further object of this invention is to overcome or least substantially ameliorate some of the disadvantages and shortcomings of the conventional management of the material handling of articles for sale from the location of manufacture to their display for purchase in a supermarket or the like, or alternatively, at least provide the public with an improved method and apparatus adapted to minimize or at least make more convenient the method, means and apparatus required to bring an article to display for sale from its point of manufacture to the supermarket or the like. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    Accordingly, in one form of the invention there is provided a shelf structure having two or more module units vertically arranged, 
         [0000]    said module units adapted to receive individual articles at said articles location of manufacture or completion for usability, said articles ultimately to be displayed for purchase in a supermarket or the like from said module unit,
 
said module unit having:
 
a main body with at least one hollow section that defines an article storage location,
 
at least one of an under side surface and/or an upper side load support surface,
 
said upper load support surface adapted to vertically engage and support an adjacent underside module unit,
 
such that when the or each module unit is stacked in a vertical arrangement, said arrangement forms a self-shelf structure of which individual items displayed within the or each module unit are freely accessible by members of the purchasing public.
 
         [0014]    In preference each shelf structure includes five module units that are vertically arranged in a column. 
         [0015]    Preferably the or each column is adapted to laterally engage an adjacent column, such that, the or each column is adapted to form an array of columns within an aisle of a supermarket or the like. 
         [0016]    An advantage of such an arrangement is that the individual module units by becoming available at the location of manufacture of an article, that will ultimately be displayed for purchase in a supermarket or the like, means that intermediate packaging and material handling arrangements can be avoided to more conveniently and cost effectively make products available within a supermarket or the like. 
         [0017]    Advantageously the module unit replaces the need for a carton box or the like as the individual articles are now handled directly into the module unit which itself will form part of the shelf structure. 
         [0018]    Advantageously as the or each module unit is adapted to vertically engage an adjacent module unit, consecutively stacked module units can form a column which will be similar in functionality to a conventional shelf structure existing within a supermarket or the like. 
         [0019]    Preferably the module unit is adapted to engage a transfer means, for example the forks of a fork list truck. 
         [0020]    Advantageously this feature means that a pallet or the like is now no longer required. 
         [0021]    The stack of vertically aligned module units are therefore easily transportable directly to the supermarket or alternatively for temporary storage in the supermarket&#39;s warehouse or the like. Once the item for sale needs to be displayed for sale in the supermarket, the module units can then be simply brought directly out into the aisle of the supermarket so as to form part of the overall shelving arrangement in the aisle. 
         [0022]    Advantageously the individual module units vertically aligned to form the column provide for their own inherent shelving arrangement. Hence there needs to be no existing shelving arrangement that currently exists in the supermarket or the like. 
         [0023]    For example, presently individual packets of biscuits would need to be removed from a box or the like and then placed on a shelf in the aisle of the supermarket. Advantageously in this invention it is the module unit themselves that forms this shelf structure. 
         [0024]    Hence the module unit of this invention has accepted the packet of biscuits from the location of manufacture and has handled the same packets of biscuits all the way up and including the display thereof in the supermarket or the like, for their ultimate purchase by members of the public. 
         [0025]    In a further form of the invention, the shelf structure created by the module units includes an external framework, which forms a skeleton or the like arrangement within an aisle of a supermarket. 
         [0026]    This external arrangement is characterized by being divided up into individual ribs or grooves where each rib or groove is adapted to slideably receive individual module units or columns of module units. 
         [0027]    An advantage of this further form of the invention is that the external casing or skeleton arrangement of the framework for the shelf allows for the slidable withdrawal of one module unit with respect to an adjacent or another module unit for the reshuffling of modules units within the column. 
         [0028]    For example, the bottom module unit could be replaced by that module unit at the top or alternatively a module unit in the third position within the vertical column could be replaced by the bottom module or vice versa. 
         [0029]    In this form of the invention the same essential theme remains whereby it is the module unit which receives from the point of manufacture that article which needs to be displayed for sale in the supermarket, with the said module unit forming the shelf structure of which this particular item for sale will ultimately be displayed. 
         [0030]    Preferably in one further embodiment of the invention the individual module units are characterized by a series of grooves and ridges which correspond with similar defining grooves and ridges in an adjacent module unit so that when such module units are vertically arranged the mating relationship between the grooves and ridges of said module units assists in stabilizing the unit from lateral or horizontal movement. 
         [0031]    Still further, preferably the side panels of each module unit include substantially along at least part of its external facing grooves and ridges which are defined for a matching mating relationship with an adjacent unit when said module units are positioned side by side. 
         [0032]    Preferably still further, each module unit has the side panels characterized by mating upper and lower shoulders that provide for a mating relationship when module units are vertically stacked one upon the other. 
         [0033]    An advantage of such an arrangement of including corresponding ridges and grooves throughout various parts of the module unit is that such features provide an inherent adaptability for the module units to be placed in close proximity and remain fixed in place from both vertical and lateral perspective. 
         [0034]    The mating between the grooves and ridges establishes a comfortable type friction or snap fit which only becomes disengagable when the module units are deliberately separated by a user. 
         [0035]    Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that grooves and ridges are just one way of establishing a corresponding mating type fit between adjacent and side by side module units. 
         [0036]    The characterization of this particular feature of the invention is the fact that there is some type of interaction between the various panels of the module unit so as to provide a nesting or the like stacking arrangement with one module unit with respect to the other to provide for greater stability. 
         [0037]    In a further form of the invention the panels making up said module unit are each removable individually and independently so as to provide access to the hollow section that defines the article storage location. 
         [0038]    An advantage of such an arrangement is the various panels that make up the main body of the module unit can be independently extracted or drawn from the module unit allowing access to the hollow section that defines where the articles are stored. 
         [0039]    Advantageously, for example in some instances the top panel could be removed whereby access to the hollow section allows an article to be loaded in by this direction. Once loading has been completed and the products are ready to be stored in the module unit the top panel can then be replaced and retracted back into the module unit. 
         [0040]    Again, advantageously when the module unit becomes vertically arranged in a shelf type structure within the supermarket instead of the top panel being removed, the front panel or even the side panel can be removed allowing access to the articles stored therein the module unit via these particular phases. 
         [0041]    In a further form of the invention the module units are adapted to receive frozen refrigerated products by having the underside surface perforated so as to allow the refrigerated air flow to pass there through. 
         [0042]    Preferably, additional ventilation recesses are located on the back panel of the module unit. 
         [0043]    Preferably the modular unit is collapsible. 
         [0044]    In preference, the or each module unit includes a coding means in order to identify the product and quantity within said module unit. 
         [0045]    Presently when a supermarket or the like makes an order, for example, 10,000 packets of biscuits, it only knows that this order is being satisfied once the 10,000 biscuits have been delivered to a particular location, more than likely to the supermarket&#39;s warehouse or other storage area. 
         [0046]    The problem with this arrangement is that in order to verify that the order has been fulfilled it is not possible to have parts of these 10,000 biscuits going directly to several locations, for example two or more supermarket retail outlets. 
         [0047]    If a major supermarket having outlets across the country were to order 10,000 biscuits it would not know if the order has been fulfilled if 3,000 went directly to two locations and 4,000 to one final location. 
         [0048]    However, by having a coding means on each module unit and acknowledging this code once the module unit is received at a specific outlet of the supermarket, central communication means will be able to store the information so as to confirm that the overall order has been completed. 
         [0049]    For example, if 5,000 packets of biscuits were handled into the module units and then sent to one particular supermarket outlet while the remaining 5,000 were put in a separate series of module units for delivery to another outlet, the coding means on each module unit once acknowledged by the particular supermarket outlet could then communicate with the one central processing means to confirm that delivery and fulfillment of the overall order by the supermarket had been achieved. 
         [0050]    Advantageously under this management of the articles for display in the supermarket, bulk orders can be made by supermarkets without the need of first having to send the order to the essential distribution point for on-forwarding to individual outlets. Under the coding means provided with the module units, no central delivery point is required as each individual supermarket can acknowledge that delivery has been made. 
         [0051]    In a further form of the invention there is a method for managing the display of articles for sale in a supermarket or the like with the aid of individual module units, 
         [0000]    said method including the following steps:
 
packing of those articles for display in the supermarket or the like into the module unit at the location of said articles original complete manufacturing or processing,
 
arranging said module units vertically so as to form a single column or the like,
 
transporting vertically arranged module units to a storage or waiting location, either within a supermarket or the like, or at a suitable warehouse or the like,
 
placing said vertically arranged module units within an aisle of a supermarket so as to display said articles for sale to the purchasing public.
 
     
    
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
         [0052]    For a better understanding of the invention it will now be described in relation to preferred embodiments, which shall be described with the assistance of drawings wherein: 
           [0053]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of the prior art management system for the display of articles for sale in a supermarket or like from the point of manufacture to making the article available in the shelf of a supermarket, 
           [0054]      FIG. 2   a  is a perspective view of the module unit making up the shelf structure in one preferred embodiment, 
           [0055]      FIG. 2   b  is  FIG. 2   a  with individual packets of biscuits stored therein, 
           [0056]      FIG. 2   c  is  FIG. 2   a  with a divider member separating different storage compartments within the module unit, 
           [0057]      FIG. 3  shows a column of module units vertically arranged, 
           [0058]      FIG. 4  shows the module units having a cover over the exposed hollow section and including a coding means of identifying the quantity and the like of the articles stored within the module unit, 
           [0059]      FIG. 5  shows two columns of module units back-to-back and wrapped together and ready for transport from the location of manufacture of the articles contained within the module units ready for display in a supermarket or the like, 
           [0060]      FIG. 6  shows a further preferred embodiment of the invention whereby a skeletal shelf arrangement is included as part of the module system that is able to slideably receive a column of module units and individually, if required, support independent module units, 
           [0061]      FIG. 7  is a schematic view of the series of steps required to make available an article for sale in a supermarket or the like from its location of manufacture to the supermarket shelf or the like. 
           [0062]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a further preferred embodiment of a particular module unit making up the invention. 
           [0063]      FIG. 9  shows a further preferred embodiment of a module unit which is adapted to receive frozen and refrigerated articles for storage therein. 
           [0064]      FIG. 10  is a front perspective view showing a further preferred embodiment of the invention whereby the module units of  FIG. 8  are vertically stacked one with respect to the other to form a column. 
           [0065]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view showing the arrangement of the module units in  FIG. 8  vertically stacked as in  FIG. 8  and then in arrangement with columns both side by side and end to end. 
       
    
    
       [0066]    Referring to the drawing now in greater detail,  FIG. 1  outlines schematically the conventional way in which articles for sale in a supermarket or the like are handled from the location of manufacturing to being placed or packed within the shelf of an aisle within a supermarket. 
         [0067]    By way of example, in this preferred embodiment the articles to be managed for display for sale in a supermarket or the like are a pack of biscuits. However, the person skilled in the art appreciates that any article could be displayed using this arrangement. Further, the articles need not be necessarily grocery orientated and could include non-consumable items, for example household utensils and the like. 
         [0068]    Packets of biscuits  10  travel along a conveyer  12  having been individually sealed as a package. A handler  14  is responsible for placing these individual packages of biscuits  10  into a carton box  16 , which then continues along the conveyer  12  to a machine  18  that is responsible for sealing the carton  16  closed. 
         [0069]    This carton containing the packets of biscuits  10  is then placed on a pallet  20 , which is supported on a material handling lift  22  so as to receive a set amount of cartons  16  as represented at  24 . The pallet  20  once filled with cartons  16  as shown at  25  is then normally sent to a central warehouse  26  where it is stacked to await on-forward delivery to a particular supermarket outlet. Normally a truck  28  is loaded with the use of a forklift  30  and sends the filled pallet  20  to the storage area  32  of an individual supermarket outlet  34 . 
         [0070]    When the packets of biscuits  10  need to be displayed in the supermarket  34  the carton  16  is removed by a handler  36  who then unpacks the carton  16  and individually loads the packs of biscuits  10  into existing shelving  38  that make up an aisle  40  at the supermarket outlet  34 . 
         [0071]    Referring now to the apparatus of a preferred embodiments of the invention,  FIG. 2   a  shows module unit  50 . Module unit includes an upper load support surface  52  which is adapted to accept and engage an under side surface  54  of an adjacent module unit  50  in vertical arrangement. The under side  54  of the module unit  50  also includes engagement means  56  so as to be able to communicate with the transport means, for example forks of a forklift, so as to be able to move the module unit  50  or a plurality thereof to a separate location. 
         [0072]    The module unit  50  includes an open hollow section  58  that is defined by opposed side panels  60 ,  62  back panel  64  and the respective inner surfaces  66 ,  68  of the upper load support surface  52  and under side  54 . 
         [0073]      FIG. 2   b  shows the packets of biscuits  10  being positioned within the hollow section  58  of the module unit  50 . The packets of biscuits positioned within the hollow section  58  of the module  50  are readily accessible by members of the purchasing public wanting to buy such items when placed in the supermarket. 
         [0074]      FIG. 2   c  provides a further preferred item that includes a divider panel  70 , which segregates the hollow section  58  up into separate compartments  72 ,  74 . 
         [0075]    The advantage of having the divider panel  70  dividing the module unit  50  up into separate storage compartments  72 ,  74  is that a variety of articles, for example in this preferred embodiment packets of biscuits, can be stored within the one module unit  50 . 
         [0076]    It is to be appreciated by the person skilled in the art that a variety of divider type panels can be included into the module unit so as to create a series of separate compartments allowing independent articles to be stored and displayed there in the module unit  50 . 
         [0077]      FIG. 3  shows the module units  50  vertically arranged as a single column  76 . 
         [0078]    In some preferred forms of the invention this single column  76  forms the same column, which can be introduced within a shopping aisle at a supermarket outlet  34  for the immediate display of items, held there within the respective individual module units. 
         [0079]    In a preferred embodiment as shown in  FIG. 4  covers  78  are attached to the module unit  50 . The module unit also includes coding means  80  which identify the article and the quantity thereof to be displayed within the supermarket. 
         [0080]      FIG. 5  shows the column of module units  76  placed back-to-back with an adjacent column  76 . In this preferred embodiment the back-to-back column  76  are wrapped with a suitable type flexible sheet for improved transport handling. The under side  54  and additional means  56  of the module unit  50  on the respective column  76  enables the module unit  50  to be engaged so as to move the column  76  from the location of manufacturing of the packets of biscuits  10  either directly to a supermarket outlet or to another storage location for on-forwarding ultimately to the supermarket. 
         [0081]      FIG. 6  shows a further preferred embodiment whereby in addition to the column of module units  50 , a skeletal arrangement or framework  82  is included in the shelf structure. This skeletal shelf framework structure  82  is adapted to slideably receive either a full column  76  of individual module units but also by having the shelf skeletal framework  82  including a series of grooves or ridges  84 , allows it to individually receive and/or support individual module units  50 . 
         [0082]    Referring now to  FIG. 7  and the method of managing the display of the packets of biscuits  10  to the aisle of the supermarket outlet  34  from the location of manufacture of the biscuits  10 , there is a conveyor  90  that makes available packs of biscuits  92  according to conventional means. A handler  94  also using conventional methods then packs these packets biscuits  92  directly into the module unit  96 . Each module unit  96  forms a column  98  to which covers  100  are then all proceedingly fixed thereto. 
         [0083]    Each column  98  is then placed back-to-back with an adjacent column  98  where it is then wrapped with flexible material and able to be then handled by a fork lift or the like  102  for delivery by a truck or the like  104  to a supermarket outlet  106 . Once at the supermarket outlet  34  the columns  98  may then be separated and when required by a handler  108  brought out so as to be slideably inserted within an aisle of the supermarket  106 . 
         [0084]    Referring to  FIG. 8  where a particular further embodiment of a module unit making up the shelf structure is detailed. The module unit  119  includes two side panels  120 ,  122  a base and front panel  124 ,  126  and top and base panels  128 ,  130 . 
         [0085]    The module unit shown in  FIG. 8  is such that panels  122  to  130  are each retractable or are able to be withdrawn from the module unit so as to expose the hollow storage section  132 . 
         [0086]    For example, it is possible to slide away the top panel  128  so as to allow access to the storage area  132 . At the point of manufacturing or processing product can be packaged or loaded into the storage area  132  through the top of the module unit  119  by simply removing the top panel  128 . When the product has been packed into the module unit, the top panel  128  can then be returned to its position in the module unit  119 . 
         [0087]    As shown in  FIG. 10  the module unit  119  can be vertically stacked one on top of the other to complete a shelf structure that includes in this particular embodiment a column made up of 5 vertically stacked module units  119 . 
         [0088]    As shown in  FIG. 10  once product  134  is stored within the module unit  119  there is still spacing  136  available for more traditional material handling equipment to access the modular unit  119  in order to lift or separate one module unit  119  from an adjacent or proceeding module unit  119 . 
         [0089]    Nonetheless, as shown in  FIG. 10  the side panels  120 ,  122  in this embodiment include apertures that extend along the breadth of each module unit  119  to which material handling devices could access in order to engage the module unit  119  and transport it to a separate location. 
         [0090]    Referring also to  FIG. 8  the various panels  120  to  130  may also include a series of ridges and grooves  138  and  140  which allow for a slideable type inter engagement with an adjacent or a side by side connecting module unit  119  so as to fixably hold one module unit  119  with respect to the other module unit  119 . 
         [0091]    Advantageously, the characteristic of having the mating grooves and ridges  138 ,  140  on the external surfaces of the panels  120 - 130  provides for an inherent means of fastening one module unit  119  with respect to another either vertically in a column array or side by side in a series of vertical columns making up an aisle or the like within a supermarket. 
         [0092]      FIG. 8  also includes ventilation slits  142  which in this particular embodiment are placed on the front panel  124  of the modular unit  119 . 
         [0093]    Nonetheless, as the person skilled in the art would appreciate such ventilation slits  142 , apertures or the like could be inserted or defined on any of panels  120  to  130  of the module unit  119 . 
         [0094]    The side panels  120 ,  122  also include an upper edge or shoulder which allows an adjacent or upper module unit  119  to have part of its corresponding lower portion of the side panel  120 ,  122  to nest or snug fit between respective module units  119 . 
         [0095]      FIG. 10  best illustrates where the upper shoulder  144  of the module unit  119  can support the lower edge  146  of an adjacent module unit  119  stacked there upon. 
         [0096]    In addition to shoulder  144  to support an adjacent lower edge  146 , there may also be a groove and recess present on such edges and shoulders to provide for a mating relationship thereby securing the individual module units  119  in a more fixed and fastened position with respect to the other, both laterally and horizontally. 
         [0097]    In relation to  FIG. 9  this particular preferred embodiment of the modular unit  150  includes a perforated base panel  152  so as to support and allow refrigerated air flow to pass there through with the assistance of ventilation slits  144  on the back panel of this particular module unit  150 . 
         [0098]      FIG. 11  shows how the individual module units  119  of  FIG. 8  can be vertically stacked one upon the other so as to form columns  160  with said columns  160  forming an aisle  162 . Columns  164  can then be arranged at the opposed ends of columns  160 . 
         [0099]    Advantageously, as the module units  119  making up the end columns  164  can have the side panels removed when required access to articles stored in the module units  119  of column  164  can still be accessed from the same aisle  162 . 
         [0100]    Still further, the various grooves and recesses that characterize the various panels  120  to  130  of the module units  119  allow for the fixing together of the separate module units  119  into a shelf structure that can be defined as shown in  FIG. 11  to include both columns  160  stacked side to side and columns  164  positioned end to end with respect to columns  160 . 
         [0101]    It is to be appreciated by the person skilled in the art, that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to this invention as shown in the specific preferred embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as described. 
         [0102]    Therefore, the present embodiments described above are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, particularly it can be appreciated that there are a variety of intermediate steps, apparatus and material handling ways in which the module unit can ultimately end up as a shelving structure in the supermarket or the like. 
         [0103]    What is important to this invention is that at the location of manufacture articles or items that are to be displayed for sale in a supermarket are packed directly into a modular unit that will ultimately be the same unit that will be used in the supermarket outlet itself to displaying the article. 
         [0104]    It is therefore the intention of this description to incorporate all such arrangements that can affect this direct packing of the articles into a module unit which will ultimately be used in the display of this same item within the supermarket or the like within a shelf structure.