Patent Publication Number: US-2013240553-A1

Title: Product Dispenser and System with Pivoting Container Support Deck

Description:
FIELD 
     This application relates to the dispensing of products from packaging containers and, more particularly, to product dispensers configured to cooperate with packaging containers to dispense products. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Products are typically shipped to retailers in bulk by enclosing multiple individual product units in a container, such as a carton or box. For example, canned foods may be shipped to a retailer in a box containing twenty-four individual cans. Then, it is typically the retailer&#39;s obligation to remove the individual product units from the container and present them (e.g., on a shelf) to consumers. 
     Alternatives to the traditional package-ship-unpack-display model have been developed in an effort to improve operating efficiency. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,922,437 (issued on Apr. 12, 2011) discloses a product dispensing system that includes a dispenser having a support structure, a product display area and an opening tool. The dispenser may be positioned on a retailer&#39;s shelf and loaded with product simply by placing a container comprising multiple units of product onto the support structure of the dispenser. As the container is being placed onto the support structure, the opening tool of the dispenser opens the container in such a manner that product rolls from the container and down to the product display area of the dispenser under the force of gravity. 
     Unfortunately, product dispensing systems may experience product bridging that prevents products from properly exiting the container and moving through the dispenser. For example, as shown in  FIG. 1 , when a container  2  is positioned on a dispenser  4 , a product  6 A may bridge the gap between the container  2  and product  6 B, thereby preventing the products  6  from passing through the opening  8  in the container  2  and moving into the dispenser  4 . 
     Accordingly, those skilled in the art continue with research and development efforts in the field of product dispensers and systems. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one embodiment, the disclosed product dispensing system may include a dispenser having a front end longitudinally opposed from a rear end, the dispenser including a container support deck extending at least partially between the front end and the rear end, the container support deck being moveable between a first configuration and a second configuration, and a lower support deck positioned below the container support deck, the lower support deck extending at least partially between the front end and the rear end, and defining a product display area. 
     In another embodiment, the disclosed product dispensing system may include a dispenser having a front end longitudinally opposed from a rear end, the dispenser including a container support deck extending at least partially between the front end and the rear end, the container support deck being connected to the dispenser to pivot between a generally horizontal configuration and an angled configuration, and a lower support deck positioned below the container support deck, the lower support deck extending at least partially between the front end and the rear end, and defining a product display area. 
     In another embodiment, the disclosed product dispensing system may include a dispenser having a front end longitudinally opposed from a rear end, the dispenser including a first side wall laterally opposed from a second side wall, a container support deck pivotally connected to at least one of the side walls and moveable between a first configuration and a second configuration, the container support deck having a front end and a rear end, wherein the front end of the container support deck is generally horizontally aligned with the rear end of the container support deck when the container support deck is in the first configuration, and wherein the front end of the container support deck is elevated relative to the rear end of the container support deck when the container support deck is in the second configuration, and a lower support deck positioned below the container support deck, the lower support deck extending at least partially between the front end of the dispenser and the rear end of the dispenser, and defining a product display area proximate the front end of the dispenser, and a container is positioned on the container support deck. 
     In yet another embodiment, disclosed is a method for dispensing products. The method may include the steps of (1) providing a dispenser having a front end longitudinally opposed from a rear end, the dispenser including a container support deck extending at least partially between the front and rear ends, wherein the container support deck pivots between a generally horizontal configuration and an angled configuration, and a lower support deck positioned below the container support deck, the lower support deck extending at least partially between the front and rear ends, and defining a product display area, (2) providing a container initially housing a plurality of products, (3) forming an access opening in the container, the access opening being sized and shaped to allow the products to pass therethrough, (4) positioning the container with the access opening on the container support deck and maintaining the container support deck in the horizontal configuration, and (5) after at least one product exits the container through the access opening, moving the container support deck to the angled configuration. 
     Other embodiments of the disclosed product dispenser, system and method will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a prior art product dispensing system, shown with product bridging within the container; 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of one embodiment of the disclosed product dispensing system with pivoting container support deck; 
         FIG. 3  is a rear and bottom perspective view of the container of the product dispensing system of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of the dispenser of the product dispensing system of  FIG. 2 , shown with the container support deck in a generally horizontal configuration; 
         FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of the dispenser of  FIG. 4 , shown with the container support deck in an angled, dispensing configuration; and 
         FIG. 6  is a side elevational view of the product dispensing system of  FIG. 2 , shown during initial loading of the container onto the dispenser. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It has now been discovered that the occurrence of product bridging in product dispensing systems tends to increase as the angle of the container (relative to horizontal) increases. 
     Disclosed is a product dispenser and system that employs a pivoting container support deck, wherein the container support deck may pivot between an initial, generally horizontal configuration and a subsequent, angled (e.g., declined) configuration. Without being limited to any particular theory, it is believed that product bridging may be reduced or eliminated by initially maintaining the container in a generally horizontal configuration on the dispenser and then, after a certain number of products have exited the container, moving the container to a non-zero angle relative to horizontal (e.g., a declined angle) to allow gravity to urge the remaining products from the container to the dispenser. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , one embodiment of the disclosed product dispensing system with pivoting container support deck, generally designated  10 , may include a dispenser  12  and a container  14 . The container  14  may initially house multiple units of product  16 , such as cans (e.g., canned food), jars (e.g., jarred sauce) or bottles (e.g., bottled soft drinks). When the container  14  is loaded onto the dispenser  12 , the container  14  may release the products  16  from the container  14  to the dispenser  12 . 
     The container  14  may be any container capable of housing products  16  and beneficially interacting with the disclosed dispenser  12  to release the products  16  to the dispenser  12 . For example, the container  14  may be a paperboard carton or a corrugated box. Optionally, at least one major surface of the container  14  may be marked with various indicia, such as printed text and/or graphics. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the container  14  may be a generally rectilinear container having six walls  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28  that define an internal volume  30  for receiving the products  16  ( FIG. 2 ). Opposed walls  18  and  20  may define the front and rear walls, respectively, of the container  14 . Opposed walls  22  and  24  may define the first (e.g., right) and second (e.g., left) side walls, respectively, of the container  14 . Opposed walls  26  and  28  may define the base and upper walls, respectively, of the container  14 . Containers of other shapes and configurations are also contemplated. 
     The base wall  26  of the container  14  may define an access opening  32 . The access opening  32  may be sized and shaped to allow products  16  ( FIG. 2 ) to pass therethrough when the container  14  is mounted on the dispenser  12 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     The access opening  32  may be positioned proximate the rear wall  20  of the container  14 , and may extend generally laterally between the side walls  22 ,  24  of the container  14 . However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the location of the access opening  32  in the container  14  may depend on, among other things, the configuration of the dispenser  12 . 
     Various techniques, including manual and automatic techniques, may be used to form the access opening  32  in the container  14 . 
     In a first aspect, the access opening  32  may be pre-formed in the base wall  26  of the container  14 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . Optionally, a peelable label or the like (not shown) may be applied to the container  14  over the pre-formed access opening  32 . Therefore, the access opening  32  may be revealed by peeling away the optional peelable label from the container  14  prior to loading the container  14  onto the dispenser  12 . 
     In a second aspect, the access opening  32  may be defined by pre-formed weakening features, such as perforations or zipper strips, in the base wall  26  of the container  14 . Therefore, the access opening  32  may be formed by tearing a portion (e.g., a generally rectangular panel) of the base wall  26  away from the container  14  along the pre-formed weakening features prior to loading the container  14  onto the dispenser  12 . 
     In a third aspect, the access opening  32  may be automatically formed in the container  14  as the container  14  is urged along the dispenser  12 . In a first expression of the third aspect, an opening tool associated with the dispenser  12  may form the access opening  32  as the container  12  is urged along the dispenser  12 , as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,922,437 to Loftin et al., the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. In a second expression of the third aspect, a catch element associated with the dispenser  12  may form the access opening  32  as the container  12  is urged along the dispenser  12 , as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/032,734 filed by Gelardi et al., the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the dispenser  12  may include a first (e.g., left) side wall  40 , a second (e.g., right) side wall  42 , a container support deck  44  and a lower support deck  46 . The left side wall  40  may be laterally spaced from the right side wall  42 , and may be generally parallel with the right side wall  42 . 
     The lower support deck  46  may laterally extend between the left and right side walls  40 ,  42 , and may include a front end  48  that longitudinally extends toward the front end  50  of the dispenser  12  and a rear end  52  that longitudinally extends toward the rear end  54  of the dispenser  12 . Therefore, the lower support deck  46  and the side walls  40 ,  42  may define a lower level  56  of the dispenser  12 . 
     The lower support deck  46  may be inclined from the front end  48  to the rear end  52  (i.e., the rear end  52  may be elevated relative to the front end  48 ) such that products  16  deposited proximate the rear end  52  of the lower support deck  46  roll down to the front end  48  of the lower support deck  46  under the force of gravity. 
     A stop  58  may be positioned proximate the front end  48  of the lower support deck  46  to prevent products  16  from rolling beyond the front end  48  of the lower support deck  46 . Therefore, the stop  58  may collect products  16  at the front end  48  of the lower support deck  46 , thereby defining a product display area  60  proximate the front end  48  of the lower support deck  46 . 
     The container support deck  44  may laterally extend between the left and right side walls  40 ,  42 , and may include a front end  62  that longitudinally extends toward the front end  50  of the dispenser  12  and a rear end  64  that longitudinally extends toward, but not to, the rear end  54  of the dispenser  12 . Therefore, the container support deck  44  and the side walls  40 ,  42  may define an upper level  66  of the dispenser  12 . 
     The spacing between the rear end  64  of the container support deck  44  and the rear end  54  of the dispenser  12  may define a dispenser opening  68 , which may function as a chute to allow products  16  to move from the upper level  66  to the lower level  56  of the dispenser  12 . The access opening  32  in the container  14  may be aligned with the dispenser opening  68  of the dispenser  12  when the container  14  is fully loaded onto the dispenser  12 . 
     The container support deck  44  may be connected to the dispenser  12  at a pivot point  70 . The pivot point  70  may be positioned between the front end  62  and the rear end  64  of the container support deck  44 . 
     In one specific construction, the container support deck  44  may be connected to the side walls  40 ,  42  of the dispenser  12  at the pivot point  70 . Therefore, the container support deck  44  may pivot relative to the side walls  40 ,  42  about a pivot axis, which extends into the page in  FIG. 4 . The pivoting movement of the container support deck  44  may allow the container support deck  44  to move between a horizontal configuration, as shown in  FIG. 4 , and an angled configuration, as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , in the horizontal configuration, the container support deck  44  may be generally horizontal (i.e., the rear end  64  may be substantially at the same vertical elevation as the front end  116 ). Therefore, in the horizontal configuration, the force of gravity generally does not urge the products  16  ( FIG. 6 ) supported on the container support deck  44  toward the rear end  64  of the container support deck  44 . 
     The dispenser  12  may include a first stop  72  positioned to engage the container support deck  44  to prevent the front end  62  of the container support deck  44  from pivoting below horizontal. For example, the first stop  72  may protrude from one (or both) of the walls  40 ,  42  of the dispenser  12 , and may be positioned below the container support deck  44  between the pivot point  70  and the front end  50  of the dispenser  12 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , in the angled configuration, the longitudinal axis D of the container support deck  44  may be disposed at a non-zero angle relative to the horizontal axis H of the dispenser  12 . For example, in the angled configuration, the container support deck  44  may be declined from the front end  62  to the rear end  64  (i.e., the front end  62  may be elevated relative to the rear end  64 ) such that products  16  supported on the container support deck  44  roll down toward the rear end  64  of the container support deck  44  under the force of gravity. 
     The dispenser  12  may include a second stop  74  positioned to engage the container support deck  44  to prevent the rear end  64  of the container support deck  44  from pivoting below a certain point. For example, the second stop  74  may protrude from one (or both) of the walls  40 ,  42  of the dispenser  12 , and may be positioned below the container support deck  44  between the pivot point  70  and the rear end  54  of the dispenser  12 . 
     Thus, the second stop  74  may fix the maximum decline angle T of the container support deck  44  (i.e., the angle between the horizontal axis H and the declined axis D). In one expression, the maximum decline angle T may be at most 45 degrees. In another expression, the maximum decline angle T may be at most 30 degrees. In another expression, the maximum decline angle T may be at most 20 degrees. In yet another expression, the maximum decline angle T may be at most 15 degrees. 
     In one optional implementation, the dispenser  12  may be structured such that the container support deck  44  is biased to the angled configuration ( FIG. 5 ) when a container  14  is positioned on the container support deck  44 . Bias to the angled configuration may be achieved in various ways. As one example, the pivot point  70  may be positioned such that the distance between the pivot point  70  and the rear end  64  of the container support deck  44  is greater than the distance between the pivot point  70  and the front end  62  of the container support deck  44 . As another example, the weight of the container support deck  44  may be increased proximate the rear end  64  of the container support deck  44 . 
     In another optional implementation, the dispenser  12  may include a locking mechanism to lock the container support deck  44  in the angled configuration ( FIG. 5 ). For example, the locking mechanism may include a hook or latch that engages the container support deck  44  and locks the container support deck  44  in the angled configuration when the container support deck  44  is moved to the angled configuration. 
     The product dispensing system  10  may be assembled by positioning the container  14  onto the container support deck  44  of the dispenser  12  such that the access opening  32  ( FIG. 3 ) of the container  14  is aligned with the dispenser opening  68  ( FIG. 4 ) of the dispenser  12 . For example, the container  14  may be longitudinally urged toward the rear end  54  of the dispenser  12  along the container support deck  44  until the access opening  32  is aligned with the dispenser opening  68 . 
     During initial loading of the container  14  onto the container support deck  44  of the dispenser  12 , the container support deck  44  may be maintained in the horizontal configuration, as shown in  FIG. 6 . Therefore, once the access opening  32  is aligned with the dispenser opening  68 , the rear-most products  16 ′ in the container  14  may exit the container  14  and move into the dispenser  12  and, ultimately, to the product display area  60 . Since the container  14  is being maintained in a generally horizontal configuration, the remaining products  16  in the container  14  are less likely to move toward the access opening  32  and, as such, are less likely to cause product bridging over the access opening  32 . 
     Once the rear-most products  16 ′ (e.g., the first 3 or 4 products  16 ) have exited the container  14 , the container support deck  44  may pivot to the angled configuration, as shown in  FIG. 2 . The user (e.g., stock clerk) loading the container  14  onto the dispenser  12  may move the container support deck  44  to the angled configuration after seeing (or hearing) an initial product  16 ′ drop through the access opening  32  into the dispenser  12 . In the angled configuration, the force of gravity may urge the remaining products  16  in the container  14  toward the access opening  32  and, ultimately, into the dispenser  12 . 
     Accordingly, the disclosed product dispensing system  10  may reduce or eliminate product bridging within the container  14  by initially maintaining the container  14  in a generally horizontal configuration on the dispenser  12 . Then, after a certain number of products  16 ′ have exited the container  14 , the container support deck  44  may be moved to the angled configuration to allow gravity to urge the remaining products  16  from the container  14  to the dispenser  12  without bridging. 
     Although various embodiments of the disclosed product dispenser and system have been shown and described, modifications may occur to those skilled in the art upon reading the specification. The present application includes such modifications and is limited only by the scope of the claims.