US3028014A - Dispensing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

April 3, 1962 H. soUTHwlcK 3,028,014

DISPENSINGAPPARATUS Filed oct. 15, 1959 JNVENTOR. HAROLD SOUTHWICK ATTORNEYS United States Patent @ffice tlZgili Patented Apr. 3, 1962 3,028,014 DISPENSING APPARATUS Harold Southwick, Rte. 1, Box 119, Willits, Calif. Filed Oct. 15, 1959, Ser. No. 846,570 1 Claim. (Cl. 211-49) This invention relates to a dispensing apparatus and more particularly to a dispensing apparatus for containers such as cartons, boxes, milk bottles and cartons, bottles and cans containing beverages, and the like.

Where containers carrying milk and other beverages are stored in a refrigerated compartment or case, it is often desirable that the containers be advanced towards the front of the case as the containers are removed from the case so that the containers are always in view of the customer and also so that they are readily accessible to the customer. Devices have heretofore been provided for advancing milk bottles and other small containers. However, such devices have been found to be generally unsatisfactory for numerous reasons. For example, some devices have been found to be difficult to keep clean and in proper working order, ywhereas other devices have been found to be inadequate to handle large containers. There is therefore, a need for a dispensing apparatus which can be utilized for readily advancing containers to the front of the case. This is particularly true since the advent of the six pack so that it is desirable to advance the six pack to the front of the case.

In general, it is an object of the present invention to provide a dispensing apparatus which will advance containers to a forward position as certain of the containers are removed.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the above character in which the containers are generally aligned and in which when the front container is removed, the remaining containers are advanced so that the next container is in front and can be readily removed from the apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide dispensing apparatus of the above character which is suitable for large containers and for packages containing a plurality of smaller containers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing apparatus of the above character which will advance every container in the group or row of containers to the front of the apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing apparatus of the above character in which the advancing mechanism can be locked in a rearmost position during loading.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing apparatus of the above character in which the advancing mechanism can be readily released as soon as the apparatus is loaded with containers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing apparatus of the above character which is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing apparatus of the above character which is easy to keep clean.

Additional objects and features of the invention will appear from the following description in which the preferred embodiment is set forth in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE l is a plan view of a dispensing apparatus incorporating my invention.

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 2 2 of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view similar to that shown in FIGURE 2 with the apparatus loaded with six packs.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-Sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a partial cross-sectional View in plan showing the means for interlocking one dispensing apparatus with another.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the dispensing ap paratus consists of a framework 11 which includes a horizontally disposed top wall 12 which has its side edges secured to a pair of spaced parallel vertically disposed side walls 13 and 14. The end edges of the top wall are secured to spaced parallel vertically disposed front and rear end walls 16 and 17. The top wall is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 13 defined by downturned edges 12a and 12b and which extends parallel to the side walls 13 and 14 and is spaced substantially equidistant from the side walls 13 and 14. It will be noted, particularly from FIGURE 1, that the side wall 13 is provided with straight end portions 13a and 13b whereas the side wall 14 is provided with U-shaped end portions 14a and 14h for a purpose hereinafter described.

A cylindrical rod 19 is disposed below the top wall 12 and immediately underlies the longitudinally extending slot 18 in the top wall. The rod 19 extends between the front and rear end walls 16 and 17 and is secured thereto in a suitable manner such as screws 21 extending through the end walls. A compression type coil spring 22 is mounted on the 4rod 19 and has one end abutting the rear wall 17. The other or front end of the. coil spring 22 is engaged by a bushing 23 which is slidably mounted on the rod 19.

The bushing 23 carries a finger 24 which extends upwardly through the longitudinal slot 18 in the top wall and is secured to a slider or plate 26 by suitable means such as welding. As shown, particularly in FIGURE l of the drawing, the plate 26 is of a width which is substantially the same asV the 'spacing between the side walls 13 and 14 and. has a length which is preferably no greater than the width of the largest container which is to be placed in the dispensing apparatus. It also will be noted that the finger 24 is secured to the plate 26 in such a manner that substantially al1 the plate extends rearwardly from the finger.

An upwardly extending flange 27 is provided adjacent the rear edge of the plate and is fixed to the plate. An upwardly extending lip 28 is also provided on the rear edge of the plate immediately behind the ange 27. The lip 28 is adapted to be engaged by a catch 29 mounted on the rear wall of the framework and positioned centrally between the side walls 13 and 14. The catch 29 is provided with a spring 31 which normally urges the spring to an uppermost position as shown in FIGURE 2.

Operation and use of the dispensing apparatus may now be briefly described as follows. Let it be assumed that it is desired to provide a dispensing apparatus for six pack cartons of a conventional type, each of which contains six containers of a particular beverage. The framework 11 for the dispensing apparatus is designed so that it has the correct width and length to accommodate the desired number of six packs; for example, as shown in FIGURE 3 of the drawing, a dispensing apparatus is shown which readily accommodates four six packs 36 with ease. In this embodiment, the framework has been designed so that it has a width which is equal to the length of the cartons 36 and has a length which will accommodate the width of four cartons.

When it is desired to utilize one of the dispensing apparatuses, the dispensing apparatus is placed in the refrigerator cabinet or case so that the front end is adjacent the door of the refrigerator cabinet or case. The slider or plate 26 is then pushed rearwardly with one hand until it is adjacent the rear end wall of the framework.

The catch 29 is then pushed downwardly against the force of spring 31 with the other hand so that it engages the lip 28. At the same time, the slider is released so that the friction between the catch and the lip serves to maintain the catch in an engaged position as shown in FIGURE 3. Thereafter, the cartons 36 are loaded into the dispensing apparatus, one by one, until the dispensing apparatus has been filled. As soon as the dispensing apparatus has been filled, the framework is grasped with one hand and then the row of cartons is pushed rearwardly with the other hand so that the slider is also pushed rearwardly to release the catch 29. The spring 31 causesthe catch to return to its normal position out of the path of the slider and allows the slider to come into contact with the row of cartons to urge the cartons towards the front of the framework. Thereafter, as soon as a carton is removed, the slider 26 is urged forwardly by the spring 22 to adv-ance the next carton towards the front of the refrigerator case or compartment. This continues as each carton is removed until all of the cartons have been advanced to the front of the case.

The use of such a dispensing apparatus has been found to be particularly advantageous in that the product being sold is always in front of the refrigerator cabinet or case so that it can be readily viewed by the prospective customer. This is particularly important because it is readliy apparent that as soon as one or two of the cartons have been removed from the front of the case, the remaining cartons are disposed in the rear of the case where they may be almost hidden from the view of the prospective purchaser. In addition, the use of my apparatus makes it much easier for the customer to reach the cartons and to remove the cartons from the refrigerator case.

The use of the catch on the dispensing apparatus is particularly advantageous in that it facilitates loading of the dispensing apparatus with containers or cartons. It is only necessary to movethe slider against the spring 22 at the time of loading so that the catch 219 can be engaged with the lip 28. Thereafter, the cartons can be readily placed in the dispensing apparatus. As soon as the loading has been completed as hereinbefore described the catch is released merely by pushing on the row of cartons and allowing the spring 31 to urge the catch 29 upwardly out of engagement with the lip 2S.

When it is desired to utilize a plurality of my dispensing apparatuses lfor dispensing different types of beverages and containers, the dispensing apparatus may be positioned side-by-side merely by interlocking the ends 13a and 13b with the U-shaped portions 14a and 14h as shown particularly in FIGURE 5 of the drawing. This makes possible a neat, compact assembly so that each dispensing apparatus or tray is stabilized by the other tray or trays connected thereto. The means for connecting the trays is relatively simple so that the trays can be easily assembled or disassembled. This facilitates cleaning of the trays when desired.

It is yapparent from the foregoing that I have provided a new and improved dispensing tray or rack which is particularly adapted for advancing containers from the rear towards the front in a storage compartment so that they can be readily viewed and removed by the customer. It is also readily apparent that the dispensing apparatus is of a type which can be utilized with different types of containers and cartons. For example, if desired, round milk bottles can be readily advanced by -a slider 216 merely by properly sizing the framework and by shaping the slider 26 so that it accommodates a round milk bottle. The slider should always be of such a dimension that it is no longer than the corresponding dimension of the container to be advanced. The trays or racks can be formed of any suitable material such as metal or plastic.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 6705763, liled July 9, 1957 now abandoned.

I claim:

In a dispensing apparatus for containers, a framework including a pair of spaced parallel vertically disposed side walls and spacedy parallel vertically disposed front and rear end walls connected to said side walls and extending at right angles to the side walls, said framework also including a horizontally disposed top wall secured to the side walls and the end walls and extending between the side walls and the front and rear walls, said top wall being formed with a longitudinally extending relatively narrow slot extending between the front and end walls Aand being disposed equidistant from and parallel to the side walls, a rod disposed below the top wall and in general alignment with said slots, said rod extending between the front and rear end walls and being connected thereto, `a compression type coil spring mounted on said rod and engaging the rear wall, a slide member slidab-ly mounted on said rod and engaging the forward end of said spring, said slide member having a planar horizontal portion immediately overlying the horizontally disposed top wall and adapted to receive a container, said slide member also having a relatively narrow portion extending downwardly through said slot and engaging the rod and another container engaging portion extending upwardly from the horizontally extending portion of the slide member, said spring serving to urge said slide member and said containers engaged thereby toward the front end wall of the dispensing apparatus, releasable catch means movable between the slide member engaging and the slide member disengaging positions for retaining the slide member in a retracted position, and means yieldably urging the catch means out of engagement with the slide member and for retaining said catch means in an outof-the-way position when said catch means is disengaged, said slide member being formed with a catch engaging portion `disposed to the rear of thel upwardly extending portion of the slide member, said catch means being manually movable into engagement with the catch engaging portion of the slide member against the force of the yieldable means and being maintained in an engaged position against the force of the yieldable means by frictional engagement between the catch engaging portions of the slide member andthe catch means, said catch means being automatically moved to the disengaged position by said yieldable means upon manually urging the slide member rearwardly against the force of the compression spring to decrease the frictional engagement between the catch engaging portion of the slide member and the catch means.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 14,279 Back Apr. 3, 1917 1,007,398 Snider Oct. 31, 1911 1,076,116 Hatfield Oct. 2l, 1913 1,338,062 Voight Apr. 27, 1920 1,418,153 Lorber May 30, 1922 1,421,645 Wilson July 4, 1922 2,111,496 Scriba Mar. 15, 1938

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