1229results about "Racks" patented technology

The invention provides methods and apparatus for dispensing items from a dispensing unit. According to the invention, the dispensing unit comprises a plurality of locations in which the items are held, a processor in which records corresponding to the items on the unit are stored, and a plurality of item switches corresponding to the locations in which the items are held. The item switches are connected to the processor so that a user of the dispensing unit can input records of items removed from the unit into the processor. The apparatus described is particularly suited for dispensing medical supplies although the apparatus will be usable for other types of items as well. Preferred embodiments will include a plurality of visual indicators, typically in the form of light emitting diodes, corresponding to the locations in which the items are held. Upon selection of a desired item from a list of items held by the unit, the visual indicator corresponding to the item is actuated so that the user can locate the desired item quickly and conveniently with the help of the visual indicator.

Apparatus and method for selectively engaging and securing an array of shelf dividers to a mounting device which is securable to a display shelf. In the first form a divider is characterized by a divider structure having an elongated vertical wall and elongated horizontal base that operates to divide, organize and support the displayed merchandise. A resilient latch located on the underside of the base of the divider structure selectively engages and secures the divider structure onto a mounting device comprising a receiving member running longitudinally along the length of the surface of the mounting device which is securable along the front edge of a display shelf. The latch and the receiving member each comprise reciprocating (i.e. complementary) protrusions to allow the cooperative engagement of the divider structure and mounting device, thus locking the divider member to and unlocking the divider member from the mounting device to permit the repositioning of the display as desired without necessitating removal of the merchandise from the display. In addition when the divider structure and mounting device are fully engaged, a second protrusion on the underside of the divider member cooperates with a flange or lip on the mounting device to prevent lateral movement of the divider structure and maintain the position of the divider perpendicular to the mounting device and the front edge of the shelf. In a second embodiment, the divider structure comprises a pusher track and a spring urged pusher assembly to automatically push merchandise to the front of the shelf. Another embodiment comprises a divider base without a vertical divider wall, and with or without a pusher track and spring urged pusher assembly, thus pushers and dividers can be used in various convenient combinations within a shelf management system.

The present invention relates to a system for tracking product on a shelf. In an embodiment, an indicia strip is placed on a self coiling sheet, and a sensor is configured to read the indicia strip. The data on the indicia strip corresponds to the location of a pusher assembly. In an embodiment, a store computer can use the data regarding the location of the pusher assembly to determine the amount of inventory on the shelf. In an embodiment, the store computer can automatically order additional inventory based on the levels of inventory on the shelf. In an embodiment, a deviation from normal customer purchasing habits can be used to prompt security measures so as to reduce the possibility of product theft.

An adjustable snap-fit display assembly is used in a product display assembly. The display assembly stores and displays products of a variety of shapes and sizes and automatically delivers the products to the front of the display assembly. The adjustable display assembly includes a frame and a product supporting and feeding assembly. The product supporting and feeding assembly has tracks and, in some instances, dividers. The product tracks and dividers can be separately formed or integrated into a single component. The tracks and/or dividers are considered insertable components that can be added or removed as needed and that can be separated by varying distances depending on the width of product to be displayed. The insertable components generally are freely slideable and are snap-fit onto the frame. The product supporting and feeding assembly allows product to be fed forward to a front fence such that all or almost all of the available shelf depth can be used.

The present invention relates to an inventory control system where the most updated number of products displayed on a display space is electronically determined and communicated to a computer for remote users, and electronically displayed along with other relevant information about the products.

Disclosed is an improved shelf tray assembly for use to hold and move forward in a simple and efficient way articles of a given dimension placed on a shelf toward a front edge of this shelf in order to allow frontal display of these articles. This assembly has a front rail installable on the shelf close to its front edge, a rear rail installable onto the shelf in parallel relationship with respect to the front rail and one or more tracks snappable onto the front and rear rails, each track acting as a support for the articles to be displayed and having a guiding rail on which a pushing element is slideably mounted. Advantageously, one or more clips are provided at the front end of each track to rigidly retain this track to the front rail. Advantageously also, each track has several slots made in its upper surface to receive one or more lateral partitions so as to guide the articles to be displayed when they are pulled forward, whatever their size.

An adjustable length track for a pusher system includes a first section and a second section which is operably connected to the first section. A first elongated rail extends longitudinally along the first section. A second elongated rail extends longitudinally along the second section. The second section is moveable in relation to the first section to allow a length of the track to be changed, thereby enabling the track to be placed on associated shelves of varying depths.

An apparatus for displaying a plurality of merchandise packages is provided. The apparatus comprises a substantially horizontal lower surface, a substantially vertical front plate portion connected to the lower surface, and a substantially vertical rear plate portion connected to the lower surface. The front plate portion has at least one dimension substantially smaller than a corresponding dimension of each merchandise package. A substantially vertical pusher plate is slidably mounted to the lower surface and a resilient member attached to the tray, the resilient member being adapted to urge the pusher surface toward the front plate portion.

In some embodiments, a product fronting assembly includes a rotatable rear member and an elongated member extending to a handle at a front of the assembly. The rear member in some embodiments is rotatable to permit rear product loading in the assembly. Alternatively or in addition, the rear member is rotatable between a position in which forward handle movement fronts product and another position in which such handle movement does not front product. In some embodiments, a ratchet mechanism enables a handle to be returned to a stowed position after fronting product. A cable or strip can connect a handle to a rear member used to move the product. A portion of the cable or strip can be wound in a coil within or at least partially defining an assembly handle. Also, in some embodiments the assembly can be snap-fit upon a shelf.

A variable shelf organizer glide system for merchandising products therefrom capable of being assembled to accommodate any shelf length and width and any product dimension including a plurality of cooperatively engageable adjustable floor members having a plurality of transverse projection members associated with each respective track rib, the transverse projection members extending laterally across only a portion of the respective longitudinal slots formed between adjacent track ribs, and a plurality of adjustable divider members, each divider member being selectively engageable with the transverse projection members to form any number of segregated product channels for arranging products therebetween. Each floor member includes frangible break-away portions for adjusting the overall length thereof, and each divider member includes a frangible break-away front product stop member as well as a plurality of frangible break-away rear portions for likewise controlling the overall length of each divider member.

A product management display system for merchandising product on a shelf includes using a trackless pusher mechanism that travels along a surface on which product is placed. The pusher mechanism of the invention also includes a pusher paddle and a floor that extends forward of the pusher paddle. A flat coiled spring or other biasing element may be operatively connected behind the pusher paddle and extend across the floor of the pusher mechanism and to the front of the shelf. In use, the product to be merchandised may be placed on the coiled spring and on the floor of the pusher mechanism. With this configuration, the pusher paddle is prevented from tipping or bending backwards during operation. The invention may be used with the merchandising of product on horizontal or non-inclined shelves or surfaces, as well as with gravity-fed systems, or systems that use gravity as a mechanism to urge product toward the front of the shelf.

The invention relates to a rack for supporting cask-type containers. The rack comprises a plurality of modular structures each suitable for receiving a single container, each modular structure presenting a back vertical mean plane and a substantially parallel front vertical mean plane, and having top fixing points, bottom fixing points, and support means close to said bottom fixing points, said support means being substantially contained in a horizontal plane so as to support a container. The modular structures are connected to one another via their fixing points on a horizontal axis and on a vertical axis so that each upper modular structure straddles two lower modular structures.

A ventilated merchandising system for products displayed in merchandise coolers such as refrigerator or freezer cases. One embodiment of the merchandising system includes a base member and a platform coupled to the base member such that air can flow between the platform and the base member. One or more plenum plates can be coupled to the base for directing air between the platform and the base member. A pusher plate may also be coupled to and movable along the platform for advancing products along the platform. A baffle system that may be coupled to a merchandising tray and a method of distributing air flow within a merchandise cooler unit are also provided.

A storage cartridge for dispensing biosensors used in the determination of an analyte in body fluid comprises a hollow body for housing a stack of biosensors having an open top, a flexible conveying member disposed over the open top of the body, the flexible conveying member having an aperture formed therein for receiving a biosensor from the stack of biosensors, a plate adapted to press the sliding conveying member against the open top to form a substantially moisture-impervious seal around the open top of the body and to permit the conveying member to slide between the plate and the open top, and means for biasing the stack of biosensors towards the open top.

A device, system, and method for manually arranging products on a display shelf. A plastic ridged base may be cut to a desired display shelf width along preformed notches and then be placed on the display shelf. Excess base width may serve as a rear backing element to support row partitions. The ridges support merchandise and permit a pull member to rest between ridges. The pull member may be manually pulled to bring merchandise to the front of a row. The ridges may be universal, or may be of specific dimensions for items such as soup cans or baby food jars. Narrow base sections may be extruded and snapped together to form a desired base unit width. A spring or elastic active alignment device may be used on the base to move display items forward on a shelf.

The present invention concerns an automatic system for replenishing display shelves in retail businesses, wherein, aside from a corresponding device in accordance with the invention for transporting the goods, a display shelf for storage and presentation of the goods, a shelf-stocking vehicle and a repacking station for repacking the goods from transport containers into presentation containers and corresponding method for operating these devices are comprised by the present invention.

A merchandising system for presenting and storing articles. The merchandising system comprises a plurality of bases including a first base and a second base for supporting the articles and a first connector configured to removably couple the first base to the second base. The plurality of bases comprise side supports for coupling with the first connector. The first connector comprises portions configured to engage the side supports of the plurality of bases. The first connector is adapted to support the first base in an upper position relative to the second base and the second base in a lower position relative to the first base when the portions of the first connector configured to engage the side supports of the plurality of bases are coupled to the apertures of the plurality of bases.

A roller assembly for use with a commodity display unit, the roller assembly comprising at least one set of parallel rollers mounted on an inner casing. Each roller is a stub roller with a stub at each end, and the inner casing has opposed side walls projecting from a base. Each side wall having a series of notches at its upper free end for respectively receiving the stubs of the stub rollers, and the inner casing with the rollers mounted thereon slidably engagable within an outer casing such that the stub rollers are restrained from being removed from their respective notches by two inwardly projecting upper flanges of the outer casing. Each upper flange projects from a respective wall member of the outer casing. The inner casing is secured within the outer casing by two end caps, each slidable engagable with the outer casing at opposed ends thereof.

A lancet is pressed against a puncture needle cartridge while fitting a puncture needle loading inlet of the lancet to the axis of a puncture needle on the puncture needle cartridge. At this time, in order to facilitate the operation, one of plural puncture needles arranged in parallel is tilted up from its initial position at a predetermined angle, and the puncture needle is guided into a puncture needle holding rod of the lancet, and simultaneously, the puncture needle is pressed up to a position where the rear end part of the needle pushes the bottom surface of a puncture needle loading chamber of the puncture needle holding rod, whereby the puncture needle is loaded. When discarding a used puncture needle, the puncture needle is inserted into a lancet guide member of the puncture needle cartridge, whereby the puncture needle is reliably captured to be discarded.

A system and method related to dispensing and disposing medical items is provided. The dispensing portion is generally configured to dispense medical items stored within compartments based on dispensing instructions. The disposal portion is generally configured to sort waste items into a plurality of containers according to applicable rules and regulations governing the handling and/or disposal of such items. In some embodiments, a system comprises sorting stations each of which houses a number of disposable containers. Each station can identify an item of waste, determine the most appropriate container for the item, and facilitate disposal of the item in the appropriate container.

The present invention provides a display rack including a plurality of slidable channel trays, so that each of the channel trays can be slid out of the display case at the time of refilling new articles behind the old articles. A display rack comprises a plurality of display rack modules wherein a display rack module comprises a channel base secured on wire shelves of a display case and a channel tray which is mounted slidably on the channel base. Slidable mounting means comprises a pair of guide grooves and a pair of guide rails to be slidably engaged with the guide grooves, wherein one pair are extended downwardly from the bottom surface of the channel tray and the other pair are extended upwardly from the upper surface of the channel base. Stopper means to limit the traveling distance of the channel tray from the channel base and to secure the channel tray on the channel base in refilling mode are also provided.

In a shelf apparatus for a showcase, which is provided with a shelf support for supporting a shelf plate on which commodities are placed so as to be slidable in a depth direction, the shelf apparatus is constructed so that the shelf support is provided with a locking plate extending in a width direction of the shelf plate, and the shelf plate is provided with a hooking member which is formed with a steel rod member which extends in the depth direction and whose rear portion further extends along the locking plate on a back surface side of the shelf plate, and also which enables the rear portion to be locked to and unlocked from the locking plate by being swayed vertically. When the shelf plate is held on the shelf supports, the rear portion of the hooking member is locked to the locking plate. By doing this, the shelf plate does not slide forward. When the shelf plate is pulled out forward, the hooking member is unlocked from the locking plate by being swayed vertically. By doing this, the shelf plate can be pulled out forward.

A frangible line defines a line of severance by extending across a carton wall that has a seam. The frangible line is extensively weakened along a predetermined segment where it traverses the seam. Preferably, the predetermined segment is extensively weakened by substantially disjoining the panel regions on either side of the line. Disjoinder is preferably achieved by making the predetermined segment a cut line.

This invention provides a system and method for dispensing medication and a dispensing apparatus that comprises a plurality of compartments in an array within a housing, the compartments having respective lids, each of the lids being movable from a closed position to an open position, the respective lids each having a latch that secures the lid in a locked configuration in the closed position. The apparatus has an actuator mechanism that selectively unlocks the latch of each of the lids at a predetermined time so as to place the unlocked lid in an unlocked configuration that enables the lid to be moved to the open position. The compartments of the medication dispenser each receive a removable cup therein that is accessible when a respective of the lids associated therewith is in the open position. Other features, such as communication and messaging and/or audible/visual displays can also be provided.

A product management display system for merchandising product on a shelf includes using a trackless pusher mechanism that travels along a surface on which product is placed and one or more dividers for separating product into rows. The one or more dividers may be engaged to a front rail in two different conditions, locked and unlocked. In a locked condition, the relationship between the divider and the front rail resists alteration in any direction with respect to each other. In the unlocked condition, the dividers may be freely slid laterally along the front rail, while remaining perpendicular to the front rail. The one or more dividers may lock to the front rail through the use of corresponding teeth, resilient surfaces, a locking tab, a locking bar and/or a cam.

A display rack for rounded articles generally includes a product track with a pusher block slidably mounted thereon. The pusher block is biased toward a front portion of the display rack, and the side walls of the display rack are configured to support a circular or elliptical product. Additionally, the display rack can be provided with front and/or rear removable panel carriers configured to removably receive front and rear panels.

A package comprises an article group formed of at least two vertically arranged tiers of cylindrical articles disposed on their sides in a side-by-side parallel fashion, and a carton disposed around the group. The carton comprises a top wall, opposed side walls, an end wall and an article dispenser. The side walls are disposed alongside the ends of the articles of the group while the end wall is disposed adjacent to the side walls of the adjacent endmost articles. The dispenser includes a corner portion of the carton formed from and detachably connected to the top, side and end walls to be removed from the carton to thereby define an opening for exposing at least some of the articles for removal. The opening is shaped to define a recess in each side wall to reveal at least a part of the endmost article in the lowermost tier of the article group.

A device, system, and method system for manually aligning merchandise items in a display box. The merchandise is supported above the base of the container with product support rails. A pull member is positioned between the support rails. Merchandise is pulled forward by pulling the pull member forward. The pull member may be positioned before or after merchandise is placed in the box or carton. Multiple rows of merchandise may be provided.

An apparatus for storing and displaying packages. The invention discloses a self-adjusting shelf comprising a sled coupled to a track, and at least two product supports located in a plane above the track. The product supports are aligned substantially parallel to the track and are coupled to the track. Packages rest upon the product supports. The sled slides along the length of the track. The sled urges, via either gravity or a biasing device, the sled forward against downstream packages. Thus, when one package is removed, the sled forces the remaining packages to the front of the shelf.

A weight-driven pusher for product on a gravity-fed display shelf includes a weighted frame. A front plate is mounted on the frame and manually adjustable in upper reach relative to the frame to accommodate product of varying height and preclude product from tipping rearwardly over the pusher. A leg assembly is retractably mounted on the frame adjacent the bottom thereof and biased to project rearwardly from the frame to preclude product from tipping the pusher over backwards.