Product front-loading equipment, shelves, product front-loading method

Abstract

To provide a commodity forwarding tool that can reduce the workload of a store manager. [Solution] The product advance device comprises a fixed part, a rail on which a first product is placed that passes through a first through-hole part, a movable member having a second through-hole part through which a second product placed on the rail can pass when in the second position or through which the second product can be removed, a biasing member that biases the movable member from the second position towards the first position, a stopper mechanism that is movable between a held state in which it engages with the movable member in the second position and holds the movable member at the second position, and a released state in which it is separated from the movable member in the second position and releases the holding of the movable member at the second position, and a switch member that is provided on either the front end of the rail or the fixed part, and that engages with the stopper mechanism to switch between the held state and the released state.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a product advancement device, a shelf, and a product advancement method for advancing products. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, a product advance device is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This product advance device can advance products of so-called irregular shapes. The product advance device includes a rail, a movable member that can move on the rail, a through-hole portion provided in the movable member, and a biasing member that biases the movable member forward. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7630211 DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, when the store manager, who is the user, restocks products on a display shelf equipped with this product advance device, he or she must use one hand to push the movable member backward, and while holding the movable member in that position with one hand, use the other hand to restock products sequentially from the back through-hole section to the front through-hole section, leaving room for improvement in terms of the workload on the store manager. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a product forward-dispatch device that can reduce the workload of store managers. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The above problems are solved by the present invention. That is, the product advance device of the present invention (1) comprises: a fixing part having a first through-hole part through which a first product can pass and through which the first product can be removed; a rail provided below the fixed portion, the rail fixedly supporting the fixed portion at a front end thereof, and the rail on which the first product passing through the first through-hole portion is placed; a movable member that is movable on the rail between a first position overlapping with the fixed portion and a second position behind the fixed portion, the movable member having a second through-hole portion through which a second product placed on the rail can pass and through which the second product can be removed when the movable member is at the second position; a biasing member that biases the moving member from the second position toward the first position; a stopper mechanism movable between a holding state in which the stopper mechanism engages with the movable member at the second position to hold the movable member at the second position, and a release state in which the stopper mechanism is separated from the movable member at the second position to release the movable member from being held at the second position; a switch member provided on either the front end portion or the fixed portion of the rail, the switch member engaging with the stopper mechanism to switch between the holding state and the release state; Equipped with.

[0006] In addition, the product advance device of the present invention (2) is the product advance device described in (1), The switch member is provided at the front end of the rail at a position where the first product that has passed through the first through-hole portion is placed, and is rotatable between a protruding position where it protrudes from the rail and a depressed position where it is located at the same level as the surface of the rail or close to the surface.

[0007] In addition, the product advance device of the present invention (3) is a product advance device according to (1) or (2), The first through-hole portion has a shape complementary to the first product at the front end side, and an open shape at the opposite side to the front end side to allow the second product to pass through.

[0008] Moreover, a shelf according to the present invention (4) includes the product advance device according to any one of (1) to (3).

[0009] In addition, the product forward-feeding method of the present invention (5) is as follows: a fixing part having a first through-hole part through which a first product can pass and through which the first product can be removed; a rail provided below the fixed portion, the rail fixedly supporting the fixed portion at a front end thereof, and the rail on which the first product passing through the first through-hole portion is placed; a movable member that is movable on the rail between a first position overlapping with the fixed portion and a second position behind the fixed portion, the movable member having a second through-hole portion through which a second product placed on the rail can pass and through which the second product can be removed when the movable member is at the second position; a biasing member that biases the moving member from the second position toward the first position; a stopper mechanism movable between a holding state in which the stopper mechanism engages with the movable member at the second position to hold the movable member at the second position, and a release state in which the stopper mechanism is separated from the movable member at the second position to release the movable member from being held at the second position; A method for advancing a commodity using a commodity advancing device comprising: a first step of moving the movable member on the rail from the first position to the second position; a second step of placing the stopper mechanism in the holding state when the moving member is moved to the second position; a third step of passing the second product through the second through-hole portion and passing the first product through the first through-hole portion; a fourth step of urging the moving member toward the first position by setting the stopper mechanism in the released state; Equipped with.

[0010] The present invention (6) also provides a commodity forward-feeding method according to the present invention (5), the commodity advance-dispatch device is provided at either the front end portion of the rail or the fixed portion, and further includes a switch member at the front end portion of the rail that is capable of engaging with the stopper mechanism to switch between the holding state and the release state, In the third step, the switch member is operated by the first product passing through the first through-hole portion, thereby putting the stopper mechanism in the fourth step into the released state. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, a product forward-dispensing device can be provided that can reduce the workload of store managers. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a shelf to which a commodity advance device of a first embodiment is attached. FIG. [Figure 2] 2 is a perspective view showing the commodity advance device of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 3] 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the moving member has been moved to a second position in the commodity advance device shown in FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 4] 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the commodity advance device shown in FIG. 2 in an exploded state. FIG. [Figure 5] 3 is a perspective view showing the moving member of the commodity advance device shown in FIG. 2 from a different angle (rear). FIG. [Figure 6] 4 is a perspective view showing the product advance device shown in FIG. 3 from behind. FIG. [Figure 7] 7 is an enlarged perspective view showing the vicinity of the protruding portion, the first protrusion, and the second protrusion of the moving member of the commodity advance device shown in FIG. 6. FIG. [Figure 8] 8 is a perspective view showing a state in which a protruding portion moves a first protrusion to the right in the paper plane in the commodity advance device shown in FIG. 7. FIG. [Figure 9] 3 is a plan view showing a state in which a moving member is being moved from a first position to a second position in the product advance device shown in FIG. 2.

[0023] FIG. [Figure 10] 3 is a plan view showing a state in which the moving member of the product advance device shown in FIG. 2 has been moved to a second position and the protrusion has come into contact with the first protrusion. FIG. [Figure 11] 3 is a plan view showing a state in which the moving member of the commodity advance device shown in FIG. 2 has been moved to a second position and the first protrusion has been moved to the left in the plane of the drawing by the protrusion portion. FIG. [Figure 12] 12 is a top view of the commodity advance device shown in FIG. 11 in a state where the store manager has released the moving member and the protruding portion is held by the second protrusion. FIG. [Figure 13] 3 is a side view showing a state in which the rotary damper of the resistance member is lifted up from the rack when the moving member is moved back toward the second position in the product advance device shown in FIG. 2.

[0023] FIG. [Figure 14] 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which a second commodity is displayed relative to a second through-hole portion of the moving member in a second position in the commodity advance device shown in FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 15] 15 is a perspective view showing a state in which intermediate products are displayed relative to an intermediate through-hole portion of an intermediate moving member that is in an intermediate position in the product advance device shown in FIG. 14. FIG. [Figure 16] 16 is a perspective view showing the state in which the first commodity is displayed relative to the first through-hole portion in the commodity advance device shown in FIG. 15 and the switch member is moved from the protruding position to the depressed position. FIG. [Figure 17] 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which the switch member is in a protruding position in the commodity advance device shown in FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 18] 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a switch member is in a depressed position in the commodity advance device shown in FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 19] 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which a switch member is in a protruding position in the commodity advance device shown in FIG. 2.

[0023] FIG. [Figure 20] 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which a switch member is in a depressed position in the commodity advance device shown in FIG. 2.

[0023] FIG. [Figure 21] 17 is a side view showing a state in which other products are displayed above the first product, the middle product, and the second product in the product advance device shown in FIG. 16. FIG. [Figure 22] 22 is a side view showing the state in which a customer has taken the first product and the intermediate product has been advanced in the product advance device shown in FIG. 21. FIG. [Figure 23] 23 is a side view showing the state in which a customer has taken the intermediate product and the second product has been advanced in the product advance device shown in FIG. 22. FIG. [Figure 24]4 is a side view showing a state in which a rotary damper of a resistance member engages with a rack when a moving member of the commodity advance device shown in FIG. 3 advances from a second position to a first position. FIG. [Figure 25] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a shelf to which a commodity advance device of a second embodiment is attached. [Figure 26] 26 is a perspective view showing a state in which the moving member has been moved to a second position in the commodity advance device shown in FIG. 25. FIG. [Figure 27] 27 is an exploded perspective view showing the inside of the recessed portion of the product advance device shown in FIG. 26 with the switch body and the second elastic member removed. FIG. [Figure 28] FIG. 26 is an exploded perspective view showing the commodity advance device shown in FIG. 25 in an exploded state. [Figure 29] 26 is a perspective view showing, from below, the insertion portion of the switch body of the commodity advance device shown in FIG. 25 and the front end portion of the stopper body connected thereto. FIG. [Figure 30] 26 is an enlarged perspective view showing the protruding portion of the moving member of the commodity advance device shown in FIG. 25 and the periphery of the rear end portion of the stopper main body. FIG. [Figure 31] 31 is a perspective view showing a state in which a protruding portion of a moving member of the commodity advance device shown in FIG. 30 moves a rear end portion of a stopper body to the left in the plane of the drawing. FIG. [Figure 32] 32 is a perspective view showing a state in which the protruding portion of the moving member of the commodity advancing device shown in FIG. 31 is held by the rear end portion of the stopper body, and the moving member is held at a second position. FIG. [Figure 33] 27 is a perspective view showing a state in which a second commodity is displayed relative to a second through-hole portion of the moving member in a second position in the commodity advance device shown in FIG. 26. FIG. [Figure 34] 34 is a perspective view showing a state in which intermediate products are displayed relative to the intermediate through-hole portion of the intermediate moving member in the intermediate position in the product advance device shown in FIG. 33. FIG. [Figure 35] 35 is a perspective view showing the state in which the first commodity is displayed relative to the first through-hole portion in the commodity advance device shown in FIG. 34 and the switch member is moved from the protruding position to the depressed position. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] An embodiment of the shelf of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The product advance device of the present invention can advance products that are irregularly shaped other than rectangular pillars, such as inverted truncated cone cup noodles, without disrupting the row. In the following description, the front direction of the shelf will be designated as F, the rear direction as R, the width direction as W, and the height direction as H. [First embodiment] A product advance device 21 and a shelf 10 having the product advance device 21 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 24. FIG.

[0014] As shown in Figure 1, the shelf 10 comprises legs 11, a pair of support posts 12 standing up from the legs 11, a back panel 13 spanning the support posts 12, a plurality of fixing holes 14 formed at a regular pitch in the longitudinal direction in each of the pair of support posts 12, a pair of brackets 15 inserted into some of the fixing holes 14 and fixed to the pair of support posts 12, a shelf board 16 spanning the space between the pair of brackets 15, a POS rail 17 fixed to the front of the shelf board 16 for inserting price cards and the like, and a product front-dispatch device 21 installed on the shelf board 16.

[0015] For example, the product advance device 21 is fixed to the shelf board 16 by clamping a protrusion on the rear side of the POS rail 17 with a hook portion 22 provided on the underside of the front end portion 36. In other words, the product advance device 21 is configured to be detachable from the shelf board 16 at any position in the width direction W.

[0016] 2 to 6, the commodity advance device 21 includes the hook portion 22, the fixed portion 23, a rectangular rail 24 that is elongated in the front-to-rear direction FR and is provided below the fixed portion 23, a flat movable member 25 that is movable on the rail 24 between a first position P1 that overlaps the fixed portion 23 and a second position P2 that is behind the fixed portion 23, a biasing member 26 that biases the movable member 25 from the second position P2 toward the first position P1, a flat intermediate movable member 27 that is provided between the fixed portion 23 and the movable member 25, a resistance member 28 that applies resistance to the movement of the movable member 25, a stopper mechanism 81 that is movable between a held state S1 in which the movable member 25 is held at the second position P2 and a released state S2 in which the stopper mechanism 81 is separated from the movable member 25 that is at the second position P2 and the hold of the movable member 25 at the second position P2 is released, and a switch member 82 that can switch between the held state S1 and the released state S2.

[0017] The rail 24 is made of, for example, a synthetic resin material. The rail 24 comprises a flat rail body 34 on which a first product 31, a second product 32, and an intermediate product 33 (described later) are placed, a recess 34A recessed in the center of the rail body 34 and extending in the front-rear direction, a recessed portion 83 recessed in an arch shape in the front end portion 36 of the rail body 34, a pair of side wall portions 35 rising upward from both ends of the rail body 34 in the width direction W, and a movable portion 34A rising from the front end portion 36 of the rail body 34. The intermediate moving member 27 includes abutment pieces 37 that abut against recesses 25A at the corners of the member 25 and recesses 27A at the corners of the intermediate moving member 27, a first ridge 41 provided on each of the pair of side wall portions 35 so as to protrude inward, a second ridge 42 provided on each of the pair of side wall portions 35 so as to protrude inward above the first ridge 41, a stopper piece 43 provided midway along the first ridge 41, and a rack 44 (see FIG. 10 ) provided parallel to the recess 34A. The stopper piece 43 prevents the intermediate moving member 27 from moving rearward beyond the stopper piece 43. This prevents the moving member 25 from falling off the second ridge 42 rearward via engagement between a first engagement portion 62 and a second engagement portion 57, which will be described later.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 4, the recess 83 can accommodate the switch member 82 therein. The recess 83 has a slit 83A at the bottom on the rear end side. When a stopper body 91 (described later) of the stopper mechanism 81 is in the released state S2, an abutting portion 97 of the stopper body 91 can fit inside the slit 83A (see FIG. 10). A portion of the structure of the stopper body 91 on the back side of the rail 24 can access the front side of the rail 24 via this slit 83A. When the stopper body 91 is in the held state S1 (described later), the abutting portion 97 of the stopper body 91 retracts from its position within the slit 83A (see FIG. 12). The hook portion 22 is formed integrally with the front end portion 36 of the rail 24 from, for example, a synthetic resin material.

[0019] The fixed portion 23 (fixed tray) is molded integrally with the front end 36 of the rail 24 using, for example, a synthetic resin material. Therefore, the rail 24 can also be said to fixedly support the fixed portion 23 at the front end 36. The fixed portion 23 has a first through-hole 45, through which the first product 31 can pass and through which the first product 31 can be removed. The first through-hole 45 has a shape complementary to the first product 31, i.e., a semicircular shape, on the front end 36 side. The first through-hole 45 has an open shape on the opposite side from the front end 36, allowing the second product 32 to pass through. Therefore, the first through-hole 45 has a "U" shape that is convex toward the front and open toward the rear, penetrating the fixed portion 23 in a "U" shape. As described below, this position allows the second product 32 to pass through when delivered forward. For this reason, the fixed portion 23 has a horseshoe shape. The end 23A of this horseshoe-shaped fixed portion 23 is connected to a pair of extended portions 46, which are raised at both ends in the width direction W of the rail main body 34. The pair of extended portions 46 extend from the end 23A of the fixed portion 23 to the rear end of the rail main body 34. As shown in FIG. 6, the rack 44 is provided above the extended portion 46. The rack 44 is formed, for example, so that multiple teeth face upward. In this embodiment, the fixed portion 23 is configured integrally with the rail 24, but the fixed portion 23 may also be provided separately from the rail 24. That is, it is of course possible to provide a gap between the fixed portion 23 and the rail 24, and to store the movable member 25 and the intermediate movable member 27 in this gap.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the moving member 25 is formed in a flat plate shape using, for example, a synthetic resin material. The moving member 25 has a moving member main body 51, a pair of horizontal grooves 52 provided on the side surface of the moving member main body 51 and into which the pair of second protrusions 42 of the rail 24 are inserted, and a protrusion 51B (see FIG. 7) protruding downward from the moving member main body 51. That is, the moving member 25 can move between a first position P1 and a second position P2 along the pair of second protrusions 42 of the rail 24. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the protrusion 51B is formed in a plate shape that extends vertically and is elongated in the front-rear direction. The protrusion 51B can come into contact with a first protrusion 94 of the stopper mechanism 81 (described later), thereby moving the stopper mechanism 81 from the release state S2 to the hold state S1.

[0021] 4 and 5, the moving member 25 further has a second through-hole portion 53, a first support portion 54 that rotatably supports the reel 64 of the biasing member 26, an introduction portion 55 that is provided continuous with the first support portion 54 and is inserted into the recess 34A of the rail 24, a second support portion 56 that supports the resistance member 28, and a second engagement portion 57 for engaging with the intermediate moving member 27. The second through-hole portion 53 has a shape complementary to the second product 32, which has an inverted truncated cone shape, i.e., it is configured as a circular through-hole.

[0022] The first support portion 54 has a through-hole 54A that penetrates the movable member main body 51, and a wall portion 54B that protrudes upward in a "U" shape from the upper surface of the movable member main body 51 and around the through-hole 54A. The wall portion 54B has a pair of grooves 58 that can rotatably support the shaft 64A of the reel 64 of the urging member 26. The first support portion 54 can rotatably hold the reel 64 of the urging member 26 inside the through-hole 54A.

[0023] The introduction portion 55 has a second wall portion 55A that protrudes downward in a U-shape from the underside of the movable member main body 51 and from the periphery of the through-hole 54A. A spring main body 65 (described later) of the biasing member 26 can be guided into the recess 34A at the front end side of the second wall portion 55A.

[0024] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the second support part 56 is configured as a rotation shaft to which the resistance member 28 is rotatably attached. The second support part 56 has a cylindrical column part 56A and a key part 56B that protrudes radially from the column part 56A in a square shape. As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the second engagement part 57 protrudes downward from the front end of the moving member main body 51 in a hook-like shape.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 4, the intermediate moving member 27 has a pair of intermediate horizontal grooves 52 on its side surface, into which the pair of first protrusions 41 of the rail 24 are inserted. The intermediate moving member 27 is molded into a flat plate shape, for example, from a synthetic resin material. As shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 5, the intermediate moving member 27 is movable on the rail 24 along the pair of first protrusions 41 between a first position P1 and an intermediate position P3 that is rearward of the first position P1 and forward of the second position P2. As shown in FIG. 3, the intermediate moving member 27 has an intermediate moving member main body 59, an intermediate through-hole 61 provided in the center of the intermediate moving member main body 59, through which an intermediate product 33 placed on the rail 24 can pass or through which the intermediate product 33 can be removed when the intermediate moving member 27 is in the intermediate position P3, and a first engagement portion 62 provided at the rear end of the intermediate moving member main body 59. When the intermediate moving member 27 is in the first position P1, the second product 32 passes through the intermediate through-hole portion 61 (see FIG. 23).

[0026] The intermediate through-hole portion 61 has a shape complementary to the inverted truncated cone shape of the intermediate product 33, i.e., a semicircular shape, at its front end. The intermediate through-hole portion 61 has an open shape on the side opposite its front end to allow the second product 32 to pass through. Therefore, the intermediate through-hole portion 61 has a "U" shape that is convex toward the front and open toward the rear, and penetrates the intermediate moving member main body 59 in a "U" shape. The intermediate through-hole portion 61 has an open shape that allows the second product 32 to pass through. Therefore, the intermediate moving member 27 as a whole has a "U" shape that is convex toward the front and open toward the rear.

[0027] The intermediate moving member body 59 has a notch 61A near the end of the intermediate through-hole portion 61, which is cut out to form a gap between the resistance member 28 and the intermediate moving member body 59 so as not to interfere with the resistance member 28.

[0028] The first engagement portions 62 are formed as a pair of protrusions that protrude upward from a pair of rear end portions 59A of the intermediate movable member main body 59. The first engagement portions 62 can engage with the second engagement portions 57 at the front end portions of the movable member 25. Therefore, when a store manager pushes the movable member 25 backward when replenishing merchandise, the intermediate movable member 27 is also pushed backward together with the movable member 25.

[0029] In this embodiment, one intermediate moving member 27 is used, but two or more intermediate moving members 27 of the same configuration may be provided in series and overlapping with each other at the first position P1. In this way, by increasing or decreasing the number of intermediate moving members 27, the number of products displayed on the product advance device 21 can be increased or decreased as needed.

[0030] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the biasing member 26 is configured as a so-called spiral spring that generates a pulling force in the rewinding direction when pulled out from the reel 64. The biasing member 26 has a cylindrical reel 64 and a metal spring body 65 wound around the outer circumferential surface of the reel 64. The tip of the spring body 65 is hooked onto a hook portion 36A provided on the front end portion 36 of the rail 24 and fixed thereto. Therefore, when the moving member 25 is pulled rearward, a pulling force is generated in the biasing member 26, and the moving member 25 can be biased forward.

[0031] In this embodiment, the first product 31, second product 32, and intermediate product 33 to be fed forward are products with irregular shapes other than rectangular prisms, such as inverted frustum shapes. Irregular shapes here include, for example, circular cylinders, elliptical cylinders, triangular prisms, polygonal prisms with five or more sides, frustum shapes, and other columnar shapes. An inverted frustum shape here refers to a frustum shape in which the area of ​​the top surface is larger than the area of ​​the bottom surface.

[0032] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , the resistance member 28 includes a rod-shaped arm 84 rotatably attached to the second support 56, a rotary damper 85 supported by the arm 84, and a second biasing member 86 that biases the arm 84 in a direction that presses the rotary damper 85 against the pinion 28A relative to the rack 44. The arm 84 is formed, for example, from a synthetic resin material. The arm 84 includes a first end 84A that supports the rotary damper 85 and a second end 84B that is connected to the moving member 25. The second end 84B has a hole 87 through which the second support 56 passes. The hole 87 has a circular portion 87A through which the cylindrical portion 56A of the second support 56 passes and a sector-shaped portion 87B through which the key portion 56B of the second support 56 passes. The range of angles within which the arm portion 84 can rotate around the second support portion 56 is defined by the key portion 56B and the sector portion 87B.

[0033] The rotary damper 85 is commercially available. The rotary damper 85 is attached to the first end 84A, for example, by screws. The rotary damper 85 has a pinion portion 28A. When the pinion portion 28A engages with the rack 44 of the rail 24, it can rotate about its axis (not shown) while applying a load. Therefore, the resistance member 28 (rotary damper 85) forms a rack and pinion mechanism with the rack 44 of the rail 24, and can apply a predetermined resistance when the moving member 25 moves from the second position P2 to the first position P1.

[0034] The second biasing member 86 is configured, for example, by a compression spring. The second biasing member 86 is interposed in a compressed state between the lower surface of the moving member main body 51 and the upper surface of the arm portion 84, and can bias the arm portion 84 in a direction that brings it closer to the rack 44.

[0035] 24, the direction in which the arm portion 84 extends is oblique to the direction in which the rack 44 extends (front-rear direction FR). More specifically, the direction connecting the first end portion 84A and the second end portion 84B is oblique to the direction in which the rack 44 extends so that the direction approaches the rack 44 as it moves in the front direction F.

[0036] 4 and 9, the stopper mechanism 81 is provided on the underside (backside) of the rail 24. The stopper mechanism 81 has a long, thin, flat stopper body 91 provided over substantially the entire length of the rail 24 in the front-to-rear direction FR, a rotation shaft 92 provided so as to protrude downward from the backside of the rail 24, and an elastic member 93 that biases the stopper body 91. The stopper body 91 is integrally formed from, for example, a synthetic resin material. The stopper body 91 has a circular through hole 91A located at approximately the middle position in the front-to-rear direction FR (longitudinal direction) for passing the pivot shaft 92 through, a first protrusion 94 and a second protrusion 95 located at the rear end of the stopper body 91, a long hole 96 located at the front end of the stopper body 91 and extending in the width direction W, a contact portion 97 located at the front end of the stopper body 91, and a retaining portion 98 located adjacent to the contact portion 97 at the front end of the stopper body 91.

[0037] The stopper body 91 of the stopper mechanism 81 is movable (rotatable) around a pivot axis 92 between a holding state S1 in which it engages with the movable member 25 at the second position P2 as shown in FIG. 12 and can hold the movable member 25 at the second position P2, and a release state S2 in which it is separated from the movable member 25 at the second position P2 as shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 and has released the holding of the movable member 25 at the second position P2.

[0038] The elastic member 93 is formed, for example, by a leaf spring formed into a substantially V-shape, and is capable of exerting a repulsive force in a direction that opens outward. As shown in Fig. 9, the elastic member 93 is disposed between the side surface of the stopper main body 91 and a wall portion (side wall 99) that defines the side surface of the recess 34A of the rail 24 and extends in the vertical direction. The elastic member 93 applies a force to the stopper main body 91, and can constantly urge the stopper main body 91 from the retained state S1 toward the released state S2.

[0039] 2 and 4, the first protrusion 94 is formed to protrude upward from the rear end of the stopper main body 91, and is formed in the shape of a long, thin piece that is oblique to the front-rear direction FR. The front side surface of the first protrusion 94 forms a cam surface 94A that abuts against the protrusion 51B of the moving member 25 to rotate the stopper main body 91 around the rotation shaft 92.

[0040] The second protrusion 95 is provided independently of the first protrusion 94, near and in front of the first protrusion 94. The second protrusion 95 is formed to protrude upward from the rear end of the stopper body 91, and is formed in the shape of a small, thin piece that is elongated in the front-to-rear direction FR. The first protrusion 94 and the second protrusion 95 protrude toward the surface of the rail 24 through two through-holes 100 provided in the rear end of the rail 24.

[0041] 9, a shaft 101 that protrudes downward from the underside of the rail 24 is passed through the elongated hole 96. When the stopper main body 91 is in both the retained state S1 and the released state S2, the shaft 101 is retained inside the elongated hole 96. Therefore, the range of angles within which the stopper main body 91 can rotate is determined by the shaft 101 and the elongated hole 96.

[0042] 4 of a small piece that protrudes forward at the front end of the stopper main body 91. The abutting portion 97 abuts against a holding piece 102B of a switch main body 102 of the switch member 82 (described later), thereby holding the stopper main body 91 in the holding state S1 against the biasing force of the elastic member 93. The holding portion 98 is formed by the top surface of the small piece.

[0043] 3 and 4, the switch member 82 is provided at the front end 36 of the rail 24 at a position where the first product 31 that has passed through the first through-hole portion 45 is to be placed. In this embodiment, the switch member 82 is provided at the front end 36 of the rail 24, but the location of the switch member 82 is not limited to this. The switch member 82 may also be provided on the fixed portion 23.

[0044] The switch member 82 has a switch body 102 that is arch-shaped when viewed from above, a pair of rotating shafts 103 that protrude outward in the width direction W from the sides of the switch body 102, and a second elastic member 104 that is interposed between the switch body 102 and the rail 24.

[0045] The rotating shaft 103 is cylindrical and can be inserted into a pair of circular holes 88 provided in the fixed portion 23. The pair of holes 88 are provided, for example, at the boundary between the semicircular portion of the fixed portion 23 and the rectangular portion of the fixed portion 23. The switch main body 102 can rotate about the rotating shaft 103 between a protruding position A1, where it protrudes upward from the surface of the rail main body 34, and a depressed position A2, where it is flush with the surface of the rail main body 34. Note that, here, the phrase "the switch main body 102 is flush with the surface of the rail main body 34" refers to a state in which the surface of the switch main body 102 is flush with the surface of the rail main body 34. The positional relationship between the switch main body 102 and the rail main body 34 in the depressed position A2 is not limited to this. The surface of the switch body 102 in the depressed position A2 may be near the surface of the rail body 34, i.e., 0.1 to several mm above the surface of the rail body 34, or 0.1 to several mm below the surface of the rail body 34.

[0046] The second elastic member 104 is configured by, for example, a compression spring. The second elastic member 104 can urge the switch body 102 upward, and can urge the switch body 102 from the pressed position A2 toward the protruding position A1.

[0047] As shown in Figure 18, when the switch body 102 is in the pressed position A2, the lower surface of the retaining piece 102B is in a locked state in contact with the retaining portion 98 of the stopper body 91 that has entered the slit 83A, so even if the biasing force of the second elastic member 104 acts on the switch body 102, the switch body 102 will not move to the protruding position A1 at an unintended timing.

[0048] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the switch body 102 is formed in a flat plate shape, and its front end is semicircular, complementary to the first through-hole portion 45. The switch body 102 has a protruding piece 102A provided at its front end and a retaining piece 102B provided at its rear end. The protruding piece 102A is formed as a small piece that protrudes forward in a square shape. The protruding piece 102A is inserted into a hole 87 provided in the fixing portion 23. The hole 87 and the protruding piece 102A define the range of angles over which the switch body 102 can be rotated.

[0049] 4, the retaining piece 102B is provided at the rear end on the left side of the drawing, out of a pair of rear ends of the switch body 102. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 17, the retaining piece 102B can abut against the abutting portion 97 of the stopper body 91 to hold the stopper body 91 in the held state S1.

[0050] The switch body 102 may be engraved with a character string, such as "PRESS-START," which indicates that pressing down will release the stopped movement of the moving member 25. Note that this character string is just an example, and may be another character string, a mark, or no character string at all.

[0051] Next, a method for replenishing products (product advance method) in the product advance device 21 of this embodiment will be described. The first product 31, second product 32, and intermediate product 33 used in this embodiment all have the same shape, an inverted truncated cone shape.

[0052] The store manager can manually pull the movable member 25 backward from the state shown in Fig. 2 to the state shown in Fig. 3. At this time, the movable member 25 moves from the first position P1 to the second position P2, and the intermediate movable member 27 moves from the first position P1 to the intermediate position P3 (first step).

[0053] When the intermediate moving member 25 abuts against the stopper piece 43, the moving member 25 cannot move any further rearward, and the store manager can know that the moving member 25 has correctly moved to the second position P2. When the store manager releases the moving member 25, the moving member 25 is returned to the front by the action of the biasing member 26. At this time, as shown in FIG. 12, the protruding portion 51B of the moving member 25 abuts against the second protrusion 95 of the stopper body 91, and the moving member 25 is held at the second position P2.

[0054] The movement of the movable member 25 from the first position P1 to the second position P2 will be described in more detail. As shown in FIGS. 6 to 11, when the store manager moves the movable member 25 from the first position P1 to the second position P2, the protrusion 51B of the movable member 25, which is moving rearward, hits the first protrusion 94. At this time, the cam surface 94A of the first protrusion 94 acts to rotate the first protrusion 94 and the stopper body 91 to the right (to the right in FIGS. 6 to 8), as shown in FIGS. 7, 8, 10, and 11. As a result, the stopper body 91 is rotated from the release state S2 to the holding state S1 against the biasing force of the elastic member 93. When the stopper body 91 moves to the holding state S1, the abutment portion 97 and the holding portion 98 of the stopper body 91, which are disposed in the slit 83A of the recess 83, retract from the slit 83A, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. This releases the switch body 102 from the locked state by the holding portion 98 as shown in FIG. 18, and the switch body 102 moves from the depressed position A2 to the protruding position A1 due to the action of the second elastic member 104 as shown in FIG.

[0055] Meanwhile, when the switch body 102 moves to the protruding position A1, the retaining piece 102B rotates downward as shown in Fig. 17. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 12, the abutting portion 97 and the retaining portion 98 of the stopper body 91 are restricted by the retaining piece 102B from rotating back into the slit 83A. That is, when the switch body 102 is in the protruding position A1, the retaining piece 102B abuts against the abutting portion 97 of the stopper body 91, and can retain the stopper body 91 in the retained state S1 (second step).

[0056] When the moving member 25 is moved from the first position P1 to the second position P2, the rotary damper 85 of the resistance member 28 engaged with the rack 44 resists the movement of the moving member 25. As a result, the rotary damper 85 receives an upward force that causes it to lift off the rack 44. As a result, as shown in FIG. 13 , the arm portion 84 rotates upward around the second support portion 56, and the engagement of the rotary damper 85 with the rack 44 is appropriately released. Meanwhile, the arm portion 84 that has rotated in a direction that causes it to lift off the rack 44 receives a downward force due to the biasing force of the second biasing member 86 that causes it to approach the rack 44 again, causing the rotary damper 85 to engage toward the rack 44. The rotary damper 85 that engaged with the rack 44 receives the force again and lifts off the rack 44. That is, when the movable member 25 moves from the first position P1 to the second position P2, the rotary damper 85 moves up and down relative to the rack 44, alternately engaging with and separating from the rack 44, so that the rotary damper 85 applies almost no resistance force to the movable member 25 during this movement. Therefore, the store manager can move the movable member 25 from the first position P1 to the second position P2 without feeling any stress.

[0057] With the movable member 25 held at the second position P2, the store manager can insert the second product 32 into the second through-hole portion 53 and place the second product 32 on the rail 24, as shown in Fig. 14. Similarly, as shown in Fig. 15, the store manager can insert the intermediate product 33 into the intermediate through-hole portion 61 and place the intermediate product 33 on the rail 24. Finally, as shown in Fig. 16, the store manager can insert the first product 31 into the first through-hole portion 45 and place the first product 31 on the rail 24.

[0058] When the store manager inserts the first product 31 into the first through-hole portion 45, the first product 31 rotates the switch member 82 so that it is pressed down from the protruding position A1 to the depressed position A2. As a result, as shown in Figures 17 to 19, the holding piece 102B of the switch member 82 is released from contact with the contact portion 97 of the stopper main body 91, and the biasing force of the elastic member 93 moves the stopper main body 91 from the held state S1 to the released state S2 (third and fourth steps).

[0059] 10 from the state shown in Fig. 12, and the fixed state of the movable member 25 is released. In this state, tension is applied to the movable member 25 in the forward direction by the action of the biasing member 26, but the intermediate product 33 that has passed through the intermediate through-hole 61 acts as a stopper for the movable member 25. Furthermore, tension is applied to the intermediate movable member 27 in the forward direction by the action of the biasing member 26 and the movable member 25, but the first product 31 that has passed through the first through-hole 45 acts as a stopper for the intermediate movable member 27. Therefore, in this state, the movable member 25 and the intermediate movable member 27 will not move to the first position P1.

[0060] In this state, for example, as shown in Figure 21, other products of the same shape can be stacked on top of the second product 32 placed directly on the rail 24. Similarly, other products of the same shape can be stacked on top of the intermediate product 33 placed directly on the rail 24. Furthermore, other products of the same shape can be stacked on top of the first product 31 placed directly on the rail 24.

[0061] Furthermore, in the product advance device 21 of this embodiment, the tip of the moving member 25 abuts against the side of the intermediate product 33, thereby sandwiching the intermediate product 33 between the moving member 25 and the intermediate through-hole portion 61, and therefore the intermediate product 33 can be grasped and held. Similarly, the tip of the intermediate moving member 27 abuts against the side of the first product 31, thereby sandwiching the first product 31 between the moving member 25 and the first through-hole portion 45, and therefore the first product 31 can be grasped and held. This prevents the intermediate product 33 and the first product 31 from unintentionally falling off the shelf board 16 even if the shelf board 16 shakes due to an earthquake or the like.

[0062] Next, we will explain how to advance a product when a customer removes it. In the state shown in FIG. 21 , if a customer removes the upper product 31A of the first product 31 located in the front row and then removes the first product 31 placed directly on the rail 24, the stopper for the intermediate moving member 27 will no longer exist. Therefore, the action of the biasing member 26 moves the moving member 25 and the intermediate moving member 27, which is biased when the moving member 25 hits the intermediate product 33, forward. This moves the intermediate moving member 27 from the intermediate position P3 to the first position P1. As a result, as shown in FIG. 22 , the intermediate product 33 and another product 33A placed above it are advanced to the front row. As a result, the intermediate product 33, while remaining located in the intermediate through-hole 61, moves into the first through-hole 45 of the fixing part 23 and is held within the first through-hole 45.

[0063] At this time, as shown in FIG. 24 , the resistance member 28 (rotary damper 85) engaging with the rack 44 acts to apply resistance to the movement of the moving member 25, so that the moving member 25 and the intermediate moving member 27 pushed out by it are slowly pushed forward. In this case, the direction connecting the first end 84A and the second end 84B of the arm 84 is oblique to the direction in which the rack 44 extends (the front-to-rear direction FR) so that the moving member 25 approaches the rack 44 as it moves forward F. Therefore, as the moving member 25 moves forward F, the pinion portion 28A of the rotary damper 85 advances, biting into the rack 44. This prevents the rotary damper 85 from lifting off the rack 44. Because the rotary damper 85 acts to push the moving member 25 and the intermediate moving member 27 very slowly, there is no risk that another product 33A placed above the intermediate product 33 or another product 32A placed above the second product 32 will unintentionally fall off the shelf.

[0064] Then, when the customer takes another product 33A above the intermediate product 33 located in the front row and then takes out another intermediate product 33 placed directly on the rail 24, there is no longer a stopper for the moving member 25.

[0065] As a result, the biasing member 26 moves the movable member 25 forward, moving it to the first position P1. As a result, the second product 32 and the other product 32A placed above it are brought forward to the front row, as shown in Figure 23. As a result, the second product 32, while remaining positioned within the second through-hole 53, moves into the first through-hole 45 of the fixed part 23 and the intermediate through-hole 61 of the intermediate movable member 27 and is held therein.

[0066] At this time, the resistance member 28 (rotary damper 85) that engages with the rack 44 acts to apply resistance to the movement of the moving member 25, causing the moving member 25 to be pushed forward slowly. Because the moving member 25 is pushed out extremely slowly at this time, there is no risk that another product 32A placed above the second product 32 will unintentionally fall below the shelf.

[0067] The customer can then take another product 32A above the second product 32 located in the front row, and then take the second product 32 placed directly on the rail 24. Just before or after all the products on the rail 24 are gone, the store manager can replenish products in the product forward-dispensing device 21 using the method described above.

[0068] According to this embodiment, the following can be said: The product advance device 21 comprises a fixed part 23 having a first through-hole 45 through which a first product 31 can pass and from which the first product 31 can be removed, a rail 24 provided below the fixed part 23, the rail 24 fixedly supporting the fixed part 23 at its front end and on which the first product 31 that has passed through the first through-hole 45 can be placed, and a movable member 25 movable on the rail 24 between a first position P1 overlapping the fixed part 23 and a second position P2 behind the fixed part 23, the movable member 25 allowing a second product 32 placed on the rail 24 to pass through and the second product 32 to be removed when in the second position P2. the movable member 25 having a second through-hole portion 53; a biasing member 26 that biases the movable member 25 from the second position P2 toward the first position P1; a stopper mechanism 81 that is movable between a held state S1 in which the movable member 25 is engaged with the movable member 25 at the second position P2 and held at the second position P2, and a released state S2 in which the stopper mechanism 81 is separated from the movable member 25 at the second position P2 and released from holding the movable member 25 at the second position P2; and a switch member 82 that is provided on either the front end portion 36 of the rail 24 or the fixed portion 23, and that is capable of engaging with the stopper mechanism 81 to switch between the held state S1 and the released state S2.

[0069] The product forward-feeding method includes a fixed part 23 having a first through-hole 45 through which a first product 31 can pass and from which the first product 31 can be removed, a rail 24 provided below the fixed part 23, the rail 24 fixedly supporting the fixed part 23 at a front end 36 thereof and on which the first product 31 that has passed through the first through-hole 45 can be placed, a movable member 25 movable on the rail 24 between a first position P1 overlapping the fixed part 23 and a second position P2 behind the fixed part 23, the movable member 25 having a second through-hole 53 through which a second product 32 placed on the rail 24 can pass and from which the second product 32 can be removed when the movable member 25 is at the second position P2, a biasing member 26 that biases the movable member 25 from the second position P2 towards the first position P1, and a biasing member 26 that biases the movable member 25 from the second position P2 towards the first position P1. A method for advancing a commodity using a commodity advancing device (21) including a stopper mechanism (81) that is movable between a held state (S1) in which the device engages with the movable member (25) and holds the movable member (25) at the second position (P2), and a released state (S2) in which the device separates from the movable member (25) at the second position (P2) and releases the holding of the movable member (25) at the second position (P2), the method comprising: a first step of moving the movable member (25) on the rail (24) from the first position (P1) to the second position (P2); a second step of setting the stopper mechanism (81) to the held state (S1) when the movable member (25) is moved to the second position (P2); a third step of passing the second commodity (32) through the second through-hole portion (53) and the first commodity (31) through the first through-hole portion (45); and a fourth step of urging the movable member (25) toward the first position (P1) by setting the stopper mechanism (81) to the released state (S2).

[0070] With these configurations, the stopper mechanism 81 holds the moving member 25 at the second position P2, so when replenishing the second product 32 and the first product 31 into the second through-hole portion 53 and the first through-hole portion 45 at the second position P2, the store manager does not need to hold the moving member 25 at the second position P2 with one hand. This allows the store manager to replenishing the second product 32 and the first product 31 into the second through-hole portion 53 and the first through-hole portion 45 with one hand. This enables operations such as holding a basket containing inventory products in one hand and replenishing products into the second through-hole portion 53 and the first through-hole portion 45 with the other hand. Furthermore, by operating the switch member 82, the store manager can switch the stopper mechanism 81 from the holding state S1 to the release state S2 with a single touch, causing the biasing member 26 to bias the moving member 25 toward the first position P1. This allows the movable member 25 to be easily switched from a fixed state to a state in which the second product 32 in the second through-hole portion 53 of the movable member 25 can be advanced forward, thereby making the work extremely easy.

[0071] The switch member 82 is provided at the front end 36 of the rail 24 at a position where the first product 31 that has passed through the first through-hole portion 45 is placed, and is rotatable between a protruding position A1 where it protrudes from the rail 24 and a depressed position A2 that is located at the same level as the surface of the rail 24 or in the vicinity of said surface.

[0072] According to this configuration, by placing the first product 31 on the front end 36 of the rail 24, the first product 31 can automatically press down the switch member 82. This makes it possible to realize a product forward-dispensing device 21 that is easy for store managers to use.

[0073] The first through-hole 45 has a shape complementary to the first product 31 on the front end 36 side, and is open on the opposite side to the front end 36 to allow the second product 32 to pass through. This configuration makes it possible to realize a structure in which the second product 32 can be advanced by the moving member 25.

[0074] In the product advance method, the product advance device 21 is provided at either the front end 36 of the rail 24 or the fixed portion 23, and further includes a switch member 82 at the front end 36 of the rail 24 that can engage with the stopper mechanism 81 and switch between a holding state S1 and a released state S2, and in the third step, the switch member 82 is operated by the first product 31 passing through the first through-hole portion 45, thereby switching the stopper mechanism 81 to the released state S2 in the fourth step.

[0075] According to this configuration, the fourth step can be started automatically, and a method of forward-dispensing products can be realized that reduces the workload of the store manager.

[0076] The product advance device 21 comprises a fixed part 23 having a first through-hole 45 through which a first product 31 can pass and from which the first product 31 can be removed, a rail 24 provided below the fixed part 23, the rail 24 fixedly supporting the fixed part 23 at its front end 36 and on which the first product 31 that has passed through the first through-hole 45 can be placed, and a movable member 25 movable on the rail 24 between a first position P1 overlapping the fixed part 23 and a second position P2 behind the fixed part 23, the movable member 25 having a second through-hole 53 through which a second product 32 placed on the rail 24 can pass and from which the second product 32 can be removed when the movable member 25 is at the second position P2. the moving member 25, a biasing member 6 that biases the moving member 25 from the second position P2 toward the first position P1, a rack 44 that extends parallel to the rail 24, a rotary damper 85 that includes a pinion portion 28A that engages with the rack 44 and applies resistance while rotating, and a resistance member 26 that has a rod-shaped arm portion 84 that has a first end 84A that supports the rotary damper 85 and a second end 84B that is connected to the moving member 25 and is rotatable around the second end 84B, and the direction that connects the first end 84A and the second end 84B is oblique to the direction in which the rack 44 extends so that the direction in which the rack 44 extends approaches the rack 44 as it moves forward F.

[0077] With this configuration, when the moving member 25 moves from the second position P2 to the first position P1 (moves to the front side F), the arm portion 84, which is angled with respect to the direction in which the rack 44 extends, receives a force in a direction that bites into the rack 44, and the resistance member 26 can provide resistance to the moving member 25. This allows the second product 32 to be advanced gently when the moving member 25 moves from the second position P2 to the first position P1. This prevents the second product 32 from being advanced forward with too much force, which could cause the second product 32 to be thrown forward. On the other hand, when the moving member 25 moves from the first position P1 to the second position P2, the pinion portion 28A repels the rack 44, causing the arm portion 84 to rotate in a direction that moves the pinion portion 28A away from the rack 44, and therefore the resistance member 26 does not provide resistance to the moving member 25. This prevents unnecessary strain from being placed on the store manager who pushes down the moving member 25 from the first position P1 to the second position P2, making it possible to realize a user-friendly commodity advance device 21.

[0078] The resistance member 28 includes a second biasing member 86 that biases the arm portion 84 in a direction that brings the rotary damper 85 closer to the rack 44.

[0079] According to this configuration, when the moving member 25 moves from the second position P2 to the first position P1, the pinion portion 28A can be reliably pressed against the rack 44. This makes it possible to reliably apply resistance to the moving member 25 moving from the second position P2 toward the first position P1.

[0080] Next, a description will be given of a modified embodiment of the first embodiment. In the following embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described, and a description of parts common to the first embodiment will be omitted. [Second embodiment]

[0081] 25 to 35, a product advance device 21 and a shelf 10 having the product advance device 21 according to a second embodiment will be described. This embodiment differs from the first embodiment mainly in the configuration of the stopper mechanism. Also, in this embodiment, the shelf 10 is similar to that in the first embodiment.

[0082] 25 to 28, the stopper mechanism 81 has a stopper body 91 formed from a long, thin wire rod, and a fixture 105 for fixing the stopper body 91 so that it does not fall off. The stopper body 91 is provided along the longitudinal direction (front-rear direction) of the rail 24. Most of the stopper body 91 is provided on the back side of the rail 24, and a portion of the front side is disposed in a recessed portion 83 on the front side of the rail 24.

[0083] 28, the stopper body 91 has a transmission part 111 that extends straight in the front-rear direction, a front end part 112 that is bent in the width direction relative to the transmission part 111, and a rear end part 113 that is bent upward relative to the transmission part 111. As shown in FIGS. 27 and 28, the transmission part 111 is detachably attached to the inside of a groove part 114 that is provided in the rail 24 so as to extend in the front-rear direction FR. The transmission part 111 extends straight in the front-rear direction FR to connect the front end part 112 and the rear end part 113 and can transmit a rotational force applied at the front end part 112 to the rear end part 113.

[0084] In this embodiment, the recess 83 has a through hole (not shown) that communicates with the groove 114. The front end 112 of the stopper body 91 inserted into the groove 114 can pass through the recess 83 via this through hole.

[0085] 29, the switch body 102 of the switch member 82 has an insertion portion 102C on the back surface into which the front end portion 112 is inserted. The insertion portion 102C allows the stopper body 91 to be integrated with the switch body 102 and to rotate together with the switch body 102. In other words, the stopper body 91 rotates in conjunction with the movement of the switch body 102, generating a rotational force, which can rotate the rear end portion 113.

[0086] The stopper body 91 of the stopper mechanism 81 is movable (rotatable) around the transmission part 111 between a holding state S1 in which it engages with the movable member 25 at the second position P2 as shown by the solid line in Figure 27 and can hold the movable member 25 at the second position P2, and a release state S2 in which it is separated from the movable member 25 at the second position P2 as shown by the dotted line in Figure 27 and has released the holding of the movable member 25 at the second position P2.

[0087] As shown in Figure 28, the fixing device 105 is formed in an inverted "U" shape, and can hold the stopper body 91 installed in the groove portion 114 within the groove portion 114 so that it does not fall out of the groove portion 114.

[0088] As shown in Fig. 30, unlike the first embodiment, the protrusion 51B of the moving member 25 protrudes downward in a hook shape, and the protrusion 51B includes a cam surface 51BA on its rear surface that is inclined with respect to the width direction. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 31, when the moving member 25 retracts from the first position P1 to the second position P2, the action of the cam surface 51BA of the protrusion 51B can move the rear end 113 of the stopper main body 91 leftward in the drawing. This allows the moving member 25 to move smoothly from the first position P1 to the second position P2.

[0089] Next, a method for replenishing products (product advance method) in the product advance device 21 of this embodiment will be described. The first product 31, second product 32, and intermediate product 33 used in this embodiment all have the same shape, an inverted truncated cone shape.

[0090] The store manager can manually pull the movable member 25 backward from the state shown in Fig. 25 to the state shown in Fig. 26. At this time, the movable member 25 moves from the first position P1 to the second position P2, and the intermediate movable member 27 moves from the first position P1 to the intermediate position P3 (first step).

[0091] When the intermediate moving member 25 abuts against the stopper piece 43, the moving member 25 cannot move any further rearward, and the store manager can know that the moving member 25 has correctly moved to the second position P2. When the store manager releases the moving member 25, the moving member 25 is returned to the front side F by the action of the biasing member 26. At this time, as shown in FIG. 32, the protruding portion 51B of the moving member 25 abuts against the rear end portion 113 of the stopper body 91, and the moving member 25 is held at the second position P2.

[0092] 26, when the movable member 25 moves to the second position P2 and the intermediate movable member 25 moves to the intermediate position P3, the intermediate movable member 25 pressing down on the switch body 102 of the switch member 82 from above is no longer present, and the switch body 102 moves from the pressed position A2 to the protruding position A1 due to the action of the elastic member 93. Accordingly, the stopper body 91 of the stopper mechanism 81, which can move in conjunction with the switch body 102, can also move from the released state S2 shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 27 to the held state S1 shown by the solid line.

[0093] The movement of the movable member 25 from the first position P1 to the second position P2 will be described in more detail. As shown in FIGS. 30 to 32, when the store manager moves the movable member 25 from the first position P1 to the second position P2, the cam surface 94A of the protruding portion 51B of the movable member 25, which is moving toward the rear side R, abuts against the rear end portion 113 of the stopper main body 91, which is in the holding state S1. At this time, the action of the cam surface 94A causes the rear end portion 113 to rotate leftward (leftward in FIG. 31), as shown in FIGS. 30 and 31. After the protruding portion 51B passes the rear side R, the action of the elastic member 93 causes the stopper main body 91 to return to the holding state S1, as shown in FIG. 32. The rear end portion 113 of the stopper main body 91, which has returned to the holding state S1, holds the movable member 25 at the second position P2 (second step).

[0094] When the movable member 25 is moved from the first position P1 to the second position P2, the rotary damper 85 of the resistance member 28 engaged with the rack 44 resists the movement of the movable member 25. However, in this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the arm portion 84 rotates upward about the second support portion 56, and the engagement of the rotary damper 85 with the rack 44 is appropriately released. Meanwhile, the arm portion 84, which has rotated in a direction to lift off the rack 44, is subjected to a downward force by the biasing force of the second biasing member 86 so as to again approach the rack 44, and the rotary damper 85 engages with the rack 44. In other words, when the movable member 25 moves from the first position P1 to the second position P2, the rotary damper 85 moves up and down with respect to the rack 44, alternately repeating engagement and disengagement from the rack 44, so that almost no resistance force is applied from the rotary damper 85 to the movable member 25 during this movement.

[0095] With the movable member 25 held at the second position P2, the store manager can insert the second product 32 into the second through-hole portion 53 and place the second product 32 on the rail 24, as shown in Fig. 33. Similarly, as shown in Fig. 34, the store manager can insert the intermediate product 33 into the intermediate through-hole portion 61 and place the intermediate product 33 on the rail 24. Finally, as shown in Fig. 35, the store manager can insert the first product 31 into the first through-hole portion 45 and place the first product 31 on the rail 24.

[0096] When the store manager inserts the first product 31 into the first through-hole 45, the first product 31 rotates the switch member 82 so that it is pressed down from the protruding position A1 to the depressed position A2. As a result, as the switch member 82 moves from the protruding position A1 to the depressed position A2, the stopper body 91 rotates from the holding state S1 to the released state S2. This releases the rear end 113 from holding the protruding portion 51B of the moving member 25 (third and fourth steps). In this state, the biasing member 26 applies tension to the moving member 25 in the forward direction, with the intermediate product 33 that has passed through the intermediate through-hole 61 acting as a stopper for the moving member 25. Furthermore, the biasing member 26 and the moving member 25 apply tension to the intermediate moving member 27 in the forward direction F, with the first product 31 that has passed through the first through-hole 45 acting as a stopper for the intermediate moving member 27. Therefore, in this state, the moving member 25 and the intermediate moving member 27 will not move to the first position P1.

[0097] In this state, for example, as shown in Figure 21, other products of the same shape can be stacked on top of the second product 32 placed directly on the rail 24. Similarly, other products of the same shape can be stacked on top of the intermediate product 33 placed directly on the rail 24. Furthermore, other products of the same shape can be stacked on top of the first product 31 placed directly on the rail 24.

[0098] Furthermore, in the product advance device 21 of this embodiment, the tip of the moving member 25 abuts against the side of the intermediate product 33, thereby sandwiching the intermediate product 33 between the moving member 25 and the intermediate through-hole portion 61, and therefore the intermediate product 33 can be grasped and held. Similarly, the tip of the intermediate moving member 27 abuts against the side of the first product 31, thereby sandwiching the first product 31 between the moving member 25 and the first through-hole portion 45, and therefore the first product 31 can be grasped and held. This prevents the intermediate product 33 and the first product 31 from unintentionally falling off the shelf board 16 even if the shelf board 16 shakes due to an earthquake or the like.

[0099] Next, we will explain how to advance a product when a customer removes it. In the state shown in FIG. 21 , if a customer removes the upper product 31A of the first product 31 located in the front row and then removes the first product 31 placed directly on the rail 24, the stopper for the intermediate moving member 27 will no longer exist. Therefore, the action of the biasing member 26 moves the moving member 25 and the intermediate moving member 27, which is biased when the moving member 25 hits the intermediate product 33, forward. This moves the intermediate moving member 27 from the intermediate position P3 to the first position P1. As a result, as shown in FIG. 22 , the intermediate product 33 and another product 33A placed above it are advanced to the front row. As a result, the intermediate product 33, while remaining located in the intermediate through-hole 61, moves into the first through-hole 45 of the fixing part 23 and is held within the first through-hole 45.

[0100] At this time, as shown in FIG. 24 , the resistance member 28 (rotary damper 85) engaging with the rack 44 acts to apply resistance to the movement of the moving member 25, so that the moving member 25 and the intermediate moving member 27 pushed out by it are slowly pushed forward. In this case, the direction connecting the first end 84A and the second end 84B of the arm 84 is oblique to the direction in which the rack 44 extends (the front-to-rear direction FR) so that the moving member 25 approaches the rack 44 as it moves forward F. Therefore, as the moving member 25 moves forward F, the pinion portion 28A of the rotary damper 85 advances, biting into the rack 44. This prevents the rotary damper 85 from lifting off the rack 44. Because the rotary damper 85 acts to push the moving member 25 and the intermediate moving member 27 very slowly, there is no risk that another product 33A placed above the intermediate product 33 or another product 32A placed above the second product 32 will unintentionally fall off the shelf.

[0101] Then, when the customer takes another product 33A above the intermediate product 33 located in the front row and then takes out another intermediate product 33 placed directly on the rail 24, there is no longer a stopper for the moving member 25.

[0102] As a result, the biasing member 26 acts to move the movable member 25 in the forward direction F, moving the movable member 25 to the first position P1. As a result, the second product 32 and the other product 32A placed above it are brought forward to the front row, as shown in Figure 23. As a result, the second product 32, while remaining positioned within the second through-hole 53, moves into the first through-hole 45 of the fixed part 23 and the intermediate through-hole 61 of the intermediate movable member 27, and is held inside these.

[0103] At this time, the resistance member 28 (rotary damper 85) that engages with the rack 44 acts to apply resistance to the movement of the moving member 25, causing the moving member 25 to be slowly pushed forward F. Because the moving member 25 is pushed out extremely slowly at this time, there is no risk that another product 32A placed above the second product 32 will unintentionally fall below the shelf.

[0104] The customer can then take another product 32A above the second product 32 located in the front row, and then take the second product 32 placed directly on the rail 24. Just before or after all the products on the rail 24 are gone, the store manager can replenish products in the product forward-dispensing device 21 using the method described above. According to this embodiment, it is possible to achieve the same effects as those of the first embodiment.

[0105] The above-described embodiment can be implemented with various further substitutions and modifications, and it goes without saying that the above-described different embodiments can be appropriately combined to form a single invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0106] 10 shelves 21 Product front-dispense device 23 Fixed part 24 Rail P1 1st position P2 2nd position 25 Moving parts 26 biasing member 27 Intermediate moving member 28 Resistance Members 31 1st product 32 2nd product 33 Intermediate products 36 Front end 45 1st through hole section 53 2nd through hole section P3 intermediate position 61 Intermediate through-hole portion S1 Holding state S2 Cancelled 81 Stopper mechanism 82 Switch parts 84 Arm section 84A 1st end 84B 2nd end 85 rotary damper 86 second biasing member A1 protruding position A2 Press position

Claims

1. a fixing part having a first through-hole part through which a first product can pass and through which the first product can be removed; a rail provided below the fixed portion, the rail fixedly supporting the fixed portion at a front end thereof, and the rail on which the first product passing through the first through-hole portion is placed; a movable member that is movable on the rail between a first position overlapping with the fixed portion and a second position behind the fixed portion, the movable member having a second through-hole portion through which a second product placed on the rail can pass and through which the second product can be removed when the movable member is at the second position; a biasing member that biases the moving member from the second position toward the first position; a stopper mechanism movable between a holding state in which the stopper mechanism engages with the movable member at the second position to hold the movable member at the second position, and a release state in which the stopper mechanism is separated from the movable member at the second position to release the movable member from being held at the second position; a switch member provided on either the front end portion or the fixed portion of the rail, the switch member engaging with the stopper mechanism to switch between the holding state and the release state; Equipped with The first through-hole portion has a shape complementary to the first product at the front end side, and an open shape on the opposite side from the front end side to allow the second product to pass through.

2. The product advance device described in claim 1, wherein the switch member is provided at the front end of the rail at a position where the first product that has passed through the first through-hole portion is placed, and is rotatable between a protruding position where it protrudes from the rail and a depressed position where it is located at the same level as the surface of the rail or in the vicinity of the surface.

3. A shelf equipped with the product advance device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. a fixing part having a first through-hole part through which a first product can pass and through which the first product can be removed; a rail provided below the fixed portion, the rail fixedly supporting the fixed portion at a front end thereof, and the rail on which the first product passing through the first through-hole portion is placed; a movable member that is movable on the rail between a first position overlapping with the fixed portion and a second position behind the fixed portion, the movable member having a second through-hole portion through which a second product placed on the rail can pass and through which the second product can be removed when the movable member is at the second position; a biasing member that biases the moving member from the second position toward the first position; a stopper mechanism movable between a holding state in which the stopper mechanism engages with the movable member at the second position to hold the movable member at the second position, and a release state in which the stopper mechanism is separated from the movable member at the second position to release the movable member from being held at the second position; a switch member provided on either the front end portion or the fixed portion of the rail, the switch member engaging with the stopper mechanism to switch between the holding state and the release state; Equipped with a first through-hole portion having a shape complementary to the first commodity at the front end side thereof and an open shape at the opposite side to the front end thereof to allow the second commodity to pass therethrough; a first step in which a store manager moves the movable member on the rail from the first position to the second position; a second step of placing the stopper mechanism in the holding state by the switch member when the moving member is moved to the second position; a third step in which a store manager passes the second commodity through the second through-hole portion and the first commodity through the first through-hole portion; a fourth step in which the store manager operates the switch member to release the stopper mechanism, thereby urging the movable member toward the first position; A product forward delivery method comprising:

5. The product advance device further includes the switch member at the front end of the rail, The product forward-delivery method according to claim 4, wherein in the third step, the switch member is operated by the first product passing through the first through-hole portion, thereby releasing the stopper mechanism in the fourth step.

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