Merchandise display device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a merchandise presentation device for presenting merchandise on a merchandise track.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a merchandise presentation device according to claim 1 for presenting merchandise on a merchandise track.

[0002] Merchandise shelves with self-adjusting merchandise presentation devices are known in the prior art, wherein EP 2 773 242 B1 is particularly noteworthy, as it relates to a merchandise pusher tray with a base structure that includes a pair of load bearing members holding a merchandise support formed by elongate and horizontal rods.

[0003] Typically on merchandise presentation devices of such kind, a number of goods are ranged one behind the other along the merchandise support. In the salesroom, a customer then takes each product successively from the front of the merchandise support. As soon as a product has been removed, the remaining products are automatically propelled in a feed direction V along a merchandise track towards a front side by a pusher device until the leading product reaches a limit stop.

[0004] Based on the aforementioned prior art, the object underlying the invention is to describe an improved, more easily manageable merchandise presentation device, with which in particular improved cooling and / or simpler assembly is enabled, in particular through the use of fewer components.

[0005] The object is solved with the features of Claim 1. Further advantageous features of the invention are described in the subordinate claims. All combinations of at least two of the features disclosed by the claims and / or the figures presented in the description fall within the scope of the invention.

[0006] The merchandise presentation device according to the invention includes the following features:

[0007] a merchandise support for accommodating products along a feed direction V from a rear end to a front end of the merchandise support,

[0008] a front fixing element arranged on the front end, wherein the fixing element is constructed integrally with the merchandise support, a rear fixing element arranged on the rear end, wherein the fixing element is constructed integrally with the merchandise support,

[0009] two braces, each with a hook section for attaching the braces to a mount, which braces secure the merchandise support on the rear fixing element,

[0010] a product stop arranged on the front fixing element,

[0011] a pusher device guided along the merchandise support for advancing the products in the feed direction V,

[0012] at least one, preferably two, divider walls that delimit the merchandise track laterally, which is / are designed displaceably for the purpose of adjusting a width of the merchandise track transversely to the feed direction V,wherein the merchandise support is constructed at least mainly, preferably practically entirely as a closed area between the braces. Practically entirely means that, apart from advantageously provided liquid drain openings in particular, the merchandise support includes a completely closed area.

[0013] The design according to the invention not only serves to improve the complexity of the structure of the merchandise presentation device, it also prevents objects from falling through it, and particularly when a closed area made from a material with high thermal conductivity (in particular metals) is provided, preferably a metallic material, cooling of the products is improved.

[0014] Similarly preferred is an advantageous refinement of the invention according to which the merchandise support is made from, in particular, rolled or extruded sheet metal, preferably aluminium. In this way, the cooling effect within a rack created from the merchandise presentation device according to the invention, in particular a hanging shelf, is improved. At the same time, the appearance of the merchandise presentation device is enhanced, particularly when merchandise tracks are empty. The merchandise support is preferably manufactured by aluminium extrusion.

[0015] In a further development of the invention, it is advantageously provided that the merchandise support has at least one corrugation that runs in feed direction V, in particular continuously from the front end to the rear end. The corrugation brings about a strengthening of the merchandise support, so that the closed area of the merchandise support may be of thinner construction, thereby improving thermal conductivity further still. At the same time, manufacturing is less expensive and the weight the braces must support is reduced.

[0016] Assembly is further simplified, and stability increased when the upper side of the front and / or rear fixing element(s) has / have a shape corresponding to that of the merchandise support.

[0017] An embodiment of the merchandise presentation device in which the braces are each formed integrally and / or throughout from one material, wherein the material is preferably steel, is particularly advantageous for design purposes. This makes it possible for the braces to be constructed in the form of delicate steel strips or steel sheets, wherein the braces in particular can be positioned upright. This has the effect of improving the supporting effect of the braces for the merchandise support.

[0018] According to an advantageous variant of the present invention, the pusher device is advantageously equipped with a pusher element, which has a pusher wall and two guide legs that clasp the sides of the merchandise support. This arrangement also simplifies assembly of the pusher device on the merchandise support, the pusher device being guided in sliding manner along the merchandise support. The system is thus able to be used in continuous operation even under extreme conditions. In particular, the guide legs are conformed on the pusher wall. It is further preferred if the guide legs extend orthogonally to the pusher wall or along the feed direction V.

[0019] In this context, a variant in which a detent element is arranged at the rear end, in particular in the corrugation, for engaging the pusher device, in particular the pusher element, is particularly practical. The detent element may preferably be embodied as a spring catch, in which the pusher element is latched by pressing, and unlatched by pressing again. In this way, filling the merchandise presentation device with products by an operator is made considerably easier without thereby limiting the space available for the products.

[0020] It is further preferred if lighting means are arranged along and / or in the corrugation, and in particular operable by the detent element. The lighting means may be embodied in particular as LED strips. This measure serves not only to enhance the appearance of the merchandise presentation device, but in particular also to make filling easier.

[0021] According to an advantageous variant of the invention, the versatility of the merchandise presentation device is expanded if the divider wall has a front guide element and a rear guide element for guiding the divider wall, wherein the front guide element in particular passes through the front fixing element and the rear guide element in particular passes through the rear fixing element, in particular transversely to the feed direction V in each case.

[0022] In an advantageous refinement of the invention, it is provided that the pusher device includes two rolling wheels on the merchandise support, in particular one on each side of the corrugation. This enables the pusher device to run considerably more smoothly, so that an actuation element, in particular a spring, can be of less heavy construction and long-term operation is assured. Filling of the merchandise presentation device is also simplified. According to a particularly space-saving variant of the present invention, it is advantageously provided that the pusher device includes a roll spring, in particular on a floating bearing, which unrolls in the corrugation.

[0023] Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments and with reference to the drawing. In the schematic drawing:

[0024] FIG. 1: is an exploded representation of a variant of the merchandise presentation device according to the invention,

[0025] FIG. 2: represents a perspective view of the variant according to FIG. 1 in the assembled state,

[0026] FIG. 3: represents a front view of the variant according to the invention with divider walls retracted, and

[0027] FIG. 4: represents a front view of the variant according to the invention with divider walls fully extended.

[0028] In the figures, components with identical or similar function are identified with the same reference numerals.

[0029] The merchandise presentation device 1 is assembled from the following elements according to FIGS. 1-4:

[0030] A merchandise track 2 made from an aluminium sheet with a corrugation 17 is constructed integrally with a rear fixing element 6 at a rear end 4 and integrally with a front fixing element 7 at a front end 5.

[0031] The cross sections of the fixing elements 6, 7 correspond to the cross section of the merchandise support 3.

[0032] The fixing elements 6, 7 also have guide channels 24, 24′ arranged in particular at the rear end 4 and at the front end 5 respectively.

[0033] The guide channels 24, 24′ extend transversely to a feed direction V of the products, in particular passing completely through the fixing elements 6, 7.

[0034] A product stop 10 is fixed, preferably screwed onto the front fixing element 7. The product stop 10 is preferably embodied as a plate-like, in particular transparent element.

[0035] Braces 8 are fixed on each side of the rear fixing element 6, which is constructed integrally with the merchandise support 3, each brace having a hook section 9 at the rear end 4. The braces 8 are attached, preferably clipped, onto a corresponding mount of a hanging shelf, by means of the hook sections 9.

[0036] In addition to the fixing of the braces 8 on the rear fixing element 6, the braces 8 also support the merchandise support 3 as lateral wings 25, 25′ of the merchandise support 3 rest at least partially, in particular mostly, preferably fully on the braces 8. The lateral wings 25, 25′ extend preferably continuously over the entire length of the merchandise support 3 on either side of the corrugation 17. The lateral wings 25, 25′ serve simultaneously as bearing and sliding surfaces for the products lying on the merchandise support 3.

[0037] The braces 8 are preferably made integrally and / or throughout from one material, preferably steel.

[0038] A pusher element 13 of a pusher device 11 is connected to the merchandise support 3. The connection is created as the pusher element 13 has guide legs 16 on an underside of the pusher element 13, wherein said legs clasp the sides of the merchandise support 3 at the lateral wings 25, 25′.

[0039] The pusher element 13 may be displaced along the merchandise support 3 in the feed direction V and in the opposite direction to the feed direction V, wherein the guide legs 16 are guided in sliding manner along the lateral wings 25, 25′. The guide legs 16 are preferably conformed on a pusher wall 14 of the pusher element 13 and extend orthogonally to the pusher wall 14.

[0040] In order to ensure easier movement of the pusher element 13, the pusher element 13 has two wheels 15, which may serve in addition to the guide legs 16 to guide the pusher element 13. The wheels preferably 15 roll along the lateral wings 25, 25′.

[0041] The pusher device 11 further includes a roll spring 21, which is held in place on the front fixing element 7 by means of an angled fixing end. The roll spring 21 is mounted on a floating bearing in particular in a corresponding pocket on a rear side of the pusher wall 14. Consequently, the pusher element 13 can only be displaced from the front end 5 to the rear end 4 against the spring force of the roll spring 21.

[0042] In order to make it easier to fill the merchandise presentation device 1 with products, a detent element is arranged preferably at the rear end 4, in which the pusher element 13 can be engaged. The detent element is preferably embodied as a pressure spring catch, so that the pusher element 13 can be latched by pressing against the spring catch and unlatched by pressing again. The roll spring 21 is preferably arranged in such manner that the unwound portion of the roll spring 21 unrolls in the corrugation 17.

[0043] Finally, divider walls 12, 12′ are each displaced by means of a front guide element 19 and a rear guide element 20 in the correspondingly extending and arranged guide channels 24, 24′. The guide elements 19, 20 of the divider wall 12 are offset with respect to the guide channels 19, 20 of the divider wall 12′, so that the guide elements 19, 20 can be guided in different guide channels 24, 24′.

[0044] The divider walls 12, 12′ also have an L-shaped sill 22 that in each case face towards the merchandise support 3, and whose sill surface preferably extends from the rear end 4 as far as the front end 5. The sill 22 is preferably flush with the lateral wings 25, 25′, and together with the lateral wings 25, 25′ forms a support surface and sliding surface for the products.LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS1 Merchandise presentation device

[0046] 2 Merchandise track

[0047] 3 Merchandise support

[0048] 4 Rear end

[0049] 5 Front end

[0050] 6 Rear fixing element

[0051] 7 Front fixing element

[0052] 8 Brace

[0053] 9 Hook section

[0054] 10 Product stop

[0055] 11 Pusher device

[0056] 12, 12′ Divider walls

[0057] 13 Pusher element

[0058] 14 Pusher wall

[0059] 15 Wheels

[0060] 16 Guide leg

[0061] 17 Corrugation

[0062] 19 Front guide element

[0063] 20 Rear guide element

[0064] 21 Roll spring

[0065] 22 L-shaped sill

[0066] 24, 24′ Guide channels

[0067] 25, 25′ Lateral wings

[0068] V Feed direction

Claims

1. Merchandise presentation device (1) for the presentation of merchandise on a merchandise track (2), comprising:a merchandise support (3) for accommodating the merchandise along a feed direction (V) from a rear end (4) to a front end (5) of the merchandise support (3),a rear fixing element (6) arranged at the rear end (4), wherein the rear fixing element (6) is constructed integrally with the merchandise support (3),a front fixing element (7) arranged at the rear end (5), wherein the front fixing element (Z) is constructed integrally with the merchandise support (3),two braces (8) that hold the merchandise support (3) on the rear fixing element (6), each with a hook section (9) for attaching the braces (8) to a mount,a product stop (10) arranged on the front fixing element (7),a pusher device (11) that is guided along the merchandise support (3) to advance the products in the feed direction (V),at least one divider wall (12, 12′) that delimits the sides of the merchandise track (2), and the at least one divider wall is designed displaceably for the purpose of adjusting a width of the merchandise track (2) transversely to the feed direction (V),wherein the merchandise support (3) is designed at least mainly as a closed area between the braces (8).

2. Merchandise presentation device according to claim 1, wherein the merchandise support (3) consists of, in particular, rolled or extruded sheet metal3. Merchandise presentation device according to claim 1, wherein the merchandise support (3) has at least one corrugation (17) that runs in feed direction (V), in particular continuously from the front end (5) to the rear end (4).

4. Merchandise presentation device according to claim 1, wherein the upper side of the front fixing element (7) and / or the rear fixing element (6) has / have a shape corresponding to that of the merchandise support (3).

5. Merchandise presentation device according to claim 1, wherein the braces (8) are each formed integrally and / or throughout from one material.

6. Merchandise presentation device according to claim 1, wherein the pusher device (11) is equipped with a pusher element (13) with a pusher wall (14), and two guide legs (16) conformed in particular on the pusher wall (14) that clasp the sides of the merchandise support (3)7. Merchandise presentation device according to claim 1, wherein a detent element is arranged at the rear end (4), in particular in the-a corrugation (17), for engaging the pusher device (11).

8. Merchandise presentation device according to claim 7, wherein lighting means are arranged along and / or in the corrugation (17), and in particular are operated by means of the detent element.

9. Merchandise presentation device according to claim 1, wherein the divider wall (12, 12′) has a front guide element (19) and a rear guide element (20) for guiding the divider wall (12, 12′) transversely to the feed direction (V), wherein the front guide element (19) passes through the front fixing element (7) and the rear guide element (20) passes through the rear fixing element (6).

10. Merchandise presentation device according to claim 1, wherein the pusher device (11) has two wheels (15) that roll on the merchandise support (3), in particular on either side of the a corrugation (17).

11. Merchandise presentation device according to claim 1, wherein the pusher device (11) includes a roll spring (21), in particular on a floating bearing, which unrolls in the a corrugation (17).

12. Merchandise presentation device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one divider wall (12, 12′) comprises two divider walls (12, 12′).

13. Merchandise presentation device according to claim 2, wherein the metal comprises aluminium.

14. Merchandise presentation device according to claim 5, wherein the one material comprises steel.

15. Merchandise presentation device according to claim 6, wherein the two guide legs (16) extend orthogonally to the pusher wall (14).

16. Merchandise presentation device according to claim 7, wherein the detent element is arranged at the rear end (4) for engaging a pusher element (13).

Images