Dispenser for a display unit
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2026-02-06
- Publication Date
- 2026-08-13
Smart Images
Figure GB2026050166_13082026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] Dispenser for a Display Unit
[0002] The present invention relates to a dispenser for a display unit, for example a display unit for use in a retail shop. The invention extends to a method of gaining access to a product in a display unit.
[0003] Retail shops typically include a variety of display units to display products for sale and it is expected that shoppers will collect products from those display units as they move around the shop and will eventually take their selected products to a check out till to pay for the products selected. Thieves will select the products from the display units, but will leave the shop without paying. There are a variety of ways to deter thieves, including security tags or locked displays, but these can increase costs or be inconvenient to use.
[0004] The present invention provides a dispenser for mounting to a shelf of a display unit, the dispenser comprising guides and an access control device, the guides being for attachment to a shelf to define a holding area and dispensing location, and to guide products from the holding area to the dispensing location, the dispensing location having a dispensing opening through which a user can remove products from the dispensing location and a restock opening through which products from the holding area can enter the dispensing location;
[0005] the access control device arranged between the guides to control access to the dispensing location, the access control device comprising a body coupled to a door and a restock restrictor, the access control device being manually changeable by a user between a restock configuration and a dispensing configuration, wherein:
[0006] in the restock configuration the door extends across the dispensing opening and restricts user access to a product in the dispensing location through the dispensing opening, and the restock restrictor allows a product from the holding area to move into the dispensing location through the restock opening; and
[0007] in the dispensing configuration the door allows a user to remove a product from the dispensing location through the dispensing opening, and the restock restrictor extends across the restock opening and prevents products from the holding area moving into the dispensing location through the restock opening; wherein: the access control device is configured such that, as the access control device is changed from the restock configuration to the dispensing configuration, the restock restrictor moves into a position in which prevents products from moving into the dispensing location through the restock opening before the door moves to a position in which allows user access to remove a product from the dispensing location through the dispensing opening.The invention also provides a display unit comprising:
[0008] a shelf to support a plurality of products and a dispenser, the dispenser being as described herein,
[0009] the guides being attached to the shelf to define a holding area of the shelf to hold products and dispensing location from which products are to be dispensed.
[0010] By providing a display unit with such a dispenser, access to products can be restricted to the contents of the dispensing location at any one time. With the access control device of the dispenser in the restock configuration a user can change the access control device to the dispensing configuration and take a product from the dispensing location through the dispensing opening. The user can then change the access control device to the restock configuration so that a product can pass from the holding area to the dispensing location and then change the access control device to the dispensing configuration to remove the newly added product.
[0011] The dispensing location may be sized to contain only a single product, and this limits a user to obtaining a single product for each change actuation of the of the access control device from restock configuration to dispensing location and back. Restricting access in this way can slow access to products in the display unit and prevent thieves from gaining quick access to a plurality of products. This can make theft of a plurality of products less likely, or any theft may involve fewer products. The dispensing location may also be sized to be able to contain two or more products.
[0012] The display unit may be any form of shop display unit. The display unit may comprise a single shelf, or a cabinet comprising many shelves. For the purposes of this invention, any surface on which products can be supported is considered a shelf, and this includes, for example the floor of a cabinet. The display unit may be open shelves, or may be enclosed, for example, using a door. The door may be coupled to the display unit so that it can be moved, for example slid or pivoted to gain access to an interior of the display unit. The door may comprise a transparent panel so that user can view products within the display unit without opening the door. The display unit may be temperature or atmospherically controlled, for example the display unit may be a refrigerator.
[0013] The products may be any product to be sold. The display unit is particularly intended to display consumable products, such as bottles, cans, or packs of food or drink. The product may be a substantially cylindrical product intended to be displayed standing on one end ofthe cylinder. The product may be a single can of a drink, or may be a pack comprising a plurality of such cans, for example a four-pack.
[0014] The shelf to support a plurality of products may be any form of shelf. The display unit may comprise a plurality of shelves. The floor of the display unit may be considered a shelf. Products may be supported on an upper surface of the shelf. The shelf may be formed in any suitable way, for example the shelf may be substantially solid, or formed from wire, for example in the form of a rack. The upper surface of the shelf may be substantially flat and planar, or may comprise attachment features, for example recesses or projections to which guides, or other components, could be attached. The shelf may have a front edge from which products can be accessed.
[0015] The holding area is an area in which a plurality of products can be stored. Access to the holding area for a user may be restricted so that a customer cannot remove products directly from the holding area. The access restriction may be provided, at least in part, by the guides that define the holding area. For example, the guides may comprise a wall which restricts access to the holding area. The holding area may extend from a rear portion of the shelf toward front edge.
[0016] The dispensing location from which products are to be dispensed may be located at, or adjacent a front edge of the shelf to facilitate access to a product therein.
[0017] The dispenser can be provided in any suitable form. The dispenser may be permanently attached to the shelf, formed with the shelf, or be releasably, or movably, attached to the shelf. The dispenser may be provided in the form of a kit comprising a plurality of guides and at least one access control device so that the dispenser can be assembled and attached to a shelf when required. Providing the dispenser in the form of a kit enables parts to be replaced, for example if damaged, or to be swapped for an alternative part of a different size or shape to accommodate different products.
[0018] The guides are attached to the shelf to define the holding area and dispensing location and to guide products from a holding area to the dispensing location. The guides may be formed integrally with the shelf, or attached thereto. The guides may be attached to the shelf in a removable or movable manner, for example using fixings, or clamps, so that the guides can be removed when not needed, or moved to accommodate different products. The guides may be substantially linear.The dispensing location includes a dispensing opening and restock opening though which a product can pass. The product may pass through the restock opening by sliding along a surface of the shelf being guided by the guides. The dispensing opening and restock opening may be defined by the shelf, guides, and the access control device. The dispensing opening may be on a side of the dispensing location adjacent the front edge of the shelf and the restock opening may be located on the opposite side of the dispensing location. This may result in products moving from the holding area, into the dispensing location through the restock opening and then through the dispensing opening by moving from a rear of the shelf towards the front. The path of movement of the product may be substantially linear and the path may be defined by guides which are substantially linear. In other examples, the path of movement may include curves and I or corners.
[0019] The access control device is arranged between the guides to control access to the dispensing location. The access control device may be attached to the shelf directly, to some other element, or may be attached to the guides. The access control device comprises a body, and it may be the body that is coupled to the shelf and I or guides.
[0020] The body is coupled to the door and restock restrictor. The door and restock restrictor may be separate components, or both may be formed from, or provided by, a single component.
[0021] The access control device is manually changeable by a user between a restock configuration and a dispensing configuration. The change between configurations may occur as a result of the user moving at least one component of the access control device, for example a lever, the door and I or the restock restrictor. Movement of one of the door and restock restrictor to change the configuration of the access control device may cause movement of the other of the door and restock restrictor. This movement could be caused directly, for example, if the doorand restock restrictor are provided by a single component, or are connected to move together. This movement could be caused indirectly, for example if the door and restock restrictor are provided by a different components, the components may be connected by a mechanism as briefly discussed later.
[0022] The change from the restock configuration to the dispensing configuration may be manual, the change from the dispensing configuration to the restock configuration may be manual, or both changes may be manual. In some examples the change from one configuration to the other may be automatic when released by a user, for example the configuration change may be biassed by a spring.In the restock configuration the door may extend across the dispensing opening and so restrict user access to a product in the dispensing location through the dispensing opening. The door may obstruct the entire dispensing opening, or may obstruct only a portion of the dispensing opening. The restriction may be such that a product cannot be removed from the dispensing location through the dispensing opening. In the restock configuration the restock restrictor does not extend across the restock opening and this allows product from the holding area to move into the dispensing location through the restock opening.
[0023] In the dispensing configuration the door may not extend across the dispensing opening, and this may allow access to a product in the dispensing location through the dispensing opening so that a user can remove a product from the dispensing location. In the dispensing configuration the restock restrictor may obstruct the entire restock opening, or may obstruct only a portion of the restock opening such that a product is prevented from moving into the dispensing location through the restock opening.
[0024] The access control device is configured such that, as the access control device is changed from the restock configuration to the dispensing configuration, the restock restrictor moves into a position in which prevents products from moving into the dispensing location through the restock opening before the door moves to a position in which allows user access to a product in the dispensing location so that it can be removed from the dispensing location through the dispensing opening. This avoids an intermediate configuration for the access control device in which products can pass from the holding area through the restock configuration into the dispensing location and be removed from the dispensing location through the dispensing opening without having to repeatedly change the configuration of the access control device between the restock configuration and the dispensing configuration. The operation may be similar during the change from the restock configuration to the dispensing configuration, with the door or restock restrictor moving into place prior to the restock restrictor or door moving out of the way.
[0025] The shelf may be tilted such that products in the holding area are biased by gravity towards the dispensing location. The exact angle of tilt to cause the product to slide on the surface of the shelf will depend on the coefficient of friction of between the shelf and the product. The shelf may be angled from a high level at rear of the shelf to a low level at the front of the shelf. The surface of the shelf on which the product rests may be substantially planar.The shelf may comprise a product moving device which biases or moves products in the holding area to the dispensing location. The product moving device may be a manually actuated device which is manipulated by a user to move products in the holding area, or may include a resiliently deformable element such as a spring that may be deformed as products are loaded into the holding area such that the deformable element pulls or pushes products from the holding area towards and into the dispensing location.
[0026] The holding area may be defined such that which products to be dispensed are held in a single file line leading to the dispensing location. This may simplify the design of the display unit, in particular it may simplify the design of the guides as they may be substantially straight.
[0027] The door and restock restrictor of the access control device may be separate elements, or may be provided by a single wall element. A single wall element may simplify construction of the access control device as movement of one of the door and restock restrictor necessarily results in movement of the other. If a separate door and restock restrictor are provided, movement of the two may be controlled by a mechanism, for example a mechanism located in whole, or in part, within the body of the access control device. The mechanism may include levers, gears, pulleys, or other coupling mechanisms to control the position of one of the door and restock restrictor based on the position of the other so that the door and restock restrictor provided the required access restriction at one opening prior to allowing access via the other opening.
[0028] The wall element may be coupled to the body such that the wall element can be moved around the dispensing location from a restock position to a dispensing position to change the access control device between the restock configuration and a dispensing configuration.
[0029] The wall element may be coupled to the body a pivot location such that the wall element pivots about a pivot axis passing through the pivot. The wall element may be curved such that the wall element is at a substantially constant radius from the pivot. Moving around a pivot location provides a simple circular path for the movement of the wall element.
[0030] The wall element may extend in an arc of at least 100°, at least 150°, or at least 170° around the pivot axis. The wall element may be a curved wall having a substantially constant radius, or may comprise a plurality of facets.The access control device may include a spring to bias the access control device to the restock or dispensing, configuration. This may be, for example, by biassing the wall element to the restock position, or the dispensing position. The spring may bias the wall element to the dispensing position so that the default, or rest, configuration of the access control device is the dispensing configuration. After a product is removed from the dispensing location the spring may hold the wall element in the dispensing position. This means that a user must manually move the wall element to the restock position against the spring bias, wait until a product moves from the holding area into the dispensing location and then either manually move the wall element to the dispensing position, or allow the spring to bias the wall element to the dispensing position, in order obtain a product from the dispensing location.
[0031] The spring may be mounted within the body of the access control device. The spring may be a spiral spring. The spiral spring may be arranged around a central pivot location. A fixed end of the spiral spring may be secured to the body, and a moving end of the end of the spiral spring may be secured to the wall element.
[0032] The wall element, restock restrictor, or door, may include a handle extending outward from the dispensing location. The handle may be arranged to facilitate a user changing the access control device between the restock configuration and a dispensing configuration. The handle may be a radial wall extending from the wall element or door. The handle may extend substantially radially.
[0033] The guides may be in any suitable form, for example wire guides, ridges, or other features. The guides may comprise dividers that extend upwards from the shelf. The dividers may be in the form of substantially vertical walls. The dividers may include apertures or openings to facilitate circulation of air within the display unit. The dividers may separate holding areas associated with other access control devices from one another. The dividers may be integral with the shelf, or may be mounted to the shelf using any suitable fixing system, for example claps or fixings. One or more toothed risers may be arranged on the shelf, for example at or adjacent opposing edges of the shelf, specifically front and rear edges of the shelf. Dividers may engage with, or between, teeth of the toothed riser to define the position and orientation of the dividers.
[0034] The body of the access control device may be mounted between two dividers. The body of the access control device may be mounted to the dividers.The access control device may be mounted between two dividers such that a product can pass under the body of the access control device. Each divider may comprise a plurality of access control device mounting locations at different distances from a lower edge of the divider so that, in use, the plurality of access control device mounting locations are at different heights above the shelf so that the access control device can be mounted a plurality of different distances above the shelf. This may allow the access control device to be mounted at a distance above the shelf that is appropriate for the product being dispensed.
[0035] A restriction wall may extend across a portion of the dispensing opening. The restriction wall may be mounted to, or be integral with, a guide or divider. The restriction wall may be provided by a toothed riser which may be coupled to the guides or dividers. The restriction wall may extend across a lower portion of the dispensing opening such that a product must be lifted over the restriction wall to pass through the dispensing opening. The product may have to be tilted to pass through the dispensing opening and over the restriction wall.
[0036] The invention provides a method of gaining access to a product in a display unit, the display unit being as described herein, the method comprising:
[0037] changing the access control device from the restock configuration to the dispensing configuration and removing a product from the dispensing location through the dispensing opening; and
[0038] changing the access control device from the dispensing configuration to the restock configuration and allowing a product to pass through the restock opening from the holding area to the dispensing location.
[0039] Allowing a product to pass through the restock opening from the holding area to the dispensing location may comprise using a product biassing device to bias products in the holding area to the dispensing location.
[0040] The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the following figures in which:
[0041] Figure 1 shows a schematic view of display unit;
[0042] Figure 2A shows a plan view of a part of a shelf of a display unit;
[0043] Figure 2B shows a side view of view of part of a shelf of a display unit;Figures 3A to 3F show a sequence of operation of an access control device;
[0044] Figure 4 shows components of a dispenser;
[0045] Figure 5 shows the components of Figure 4 after assembly into a dispenser;
[0046] Figure 6 shows an exploded view of an access control device; and
[0047] Figure 7 shows a view of a different embodiment of a divider;
[0048] Figures 1 shows a schematic view of a display unit 1, in this case a closed, refrigerated display unit with a door 2 with a window 4. The display unit 1 comprises two shelves 6 which each support a plurality of products 8 to be dispensed.
[0049] Figure 2A shows a plan view of part of one of the shelves 6 of the display unit 1 and Figure 2B shows a side view of part of one of the shelves 6.
[0050] Referring to Figures 1, 2A and 2B, guides 10 are attached to the shelf 6 to define the holding area 12 and dispensing location 14. The shelves 6 slope downwards from a rear 18 of the display unit to the front 20 so that the products 8 tend to move under gravity towards the dispensing location 14. In other examples there may be a pusher or puller which may be coupled to the guides and I or shelf which bias products 8 in the holding area 12 towards the dispensing location 14. The guides 10 act to guide products 8 from the holding area 12 to the dispensing location 14. The dispensing location 14 has a dispensing opening 22 through which a user can remove products 8 from the display unit and a restock opening 24 through which products 8 from the holding area 12 can enter the dispensing location 14.
[0051] It should be noted that a display unit 1 may comprise a single shelf 6 or a plurality of shelves 6. In this example each shelf 6 has a holding area 12 to hold products 8 to be dispensed and a dispensing location 14 from which products 8 are to be dispensed.
[0052] Access control devices 16 are arranged between the guides 10 to control access to the dispensing location 14 and the functioning of the access control devices 16 will be described in detail with reference to Figures 3A to 3F. The guides 10 and access control devices 16 together form dispensers 68.Figures 3A to 3F show a sequence of operation of an access control device 16 of a dispenser 68.
[0053] The access control device 16 comprise a body 26 coupled to a door 28 and a restock restrictor 30. In this example the door 28 and restock restrictor 30 and provided in a single wall element 32. The access control device 16 is manually changeable by a user between a restock configuration as shown in Figure 3B, 3C, and 3F and a dispensing configuration as shown in Figures 3A and 3E.
[0054] Starting in the dispensing configuration shown in Figure 3A, the door 30 does not extend across the dispensing opening 22 and so allows access to the dispensing location 14 through the dispensing opening 22. A user could therefore remove a product 8 from the dispensing location 14 if one were present. The restock restrictor 28 extends across the restock opening 24 and prevents products 8 from the holding area 12 moving into the dispensing location 14 through the restock opening 24. The wall element 32 is curved around a pivot axis 34 of the body 26 of the access control device 16 and extends in an arc of around 180°.
[0055] A user can use a handle 36 which extends radially outwardly from the wall element 32 to move the wall element 32 around the pivot axis 34 of the body 26 of the access control device 16 changes the access control device 16 into the restock configuration as shown in Figure 3B. In this example the wall element 32 has been rotated by about 160° around the pivot axis 34 and to reach the restock configuration.
[0056] In the restock configuration the door 30 extends across the dispensing opening 22 and restricts user access the dispensing location 14 through the dispensing opening 22. The restock restrictor 28 does not extend across the restock opening 24 and so allows a product 8 from the holding area 12 to move into the dispensing location 14 through the restock opening 24.
[0057] The guides 10 of the dispenser 68 define the holding area 12 and restock location 14 and retain the products 8 in the holding area 12 in a single file line extending towards the restock opening 24.
[0058] In Figure 3B a product 8 is moving through the restock opening 24 into the dispensing location 14, and in Figure 3C there is a product 8 in the dispensing location 14.In Figure 3D a user can use the handle 36 to move the wall element 32 around the pivot axis 34 of the body 26 of the access control device 16 move the access control device 16 towards the dispensing configuration. In Figure 3D the wall element 32 has been rotated by about 90° around the pivot axis 34 from the restock configuration towards the dispensing configuration and is in an intermediate configuration. As a result of the movement of the wall element 32 products 8 in the holding area have been forced away from the dispensing location 14 through contact with the restock restrictor 28 portion of the wall element 32.
[0059] The access control device 16 is configured such that, as the access control device 16 is changed from the restock configuration (shown in Figures 3B, 3C, and 3F) to the dispensing configuration (shown in Figures 3A and 3E), the restock restrictor 28 moves into a position in which prevents products 8 from moving into the dispensing location 14 through the restock opening 24 before the door 30 moves to a position in which allows user access to remove a product 8 from the dispensing location 14 through the dispensing opening 22.
[0060] Figure 3E shows the access control device 16 once the wall element 32 has been moved far enough to change the access control device 16 to the dispensing configuration and product 8' has been removed from the dispensing location 14 through the dispensing opening 22. This essentially returns the apparatus to the configuration shown in Figure 3A, but with one fewer product 8 in the holding area 12.
[0061] Figure 3F shows the access control device 16 in the restock configuration as in Figure 3B so that the process can be repeated and another product 8 dispensed.
[0062] Figure 4 shows components of a dispenser 168, which include guide 110 and an access control device 116 assembly, and Figure 5 shows the components of Figure 4 after assembly to form a dispenser 168.
[0063] The guides 110 are, in this example dividers 38 which extend upwards from a lower edge 40 to an upper edge 42. The lower edge 42 includes connection features 44 which can be used to connect the divider 38 to an upper surface of a shelf. In other examples such connection features may be omitted and I or used in conjunction with other ways of attaching or coupling the dividers to a shelf such as clamps, or fixings, such as screws or bolts.The dividers 38 include an extended portion 46 in which a height of the divider 38 between the upper edge 42 and the lower edge 40 is greater. The extended portion 46 may include the dispensing location 14.
[0064] In the extended portion 46, the dividers include an access control connector 48 to which an access control device 116 can be coupled so that a body 126 of an access control device extends between the dividers 38 at a predetermined distance from the lower edges 40, and therefore height above a shelf.
[0065] The access control device 116 includes a wall element 132 which extends downward from the body 126. The wall element 132 includes a handle 136 extending therefrom.
[0066] When assembled, as shown in Figure 5, a lower portion 50 of the dispensing opening 22 may be partially restricted by restriction walls 52. The body 126 of the access control device 116 is arranged at a distance from the lower edge 40 such that when the lower edge 40 is located on a shelf 6, a product 8 can fit beneath the body 126 of the access control device 116. In this way, the body 126 of the access control device 116 effectively provides a roof to the distribution location 14.
[0067] Figure 6 shows an exploded view of an access control device 116 showing the body 126, the wall element 132 with the handle 136, and a spiral spring 54.
[0068] The wall element 132 includes a wall carrier 56 from which the wall element 132 extends. The wall carrier 56 includes a pivot projection 58 which can be coupled to a coupling region 60 the body 126 such that the wall element 132 can pivot about a pivot axis 60. The spiral spring 54 is arranged between the wall carrier 56 and the body 126 with a central end 64 held in a fixed position relative to the body 126 and a distal end 66 coupled to the wall carrier 56 such that the wall element 132 is biased in a first direction which means that the access control device is biased to either the dispensing or restock configuration.
[0069] Figure 7 shows an embodiment of a divider 210 in which there are two access control connectors 148 and 248. The access control connectors 148,248 are arranged at different distances from the lower edge 40 of the divider 210 so that an access control device 116 can be arranged at different heights above a shelf 6 to accommodate products 8 of different heights.Access control connectors 148,248 may be located on both opposing sides of the divider 210 so that the divider 210 can be used as a middle divider between two adjacent holding areas and dispensing regions.
Claims
Claims1. A dispenser for mounting to a shelf of a display unit, the dispenser comprising guides and an access control device, the guides being for attachment to a shelf to define a holding area and dispensing location, and to guide products from the holding area to the dispensing location, the dispensing location having a dispensing opening through which a user can remove products from the dispensing location and a restock opening through which products from the holding area can enter the dispensing location;the access control device arranged between the guides to control access to the dispensing location, the access control device comprising a body coupled to a door and a restock restrictor, the access control device being manually changeable by a user between a restock configuration and a dispensing configuration, wherein:in the restock configuration the door extends across the dispensing opening and restricts user access to a product in the dispensing location through the dispensing opening, and the restock restrictor allows a product from the holding area to move into the dispensing location through the restock opening; andin the dispensing configuration the door allows a user to remove a product from the dispensing location through the dispensing opening, and the restock restrictor extends across the restock opening and prevents products from the holding area moving into the dispensing location through the restock opening; wherein: the access control device is configured such that, as the access control device is changed from the restock configuration to the dispensing configuration, the restock restrictor moves into a position in which prevents products from moving into the dispensing location through the restock opening before the door moves to a position in which allows user access to remove a product from the dispensing location through the dispensing opening.
2. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, in which the door and restock restrictor of the access control device are provided by a single wall element, the wall element being coupled to the body such that the wall element can be moved around the dispensing location from a restock position to a dispensing position to change the access control device between the restock configuration and a dispensing configuration.
3. A dispenser as claimed in claim 2, in which the wall element is coupled to the body a pivot location such that the wall element pivots about a pivot axis passing through the pivot, the wall element being curved such that the wall element is at a substantially constant radius from the pivot.
4. A dispenser as claimed in claim 3, in which the wall element extends in an arc of at least 150° around the pivot axis.
5. A dispenser as claimed in any of claims 2 to 4, in which the access control device includes a spring to bias the wall element to the restock position.
6. A dispenser as claimed in claim 5, in which the spring in a spiral spring.
7. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, in which the door includes a handle extending outward from the dispensing location, the handle arranged to facilitate a user changing the access control device between the restock configuration and a dispensing configuration.
8. A dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the guides comprise dividers that are to extend upwards from the shelf, and the body of the access control device is mounted between two dividers.
9. A dispenser as claimed in claim 8, in which the access control device is mounted between two dividers such that a product can pass under the body of the access control device.
10. A dispenser as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9, in which each divider comprises a plurality of access control device mounting locations at different distances above the shelf so that the access control device can be mounted a plurality of different distances above the shelf.
11. A dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim, in which a restriction wall extends across a portion of the dispensing opening.
12. A display unit comprising:a shelf to support a plurality of products and a dispenser, the dispenser being as claimed in any preceding claim,the guides being attached to the shelf to define a holding area of the shelf to hold products and dispensing location from which products are to be dispensed.
13. A display unit as claimed in claim 12, in which the shelf is tilted such that products in the holding area are biased by gravity towards the dispensing location.
14. A display unit as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13, in which the shelf comprises a product moving device which biases or moves products in the holding area to the dispensing location.
15. A display unit as claimed in any of claims 12 to 14, in which the holding area is defined such that which products to be dispensed are held in a single file line leading to the dispensing location.
16. A method of gaining access to a product in a display unit, the display unit being as claimed in any of claims 12 to 15, the method comprising:changing the access control device from the restock configuration to the dispensing configuration and removing a product from the dispensing location through the dispensing opening; andchanging the access control device from the dispensing configuration to the restock configuration and allowing a product to pass through the restock opening from the holding area to the dispensing location.
17. A method as claimed in claim 15, in which allowing a product to pass through the restock opening from the holding area to the dispensing location comprises using a product biassing device to bias products in the holding area to the dispensing location.