Adjustable Shelf Tray with Pusher Mechanism for Variable Product Sizes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shelf systems fail to efficiently display and advance products of varying sizes towards the front of shelves, making them visible and accessible to consumers, especially in refrigerated sections where products like soft drinks and bottled beverages are stored.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable shelf assembly with interchangeable dividers and cams that allow for customizable lane sizes, combined with a pusher mechanism using a coiled spring to advance products, ensuring products of different sizes are displayed prominently and easily accessible.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fixed shelf systems are used, then manufacturing and installation are simple, but they cannot accommodate products of varying sizes effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The shelf system is divided into modular components including adjustable dividers, interchangeable cams, and segmented trays that can be independently configured. This segmentation allows the shelf to be customized for different product sizes while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that does not require complete redesign for different configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The shelf system incorporates movable and adjustable elements such as repositionable dividers, interchangeable cams with different radii, and adjustable trays. These dynamic components enable the shelf to adapt to varying product sizes through simple reconfiguration rather than requiring a completely different fixed structure for each product type.
2Productivity
If gravity-based inclined trays are used, then products automatically move to the front, but the system cannot accommodate different product sizes effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The tray is segmented into modular sections with adjustable dividers that can be repositioned along the tray length. This segmentation allows the inclined tray to maintain its gravity-based product advancement function while adapting to different product sizes by adjusting the divider positions to create appropriate lane widths and spacing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes geometric parameters such as lane width, tray inclination angle, and divider positioning to accommodate different product sizes. These parameter adjustments allow the gravity-based advancement mechanism to remain effective across various product configurations without requiring a fundamentally different system design.
3Productivity
If pusher systems with springs are used, then products are pushed to the front, but the system lacks flexibility for different product configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The pusher system is designed as a universal mechanism that can handle different product sizes and configurations through interchangeable components. The spring-loaded pusher with adjustable positioning and interchangeable cams provides multi-functionality, allowing the same basic pusher mechanism to effectively advance various product types without requiring multiple specialized systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The pusher system incorporates dynamic elements including adjustable spring tension, repositionable pusher heads, and interchangeable cams with different radii. These dynamic features enable the pusher to adapt its force application and movement characteristics to suit different product configurations while maintaining the core function of advancing products to the front.
4Adaptability or versatility
If custom shelf configurations are created for different products, then product display is optimized, but the number of shelf types and inventory requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The shelf system employs universal modular components that can be configured in multiple ways to create optimized displays for different products. Instead of requiring separate custom shelves for each product type, the same basic shelf unit with interchangeable dividers, cams, and trays can be reconfigured to suit various product sizes and display requirements, significantly reducing the number of different shelf types needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The shelf is segmented into standardized modular components that can be independently adjusted and reconfigured. This segmentation allows a single shelf unit to serve multiple product types through reconfiguration of its modular elements, eliminating the need to maintain large inventories of different specialized shelf designs for different products.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The adjustable shelf system effectively accommodates various product sizes, ensuring they are displayed towards the front of the shelf, enhancing visibility and accessibility, and can be easily adjusted or replaced as needed, improving merchandising efficiency in retail environments.
Implementation Method 1
Pusher systems may be mounted to a track and may include a pusher paddle and a coiled spring to urge the product forward
Implementation Method 2
systems may include inclined trays or floors that through gravity will cause the product to move toward the front of the shelf
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable tray for a merchandise display system may include a retainer for limiting the movement of products loaded in the adjustable tray, a first divider extending from a first panel and second divider extending from a second panel. The spacing between the first divider and the second divider can be configured to be adjusted. The first panel and the second panel can be configured to move to provide additional surface area for the adjustable tray to accommodate different sized products. The adjustable tray may further include a pusher mechanism configured to bias product toward the retainer.