Adjustable Tray with Spring Pusher and Dividers for Product Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shelf systems for displaying and merchandising products, such as beverages in coolers, often fail to efficiently maintain product visibility and accessibility by not allowing for adjustable tray sizes and effective product guidance mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable tray system with dividers that can be adjusted in spacing, a pusher mechanism using a coiled spring, and a retainer mechanism that biases products toward the front, allowing for optimal product placement and easy loading/unloading.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an adjustable tray system with dividers is used, then product placement flexibility and visibility are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tray is divided into multiple sections using adjustable dividers that can be positioned at different locations along the tray length. This segmentation allows products of various sizes to be organized in custom configurations, improving adaptability while keeping each divider as a simple, independent component.
Solution Approach 2:
The dividers are designed to be adjustable and repositionable along the tray, allowing the configuration to dynamically adapt to different product sizes and merchandising needs. This dynamic adjustability provides versatility without requiring a completely different tray design for each product type.
2Ease of operation
If a pusher mechanism with coiled spring is used, then product movement toward the front is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pusher mechanism uses a coiled spring to automatically push products toward the front of the tray as they are removed by consumers. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for manual restocking of individual products and maintains product visibility without requiring complex automation systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The complex mechanical pusher system is replaced with a simple coiled spring mechanism that uses elastic potential energy to provide continuous gentle pressure on products, pushing them forward as needed. This substitution reduces device complexity while maintaining effective product movement.
3Manufacturing precision
If a retainer mechanism is used to limit product movement, then product positioning precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer mechanism acts as an intermediary element between the products and the tray, providing a simple physical barrier that limits product movement to a specific zone. This intermediary structure achieves precise product positioning without requiring complex control systems or multiple components.
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 system ensures products are consistently displayed at the front of the shelf, enhancing visibility and accessibility, while allowing for easy adjustment to accommodate various product sizes and easy reloading, improving merchandising efficiency.
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
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 pusher mechanism configured to bias product toward the retainer, 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.