Adjustable Merchandising Tray With Suspended Restocking Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing merchandising trays for displaying yogurt products in refrigerated cases require complex adjustments and significant manpower for maintaining order and efficient restocking, as they lack a versatile and economical solution for accommodating various container sizes and shapes.
Innovation Solution
A merchandising tray with a single side wall divider and an adjustable base, allowing for easy suspension and servicing adjacent to other trays, facilitating efficient loading and restocking by engaging retaining structures for convenient access and support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional merchandising trays with L-shaped sections are used to accommodate various container sizes, then adaptability to different product containers is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple adjustable components
Solution Approach 1:
The merchandising tray is divided into a base section and a divider section that can be separated. The divider section includes a vertical wall with retaining structures that can be independently adjusted or removed, allowing flexible configuration without complex adjustments to the entire tray structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The vertical wall of the divider section is designed to be selectively positionable at different locations along the base section. This dynamic positioning capability allows the tray to adapt to various container sizes while maintaining structural simplicity through a single adjustable component rather than multiple fixed sections.
2Ease of operation
If merchandising trays are designed for easy removal from display cases, then ease of operation is improved, but productivity decreases due to frequent manual intervention for restocking
Solution Approach 1:
The merchandising tray system enables self-service restocking through the suspension mechanism. When one tray is removed, it can be automatically supported by adjacent trays via engaging retaining structures, allowing storekeepers to efficiently service multiple trays in sequence without requiring manual support or complex handling procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining structures on adjacent trays act as intermediaries to support the removed tray during the restocking process. This intermediary support system enables efficient servicing by allowing the removed tray to be conveniently positioned and loaded without requiring additional manual intervention or equipment.
3Device complexity
If a single side wall divider is used instead of L-shaped sections, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to various container sizes may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The single vertical wall of the divider section serves multiple functions: it acts as a structural divider, provides adjustable positioning to accommodate different container sizes, and includes retaining structures for suspension support. This multi-functional design maintains adaptability while simplifying the overall structure compared to L-shaped sections.
Solution Approach 2:
The vertical wall is designed with selective positionability along the base section, allowing a single dynamic component to replace multiple static L-shaped sections. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the simplified single-divider structure to accommodate various container sizes effectively.
4Ease of operation
If retaining structures are added to enable tray suspension, then ease of operation for servicing is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining structures are integrated directly into the vertical wall of the divider section, merging the suspension function with the existing structural component. This combination approach provides convenient support for tray servicing while minimizing additional complexity by avoiding separate suspension mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The vertical wall structure serves dual purposes: it provides the primary dividing function and simultaneously incorporates retaining structures for suspension. This multi-functional design enables convenient tray servicing without requiring entirely separate suspension components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A merchandising tray used for displaying product containers includes a base defining a support surface, and a single side wall divider connected to the base. The single side wall divider has a vertical wall provided with a rearward end and a forward end, a first retaining structure formed between the rearward end and the forward end, and the forward end being formed with a supporting wall having a second retaining structure. The merchandising tray is adapted to be suspended upon a group of like adjacently disposed merchandising trays such that the first retaining structure is engaged with the second retaining structure. A merchandising tray arrangement and methods of using the merchandising trays are also disclosed.