Cylindrical Container Dispenser with Segmented Drawer and Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Retail stores face challenges in efficiently facing heavy products on shelves and reducing theft of high-value items, such as baby formula, due to the time-consuming and costly nature of manual processes, and the inconvenience of locking products which can deter sales.
Innovation Solution
A dispenser system with a housing, track, and drawer mechanism that allows for automatic fronting of products, including a locking mechanism to prevent theft, utilizing a sensor to detect container removal and a detection device for theft deterrence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a spring loaded pusher is used to move heavy products forward, then the products can be faced automatically, but the friction force due to weight makes it difficult to remove the front product
Solution Approach 1:
The dispenser is divided into multiple compartments, each holding a single product container. This segmentation allows individual products to be accessed and removed independently without requiring force to overcome friction from other products, resolving the contradiction between automatic facing and ease of removal.
Solution Approach 2:
A robotic arm serves as an intermediary mechanism between the product containers and the customer. The robotic arm can precisely position and retrieve individual containers without requiring direct manual force against friction, enabling both automatic facing and easy removal.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If products are locked up to prevent theft, then theft of high-value items is reduced, but customer access to products is hindered and sales volume decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service through automated product retrieval. When a customer selects a product, the robotic arm automatically retrieves the container from the locked compartment and delivers it to the customer, eliminating the need for manual unlocking while maintaining security and preserving sales volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical locking system is replaced with an automated robotic retrieval system. The robotic arm substitutes for manual intervention in product retrieval, allowing customers to access products without physically unlocking them, thus maintaining both security and accessibility.
3Manufacturing precision
If employees manually face products on shelves, then products are properly positioned, but the task is time consuming and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The dispenser system performs self-service by automatically positioning products through its robotic arm mechanism. The system retrieves containers from storage compartments and positions them at the front of the display, eliminating the need for employee intervention in the facing process and significantly reducing time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
Manual mechanical positioning by employees is replaced with an automated robotic positioning system. The robotic arm performs the facing function with precision and efficiency, substituting human labor and reducing the time and cost associated with manual product positioning.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for dispensing cylindrical containers is disclosed. In an embodiment, a housing with an upper opening and a lower opening includes a track that connects the upper and lower openings. A drawer is mounted in the lower opening so that containers placed in the upper opening may travel along the track until they reach the drawer. In an embodiment opening the drawer allows a single container to be removed. A plurality of tracks connecting a plurality of upper and lower openings may be provided so that different types of containers may be dispensed. In an embodiment the drawer may be lockable and a cover that may include a lock may be mounted to the housing so as to cover the upper opening. In an embodiment, a sensor may be included to detect the opening of the drawer.