Dispensing system with pusher apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing goods pusher systems, particularly those made of cardboard or corrugated cardboard, suffer from low dimensional stability, a small goods contact surface, and inefficient transmission of clamping force, making them unsuitable for temporary sales displays and expensive to manufacture.
Innovation Solution
A goods pusher system designed with a rail and carriage made from a single blank of cardboard or corrugated cardboard, featuring a multi-layered structure with a through-hole and elongated through-opening for the clamping means, allowing for even clamping force distribution and a larger goods contact surface, along with projections and side walls for enhanced stability and assembly simplicity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a cardboard or corrugated cardboard goods pusher system is used, then cost is reduced and adaptability to temporary displays is improved, but dimensional stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a multi-layered bottom structure combining cardboard and corrugated cardboard layers. The corrugated cardboard provides structural rigidity and dimensional stability, while the cardboard layers contribute to overall strength. This composite construction maintains the cost advantages of paper-based materials while achieving the dimensional stability previously only attainable with expensive plastic components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a vertical multi-layered structure to the bottom of the rail, transforming a two-dimensional flat cardboard base into a three-dimensional composite construction. By stacking multiple layers with different structural properties (corrugated vs. smooth cardboard), the system gains enhanced dimensional stability without increasing lateral footprint or compromising cost-effectiveness.
2Device complexity
If the carriage is guided between two upper floor layers, then the structure is simplified, but the goods contact surface area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the constraint of guiding the carriage between two upper floor layers. Instead, the carriage is guided along the entire width of the bottom structure, allowing the goods contact surface to extend across the full width of the rail. This extraction of the carriage from the constrained path enables maximum surface area contact with goods while maintaining simple structural guidance through the elongated through-opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The bottom structure serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, guides the carriage through the elongated through-opening, and enables the carriage to achieve maximum width for goods contact. The single bottom structure with integrated through-opening replaces the need for multiple constraining layers, allowing the carriage to fulfill its goods-contact function at full width.
3Ease of manufacture
If the clamping means is guided through the bottom structure, then assembly is simplified, but clamping force transmission efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-layered bottom structure with integrated elongated through-opening provides both assembly simplicity and effective force transmission. The corrugated cardboard layers provide structural rigidity that prevents deformation under clamping load, ensuring efficient force transmission from the clamping means through the bottom to the goods, while the through-opening geometry facilitates easy assembly.
4Strength
If the carriage depth is increased for rearwardly folded side walls, then structural stability is improved, but the available track length for goods reception is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of extending carriage depth backward with folded side walls, the patent inverts the approach by providing lateral support through side walls that extend upward from the bottom. This inversion of the support strategy maintains structural stability without consuming longitudinal track length, preserving maximum space for goods reception along the rail.
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 achieves high dimensional stability, efficient clamping force transmission, and easy assembly, making it suitable for temporary displays and cost-effective production while maintaining the benefits of cardboard materials.
Implementation Method 1
a clamping means (4) which is fastened in the front region of the rail (2) and on the carriage (3) and, in the clamped state, biases the carriage (3) toward the front of the rail
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a merchandise feed system (1) for the sales-oriented presentation of goods, comprising a rail (2) with an elongated base (5) extending in a longitudinal direction (L), which has a bottom (6), a top (7), two opposing longitudinal sides (8, 9), a rear end face (11) and a front end face (10) and serves to hold goods, a carriage (3) defining a merchandise support surface (19) which is movable on the base (5) between the end faces (8, 9) in the longitudinal direction (L) between a rear and a front carriage position, and a clamping device (4) which is attached in the front region of the rail (2) and to the carriage (3) and, in the clamped state, pre-tensions the carriage (3) in the direction of the front region of the rail (2), wherein the base (5) has a lower,a bottom layer (5a) provided with a through hole (12) and at least one upper bottom layer (5b) folded onto the lower bottom layer (5a), in which an elongated through opening (13) is formed, which is positioned congruently with the through hole (12) and extends from the latter in longitudinal direction (L) to the rear of the slide position, and that the clamping device (4) is guided from its attachment in the front area of the rail (2) through the through hole (12) and the elongated through opening (13) to the slide (3).