Product management display system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing merchandise display systems fail to efficiently manage the placement and visibility of products on shelves, particularly in refrigerated sections, as they lack adjustable solutions to accommodate various product sizes and ensure optimal front-facing display.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable tray system with dividers that can be adjusted in width, a pusher mechanism, and a retainer that biases products toward the front, allowing for optimal product placement and visibility, while also being adaptable to different product sizes and easy to load and unload.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed shelf design is used, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but adaptability to different product sizes is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The shelf is divided into multiple adjustable sections including front shelves, rear shelves, and intermediate shelves that can be independently positioned. Dividers are segmented into adjustable components that can be repositioned along the shelf length, allowing customization for different product sizes while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure
Solution Approach 2:
The shelf incorporates adjustable and movable components rather than fixed rigid structures. The intermediate shelves can be repositioned vertically, and dividers can be adjusted horizontally, providing dynamic adaptability to accommodate varying product dimensions without requiring a completely different shelf design
2Ease of operation
If gravity-based inclined trays are used, then product placement at front is achieved, but control over product positioning is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The pusher mechanism is designed to automatically push products forward as they are loaded onto the shelf, utilizing the loading action itself to drive product movement. The system self-regulates product positioning without requiring additional manual intervention or complex control mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The pusher mechanism is integrated with the shelf structure itself rather than being a separate independent system. The pushers are mounted directly to the shelf and work in conjunction with the inclined tray surface, combining multiple functions into a unified structure that reduces overall complexity
3Ease of operation
If products are allowed to move freely, then accessibility is improved, but product organization and visibility are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Retainers are positioned at specific locations where product movement needs to be controlled, rather than creating a continuous barrier across the entire shelf. The retainer height and position are optimized locally to maintain visibility and accessibility while preventing unwanted product movement in critical areas
4Ease of manufacture
If a simple shelf design is used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but ability to accommodate various product sizes is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The shelf design incorporates standardized components with adjustable features that can accommodate multiple product types and sizes. The same basic shelf structure can be configured for different products by adjusting divider positions and intermediate shelf heights, eliminating the need for multiple specialized shelf designs
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, improving visibility and accessibility, accommodating various product sizes, and facilitating easy reloading and rotation, enhancing merchandising effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
a coiled spring to urge the product forward
Implementation Method 2
inclined trays or floors that through gravity will cause the product to move toward the front of the shelf
Implementation Method 3
floors or shelves made of a plastic material such as polypropylene that due its low coefficient of friction permit the product to easily slide along the inclined floor or surface
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
A merchandise display system (1000) comprises a tray (1012) having a tray surface (1010) for receiving products loaded in the tray (1012). A retainer (1050) is mounted to the tray (1012) for limiting movement of products loaded in the tray (1012). The retainer (1050) comprises a retainer wall for retaining products in a first position and a retainer projection (1056) configured to help retain existing products on the tray (1012) in a second position and configured to serve as a guide for products being loaded onto the tray surface (1010).