Pusher Tray Assembly With Adjustable Dividers for Refrigerated Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current spring-driven pusher plates in product display shelves face issues such as spring breakage, requiring disassembly for replacement, difficulty in holding the pusher plate rearward during product loading, and impaired refrigeration due to cold air settling, as well as the need for adjustable trays to accommodate varying product widths.
Innovation Solution
A pusher tray assembly comprising a hanging tray and a sliding tray with a wire track, where the pusher engages with the wire track and center tray tracks, allowing for adjustable dividers to prevent cold air migration and enabling spring replacement without disassembly, while maintaining the pusher plate's rearward position during product loading.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If spring driven pusher plates are used to automatically push product forward, then product availability at the front of display is improved, but spring breakage occurs and requires disassembly for replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The pusher assembly is divided into separate components: the pusher plate, spring, and tray unit are distinct elements that can be independently accessed and replaced. The spring is positioned such that it can be removed and replaced without requiring disassembly of the entire tray unit, maintaining product availability while simplifying maintenance.
2Productivity
If spring driven pusher plates are used to automatically push product forward, then product advancement is achieved, but the pusher plate must be held to the rear while placing product
Solution Approach 1:
The pusher plate is designed to be dynamically positionable during loading operations. The spring mechanism allows the pusher plate to be easily moved to the rear position during product placement and then automatically returns to its forward position, enabling seamless transition between loading and pushing operations without manual intervention to hold the plate.
3Adaptability or versatility
If trays are made adjustable to accept products of different widths, then versatility is improved, but gaps in levels of product display are created that impair refrigeration
Solution Approach 1:
Baffles are introduced as intermediary elements that fill the gaps created by adjustable tray positions. These baffles act as barriers to prevent cold air from settling into the spaces between product layers, thereby maintaining refrigeration effectiveness while preserving the versatility of adjustable tray widths.
4Reliability
If packaged food products require refrigeration, then product preservation is improved, but cold air sinks to the bottom of the space during tray loading
Solution Approach 1:
Baffles serve as intermediary structures that block the downward movement of cold air during tray loading operations. By positioning these baffles strategically within the display case, the system maintains proper temperature stratification and prevents cold air from settling at the bottom, ensuring consistent product preservation.
Data Source
AI summary
A pusher tray assembly comprises a hanging tray and a sliding tray having a wire track, the sliding tray moveably connected to the hanging tray by fins of a pusher, the pusher slidingly engaged to the wire track for movement between a first position and a second position.