Shelf Pusher With Nested Spring and Pivoting Stop for Safe Restocking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shelf management devices have exposed coiled springs that are unsightly and pose an injury risk, require difficult restocking, and are not uniformly secured to the shelf, and the presence of devices detracts from the shelf's appearance, and they are difficult to install and adjust, impeding restocking and cleaning.
Innovation Solution
A shelf management device with a rotatable spool and flexible drive member, featuring a damping arrangement to control movement, and a pivotally mounted stop member with a damping arrangement, and a pivotally mounted stop member, which includes a guide member with magnetic securing means and friction pads to secure the device to the shelf, reducing visible impact and facilitating easy installation and restocking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a coiled spring is used to drive the pusher, then the pusher can move products towards the front of the shelf, but the exposed spring looks unsightly and presents an injury risk
Solution Approach 1:
The coiled spring is enclosed within a spring chamber formed in the guide member, nesting the harmful component inside a protective housing. This eliminates the injury risk from exposed springs while maintaining the pushing function, and improves aesthetic appearance by hiding the spring mechanism.
2Reliability
If a rigid stop arrangement is used to prevent products from being pushed over the front of the shelf, then products are stopped and supported at the front, but restocking becomes difficult as products must be lifted over the stop arrangement
Solution Approach 1:
The stop arrangement is made pivotally mounted rather than rigid, allowing it to rotate between a horizontal position (for normal operation) and a vertical position (for restocking). This dynamic adjustment enables easy restocking by tilting the stop member, while maintaining reliable product positioning during normal use.
3Reliability
If devices are secured to mounting rails at the front and rear of the shelf, then the devices can be installed, but installation and adjustment is difficult and timely to accomplish
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member is divided into separate modular components (front end fitting, rear end fitting, and main body) that can be assembled and adjusted independently before being mounted to the shelf. This segmentation simplifies installation and allows for easy positioning adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The rear end fitting includes adjustable positioning features that allow the guide member to be mounted at different locations along the shelf depth. This adjustability enables optimal positioning without requiring complex installation procedures or multiple components.
4Productivity
If devices are provided on only some of the shelves, then the devices can perform their function, but the presence of the devices may detract from the uniformity of the look of the shelves
Solution Approach 1:
The spring mechanism is nested within the guide member structure, creating a compact integrated unit that has a clean external appearance. This allows the device to be mounted on shelves without creating a bulky or unsightly appearance, maintaining shelf aesthetic uniformity even when devices are installed.
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 device maintains products at the shelf front, enhances display uniformity, simplifies restocking, and reduces injury risk by hiding the coiled spring and providing controlled movement, while securing the device securely attached to the shelf, and facilitating easy installation and restocking.
Implementation Method 1
the spool defines an inner spring chamber in which a coiled spring is provided to urge the spool for rotation to take up the drive member
Implementation Method 2
a damping arrangement adapted to damp the rotation of the spool and thereby damp the movement of the pusher device arising from the rotation of the spool
Implementation Method 3
a guide member with magnetic securing means and friction pads to secure the device to the shelf
Implementation Method 4
magnetic securing means and friction pads to secure the device to the shelf
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 2a~6
Figure 3~5
AI summary
A shelf management device comprises a guide member (12) having a front end and a rear end, and a pusher device (28) guided for movement by the guide member ((12), wherein the pusher device (28) comprises a rotatable spool (36) upon which is wound a flexible drive member (46), an end part of the drive member (46) being secured to the guide member (12) at or adjacent the front end thereof, spring means being provided to urge the spool (36) for rotation to take up the drive member (46) and thereby apply a load to the pusher device (28) urging the pusher device (28) towards the front end of the guide member (12).