초록 ▼

An improved gravity feed product dispenser track apparatus for products sold in containers having a truncated conical shape, such as a bell shape or an inverted bell shape used for certain popular yogurt products. The dispenser track assembly of the present disclosure aligns the products on a track

An improved gravity feed product dispenser track apparatus for products sold in containers having a truncated conical shape, such as a bell shape or an inverted bell shape used for certain popular yogurt products. The dispenser track assembly of the present disclosure aligns the products on a track with a front discharge portion and an exit ramp that tilts the lead product forward or rearward so that the inclined or declined front surface of the container is pivoted to a more vertical state to improve its visibility for customers. A plurality of pull through fingers is disposed near front discharge portion. These fingers maintain a lead container on the track while also allowing a customer to remove a container by pulling it through the opening between the fingers.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A dispenser track assembly adapted to hold a plurality of articles and to individually dispense each article, the dispenser track assembly comprising: a track structure for holding a plurality of articles, the track structure including at least one track, each track having a

What is claimed is: 1. A dispenser track assembly adapted to hold a plurality of articles and to individually dispense each article, the dispenser track assembly comprising: a track structure for holding a plurality of articles, the track structure including at least one track, each track having a rear portion, a front discharge portion, a bottom surface defining a generally flat plane and extending from the rear portion to the front portion and being downwardly sloped toward the front portion, the track structure being disposed between a first side wall and a second side wall; an exit ramp for holding a lead article and for tilting the lead article relative to the bottom surface, said exit ramp being disposed adjacent the front discharge portion; and a pivotable rear restraining element disposed adjacent the rear portion, a barrier of the rear restraining element being parallel to the track and being adapted to prevent a distal-most article on the track from exiting the rear portion of track, wherein the rear restraining element is adapted to prevent the distal-most article from rearwardly exiting the track throughout the full range of motion of the rear restraining element, wherein the pivotable rear restraining element includes an arm being pivotably connected to at least one of the first side wall and the second side wall, wherein the barrier is attached to the arm, and wherein the arm includes a length such that the barrier rests against the bottom surface of the track. 2. The dispenser track assembly of claim 1 wherein the exit ramp is adapted to tilt a lead article rearward. 3. The dispenser track assembly of claim 1 wherein the track structure includes a plurality of tracks disposed between the first side wall and the second side wall. 4. The dispenser track assembly of claim 3 wherein the front portion of a lower track extends farther than the front portion of an upper track. 5. The dispenser track assembly of claim 3 further including a plurality track structures positioned adjacent one another. 6. The dispenser track assembly of claim 1 wherein the rear restraining element is adapted to allow an article to be inserted onto the track from-behind the track. 7. The dispenser track assembly of claim 1, wherein the pivotable rear restraining element includes a second arm pivotably connected to the other side wall, and wherein the barrier is attached to both arms such that the rear restraining element defines a U-shape. 8. A dispenser track assembly adapted to hold a plurality of articles and to individually dispense each article, the dispenser track assembly comprising: a track for holding a plurality of articles, the track having a rear portion, a front discharge portion, a bottom surface defining a generally flat plane and extending from the rear portion to the front portion and being downwardly sloped toward the front portion, the track being disposed between a first side wall and a second side wall; an exit ramp for holding a lead article and for tilting the lead article relative to the bottom surface, said exit ramp being disposed adjacent the front discharge portion; and a rear restraining element disposed adjacent rear portion for preventing an article on the track from exiting the rear portion of track, wherein the rear restraining element is positioned to allow an article to be inserted onto track from the rear portion; wherein the rear restraining element includes a barrier and an arm, the arm being pivotably engaged with at least one side wall near the rear portion of the track, the barrier being attached to the arm, the arm including a length such that the barrier rests against the bottom surface of the track, said barrier being movable from a first position where said barrier rests on the bottom surface of the track, to a second position where at least a portion of the barrier is elevated from the track. 9. A dispenser track assembly adapted to hold a plurality of articles and to individually dispense each article, the dispenser track assembly comprising: a track structure for holding a plurality of articles, the track structure including at least one track, each track having a rear portion, a front discharge portion, a bottom surface defining a generally flat plane and extending from the rear portion to the front portion and being downwardly sloped toward the front portion, the track structure being disposed between a first side wall and a second side wall; an exit ramp for holding a lead article and for tilting the lead article relative to the bottom surface, said exit ramp being disposed adjacent the front discharge portion; a fence disposed adjacent the front discharge portion of the track, said fence blocks the lead article from falling off the front discharge portion of the track and said fence being positioned to allow the lead article to be lifted over the fence and removed from the track, the fence including a pair of inwardly extending fingers defining a gap therebetween; and a pivotable rear restraining element disposed adjacent the rear portion of the track, a barrier of the rear restraining element being parallel to the bottom surface of the track and extending transversely across the bottom surface of the track, the barrier being biased against the bottom surface of the track in its normal condition, and the barrier being adapted to prevent a distal-most article on the track from exiting the rear portion of track, wherein the rear restraining element comprises an arm pivotably attached to at least one side wall, wherein the barrier is attached to the arm, and wherein the arm includes a length such that the barrier rests against the bottom surface of the track; wherein the rear restraining element is adapted to prevent the distal-most article from rearwardly exiting the track throughout the full range of motion of the rear restraining element, and wherein the rear restraining element is adapted to allow a plurality of articles to be inserted onto the bottom surface of the track from-behind the track without the articles contacting the rear restraining element.