Article dispensing apparatus

摘要

An article dispensing assembly is provided for supporting a plurality of product containers on a stacked array of shelves mountable on uprights in a compartment such as a refrigerated space. A first series of product containers of a first quality or character are supported in side-by-side substantially parallel rows on each shelf and a second series of product dispensers are supported respectively between adjacent rows of the first series of product containers. The shelves, in turn, are adjustably supported for fore and aft positioning on the uprights. The first series of products are indexed to the front of each shelf whereas the second series of products automatically are urged forwardly in their respective trays by a corresponding pusher assembly.

主权项

1. An article dispensing apparatus comprising:
a first product dispenser assembly for supporting and dispensing a series of articles comprising a product of first quality, a second product dispenser assembly, said second dispenser assembly for supporting and dispensing a series of articles of a second quality, said first product support assembly occupying a defined first space, and said second dispenser assembly occupying a second defined space proximal to said defined first space, a supporting frame, said supporting frame defining a third space for housing both said first product dispenser assembly and said second product dispenser assembly, wherein said first product dispenser assembly is mounted on said supporting frame to define a first shelf, wherein said first shelf includes at least a first pair of substantially parallel guide rails for supporting and dispensing said series of articles comprising a product of first quality, wherein said first shelf further includes at least a second pair of substantially parallel guide rails for supporting and dispensing a second series of said articles comprising said product of first quality, said at least second pair of substantially parallel guide rails being spaced transversely on said first shelf with respect to said at least first pair of substantially parallel guide rails, and wherein said second product dispenser assembly is juxtaposed in said transverse space between said at least first pair of substantially parallel guide rails and said at least second pair of substantially parallel guide rails, said second product dispenser being connected to one of said substantially parallel guide rails in said at least first pair of substantially parallel guide rails, such that said apparatus is adapted to dispense both said products of first quality and said products of said second quality from said space defined by said supporting frame first shelf, and wherein said first space defined by said first product dispenser assembly and said second space defined by said connected second product dispenser assembly is confined within said third space defined by said supporting frame.