Pusher System for Dispensing Articles

Abstract

A pusher system for dispensing articles includes a pusher track, on which the articles can be stacked for storage, displaying, and dispensing. The pusher system also includes a pusher plate assembly having a pusher plate urging the articles stored on the pusher track toward a dispensing location under the action of a driving unit, such as a coil spring. The pusher plate assembly has a retaining portion to be movably received in a longitudinal channel formed in the pusher track to retain the pusher plate assembly on the pusher track and allow the pusher track assembly to translate along the longitudinal channel formed in the pusher track. According to the various embodiments, the pusher plate assembly is configured to be in a rolling engagement with the pusher track as the pusher plate travels along the pusher track. Such rolling engagement can reduce friction between the pusher plate assembly and the pusher track, thereby facilitating travel of a pusher plate during the dispensing and reloading operations.

1 . A pusher system for dispensing articles, the pusher system comprising:
 a pusher track having a top surface for supporting articles to be dispensed and a longitudinal channel opening to the top surface of the pusher track; and   a pusher plate assembly movably supported on the pusher track and comprising:
 a pusher plate biased toward a dispensing end of the pusher system; 
 a retaining portion attached to the pusher plate and configured to extend into the longitudinal channel in the pusher track to retain the pusher plate on the pusher track and allow for translational movement along the pusher track; and 
 one or more roller elements rotatably mounted in relation to the pusher plate; 
   wherein the pusher plate assembly and the pusher track are in a rolling engagement when the pusher plate assembly moves in at least one of forward and reverse directions along the longitudinal channel.   
     
     
         2 . The pusher system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more roller elements comprise a first roller element rotatably mounted to the retaining portion and retained inside the longitudinal channel formed in the pusher track, whereby the first roller element is capable of rollingly engaging an under surface of the pusher track opposite to its top surface when the pusher plate is moved in the reverse direction along the pusher track. 
     
     
         3 . The pusher system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more roller elements comprise a second roller element in rolling engagement with the top surface of the pusher track during operation of the pusher system, whereby the second roller element is capable of rollingly engaging the top surface of the pusher track when the pusher plate is moved in the reverse direction along the pusher track. 
     
     
         4 . The pusher system of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more roller elements comprise a second roller element in rolling engagement with the top surface of the pusher track during operation of the pusher system. 
     
     
         5 . The pusher system of  claim 3 , wherein the second roller element is rotatably mounted to the pusher plate. 
     
     
         6 . The pusher system of  claim 3 , wherein the second roller element is rotatably mounted to the retaining portion. 
     
     
         7 . The pusher system of  claim 4 , wherein the first and second roller elements are mounted at respective front and rear ends of the pusher plate assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The pusher system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more roller elements comprises a pair of wheels rotatably supported on an axel rotatable secured to the pusher plate assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The pusher system of  claim 9 , wherein the wheel shaft is removably mounted to at least one of the retaining portion and the pusher plate. 
     
     
         10 . The pusher system of  claim 1  further comprising a driving unit for driving the pusher plate assembly along the longitudinal channel formed in the pusher track toward the dispensing end of the pusher system, thereby urging the articles stored on the pusher track in the forward direction. 
     
     
         11 . A pusher system for dispensing articles, the pusher system comprising:
 a pusher track having a top surface for supporting articles to be dispensed and a longitudinal channel opening to the top surface of the pusher track; and   a pusher plate assembly movably supported on the pusher track and biased toward a dispensing end of the pusher system, the pusher plate assembly comprising a retaining portion configured to extend into the longitudinal channel in the pusher track; and   one or more roller elements rotatably mounted in relation to the pusher plate assembly and configured to retain the pusher plate assembly on the pusher track and allow for translation movement of the pusher plate along the pusher track;   wherein the one or more roller elements are in roller contact with the pusher track, resulting in a rolling engagement between the pusher plate assembly and the pusher track when the pusher plate assembly moves in at least one of forward and reverse directions along the longitudinal channel.   
     
     
         12 . The pusher system of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more roller elements comprise a first roller element rotatably mounted to the retaining portion of the pusher plate assembly and retained inside the longitudinal channel formed in the pusher track, whereby the first roller element is capable of rollerly engaging an under surface of the pusher track opposite to its top surface. 
     
     
         13 . The pusher system of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more roller elements comprise a second roller element in rolling engagement with the top surface of the pusher track during operation of the pusher system. 
     
     
         14 . The pusher system of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more roller elements comprise a pair of wheels rotatably mounted to the retaining portion of the pusher plate assembly and retained inside the longitudinal channel formed in the pusher track, wherein the pair of wheels are positioned on opposite sides of a longitudinal opening through which the longitudinal channel opens to the top surface of the pusher track. 
     
     
         15 . A pusher system for dispensing articles, the pusher system comprising:
 a base support;   a plurality of pusher tracks removably mounted on the base support, each of the plurality of pusher tracks having a top surface for supporting articles to be dispensed and a longitudinal channel opening to the top surface of the pusher track; and   a plurality of pusher plate assemblies movably supported on the respective plurality of pusher tracks and each comprising:
 a pusher plate biased toward a dispensing end of the pusher system; 
 a retaining portion attached to the pusher plate and configured to extend into the longitudinal channel in the pusher track to retain the pusher plate on the pusher track and allow for translational movement along the pusher track; and 
 one or more roller elements rotatably mounted in relation to the pusher plate; 
   wherein the pusher plate assembly and the pusher track are in a rolling engagement when the pusher plate assembly moves in at least one of forward and reverse directions along the longitudinal channel.   
     
     
         16 . The pusher system of  claim 15  further comprising a pair of retainers mounted to the base support, wherein the pair of retainers each comprise a plurality of first anchoring elements aligned with one another for engaging complimentary anchoring elements on the plurality of pusher tracks thereby mounting the plurality pusher tracks on the base support. 
     
     
         17 . The pusher system of  claim 16  further comprising a plurality of dividers to form, with the plurality of pusher plates, a plurality of storage chambers along the respective pusher tracks, wherein the pair of retainers each comprise a plurality of second anchoring elements aligned with one another for engaging complimentary anchoring elements on the plurality of dividers thereby mounting the plurality dividers on the base support. 
     
     
         18 . The pusher system of  claim 17 , wherein the pair of retainers each comprise a plurality of second anchoring elements between adjacent pusher tracks for mounting one of the plurality dividers at different positions between the adjacent pusher tracks. 
     
     
         19 . The pusher system of  claim 17 , wherein the anchoring elements on the pair or retainers comprises at least one of hooks and slots configured to connect with the complimentary anchoring elements on at least one of the pusher tracks and the dividers. 
     
     
         20 . A pusher plate assembly configured for use with a pusher track having a top surface for supporting articles to be dispensed and a channel opening to the top surface of the pusher track, the pusher plate assembly comprising:
 a pusher plate biased toward a dispensing end of the pusher track;   a retaining portion attached to the pusher plate and configured to extend into the channel in the pusher track to retain the pusher plate on the pusher track and allow for translational movement along the pusher track; and   one or more roller elements rotatably mounted in relation to the pusher plate;   wherein the pusher plate assembly is capable of rollingly engaging the pusher track during operation when the pusher plate assembly moves in at least one of forward and reverse directions along the longitudinal channel.