Dispensing system

Abstract

A system ( 100 ) for dispensing a plurality of products provided initially in a package ( 50 ) is disclosed that includes a dispensing device having laterally opposed side walls ( 18 A, 18 B), a lower deck ( 16 ) connecting the opposing side walls and including at least one guide surface, and an upper deck ( 14 ) upon which a package is placed. The products are dispensed from within the package onto the lower deck where the guide surface assists the products to roll linearly from a rear end to a front end of the dispensing device. The dispensing system may include an opening tool ( 40 ) associated with the dispensing device and arranged to open the package when the package is moved longitudinally on the upper deck. The dispensing system may include a restocking indicator ( 290 ). The dispensing device may further include a structure on its rear end section to facilitate the dispensing of products.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A system for dispensing a plurality of products provided initially in a package, the system including a dispensing device defined by a front and a rear end sections, the dispensing device comprising:
 (a) laterally opposed side walls extending longitudinally between the front and the rear end sections;   (b) a lower deck connecting the opposed side walls and including at least one guide surface; and   (c) an upper deck connecting the opposed side walls and upon which the package being placed;   
       wherein the plurality of products are dispensed from within the package onto the lower deck, and the at least one guide surface is configured such that the plurality of products roll linearly from the rear end section to the front end section of the dispensing device. 
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an opening tool associated with the dispensing device and arranged to open the package when the package is moved relative to the opening tool. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing device further includes a rear wall being configured to guide the products to the lower deck. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the upper deck is inclined at an acute angle with respect to a horizontal plane. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the guide surface includes a structure selected for a group consisting of a groove, a rail, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising the package containing plurality of products. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising the package containing plurality of products, wherein:
 the package includes a trap door defined by severance lines, and   the opening tool engages the severance lines when the package is moved longitudinally towards the opening tool to create an opening on the package.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the lower deck further includes a least one restocking indicator associated therewith. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the restocking indicator includes a structure selected from a group consisting of: a protuberance, a concave section, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising an opening tool associated with the dispensing device and arranged to open the package when the package is moved relative to the opening tool. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising the package containing plurality of products. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing device further includes a resilient element associated with the rear end section to facilitate a dispensing of the products from the package onto the lower deck. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the resilient element includes a structure selected from a group consisting of: spring arm structure, finger structure, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising an opening tool associated with the dispensing device and arranged to open the package when the package is moved relative to the opening tool. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising the package containing plurality of products. 
     
     
         16 . A dispensing device defined by a front and a rear end sections, wherein the dispensing device comprises:
 (a) laterally opposed side walls extending longitudinally between the front and the rear end sections;   (d) a lower deck connecting the opposed side walls and including at least one guide surface; and   (e) an upper deck connecting the opposed side walls and upon which a package containing plurality of products being placed;   
       wherein the plurality of products are dispensed from within the package onto the lower deck, and the at least one guide surface is configured such that the plurality of products roll linearly from the rear end section to the front end section of the dispensing device. 
     
     
         17 . The dispensing device of  claim 16 , further comprising an opening tool arranged to open the package when the package is moved relative to the opening tool. 
     
     
         18 . The dispensing device of  claim 16 , further comprising a rear wall configured to guide a dispensing of the products to the lower deck. 
     
     
         19 . The dispensing device of  claim 16 , further comprising a least one restocking indicator associated with the lower deck. 
     
     
         20 . The dispensing device of  claim 19 , further comprising a resilient element associated with the rear end section to facilitate a dispensing of the products from the package onto the lower deck.