Merchandise dispensing unit

Abstract

A security dispenser for the display and dispensing of merchandise items, having an elongate housing for storing a row of merchandise items, a rear end, a front delivery end, and a lid. An incremental feed device is disposed in the security dispenser, comprising a pusher assembly for advancing merchandise items to the front delivery end, and a stop mechanism allowing the pusher assembly to achieve its travel in a plurality of predetermined increments. When the pusher assembly is engaged with the stop mechanism, an actuator operably connected to the stop mechanism and having an engagable component, must be actuated by a user wishing to dispense a merchandise item, causing the pusher assembly to temporarily disengage the stop mechanism, thereby allowing the pusher assembly to travel in one of the predetermined increments.

1 . A security dispenser for the display and dispensing of merchandise items, said security dispenser having an elongate housing with a rear end and a front delivery end, a lid and an incremental feed device disposed therein, said elongate housing for storing a plurality of merchandise items in a row, said incremental feed device comprising a pusher assembly powered for the duration of its travel by a bias means for advancing merchandise items from said rear end to said front delivery end, and a stop mechanism allowing said pusher assembly to achieve its travel in a plurality of predetermined increments, wherein when said pusher assembly is engaged with said stop mechanism, an actuator operably connected to said stop mechanism and having an engagable component, must be actuated by a user wishing to dispense a merchandise item, and actuation of said actuator causes said pusher assembly to temporarily disengage said stop mechanism, thereby allowing said pusher assembly to travel in one of said predetermined increments. 
     
     
         2 . A security dispenser as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said incremental feed device is advanced at a low uniform speed. 
     
     
         3 . A security dispenser as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said merchandise item is removed from said delivery front end in a downward motion. 
     
     
         4 . A security dispenser as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said delivery front end has a narrow aperture that allows for removal of a merchandise item in said downward motion, and a biased one-way flap is disposed within said housing that is capable of opening when a merchandise item is being dispensed, and closes immediately thereafter thereby preventing access to said merchandise items stored within said housing. 
     
     
         5 . A security dispenser as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said engagable component is a push-button located at or near said narrow aperture of said delivery front end, and access to said push-button is hindered by the downward motion of a merchandise item being dispensed, thereby requiring said user to release said push-button in order to remove said merchandise item. 
     
     
         6 . A security dispenser as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said stop mechanism comprises a flexible elongate member with at least one array of spaced apart projections, said push-button being operably connected to said flexible member, and in use at least one of said projections acts as a stop to prevent travel of said pusher assembly until said push-button is depressed thereby flexing said flexible elongate member to disengage said at least one projection and allow said pusher assembly to travel until it abuts against an adjacent said projection. 
     
     
         7 . A security dispenser as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said dispenser is a modular dispenser removably mounted with other like dispensers in a dispensing unit having a base member. 
     
     
         8 . A security dispenser as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said modular dispensers are mounted in side by side relationship. 
     
     
         9 . A security dispenser as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said modular dispensers are mounted in a vertical arrangement. 
     
     
         10 . A security dispenser as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein a security member is removably secured to said base member for preventing removal of said modular dispensers from said base member. 
     
     
         11 . A security dispenser as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said base member has two opposed side walls, and said security member is removably secured to said side walls. 
     
     
         12 . A security dispenser as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of said items to be dispensed comprises an RFID tag, and an RFID reader associated with said security device is capable of tracking said items. 
     
     
         13 . A security dispenser as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said RFID reader is operably connected to a security surveillance system via an RFID controller, and wherein when said controller detects a number of items being dispensed in less than a predetermined time period said RFID controller signals said security surveillance system. 
     
     
         14 . A dispensing unit having a plurality of security dispensers disposed therein, said dispensing unit having a base member supporting said security dispensers, each of said modular security dispensers for the display and dispensing of merchandise items, each said security dispenser is elongate with a rear end and a front delivery end, and an incremental feed device disposed therein, said security dispenser for storing a plurality of merchandise items in a row, said incremental feed device comprising a pusher assembly powered for the duration of its travel by a bias means for advancing merchandise items from said rear end to said front delivery end, and a stop mechanism allowing said pusher assembly to achieve its travel in a plurality of predetermined increments, wherein when said pusher assembly is engaged with said stop mechanism, an actuator operably connected to said stop mechanism and having an engagable component, must be actuated by a user wishing to dispense a merchandise item, and actuation of said actuator causes said pusher assembly to temporarily disengage said stop mechanism, thereby allowing said pusher assembly to travel in one of said predetermined increments. 
     
     
         15 . A dispensing unit as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said dispensing unit has an openable front cover. 
     
     
         16 . A dispensing unit as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said front cover allows internal access of said dispensing from the front so that said security dispensers may be cleared, replaced and/or repaired. 
     
     
         17 . A dispensing unit as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said front cover is able to pivotally move between an open configuration and closed configuration. 
     
     
         18 . A dispensing unit as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said cover has opposed side flanges, and said cover pivots about a rod having opposed free ends which extend into a respective elongate slot in each of said side flanges. 
     
     
         19 . A dispensing unit as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein a barb on at least one side wall of said dispensing unit engages a recess on at least one of said side flanges, when said cover is in said closed configuration.