Article feed device

Abstract

An article feed device ( 1 ) for feeding articles along a feeding direction towards a front edge of a shelf being provided with the article feed device. The article feed device comprises at least one set ( 10, 20 ) of rollers ( 11, 21 ) arranged transversely to the feeding direction. A least one roller carrier ( 30, 40 ) has a longitudinal extension which is parallel to the feeding direction and comprises a number of roller receiving seats ( 34, 44 ) arranged at each longitudinal side of the carrier for rotationally receiving the rollers. At least two first profile rails ( 71, 72 ) are arranged along a respective longitudinal side of the roller carrier. The roller carrier is arranged to be longitudinally inserted in the profile rails for fixation of the rollers. The roller carrier comprises end stops ( 53, 63 ) for preventing relative longitudinal displacement between the roller carrier and the first profile rails when mounted. The roller carrier ( 30, 40 ) is divided into at least two sections ( 30 a, 30 b, 40 a, 40 b ) arranged one after the other in the longitudinal direction. Each section is arranged to be inserted from a respective longitudinal end of the first profile rails ( 71, 72 ) and comprising cooperating snap engagement means ( 35, 36, 45, 46 ) for mutual engagement of one section to the other.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An article feed device for feeding articles along a feeding direction towards a front edge of a shelf being provided with the article feed device, which article feed device comprises;
 at least one set of rollers arranged transversely to the feeding direction;   a least one roller carrier having a longitudinal extension which is parallel to the feeding direction and comprising a number of roller receiving seats arranged at each longitudinal side of the carrier for rotationally receiving the rollers; and   at least two first profile rails arranged along a respective longitudinal side of the roller carrier, wherein   the roller carrier is arranged to be longitudinally inserted in the profile rails for fixation of the rollers; and wherein   the roller carrier comprises end stops for preventing relative longitudinal displacement between the roller carrier and the first profile rails when mounted, characterized in that   the roller carrier is divided into at least two sections arranged one after the other in the longitudinal direction, each section being arranged to be inserted from a respective longitudinal end of the first profile rails and comprising cooperating snap engagement means for mutual engagement of one section to the other.   
     
     
         2 . An article feed device according to claim one, wherein the end stops are formed integral with a respective section. 
     
     
         3 . An article feed device according to  claim 1 , wherein the snap engagement means comprises a resilient hook arranged at one section and a snap engagement surface arranged at another section. 
     
     
         4 . An article feed device according to  claim 1 , comprising a roller carrier unit with at least two roller carriers being mutually attached side by side, wherein each roller carrier unit is divided into at least two roller carrier unit sections arranged one after the other in the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         5 . An article feed device according to  claim 4 , wherein the roller carrier unit exhibits a longitudinal slit arranged between each two adjacent roller carriers and a second profile rail which is arranged in said slit and which receives a longitudinal side of a respective roller carrier. 
     
     
         6 . An article feed device according to  claim 4 , wherein the roller carriers of the roller carrier unit are mutually attached side by side at a free longitudinal end of the respective sections. 
     
     
         7 . A article feed device according to  claim 4 , wherein the roller carrier unit sections arranged at each longitudinal end of the roller carrier unit are formed integral. 
     
     
         8 . An article feed device according to  claim 1 , wherein the end stops are arranged at a free end of each roller carrier section. 
     
     
         9 . An article feed device according to  claim 8 , wherein the end stops protrude laterally beyond a respective longitudinal side of the roller carrier, thereby forming a stop surface for a respective profile rail. 
     
     
         10 . An article feed device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one free end of the roller carrier is provided with a fixation means arranged to be engaged with an accessory fixation device arranged at the shelf for fixation of the article feed device to the shelf. 
     
     
         11 . An article feed device according to  claim 10 , wherein the end stops are formed integral with a respective fixation means. 
     
     
         12 . An article feed device according to  claim 1 , wherein the cross section of the first profile rails are generally L-, J-, U- or C-shaped. 
     
     
         13 . An article feed device according to  claim 5 , wherein the cross section of the second profile rail is generally T- or H-shaped. 
     
     
         14 . An article feed device according to  claims 1 , wherein the roller carriers and the rollers are formed of polymer material. 
     
     
         15 . An article feed device according to  claim 1 , wherein the profile rails are formed of aluminium.