Dispensing device with numerical indicator for inventory control

• US 4,742,936 A
• Filed: 07/09/1987
• Issued: 05/10/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rock-Tenn Company (WestRock Company)
• Original Assignee: The Display Equation, Inc.
• Inventors: Rein, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Werner, Frank E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, P. McCoy
• Application Number:
  US07/071,605
• Time in Patent Office: 306 Days
• Field of Search: 221/4, 221/5, 221/8, 221/244, 221/271, 221/279, 221/270, 312/71, 211/59.3
• US Class Current: 221/5
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/126 the pushing device being urged by spring means

Abstract

A merchandise dispenser for storing and dispensing a plurality of items aligned within the dispenser and eased toward the front of the dispenser by a retractable member which is biased to push the remaining line of items forward when the first item in the line is removed. The dispenser is provided with an indicator which automatically indicates the quantity of items remaining in the dispenser.

Claims

1. A dispenser for the storage, display, metering and dispensing of items, comprising:

(a) a trough, for containment of said items;

(b) a shelf forming the bottom of said trough upon which said items are aligned in a row, said shelf having longitudinal slot means disposed substantially along the length of said trough;

(c) an upright platform substantially perpendicular to said shelf, said platform movably disposed within said slot means of said shelf, said platform disposed adjacent to said items;

(d) means for biasing said platform to urge said platform in a direction toward the front end of said trough thereby urging said items in a direction toward said front end;

(e) means for digitally indicating the number of said items stored in said trough, comprising;

(i) a spindle mounted laterally across the width of the trough, said spindle disposed proximate the front end of said trough and under said platform;

(ii) a guide member positioned under said shelf and proximate said spindle;

(iii) an opening in said front end of said trough;

(iv) a pressure plate positioned adjacent to said opening, forming a space between said opening and said pressure plate;

(v) a resiliently self recoiling sheet with numerals depicted thereon, said sheet having a first and second end, said sheet being disposed under said shelf, said first end being attached to said platform, the remainder of said sheet being disposed under said shelf and between said guide member and said shelf and disposed within said space between said pressure plate and said opening, said pressure plate keeping said sheet in a substantiallyvertical position behind said opening, and said second end of said sheet being coiled around said spindle, the movement of said platform controlling the coiling and uncoiling of said sheet around said spindle as items are removed from, or added to the trough; and

(f) numerals spaced along said sheet in calibration with the size of the items stored in the trough, the numeral visible through said opening corresponding to the number of items remaining in the trough.