Product Distribution Methods and Apparatus

• US 20090063166A1
• Filed: 07/20/2005
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Foodcap International Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Foodcap International Ltd.
• Inventors: Palmer, Roger Keith
• Granted Patent: US 9,950,835 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 13/00 Shop or like accessories devices for drawing-off and cutting paper from a roll B65H; movably-mounted ladders E06C9/06
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/06 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/42 Arrangements or applications of rollers or wheels
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events

Abstract

Products (30) are distributed to retail outlets in containers (20). The products (30) are loaded onto the tray assembly (1) that is placed in a container (20) at a production or storage facility and transported to the retail outlet. Information as to a sequence in which the products (30) will be placed on retail shelving (32) at the retail outlet is used to determine a loading order of the products (30) on the tray assembly (1) so that the products (30) may be removed from the carrying device in the order required for placement on the retail shelves (32). The tray assembly (1) is removable from the container, and the trays (6) are moveable relative to each other to facilitate loading and unloading.

Claims

1. A method for retail distribution of a plurality of objects, the method including:

receiving information as to a sequence in which the plurality of objects will be placed on one or more retail shelves; and

placing the objects on at least one carrying device in a such a way that objects may be removed from the carrying device in the order required for placement on the retail shelves.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of placement of objects on the carrying device occurs at a storage facility capable of supplying objects to a plurality of retail outlets at different physical locations, and the carrying device is transported to a retail outlet for placement of the objects on the retail shelves.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 including the step of receiving an order from, or on behalf of, a retail outlet for the plurality of objects at a storage or production facility, providing the plurality of objects and sorting the plurality of objects into a predetermined order for loading on or in the carrying device.

4. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including sorting the objects into a reverse order to the order in which they will be placed on the retail shelves.

5. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the carrying device includes a first carrying shelf for carrying one or more of the objects arranged above a second carrying shelf for carrying one or more of the objects, and the method includes placing objects on the carrying shelves so that an object on the first shelf is intended to be placed on one of the retail shelves before an object on the second shelf.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the carrying shelves are vertically movable, the method including the step of unloading objects from the first carrying shelf, and raising the first carrying shelf or the second carrying shelf to facilitate unloading objects from the second carrying shelf.

7. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the carrying shelves are vertically movable, the method including the step of loading objects onto the second carrying shelf, and lowering the second carrying shelf or the first carrying shelf to facilitate loading objects onto the first carrying shelf.

8. A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the carrying shelves are provided as a shelf assembly which is removably locatable in a container, and the method includes loading objects onto a carrying shelf and placing the loaded shelf in the container.

9. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the carrying shelves are provided as a shelf assembly which is removably locatable in a container, and the method includes removing a carrying shelf from the container and unloading objects from the carrying shelf.

10. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the carrying device includes a container and the method includes closing and/or sealing the container before delivery to a retail outlet.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10 including modifying the atmosphere within the container.

12. A method for retail distribution of a plurality of objects substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13. Stacking apparatus including a plurality of tray members, each tray member having a support aperture adapted to accommodate an elongate support member, and support member engagement means to selectively engage with the elongate support member, whereby the position of each tray relative to the support member may be adjusted by disengaging the tray from the support member, moving the tray along the support member to a different position and re-engaging the tray with the support member.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein the support member engagement means is configured such that rotational movement of the tray in a radial plane relative to the support member may selectively engage or disengage the tray to or from the support member.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 or claim 14 wherein the support member includes tray engagement means comprising a plurality of spaced projections or recesses, and the support member engagement means provided on a tray comprise a plurality of spaced recesses or projections.

16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 or claim 15 wherein rotation of the tray through an angle of 45 degrees is sufficient to engage or release the tray member with or from the support member.

17. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 16 including a container in which the stacking apparatus is removably disposed.

18. Stacking apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.