Article dispensing apparatus

Abstract

An article dispensing assembly is provided for supporting a plurality of product containers on a stacked array of shelves mountable on uprights in a compartment such as a refrigerated space. A first series of product containers of a first quality or character are supported in side-by-side substantially parallel rows on each shelf and a second series of product dispensers are supported respectively between adjacent rows of the first series of product containers. The shelves, in turn, are adjustably supported for fore and aft positioning on the uprights. The first series of products are indexed to the front of each shelf whereas the second series of products automatically are urged forwardly in their respective trays by a corresponding pusher assembly.

1 - 22  (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . An article dispensing apparatus comprising:
 a first product dispenser assembly for supporting and dispensing a series of articles comprising a product of first quality,   a second product dispenser assembly for supporting and dispensing a series of articles of a second quality,   a supporting frame, said supporting frame defining a space, said first product dispenser assembly and said second product dispenser assembly being housed within the space defined by said supporting frame,   wherein said first product dispenser assembly comprises a substantially flat first shelf mounted on said supporting frame,   wherein said second product dispenser comprises a housing mounted on said supporting frame in a longitudinally spaced relation to and above said first shelf on said supporting frame, both said substantially flat first shelf and said second product dispenser being disposed within said space defined by said supporting frame,   wherein said substantially flat first shelf has a front edge and an opposed rear edge and said articles of first quality comprise containers having narrowed end portions, said containers being adapted to be supported on said first shelf axially in adjacent rows extending between said front edge and said rear edge of said substantially flat first shelf such that an axial space exists between said end portions of adjacent rows of containers so supported on said first shelf, and   wherein said housing for said articles of second quality is mounted on said supporting frame in a longitudinally spaced relation to and above said substantially flat first shelf proximally with respect to at least one of said rows of articles of first quality so as to occupy said axial space existing between said end portions of said at least one row of containers and an adjacent row thereof so supported on said first shelf,   wherein said housing further includes at least one attachment member for mounting said housing on said frame, and   wherein said housing for said articles of second quality comprises a support for dispensing a row of said articles of second quality, said row of said articles of second quality comprising at least first and second articles aligned serially and axially with respect to each other on said support,   said support having a first end and a second end, said first end defining a display location for said at least first article in said row of articles, and wherein said first end is proximal to said front edge of said first shelf when said housing is mounted on said frame in said longitudinally spaced relation to and above said first shelf on said supporting frame such that said support occupies the space proximal to and between the end portions of adjacent rows of articles of first quality when said articles of first quality are supported on said first shelf axially in rows extending between said front edge and said rear edge of said substantially flat first shelf.   
     
     
         24 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 23  wherein said attachment member comprises a resilient spring-clip adapted to engage a corresponding portion of said frame. 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 23  wherein said corresponding portion of said frame comprises a substantially flat second shelf mounted on said frame longitudinally above said first shelf in substantially coextensive superposed relation to said first shelf, said substantially flat second shelf having a front edge and an opposed rear edge, and wherein said corresponding portion of said frame comprises said front edge of said second shelf and said second edge of said second shelf. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 23  wherein said housing for said articles of second quality includes means for automatically dispensing articles of said second quality, and
 wherein said means on said housing for automatically dispensing articles of said second quality includes a pusher member on said support adapted to axially engage said at least second article in said row, and a first resilient member operatively coupled between said housing and said pusher member for urging said pusher member toward said display location in an axial direction extending from said second end of said support toward said first end of said support. 
 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 30  wherein said support comprises a longitudinally extending tray having a generally U-shaped cross-section, and said display location for said at least first article in said row of articles defined by said first end of said support comprises an inclined ramp portion, said ramp portion terminating distally in a stop member for engaging said at least first article. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 23  wherein said substantially flat first shelf is mounted on said frame in a tilted orientation whereby said articles of first quality are adapted to be dispensed by gravity. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 23  wherein said articles of first quality comprise beverage containers and said articles of second quality comprise candy bars. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 23  wherein-said attachment member comprises a pair of resilient spring-clips adapted to engage said front edge and said opposed second edge of said second shelf, respectively. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 29  wherein said support for dispensing a row of said articles of second quality is mounted on said substantially flat second shelf. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 35  wherein said support is removably mounted on said substantially flat second shelf.