Feed device for the automatic shifting of objects by means of a guide element, construction set, and method for mounting a feed device

Abstract

A feed device for the automatic shifting of objects is provided. The automatic shifting of objects is effected assisted by the force of gravity and/or for this purpose the feed device includes a driven feed unit in order to shift several objects, which are arranged one behind another on a display area of the feed device, along a guide track in the direction of a removal region where an object is able to be removed as intended. The feed device comprises at least one separately produced guide element which is mounted on the already functional feed device and comprises an elongated sliding surface which extends substantially parallel to the guide track, defines at least part of the display area and along which the objects to be shifted are shiftable by the feed unit.

1 . A feed device for the automatic shifting of objects, wherein the automatic shifting of objects is effected assisted by the force of gravity and/or for this purpose the feed device includes a driven feed unit in order to shift several objects, which are arranged one behind another on a display area of the feed device, along a guide track in the direction of a removal region where an object is able to be removed as intended,
 further comprising at least one separately produced guide element which is mounted on the already functional feed device and comprises an elongated sliding surface which extends substantially parallel to the guide track, defines at least part of the display area and along which the objects to be shifted are shiftable by the feed unit.   
     
     
         2 . The feed device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the guide element is realized in a rod-shaped manner, in particular as a sliding and/or round rod and/or the at least one sliding surface is realized in an elongated manner. 
     
     
         3 . The feed device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the guide element comprises at least two sliding surfaces which are separated from one another by at least one recess. 
     
     
         4 . The feed device for the automatic shifting of objects, wherein the automatic shifting of objects is effected assisted by the force of gravity and/or for this purpose the feed device includes a driven feed unit in order to shift several objects, which are arranged one behind another on a display area of the feed device, along a guide track in the direction of a removal region where an object is able to be removed as intended, 
       further comprising at least one guide element, along which the objects to be shifted are shiftable and which comprises at least one elongated sliding surface which extends substantially parallel to the guide track and defines at least part of the display area, wherein
 the at least one sliding surface is arched in a convex manner and/or 
 the at least one sliding surface is realized such that an object arranged as intended thereon is able to abut simply in a punctiform or linear manner against at least one portion of the sliding surface. 
 
     
     
         5 . The feed device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein at least part of the sliding surface is defined by at least one projection which is tooth-shaped in cross section or by at least one projecting edge of the guide element in order to enable simply punctiform or linear contact with an object arranged as intended thereon. 
     
     
         6 . The feed device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the guide element is realized on a lateral wall of the feed device or comprises a holder for supporting a lateral wall of the feed device. 
     
     
         7 . The feed device as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein a holder of the guide element comprises a retaining slot in which the lateral wall is held and is supported transversely to its longitudinal extension by means of at least one support portion of the holder which adjoins the retaining slot. 
     
     
         8 . The feed device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the guide element is plugged into the feed device and/or is mounted in a tool-free manner. 
     
     
         9 . The feed device as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the guide element realizes at least one retaining element and/or at least one separate retaining element is provided into which the guide element is plugged, and the guide element is held on a component of the feed device by means of the at least one retaining element. 
     
     
         10 . The feed device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the separate retaining element is plugged into a component of the already functional feed device in order to hold the subsequently mounted guide element thereon. 
     
     
         11 . The feed device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the guide element is held by means of the retaining element
 on a lateral wall of the feed device and/or   on a support component for supporting a lateral wall of the feed device and/or   on a housing of the feed device.   
     
     
         12 . The feed device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein
 at least two guide elements are provided, between which a path of movement for the feed unit extends, and/or   at least two guide elements are provided on one and the same side next to a path of movement for the feed unit.   
     
     
         13 . The feed device as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein at least two elongated guide elements are arranged in rows end to end on one and the same side next to a path of movement and/or the guide elements which are provided on one and the same side of the path of movement are connected together. 
     
     
         14 . The feed device as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein at least one additional retaining element is provided to connect the at least two guide elements. 
     
     
         15 . The feed device as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein a guide element is held on the additional retaining element by means of a clip connection. 
     
     
         16 . A construction set for the mounting of a feed device, wherein the feed device is provided for the automatic shifting of objects and the automatic shifting of objects is effected assisted by the force of gravity and/or for this purpose the feed device includes a driven feed unit in order to shift several objects, which are arranged one behind another on a display area of the feed device, along a guide track in the direction of a removal region where an object is able to be removed as intended, wherein 
       the construction set includes at least the following:
 a pre-assembled feed module which defines the guide track and/or comprises the driven feed unit, and 
 at least one separately produced guide element which is combinable with the feed module in such a manner that in a selective manner a feed device without a guide element or a feed device with a guide element is mountable, 
 wherein the guide element comprises at least one elongated sliding surface which extends substantially parallel to the guide track and defines at least part of the display area and the objects to be shifted are shiftable by the feed unit along the sliding surface of the guide element when the guide element is combined with the feed module. 
 
     
     
         17 . The construction set as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the feed module comprises a display area against which, in the case of a feed device without a guide element, objects abut and are slidingly shiftable, and the construction set with the at least one guide element is realized in such a manner that in the case of a feed device with a guide element the objects abut against the guide element and are slidingly shiftable thereon. 
     
     
         18 . The construction set as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the construction set additionally comprises at least one lateral wall, by means of which a row of objects arranged on the display area is bordered along the guide track. 
     
     
         19 . The construction set as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the guide element is mountable on the lateral wall. 
     
     
         20 . The construction set as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the guide element is mountable on a housing of the feed module. 
     
     
         21 . The construction set as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the construction set comprises at least one mounting strip on which several feed devices are securable next to one another, and in each case at least part of the components of the construction set for one single feed device is pluggable into the mounting strip. 
     
     
         22 . A method for mounting a feed device, wherein the feed device is provided for the automatic shifting of objects and the automatic shifting of objects is effected assisted by the force of gravity and/or for this purpose the feed device includes a driven feed unit in order to shift several objects, which are arranged one behind another on a display area of the feed device, along a guide track in the direction of a removal region where an object is able to be removed as intended, wherein
 a pre-assembled feed module, which defines the guide track and/or comprises the driven feed unit, and   at least one separately produced guide element with at least one elongated sliding surface which extends substantially parallel to the guide track   
       are provided and optionally
 a feed device without a guide element is mounted or 
 a feed device with a guide element is mounted by the guide element being combined with the feed module, wherein the guide element then defines part of the display area in the feed device and the objects to be shifted are shiftable along the sliding surface of the guide element.