Patent · US Active

Gravity-fed storage and dispensing unit

US7913860B2 · kind B2 · utility

30Cited by
34References
15Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateOct 8, 2007
Grant dateMar 29, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 28, 2028

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG07F11/44
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A gravity-fed storage and dispensing unit featuring two sidewalls having opposed ledges which form a plurality of separated rearwardly-directed paths, a receiving bin area, and a forwardly-directed path for products to be stored and dispensed. Products placed on a loading area on the front side of the dispensing unit are pulled by gravity down the rearwardly-directed path, into a product receiving bin, and then travel together along the forwardly directed path in two rows. The products from the different rearwardly-directed paths are interspersed in the product receiving bin area. The sidewalls of the dispensing unit have bosses which receive divider rods of varying lengths so that the width of the paths can be adjusted. Multiple units may be attached to each other in an adjacent relationship.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.