Automated display mechanism
AssigneeCreative Edge Design Group, Ltd.
InventorsDaniel P. Soehnlen, Gregory M. Soehnlen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A store display maximizes shelf space through use of an automated lift assembly that selectively positions product, for example milk containers, at an opening in a wall. The wall defines a customer side and a store side, and the lift assembly monitors product available through the opening and selectively raises additional product from a stacked array into position at the opening. Helical threaded members are preferably disposed on opposite sides of a pallet, or support platform, and are driven in unison in response to a signal from a sensor that product is depleted from an upper level of the stacked array.
Claims16
An automated display assembly for a store comprising:
- a wall separating a customer side from a store side, and having an opening passing therethrough at an elevated height;
- a platform received on the store side of the wall dimensioned to received associated product in stacked array thereon;
- a lift operatively engaging the platform and selectively raising the platform to orient an uppermost row of associated product at the opening;
- a sensor for monitoring associated product in an uppermost layer;
- and
- a drive mechanism associated with the lift for selectively altering a height of the platform in response to a signal from the sensor.
A store display assembly comprising:
- a wall separating a customer side from a store side that is refrigerated, and an opening at an elevated height in the wall providing access therethrough from the customer side to the store side;
- and
- a lift assembly on the store side of the wall that selectively raises associated refrigerated product to the opening as product is depleted.
A method of displaying product in a store comprising the steps of:
- providing a stacked array of a product on a lift assembly;
- monitoring an uppermost row of product on the stacked array;
- and
- automatically raising the lift assembly as product is depleted from the uppermost row.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.