Dispensing system and package for use therewith

A method of dispensing a plurality of articles each having an article diameter, comprising steps of:

• providing a frame having longitudinally opposed front and rear end sections and comprising an upper support deck extending at least partially between the front and rear end sections and below which a product display area is provided;
• providing an opening tool associated with the frame;
• providing a package containing the plurality of articles, the package comprising:
• a base wall;
• a first side wall;
• a second side wall;
• and
• wherein the first side wall and second side wall extend from the base wall and are connected to the base wall along opposed longitudinal side edges of the base wall;
• and
• sliding the package longitudinally relative to the opening tool along the upper support deck from the front end section to the rear end section with the base wall of the package in contact with the upper support deck, wherein said sliding engages the package with the opening tool, forming an opening in the base wall of the package and allowing the articles to be at least partially dispensed from the package through the opening into the product display area;
• wherein the opening tool creates the opening by cutting a severance line proximate to and parallel with a first one of the opposed longitudinal side edges, the package after first contacting the opening tool traveling further along the upper support deck by at least a distance equal to the article diameter;
• and
• wherein the articles are dispensed through the opening when the opening is located rearward of the opening tool.

A system for dispensing and displaying a plurality of articles each having an article diameter from a package through an opening in a base wall of the package, the system comprising:

• a package containing the plurality of articles, the package comprising:
• a base wall;
• a first side wall;
• a second side wall;
• and
• wherein the first side wall and second side wall extend from the base wall and are connected to the base wall along opposed longitudinal side edges of the base wall:
• a frame, comprising:
• longitudinally opposed front and rear end sections;
• laterally opposed side walls extending between the front and rear end sections;
• an upper support deck extending at least partially between the front and rear end sections, sloping downward from the front end section toward the rear end section and configured to contact the base wall of the package;
• and
• a lower support deck at least partially defining a product display area below the upper support deck, the product display area being proximate the front end section;
• and
• an opening tool associated with the frame and arranged to automatically open the package and at least partially dispense the articles from the package through the opening in the base wall of the package and into the product display area when the package is moved longitudinally along the upper support deck from the front end section toward the rear end section;
• wherein the opening tool creates the opening by cutting a severance line proximate to and parallel with a first one of the opposed longitudinal side edges, the package after first contacting the opening tool traveling further along the upper support deck by at least a distance equal to the article diameter;
• and
• wherein the articles are dispensed through the opening in the base wall of the package when the opening in the base wall of the package is located rearward of the opening tool.