Dispensing system and package for use therewith

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9790013-B2
Application number	US-201013508380-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 12, 2010
Priority date	Nov 23, 2009
Publication date	Oct 17, 2017
Grant date	Oct 17, 2017

Abstract

A system for dispensing articles provided initially in a package is disclosed that comprises a frame configured to support the package of articles and a package-opening tool associated with the frame. The frame includes longitudinally opposed front and rear end sections, and an upper support deck extending at least partially between the front and rear end sections and below which a product display area is provided. The opening tool associated with the frame such that its open the package when the package is moved longitudinally on the upper support deck and relative to the opening tool, thereby allowing the articles to be at least partially dispensed from the package into the product display area.

First claim

We claim:

1. A system for dispensing a plurality of articles each having an article diameter, comprising:
a frame comprising longitudinally opposed front and rear end sections and a sloping 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 below which a product display area is provided;
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;

the upper support deck in contact with the base wall; and
an opening tool associated with the frame and arranged to automatically create an opening in the base wall through which to at least partially dispense the articles from the package into the product display area when the package is moved longitudinally along the upper support deck from the front end section to 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 when the opening is located rearward of the opening tool.

2. 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.

3. The dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the product display area is positioned proximate the front end section.

4. The dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the opening tool is attached to the upper support deck.

5. The dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the frame further comprises first and second laterally opposed side walls.

6. The dispensing system of claim 5 , wherein the opening tool is attached to at least one of the first and the second side walls.

7. The dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the severance line is a weakened severance line, and wherein the weakened severance line is severed by the opening tool as the package is moved longitudinally along the upper support deck from the front end section to the rear end section.

8. The dispensing system of claim 7 , wherein the weakened severance line at least partially defines an access door, and wherein the access door is free to pivot relative to the package when the weakened severance line is severed.

9. The dispensing system of claim 8 , wherein the access door pivots toward one of the front and the rear end sections when the weakened severance line is severed.

10. The dispensing system of claim 8 , wherein the frame further comprises first and second laterally opposed side walls, and wherein the access door pivots toward one of the first and the second side walls when the weakened severance line is severed.

11. The dispensing system of claim 7 , wherein the package defines a severance initiation area, and wherein the weakened severance line extends proximate the severance initiation area.

12. The dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein at least one article of the plurality of articles rolls along the frame to the product display area after the package is opened by the opening tool.

13. The dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the package defines a severance initiation area, and wherein the opening tool passes through the severance initiation area as the package is moved longitudinally along the upper support deck from the front end section to the rear end section.

14. The dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of articles contained in the package are arranged in at least two rows.

15. The dispensing system of claim 5 , wherein the opening tool is substantially centered between the first side wall and the second side wall.

16. 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.

17. The system of claim 1 , wherein a second severance line is cut proximate to and parallel with a second one of the opposed longitudinal side edges.

18. The system of claim 1 , wherein the severance line is located in

Assignees

• Loftin Caleb S
• Bates Aaron L
• Thomas Laurel
• King Derek
• Gelardi John A
• Westrock Mwv Llc

Inventors

• Loftin Caleb S
• Bates Aaron L
• Thomas Laurel
• King Derek
• Gelardi John A

Classifications

• B65D2571/0066

  formed from one single sheet · CPC title

• Y10T83/9493

  Stationary cutter · CPC title

• B65D2571/00141

  glued · CPC title

• B65D25/24

  for spacing bases of containers from supporting surfaces, e.g. legs (for pallets B65D19/40) · CPC title

• A47F1/087 Primary

  the container having approximately horizontal tracks of the serpentine type · CPC title