Importance

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Abstract

The invention is a snack style clear front merchandiser having a horizontal product column with a front opening leading into a vend space. A product mover pushes a product through the front opening and into the vend space. A retaining device, mounted to the merchandiser near the front opening and positioned in a manner such that a top of the product being vended hits the retaining device during vending, prevents the product top from moving or pitching forward during a vending process. Consequently, the vended product falls freely into the delivery hopper without bridging the vending space. A single retaining device may be used for several columns in a single tray or individual retaining devices may be used for each column. The height of the retaining device can be adjusted as required for the type of product being vended in the columns. The retaining device may be rigidly or rotationally mounted to the merchandiser. Where a U-shaped retaining device is rotationally mounted to the merchandiser, the retaining device rotates forward when a product comes in contact with the retaining device before causing the product to rotate. The retaining device then rotates back into a vertical standby position so that the free fall of products from trays above the retaining device is not obstructed. A method for vending products is also disclosed.

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First Claim