1. A pushing system comprising:
(a) a track comprising:
(i) a product display surface; and
(ii) a resistance channel comprising gear teeth that project into the resistance channel; and
(iii) sides comprising a plurality of ramped slots;
(b) a pusher in sliding engagement with the track, the pusher comprising a brake;
(c) a spring that urges the pusher toward the front of the track;
(d) a stop positioned relative to the pusher and moveable between a disengaged position and an engaged position, the stop comprising:
(i) a plurality of protrusions configured to cooperate with the plurality of ramped slots of the side of the track and;
(ii) a plurality of engagement surfaces configured to engage the brake of the pusher to prevent the pusher from moving forward when the stop is in the engaged position;
(e) a resistance mechanism that comprises an external gear component that cooperates with the gear teeth of the resistance channel to slow the speed at which the spring urges the pusher forward; and
(f) a second spring configured to adjust the orientation of the brake relative to the plurality of engagement surfaces of the stop when the stop is in the engaged position so that the pusher is not prevented from moving backward along the track.
2. The pushing system of claim 1, wherein, when the stop is in the engaged position, the plurality of protrusions of the stop are positioned relative to a first end of the plurality of the slots of the track, and wherein, when the stop is in the disengaged position, the plurality of protrusions are positioned relative to a second end of the plurality of the slots.
3. The pushing system of claim 1, wherein the brake further comprises a projection that cooperates with the engagement surfaces of the stop when the stop is in the engaged position.
4. The pushing system of claim 1, wherein the engagement surfaces of the stop form a generally sawtooth shape in cross section.
5. The pushing system of claim 1, wherein the stop is positioned within the resistance channel of the track.
6. The pushing system of claim 1, further comprising a door assembly positioned relative to the stop and having a closed position and an open position, wherein when in the open position, the door assembly engages the stop into the engaged position.
7. The pushing system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured so that when the stop is in the engaged position, the pusher is only permitted to move in predetermined increments.
8. The pushing system of claim 6, wherein the door assembly is a pivotable door having a closed position and an open position.
9. The pushing system of claim 8, wherein when the door assembly is in the open position, the stop is in the engaged position.
10. The pushing system of claim 8, wherein the door assembly further comprises an extension that rotates when the door assembly is in the open position to engage the stop into the engaged position.
11. The pushing system of claim 1, further comprising a cover configured to block access to the product display surface.
12. The pushing system of claim 1, further comprising a shaft that cooperates with a potentiometer.
13. A pushing system comprising:
(a) a track comprising:
(i) a product display surface; and
(ii) a resistance channel comprising gear teeth that project into the resistance channel; and
(iii) sides comprising a plurality of ramped slots;
(b) a pusher in sliding engagement with the track, the pusher comprising a Brake;
(c) a spring that urges the pusher toward the front of the track;
(d) a stop positioned relative to the pusher and moveable between a disengaged position and an engaged position, the stop comprising:
(i) a plurality of protrusions configured to cooperate with the plurality of ramped slots of the side of the track and;
(ii) a plurality of engagement surfaces configured to engage the brake of the pusher to prevent the pusher from moving forward when the stop is in the engaged position;
(e) a resistance mechanism that comprises an external gear component that cooperates with the gear teeth of the resistance channel to slow the speed at which the spring urges the pusher forward; and
(f) a door assembly positioned relative to the stop and having a closed position and an open position, wherein when in the open position, the door assembly engages the stop into the engaged position,
wherein the door assembly comprises a shuttle having a first position and a second position,
wherein when the shuttle is in a first position, the shuttle is generally horizontal and the stop is in the disengaged position, and
wherein when the shuttle is in a second position, the shuttle is generally vertical and the stop is in the engaged position.
14. A device for controlled advancement of a product comprising:
(a) a track comprising:
(i) a product display surface; and
(ii) an index channel comprising a plurality of inclines; and
(b) a pusher in sliding engagement with the track;
(c) a spring that urges the pusher toward the front of the track; and
(d) an indexing system having an activated state, wherein when the indexing system is in the activated state, the pusher may only move forward a discrete distance, wherein the indexing system comprises:
(i) a rod;
(ii) an indexing member coupled to the pusher, the indexing member comprising a body, a lateral arm positioned relative to the rod, and a downward extension; and
(iii) an index having a plurality of openings, wherein each of the plurality of openings is configured to receive the downward extension of the body of the indexing member, wherein a distance between the plurality of openings generally corresponds to a depth of the product to be advanced.
15. The device of claim 14, further comprising a resistance mechanism that slows the speed at which the spring urges the pusher forward.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An imaging lens of a three-lens configuration, comprising: in order from an object side
an aperture diaphragm;
a first lens of a positive lens having a convex surface on the object side;
a second lens of a meniscus lens having a concave surface on the object side; and
a third lens,
the imaging lens satisfying conditional expressions
ff3<0.95\u2003\u2003(1)
BR2<0\u2003\u2003(2)
wherein
BR2 satisfies BR2=AD4, A represents a distance from a vertex position on a object-side surface of the second lens and on an optical axis to a position on a image-side surface of the second lens through which a light ray passes toward a corner of an image height, provided that a traveling direction of the light ray is taken as appositive direction, and D4 represents a center thickness of the second lens,
f represents a focal length of the imaging lens, and
f3 represents a focal length of the third lens.
2. The imaging lens according to claim 1, further satisfying a conditional expression:
0.22<(D3+D4)f<0.43\u2003\u2003(3)
wherein D3 represents a surface spacing between an image-side surface of the first lens and an object-side surface of the second lens along the optical axis.
3. The imaging lens according to claim 1, further satisfying a conditional expression:
vd2>40 and \u22121.2<f3f<0.0\u2003\u2003(4)
wherein vd2 represents an Abbe number of the second lens at the d-line.
4. The imaging lens according to claim 2, further satisfying a conditional expression:
vd2>40 and \u22121.2\u2266f3f<0.0\u2003\u2003(4)
wherein vd2 represents an Abbe number of the second lens at the d-line.
5. The imaging lens according to claim 1 further satisfying a conditional expression:
vd2>40 and 0.0<f2f<2.0\u2003\u2003(5)
wherein vd2 represents an Abbe number of the second lens at the d-line; and f2 represents a focal length of the second lens.
6. An imaging lens comprising: in order from an object side
an aperture diaphragm;
a first lens of a positive lens having a convex surface on the object side;
a second lens of a meniscus lens having a concave surface on the object side; and
a third lens,
the imaging lens satisfying conditional expressions:
ff3<0.95\u2003\u2003(1)
D4f<0.136\u2003\u2003(6)
wherein D4 represents a center thickness of the second lens; f represents a focal length of the imaging lens; and f3 represents a focal length of the third lens.
7. The imaging lens according to claim 6, further satisfying a conditional expression:
f3f<\u22120.4 and \u22125.6<f2f\u2266\u22123.3\u2003\u2003(10)
wherein f2 represents a focal length of the second lens.
8. The imaging lens according to claim 6, further satisfying a conditional expression:
vd2>40 and \u22121.2<f3f<0.0\u2003\u2003(4)
wherein vd2 represents an Abbe number of the second lens at the d-line.
9. The imaging lens according to claim 6, further satisfying a conditional expression:
f3f<\u22121.66 and 0.1<|f1f2|<0.5\u2003\u2003(11)
wherein f2 represents a focal length of the second lens.
10. The imaging lens according to claim 6, further satisfying a conditional expression.
\u22120.5<f1f2<\u22120.1
wherein f2 represents a focal length of the second tens.
11. The imaging lens according to claim 6, further satisfying a conditional expression:
0.22<(D3+D4)f<0.43\u2003\u2003(3)
wherein D3 represents a surface spacing between an image-side surface of the first lens and an object-side surface of the second lens along an optical axis.
12. The imaging lens according to claim 11, further satisfying a conditional expression:
vd2>40 and (D4+D6)f<0.31\u2003\u2003(7)
wherein vd2 represents an Abbe number of the second lens at the d-line; and D6 represents a center thickness of the third lens.
13. The imaging lens according to claim 11, further satisfying a conditional expression:
D6f\u22660.155\u2003\u2003(8)
wherein D6 represents a center thickness of the third lens.
14. The imaging lens according to claim 12, further satisfying a conditional expression:
D6f\u22660.155\u2003\u2003(8).
15. An imaging lens comprising: in order from an object side
an aperture diaphragm;
a first lens of a positive lens having a convex surface on the object side;
a second lens having a concave surface on the object side and having a negative refractive power; and
a third lens having a negative refractive power,
the imaging lens satisfying conditional expressions.
0.22<(D3+D4)f<0.43\u2003\u2003(3)
f3f<\u22120.4 and \u22125.6<f2f<\u22123.3\u2003\u2003(10)
wherein f represents a focal length of the imaging lens; f2 represents a focal length of the second lens; f3 represents a focal length of the third lens; D3 represents a surface spacing between an image-side surface of the first lens and an object-side surface of the second lens along an optical axis; and D4 is a center thickness of the second lens.
16. An imaging lens comprising: in order from an object side
an aperture diaphragm;
a first lens of a positive lens having a convex surface on the object side;
a second lens having a concave surface on the object side; and
a third lens having a negative refractive power,
the imaging lens satisfying conditional expressions:
0.22<(D3+D4)f<0.43\u2003\u2003(3)
f3f<\u22121.66 and 0.1<|f1f2|<0.5\u2003\u2003(11)
where f represents a focal length of the imaging lens; f1 represents a focal length of the first lens; f2 represents a focal length of the second lens; f3 represents a focal length of the third lens; D3 represents a surface spacing between an image-side surface of the first lens and an object-side surface of the second lens along an optical axis; and D4 is a center thickness of the second lens.
17. An imaging lens comprising: in order from an object side
an aperture diaphragm;
a first lens having a positive refractive power,
a second lens having a positive refractive power; and
a third lens having a negative refractive power, having a concave surface directed to the object side the vicinity of an optical axis, and having a convex surface directed to an image side at an periphery thereof,
the imaging lens satisfying conditional expressions.
0.22<(D3+D4)f<0.43\u2003\u2003(3)
fR6<\u22120.4\u2003\u2003(13)
wherein f represents a focal length of the imaging lens; D3 represents a surface spacing between an image-side surface of the first lens and an object-side surface of the second lens along an optical axis; D4 is a center thickness of the second lens; and R6 represents a paraxial radius of curvature of an object-side surface of the third lens.
18. The imaging lens according claim 17, further satisfying a conditional expression:
0<f2f<1\u2003\u2003(9)
wherein f2 represents a focal length of the second lens.
19. The imaging lens according to claim 18, further satisfying a conditional expression:
vd2>40 and \u22121.2<f3f<0.0\u2003\u2003(4)
wherein vd2 is an Abbe number of the second lens at the d-line; and f3 represents a focal length of the third lens.
20. The imaging lens according to claim 17, further satisfying a conditional expression:
\u22121.2<f3f<0.0\u2003\u2003(14)
wherein f3 represents a focal length of the third lens.