Patent attributes
A system for storing cylindrical containers includes multiple container guides positioned parallel to each other. In one embodiment, each container guide includes upper and lower track rails including left and right bearing surfaces and a track separator. The track rails guide containers placed on either side of the rails from a receiving area on the upper track to a dispensing area on the lower track. The lower track may include a concave depression proximate to the dispensing area that retains a first container at a lower relative position, thus enabling the first container to act as a stopping mechanism to subsequent containers placed in the system. The system may also include a frame that receives and supports the container guides and thereby provides one or more storage shelves capable of storing containers such as cans on a first-in first-out basis in a compact manner.