Abstract: A dispensing mechanism includes at least two helical augers having threads, and at least two channels configured to hold the items to be dispensed. The items to be dispensed are received at least partially within the threads of the augers. The dispensing mechanism includes a drive mechanism engaged with the at least two augers and configured to rotate the at least two augers to transport the items to be dispensed, driven by the threads of the augers, to dispense the items from the dispensing mechanism. The dispensing mechanism may include a separable dispenser and cassette.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of wipes dispensers are disclosed herein. An exemplary wipes dispenser having a nozzle with a wear indicator includes a container, a plurality of wipes contained within the container, a fluid for wetting the plurality of wipes, a receiving member connected to the container, and an outlet nozzle housing for holding an elastomeric outlet nozzle. The elastomeric outlet nozzle includes a wear indictor that provides a visual indication that the nozzle should be replaced.

Abstract: Some example sheet product dispensers that accommodate one or more sheet product rolls are provided herein. An example sheet product dispenser includes a dispensing mechanism with a drive roller and nip roller. A motor is configured to rotate the drive roller to cause a portion of the sheet product to dispense from the sheet product dispenser. A controller is configured to determine a sheet length for dispensing and cause the motor to operate to cause sheet product to be dispensed from the sheet product dispenser. The controller is further configured to monitor an amount of rotation of the motor as the motor operates and cause, in an instance in which the amount of rotation of the motor corresponds to the determined sheet length, the motor to cease operation so as to cause the determined sheet length of sheet product to be dispensed from the sheet product dispenser.

Abstract: A power assembly is configured to detachably mate with the power input member of a storage column of a vending machine, to supply power for the power input member. The driving assembly is connected to the power assembly and is configured to drive the power assembly to move reciprocatively in a width direction of the vending machine. Also disclosed is a vending machine.

Abstract: A storage and dispensing system for beverage accessories is provided. The storage and dispensing system for beverage accessories has a planar base, a single-serve beverage pod storage container, and a plurality of drinking accessory dispensing channels. The pod storage container includes at least one sidewall disposed orthogonally to a top surface of the planar base. The pod storage container also includes a channel that is sized to receive a single pod at a time. A gate is disposed on a terminal end of the channel which prevents pods from sliding out of the channel. Each of the plurality of accessory dispensing channels is sized to receive at least one drinking accessory such as a cup or lid.

Abstract: A product-dispensing device comprises a rod, a product-dispensing coil, an actuator, a locking gear, and a button. The rod is configured to support a product. The product-dispensing coil is disposed about the rod. The actuator is operably coupled to the product-dispensing coil for rotation about a first axis. The locking gear is rotatable between a first position and a second position and includes a locking arm configured to inhibit rotation of the actuator in the second position. The button is operably coupled to the locking gear and configured to rotate the locking gear between the first position and the second position.

Abstract: Mechanisms for dispensing items such as medications and medical supplies. Different mechanisms may be tailored to dispensing different kinds of items, for example medications in single dose packages, vials, syringes, or other similarly-shaped items. The dispensers may be placed in a dispensing unit that includes a lockable restock drawer and a dispense drawer into which items are dispensed by the dispensing mechanisms. The various kinds of dispensing mechanisms may be installed in the restock drawer in any workable proportion and arrangement. The dispensing mechanisms include multiple sensing technologies for tracking and inventory of items and for accurate sensing of items as they are dispensed.

Abstract: Some example product dispensers that accommodate two full paper towel rolls are provided herein. The product dispenser may employ separate dispensing mechanisms for each product roll and may include roll holders that articulate out from the housing to facilitate easy loading and access to replacement and loading of the other product roll. A roll partition may be utilized to separate the web paths of the two product rolls and enable rotation of front roll holders. Example funnel covers and nip covers can aid with intuitive installation. Example roll holders with retention mechanisms help prevent unintentional dropping of the installed product roll. Other beneficial features include utilizing motor operation sensing to dispense a desired sheet length, automatic/assisted loading into the dispensing mechanism, automatic switching between dispensing of product rolls, and always dispensing from the smaller product roll first. Many other features/structures of example product dispensers are also described herein.

Abstract: A storage container for a storage and dispensing station for small piece goods, in particular drugs or dietary supplement products, is provided. The storage container includes a housing with an on the inside circular cylindrical section, a separating device arranged in the on the inside circular cylindrical section including a base body and multiple channels, the channels being open to the outer periphery of the separating device and each channel having a peripheral wall and two radial walls, and a retainer. At least one radial wall and/or the peripheral wall includes a depression and/or an elevation to reduce a contact area between a small piece good and the channel wall, the shape and size of the depression/elevation being selected in such a way that an electrostatic attraction between the small piece good and the channel wall is reduced.

Abstract: A stack of interleaved wipes where the first wipe (10) will have its first crease (15) drawn to the region of or partially through an opening (1) in a container (2) of the wipes, so that it can be grasped and drawn through the opening. The second wipe (20) and those below are in their interleaved arrangement. The crease (25) together with adjoining parts of the portions (21, 24), is enfolded in a fold (170) of the wipe (10) formed by its portions (11, 16) and the crease (17). The wipe (10) is the wipe next to the wipe (20) on its side opposite from its portions (24, 26). The crease (27) at the opposite edge from crease (25) of the main portion (21) forms with the main portion (21) and the second folded portion (26) a fold (270) which enfolds the fold (350) of the wipe (30).

Abstract: A dispenser for sheet products includes a housing having a space inside for accommodating a stack of sheet products, wherein the housing includes a dispensing opening for dispensing a sheet product from the front of the stack, and an electronic controller configured to receive a pull-out signal indicating the removal of a product from the front of the stack through the dispensing opening and, upon receiving said pull-out signal, to send out a drive signal to transfer a number of sheet products from the front of the stack into a presentation position. The controller is further configured to receive a low-level signal indicating that the amount of sheet products left within the housing has been reduced to below a predetermined level and, upon receiving said low-level signal, to enter into a low-level mode in which the sending of the drive signal in response to the pull-out signal is disabled.

Abstract: A system for dispensing sterile covers for a stethoscope or other medical device, including a container including elongated members positioned in the container, terminating at tips proximate one end of the container; one or more collapsed pouches positioned inside the container, each pouch having open and closed ends and retainers, each retainer adapted to receive a corresponding elongated member, the collapsed pouches being supported on the elongated members; each pouch comprising a tab positioned proximate the open end for being grasped and pulled in a direction away and downwards from the elongated members, the open end forming an open position defined by the retainers and the tab for receiving a head of the stethoscope inside the pouch while the retainers remain engaged with the elongated members; after use, the pouch is removable from the stethoscope without a user contacting a patient contacting region of the cover.

Abstract: A kit for dispensing disposable stethoscope covers and other instrument covers is provided. The kit may include a cartridge and a dispenser for automatic touch-free dispensing of disposable stethoscope covers. The kit further includes a first spool having a roll of backing member with disposable stethoscope covers disposed thereon and a second spool for receiving the spent backing member after a disposable stethoscope cover has been removed, self-contained within the cartridge. The cartridge is inserted within the dispenser so that a user may insert a stethoscope head through a window of the dispenser to attach to a disposable stethoscope cover. Alternatively, the cartridge or cassette may be comprised of disposable instrument covers so that a user may insert the instrument near or through the window of the dispenser for application of the instrument cover directly to the instrument. The kit may further include a proximity sensor for detecting a user.

Abstract: Pill dispenser devices, systems and methods are shown and/or described herein. Include are a method, device or system for pill delivery including disposing a pill at a known location; contacting the pill with a pick-up member; and, moving the pill from the known location by movement of the pick-up member.

Abstract: A vending machine has an interactive customer experience. Some embodiments of the vending machine include a transparent front wall with a plurality of display units located behind the front wall. Each of the display units may contain an example of a product available for vending. Based on input received from a customer and other information, the vending machine may provide a recommendation for a product or products to select for purchase. The vending machine may highlight the recommendation by selectively illuminating the product display units that contain the recommended products.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a dispensing assembly. The dispensing assembly includes a container having a plurality of exterior panels that define an internal chamber. The exterior panels include at least opposing side panels and a top panel having an opening configured to dispense a plurality of articles therethrough. The dispensing assembly also includes an article dispensing component housed within the internal chamber that includes a base panel arranged with the top panel of the container so as to form an article storage area. The article storage area is configured to receive the plurality of articles. The base panel is biased towards the top panel via at least one flexible member that is secured to at least one of the opposing side panels of the container. Thus, the flexible member is configured to allow movement of the base panel towards to the top panel as each article is dispensed from the opening.

Abstract: An automatic packager including a cartridge and a cartridge mechanism is provided. The cartridge for the automatic packager includes a reservoir for storing a plurality of medications and a wheel including a bottom portion placed in the reservoir. The cartridge also includes a scooping member provided on the wheel to rotate with the wheel and singulate a medication from the reservoir. The cartridge mechanism for the automatic packager includes a platform configured to receive a medication from a cartridge and a camera system. The cartridge mechanism also includes an electronic processor coupled to the camera system configured to dispense the medication from the cartridge in response to determining that the expected medication is delivered to the platform and return the medication to the cartridge in response to determining that the expected medication is not delivered to the platform.

Abstract: An eye shield dispenser having an outer box and a holder within the outer box for holding eye shields. The holder is configured to hold the eye shields horizontally along an upper surface of the holder and to position the eye shields proximate an opening in the outer box through which the eye shields may be retrieved.

Abstract: Contact lens dispensers are provided including a pens dispenser having an interior and a dispensing end. A delivery screw is provided in the interior of the tubular housing. The delivery screw has a thread pitch and a plurality of contact lenses, one contact lens per pitch. Upon actuation of an actuator, each contact lens moves along the thread by a distance of one pitch and a single contact lens is dispensed from the dispensing end of the tubular housing. A case and disposable foil contact lens cartridge are also provided as a re a case and disposable contact lens foil spool, wherein actuation of push-buttons dispense contact lenses ready for immediate application onto an eye.

Abstract: A medication dispensing system is provided and includes a medicine transfer device (MTD) and a controller. The MTD transfers medicine between first and second containers. The first container initially stores medicine. The controller: determines a first predetermined amount of medicine to be dispensed from the medicine dispensing system; causes the MTD to discharge a second predetermined amount of the medicine from the first container onto the MTD, and transfer a third predetermined amount of the medicine from the MTD to the second container; subsequent to the transfer of the third predetermined amount, determine whether the second container has greater than or equal to the first predetermined amount; and if the second container has less than the first predetermined amount, cause the MTD to transfer a portion of the medicine on the MTD into the second container or discharge a portion of the medicine in the first container onto the MTD.