Abstract: Disclosed is a first dispenser module with a product holder for holding a plurality of beverage cans and a dispensing mechanism for dispensing one beverage can of the plurality of beverage cans at a time in a dispensing direction from the product holder, wherein the product holder is arranged for holding the plurality of beverage cans with their central axes parallel to said product orientation direction. The dispensing mechanism has a retaining cam that is movable with at least a vector component in the production orientation direction between a retaining position for retaining the plurality of beverage cans and a release position for releasing the beverage cans from the product holder, wherein the retaining cam, in the retaining position, is arranged to be in the path of the top rim or the bottom rim of one of the beverage cans in the dispensing direction.

Abstract: An operation assembly for a game assembly is disclosed. The operation assembly has an actuating assembly, an electric relay that is electrically connected to the actuating assembly, a tracking device that is electrically connected to the electric relay, and a display assembly that is selectively electrically connected to the electric relay. The display assembly is configured to transfer an electrical pulse from the display assembly to the tracking device via the electric relay. The actuating assembly performs an operation when the electrical pulse is transferred to the tracking device. The operation includes activating one or more actuators of the actuating assembly to move a structural member of the actuating assembly. The structural member is disposed at an elongated slot of the game assembly.

Abstract: A tracking apparatus for a machine having an operation assembly is disclosed. The tracking apparatus has an electric relay configured to be connected to the operation assembly, a tracking device that is connected to the electric relay, and a display assembly that is selectively connected to the electric relay. The display assembly is configured to transfer an electrical pulse from the display assembly to the tracking device via the electric relay. The operation assembly performs an operation when the electrical pulse is transferred to the tracking device. The operation includes activating one or more actuators to move the operation assembly that is a structural member.

Abstract: A tracking apparatus for a machine having an operation assembly is disclosed. The tracking apparatus has an electric relay configured to be connected to the operation assembly, a tracking device that is connected to the electric relay, and a display assembly that is selectively connected to the electric relay. The display assembly is configured to transfer an electrical pulse from the display assembly to the tracking device via the electric relay. The operation assembly performs an operation when the electrical pulse is transferred to the tracking device. The tracking device counts the electrical pulse.

Abstract: A tracking apparatus for a machine having an operation assembly is disclosed. The tracking apparatus has an electric relay configured to be connected to the operation assembly, a tracking device that is connected to the electric relay, and an electronic payment device that is connected to the electric relay. The electric relay is configured to transfer a first electrical pulse from the operation assembly to the tracking device. The electric relay is configured to transfer a second electrical pulse from either the electronic payment device or the operation assembly to the tracking device. The relay transfers the first electrical pulse or the second electrical pulse when the operation assembly performs an operation.

Abstract: A method of controlling a drinking water includes allowing a user to input a water discharge signal through an input lever, opening a first valve when a channel is closed by a water discharge valve to supply drinking water to a mixing tank, when the amount of drinking water supplied to the mixing tank reaches a first predetermined amount, opening a second valve to supply minerals to the mixing tank, and, when the amount of drinking water supplied to the mixing tank reaches a second predetermined amount, opening the water discharge valve to discharge mineral water to the outside through a spout.

Abstract: A method of controlling a drinking water supply device includes inputting a water discharge signal through an input lever, opening a first valve such that drinking water flows through a first channel and measuring the amount of drinking water flowing through the first channel using a flow rate sensor, opening a second valve for a predetermined time to discharge minerals when the amount of drinking water measured by the flow rate sensor reaches a first predetermined amount, and, opening the second valve again for the predetermined time to further discharge minerals when a second predetermined amount of drinking water is measured by the flow rate sensor.

Abstract: A drinking water supply device may include a first channel configured to channel water, a water discharge pipe coupled to the rear end of the first channel configured to discharge the drinking water, a first connection pipe connecting the first channel and the water discharge pipe, a second channel configured to supply minerals to the first connection pipe, the second channel provided with a pressure sensor and a mineral supply valve, a mineral container configured to communicate with the first connection pipe via the second channel and configured to store condensed minerals, a pump configured to pressurize the interior of the mineral container to discharge the condensed minerals out of the mineral container, and a controller configured to control the mineral supply valve to open for a first predetermined time and then close according to a water discharge signal.

Abstract: A drinking water supply device may include a first channel configured to channel water, the first channel provided with a first valve, a flow rate sensor configured to sense a flow rate of the water, a water discharge channel connected to the rear end of the first channel, a connection pipe connecting the first channel and the water discharge channel, a second channel configured to supply minerals to the connection pipe, the second channel provided with a pressure sensor and a second valve, a mineral container configured to connect to the connection pipe via the second channel and configured to store condensed minerals, a pump configured to pressurize an interior of the mineral container to allow discharge of the condensed minerals from the mineral container, and a controller configured to control the flow rate sensor, the pressure sensor, and the first valve.

Abstract: A vending machine comprises a robotic arm and a pick mechanism that is coupled to the robotic arm. The pick mechanism is configured to retrieve a vendible product in the vending machine, and the robotic arm is configured to locate the pick mechanism at a location with a x-y coordinate that corresponds to the vendible product. The pick mechanism comprises a first roller, a second roller, and a belt that mechanically links the first and second rollers by forming a loop around the first and second rollers. The belt has a first portion and a second portion on opposing sides of the loop, and the second portion of the belt is coupled to the robotic arm. The pick mechanism further comprises a motor that is configured to rotate the first roller in order to translate the first and second portions of the belt in opposite directions to each other. The pick mechanism further comprises a picker arm extending in the z direction.

Abstract: A battery cell sorting machine includes an inserting unit into which a battery cell is inserted, a measuring unit on which the inserted battery cell is placed, an open circuit voltage (OCV) measuring unit configured to measure an OCV of the battery cell placed on the measuring unit, a loading unit configured to discharge the battery cell placed on the measuring unit, a discharge voltage measuring unit configured to measure a discharge voltage of the battery cell discharged by the loading unit, and a control unit configured to sort battery cells placed on the measuring unit into different groups, wherein the control unit is configured to calculate a voltage differential between the OCV and the discharge voltage of each of the battery cells and to sort the battery cells having corresponding voltage differential ranges between the OCV and the discharge voltage into one group.

Abstract: A condiment packet dispenser that includes a cylindrical shaped housing containing an open top with a plurality of radially partitioned chambers. Each chamber contains a cylindrical shaped container that stores individual condiment packets in a radial manner. The dispenser is operated by pushing a button which sends a signal to a motor control board. The motor control board powers a motor having a spur gear which turns the selected condiment container until the condiment packet is aligned with a drop chute. The packet then falls thru the drop chute and is available for picking up by the customer. There is also a cylindrical shaped top lid which is removable when new condiments need to be loaded to replenish the dispenser. The condiment dispenser sits on top of a base stand that may either be rigidly mounted or may be rotated to choose a condiment.

Abstract: Provided is a multi-arm (greater than 3 arms) star ethylene polymer (sEP). The multi-arm star ethylene polymer is a polymer of an ethylene/maleic anhydride copolymer (EMAC) grafted with vinyl-terminated polyethylene. There are also provided a process for making the sEP and blend of a matrix ethylene polymer and the sEP.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vending machine that converts a force applied from a manual operation means into an electric power, and operates by utilizing the electric power as a source of power. A drive force generation/transmission mechanism includes a generator (45) that generates the electric power by utilizing the force applied from the manual operation means (9) and motors (49-55) driven by the electric power generated by the generator (45). Article moving mechanisms (63-69) are constructed to operate by utilizing the output of the motors (49-55) as the operation source.

Abstract: A technique for shifting the phase of a periodic signal. A periodic signal, such as a clock signal, may be provided in a synchronous system, such as a memory system implementing a Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM) device. It may be advantageous to be able to phase shift the signal. The present technique implements a delay line which includes a plurality of delay elements coupled in series. The periodic signal is delivered to the delay line and the time between transitions from high to low or low to high is stored in one of a number of latches coupled to the delay line at various points. A number of tapping elements are also coupled to the delay line at some incremental point corresponding to a correlative latch. By varying the proximity of each tapping element and corresponding latch along the delay line, various phase shifts of the periodic signal can be produced.

Abstract: An electronic coin checker is proposed which has a coin entry channel, in the region of which a sensor arrangement is disposed, and has a flap-shaped coin switch and a control device. In dependence on the signals of the sensor arrangement, the control device controls the coin switch to accept a coin running through the coin entry channel into an acceptance shaft, or into a return channel to return the coin. The flap-shaped coin switch has a sloping extension inclined towards the runway of the return channel, on which the coin slides away in the return position of the switch, alters its inclination and falls onto the runway of the return channel. The boundary wall, lying opposite the coin switch, of the return channel is configured inclined in the running direction, and thus a further alteration in inclination takes place.

Abstract: The arrival of a coin in a coin checking apparatus is detected by arranging for the coin to hit a member (16). The vibration caused by the impact causes a piezoelectric element (36,36a) to give a transient output signal which is used to switch on electronic circuitry of the coin checking apparatus. The circuitry is normally switched off and thus over a period of time the average power consumption of the coin checking apparatus is low so that it can be satisfactorily run from a battery.

Abstract: A money operated control is used to control and operate a selected one of a plurality of electrical units such as washing, drying or gas-dispensing machines. Each such unit includes a unit controller device operable to control the functioning of the unit upon delivery of a start signal to the unit controller device. A central control panel includes a latching relay which when pulsed to its set state energizes a transformer. The transformer in turn energizes a switching unit in the central control panel which selects one of the electrical units to be energized. The actuation of the selected electrical unit resets the latching relay to its original condition and additional relay circuitry is provided so that the connection to the machine in use does not interfere with subsequent operation of the control panel to select other machines.