Abstract: A method and apparatus for dispensing and retrieving products is provided. An apparatus may include: a plurality of shelf units. Each shelf unit extends longitudinally between a first end and a second end. The first end may be configured to receive articles, and the second end may be configured to present articles for retrieval in a retrieval position. Each of the plurality of shelf units is arranged with a respective second end facing a retrieval area. Each of the plurality of shelf units is inclined with the first end being lower than the second end. The apparatus may also include a retrieval device comprising an end-of-arm tool. The retrieval device is disposed within the retrieval area and configured to attach the end-of-arm tool to an article in a retrieval position of each of the plurality of shelf units.

Abstract: A pharmacy automation system having a robot having a hardware device and a software for internal mapping to perform simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) is disclosed herein.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for dispensing solid substances, wherein the apparatus comprises a feeder section with a plurality of feeder units, a collection section with a plurality of hoppers and a dispensing section, wherein the plurality of hoppers are rotatable with respect to the feeder units and a first packing position for dispensing the solid substances to the dispensing section, wherein the apparatus comprises a cleaning device for removing pollutants from the hoppers, wherein the cleaning device comprises a hub and a plurality of ducts forming air connections between the plurality of hoppers and the hub, wherein the cleaning device comprises a first blocking member that is arranged for blocking the air connection between one of the hoppers and the hub when said one hopper is positioned in the first packing position.

Abstract: An apparatus for receiving and detecting a bottle having a chute configured for receiving the bottle therein, a first sensor disposed to detect the bottle at a first position within the chute, a second sensor disposed to detect the bottle at a second position within the chute, and a third sensor disposed to detect the bottle at a third position within the chute, and an indicator in communication with the sensors to provide indication that a bottle was received. A method carried out by the apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention refers to an apparatus for dispensing capsules, preferably single-use, disposable capsules for the production of beverages, brews and the like, intended for use in connection with automatic food-product vending machines. The inventive capsule dispensing apparatus includes a plurality of receptacles adapted to accommodate capsules in a stacked arrangement, at least a rotary pick-up device provided with two or more compartments distributed about the axis of rotation thereof for removing the capsules from the receptacles, and a conveyor. The capsule dispensing apparatus is characterized in that between the at least a pick-up device and the conveyor there is arranged a distribution tray including a plurality of guide partitions adapted to enable the capsules to undergo a rotary motion.

Abstract: A paper feed assembly is disclosed whereby a single driver is used to both engage a paper to be acted on, move or feed the paper to a pre-determined area, and then retract so that the paper may be acted on. The paper feed assembly according to the present invention comprises a motor, a cage, a gear train, and a roller arm. The paper feed assembly being design to permit the motor to rotate in a first and a second rotation and to engage or retract from the paper in response to the first or the second rotation.

Abstract: A paper feed apparatus having a pickup mechanism to pick up a plurality of paper sheets stacked on a chute one by one from the bottom and carrying the paper sheets to a predetermined standby position, comprises a gate 2 disposed facing a pickup roller 1 almost vertically with respect to the direction of paper feed to form a predetermined clearance, a paper-sheet separating pad 3 disposed in sliding contact with the pickup roller 1 to pick up the paper placed on the standby position one by one, and a pickup arm 4 that can be driven to be moved upward when setting paper sheets and downward when feeding paper sheets to push from above the paper sheets stacked on a chute 13 near a paper-sheet feed port. The pickup arm 4,when brought into free state as the planetary gear 5 disengages from the drive power transmission system, pushes paper sheets with a pushing force that increases with increases in the number of paper sheets stacked on the chute 13.

Abstract: A dispensing machine is used to dispense rectangularly shaped containers including milk cartons and the like, preferably of a size ranging from approximately one-half liter to approximately two liters or even larger. The machine can be used to dispense various products including juices, soft drinks, milk, candy and virtually any product that can be suitably contained in a square rectangular container. The machine has a vertical channel containing paddles where each paddle supports only some of the containers in the channel when the channel is filled with containers. Since the containers have flexible side walls, the paddles move simultaneously to gently lower the containers one space at a time when the machine is activated. Also, when the containers are in the vertical channel, the lowermost container is not subjected to the weight of all of the containers above it when the channel is filled with containers.

Abstract: A pill dispensing system includes a shelving unit in array form that holds a number of bulk containers, each holding a bulk amount of a pill to be dispensed. A computer controlled robot removes a selected bulk container and places it on a counter that also dispenses pills. The robot has an arm with a free end portion that can grip a bulk container or a single pill bottle to be filled. The robot is computer controlled to retrieve an empty pill bottle, place it on a label printing and applying unit, then place it next to the counter/dispenser to receive the selected number of selected prescription pills, then place the filled, labeled bottle on a conveyor. In an alternate embodiment, pill bottles are dispensed from a dispenser that holds bottles on inclined plates and feeds them to a vertical dispensing channel. Gates prevent the flow of bottles from an inclined position until the plate above has been emptied.

Abstract: A pill dispensing system includes a shelving unit in array form that holds a number of bulk containers, each holding a bulk amount of a pill to be dispensed. A computer controlled robot removes a selected bulk container and places it on a counter that also dispenses pills. The robot has an arm with a free end portion that can grip a bulk container or a single pill bottle to be filled. The robot is computer controlled to retrieve an empty pill bottle, place it on a label printing and applying unit, then place it next to the counter/dispenser to receive the selected number of selected prescription pills, then place the filled, labeled bottle on a conveyor. In an alternate embodiment, pill bottles are dispensed from a dispenser that holds bottles on inclined plates and feeds them to a vertical dispensing channel. Gates prevent the flow of bottles from an inclined position until the plate above has been emptied.

Abstract: A dispensing machine is used to disperse plastic water bottles and the like, preferably of a size ranging from approximately one liter to approximately two liters or even larger. The machine can be used to dispense other products in containers as long as the containers are shaped to roll along a shelf. The machine has a vertical channel containing paddles where each paddle supports only some of the containers in the channel when the channel is filled with containers. The paddles move simultaneously to gently lower the containers one space at a time when the machine is activated.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading devices into a semiconductor tester is disclosed. The tester has an input track for accepting devices. The apparatus includes a number of elongated tracks for holding a plurality of semiconductor devices. Each elongated track has at its input end a stop hinge for connection to a tube for holding the semiconductor devices. Each elongated track has at its output end a gate for controlling the release of devices onto the input track of the tester from the elongated track. A control circuit controls the operation of the gates so that the devices can be loaded from the elongated tracks onto the input track of the tester sequentially.

Abstract: A slant-shelf magazine for an automatic, coin controlled, vending machine adapted to dispense cylindrical articles, such as canned or bottled beverages, which are stored and gravitationally fed from plural, parallel, horizontally inclined superposed storage racks into a vertical drop chute located opposite the lower ends of such racks. The drop chute communicates with a horizontally inclined delivery chute having a vend mechanism at its lowermost end for releasing articles one-by-one to a discharge hopper upon customer selection. The delivery chute is oppositely inclined from the storage racks and is joined to the drop chute by an intervening curvilinear guideway formed to reverse the gravitational movement direction of the articles prior to entry into the delivery chute for purposes of reducing article load forces on the vend mechanism.

Abstract: A roll coin dispenser is extremely narrow and occupies a vacant space between adjacent slot machines. The dispenser changes paper bills into coinage. Loading and access to all internal components of the changer are through the front of an enclosing cabinet which is unobstructed by adjacent slot machines. A coin storage section of the changer includes a multi-cartridge loading and dispensing mechanism in order to permit fast and accurate reloading of the machine by someone who is physically capable of lifting only small weights.

Abstract: A coin operated vending machine has a plurality of storage racks for containers, with each storage rack provided with a selector control button. Each rack includes first and second storage sections, each section having slant storage shelves and a discharge channel. The discharge channels for each section discharge to a common outlet. A circuit alternates discharge in a preselected sequence from the two sections in each rack to rotate the stock and insure that the first cans loaded are the first cans vended.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for increasing the product storage capacity of selective product dispensing machines, which must handle a plurality of generally cylindrical product types with one or more product types being accommodated in significantly greater quantity than others, while retaining the operational reliability of staggered stack releasing for all product types. The apparatus utilizes a lower zone of the total product storage space available within a cabinet of any given size to provide staggered stack chambers of appropriately limited height for a maximum number of product types to be selectively handled, and utilizes the remaining upper zone of the available storage space to accommodate a maximum number of stored products of one or more preferred product types to be made available in greater quantity than others, with the preferred type products stored on superimposed inclined shelves and fed by gravity to the upper end of corresponding staggered stack compartments.

Abstract: Apparatus for individually dispensing cylindrical articles, such as rolled newspapers and the like, comprising vertically inclined, juxtaposed racks for storing articles which travel therealong by the force of gravity, and an adjustable width chute adjacent the terminal ends of the racks and spaced therefrom to receive articles from the rack and downwardly pass them in a vertical stack, a gate movable between a blocking position in the path of the lowermost article in the column and a non-blocking position permitting the lowermost article to downwardly pass, and stack support mechanism movable between a remote position when the gate is in the blocking position and an operative position in the path of the second lowermost article when the gate is in the non-blocking position to interrupt the downward passage and vertically support the balance of the articles which trail the lowermost article.

Abstract: In a multi-rack can vending machine, an article release mechanism for controllably releasing articles from an article rack automatically into a vertical access as the article level in the access is lowered. The article release is a spring retained flapper plate which pivots about a pivot support to release multiple articles on demand. The flapper plate is normally retained against the force of the spring in an article retaining position until the level of articles in the access is sufficiently low to allow the flapper plate to pivot without contacting the uppermost article. Generally, two articles of sufficient weight are required on the flapper plate in order to overcome the force of its retaining spring to actuate the pivotal release of the two articles into the access.