Abstract: The present invention provides an electric version of a dispenser unit and method of monitoring a request signal for filling empty baskets, movement of the empty baskets on a loading ramp via a stop gate, and movement of the filled basket between a loading station and a staging station via a basket lift. The stop gate is driven by an electric motor, and the basket lift is driven by another electric motor. Sensors are mounted in the stop gate and the basket lift to indicate positions of the stop gate and the basket lift, respectively.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for dispensing articles into a manually placed receiving basket and for controlling the dispensing mechanism to more accurately dispense the desired articles. The dispenser 20 includes a main storage area 39 which can take the form of a bulk storage hopper, an accumulator area 36 into which the dispensed articles are transferred during the "gravimetric" dispensing of the articles. The accumulator area 36 may be formed from the same externally formed walls of the primary storage area 39 and hopper 21. An assembly for controllably transferring articles from the primary area 39 to the accumulator area 36 is also provided. This controllable transfer assembly may include a drum 51 having a plurality (or series) of elevated areas 52 about the circumference 53 of the drum 51, a diverter shape 54 located in the primary storage area 39, and an incline slope shape 37 leading down to the drum 51. A drive assembly 159 is provided to rotate the drum 51 when transferring articles.

Abstract: A electric version of a dispenser unit and method of monitoring a request signal for filling empty baskets, movement of the empty baskets on a loading ramp via a stop gate, and movement of the filled basket between a loading station and a staging station via a basket lift. The stop gate is driven by an electric motor, and the basket lift is driven by another electric motor. Sensors are mounted in the stop gate and the basket lift to indicate positions of the stop gate and the basket lift, respectively.

Abstract: The invention concerns an automated vending system which uses a commercially available, multi-axis robot arm to retrieve an article from a storage location and deliver the article to a customer. The invention includes a control system which interacts with at least three entities: (a) the customers; (b) credit card agencies, as by verifying the customer's credit situation and by performing daily credit reconciliations; and (c) the control system of the robot arm, as by informing the robot which articles to retrieve. The invention includes a display which provides to the customer a catalog of articles, and allows the customer to choose an article for purchase from the catalog. The invention allows remote control of the vending system, by telephone, whereby the system can be shut down in case of malfunction. If the vending system is used to sell music recordings, the invention allows the customer to hear samples of selected recordings available for sale.