Abstract: A method and system to access vending machines via a touch-free user interface using a personal electronic device (PED) are described. For each vending session, a unique dynamic tag is generated and presented on a vending machine to be read via a camera. The tag is forwarded by the PED to a remote servicer, which accesses a remote database to determine real-time inventory of the vending machine. This inventory list is transmitted back to the PED for display to a user. The user selects a product from inventory using her PED. This selection is sent to the server, which then transmits instructions to the vending machine to dispense the selected product. The method is free of a requirement for the user to download an app. Security and payment are assured by the use of a unique dynamic tag for each vending session, displayed on or by the vending machine.

Abstract: A system for dispensing and packaging drug portions includes one or more storage containers, the one or more storage containers each including a housing defining a receiving chamber for drug portions and a singulating device disposed at least partially within the housing for singulating and dispensing the drug portions contained within the receiving chamber, the singulating device having an electrically conductive outer surface. The system also includes a blister packaging machine for packaging drug portions dispensed from the one or more storage containers, wherein a conductor device is provided, the conductor device providing an electrically conductive coupling between the singulating device outer surface and a contact configured to dissipate an electrical charge.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a recycled golf ball vending machine having a housing with a bottom retrieval chamber and a plurality of shelves disposed above the retrieval chamber. Each shelf includes at least a single coiled wire and at least two opposing coiled wires. The recycled golf ball vending machine includes at least a first transparent cylindrical container having a plurality of recycled golf balls positioned upright within the single coiled wire. The recycled golf ball vending machine further includes a first transparent clamshell container having a first predetermined number of recycled golf balls positioned between the two opposing coiled wires. A payment mechanism activates an instruction mechanism upon a receipt of a payment by a user, which in turn rotates the single coiled wire or the at least two coiled wires.

Abstract: The present invention is a snack containment and dispensing apparatus having a plurality of separate snack containment compartments, a preferably transparent lid having an opening therein, and a lockable plunger or like means to index or rotate the lid such that access to a singular snack compartment is obtained one-at-a-time. The rotation of the tray can alternately be accomplished through electromechanical means or through a ratcheting handle on the outside of the tray. The electromechanical actuation can be connected to external devices to track data about the use and contents of the device. Additionally, a door latch on the lid can selectively attach to and release from the tray through the depression of a door latch actuator. Additionally, the contents of the tray can be temperature controlled either through a passive heating or cooling back in the wall of the tray or through electromechanical means.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a sprung dispensing tower that includes a vertical housing having an open top and an interior dimensioned to receive products in a vertical stacked relationship. The sprung dispensing tower includes a platform within the interior of the vertical housing, the platform having a horizontal component and platform sidewalls depending from the horizontal component in parallel with respective interior sidewalls of the vertical housing, the platform being vertically slideable within the interior of the vertical housing between an uppermost position and a lowermost position. The sprung dispensing tower includes a compressible spring associated with an underside of the platform and biasing the platform towards the uppermost position. The sprung dispensing tower includes a resiliently compressible slide guide affixed to at least a portion of the platform sidewalls and extending laterally towards the interior sidewalls of the vertical housing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotatable toilet paper holder device primarily comprised of at least two side walls, a bottom wall, a base and a toilet paper roll holder. The toilet paper roll holder is spring-loaded, such that a toilet paper roll can be secured between the side walls of the device. The side walls and bottom wall further attach to the base via at least one fastener that allows the side walls and bottom wall to rotate around the base. Therefore, a toilet paper roll that is secured between the side walls via the toilet paper roll holder can be easily rotated relative to the base, such that the toilet paper within the device can be positioned so that toilet paper can be pulled from over top or from under the toilet paper roll.

Abstract: A touchless food dispenser. The touchless food dispenser includes one or more packets of food stored therein. The touchless food dispenser also includes one or more apertures. The touchless food dispenser is configured to dispense the food through the one or more apertures.

Abstract: A vending machine includes two horizontal lead screws, a vertical lead screw, first and second motors, a shelf, a delivery cup, and a delivery area. The first and second motors drive the horizontal lead screws and the vertical lead screw, respectively. The vertical lead screw moves horizontally along the horizontal lead screws. The shelf contains a product and has a movable gate to hold the product on the shelf. The delivery cup moves vertically along the vertical lead screw and has a solenoid and a plunger. The solenoid activates the plunger, which opens the gate to dispense the product onto the delivery cup. An outer door of the delivery area isolates the delivery area from outside the vending machine when closed and provides access to the product from outside the vending machine when open. A mechanical interaction between the delivery cup and the delivery area opens the outer door.

Abstract: A system includes a longitudinal rack storing a plurality of items, a shoe movably attached to the rack, a magnet coupled to the shoe and a longitudinal circuit board arranged along the length of the rack. The circuit board includes an array of sensors along the length of the rack, wherein spacing between each pair of sensors equals a thickness of an item stored in the rack. Each sensor generates a voltage value depending on a position of the magnet in relation to the sensor. The circuit board further includes a memory storing voltage values generated by the sensors, and a processor configured to monitor voltage values generated by the sensors, detect that a particular sensor has generated a maximum voltage value and determine a number of items stored in the rack based on a particular number of items corresponding to the particular sensor.

Abstract: An automatic vending machine includes a cabinet, a plurality of item columns, a pickup port and a delivery apparatus, and the delivery apparatus includes a hopper and a hopper drive mechanism. An item dispensing method of the automatic vending machine includes: determining, according to items to be purchased, all of item combination manners having a lowest number of item dispensing operations as candidate item combination manners; determining all of pickup manners for picking up items in each of the candidate item combination manners; determining all of item dispensing paths in one-to-one correspondence to all of pickup manners of all of the candidate item combination manners; and selecting, from all of the item dispensing paths, an item dispensing path having a highest efficiency as a target item dispensing path, and controlling, based on the target item dispensing path, the hopper to dispense items.

Abstract: A product dispensing apparatus for dispensing hygiene products. The product dispensing apparatus includes a housing having a back portion, a side portion coupled to the back portion, and a housing door movably coupled to the side portion. A product container is configured to hold a plurality of the hygiene products wherein the product container includes a support wall and side walls coupled to the support wall. The product container is rotatably coupled to the housing, and the product container is rotatable between a loading position and a dispensing position with respect to the housing. A product door is rotatably coupled to the product container and a trigger assembly is supported by the product container. A product delivery tray is rotatably supported by the side walls of the product container and extends through a slot in the support wall during rotation of the product delivery tray.

Abstract: A sensor device is provided to detect a filling status of a consumable in a dispenser, the consumable being web material, and the filling status relating to a spatial extension of the consumable in the dispenser. The sensor device includes a capacitive sensor having an elongated and planar sensor area; and a first measurement section configured to measure the filling status of the dispenser. The capacitive sensor includes a first channel and a second channel. The first measurement section is configured to measure the filling status of the dispenser based on changes in capacitance detected by the first channel and the second channel.

Abstract: Vertical point of purchase product display stands with spring-loaded platforms that display a vertically-stacked plurality of products for viewing and removal by customers and raise the plurality of products as top layers of the products are removed.

Abstract: A vending machine includes a housing defining a product compartment and a front wall having a transparent portion. A platform is arranged within the product compartment of the vending machine for storing a product thereon, and the platform includes a first end opposite a second end. The vending machine further includes a product release mechanism that includes a gate arranged on the platform and movable from a closed position to an open position to release the product from the platform. A delivery bin having an open front end is arranged below the platform such that when the first gate is moved to the open position, the product falls under a force of gravity from the platform into the delivery bin for access by a consumer.

Abstract: A cartridge system comprising a carrier reel, distal and proximal take-up reels, a main guide post adapted to engage the main guide support, a first strip guide post, a second strip guide post, and a packaging strip. The packaging strip comprises first and second strip portions detachably secured to define a plurality of item chambers. At least one item is enclosed within each of the item chambers. The carrier reel is adapted to store the packaging strip. The distal take-up reel is operatively connected to the first strip portion. The proximal take-up reel is operatively connected to the second strip portion. Rotation of the distal and proximal take-up reels unwinds the packaging strip from the carrier reel such that the first strip portion is wound onto the distal take-up reel, and the second strip portion is wound onto the proximal take-up reel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a dispensing device for metering and dispensing a predetermined number of multiparticulates from a container. The dispensing device comprises a chamber which includes an inlet through which multiparticulates can enter the chamber and an overflow through which multiparticulates can leave the chamber. There is also an outlet through which multiparticulates can be dispensed from the chamber. The chamber comprises a metering surface which includes at least one retaining portion. The, or each, of the retaining portions is configured to be able to releasably retain a single multiparticulate.

Abstract: In order to improve the efficiency of solidification and melting of a heat storage material in a heat storage material unit, a heat storage material covered with a coating material is accommodated in a metal accommodating container having a high thermal conductivity, and the heat storage material unit is embedded in a thermal insulation panel in such a way that the accommodating container is exposed inside a merchandise accommodating compartment, thereby enabling a surface of the heat storage material that is embedded in the thermal insulation panel also to exhibit an action equivalent to that if the accommodating container is exposed in the merchandise accommodating compartment as a heat transfer element, thereby improving the efficiency of solidification (heat storage) and melting (heat dissipation) of the heat storage material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a disc for use in a delivery device for medication units, such as a pills or tablets or portions thereof, comprising a substantially disc-shaped body, comprising means to be engaged for rotation of the disc at least one opening, spaced from the centre of the disc and preferably near the edge of the disc, for holding at least part of the medication unit wherein the at least one opening for holding at least a part of the medication unit is located at a distance from the contour of the disc-shaped body and is thus enclosed by the substantially disc-shaped body.

Abstract: A product dispensing clock includes a housing and a reservoir arranged in the housing. The reservoir holds a number of dispensable products. A dispenser is arranged in the housing adjacent the reservoir. The dispenser receives at least one of the dispensable products from the reservoir. A collection chamber is defined in the housing. The dispenser dispenses the dispensable products received from the reservoir to the collection chamber for a user to collect the dispensable products. A controller activates the dispenser at a predetermined time interval to dispense the dispensable products to the collection chamber for collection by the user.

Abstract: A method of dispensing medication from a plurality of medication containers, using a dispensing system for collecting a medication dosage from a medication container including: receiving a medication selection; selecting a medication container, from the plurality of medication containers, based on the medication selection; matching a collection protocol to be applied to the medication container including one or more parameter for control of the dispensing system; and dispensing the medication selection from the medication container according to the collection protocol.