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.

Abstract: Systems and methods of making a glove pack and for removing gloves from the glove pack are disclosed. The glove pack includes a stack of gloves. The stack of gloves includes a first glove engaging a second glove. The first and second gloves each have an exterior gripping surface. Each exterior gripping surface of the first and second gloves engages and adheres to the exterior gripping surface of the other of the first or second glove in the stack of gloves thereby adhering the first and second gloves together in the stack of gloves such that when the first glove is removed from the stack of gloves at least a portion of the second glove moves with the first glove.

Abstract: A system and method for forming a sterile dental pack is disclosed. The method includes preparing a first wrap and a second wrap; arranging a plurality of dental disposable supplies on the first wrap; and wrapping the plurality of dental disposable supplies within the first wrap and the second wrap to form an airtight container. Also disclosed is a sterile dental pack dispensing system. The sterile dental pack dispensing system may include a storage container with an opening, the storage container being configured to store a wrapped sterile dental pack; an output configured to receive the wrapped sterile dental pack from the storage container; and a fiber optic indicator configured to cause the wrapped sterile dental pack to move from the storage container to the output through the opening.

Abstract: A system for adaptably collecting pharmaceuticals into various containers is provided. The system includes an automated pharmaceutical counting device with a loading portion for accepting the pharmaceuticals for counting, an exit portion for dispensing the pharmaceuticals, and a receiving area configured to interchangeably accommodate a bulk collection vessel and an adapter for an individual container for an individual prescription. The automated pharmaceutical counting device dispenses the pharmaceuticals through the exit portion and into an inserted one of the bulk collection vessel and the adapter.

Abstract: Provided herein are automated time and space efficient item dispensing systems having a plurality of storage compartments and one or more adjustable grippers, for fast and accurate automatic dispensing of items or sets of items.

Abstract: A method includes opening a first cuff portion of a first glove, the first glove has the first cuff portion connected to a first palm portion and the first palm portion is connected to a first finger portion, and positing a second finger portion of a second glove into the first cuff portion of the first glove, the second glove includes the second finger portion connected to a second palm portion and the second palm portion is connected to a second cuff portion. The gloves are contained in a dispenser and the connection of finger into cuff allows for single glove removal in succession.

Abstract: A bathroom tissue holder assembly for holding a pair of rolls of toilet tissue includes a bracket that is mountable to a vertical support surface at a point located proximate a lavatory. A shaft is provided and the shaft removably engages the bracket to support a first roll of toilet tissue on the bracket. A holder is coupled to and extends upwardly from the bracket to support a second roll of toilet tissue. In this way the second roll of toilet tissue is accessible when the first roll of toilet tissue is depleted. A wrapping is formable into a cylinder and the wrapping can be wrapped around the second roll of toilet tissue when the second roll of toilet tissue is being stored on the holder.

Abstract: A sterilizing assembly for on-demand dispensing of sterilized writing utensils includes a housing, which defines an interior space. The housing has a first slot and a second slot positioned in a top and a bottom thereof, respectively. A sanitizing unit and a dispensing unit are engaged to the housing and are positioned in the interior space. The sanitizing unit sterilizes a contaminated writing utensil inserted into the housing through the first slot. The dispensing unit will dispense a sterilized writing utensil from the housing through the second slot. A sensor engaged to the bottom of the housing detects a presence of a hand proximate to the second slot. The sensor is operationally engaged to the dispensing unit and thus is positioned to signal the dispensing unit to dispense the sterilized writing utensil.

Abstract: A vending machine system adapted to open and prepare a contained food item. The system includes a cabinet, a rack frame supported relative to the cabinet, a shelf coupled to the rack frame and configured to support a contained food item, a lid removal apparatus supported relative to the rack frame, and a food item actuator supported relative to the rack frame. The cabinet includes a refrigerated compartment housing the rack frame and a partition separating and selectively allowing access between the refrigerated compartment and a preparation compartment. The lid removal apparatus is configured to selectively retain a lid of the contained food item. The food item actuator is configured to move a container of the contained food item to the preparation compartment of the cabinet while the lid of the contained food item is retained by the lid removal apparatus subsequent to translation of the container.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an apparatus for counting discrete objects, said apparatus comprises of a hopper 1; an incline feeder 2 containing an inlet and an outlet; a single optical zone that allows detection of the discrete objects 10 entering from the feeder outlet; a controller which provides the count of the discrete objects; a screen for displaying the count of the discrete objects; wherein the incline feeder outlet is arranged orthogonally to the optical zone. The present invention discloses a method for counting discrete objects comprising the steps of inputting the discrete objects 10 into the hopper 1; passing the discrete objects through the incline feeder 2 such that they enter into the optical zone; optical zone sensing the entering discrete object 10 and transmitting a signal to the controller; displaying the count on a screen; dispensing the counted discrete objects.

Abstract: A method for dispensing a beverage container to a consumer. The method includes receiving in a beverage container dispenser a first beverage container that contains a beverage corresponding to a beverage selection of a user. The method further includes dispensing a second beverage container containing the beverage from a temperature-regulated compartment of the beverage container dispenser. The second beverage container that is dispensed from the temperature-regulated compartment corresponds to the beverage selection of the user.

Abstract: A system includes a longitudinal rack storing a plurality of packs of cigarettes, 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 a pack 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 packs stored in the rack based on a particular number of packs corresponding to the particular sensor.

Abstract: Systems and methods of the present disclosure relate to dispensing and jammed item release techniques. A dispensing system comprises an arrangement of passages; a first device operable to move in a lateral direction along the arrangement of passages; a second device operable to move in a vertical direction along the arrangement of passages; a third device operable to extend or retract into a passage; and a cover operable to move toward and away from the arrangement of passages.

Abstract: The invention relates to a module (100) for dispensing tickets, comprising: a chassis (1) holding a plurality of cassettes (3) each comprising a housing for housing a book of tickets and a dispensing mechanism, and a movable robot (2) configured to be selectively coupled with one of the cassettes (3). The robot comprises: an actuator (21) for extracting a terminal portion of the book by actuating the dispensing mechanism of the cassette, and a reception device receiving this terminal portion. The reception device and the dispensing mechanism are jointly configured to align a separation line of the terminal portion of the book with a separating device, and/or to tension said terminal portion in order to allow the ticket to be separated by the separating device.

Abstract: An apparatus for the display of small format beverage containers is disclosed. According to one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a front door that allows access to beverage containers; front panels; a left panel and a right panel; a loading opening; back panels; bottom panels; and an internal channel having a curved ramp that stores beverage containers.

Abstract: A medicine dispensing apparatus includes: a hopper that receives a medicine and causes the medicine to proceed to a guiding port; a holding section that is provided to the hopper and holds the medicine; and a delivering section that is provided to the hopper and delivers the medicine held by the holding section to the guiding port.

Abstract: A cup dispenser comprising a cup-holder turret comprising a plurality of columns containing respective stacks of cups and each provided with an associated cup release device operable to release individual cups from the stack of cups; and an electronically-controllable actuator assembly comprising a first electric actuator to rotate the cup-holder turret; and a second electric actuator to operate the cup release devices of the columns.