Abstract: An integrated medication management and compliance system for enabling a care provider to remotely manage and deliver individual doses of therapeutic products to a patient, in a non-sequential fashion. The system includes delivery apparatus remotely located from the care provider, wherein the apparatus stores a plurality of sealed unit dose packages that are delivered to a patient at a scheduled dosing time. The delivery apparatus is coupled to a control facility and to a computer terminal of the care provider by way of a secure communications network. The system enables the patient's medication regimen to be remotely tailored in real-time to accommodate fluid medical conditions.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for filling vials comprises a shelving unit defining an array of storage locations. The shelving unit may be an array in an XY plane or one or more carousels. A plurality of storage containers are provided, each removably carried by one of the storage locations. A counting and dispensing unit, a source of vials, a label printer and application unit or units, and an output device are also provided. A computer controlled engagement device provides motion in a Z direction. The engagement device may be comprised of a first stage for engaging the storage containers and a second stage for engaging the vials. A computer controlled system carries the engagement device and moves the engagement device in XY directions among the plurality of storage locations, counting and dispensing unit, source of vials, label printer and application unit, and output device.

Abstract: System, methods, and apparatuses are provided for energy management in store or dispense equipment for food and/or beverages. Such store or dispense equipment may allow for food and/or beverages to be heated, cooled, or maintained near the ambient temperature, or a combination thereof. Demand data may be retrieved from the store or dispense equipment. Demand data may include sales, usage, and/or occupancy information for the respective vending machines, appliances, coolers, dispensers, and other store or dispense equipment. This demand data may then analyzed to determine whether there are demand patterns such that there are opportunities for energy conservation or energy management. If there are opportunities for energy conservation or energy management, an instruction set may be prepared, where the instruction set is based at least in part on this analyzed data. The instruction set is loaded onto the store or dispense equipment, which operates in accordance with the instruction set.

Abstract: A newspaper vending machine includes a dispensing sled and an elevator supported by a frame within a housing. The elevator includes a base slidable between a rearward position, for loading a stack of newspapers, and a forward position. The dispensing sled engages the newspaper stack and is translatable between upper and lower positions to dispense the periodicals from an exit area. An actuation arm projects outwardly from a front panel for engagement by a user and is translated along a substantially vertical pathway as the dispensing sled is moved between its upper and lower positions. The frame of the vending machine is translatably supported on rails for movement between a retracted condition in which the frame is located within the interior and an extended condition in which the frame extends beyond a front end of the housing.

Abstract: A user interactive custom nail polish color and effects dispensing system and method of doing business, including for both point of sale and remote (e.g., via internet) transactions.

Abstract: To dispense an article in a limited space within a tray appropriately with no useless operation, the present invention provides an article dispensing device, including a control means (61) which calls, from a storage means (64), an article map of an article (D) to be dispensed by a dispensing means (3) and a container map of a container (5) for accommodating the article (D), which searches for a vacant region by searching each container virtual region of the container map in a predetermined order, which specifies a dispensing position for the article (D) according to the article map, and which drive-controls the dispensing means (3) based on the specified dispensing position for causing the article (D) held to be accommodated in the container (5).

Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a center-pull bottom feed dispenser includes a housing defining a compartment and including a center-pull bottom feed arrangement for dispensing a sheet material that is in the form of a roll of the sheet material. The sheet material can be a pre-moistened airlaid web. The dispenser also includes a tray that supports the airlaid web roll and includes an outlet opening through which the airlaid web is fed to be accessible to a user. The tray includes a moisture retaining feature that directs fluid from the pre-moistened air-laid web away from the outlet opening and toward an outer peripheral edge of the roll.

Abstract: An automated supplies cabinet dispenses supply items that are stored in a rack of drawers within a locking cabinet. A robotic transfer mechanism fetches the drawer containing the desired supply items, and brings it to an access portal at the front of the cabinet. A sliding door opens automatically to provide access. The supply articles can be RFID tagged and an RFID reader provides for automatic inventory updating when the articles are taken. The racks can take the form of carts that wheel into place in the cabinet. A light curtain disposed at the access portal can block movement of the door and of the transfer mechanism if it detects a hand reaching in. The cabinet provides an audit trail and facilitates inventory control and patient billing.

Abstract: A system for filling a prescription order for a patient includes a plurality of trays each having an RFID tag for storing a unique identifier corresponding to the prescription order, and a plurality of workstations operatively linked to one another, each workstation having an antenna for detecting the unique identifier in one of the plurality of trays, where the detecting is operative to trigger displaying a profile of at least one prescription item for the corresponding prescription order.

Abstract: An apparatus (15) to aid in locating articles in bags produced by a packaging machine (10). The apparatus (15) includes a reservoir (40) to which the articles are delivered, with a plurality of discharge locations being located at angular spaced positions about the reservoir (40). Each of the discharge locations (24) includes an upwardly facing aperture (25) through which the articles are delivered to a central chute (27) from where the articles are located in the bags being formed. Adjacent each discharge location (24) is a conveyor device (29) that moves angularly so as to take articles from the reservoir (40) to the associated aperture (25).

Abstract: A product discharge and delivery system for a vending machine includes a product delivery cup including a carriage portion and a shroud portion having an open bottom section and a discharge element. After receiving a selected product, the product delivery cup is shifted toward a dispensing chamber causing the discharge element to engage with a discharge member mounted within the vending machine. Engagement of the discharge element and discharge member causes the shroud portion to pivot relative to the carrier portion exposing the open bottom section allowing a selected product to release into a dispensing chamber. A delivery port is mounted in the dispensing chamber that rotated between a product receiving position and a product delivery position.

Abstract: A medicament dispensing cabinet is comprised of a frame, at least one controller, and a plurality of drawers each movably carried by the frame and each defining a plurality of dispensing cells. A plurality of removable dispensing devices is provided with each one carried by one of the dispensing cells. Each of the dispensing cells further comprises a motor for providing rotary motion to one of the removable dispensing devices in response to the controller, a sensor operating in conjunction with the controller for counting medicament dispensed from one of the removable dispensing devices, a chute for receiving medicament dispensed from one of the removable dispensing devices and a chute gate for controlling access to the chute. The cabinet may additionally comprise a chute gate release responsive to the controller for controlling the chute gate and a chute gate sensor connected to the controller and responsive to the position of the chute gate.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for checking the accuracy of a prescription fill in a pharmacy that includes activating an electronic scale coupled to a network, providing a user the ability to access a prescription to fill and displaying to the user data associated with the prescription. The method also includes providing the user the ability to cause data to be entered that is associated with a stock container selected by the user, wherein the stock container contains a drug corresponding to the prescription; determining if the stock container selected by the user is the correct stock container to fill the prescription; and measuring a weight of a plurality of pills in the prescription. The method further includes comparing the measured weight to a predicted total weight of the plurality of pills, determining if the comparison is within an acceptable range, and generating an authorization for the prescription fill.

Abstract: There is provided a sticky note supply device that separates an uppermost sticky note from a stacks of sticky note one by one so as to discharge to the outside of the device from a discharge section. The sticky note supply device includes a transport unit that separates the sticky note to discharge the sticky note to the outside of the device from the discharge section, a control unit that controls the drive of the transport unit, and a detecting unit that is provided in the discharge section so as to detect whether the sticky note is present or not. When a next sticky note starts to be transported after the sticky note is completely transported by the transport unit and the detecting unit detects the presence, the control unit prohibits the transport unit from being driven.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for storing and dispensing medications. A medication storing and dispensing cassette is comprised of a housing defining at least a portion of a bulk storage chamber for storing a medication, defining at least a portion of a pick-up area, and defining at least a portion of a discharge chute sized to temporarily store a quantity of the medication. A divider wall is positioned between the bulk storage chamber and the pick-up area. A gate is positioned to control an exit end of the discharge chute. A rotatable conveying wheel having openings proximate to the periphery thereof is positioned such that a portion of the wheel is in communication with the pick-up area while another portion of the wheel is adjacent to an entrance end of the discharge chute. A calibration arm is positioned adjacent the openings of the rotatable wheel. A baffle is positioned to block those openings in that portion of the rotatable wheel adjacent to the discharge chute.

Abstract: A vending machine messaging system for displaying messages within a vending machine. The vending machine messaging system generally includes a vending machine having a window, a display unit attached to an interior surface of the window and a server in communication with the display unit via a communications network. The server communicates various messages to be displayed by the display unit such as advertisements, stock quotes, news, weather, nutritional content of the merchandise and the like. The vendor is able to add their own messages for display on their vending machines by communicating with the server. Advertisers add various advertisements to the server which are then reviewed and disseminated to the appropriate vending machines.

Abstract: The present invention provides a random access and random load dispensing unit including a housing, at least one support located in the housing and defining a first axis, a plurality of platforms movable along the support along the first axis, a plurality of bins supported on the platforms, the bins being movable with the platforms, and a shuttle assembly movable along the first axis and further movable along a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis between the plurality of platforms to access and retrieve products stored in the bins.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a vending system wherein a monitoring system verifies that a product ordered by a vending customer is actually delivered through a delivery area to the customer. If the product ordered is unavailable either because of an out of stock situation or a blockage of the deliver path for that product, the present invention allows the customer to request a refund or order a second product. Additionally, the present invention helps to prevent theft of product from the vending system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a random access and random load dispensing unit including a housing, at least one support located in the housing and defining a first axis, a plurality of platforms movable along the support along the first axis, a plurality of bins supported on the platforms, the bins being movable with the platforms, and a shuttle assembly movable along the first axis and further movable along a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis between the plurality of platforms to access and retrieve products stored in the bins.

Abstract: An apparatus for the dispensing of product is provided. The apparatus may include a dispenser sensor unit in communication with a dispenser that is configured for the dispensing of product. The dispenser sensor unit may be configured for detecting information about the product and for varying a dispensing parameter of the dispenser. A data communications unit in communication with the dispenser sensor unit may also be provided and may be configured for receiving information from the dispenser sensor unit. A washroom monitoring station in communication with the data communications unit may also be present and may be configured for receiving information from the data communications unit. The dispenser sensor unit may be configured for receiving a communication so as to vary a dispensing parameter of the dispenser.