Abstract: An automated medication dispenser system is disclosed. The system includes a dispenser device comprising a medication dispensing and storage module, a dispensing drive and control mechanism, and a communications interface. A third party communications host is in communication with the dispenser device, and has administration software with executable instructions for control of the dispensing drive and control mechanism to dispense medication from the medication dispensing and storage module. The communications interface is in communication with the third party communications host.

Abstract: An apparatus for automated storage and dispensing of medications. Medications are stored in an inventory storage container attached to a frame of the apparatus. Medications are delivered to the apparatus via a locked delivery container. A carrier mechanism retrieves medications from the inventory storage container and delivery container and moves medications to various subsystems of the apparatus. Information related to medications is communicated to a remote pharmacist prior to dispensing the medication. Multiple installations of the apparatus are centrally coordinated.

Abstract: Computationally implemented methods and systems include acquiring user preference information of a user that indicates one or more customized food preferences of the user including at least one or more preferences related to integrity of one or more ingredients for use in generating one or more customized food items; identifying one or more capable automated customized food generation machines that have one or more ingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able to currently generate at least one customized food item in accordance with the one or more customized food preferences of the user; and presenting, in response at least in part to the identification, one or more indicators that direct the user to at least one automated customized food generation machine. In addition to the foregoing, other aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text.

Abstract: A storage and dosing station for storage and dispensing dosed quantities of solid drug portions. A stationary part of the station is mountable to a frame of an apparatus for packaging solid drug portions, the stationary part including a first part of a dispensing device. The first part includes a controller and a drive for driving an individualizing mechanism for dispensing separate solid drug portions. A detachable part is coupled to the stationary part and includes a storage container for receiving a plurality of solid drug portions. A second part of the dispensing device includes an information memory. An information reader on the stationary part is coupled to the controller, wherein the information reader reads information stored in the information memory if the detachable part is coupled to the stationary part. The information memory stores data that are used by the controller to control the operation of components of the dispensing device.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for tracking and guiding a patient's clinically directed medication usage. Medicaments are placed in secure passive packaging that must be unlocked to enable dispensing of a dose or a set of doses. This packaging is designed to be difficult to open manually, and instead is designed to dispense only when used in combination with a smart key. The smart key is a separate device containing electronics, mechatronics or both, to unlock and dispense from the packaging and to track and guide usage. Together, the secure container and the smart key track medication usage, trigger reminders in accordance with actual patient data, deter an excessive rate of patient usage, and deter unauthorized access to medication.

Abstract: A system and method for determining replenishment information for capsules as replenishment for a beverage production machine are provided.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and system of dispensing a row of inventory by advancing the row forward. An elongated member has opposite ends, either of which can receive and mount an actuator, e.g. electric motor. A drive member, e.g. a lead screw, extends along the elongated member and is connectable to the actuator. A push member, e.g. plate, linearly moves along the elongated body in response to the drive member. The assembly is highly adjustable. In one aspect, it is self-contained and can be mounted and adjusted in different positions on a support such as a tray, shelf, or frame. In another aspect, it can be selectively configured between different states. One state has the elongated member mounted in the support in one way, with the actuator at the back and the push member extending laterally in a first direction. In another state, the push member extends laterally an opposite direction.

Abstract: Provided is a medicine dispensing apparatus including a plurality of medicine cassettes for respectively dispensing desired types of medicines. The medicine dispensing apparatus allocates medicine information on a medicine to be dispensed to one of the medicine cassettes when the medicine information is given. Then, the medicine dispensing apparatus drives the medicine cassette according to a predetermined driving condition corresponding to the medicine information allocated to the medicine cassette to dispense the medicine from the medicine cassette. By using the medicine dispensing apparatus, it is possible to reduce a user work for dispensing the desired types of medicines.

Abstract: Automated medication dispensing system and device, designed to monitor and verify that a patient is being properly medicated. A sensor equipped, processor controlled, medication dispensing device is configured to store a plurality of medication doses, along with medication dispensing information, and to use its processor controlled actuators to automatically dispense this medication at the proper time when the sensors verify the patient's identity. The system also uses various combinations of built in and/or patient worn sensors to obtain evidence of proper medication. This evidence can include evidence that the patient has taken the drug, and/or evidence that the patient is physically behaving in a properly or improperly medicated manner. The system can be restocked with medication, often packaged in multi-dose cassettes, when medication runs low, and can also be configured using either an onboard user interface or a remote (e.g. Internet or local wireless) computerized device.

Abstract: A pill dispensing system for monitoring compliant receipt of pills by a patient, comprising a base unit having an area adapted to receive a pill container, the base unit comprising a microprocessor and a power supply, the pill container comprising a plurality of breakable closures each sealing a respective one of the pill compartments, each breakable closure comprising a breakable conductor being adapted to break upon breaking of the breakable closure of a respective one of the pill compartments and to generate a first pill compartment opening signal on the microprocessor, said base unit further comprising a plurality of optical detectors, each optical detector being associated with a respective one of the pill compartments of the pill container and being adapted to generate a second pill compartment opening signal on the microprocessor upon the breaking of the breakable closure of a respective one of the pill compartments.

Abstract: The present application describes a vending machine, communicatively coupled with a server. The vending machine comprises a Vending Machine Controller (VMC), a Data Exchange (DEX), a Vivid Transaction System (VTS), a payment device and a microcontroller. The microcontroller selects one of the DEX and the VTS, by changing a jumper setting on a GPIO. The microcontroller communicates with the VMC, the DEX and/or the VTS and the payment device in order to facilitate transaction associated with the vending machine. The microcontroller extracts at least one of inventory data and transaction data from the DEX or VTS associated with the vending machine and transmit at least one of the inventory data and the transaction data to the server for further processing and analysis. The microcontroller receives recommendation information pertaining to at least one of inventory and transaction associated to the vending machine from the server based upon the processing and analysis.

Abstract: A method for controlling medicament dispensing from a cassette moved from a mount for the cassette includes mounting the cassette fully on the mount, the cassette being loaded with bulk-form medicaments, generating a first signal indicating that the cassette is fully mounted, enabling operation of the cassette responsive to the first signal, unmounting the cassette at least partially from the mount, generating a second signal indicating that the cassette has been at least partially unmounted, and disabling further operation of the cassette responsive to the second signal even if the cassette is fully remounted. The method may include also generating a third signal indicating that the cassette is ready for further dispensing of medicaments, remounting the cassette fully on the mount, generating the first signal indicating that the cassette is fully remounted, and enabling further operation of the cassette responsive to the first and third signals after disabling further operation of the cassette.

Abstract: There is disclosed a dispensing system for pharmaceutical products, the dispensing system comprising: a plurality of individually lockable storage bins for storing respective pharmaceutical products, each storage bin comprising a lock coupled to an actuator; a database which associates respective bin identifiers with respective product codes of the pharmaceutical products; and a dispensing server comprising a dispensing module which is configured to: receive a selection of one of said pharmaceutical products; receive scan data indicative of a product code for the selected product; determine, from said database, a bin identifier associated with the product code; and send an unlock signal to the actuator of a storage bin corresponding to said bin identifier.

Abstract: A dispensing system includes a replenishment container. The replenishment container includes a container door, a container lock for the container door, and an identifier to indicate an identification of the container contents. The system also includes a dispenser to receive the replenishment container. The dispenser includes a dispenser door to selectively communicate the dispenser with the container, a container detector to continuously detect a presence or absence of the identifier and provide a signal corresponding to the identification of the contents of the container, a switch to detect when the dispenser door is not fully closed, and a controller. The controller receives the identification signal from the container detector, compares the identification of the contents of the container with an expected identification, unlocks the container lock if the identifications match, and prevents the dispenser from dispensing if the identifications do not match or if no identifier is detected.

Abstract: An automated vending system for retail locations can include: an exterior housing that houses a plurality of differently shaped items for purchase and return; a data processor that is disposed in the exterior housing and that is coupled to an external server having a database; a display device on a face of the exterior housing; a memory storing computer-executable instructions that cause the automated vending system to execute vending and returning of an item; a payment validation device that is configured to accept payment information; a storage area that holds a plurality of items; an item compartment that is disposed within the exterior housing and that is capable of opening to the user; an item dispenser that dispenses an item from the storage area to the item compartment; and a detector that is positioned to detect foreign activity within the item compartment.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods for kiosk accessibility via a mobile device. In some embodiments, a wireless mobile device has input features such as voice-control and GUI-based buttons that assist visually impaired people to send wireless messages for accessing features of a kiosk. The kiosk is equipped with wireless communication hardware and or software to receive messages from the mobile device for performing various kiosk-related operations, such a renting, vending, and or returning a product.

Abstract: In many aspects, a system for a beverage dispenser can include a detector, a touch screen, and a control unit electrically coupled to the touch screen and detector. The control unit is configured to implement a method. In the method, a first graphical configuration is sent to the touch screen for display during an operational mode. A sleep mode is entered after detecting no motion events from the detector after a predetermined amount of time. A second graphical configuration is sent to the touch screen for display or the touch screen is turned off as a result of entering the sleep mode. A motion event is then detected in proximity to the detector, and as a result, the sleep mode is discontinued, and the operational mode is activated, and the first graphical configuration is sent to the touch screen for redisplay.

Abstract: A system and method for the dispensing of medication in the form of pills and also to monitor health parameters is disclosed. The system comprises a modular system having a main control module; a plurality of pill dispensing modules in communication with the main control module; and optionally sensors to measure health parameters in communication with the main control module. The main control module can store information and also can communicate information over a communications network.

Abstract: A system and method for vending products to a customer that encompasses a group of vending machines managed by a vending company, a database of the inventory of products in the vending machines and information about customer purchase history from the vending machines; and the use of a personal electronic device by the customer. Embodiments include the customer selecting either products or vending machines from a list of options provided via the user interface of the personal electronic device, wherein the list of options depends on the actual available inventory on vending machines co-located with customer, and the customer purchase history. Methods are described to permit advance purchases with deferred dispensing, and methods of payment that are both fast and automatic. Also described are methods of identifying vending machines and ordering a group of products as single request.

Abstract: A medicine dispensing system capable of reliably managing the lot of medicines and the expiration period of medicines is provided. A dispensation data preparation section includes a lot change determination section and a data changing section. The lot change determination section determines, based on lot information, whether or not the lot of the medicines to be used may be changed while medicine dispensing apparatuses are in operation. The dispensation data preparation section is provided with an expiration period determination section to determine with reference to the unpacking date, rather than the dispensation date, whether or not medicines are effective for use. This reliably prevents medicines that were taken out of the medicine packing container from being provided to patients after a number of days have passed.