Abstract: A vending machine for the sale of both food and non-food products has a plurality of adjustable shelves and adjustable product dividers. Products are dispensed from the shelves by the action of a computer controlled transporter mounted on carriages permitting movement of the transporter both horizontally and vertically in an X-Z plane across the face of the product shelving. Rotation of the transporter in front of a selected product engages a product delivery mechanism which gently and safely slides the product off the shelf onto the transporter. A movable wall within the transporter pushes the delivered product aside, thereby clearing the way for the dispensing of additional products. Multiple products may safely be collected in each cycle. Products are carried to a delivery station for retrieval by the customer. After product delivery, the transporter is discharged of any residual items.

Abstract: Cartons are formed from die cut carton blanks two at a time from two feed magazines each holding a stack of carton blanks, two adhesive application means having optical sensors for sensing adhesive application to the carton blanks, a centrally mounted rotary table having prefolding means which engage and prefold tabs on the carton blanks, folding means comprising apertures interengaging the blanks and forming the cartons therefrom, two transfer means for transferring carton blanks from the feed magazines to the rotary table, two reciprocating forming rams cooperatively associated with the folding means on the rotary table and effecting the formation of cartons thereon, means for holding the formed cartons in their final shape while the adhesive sets, a computer with resident software for coordinating and synchronizing the operation of the above listed components to form cartons, the software receiving feedback signals from the various components and issuing commands depending on the nature of said feedback si