Abstract: An automated store for storing and then distributing articles, including a housing for receiving closed shipping containers for storage, and for distributing articles retrieved from inside the shipping containers to an output of the housing. The housing further including entry means for controlling entry into the housing of closed shipping containers. Automated forming means form an opening in each of the plurality of the shipping containers, storing means for storing the opened shipping containers, computer controlled retrieving means for entering into selected ones of the opened shipping containers via the formed opening to retrieve an article and moving means for moving the retrieved articles to an output are further included in the housing.

Abstract: An automated store for storing and then distributing articles, including a housing for receiving closed shipping containers for storage, and for distributing articles retrieved from inside the shipping containers to an output of the housing. The housing further including entry means for controlling entry into the housing of closed shipping containers. Automated forming means form an opening in each of the plurality of the shipping containers, storing means for storing the opened shipping containers, computer controlled retrieving means for entering into selected ones of the opened shipping containers via the formed opening to retrieve an article and moving means for moving the retrieved articles to an output are further included in the housing.

Abstract: An automated store for storing and then distributing articles, including a housing for receiving closed shipping containers for storage, and for distributing articles retrieved from inside the shipping containers to an output of the housing. The housing further including entry means for controlling entry into the housing of closed shipping containers. Automated forming means form an opening in each of the plurality of the shipping containers, storing means for storing the opened shipping containers, computer controlled retrieving means for entering into selected ones of the opened shipping containers via the formed opening to retrieve an article and moving means for moving the retrieved articles to an output are further included in the housing.

Abstract: An automated device for automatically and without any human intervention, receiving into the device articles to be distributed or sold, storing the articles, and then distributing or selling the articles to users/customers. The store includes within a housing an entry means for controlling entry into the housing of a plurality of closed shipping containers. Also within the housing is an automated forming means for forming an opening in each of the plurality of the shipping containers, a storing means for storing the plurality of opened shipping containers inside a storage area of the housing, a computer controlled retrieving means for entering into selected ones of the opened shipping so as to retrieve an article from inside one of the stored opened shipping containers and further including moving means for moving the retrieved articles to an output of the housing.

Abstract: An automated device for automatically and without any human intervention, receiving into the device articles to be distributed or sold, storing the articles, and then distributing or selling the articles to users/customers. The store includes within a housing an entry means for controlling entry into the housing of a plurality of closed shipping containers. Also within the housing is an automated forming means for forming an opening in each of the plurality of the shipping containers, a storing means for storing the plurality of opened shipping containers inside a storage area of the housing, a computer controlled retrieving means for entering into selected ones of the opened shipping so as to retrieve an article from inside one of the stored opened shipping containers and further including moving means for moving the retrieved articles to an output of the housing.

Abstract: An automated device for automatically and without any human intervention, receiving into the device articles to be distributed or sold, storing the articles, and then distributing or selling the articles to users/customers. The store includes within a housing an entry means for controlling entry into the housing of a plurality of closed shipping containers. Also within the housing is an automated forming means for forming an opening in each of the plurality of the shipping containers, a storing means for storing the plurality of opened shipping containers inside a storage area of the housing, a computer controlled retrieving means for entering into selected ones of the opened shipping so as to retrieve an article from inside one of the stored opened shipping containers and further including moving means for moving the retrieved articles to an output of the housing.

Abstract: An automated store for storing and then distributing articles, including a housing for receiving closed shipping containers for storage, and for distributing articles retrieved from inside the shipping containers to an output of the housing. The housing further including entry means for controlling entry into the housing of closed shipping containers. Automated forming means form an opening in each of the plurality of the shipping containers, storing means for storing the opened shipping containers, computer controlled retrieving means for entering into selected ones of the opened shipping containers via the formed opening to retrieve an article and moving means for moving the retrieved articles to an output are further included in the housing.

Abstract: An automated store for storing and then distributing articles, including a housing for receiving closed shipping containers for storage, and for distributing articles retrieved from inside the shipping containers to an output of the housing. The housing further including entry means for controlling entry into the housing of closed shipping containers. Automated forming means form an opening in each of the plurality of the shipping containers, storing means for storing the opened shipping containers, computer controlled retrieving means for entering into selected ones of tee opened shipping containers via the formed opening to retrieve an article and moving means for moving the retrieved articles to an output are further included in the housing.

Abstract: An automated store for storing and then distributing articles. The store includes a housing for receiving closed shipping containers for storage, and for distributing articles to an output of the housing, which articles were retrieved from inside the shipping containers. The store further includes within the housing an entry means for controlling entry into the housing of a plurality of closed shipping containers, with at least some of the plurality of closed shipping containers having outer dimensions which are different from the outer dimensions of other ones of the plurality of shipping containers, and further including a sensing means for determining the position of at least a portion of an outside surface of each one of the plurality of closed shipping containers that have entered into the housing.

Abstract: An automated (2) store for storing and then distributing articles. The store includes a housing (4) for receiving closed shipping containers for storage, and for distributing articles to an output (20) of the housing, which articles were retrieved from inside the shipping containers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus relating to the renting, leasing and/or loaning of electronic equipment operable and/or controllable by a computer, wherein one entity not in physical possession and/or control of the equipment desires control over another entity which has physical possession and/or control of the equipment. Such equipment may comprise a washing machine, medical, office or industrial equipment, a vending machine, etc. A central computer system includes software which enables management and execution of financial transactions between the entities, such as debiting or crediting of accounts held by these or other entities, or creating an invoice for one entity to present to another entity. Information used in making these financial transactions can be determined by analysis of information which may be communicated to the central computer system from at least one other source. Such source may include the control system of the controlled equipment, e.g.

Abstract: An automated storage (2) and distribution system (ASDS) for storing and then distributing articles. The ASDS includes an entry means for controlling entry into the system of a plurality of closed shipping containers. A sensing means (10) determines the position of at least a portion of an outside surface of each one of the plurality of closed shipping containers that have entered into the system. An automated forming means (12) uses the determined position specific to each of the closed shipping containers to form an opening in each of the plurality of the shipping containers. A storing means (14) stores the plurality of opened shipping containers inside a storage area of the system.

Abstract: A vending machine apparatus comprising a housing defining an internal cavity and an article storage compartment positioned inside the cavity. An air barrier arrangement having a plurality of moveable barriers separates the article storage compartment from an article extracting device.

Abstract: A vending machine apparatus includes a housing which defines an internal cavity and an article storage area where predetermined groups of stored articles are located at predetermined positions within the housing. An article retrieval device associated with the housing moves articles to be vended from the storage area to a dispensing area. A user interface and control apparatus allows a user of the dispensing apparatus to initiate an article dispensing operation, and generates control signals for causing controlled movement of the article retrieval device so that a user selected article is retrieved from a predetermined location in the article storage area and moved to the dispensing area. The user interface and control apparatus includes a memory for storing therein at least two different groups of position data, each group of position data corresponding to the positions of a plurality of different article storage locations in the article storage area.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus relating to the actions and/or functions of an apparatus for the vending of goods, and for shifting influence among entities with an interest in the vending of goods, which methods and apparatus facilitate the distribution of the risks and rewards involved in the operation the vending apparatus.

Abstract: A monitoring system for developing information data, for use in association with an opening that provides access for removal by a customer of articles stored in an article storage area. In one embodiment, the monitoring system includes a beam forming device adapted to be arranged about the perimeter of the opening so as to form at least one radiation beam that spans the opening. The radiation beam has a position with respect to the opening that is sufficient to detect manual removal by the customer of one or more of the articles from inside the article storage area, by the article and hand of the customer causing a temporary blockage of at least a portion of the radiation beam as the article and hand of the customer pass through the opening. A processing circuit coupled to the beam forming device senses the blockage of the radiation beam, and in response to the sensing, develops the information data.

Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a material, such as a plastic film, is used to separate independent food elements. The independent food elements and the separation material are packaged together using a unifying outer package. At a point in time when the customer decides to eat the food, the outer package is opened and the film that separates the different food elements is removed, either manually or automatically. This marks the first point in time that the separate elements come into contact with each other. Therefore, the food product is maintained at the highest level of integrity until the time of usage by the customer. Methods and a machine for layering the contents of the packages so as to form a completed assembly for the packaged elements is also described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for vending articles from a machine. The machine includes an interior space having at least one compartment adapted to store articles therein, the compartment extending along a non-vertical axis between first and second ends thereof. A head is provided as part of a retrieval end of a flexible hose so as to engage the articles when the head is positioned in alignment with a compartment by a positioning mechanism. The head is extended into the compartment parallel to the non-vertical axis so as to engage to an article stored therein and retrieve it therefrom.

Abstract: A vending apparatus including a control system for dispensing articles, including one or more of the following features: 1. an article ID device which can identify articles being dispensed from the apparatus; 2. ability to disable dispensing of at least some of the articles stored therein, in a predetermined fashion, without the need for any communication or any disable code being input thereto external from the apparatus or its control system; 3. ability to re-enable dispensing of articles when an authorization code is received and input into the control system of the apparatus. In another aspect of the invention, relevant parameters in the control system are pre-programmed (and can be adjusted, changed or eliminated) by an authorized party, in order to enforce agreements and rules that govern operation of the vending apparatus. For example: 1. determining the types of articles which are authorized to be dispensed, 2.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed relating to the provision of a video display device within an article vending machine, such video display being used to provide one or more of an “entertainment”, “advertising” and/or an “interactive product selection” enhancement to the vending machine.