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 machine for vending articles, the machine including a housing, a storage area disposed within the housing and having a thermal barrier which separates the storage area from the remainder of the interior of the housing, a dispensing area having an access port disposed within the housing which allows a user of the machine to retrieve a dispensed article, a vertically oriented opening in the thermal barrier of the storage area, the opening dimensioned for allowing articles stored in the storage area to pass from the storage area to the dispensing area, and an article retrieval device nominally located in the storage area for moving articles from the storage area to the dispensing area via said opening. A door aligned with the opening is displaceable in response to movement of articles toward the opening by the article retrieval device.

Abstract: A vending machine apparatus comprising a housing defining an internal cavity and an article storage compartment positioned inside the cavity. The article storage compartment may have a cooling unit associated therewith for cooling the article storage compartment. The article storage compartment is subdivided into a plurality of article storage sub-compartments, each sub-compartment having an opening at a dispensing end thereof for passage therethrough during a dispensing operation of articles stored therein. An air barrier arrangement is positioned so as to be in common with the dispensing end of a plurality of said sub-compartments, for separating the interior of the sub-compartments from the remainder of the interior of the internal cavity, the air barrier arrangement having flaps that operate individually with respective ones of said sub-compartments, so as to allow articles stored in the sub-compartments to pass therethrough during the dispensing operation.

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 article dispenser where the structure of an article storage cabinet positioned inside the article dispenser, is used to supplement the structure of at least two sidewalls used to form a housing for the article dispenser. In one preferred embodiment where the article storage container comprises a chest freezer or refrigerator, sidewalls used to form the housing for the dispenser are connected to the top or sidewall structure of the chest freezer or refrigerator for receiving structural support.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to improvements in article handling, such as in vending machines, and more particularly, to improvements in: methods and apparatus for handling articles using a vacuum-type product lifting/dispensing mechanism, article display panels which enhance sales of primary products, and product containment systems which improve product storage capacity, as well as the ease and efficiency of product handling, access and loading into the article handling apparatus.

Abstract: An article storage container for use in an article handler which uses a suction-type gripping device. The container comprises a bin having wall portions and a bottom portion, for storing in a columnar manner, articles to be retrieved by the gripping device. The gripping device enters a dispensing end of the bin which is opposite the bottom portion of the bin. An airflow path providing device at the bottom portion of the bin prevents the gripping device from developing enough suction force to grip to the bottom of the bin.

Abstract: An article handling apparatus having a article storage area includes a movable article storage structure adapted for being positioned therein. The movable article storage structure comprises a bin segment guidance structure adapted for individually guiding groups of articles to be handled, i.e., article storage bin-segments which are preloaded with articles, so as to form therewith a plurality of axially aligned article storage columns. The guidance apparatus includes a receiving device which provides individual coupling to the article storage bin-segments, so as to allow grouping of the bin-segments into the plurality of axially aligned article storage columns. Once received, the segments are individually guided by the guidance apparatus from one end of the column, along the longitudinal axis of the column, in a direction toward an article grasping portion of the article handling apparatus which is adjacent an opposed end of the column.

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: 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: An article handling apparatus having an article storage area (215) includes a movable storage structure (219). The movable storage structure (219) has a bin segment guidance structure to form a plurality of axially aligned article storage columns (216). The guidance structure includes a receiving device providing individual coupling to article storage bin segments (1202) so as to allow grouping of bin segments into the plurality of aligned article storage columns.

Abstract: A merchandiser includes a front door or wall portion which forms a barrier between an exterior side and an interior side of the merchandiser. The front door or wall portion holds a first display panel in a relatively fixed manner so that an exterior side of the first display panel forms at least a portion of the exterior side of the merchandiser. The first display panel including portions that are clear, so as to allow a user of the merchandiser to see through the clear portion of the first display panel. A replaceable graphics display panel, which itself has replaceable graphics cards thereon, is placeable in juxtaposition with an interior facing side of the first display panel, so that the replaceable graphics cards thereon are aligned with the clear portions, so that the replaceable graphics cards are viewable from the exterior side of the merchandiser.

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: An article dispensing apparatus, such as a vending machine (10), includes a controllably positioned suction hose dispenser (220) for retrieving articles (223) from a storage area (215). In one embodiment, a quick release device (500) coupled to the suction hose dispenser (220), is activated in response to mechanical contact caused by the controllable positioning of the suction hose dispenser (220), said activation facilitating a quick release of the retrieved article to a place (210) associated with an article dispensing area (22).

Abstract: An automated facility for storing and then distributing articles. The facility includes a housing for receiving closed shipping containers, and further means for retrieving articles from inside the shipping containers and distributing the articles to an output of the housing. The further means includes a sensing means for determining the position of at least a portion of an outside surface of each one of a plurality of closed shipping containers that have entered into the housing, and an automated means to form an opening in each of the shipping containers. A computer controlled retrieving means is also provided in the housing for entering into selected ones of the shipping containers by passing through the formed opening so as to retrieve an article from inside one of the shipping containers, which article is then moved to an output of the housing.

Abstract: A vending machine apparatus comprising a housing defining 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 is associated with the housing for moving 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.

Abstract: An article dispensing apparatus, such as a vending machine (10), includes a controllably positioned suction hose dispenser (220) for retrieving articles (223) from a storage area (215). In one embodiment, a quick release device (500) coupled to the suction hose dispenser (220), is activated in response to mechanical contact caused by the controllable positioning of the suction hose dispenser (220), said activation facilitating a quick release of the retrieved article to a place (210) associated with an article dispensing area (22).

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 comprising a housing defining an internal cavity and an article storage compartment positioned inside the cavity. The article storage compartment may have a cooling unit associated therewith for cooling the article storage compartment. The article storage compartment is subdivided into a plurality of article storage sub-compartments, each sub-compartment having an opening at a dispensing end thereof for passage therethrough during a dispensing operation of articles stored therein. An air barrier arrangement is positioned so as to be in common with the dispensing end of a plurality of said sub-compartments, for separating the interior of the sub-compartments from the remainder of the interior of the internal cavity, the air barrier arrangement having flaps that operate individually with respective ones of said sub-compartments, so as to allow articles stored in the sub-compartments to pass therethrough during the dispensing operation.