Abstract: A hanging rod control device for a display rack includes a mounting member, a rod, a positioning assembly, a release assembly, a driven device, and a drive device. The mounting member is attached to the display rack. The rod has one end secured to the mounting member with items hung from the rod. The positioning assembly is secured to the mounting member and includes a front plate, a rear fastening member, a shaft interconnecting the front plate and the rear fastening member, and a sliding member having teeth. The release assembly is penetrated by both the shaft and the sliding member and includes arms and positioning plates arranged in alternating fashion. The driven device is disposed in the mounting member and includes a cam and a shaft member operatively connected to the cam.

Abstract: A crane or hanger-type cargo lane device includes two parallel half housings, a chain mounting assembly, a roller chain assembly, a link, and a drive mechanism. The half housing includes a main plate, bent extensions on top, and a slit. The chain mounting assembly is between the main plates and includes two parallel frames, limit members each in the frame and having a slot, and a shuttle member between slots and having a bottom pawl. The roller chain assembly is between one set of the frame and the limit member and the other set of the frame and the limit member. The roller chain assembly includes two sets of plate members each having a top tooth and a bottom hook; and rollers each driven through the plate members of two sets. The bifurcated link is secured to the shuttle member through the slits. The drive mechanism rotates the link.

Abstract: A parallel light grating device includes emitters each for emitting a radiation for detecting a presence of an item, detectors each for receiving the radiation from one emitter so as to determine whether an item has passed a path of the radiation or not, and lenses. The lenses are disposed between the emitters and the detectors. The emitters, the detectors, and the lenses are disposed in a corresponding relationship. The diffracted radiation is collimated by the lenses to form a grating. A distance between any two adjacent ones of the detectors is less than a length of a longitudinal section of the item. The detectors are capable of detecting the passing of the item using the grating.

Abstract: A hanging rod control device for a display rack includes a mounting member, a rod, a positioning assembly, a release assembly, a driven device, and a drive device. The mounting member is attached to the display rack. The rod has one end secured to the mounting member with items hung from the rod. The positioning assembly is secured to the mounting member and includes a front plate, a rear fastening member, a shaft interconnecting the front plate and the rear fastening member, and a sliding member having teeth. The release assembly is penetrated by both the shaft and the sliding member and includes arms and positioning plates arranged in alternating fashion. The driven device is disposed in the mounting member and includes a cam and a shaft member operatively connected to the cam.

Abstract: A crane or hanger-type cargo lane device includes two parallel half housings, a chain mounting assembly, a roller chain assembly, a link, and a drive mechanism. The half housing includes a main plate, bent extensions on top, and a slit. The chain mounting assembly is between the main plates and includes two parallel frames, limit members each in the frame and having a slot, and a shuttle member between slots and having a bottom pawl. The roller chain assembly is between one set of the frame and the limit member and the other set of the frame and the limit member. The roller chain assembly includes two sets of plate members each having a top tooth and a bottom hook; and rollers each driven through the plate members of two sets. The bifurcated link is secured to the shuttle member through the slits. The drive mechanism rotates the link.

Abstract: A vending machine having modular dispensing modules configured to define product dispensing channels. The dispensing modules are each pre-configured with an integral drive mechanism (an actuator, such as a motor drive, activating a product conveyor) for advancing product items to a dispensing location within a vending machine. Each dispensing module is self-contained, and pre-configured by the vending machine supplier. The vending machine owner/operator does not need to configure/reconfigure or otherwise modify any component in the dispensing modules. The dispensing modules form the building blocks for configuring the product dispensing channels in a vending machine to accommodate dispensing products of various sizes and/or forms. The dispensing modules thus define the product dispensing channels in the vending machine.