Abstract: An automatic vending machine includes a cabinet, a plurality of item columns, a pickup port and a delivery apparatus, and the delivery apparatus includes a hopper and a hopper drive mechanism. An item dispensing method of the automatic vending machine includes: determining, according to items to be purchased, all of item combination manners having a lowest number of item dispensing operations as candidate item combination manners; determining all of pickup manners for picking up items in each of the candidate item combination manners; determining all of item dispensing paths in one-to-one correspondence to all of pickup manners of all of the candidate item combination manners; and selecting, from all of the item dispensing paths, an item dispensing path having a highest efficiency as a target item dispensing path, and controlling, based on the target item dispensing path, the hopper to dispense items.

Abstract: The drawer organization system comprises a cabinet and one or more drawers. The one or more drawers are contained within the cabinet. Each of the one or more drawers are organized into a plurality of containment sections. A user organizes the storage of the one or more objects by properly selecting a containment section selected from the plurality of containment sections for each object. The drawer organization system further comprises an index display and a plurality of stickers. The index display is contained within the cabinet. The index display is a display surface on which an index that identifies the selected containment space for each stored object. Each of the plurality of stickers presents the image of an indicia that is attached to a containment space selected from the plurality of containment spaces that relates the selected containment space to the index display.

Abstract: A garment organizer assembly for storing garments and hats includes a pair of boxes for storing garments. Each of the boxes has a trough integrated therein for removing the garments from the boxes. Moreover, the boxes are removably attachable together having the boxes being vertically distributed. A plurality of hooks is each coupled to a respective one of the boxes to have a hat suspended thereon. A plurality of grapples is each coupled to and extends upwardly from a respective one of the boxes to engage an upper edge of a door for suspending the boxes on the door.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for securely storing radioactive source materials that enables inventory activities with security functions. In particular, apparatuses and methods for securely storing radioactive source materials are provided with visual and automated inventory, security, alerting, and stabilization design elements that enable various inventory tasks, prevent storage structures from being negligently left open or unlocked, ensure stabilization of storage structures in a moving mobile structure, and provide an alerting system for warning staff of an unsecure or unlocked condition of such storage structures.

Abstract: A product dispensing frame having a front end and a rear end, and including an upper support deck extending between the front end and the rear end, a lower support deck positioned below the upper support deck, the lower support deck extending between the front end and the rear end and defining a first product display area, and an intermediate support deck positioned between the upper support deck and the lower support deck, the intermediate support deck extending between the front end and the rear end and defining a second product display area.

Abstract: The present application and the resultant patent provide a carton for a number of articles. The carton may include a top wall, a pair of sidewalls, a rear wall, and a dispenser section. The dispenser section may extend along a top wall portion of the top wall, a side wall portion of each of the pair of sidewalls, and the rear wall.

Abstract: A cup rack includes a cup rack body for receiving multiple cups in a stack, and a base for supporting the storage cups in the cup rack body and defining an access port for finger access to pick up the cups individually.

Abstract: The present application provides a product dispenser for use with a number of objects. The product dispenser may include a loading shelf, a carton opening mechanism on the loading shelf, and one or more dispensing shelves.

Abstract: A teat cup magazine (1), arranged to store at least two teat cups (3), includes a removing device for each teat cup (3), which is arranged to retract the teat cup (3) into the teat cup magazine when a milking process has finished. Each removing device includes a cylinder (8) and a piston (9). The cylinders (8) of the removing devices are formed by at least one cylinder profile (35, 38, 39), manufactured in one piece, which constitutes the sole load-bearing structure of the teat cup magazine. The at least one cylinder profile (35, 38, 39) includes on one side, integrated attachment zones (37) for attaching milking components, and on an opposite side, a guiding track (13) for each cylinder (8), adapted for a movable guiding element (6) supporting a milk tube (4) and a pulse tube (5) connected to the teat cup.

Abstract: A dispensing device for beverage cup lid which prevents excessive human contact with the lid prior to insertion upon the beverage cup, the device providing an externally threaded central rotary rod attached to a direct drive bidirectional electrical motor and suspended within a lid cabinet with a stacked plurality of lids retained upon the rotary rod through a central bore in each lid, the lids urged downward by a traveling press plate having a central threaded hole engaging the external threads of the rotary rod, the rotation of the rotary rod causing the press plate to move up and down the rotary rod, pressing against the uppermost lid on the rotary rod against the stacked plurality of lids in increments programmed to release only the lowermost lid from the end of the rotary rod in a receiving area below the retaining rod. The device is operated by the activation of a presence sensor, either a beverage cup or a clean hand, which causes the incremental dispensing of a single lid.

Abstract: A vending machine includes at least one width-adjustable storage rack, the storage rack having a fixed wall and a movable wall connected to the fixed wall by at least one connecting link; and an adjustment mechanism constructed and adapted to position the movable wall relative to the fixed wall and to thereby vary an interior width between the fixed and movable walls. Two movable walls can be connected to a single fixed wall.

Abstract: A display device for displaying and dispensing tubular items of merchandise includes a first side and a substantially parallel second side spaced apart by a distance. A base forming a bottom portion and a cover forming a top portion of the display device are disposed between the first and second side. A first ramp having a first width is disposed between the first and second side and slopes downwardly toward a rear portion of the display device. A second ramp having a second width is disposed between the first and second side. At least a portion of the second ramp is disposed under the first ramp and slopes downwardly toward a front portion of the display device. The first width and second width are less than the distance between the first side and second side for facilitating a movement of the tubular items of merchandise in the display device.

Abstract: A portable sanitizing device with a primarily rectangular hollow rigid housing having one panel that is concave in shape. The concave panel each includes a pair of elongate apertures for allowing a strip of paper towel to pass through. A foam pad is attached to the outer surface of the concave panel. A protective cover encloses the concave surface of the housing panel. A cylindrically shaped enclosure holds a scroll of paper towel impregnated with a sanitizing liquid and fits within the rectangular housing. A rectangular portion of cloth fabric is attached to one outer surface of the rectangular housing. The paper towel strip is threaded out of the cylindrical housing and over the foam pad and out through a slit in the housing side panel. The resulting device can be used to sanitize the handle of a shopping cart.

Abstract: A shelf device for a cooler has a pair of front uprights and a pair of rear uprights. A shelf is attached to uprights is adapted to hold beverage containers in an upright position. Left and right edge portions of the shelf are disposed behind the front uprights and a front edge portion of the shelf is disposed between the front uprights. Left and right guide panels respectively extend from the left and right edge portions toward the front edge portion creating channels for guiding containers from behind the posts for removal.

Abstract: A vending machine includes at least one width-adjustable storage rack, the storage rack having a fixed wall and a movable wall connected to the fixed wall by at least one connecting link; and an adjustment mechanism constructed and adapted to position the movable wall relative to the fixed wall and to thereby vary an interior width between the fixed and movable walls. Two movable walls can be connected to a single fixed wall.

Abstract: A glide (20) includes a base (22), a front member, and a number of walls (26) extending front-to-back. Both the base and the front member are advantageously formed as a number of pieces secured side-by-side to provide expandability. The front member may be secured to the walls via dovetail interaction and different front members may be provided for different wall spacings.

Abstract: A glide (20) includes a base (22), a front member, and a number of walls (26) extending front-to-back. Both the base and the front member are advantageously formed as a number of pieces secured side-by-side to provide expandability. The front member may be secured to the walls via dovetail interaction and different front members may be provided for different wall spacings.

Abstract: A set of panels having chutes therebetween. The chutes being defined by curvilinear rails on such panels. The curvilinear rails having stops thereon for stopping the products for viewing.

Abstract: A set of panels having chutes therebetween. The chutes being defined by curvilinear rails on such panels. The curvilinear rails having stops thereon for stopping the products for viewing.

Abstract: A front panel for a display rack has a base, upstanding sidewalls connected along their bottom end portions to the base, face members connected to the front edges of the sidewalls, and an elongate connecting member connected to the top end portions of the face members. The base, face members and connecting member define a viewing window for the display rack through which a beverage container in a display rack in a refrigerator can be viewed. The base and connecting member curve outward to position a beverage container forward in the display rack. A pair of downwardly extending fingers fit into receiving slots in a front segment of the rack to fasten the front panel to the front segment of the display rack.

Abstract: A front loading and front-dispensing drop rotation tray for product display and dispensing include a pair of vertically aligned inclined tracks for supporting product thereon, the tracks generally being inclined in an orientation for fostering product movement relative thereto—namely, a first upwardly and rearwardly inclined loading/dispensing track, and a second upwardly and rearwardly inclined dispensing track beneath the first track. The first track defines a drop aperture adjacent the rear end thereof enabling the passage of product from the first track onto the second track, whereby successive forcible loading of product onto the front of the first track causes the product to pass, under the influence of gravity, to the second track for display and dispensing.

Abstract: A merchandising display shelf track device for receiving a row of articles for sliding movement therealong has a front track segment, a riser panel and a number of ribs. The front track segment has a base wall with a front portion and a rear portion. The riser panel is upstanding from the front portion of the base wall. The ribs are upstanding from the base wall and are attached to the riser panel. The top surface of the ribs is inclined at the front so that a bottle sliding along the track has its direction changed so that the bottle does not tip over.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing same-size discrete articles (P) comprises a holder (34, 36, 44) for holding a plurality of such articles in a stack, the holder having a top, a bottom (44, 46), and an exit opening (60) at the bottom, through which the lowermost article in the stack can leave the holder in a transverse direction. It further comprises means (38, 40, 16, 18) defining a pathway for guiding said articles from the exit opening to, and over, the top of the holder, with each article in the pathway pushing the article ahead of it along the pathway. The arrangement is such that the articles are visible while in transit along the pathway to the top of the holder.

Abstract: Dispensing device can include a looped member having a plurality of stiff segments connected by hinges. For instance, the device can have five or six stiff segments connected by living hinges, at least three of which face outward and the other(s) inward in relation to the looped member. The device with six stiff segments can fold up so as to be placed inside a beverage container. As well, a dispensing device can have a member upon which a can or carton can rest and a reversible can-stop connected to it. The can-stop can be formed by a small, reversibly folding loop at one end of the member. In general, cylindrical objects exiting an opened carton can be restrained by providing a dispensing device having a generally flat base member and a can-stop; placing the base member under the objects in the carton with the can-stop outside the carton; and allowing at least one of the objects to roll from inside the carton to outside the carton where it is stopped by the can-stop.

Abstract: This retainer system for vending machine compartment includes a divider having a base member attached to a wall and a cap stop member attached to the base member by a hook and slot arrangement which permits the cap member to be pulled out from a retracted to an extended position in which it is engageable by the cap end of a bottle to provide a stop inhibiting longitudinal migration of the bottle.

Abstract: This retainer system for a vending machine compartment includes a retainer having an upper hook wall connection which interfits a selected upper slot and a lower tab wall connection which includes a spring clip which interfits a selected lower slot aligned with an associated upper slot, the upper and lower slots being arranged in staggered rows to facilitate installation in a vertical orientation of the retainer.

Abstract: A rectangular compartment for receiving and dispensing pressurized gas cylinders. The compartment, for its use, requires a minimal space both inside and outside the compartment. The compartment contains a tank receiving unit configured to receive multiple tanks arranged in files. The tank receiving unit is pivoted near its center of mass so as to permit easy rotation in place of the tank receiving unit. The compartment is provided with an access door. When the access door is open and the tank receiving unit is rotated outward to receive tanks, the tank receivers in a file project a short distance outside the compartment and are arranged one above the other. When the access door is closed, the tanks are in an upright position and secured in that position by an interlock between the tank receiving unit and the access door.

Abstract: A glide (20) includes a base (22), a front member, and a number of walls (26) extending front-to-back. Both the base and the front member are advantageously formed as a number of pieces secured side-by-side to provide expandability. The front member may be secured to the walls via dovetail interaction and different front members may be provided for different wall spacings.

Abstract: A merchandising device is useful to display flanged bottles. The device includes an elongate track for supporting a row of flanged bottles such that the bottles in the row are suspended by their neck flanges for movement along the track and are removable from the track through the front end of the track. The track comprises a track body including a pair of opposed side walls extending along the track, and a pair of rail members detachably attached respectively to the side walls of the body to be disposed substantially parallel to each other. Each rail member comprises a connector panel extending alongside a respective one of the side walls and a supporting ledge joined to and extending along the panel. The ledges of the rail members project laterally of the panels toward each other and are disposed with a gap therebetween to receive in the gap the necks of the bottles such that the bottles are slidably engaged at the undersides of their neck flanges with the ledges.

Abstract: A shelf assembly for organizing and merchandising a plurality of products. The shelf assembly comprises a shelf having a bottom, plurality of dividers extending from front to back, a pair of dividers and the bottom forming a track in which a column of products are arranged. A front member pivotal about a stop, or pivotally engaged with the dividers, prevents the forwardmost product within the column from falling off the front of the shelf. The pivotal front members enable product to be pulled forwardly off the shelf, minimizing the spacing necessary between adjacent shelves.

Abstract: A shelf assembly for organizing and merchandising a plurality of products. The shelf assembly comprises a shelf having a bottom, plurality of dividers extending from front to back, a pair of dividers and the bottom forming a track in which a column of products are arranged. A front member pivotal about a stop, or pivotally engaged with the dividers, prevents the forwardmost product within the column from falling off the front of the shelf. The pivotal front members enable product to be pulled forwardly off the shelf, minimizing the spacing necessary between adjacent shelves.

Abstract: A shelf assembly for organizing and merchandising a plurality of products. The shelf assembly comprises a shelf having a bottom, plurality of dividers extending from front to back, a pair of dividers and the bottom forming a track in which a column of products are arranged. A front member pivotal about a stop, or pivotally engaged with the dividers, prevents the forwardmost product within the column from falling off the front of the shelf. The pivotal front members enable product to be pulled forwardly off the shelf, minimizing the spacing necessary between adjacent shelves.

Abstract: A carton assembly for dispensing product members such as spools of wire and other rollable products having circular ends of the same diameter. The carton comprises a bottom, forward and rearward end walls, two side walls and a closable top. Within the carton each side wall has associated therewith one upper guide member, at least one intermediate guide member and a lower guide member. The guide members of one wall are mirror images of the corresponding guide members of the other side wall and are correspondingly positioned with respect to their respective side walls. The intermediate and lower guide members provide narrow sloping edges in parallel spaced relationship which maintain the product members in a row made up of zig-zag row segments, one above the other. The carton has a dispensing opening in its forward wall through which the forwardmost and lowermost product member can be extracted.

Abstract: A display rack for a plurality of beverage bottles includes a base member with a plurality of vertically disposed channel members mounted thereon. Each channel member has a longitudinal slot and a keyway along the slot. The keyway or top of the slot receives the beverage bottles and holds the bottles by the neck ring which is larger in lateral dimension than the width of the slot. Bottles are dispensed one at a time through the keyway by moving a bottle up or down to align it in the keyway where it can be pulled laterally through the keyway.

Abstract: A display rack for displaying and dispensing cylindrically-shaped products. The display rack includes a first storage region and a second storage region. The first storage region is capable of holding a plurality of cylindrically-shaped products. The first storage region has a first dispensing position. The first storage region is tilted towards the first dispensing position. The second storage region surface is capable of holding a plurality of cylindrically-shaped products. The second storage region has a second dispensing position. The second storage region is adjacent to the first storage region. The first storage region and the second storage region tilt away from each other. The second storage region is tilted towards the second dispensing position.

Abstract: A system for displaying products generally forming a queue having a rear product on a display surface having a rear portion and a front portion, comprising an arranging mechanism operable for moving the products selectively and manually from the rear portion of the display surface towards the front portion of the display surface. The arranging mechanism comprises a positioning element having a vertical portion adapted to engage the rear product in the queue from a rear side of the rear product towards the front portion of the display surface and having a horizontal portion extending generally parallel to the display surface. The system further has a supporting mechanism on each of the products that defines an open pathway from one side of one of the products to a substantially opposite side of the one of the products. The open pathway is adapted to receive the horizontal portion of the arranging mechanism.

Abstract: Outside and inside cylindrical containers store a toilet plunger and multiple rows of toilet paper. The outside container has a base with side vent holes and a cap with vent holes. A toilet plunger resides vertically in the container. The inside container has a central bore in a base plate through to a tube through which the handle of the plunger protrudes upwardly. Multiple rolls of toilet paper are mounted axially on the tube within the inside container. A pull rod on the outside of the inner container tube is used to lift the toilet rolls from the inner container.

Abstract: A bottle dispenser is configured for storing and dispensing bottles having a neck rim. The dispenser includes a substantially rectangular housing with a central opening formed therein. A bottle carrier lid is secured within the central opening and includes a sloped guide track configured for slidably supporting the neck rims of a plurality of bottles for storing and dispensing the bottles. The guide track is sufficiently sloped to advance bottles along the guide track automatically as bottles are dispensed.

Abstract: A front panel for a display rack has a base, upstanding sidewalls connected along their bottom end portions to the base, face members connected to the front edges of the sidewalls, and an elongate connecting member connected to the top end portions of the face members. The base, face members and connecting member define a viewing window for the display rack through which a beverage container in a display rack in a refrigerator can be viewed. The base and connecting member curve outward to position a beverage container forward in the display rack.

Abstract: A lid dispenser for round plastic lids of the type normally used on plastic take-out cups for coffee, soft drinks, and the like in convenience stores is in the form of a sanitized tubular container. The lids are stored inside a protective housing. A cap that snaps down on the top of the housing completely seals off the upper end. The bottom end of the housing is open. The plastic lids hang on a center stainless steel rod passed through the straw openings in the lids. The lids can be retrieved one at a time by grasping a lid through a finger opening and pulling the lid from the opened bottom of the dispenser.

Abstract: A front-loading and front-discharging, exclusively gravity-feed display device for upright articles includes an exclusively gravity-feed track of a U-shaped design in plan, a U-shaped cross-section open at the top thereof, and a generally uniform article-supporting longitudinal incline extending downwardly along the length of the track. In a preferred embodiment, the track defines a loading or supply end, and a dispensing or delivery end, the loading and dispensing ends being in generally the same vertical plane. A U-shaped bight track section is spaced from the same vertical plane. An upper track section functionally connects the loading end and the bight track section, and a lower track section functionally connects the bight track section and the dispensing end. The upper, bight and lower track sections cooperatively and successively define a downwardly-extending article-supporting incline along the entire U-shaped length of the track.

Abstract: The instant invention includes a gravity fed display and dispenser having a rear wall and a base ledge extending from the rear wall adjacent the bottom of the dispenser. A plurality of partitions extend at least substantially between the rear wall and a front cover, forming side-by-side channels, each channel receiving a plurality of containers which are fed by gravity and displayed in successive order. The rear wall, base ledge and partitions are formed in a single molded unit, with the cover resting in recesses in the partitions. There are finger access indentations in the ledge and partitions in order to facilitate the containers being grasping and removed from the channels formed by the partitions.

Abstract: A battery dispenser system with detachable dispensing units that includes a mounting board having a planar mounting surface, four board mounting apertures formed through the mounting board and at least two sets of dispensing unit snap fastener receiving cavities formed through the planar mounting surface; at least one detachable battery dispensing unit for cylindrical shaped batteries; and at least one detachable battery dispensing unit for rectangular shaped batteries; the battery dispensing unit for rectangular shaped batteries including a planar dispensing ledge, a battery insertion opening, and a feed passageway in connection between the planar dispensing ledge and the battery insertion opening; the battery dispensing unit for cylindrical shaped batteries including a battery feed passageway, a curved forward directing surface partially defining the battery feed passageway, and a battery retaining lip; each detachable battery dispensing unit including a number of dispensing unit snap fasteners that are pos

Abstract: An article dispensing device including a cabinet defines a dispensing path viewable from outside the cabinet and a plurality of randomly operating elements for possibly diverting an article travelling along the path. A bonus article is dispensed if a primary article successfully negotiates the dispensing path without being diverted. The average rate of operation of the diverting device increases with each diverting device encountered by the article along the dispensing path. For each diverting device, the average rate of operation is greater when an article nears than at other times.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing cylindrical objects of uniform diameter, such as beverage cans, from a package holding at least two rows of the objects, with at least two objects in each row. The dispenser has a front face that defines an object-dispensing opening at its lower end. The opening is shaped to allow an object being dispensed to pass through the opening. There is a dispensing tray at the bottom of the opening and projecting outward from the front face of the dispenser. The dispensing tray is adapted to receive and hold an object dispensed from the package and through the opening. The dispenser also includes an object-repositioning structure inward of the front face and positioned to contact the front object in the second row of objects at or above its center line when the dispenser is placed over an opened end of the package.

Abstract: The merchandising device includes an elongate track that defines a pathway extending therealong to support a row of articles, an arrangement for feeding the articles toward the front end of the track as leading articles in the row are successively removed one by one from the pathway, a stopper provided at the front end of the track, an attraction device for performing an attention-attracting activity, and a sensor for detecting movement of the articles in the row. The articles when supported by the track are movable along the pathway and are removable therefrom via the front end of the pathway. The stopper engages the leading articles so that all the articles in the row are prevented from being accidentally removed via the front end of the track. Due to the stopper, the leading articles are stopped and presented for removal from the pathway when arriving at the front end of the track.

Abstract: A storage and dispenser apparatus includes a back wall panel and a first, a second, and a third side wall panel projecting outward from the back wall panel. The width of the third is greater than the width of the second side wall panel, and the width of the second is greater than the width of the first side wall panel. A first front wall panel is transparent and is connected between the first and the second side wall panels. A second front wall panel is transparent and is connected between the second and the third side wall panels. A bottom portion is connected to the back wall panel. The bottom portion extends below the respective front wall panels for providing a first dispensing gap between the first front wall panel and the bottom portion and for providing a second dispensing gap between the second front wall panel and the bottom portion. The back wall panel includes installation apertures.

Abstract: A box-shaped container for temporary storage of filled or empty cigarette trays defines a plurality of compartments for temporary storage of a set of trays. The compartments have open front sides for introduction or extraction of trays and at least partially open undersides to permit evacuation of tobacco particles and/or other solid particulate matter. The container is provided with pairs of tracks at the lower portions of upright or sloping partitions which flank the compartments, which extend to an upright rear wall of the container, and which are overlapped by a horizontal top wall of the container. The latter is or can be designed in such a way that the contents of filled trays in the compartments are at least substantially sealed from the surrounding atmosphere.

Abstract: A display device has an article dispenser having front and rear opposite edges and designed to support articles. The dispenser includes a plurality of parallel tracks extending from the front edge of the dispenser toward the rear edge. Each track receives a row of articles for movement along that track. The dispenser also includes a diverting pathway extending substantially transversely of the tracks. The pathway interconnects the rear ends of the tracks and receives articles for movement therealong so that articles are allowed to be transferred from the pathway to each track and vice versa. The dispenser further includes a guide member disposed adjacent to the rear end of one of the tracks. When the articles in the track associated with the guide member are moved backwards along that track, they are brought into contact one after another with the front surface of the guide member and guided laterally along the front surface into the pathway.

Abstract: A gravity fed bottle dispensing and display rack is comprised of a support frame having front and rear transverse horizontal rigid members. A straight bottle support channel is interconnected between the transverse horizontal rigid members and inclined downwardly from a rear end thereof to a front open end. The support channel has a longitudinal slot defined longitudinally thereof in a lower end and extends between opposed support flanges. The support channel has a horizontally extending dispensing front section adjacent the front open end. Attachment clamps are provided for securing the support channel to the front and rear transverse horizontal rigid members. An arresting element is provided to abuttingly engage a forwardmost bottle suspended by a neck thereof by the channel at the dispensing front section to arrest the forwardmost bottle at the front open end of the support channel.