A product storage device includes: a main gate that is swingably provided to advance and move away from a product storage column, that advances to an advanced position, and that allows a downstream-most product to be taken out; a sub-gate that is swingably provided in association with the main gate; a sliding member that regulates the main gate from moving away and retracting from the product storage column; and a lever that allows the sliding member to be present at a regulation position, that switches to a regulation posture which regulates the sliding member from returning to the regulation position, and that then, when the main gate moves away from the product storage column in response to a take-out operation, switches to a standby posture when the main gate advances to the product storage column to allow the sliding member to return to the regulation position.

Apparatuses and methods are provided for manufacturing a transaction card. The disclosed apparatuses and methods may be used to form a transaction card frame configured to house a data storage component. The card frame may be formed of a resin mixture comprising a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). The card frame may also have a Shore D hardness in the range of 20-80.

A system for recycling a mobile device, A system configured in accordance with one embodiment of the present technology includes an electrical connector and testing electronics. The electrical connector is configured to be electrically connected to a mobile device, and the testing electronics are configured to produce an electrical measurement by measuring an electrical attribute associated with a hardware component of the mobile device over the electrical connector. The system is further configured to valuate, identify, and/or authenticate the mobile device based at least in part on the electrical measurement.

A magnetoelastic sensor is provided for analyzing strain induced by a force causing mechanical deformation of a region of a substrate. The sensor includes a substrate that has a non-deformable region and a mechanically deformable region, the mechanically deformable region coupled to the non-deformable region by a linking structure. The sensor also has a transformer having a magnetic flux guide. The flux guide includes a magnetoelastic section having a magnetoelastic subsection configured to be strainable by deformation of the mechanically deformable region. In transformer embodiments, one or more drive coil and/or pickup coil has a width greater than the minimal width of the linking structure. Sensor embodiments include numerous configurations. The sensor is useful in methods for analyzing strain and force.

A truck cap assembly that selectively covers a truck bed of a truck is provided. The truck cap assembly may include a cap that sets on opposing side walls of the truck; a cap door located on the cap; a latch bar located on the cap; a controller located on the cap door; and a latch release assembly which includes a motor and a latch arm. The controller is in electrical communication with a motor actuator that is coupled to a latch arm. A signal from the controller activates the motor to move the latch arm. The latch arm is releasable from the latch bar to release the cap door.

The present application is directed to systems and methods for transmitting vending machine data wirelessly via a reporting device. Each vending machine may connect to a reporting device. The reporting device may communicate with a mobile device wirelessly, where the mobile device may be carried by an operator. The reporting device may transmit vending machine data to the mobile device. The reporting device may transmit maintenance information to the mobile device. The mobile device may upload the vending machine data and maintenance information via a network to a remote device. The reporting device may enable a customer to make purchases with a mobile device. The reporting device may receive a repair-needed notification from a customer's mobile device.

The present application is directed to systems and methods for transmitting vending machine data wirelessly via a reporting device. Each vending machine may connect to a reporting device. The reporting device may communicate with a mobile device wirelessly, where the mobile device may be carried by an operator. The reporting device may transmit vending machine data to the mobile device. The reporting device may transmit maintenance information to the mobile device. The mobile device may upload the vending machine data and maintenance information via a network to a remote device. The reporting device may enable a customer to make purchases with a mobile device. The reporting device may receive a repair-needed notification from a customer's mobile device.

Described herein are systems and methods for providing interaction with a terminal. For example, various embodiments take the form of validators, validator components, components for interaction with validators, and software/methods for the operation of such validators and components. One embodiment provides a networked validator having functionality to display information via a LCD equipped bezel, interact with varied forms of token via a common input portal, and/or dispense printed tickets though an aperture inherently adapted to receive currency notes.

Described herein are systems and methods for providing interaction with a terminal. For example, various embodiments take the form of validators, validator components, components for interaction with validators, and software/methods for the operation of such validators and components. One embodiment provides a networked validator having functionality to display information via a LCD equipped bezel, interact with varied forms of token via a common input portal, and/or dispense printed tickets though an aperture inherently adapted to receive currency notes.

Embodiments relate to systems and methods for identifying potential shoplifting incidents. In one embodiment, a system can receive and analyze information related to a number of items removed from a display and a number of items added to a shopping receptacle. These numbers of items can be detected by weight or load changes sensed by a sensor system, and if the counted numbers of items do not match, the system can flag nearby shopping receptacles via their unique identification numbers as potentially involved in shoplifting incidents.