A vending machine system for exchanging CO.sub.2 gas cylinders, the system including a controller in communication with a user interface, a payment system and an array of bin assemblies, wherein each one of the bin assemblies is shaped to at least partially receive an end of a CO.sub.2 gas cylinder and includes a locking system for releasably securing therein a CO.sub.2 gas cylinder, said system for performing the steps of (a) receiving user input through the user interface; and (b) if the user input represents a desire to exchange a CO.sub.2 gas cylinder, then the system performs the steps of (i) receiving payment from the user through the payment system for a replacement CO.sub.2 gas cylinder; (ii) receiving a CO.sub.2 gas cylinder in a first one of said bin assemblies; and (iii) the locking system releasing a full CO.sub.2 gas cylinder located in a second one of said bin assemblies for collection by the user.

A system for automatic filling of medication organizers comprises i) a storage unit for medication containers that is accessible from a first side thereof ii) a plurality of medication organizer filling units, each having a temporary storage rack that is accessible from a side of the medication filling units that faces the storage unit, and iii) a container handling system that is positioned between the storage unit and the temporary storage racks and that is movable between the storage unit and each of the temporary storage racks for transferring selected medication containers therebetween. The system allows minimizing idle times by moving medication containers between the storage unit and temporary storage racks simultaneously to the filling process.

A processing apparatus obtains sales information from a control box of the vending machine which is connected to the computer via an interface compliant with an RS-232C standard, generates data of a screen corresponding to a specific path and including the sales information of the vending machine on a basis of the obtained sales information and transmits the data to a terminal, when having received a display request including a designation of the specific path, from the terminal.

Provided herein are automated article dispensing systems having inventory management capabilities, and methods for managing inventory of articles in automated dispensing systems. In particular, the systems and methods disclosed herein utilize an inventory management assembly which includes one or more sensors configured to detect directly or indirectly one or more parameters related to quality and/or quantity the articles and an inventory management processing module configured to compute inventory related data based at least on the one or more parameters.

Systems and methods for operating a vending machine and/or kiosk. The methods comprise: detecting a presence of a person in a seat of the vending machine; obtaining a full or partial body heat map for the person that was created based on sensor data generated by at least one sensor of the vending machine or at least one sensor located in proximity to the vending machine (the full or partial heat map showing relative temperatures of different parts of a body of the person); selecting at least one vending service parameter for the vending machine using information obtained based on the full or partial body heat map; and causing the vending machine to provide the person with a vending service in accordance with the at least one vending service parameter that was selected.

The present disclosure relates to a beverage and/or flowable edible product dispensing apparatus, comprising: a programmable controller; a touchscreen interface including an indicator of at least one edible item for selection, the operator interface in communication with the programmable controller a dispensing system in communication the operator interface, the programmable controller, being wirelessly connected to the internet, and being operable to associate the at least one edible item with the least one beverage and/or flowable edible and/or inedible product; and the dispensing system dispenses an amount of the at least one beverage and/or flowable edible and/or inedible product associated with the selected edible item when the at least one edible and/or inedible item is selected.

A zero emissions, autonomous vehicle system includes a zero emissions, autonomous vehicle configured to navigate one or more roadways independently of a human driver and including an electrical power source electrically coupled to a motor of the vehicle; a passenger compartment within an interior volume of the vehicle and configured to support human passengers; and a vending system mounted at least partially in the interior volume and electrically coupled to the electrical power source. The vending system includes an accessible enclosure that includes at least one temperature-controlled compartment configured to store vending products; and a control system including a user interface and configured to operate the accessible enclosure to provide human access to the temperature-controlled compartment based on human interactions with the user interface.

The present invention provides a dispenser interface, associated methods and systems, and dispensers employing the dispenser interface and associated systems and methods. An example embodiment provides a method of configuring a communication interface of a dispenser controller configured to control a dispenser for dispensing hygiene products or other products. The method comprises operatively connecting a communication controller to the communication interface of the dispenser controller; and transmitting, via the communication interface and from the communication controller and to the dispenser controller, configuration information, the configuration information comprising at least one of: a communication protocol, instructions indicating dispenser information to be communicated in association with the occurrence of at least one type of dispenser event, instructions associated with how to communicate dispenser information associated with at least one type of dispenser event to the communication controller, and a priority indicator associated with at least one type of dispenser event.

A method of registering devices (2), in particular access control devices or payment or vending machines, on a server (3) of a system where the device (2) which is to be registered generates a public and a private key with asymmetrical cryptology. The device (2) subsequently transmits a registration request, signed with the device's private key, containing at least one device ID, the device's public key and the login details of a technician. The server (3) verifies the registration request using the device's public key and, after verification, assigns the device (2) to a ‘data reception room’ where no operational communication with the server (3) occurs. Subsequently, the device (2) is cleared for communication by a technician logged in to the server (3). The device is assigned to an area of the server memory for operationally cleared devices, and a notification of registration is transmitted to the device (2).

A method for supplying products for electrically operated smoking systems is provided, including: delivering to a remote user device from a central server over a network connection order option information associated with a vending machine; receiving an order from the remote user device, the order including an indication of a product available from the vending machine, and user identification information; retrieving registered user information, including user authentication information associated with user identification information; receiving user authentication information from a user; and if the received user authentication information matches the retrieved user authentication information, delivering the product to the user at the vending machine.