The present invention relates to an auxiliary battery and an auxiliary battery rental device, and the auxiliary battery rental device according to the present invention comprises: a battery port allowing an auxiliary battery to be discharged therefrom or returned thereto; a battery queue in which auxiliary batteries are vertically stacked and loaded; a carrier for discharging an auxiliary battery loaded in the battery queue to the battery port, or loading an auxiliary battery returned to the battery port in the battery queue; a lift for lifting at least some of the auxiliary batteries loaded in the battery queue; a charging unit for charging at least some of the auxiliary batteries loaded in the battery queue; and a control unit for controlling an operation of the rental device such that lending and returning operations of the auxiliary batteries are automatically performed. According to the present invention, lending, returning, charging, and lending of auxiliary batteries can be circularly and automatically performed.

Provided are a method for calibrating sensors in a vending machine and a vending machine. input values of first input terminals and input values of second input terminals of sensors are determined through level 1 calibration and level 2 calibration, respectively, which may greatly increase the number of adjustable grades of the luminous intensity of an optical generator of each sensor, and may further greatly improve the success rate of calibration on the sensors.

Provided are a method for calibrating sensors in a vending machine and a vending machine. input values of first input terminals and input values of second input terminals of sensors are determined through level 1 calibration and level 2 calibration, respectively, which may greatly increase the number of adjustable grades of the luminous intensity of an optical generator of each sensor, and may further greatly improve the success rate of calibration on the sensors.

Systems and methods that perform automated selection and delivery of a fastener. The system or apparatus may include a fastener inventory portion that retains a plurality of fasteners; a user delivery portion; a transfer assembly that affords physical transport of a fastener selection from the fastener inventory portion to the user delivery portion; a fastener attribute assembly that inputs desired fastener attribute data (DFA data) regarding a desired fastener; a computer system that interfaces with the fastener attribute assembly to input the DFA data; maps the DFA data to at least one fastener candidate; determines a fastener selection amongst the at least one fastener candidate; determines a number of discrete units of the desired fastener that comprise the fastener selection; and controls the transfer assembly to retrieve the fastener selection from the fastener inventory portion and physically transport the fastener selection to the user delivery portion.

A system facilitating payment for fuel dispensing includes a fuel dispenser associated with a current-loop-to-ethernet converter for receiving serial data from a fuel dispenser controller and converting said serial data to an ethernet signal and a network appliance coupled the current-loop-to-ethernet converter by an ethernet port. A virtual payment facilitator is connected to the network appliance over a VPN and to a payment authorization entity, also over a VPN. A process performed by the system includes receiving a fueling request at the virtual payment facilitator from the payment authorization entity and converting that request into a command issued to the fuel dispenser to dispense fuel.

The present teachings contemplate a dispensing apparatus for cosmetic samples, the apparatus comprising a retail point of sale dispenser; a carrier including a plurality of mounts and a plurality of containers removably attached to the carrier via the plurality of mounts; with vertical and horizontal translational components; one or more information retrieval devices; a user interface including a data interface adapted to store information on the one or more information retrieval devices; a transparent panel covering at least a portion of the dispensing apparatus and wherein the one or more information retrieval device are adapted to be maintained in the possession of a user; and wherein the apparatus dispenses cosmetic samples based on user input.

An automated multi-dispenser and multi-replenisher of products for concurrent loading and unloading of products that simplifies existing systems, consisting of an elongated structure (1) which supports several central shelving units (2) with a set of inclined shelves (3) arranged at different heights one below the other and one next to the other, comprising a plurality of horizontal shelves (5) at each longitudinal side of the elongated structure (1); at least one rear loading subsystem in the form of a cart (6), which travels over these lateral shelving units (4) in order to leave the products on the highest section of the inclined shelves (3); at least one front unloading subsystem in the form of a cart (7), which collects the products from the lowest section of the inclined shelves (3), where the carts (6) and (7) also cover a plurality of inclined channels (8) including a support (9).

Disclosed is a vending machine, including a cabinet, a bucket, a bucket drive mechanism, a first shutter mechanism, a second shutter mechanism, a controller and a storage column; a pickup port is arranged at the surface of the cabinet; the storage column stores the commodities; the bucket includes an inlet and an outlet; the inlet receives the commodity to be conveyed from the storage column, and the outlet is butted with the pickup port; the bucket drive mechanism drives the bucket to move in the cabinet; the first shutter mechanism blocks or opens the inlet; the second shutter mechanism blocks or opens the outlet; the controller controls the first shutter mechanism to open the inlet and the second shutter mechanism to block the outlet in the process of commodity to be conveyed entering the bucket. Further disclosed is a commodity conveying method.

Systems and methods that perform automated selection and delivery of a fastener. The system or apparatus may include a fastener inventory portion that retains a plurality of fasteners; a user delivery portion; a transfer assembly that affords physical transport of a fastener selection from the fastener inventory portion to the user delivery portion; a fastener attribute assembly that inputs desired fastener attribute data (DFA data) regarding a desired fastener; a computer system that interfaces with the fastener attribute assembly to input the DFA data; maps the DFA data to at least one fastener candidate; determines a fastener selection amongst the at least one fastener candidate; determines a number of discrete units of the desired fastener that comprise the fastener selection; and controls the transfer assembly to retrieve the fastener selection from the fastener inventory portion and physically transport the fastener selection to the user delivery portion.

Provided are a method for detecting quantity of items and a vending machine. The vending machine includes: an item column configured to temporarily store items, where the item column includes an outlet; a shielding member configured to shield or open the outlet of the item column; and a driving device configured to drive the items in the item column to move toward the outlet of the item column. The method includes: controlling the shielding member to shield the outlet of the item column; driving the items in the item column to move until the items in the item column abut against each other; detecting a total length of all items in the item column; and calculating the quantity of items in the item column according to the total length of the all items and a length of a single item in the item column.