An article ejecting device of an automatic vending machine includes an article storage rack having an article storage passage for storing articles while being laid sideways, a base board forming one side of the article storage passage, a first stopper member movable between a protruding position in which the first stopper member protrudes toward the article storage passage and a retractable position in which the first stopper member is retracted from the article storage passage, a second stopper member movable between a protruding position in which the second stopper member protrudes toward the article storage passage and a retractable position in which the second stopper member is retracted from the article storage passage, and an outlet adjustment member forming another side of the article storage passage. The first stopper member includes an article placement surface having a holding portion holding the first vending article in a rolling manner.

In order to monitor the administration of medicament portions Ta in a reliable and simple manner, the invention provides a display device for a dispenser for medicament portions Ta, it being necessary to administer the medicament portions at regularly recurring reference administration times, and the display device comprising a display 1 and an electronic actuation means for the display, characterized in that the display comprises a first visualization means 30, 40 for displaying a first period of time between a first reference administration time and the current time, and the first reference administration time being distinguished in that the medicament portion has not been taken by the first reference administration time.

An apparatus for dispensing articles to a user comprising an cage having walls defining a hollow interior with one wall having a door with a locking mechanism for automatically engaging the lock; an cage electronic module having a power source, an cage communication means to communicate with a remote monitoring device, a camera, an cage interface for receiving user inputs, an cage notification means and a remote locking system; and a remote monitoring device communicating with the cage electronic module having a power supply, a remote communication means , a visual display for receiving video from an cage camera, a remote device interface for receiving attendant inputs, a remote notification means, whereby, a user can notify an attendant after payment, to dispense articles from an cage, while attendant remotely visually monitors and opens the cage allowing a user to retrieve the purchased articles, after which the lock automatically re-engages.

A tablet feeder comprises a device body, a plurality of tablet cassettes disposed on one face of the device body 1 in a vertical direction, each tablet cassette accommodating a plurality of tablets by kind, and a plurality of chutes disposed on one face of the device body 1 in a vertical direction and shifted in a horizontal direction, the chutes temporarily storing the tablets dispensed from the tablet cassette and having the dispensing portion at the downward portion thereof, the dispensing portion being capable of dispensing the tablets to a bottomed cylindrical tablet container.

Computationally implemented methods and systems include acquiring user information associated with one or more users for use in generating one or more customized food items that are customized specifically for the one or more users, the user information to be acquired including at least one or more user preferences related to integrity of one or more food ingredients to be included in the one or more customized food items; and directing generation of the one or more customized food items for the one or more users, the one or more customized food items having been customized to show one or more visual indicators that provide customized information that has been customized in accordance, at least in part, with the acquired user information. In addition to the foregoing, other aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text.

A method of substituting digital alternative media for a requested media selection to a customer is provided. The method includes receiving a request related to the requested media selection through a user interface from the customer, identifying an associated content provider, and determining the alternative media selection at the associated content provider that corresponds to the requested media selection. The method also includes receiving a unique customer identifier and identifying the associated content provider based on the unique customer identifier. The method further includes mapping the media article to the alternative media selection based on metadata. The requested media selection may be available or may be unavailable due to being out-of-stock or reserved to another customer in an article dispensing machine embodiment. The associated content provider may be linked to the customer based on a subscription. The digital alternative media selection may be accessed by an audio/visual display interface.

A climate-controlled vending machine is monitored using data analytics. The climate-controlled vending machine includes a primary storage unit for storing two or more items. A first slot of an item is determined to be available within a secondary storage unit of the climate-controlled vending machine. The secondary storage unit is a climate-controlled unit. A first item, of the two or more items within the primary storage unit, is transferred to the first slot of the secondary storage unit. The first item within the first slot of the secondary storage unit is altered to a first condition. A selection from a first user is received. In response to the reception of the selection of the first item, the first item is dispensed to the user from a dispensary unit, wherein the item is being of the first condition. The first slot is replenished with a replacement item from the primary storage.

Example embodiments of the present invention may provide an efficient method of replenishing canisters of an automated dispensing device off-line. In particular, methods may include automatically causing an image to be captured at each of two or more stages of a replenishment process, where respective images are of a loading receptacle of a replenishment station, the loading receptacle configured to hold medication. The method may also include providing for display of respective images on a device located remote from the replenishment station, and receiving an approval or rejection of at least one stage of the replenishment process in response to providing for the display of respective images.

Various embodiments of kiosks for purchasing mobile phones and other mobile electronic devices from users are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the kiosks include an apparatus to turn a mobile phone over on an inspection surface. This apparatus can enable the kiosk to visually inspect both the front and back sides of the mobile device on the inspection surface with an inspection system (e.g., imaging devices, lighting devices, etc.) positioned above the inspection surface, and can eliminate the need to position a second inspection system below a transparent inspection surface to visually inspect, e.g., the back side of the mobile device through the transparent inspection surface. In some embodiments, the kiosk also includes a wireless mobile phone charging device that can be used for, e.g., phone charging and identification.

The present application describes a vending machine, communicatively coupled with a server. The vending machine comprises a Vending Machine Controller (VMC), a Data Exchange (DEX), a Vivid Transaction System (VTS), a payment device and a microcontroller. The microcontroller selects one of the DEX and the VTS, by changing a jumper setting on a GPIO. The microcontroller communicates with the VMC, the DEX and/or the VTS and the payment device in order to facilitate transaction associated with the vending machine. The microcontroller extracts at least one of inventory data and transaction data from the DEX or VTS associated with the vending machine and transmit at least one of the inventory data and the transaction data to the server for further processing and analysis. The microcontroller receives recommendation information pertaining to at least one of inventory and transaction associated to the vending machine from the server based upon the processing and analysis.