Methods and systems for exchanging various forms of value, including coins, currency, credit, debit, and/or bank account funds, for prepaid cash cards, credit cards, phone cards, and the like. In one embodiment, a value exchange machine includes a coin input region, a coin sorting/counting apparatus, a card reader, and a communications facility configured to communicate with a remote computer network. In another embodiment, a value exchange system includes one or more of the value exchange machines connected to one or more remote computers via a communications link. A user wishing to purchase, for example, a prepaid cash card can visit one of the value exchange machines, select the desired transaction, and pay for the card with coins, currency, a credit card, a debit card, and/or bank account funds. After confirming payment, the value exchange machine dispenses the card to the user.

In some embodiments, the present invention is directed to a stand-alone vending machine that includes at least: a housing; a dispensing combination, including: a holding tray; a first plurality of pockets positioned at a one side of the holding tray; a first separation mechanism; where the first separation mechanism is operationally connected to the holding tray and the first plurality of pockets; where the first separation mechanism is configured to separate each dispensing object only from a first plurality of dispensing objects; a second plurality of pockets positioned at another side of the holding tray; a second separation mechanism; where the second separation mechanism is operationally connected to the holding tray and the second plurality of pockets; where the second separation mechanism is configured to separate each dispensing object only from the second plurality of dispensing objects.

A dispenser of feminine hygiene products, including feminine pads and tampons activated by a motion sensor. A motion of a person's hand or other object within a given distance from the motion sensor will close an electronic circuit causing a motor to rotate. The motor is attached to a shaft which rotates. The shaft retains a feminine product dispenser. The feminine product dispenser transports one of the feminine hygiene products to a retrieval tray. A time delay reduces the likelihood of or prevents someone from continuously activating the motion sensor to dispense all of the products in the machine.

Systems and methods for measuring consumption of entertainment commodities distributed through at least two distribution channels by at least one distribution network operator to one or more media receivers. The methods include collecting consumption data from at least one distribution network operator. The at least one distribution network operator distributes entertainment commodities through at least a first distribution channel and a second distribution channel. The collected consumption data relates to entertainment commodities distributed through at least the first distribution channel and the second distribution channel. The collected consumption data includes at least one inconsistency. The collected consumption data is loaded into a computerized database adapted to store, process, and report on consumption. Cleaned consumption data is produced by reconciling consumption data inconsistencies. A consumption data report is based at least in part on the cleaned consumption data. The consumption data report communicates consumption of at least one entertainment commodity.

A medication-taking support device that has no possibility of a pill case being left outside the medication-taking support device even if the pill case ejected outside a casing is not received by a user is provided. The medication-taking support device includes a cassette (25) that stores medicine-containing pill cases in such a manner that the pill cases are stacked on top of one another, a push-out mechanism (30) that pushes out the pill case on a lowermost tier in the cassette (25) by a predetermined dimension, and a pull-back mechanism (32) that pulls back the pill case remaining on the lowermost tier without being extracted from the cassette (25) into the cassette (25).

A sanitizing device having a microcontroller 2 receiving information from the opening sensor 1 of the access status door to the interior of the vending machine activating at least one radiation module 4 or at least one sprayer 5 for a first stage of sanitization of the stored products. The microcontroller 2 operates the control mechanism of the upper doors 7 and the opening and closing mechanism 10 of the front door 9 of a disinfection compartment 6, closing both to start a second disinfection stage that is applied only on the product selected by the consumer when detected by the product sensor 11. The microprocessor 2 opens the front door 9 at the end of the stage, and upon receiving the signal from the empty disinfection compartment 6, triggers the opening and closing mechanism 10, closing the front door 9 and the control mechanism 8 by opening the upper doors 7. The presence detection sent by proximity sensors 3 to the machine to the microcontroller 2, interrupts the cycle of ultraviolet radiation. The microcontroller 2 is linked to a communication interface 14 and a network communication interface 15.

A method of presenting product information in a vending machine may include detecting audio information from a consumer and converting the audio information to a text string. The method may include identifying a keyword in the text string, and determining products from a product database associated with the keyword. The method may include returning a list of the products that correspond to the keyword.

A method of presenting product information in a vending machine may include detecting audio information from a consumer and converting the audio information to a text string. The method may include identifying a keyword in the text string, and determining products from a product database associated with the keyword. The method may include returning a list of the products that correspond to the keyword.

A system that includes detergent articles and a dispenser. The dispenser may include a drum containing the articles, a collection element having a scoop, and a refilling area. The drum may be rotatable around a drum rotation axis making an angle of at least 75 degrees and of less than 135 degrees with the direction of gravity, and the drum may have a cylindrical shape, a barrel shape, a funnel shape or a conical shape.

Disclosed are a vending machine and an item dispensing method of storage column thereof. In the item dispensing method of the storage column of the vending machine, controlling the first motor to start rotating for the first time to convey the target item to the inlet of the bucket; when detecting that the target item reaches the inlet of the bucket, controlling the first motor to stop rotating for the first time to make the target item enter the inside of the bucket under the driving of the second motor.