The vandal proof knob is designed to protect self-serve car wash station control boxes from costly damage from acts of vandalism or robbery by using a single piece construction of a knob with an elongated shaft that mates with the adjustment shaft of a standard rotary switch. The elongated shaft combined with a separate durable metal bracket mounted inside the control box allows for the rotary switch to be recessed approximately three inches inside the control box offering additional protection against vandalism. The bracket is secured to the control box using at least two fasteners and the rotary switch is also attached to the distal end of the bracket using at least two fasteners. Finally the front face of the knob has position indicating markings made as part of the single piece construction which also provides additional protection against vandalism.

A vending machine remotes contents sensing apparatus collects information from the actual delivery of a product, sends it on to an MCU, then to a CPU, to the internet, to a remote receiver with a web interface application on a web page for access by a service person for real time delivery information.

A lottery ticket vending machine configured to obtain code image data (such as bar code image data) from a leading lottery ticket in each of the lottery drawers in the lottery ticket vending machine, and use the code image data for activating or verifying activation of the lottery tickets loaded in the ticket drawers. This expedites the ticket loading process by eliminating the need for an operator to manually and/or separately scan a code (such as a bar code) for each ticket pack loaded into the ticket drawers.

A consumer-operated kiosk can include an inspection area configured to receive a first device from a user. The kiosk can include an imaging device configured to image the first device when the first device is positioned within the inspection area. In some embodiments, the kiosk includes a vending apparatus configured to store a plurality of second electronic devices for purchase. The kiosk can include one or more release mechanisms configured to directly release any one of the second electronic devices from the vending apparatus. The kiosk includes one or more processors operably connected to the inspection area, the imaging device, the vending apparatus, and the one or more release mechanisms. The one or more processors can be configured to cause the imaging device to capture one or more images of the first electronic device, facilitate purchase of the first electronic device based at least in part on the one or more captured images of the first electronic device, receive a request to vend a selected phone from among the phones in the vending apparatus, and/or cause the one or more release mechanisms to release the selected phone directly from the vending apparatus into a vending bay of the kiosk.

Kiosk systems and methods for vending mobile phones and other electronic devices to, and/or for purchasing mobile phones and other electronic devices from, consumers are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, such systems can include subsystems for transferring data from, e.g., a purchased phone to a vended phone.

A lottery ticket vending machine configured to obtain code image data (such as bar code image data) from a leading lottery ticket in each of the lottery drawers in the lottery ticket vending machine, and use the code image data for activating or verifying activation of the lottery tickets loaded in the ticket drawers. This expedites the ticket loading process by eliminating the need for an operator to manually and/or separately scan a code (such as a bar code) for each ticket pack loaded into the ticket drawers.

According to one embodiment, a mobile sales system includes a mobile sales robot and a server. The robot includes a first processor that acquires user identification information from a user, detects when an item is removed from the robot and acquires a corresponding commodity identification, and transmits the user identification information and commodity identification to the server. The server stores the user identification information and the commodity identification in correlation with each other. Each commodity identification is associated with a settlement flag indicating whether the item has been paid for. The server transmits the commodity identifications stored in correlation with the user identification information to an external device that sends the user identification information to the server when the settlement flag indicates the corresponding item has not yet been paid for and executes settlement (payment) processing using user settlement information when a request is sent from the external device.

A consumer-operated kiosk can include an inspection area configured to receive a first device from a user. The kiosk can include an imaging device configured to image the first device when the first device is positioned within the inspection area. In some embodiments, the kiosk includes a vending apparatus configured to store a plurality of second electronic devices for purchase. The kiosk can include one or more release mechanisms configured to directly release any one of the second electronic devices from the vending apparatus. The kiosk includes one or more processors operably connected to the inspection area, the imaging device, the vending apparatus, and the one or more release mechanisms. The one or more processors can be configured to cause the imaging device to capture one or more images of the first electronic device, facilitate purchase of the first electronic device based at least in part on the one or more captured images of the first electronic device, receive a request to vend a selected phone from among the phones in the vending apparatus, and/or cause the one or more release mechanisms to release the selected phone directly from the vending apparatus into a vending bay of the kiosk.

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 position an electrical connector for connection to a mobile device. This apparatus enables the kiosk to connect to the mobile device to electrically inspect the mobile device, and the associated electrical connectors and cables are not subjected to repeated pulling and other rough handling that can lead to premature wear and tear. Accordingly, use of connector carriers configured in accordance with the present technology can lead to longer connector/cable service life, reduced maintenance, and greater kiosk up-time. In some embodiments, the apparatus can include a camshaft having one or more cam lobes positioned to act against one or more cam followers, e.g., carrying one or more electrical connectors.

A lottery ticket vending machine configured to obtain code image data (such as bar code image data) from a leading lottery ticket in each of the lottery drawers in the lottery ticket vending machine, and use the code image data for activating or verifying activation of the lottery tickets loaded in the ticket drawers. This expedites the ticket loading process by eliminating the need for an operator to manually and/or separately scan a code (such as a bar code) for each ticket pack loaded into the ticket drawers.