A system for dispensing one or more products can include one or more product containers, each with a port for dispensing a product, a housing with one or more product cavities for removably receiving the product containers, one or more quantity sensors for detecting a quantity of product within one or more product containers, one or more actuators for dispensing product from one or more product containers, and a controller configured to monitor or control one or more aspects of the system.

Methods for manufacturing cartridges for fluid mixture dispensers are disclosed herein. For example, the cartridges can be ingredient cartridges for fluid mixture dispensers each holding a set of discrete ingredients in a set of ingredient reservoirs. The methods of manufacturing the cartridges can include configuring the cartridges with loadouts including selecting specific ingredients, selecting a number of reservoirs, and selecting a relative size of the various reservoirs. The methods can also include collecting a set of population data using a network of fluid mixture dispensing devices, analyzing the set of population data, and configuring the cartridges so that they are each optimized for a consumption pattern using the set of population data. The methods can further include filling the cartridge reservoirs according to the loadout and packaging the cartridges for shipment.

A merchandiser for storing at least one product for purchase by a customer is provided. The merchandiser includes: a housing defining a cavity configured to receive the at least one product; an opening defined by the housing, the opening providing access to the cavity; and a door coupled to the housing and movable between a first position and a second position. The door substantially covers the opening in the first position and the door is positioned away from the opening in the second position such that the cavity is accessible. The merchandiser further includes a control system operable in a plurality of modes including at least a run mode and a setup mode. In the run mode, purchase of the at least one product is permitted. In the setup mode, one or more run mode provisions that control operation of the merchandiser in the run mode are received.

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.

Disclosed herein are embodiments of a modular photo kiosk system that produces prints that include printed templates, guides, and instructions for use with matching designated user provided photo. The systems are configurable so that they can be easily combined to adapt the kiosk system to meet the productivity, capacity, product range, inventory control, and physical conditions of a selected retail environment. The kiosk can include remote access for customers and kiosk owners to place remote orders and manage kiosk inventory and further include a secured product display area featuring photo products for sale. A further aspect of the technology described herein comprises a software application for use by clerks for monitoring, maintaining, and operating the photo kiosk system.

There is disclosed a method of eliminating waste in the delivery of a metered amount of bulk food from a manufacturing outlet to a customer in a delivery area. One or more stand-alone micro-retail units may be sited at outdoor locations in the delivery area and may each comprise a weatherproof housing sheltering multiple food silos. Each food silo may store an intermediate capacity of the bulk food item and be configured to dispense the metered amount through a silo output and through a food dispenser. A refill hatch may be disposed in a wall of the housing above and for each silo, connecting to an inlet of the silo. A vending interface of the retail unit may alert the manufacturing outlet, by a level indicator, of a low storage level of the dry food item and thereby trigger a delivery of the bulk food in an intermediate bulk compartment.

The present invention relates to a mobile general store truck and a system for purchasing and accessing convenience items at the mobile general store truck. The store truck is configured to store different food items, beverages, tobacco, and more that can be ordered by customers at the store truck or by using a website or application. The ordered items are accessible at a scheduled time and place to customers by the store truck. In some embodiments, the truck can be a part of a fleet in which a truck in the delivery range of the customer provides the items. The invention enables the customers to order and have the items accessible or provided as per their convenience and thus saving time and effort in purchasing convenience items.

A vending machine has an interactive customer experience. Some embodiments of the vending machine include a transparent front wall with a plurality of display units located behind the front wall. Each of the display units may contain an example of a product available for vending. Based on input received from a customer and other information, the vending machine may provide a recommendation for a product or products to select for purchase. The vending machine may highlight the recommendation by selectively illuminating the product display units that contain the recommended products.

A gift card system and method for purchasing gift cards at a kiosk is disclosed. The system/method includes a gift card distribution kiosk located at a retail establishment that provides a user with access to a multitude of different forms of gift cards that may be purchased and printed onto a customizable card with a personalized message. The kiosk includes a kiosk processor interface, a gift card dispenser, a card reader and gift card management server connected to a network. The gift card management server, through the kiosk processor interface, provides vendor options to users to select and pay via the card reader. In another embodiment, the kiosk is used to redeem unused user gift cards for a reduced value user selected gift card, reduced cash value, full value store card, rewards points, bank debit, and/or electronic code user towards online purchases.

A system and method for providing payments is disclosed. A method can include establishing a wireless link between a mobile device and a merchant device. After an instruction is displayed on the mobile device, a combination of a first type of input and a second type of input are received on the mobile device, first type of input including at least one button press of a physical button and the second type of input received from a user to confirm a payment for the purchase. Based on the inputs, payment data is retrieved from a memory of the mobile device. The method includes receiving the payment data at the merchant device to make the purchase, wherein receiving the payment data, via the wireless link, at the merchant device to make the purchase is performed according to a protocol for communicating the payment data to the merchant device.