Apparatuses and methods provide an automated store with a number of product locations and a fetch and delivery bucket that conveys product from a shelf location to a delivery location. Cameras and sensors within the automated store acquire data that may be stored in a remote database and analyzed to improve the reliability of the delivery process. Camera images may also be used to re-position the fetch and delivery bucket in real time, to provide images of actual, available product to consumers via a remote interface, to determine inventory, and to monitor the activities of replenishers and service personnel, and to generally operate the automated store remotely.

An asset tag adapted to be mounted to an asset. The asset tag comprises a first component encoded with a first ID unique to the asset tag, the first component having a first wireless interface and transmitting first broadcast signals via said first wireless interface over a first range, the first broadcast signals including the first ID. The asset tag further comprises a user-actuatable button. The asset tag further comprises processing circuitry, coupled to the button and to at least the first wireless interface. The processing circuitry is configured for (i) determining whether a predetermined gesture has been performed by a user using the button and (ii) if the predetermined gesture has been performed, transmitting via the first wireless interface to a wireless access point a restock message, the restock message including the first ID and indicating that restocking is required of assets corresponding to the first ID.

A product storage device (1) includes: first and second product storage chambers (52, 53) for storing products and for cooling or heating the stored products; a product delivery port (31) to which a product stored in the first or second product storage chamber (52, 53) is dispensed; and a control unit (10) configured to set one of the first and second product storage chambers (52, 53) as a preliminary chamber in which stored products are not available for dispensing and set the other as a product dispensing chamber in which stored products are available for dispensing, and configured to sequentially change product storage chambers to be set as the preliminary chamber.

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.

An asset tag adapted to be mounted to an asset. The asset tag comprises a first component encoded with a first ID unique to the asset tag, the first component having a first wireless interface and transmitting first broadcast signals via said first wireless interface over a first range, the first broadcast signals including the first ID. The asset tag further comprises a user-actuatable button. The asset tag further comprises processing circuitry, coupled to the button and to at least the first wireless interface. The processing circuitry is configured for (i) determining whether a predetermined gesture has been performed by a user using the button and (ii) if the predetermined gesture has been performed, transmitting via the first wireless interface to a wireless access point a restock message, the restock message including the first ID and indicating that restocking is required of assets corresponding to the first ID.

A method includes identifying drugs to be dispensed from medication containers within filling cabinets in a pharmacy dispensing system. The drugs are automatically dispensed from the medication containers into pill containers. The method also includes determining a distribution parameter for the medication containers. The distribution parameter represents one or more of a quantity of the drugs that is dispensed or a limit on dispensing the drugs. The method also includes determining at least one allocation of the drugs in the medication containers that differs from a current allocation of the drugs in the medication containers, and changing the current allocation of the drugs in the medication containers to increase a distribution velocity at which the drugs are dispensed from the pharmacy dispensing system.

A product storage device (1) includes: first and second product storage chambers (52, 53) for storing products and for cooling or heating the stored products; a product delivery port (31) to which a product stored in the first or second product storage chamber (52, 53) is dispensed; and a control unit (10) configured to set one of the first and second product storage chambers (52, 53) as a preliminary chamber in which stored products are not available for dispensing and set the other as a product dispensing chamber in which stored products are available for dispensing, and configured to sequentially change product storage chambers to be set as the preliminary chamber.

A card cassette device of a card dispensing apparatus ensures elimination of measures for illegally opening a card outlet from the outside in a non-mounted state and makes it possible to open the card outlet according to the necessity in a mounted state, raising security level. A movable shutter for opening and closing a card outlet has a stopper member engaging hole and a lock member engaging hole. A stopper member is engaged with the stopper member engaging hole by a stopper member moving device, thereby fixing the shutter in its closed state in the non-mounted state. A lock member is engaged with the lock member engaging hole by a lock member moving device, thereby canceling the closed state of the shutter and locking the shutter in its open state in the mounted state.

An asset tag adapted to be mounted to an asset. The asset tag comprises a first component encoded with a first ID unique to the asset tag, the first component having a first wireless interface and transmitting first broadcast signals via said first wireless interface over a first range, the first broadcast signals including the first ID. The asset tag further comprises a user-actuatable button. The asset tag further comprises processing circuitry, coupled to the button and to at least the first wireless interface. The processing circuitry is configured for (i) determining whether a predetermined gesture has been performed by a user using the button and (ii) if the predetermined gesture has been performed, transmitting via the first wireless interface to a wireless access point a restock message, the restock message including the first ID and indicating that restocking is required of assets corresponding to the first ID.

Systems, apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture provide for modular vending systems utilizing reloadable product dispensing modules, including, but not limited to, vertical product dispensing modules comprising a vertical conveyor and a mounting structure for releasably engaging with module holder structures of modular vending machines, and a central controller device for communicating with a plurality of modular vending machines.