A vending machine has a cabinet internally defining a dispensing compartment that is closed by a front door and houses a plurality of dispensing trays, each of which supports a plurality of products and is slidably engaged in a guide device defined by a pair of elongated guides, each of which is coupled to the cabinet through a front tooth and a rear tooth and is provided with a retractable spring-loaded locking pin movable between a coupling position and a release position with respect to the cabinet.

A vending machine is disclosed which may include a level sensor to ensure proper positioning of the vending machine, and which can be used in an anti-theft alert scheme. The machine may also include an XY mechanism having an X-axis motor in a product area and a Y-axis motor in a transaction area. The machine may also include individually lockable doors between the product area and a delivery bin and between the delivery bin and the outside of the machine. The machine may also include quick release racks, trays and gates for easy removal and replacement. The machine may also include a controller which allows programming of product size or product price by rack or column. The machine may also include a refrigeration cassette which can be quickly removed and replaced. The machine may also include anti-theft legs or an anti-theft underside mechanism.

An automatic vending machine includes a product housing rack including a plurality of product housing shelves that are disposed in an up-down direction, a plurality of product housing paths corresponding to the plurality of product housing shelves, each product housing path being defined in the corresponding product housing shelf and configured to house products, a plurality of product discharge devices corresponding to the plurality of product housing shelves and the plurality of product housing paths, each product discharge device being configured to separate and discharge, one by one, the products that are housed in the corresponding product housing path. The product housing shelf includes a front side shelf member and a back side shelf member that are divided in the front-back direction, supported by support members, and detachably coupled with each other so that the front side shelf member is sandwiched by the back side shelf member.

Systems and methods that perform automated selection and delivery of a fastener. The system or apparatus may include a fastener inventory portion that retains a plurality of fasteners; a user delivery portion; a transfer assembly that affords physical transport of a fastener selection from the fastener inventory portion to the user delivery portion; a fastener attribute assembly that inputs desired fastener attribute data (DFA data) regarding a desired fastener; a computer system that interfaces with the fastener attribute assembly to input the DFA data; maps the DFA data to at least one fastener candidate; determines a fastener selection amongst the at least one fastener candidate; determines a number of discrete units of the desired fastener that comprise the fastener selection; and controls the transfer assembly to retrieve the fastener selection from the fastener inventory portion and physically transport the fastener selection to the user delivery portion.

Automated, environmentally monitored and controlled storage units and systems for storing, monitoring, and maintaining a supply of products, particularly temperature sensitive pharmaceutical and/or other high-value products, be they temperature sensitive or not. Such automated storage units contain an array of independently addressable holding locations for containers with product in one or more environmentally monitored (e.g., for temperature, humidity, etc.) and controlled zones fitted with appropriate environmental sensors. In preferred embodiments, the automated storage units also include a reader to track product information and status. Product loading, retrieval, and movement within such automated storage units is performed by a computer-controlled robot. A user interface device, preferably in communication with an application service provider to provide remotely managed inventory management and other services, provides users with inventory- and product-specific information.

This application discloses a luggage vending machine, including a shelf, a communication controller and an electronic lock, the communication controller and the electronic lock are both installed on the shelf, and the communication controller and the electronic lock are electrically connected, the communication controller is used for Communicate and control the opening and closing of electronic locks used to lock luggage. The utility model has the following beneficial effects: by installing an electronic lock and a communication controller on the shelf, the electronic lock is used to lock the suitcase on the shelf, and at the same time, the communication controller is further used to control the opening and closing of the electronic lock. The automatic sale of luggage is convenient and fast.

A baffle blocking medication dispensing unit for bottled medication, wherein: bottled medication is laid flat in the medication container in a single row; the container is arranged at an angle of greater than 10 to make the medication discharging end lower than its rear end and the opening of the medication discharging end is the medication outlet; the medication discharging mechanism includes a dispensing baffle hinged at the medication outlet, and when the baffle is in the state of closing and blocking, it blocks the medication outlet, and when the baffle is in the state of turning over and opening, the baffle is turned down to be connected with the front side of the bottom wall, and the first bottled medication at the dispensing end is dispensed forward on the straight plate portion of the baffle and the blocking portion blocks the second bottled medication at the dispensing end.

Connector carriers (e.g., connector carousels) for use with electronic device processing kiosks, such as mobile phone recycling kiosks, are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a connector carrier includes a chassis and a plurality of electrical connectors fixedly positioned around a periphery of the chassis. In operation, the connector carrier is configured to rotate about a central axis to position a selected one of the electrical connectors in a first position adjacent to an inspection area of the kiosk, and then move toward the inspection area to move the selected electrical connector from the first position to a second position in which a user can connect a mobile phone to the electrical connector.

Systems and methods that perform automated selection and delivery of a fastener. The system or apparatus may include a fastener inventory portion that retains a plurality of fasteners; a user delivery portion; a transfer assembly that affords physical transport of a fastener selection from the fastener inventory portion to the user delivery portion; a fastener attribute assembly that inputs desired fastener attribute data (DFA data) regarding a desired fastener; a computer system that interfaces with the fastener attribute assembly to input the DFA data; maps the DFA data to at least one fastener candidate; determines a fastener selection amongst the at least one fastener candidate; determines a number of discrete units of the desired fastener that comprise the fastener selection; and controls the transfer assembly to retrieve the fastener selection from the fastener inventory portion and physically transport the fastener selection to the user delivery portion.

Modular vending machines for storing and dispensing products to consumers. A modular vending machine may include a product storage system, a user interface, and a control unit. Several modular vending machines may be stacked and/or arranged together in various configurations. Several modular vending machines may be linked electronically and may communicate with each other and/or with a user mobile device over a network. A modular vending machine may automatically complete a transaction with the consumer, where the consumer removes a product from the modular vending machine. A consumer may access and purchase products from several modular vending machines in one transaction.