A vending machine includes: a printing apparatus contained in the vending machine for printing printable data onto a substrate, wherein the substrate is a container for containing one or more products to be dispensed or is a label for the container; and a user interface for enabling customization of the printable data for each dispensing cycle. The user interface is configured to provide, at the time of use for dispensing, a user with at least one option to incorporate selected custom data into the printable data for printing onto the substrate thereby to customize the container.

An apparatus for selling cigarettes and a system for accessing cigarettes are described herein. The apparatus comprises a vending machine and a smoke purification system. The smoke purification system includes a housing, an extraction device, a smoke purifier, and an exhaustion device. An upper face of the housing is provided with an air inlet for sucking in air in an upper space of a smoking room, and a front face of the housing is provided with a fresh air outlet. An intake port of the extraction device is coupled with the air inlet, an escape port of the exhaustion device is coupled with the fresh air outlet through an exhaust channel, and two ends of the smoke purifier are coupled with an escape port of the extraction device and an intake port of the exhaustion device, respectively.

An apparatus for selling cigarettes and a system for accessing cigarettes are described herein. The apparatus comprises a vending machine and a smoke purification system. The smoke purification system includes a housing, an extraction device, a smoke purifier, and an exhaustion device. An upper face of the housing is provided with an air inlet for sucking in air in an upper space of a smoking room, and a front face of the housing is provided with a fresh air outlet. An intake port of the extraction device is coupled with the air inlet, an escape port of the exhaustion device is coupled with the fresh air outlet through an exhaust channel, and two ends of the smoke purifier are coupled with an escape port of the extraction device and an intake port of the exhaustion device, respectively.

An apparatus for selling cigarettes and a system for accessing cigarettes are described herein. The apparatus comprises a vending machine and a smoke purification system. The smoke purification system includes a housing, an extraction device, a smoke purifier, and an exhaustion device. An upper face of the housing is provided with an air inlet for sucking in air in an upper space of a smoking room, and a front face of the housing is provided with a fresh air outlet. An intake port of the extraction device is coupled with the air inlet, an escape port of the exhaustion device is coupled with the fresh air outlet through an exhaust channel, and two ends of the smoke purifier are coupled with an escape port of the extraction device and an intake port of the exhaustion device, respectively.

An apparatus for selling cigarettes and a system for accessing cigarettes are described herein. The apparatus comprises a vending machine and a smoke purification system. The smoke purification system includes a housing, an extraction device, a smoke purifier, and an exhaustion device. An upper face of the housing is provided with an air inlet for sucking in air in an upper space of a smoking room, and a front face of the housing is provided with a fresh air outlet. An intake port of the extraction device is coupled with the air inlet, an escape port of the exhaustion device is coupled with the fresh air outlet through an exhaust channel, and two ends of the smoke purifier are coupled with an escape port of the extraction device and an intake port of the exhaustion device, respectively.

A method for dispensing a beverage container to a consumer. The method includes receiving in a beverage container dispenser a first beverage container that contains a beverage corresponding to a beverage selection of a user. The method further includes dispensing a second beverage container containing the beverage from a temperature-regulated compartment of the beverage container dispenser. The second beverage container that is dispensed from the temperature-regulated compartment corresponds to the beverage selection of the user.

A method for dispensing a beverage container to a consumer. The method includes receiving in a beverage container dispenser a first beverage container that contains a beverage corresponding to a beverage selection of a user. The method further includes dispensing a second beverage container containing the beverage from a temperature-regulated compartment of the beverage container dispenser. The second beverage container that is dispensed from the temperature-regulated compartment corresponds to the beverage selection of the user.

A vending machine system for loading and dispensing pre-baked unpackaged food including a fixed cartridge disposed in a refrigerator of a vending machine, and a transport cartridge adapted to removably attach to the fixed cartridge, the transport cartridge operable for holding trays of unpackaged food and loading the trays of unpackaged food from the transport cartridge into the fixed cartridge, wherein, when the transport cartridge is removably attached to the fixed cartridge, a front opening of the transport cartridge aligns with a front opening of the fixed cartridge, and wherein the rack of the transport cartridge aligns with the conveyor system of the fixed cartridge such that trays of unpackaged food within the transport cartridge can simultaneously be transitioned from the rack to the conveyor system.

A vending machine system for loading and dispensing pre-baked unpackaged food including a fixed cartridge disposed in a refrigerator of a vending machine, and a transport cartridge adapted to removably attach to the fixed cartridge, the transport cartridge operable for holding trays of unpackaged food and loading the trays of unpackaged food from the transport cartridge into the fixed cartridge, wherein, when the transport cartridge is removably attached to the fixed cartridge, a front opening of the transport cartridge aligns with a front opening of the fixed cartridge, and wherein the rack of the transport cartridge aligns with the conveyor system of the fixed cartridge such that trays of unpackaged food within the transport cartridge can simultaneously be transitioned from the rack to the conveyor system.

A vending machine system for loading and dispensing pre-baked unpackaged food including a fixed cartridge disposed in a refrigerator of a vending machine, and a transport cartridge adapted to removably attach to the fixed cartridge, the transport cartridge operable for holding trays of unpackaged food and loading the trays of unpackaged food from the transport cartridge into the fixed cartridge, wherein, when the transport cartridge is removably attached to the fixed cartridge, a front opening of the transport cartridge aligns with a front opening of the fixed cartridge, and wherein the rack of the transport cartridge aligns with the conveyor system of the fixed cartridge such that trays of unpackaged food within the transport cartridge can simultaneously be transitioned from the rack to the conveyor system.