A product speed checking apparatus for attaching to a vibratory conveying system and a method thereof for dispensing product, including a sample pan mounted to capture flow of product between two vibratory conveyors; a first sensor and a second sensor, each placed separately at a predetermined distance from one another and each capable of independently reading product handled by the sample pan; and, a programmable logic controller operatively arranged to calculate an approximate time between the reading of product by the first sensor and the reading of product by the second sensor and computing product speed by dividing distance between two sensors with the travel time between the two sensors.

This application generally relates to systems and methods for authenticating a bulk quantity of a consumable product with a corresponding product. More specifically, the invention associates a bulk quantity of the consumable product with a product parameter such as a consumption rate of the consumable product within the corresponding product; provides and authorizes a key and/or reader with the bulk quantity and consumption rate data to a specific corresponding product wherein the bulk quantity and consumption rate data are correlated to a maximum consumption quantity value; monitoring consumption of the consumable product within the corresponding product until the maximum consumption quantity value is reached; and providing an event output to the corresponding product when the maximum consumption quantity value is realized.

This application generally relates to systems and methods for authenticating a bulk quantity of a consumable product with a corresponding product. More specifically, the invention associates a bulk quantity of the consumable product with a product parameter such as a consumption rate of the consumable product within the corresponding product; provides and authorizes a key and/or reader with the bulk quantity and consumption rate data to a specific corresponding product wherein the bulk quantity and consumption rate data are correlated to a maximum consumption quantity value; monitoring consumption of the consumable product within the corresponding product until the maximum consumption quantity value is reached; and providing an event output to the corresponding product when the maximum consumption quantity value is realized.

The invention provides an apparatus for controlling and monitoring the storage and dispensing of beverage products; the apparatus comprising: a plurality of product registration devices for registering the presence of beverage products in one or more storage locations, each product registration device being associated with one beverage product or group of beverage products; a plurality of metering dispensers in a sales location from which one or more authorized users can dispense beverage products to customers; a plurality of locking means for preventing dispensing of a beverage product, each locking means being operatively linked to a different one of said metering dispensers; a plurality of user identifying devices for identifying authorized users, each user identifying device being operatively linked to a different one of said locking means so that an authorized user can unlock the said locking means and thereby dispense a beverage product from an operatively linked metering dispenser; and a processor which receives and processes data from the said product registration devices, the user identifying devices and the metering dispensers and records the placing of beverage products in the one or more storage locations, the transfer of beverage products from the one or more storage locations to the sales location; and the dispensing of beverage products from the metering dispensers by authorized users; and calculates the total value of each customer transaction made by each authorized user. Two locks or safeguards are provided to prevent unauthorized removal of an optic element. The locks are interlocked.

The invention provides an apparatus for controlling and monitoring the storage and dispensing of beverage products; the apparatus comprising: a plurality of product registration devices for registering the presence of beverage products in one or more storage locations, each product registration device being associated with one beverage product or group of beverage products; a plurality of metering dispensers in a sales location from which one or more authorized users can dispense beverage products to customers; a plurality of locking means for preventing dispensing of a beverage product, each locking means being operatively linked to a different one of said metering dispensers; a plurality of user identifying devices for identifying authorized users, each user identifying device being operatively linked to a different one of said locking means so that an authorized user can unlock the said locking means and thereby dispense a beverage product from an operatively linked metering dispenser; and a processor which receives and processes data from the said product registration devices, the user identifying devices and the metering dispensers and records the placing of beverage products in the one or more storage locations, the transfer of beverage products from the one or more storage locations to the sales location; and the dispensing of beverage products from the metering dispensers by authorized users; and calculates the total value of each customer transaction made by each authorized user. Two locks or safeguards are provided to prevent unauthorized removal of an optic element. The locks are interlocked.

A weighing device includes: a weighing scale that measures a weight of a good; a communication interface that outputs goods purchase information including a purchase weight value based on a measured value by the weighing scale; and a central processing unit (CPU). In response to the CPU detecting that the measured value by the weighing scale has increased from zero to a positive value and then decreased from the positive value to zero, the communication interface outputs, as the purchase weight value, goods purchase information including the positive value.

A fluid filling station which has a supply tank, filter, transfer pump, a high pressure valve, an optional flow meter, a pressure relief valve, at least one muffler, a filling head, a control module, a purge head, cylinder dispensing mechanism, and its method of use are provided for. This fluid filling station is capable of refilling many types of fluids, but is preferably for the use with carbon dioxide. Additionally, this station is capable of housing and dispensing prefilled refillable fluid containers.

A fluid filling station which has a supply tank, filter, transfer pump, a high pressure valve, an optional flow meter, a pressure relief valve, at least one muffler, a filling head, a control module, a purge head, cylinder dispensing mechanism, and its method of use are provided for. This fluid filling station is capable of refilling many types of fluids, but is preferably for the use with carbon dioxide. Additionally, this station is capable of housing and dispensing prefilled refillable fluid containers.

A custom-content beverage cartridge manufacturing and vending machine has a cabinet housing, a user interface area, and a dispensing area that allows an untrained user to obtain beverage cartridges by entering instructions using aspects of the user interface area. The machine allows the user to quickly and easily produce factory quality beverage cartridges according to the user's particular tastes and preferences.

A custom-content beverage cartridge manufacturing and vending machine has a cabinet housing, a user interface area, and a dispensing area that allows an untrained user to obtain beverage cartridges by entering instructions using aspects of the user interface area. The machine allows the user to quickly and easily produce factory quality beverage cartridges according to the user's particular tastes and preferences.