A vending machine system for exchanging CO.sub.2 gas cylinders, the system including a controller in communication with a user interface, a payment system and an array of bin assemblies, wherein each one of the bin assemblies is shaped to at least partially receive an end of a CO.sub.2 gas cylinder and includes a locking system for releasably securing therein a CO.sub.2 gas cylinder, said system for performing the steps of: (a) receiving user input through the user interface; and (b) if the user input represents a desire to conduct maintenance, then the system performs the steps of: (i) confirming that the user is authorized to conduct maintenance; (ii) unlocking an empty CO.sub.2 gas cylinder from a respective bin assembly for removal by the user; (iii) receiving a full CO.sub.2 gas cylinder in an emptied bin assembly; and (iv) securing the full CO.sub.2 gas cylinder received in the emptied bin assembly.

Methods and apparatus for managing information relating to recycling activities are described. One embodiment described herein is directed to a method for accessing aggregated recycling information for use and/or display in connection with an account-based recycling program. The method comprises receiving first and second container information, the first container information concerning a plurality of first containers for a first recycling transaction and the second container information concerning a plurality of second containers for a second recycling transaction. The first and second container information is stored and associated account information concerning at least one consumer account. The method further comprises accessing, in response to receiving a query relating to a plurality of recycling transactions, information relating to at least the first and second containers so as to enable the use and/or display of aggregated recycling information.

The invention relates to a method and a system for beverage preparation according to a person-specific, individual recipe. The method for preparing a beverage according to an individual recipe takes place by using a preparation device comprising a positioning device for a drinking vessel and a receiving device for an identification feature. The method includes creating an individual recipe, storing the individual recipe in a recipe pool of a data storage unit, whereby the data storage unit can be reached via an EDP network, linking the identification feature to the recipe pool, positioning the drinking vessel into the preparation device, receiving the identification feature, retrieving the recipe pool that is linked to the identification feature, preparing the beverage according to a recipe from the recipe pool, and filling the beverage into the drinking vessel by the preparation device.

The invention relates to a method for providing authorizations, linked to physical objects (101, 102, 103), for retrieving goods and/or services (30), including the steps: creating a digital representation (101′, 102′, 103′) of a physical object (101, 102, 103), preferably on an IoT platform (6), the physical object (101, 102, 103) including at least one information carrier (I), the information carrier (I) including at least one identifier (UID), the physical object (101, 102, 103) being unequivocally assignable to its digital representation (101′, 102′, 103′), based on the identifier (UID), and the information carrier (I) being readable from goods and/or services (30) by use of a mobile terminal (10) and/or by means of an output device (20) in order to at least partially access the particular digital representation (101′, 102′, 103′); providing a configurable authorization profile (101a, 102a, 103a) for the digital representation (101′, 102′, 103′), the authorization profile (101a, 102a, 103a) including at least one authorization for retrieving goods and/or services (30).

A method for remotely controlling a CO.sub.2 gas cylinder vending machine system, the method including displaying a remote vending machine user interface on a display of a user device, receiving on the user device user input indicating a desire to engage with the vending machine system to perform at least one of the following operations (a) return a CO.sub.2 cylinder; (b) purchase a CO.sub.2 cylinder; or (c) exchange a CO.sub.2 cylinder. The method including transmitting the user input over a communications network to a communications interface of the vending machine system, receiving the user input at the communication interface of the vending machine system and controlling the vending machine system, by a controller, based on the received user input.

A vending machine system for exchanging CO.sub.2 gas cylinders, the system including a controller in communication with a user interface, a payment system and an array of bin assemblies, wherein each one of the bin assemblies is shaped to at least partially receive an end of a CO.sub.2 gas cylinder and includes a locking system for releasably securing therein a CO.sub.2 gas cylinder, said system for performing the steps of (a) receiving user input through the user interface; and (b) if the user input represents a desire to exchange a CO.sub.2 gas cylinder, then the system performs the steps of (i) receiving payment from the user through the payment system for a replacement CO.sub.2 gas cylinder; (ii) receiving a CO.sub.2 gas cylinder in a first one of said bin assemblies; and (iii) the locking system releasing a full CO.sub.2 gas cylinder located in a second one of said bin assemblies for collection by the user.

Methods and systems are disclosed including a semi-automated propane canister distribution system for distributing and exchanging propane canisters, comprising a system controller; one or more cabinet system having a cabinet controller and a cabinet with a first compartment separated from a second compartment, the first compartment having a first door and the second compartment having a second door, the first door and the second door having an open position and a closed position with a locked state and an unlocked state; a detection device; a remote display; and a remote controller device in communication with the system controller and/or the cabinet controller.

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 having a goods store, a goods dispensing apparatus and a user interface contains a goods input region for inserting goods to be returned and an identification apparatus for the goods which interacts with a data processing device and a data memory. The present invention also relates to a vending machine (40) which is associated with a goods store (2), which goods store (2) is stocked in a manner organized by a plurality of goods carriers (41), wherein a goods input region (4) for inserting old goods intended for replacement, return, or repurchase and an identification apparatus oriented to the input region (4) are provided, and wherein signal transducers (42, 43) are provided which are associated with a goods carrier (41) or with a group of goods carriers (41), wherein said signal transducers (42, 43) have a signal link to the identification apparatus such that following identification of old goods inserted into the goods input region (4) the signal transducer (42, 43) or the signal transducers (42, 43) for a goods carrier (41) or for a group of goods carriers (41) which is/are intended to stock new goods associated with the old goods is/are activated.

An empties transport system has an airstream transport device with an empties transport conduit, which has a first attachment point for attachment to the reverse vending machine and a second attachment point for attachment to the empties collection container, and an airstream generator, which is attached to the empties transport conduit and is designed to make available, in the empties transport conduit, a transporting airstream by which the empties passing via the first attachment point from the reverse vending machine the empties transport conduit are moved to the empties collection container, and an airlock device, which is arranged on the first attachment point and via which the empties are transferable from the reverse vending machine to the empties transport conduit.