A single dose aerosol chamber is used with a dispensing apparatus by users to take a chamber, fill the chamber with an aerosolized vaccine, and dispose of used chambers. A display provides instructions to encourage prompt inhalation by the user from a dispensed and filled chamber. The station allows very fast administration of vaccines to large numbers of people. The aerosol dispenser apparatus detects the chamber is in correct position and delivers a pre-determined dose of aerosol. The chamber has a nebulizer delivery port optimized for delivery of aerosol into the chamber container and to act as a vent during inhalation via the inhalation port.

The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for intelligently controlling circulation of a recyclable container. The method includes: detecting whether a container return verification request is received, the container return verification request being triggered when an owner needs to return a recyclable target container, and the container return verification request including container parameters used for identifying type data of the target container; when the container return verification request is received, verifying the type data identified according to the container parameters; when the verification succeeds, detecting whether the target container is placed at a specified recycling position; and when a detection result is yes, calculating a target guarantee deposit matched with the type data, and granting the target guarantee deposit to the owner. The present invention is favorable for strengthening the awareness of returning the recyclable container, and then can reduce the pollution.

Disclosed is a liquid medicine dosage discharging apparatus configured to discharge a dosage of a liquid medicine from a liquid medicine storage portion into a prescription container to be transferred to a patient on the basis of a liquid medicine discharging request. The apparatus includes the liquid medicine storage portion in which the liquid medicine is stored, a discharge nozzle portion connected to the liquid medicine storage portion and configured to provide a discharge path of the liquid medicine, and a support portion located below the discharge nozzle portion and configured to support the prescription container. Here, the support portion grips a connection portion of the prescription container, which is exposed when a cover is removed, and supports the prescription container.

A 3 in 1 reverse vending machine. A vending machine that is solar powered and accepts bottles and cans made of plastic, aluminum, and glass. The machine includes a conveyor system, barcode reader and cleaning system, this prepares the bottle and cans to be shredded and then granulated into small pieces. The machine houses a delivery system that carries the smaller pieces of processed material to its predetermined receptacle for storage. Each bottle and can has a monetary value once received by the machine that will be issued to the user once all bottles and cans are received and calculated per user per transaction.

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.

A device for singulation of used beverage or food containers received in bulk into individual objects, including: a first receiving area arranged for simultaneously receiving and keeping a plurality of containers; a second receiving area positioned at a higher vertical level than the first receiving area, wherein the device further includes a transporting device comprising a container elevating member for transporting a container from the first receiving area to the second receiving area wherein the elevating member is attached to said transporting device, moves along and is locked to a circumferential path around a first axis upon activation of the transporting device, and the first axis is inclined at an angle of 1° to 45° relative the horizontal plane.

Methods and systems are disclosed including a semi-automated canister distribution system comprising one or more cabinet systems, comprising: a cabinet having at least one compartment having at least one door having an open position and a closed position with a locked state and an unlocked state; a human-machine interface in communication with a cabinet controller configured to: receive first signals from the human-machine interface indicative of entry of a data element indicative of details of a transaction; and transmit second signals to the one or more cabinet indicative of instructions to change at least one of the at least one door between the locked state and the unlocked state; and a unit detection device configured for transmitting third signals indicative of removal of one or more substantially full propane canisters from the cabinet and placement of one or more substantially empty propane canisters in the cabinet.

A reverse vending machine to be utilized as a recycled material collection device. The reverse vending machine is comprised of a housing having an aperture disposed therethrough, the aperture configured to receive a plurality of recyclable materials from a user. A ducting system is in fluid communication with the aperture and a vacuum system to draw the plurality of recyclable materials to an auger system configured to compact the recyclable materials and dispose the recyclable materials into a reservoir.

A fraud detection system for a reverse vending machine, the system including: a detector adapted to detect at least one container entered into the reverse vending machine; a compactor load sensor adapted to measure load of a compactor of the reverse vending machine during operation, wherein the compactor is adapted to compact entered containers downstream of the detector; and a compactor load sensor monitoring device configured to determine whether the detected at least one container is compacted as expected based on the load measured by the compactor load sensor.

An improvement is made to a funnel used in connection with a conveyor belt to increase the scanning speed of barcodes on items moving through the funnel and onto the conveyor belt. The funnel includes a funnel protrusion that provides mechanical support and optical access to a bottom-facing barcode on the container. The increased field of view for the barcode created by the funnel protrusion allows for increased scanning speed. Further, a camera system may be used with the funnel to increase scanning speed. The camera system may include a plurality of cameras and a plurality of mirrors to obtain multiple perspectives of the container and provide different images for faster processing.