A food frying and distribution device is used to pre-cook frozen food for storage and subsequent dispensing. The apparatus is configured to fry food to near completion, to store that food, and to then finish cooking upon consumer request, thereby reducing cooking time. The apparatus includes a housing, a frozen-foods inlet, a fried-foods outlet, at least one fryer basin, a first frying basket, a second frying basket, a first conveyor, a second conveyor, a vending mechanism, and a control unit. The housing is the protective shell that allows for arrangement of components. The frozen-foods inlet is an opening through which a user may insert frozen foods for preparation and storage within the apparatus. Conversely, the fried-foods outlet is an opening through which fried foods may be obtained by a consumer. The general configuration of the aforementioned components allows the apparatus to efficiently and effectively generate fried food relatively quickly.

A novel food station comprises first and second pluralities of cubbies, each sized to enclose a food portion container, and a food collection hatch that is selectively externally accessible. A heating system can controllably heat one or more of the first plurality of cubbies independently of the first plurality of cubbies, and a cooling system can cool one or more of the second plurality of cubbies independently of the first plurality of cubbies. An internal transport system including an end effector that temporarily couples to the portion container carrier of a selected cooled cubby of the second plurality of cubbies and can controllably move the food portion container carrier to a selected heated cubby or to the food collection hatch.

Coordinated conveyors in an automated system. In an embodiment, the system comprises transport conveyor(s) and storage conveyors, wherein each storage conveyor comprises a plurality of segments configured to hold at least one item, and a portion that is aligned with a portion of a transport conveyor, such that items are moveable from the storage conveyor to the transport conveyor. Software module(s), executed by a processor, receive an instruction to collect item(s) at a single destination location, and, for each of the item(s), identify a segment on a storage conveyor on which the item is held, control that storage conveyor to align the segment with the transport conveyor, move the item from the segment onto the transport conveyor, control the transport conveyor to align the item with the destination location, and move the item from the transport conveyor to the destination location.

The present disclosure provides an automatic vending machine for dispensing beverage cans. The machine includes a main housing having a can delivery slot. The housing includes a refrigerant compartment for storing the beverage cans. The housing further includes a delivery sub-system for delivering a beverage can from the refrigerant compartment to the delivery slot accessible to a consumer. The delivery sub-system is configured to orient and open the can while delivering to the delivery slot.

A novel food station comprises a plurality of cubbies, each cubby sized to enclose a food portion container, and an externally accessible collection hatch large enough for the food portion container to pass therethrough. A heating system can controllably heat the food portion container within a selected one of the cubbies, independently of an operation of the heating system the other cubbies. A cooling system can perform cooling within a subset of cubbies that includes at least the selected cubby. An internal transport system includes an end effector that temporarily couples to the portion container carrier of the selected cubby and controllably moves the food portion container carrier within the food station to the collection hatch. A control system includes a memory that controls the heating and controls the movement of the internal transport system.

Coordinated conveyors in an automated system. In an embodiment, the system comprises transport conveyor(s) and storage conveyors, wherein each storage conveyor comprises a plurality of segments configured to hold at least one item, and a portion that is aligned with a portion of a transport conveyor, such that items are moveable from the storage conveyor to the transport conveyor. Software module(s), executed by a processor, receive an instruction to collect item(s) at a single destination location, and, for each of the item(s), identify a segment on a storage conveyor on which the item is held, control that storage conveyor to align the segment with the transport conveyor, move the item from the segment onto the transport conveyor, control the transport conveyor to align the item with the destination location, and move the item from the transport conveyor to the destination location.

An apparatus and method for storing medical products such as pharmaceutical and medical products in climate controlled storage devices includes climate control systems in communication with inventory access and tracking systems.

The present disclosure provides an automatic vending machine for dispensing beverage cans. The machine includes a main housing having a can delivery slot. The housing includes a refrigerant compartment for storing the beverage cans. The housing further includes a delivery sub-system for delivering a beverage can from the refrigerant compartment to the delivery slot accessible to a consumer. The delivery sub-system is configured to orient and open the can while delivering to the delivery slot.

The invention provides a vending machine for dispensing hot packaged food. The vending machine includes a storage and dispenser unit comprising plural dispensing trays arranged in an array for storing one or more packaged foods, a frame, and a carrier structure. Each individual dispensing tray includes a pivotable gate and a slideway inclined by a tilting angle from a horizontal axis. The carrier structure comprises a carrying arm having an engaging feature; and an engaging mechanism for actuating the pivotable gate. The engaging mechanism is configured to move the carrying arm towards the individual dispensing tray such that the engaging feature actuates the pivotable gate from a locked position to an unlocked position. The packaged food is prevented from sliding down when the pivotable gate is at the locked position. The packaged food is slidable relative to the individual dispensing tray when the pivotable gate is at the unlocked position.

One or more example embodiments provide a vending machine (105) that detects refrigerant leaks. The vending machine includes a main cabinet (605), a sensor circuit (615), and control equipment (830). The sensor circuit is configured to detect a refrigerant leaked in the main cabinet. The control equipment is configured to operate a component (620) of the refrigerated vending machine based on the detected refrigerant.