A vending machine provides a housing for enclosing a container unit, a printing unit, a bagging unit, and a retrieval bin. The units are connected to each other by a number of passages that allow stored products to be transported between the units. Customers interact with the vending machine via a terminal, which actuates other components based on customer inputs. The container unit serves as a primary storage, holding the product until a customer makes a purchase. The requested product is then funneled into a primary passage, either towards the bagging unit or forked to the printing unit if necessary. The bagging unit has a door that allows the product to drop into a bag. The bag itself is retrieved from a storage area and positioned below the door by a bag manipulating mechanism. It is then sealed and dropped into the retrieval bin to allow a customer access.

An automated dispensing apparatus for the controlled dispensing of articles provided with associated RFID tags, comprises hatches (14) for opening article entry/exit zones and an internal motor-driven store (13) with shelves (15) divided up into a plurality of compartments (16) and intended to receive articles to be dispensed, upon command, through the hatches (14). The control unit (18) provided with a memory (30) intended to memorize the contents of the store and is connected to the store (13) in order to be able to operate the store so as to bring a selected compartment (16) into loading and unloading positions and allow the loading/unloading of an article inside the compartment. Inside the apparatus there is at least one RFID tag reader element (31, 131) which is connected to the control unit (18) and the control unit (18) is adapted to receive from the reader element (31, 131) data read by the reader element from an RFID tag and associate said data in the memory (30) with the compartment (16) which at that moment is close to the reader element (31, 131). A method for controlling the apparatus is also described.

An automated dispensing apparatus for the controlled dispensing of articles provided with associated RFID tags, comprises hatches (14) for opening article entry/exit zones and an internal motor-driven store (13) with shelves (15) divided up into a plurality of compartments (16) and intended to receive articles to be dispensed, upon command, through the hatches (14). The control unit (18) provided with a memory (30) intended to memorize the contents of the store and is connected to the store (13) in order to be able to operate the store so as to bring a selected compartment (16) into loading and unloading positions and allow the loading/unloading of an article inside the compartment. Inside the apparatus there is at least one RFID tag reader element (31, 131) which is connected to the control unit (18) and the control unit (18) is adapted to receive from the reader element (31, 131) data read by the reader element from an RFID tag and associate said data in the memory (30) with the compartment (16) which at that moment is close to the reader element (31, 131). A method for controlling the apparatus is also described.

An automated store for storing and then distributing articles, including a housing for receiving closed shipping containers for storage, and for distributing articles retrieved from inside the shipping containers to an output of the housing. The housing further including entry means for controlling entry into the housing of closed shipping containers. Automated forming means form an opening in each of the plurality of the shipping containers, storing means for storing the opened shipping containers, computer controlled retrieving means for entering into selected ones of the opened shipping containers via the formed opening to retrieve an article and moving means for moving the retrieved articles to an output are further included in the housing.

A vending machine that dispense feminine hygiene products. Specifically, this invention is a coin-operated vending machine that dispenses sanitary napkins and tampons. This invention allows a user to purchase a feminine hygiene product by placing a coin or multiple coins in a slot within the vending machine and pressing a product release button. The product is then dispensed to the consumer. The apparatus also provides a mechanism for retrieving a coin in the event that the vending machine is out of a specific feminine hygiene.

A product dispensing device includes: one product discharging device; and the other product discharging device. The one product discharging device includes: a DC motor serving as a drive source; and a driving force applying unit configured to apply a driving force from the DC motor when a discharge command is issued. The driving force applying unit includes: an output gear configured to rotate about a central axis of the output gear according to a driving state of the DC motor; an arm member configured to rotate in accordance with a rotation direction of the output gear when the output gear is rotated; and a link lever member configured such that the one product discharging device and the other product discharging device are alternatively driven in accordance with a rotation of the arm member.

A product dispensing device includes: one product discharging device; and the other product discharging device. The one product discharging device includes: a DC motor serving as a drive source; and a driving force applying unit configured to apply a driving force from the DC motor when a discharge command is issued. The driving force applying unit includes: an output gear configured to rotate about a central axis of the output gear according to a driving state of the DC motor; an arm member configured to rotate in accordance with a rotation direction of the output gear when the output gear is rotated; and a link lever member configured such that the one product discharging device and the other product discharging device are alternatively driven in accordance with a rotation of the arm member.

Mechanisms for dispensing items such as medications and medical supplies. Different mechanisms may be tailored to dispensing different kinds of items, for example medications in single dose packages, vials, syringes, or other similarly-shaped items. The dispensers may be placed in a dispensing unit that includes a lockable restock drawer and a dispense drawer into which items are dispensed by the dispensing mechanisms. The various kinds of dispensing mechanisms may be installed in the restock drawer in any workable proportion and arrangement. The dispensing mechanisms include multiple sensing technologies for tracking and inventory of items and for accurate sensing of items as they are dispensed.

In some embodiments, the present invention is directed to a stand-alone vending machine that includes at least: a housing; a dispensing combination, including: a holding tray; a first plurality of pockets positioned at a one side of the holding tray; a first separation mechanism; where the first separation mechanism is operationally connected to the holding tray and the first plurality of pockets; where the first separation mechanism is configured to separate each dispensing object only from a first plurality of dispensing objects; a second plurality of pockets positioned at another side of the holding tray; a second separation mechanism; where the second separation mechanism is operationally connected to the holding tray and the second plurality of pockets; where the second separation mechanism is configured to separate each dispensing object only from the second plurality of dispensing objects.

A dispenser of feminine hygiene products, including feminine pads and tampons activated by a motion sensor. A motion of a person's hand or other object within a given distance from the motion sensor will close an electronic circuit causing a motor to rotate. The motor is attached to a shaft which rotates. The shaft retains a feminine product dispenser. The feminine product dispenser transports one of the feminine hygiene products to a retrieval tray. A time delay reduces the likelihood of or prevents someone from continuously activating the motion sensor to dispense all of the products in the machine.