Provided are a method for detecting quantity of items and a vending machine. The vending machine includes: an item column configured to temporarily store items, where the item column includes an outlet; a shielding member configured to shield or open the outlet of the item column; and a driving device configured to drive the items in the item column to move toward the outlet of the item column. The method includes: controlling the shielding member to shield the outlet of the item column; driving the items in the item column to move until the items in the item column abut against each other; detecting a total length of all items in the item column; and calculating the quantity of items in the item column according to the total length of the all items and a length of a single item in the item column.

A method and apparatus for dispensing and retrieving products is provided. An apparatus may include: a plurality of shelf units. Each shelf unit extends longitudinally between a first end and a second end. The first end may be configured to receive articles, and the second end may be configured to present articles for retrieval in a retrieval position. Each of the plurality of shelf units is arranged with a respective second end facing a retrieval area. Each of the plurality of shelf units is inclined with the first end being lower than the second end. The apparatus may also include a retrieval device comprising an end-of-arm tool. The retrieval device is disposed within the retrieval area and configured to attach the end-of-arm tool to an article in a retrieval position of each of the plurality of shelf units.

A package of at least one glove pair, comprising a right glove and a left glove, wherein at least one glove has an indicia comprising at least one of a logo, a manufacturer's name, or usage information of the glove displayed thereon, wherein the right glove and the left glove are folded in a multi-fold configuration. At least partially transparent first packaging encases the right glove and the left glove, and maintains the multi-fold configuration, wherein the indicia of at least one of the right glove or the left glove is visible through the first packaging while folded.

A package of at least one glove pair, comprising a right glove and a left glove, wherein at least one glove has an indicia comprising at least one of a logo, a manufacturer's name, or usage information of the glove displayed thereon, wherein the right glove and the left glove are folded in a multi-fold configuration. At least partially transparent first packaging encases the right glove and the left glove, and maintains the multi-fold configuration, wherein the indicia of at least one of the right glove or the left glove is visible through the first packaging while folded.

A system to transport, secure and manage a set of tools at a job site may include a unitary portable tool storage building including a modified shipping container, a kiosk subsystem to perform login and authorization of personnel, an image data collection subsystem to capture image data of personnel using the kiosk, a wireless tool locating subsystem, and anti-gaming security subsystem.

A wine storage apparatus is provided. The wine storage apparatus includes a housing, a door configured to open and close the housing and including a display, a rack provided inside the housing and configured to hold a bottle of wine, a sensor configured to obtain information about whether a bottle of wine is stored on the rack, and a processor configured to identify whether the bottle of wine is stored on the rack based on the information, and control the display to display guide information of the bottle of wine based on an identification result.

An enhanced ejection device (10) for an automatic dispenser (12) of the automatic vending machine type, suitable for being incorporated in said automatic vending machine and applied to a shelf (14) subdivided into seats or channels (28) defined by opposing separator elements or shoulders (26) internally to which there are accommodated products of different types, the device comprising product handling and ejection means (27) for handling and ejecting the product from said seats or channels, and said handling and ejection means (27) being quickly couplable with/decouplable from the shelf (14).

A product storage device includes: a main gate that is swingably provided to advance and move away from a product storage column, that advances to an advanced position, and that allows a downstream-most product to be taken out; a sub-gate that is swingably provided in association with the main gate; a sliding member that regulates the main gate from moving away and retracting from the product storage column; and a lever that allows the sliding member to be present at a regulation position, that switches to a regulation posture which regulates the sliding member from returning to the regulation position, and that then, when the main gate moves away from the product storage column in response to a take-out operation, switches to a standby posture when the main gate advances to the product storage column to allow the sliding member to return to the regulation position.

A product storage device includes: a main gate that is swingably provided to advance and move away from a product storage column, that advances to an advanced position, and that allows a downstream-most product to be taken out; a sub-gate that is swingably provided in association with the main gate; a sliding member that regulates the main gate from moving away and retracting from the product storage column; and a lever that allows the sliding member to be present at a regulation position, that switches to a regulation posture which regulates the sliding member from returning to the regulation position, and that then, when the main gate moves away from the product storage column in response to a take-out operation, switches to a standby posture when the main gate advances to the product storage column to allow the sliding member to return to the regulation position.

Vehicles, components, and methods are disclosed for distributing hot or cold food items from a vending kiosk, a locker system, or a self-propelled delivery vehicle. The vending kiosk may have multiple doors, at least one of which is unlocked responsive to confirming a purchase transaction or authenticating the presence of a person or device associated with the purchase transaction. The multiple doors provide access to respective compartments that may be selectively heated and refrigerated. Such temperature changes may be based upon a temperature control schedule. The locker system may include one or more configurable compartments that may be accessible via a set of set of doors that can be selectively coupled into larger doors. The self-propelled delivery vehicle may have a plurality of thermally insulated compartments that may be used to carry multiple items at different temperatures.