This disclosure relates to an improvement to vending machines and particularly gumball machines, and is equally applicable to vending machines of like design. A system and method are disclosed to convert a conventional gumball vending machine to a solar light fixture using an inner rod nut. A system and method are disclosed to convert a conventional vending machine to contain a rotary turntable.

A medication dispensing apparatus includes a housing for at storing at least one medication in bulk, a dispenser, and a verification sensor. The at least one medication including a plurality of doses of the at least one medication. The dispenser separates a single dose from the at least one medication in bulk. The dispenser moves the single dose of the at least one medication from a position within the housing to a position outside the housing. The verification sensor verifies that the at least one medication is a correct medication.

A system is disclosed for dispensing a product sample to a consumer that includes a storage compartment for holding a plurality of spherical pods each containing a product sample in a closely-packed assemblage, a dispensing area communicating with the storage compartment and including an access port accessible by a consumer to obtain a single spherical pod, a dispensing wheel mounted for rotation adjacent the dispensing area for transferring a single spherical pod from the storage compartment to the access port, and an agitator wheel mounted for movement within the storage compartment to agitate the spherical pods within the storage compartment so as to reduce friction between adjacent spherical pods in the closely-packed assemblage and promote movement of pods from the storage compartment towards the dispensing wheel.

Systems are disclosed for dispensing, weighing, identifying, processing, and/or printing tag identifiers for items (e.g., bulk food items). In one embodiment, a storage system includes a scoop bin configured to store a product, wherein the scoop bin has a lid configured to be moved between a closed position and an open position, and wherein the product is configured to be scooped out of the scoop bin by a customer when the lid is in the open position. The system further includes a sensor configured to monitor a movement of the scoop bin, wherein the sensor is configured to transmit a notification to the computing device identifying the movement of the scoop bin. A printer is configured to receive an instruction from the computing device to automatically print a label identifying the product stored in the scoop bin following the computing device receiving the notification of the movement.

Systems are disclosed for dispensing, weighing, identifying, processing, and/or printing tag identifiers for items (e.g., bulk food items). In one embodiment, a storage system includes a scoop bin configured to store a product, wherein the scoop bin has a lid configured to be moved between a closed position and an open position, and wherein the product is configured to be scooped out of the scoop bin by a customer when the lid is in the open position. The system further includes a sensor configured to monitor a movement of the scoop bin, wherein the sensor is configured to transmit a notification to the computing device identifying the movement of the scoop bin. A printer is configured to receive an instruction from the computing device to automatically print a label identifying the product stored in the scoop bin following the computing device receiving the notification of the movement.

A method and verification system for verifying pharmaceuticals packaged within a pouch using a pharmacy packaging system. The method includes activating a first light source to illuminate the pharmaceutical pouch, capturing a first image of the pharmaceutical pouch while illuminated by the first light source, activating a second light source to illuminate the pharmaceutical pouch, and capturing a second image of the pharmaceutical pouch while illuminated by the second light source. The method further includes generating a third image based on the first image and the second image, generating a dashboard to simultaneously display first images, second images, and third images from a plurality of pharmaceutical pouches, providing a number of pills indication of a number of pills detected in the pouch against a number of pills expected in the pouch, and displaying the dashboard.

The present disclosure provides methods and systems for managing medications by releasing them on a controlled access or schedule. The methods and systems may comprise the use of a pill release device. The pill release device may comprise a substrate comprising one or more containers, a cover configured to rest adjacent to one or more walls of the container, a fluid source in fluid communication with the cover, and circuitry operably coupled to the fluid source. The circuitry may send one or more electrical signals which may cause the fluid source to move a fluid to or away from the cover. The movement of the fluid may seal or unseal the over against the one or more walls, which may permit the pill to be received by or dispensed from the container.

A shirt having an attached dispensing apparatus adapted to fit or be inserted within the material of the shirt. The dispensing apparatus has a dispenser body and container section with attachment flanges to enable at least one gasket and screw surrounding the dispenser body and container section to adhere to shirt. The gumball machine shirt holds at least one item to be dispensed.

A storage container for a storage and dispensing station for drugs is provided. The storage container includes a housing surrounding a holding space which housing has a guide section and a bottom surface, the guide section defining a guide space and having a vertical guide recess, which does not penetrate the housing, and the bottom surface having a dispensing opening. The storage container includes a separating device having at least one channel for holding at least one drug portion and comprises a retaining element having a retaining section and having a guide element, which is arranged in the guide recess, the vertical guide recess and the guide element interacting in such a way that the retaining element is arranged for height adjustment in the guide recess by means of the guide element and rotational motion of the retaining means is prevented.

An improved dispenser unit for dispensing bulk food items, including a cabinet having at least one hopper having a drum with product compartments, a deflector and flexible gate valve, a dispense assembly, and a control system. The dispense assembly may or may not include one or more belts and/or sensors. The product compartments include flexible and/or elastic membranes, which dynamically change the effective product storage volume within a compartment, and eliminate rigid or semi-rigid pinch points between the drum and drum compartment. A product flow divider may be positioned above the receiving container in the dispense assembly, said divider configured to cause the dispensed product to divide into two or more flow streams into the receiving container. The receiving container may be vibrated or oscillated.