A cartridge having a housing, an outer looped element affixed at least partially in a cavity that spans substantially all of a length of the housing. A movable inner looped element is mounted a roller and positioned inside the outer looped element. Panels are radially attached to the movable inner looped element such that each of the plurality of panels extends toward the outer looped element. Movable chambers defined by a space between the panels. A first opening that spans substantially all of a first side of the outer looped element. A second opening is disposed on the outer looped element proximate to a bottom end of the outer looped element providing access to outside the cartridge. A second movable door covers substantially all of the second opening and partially defining the outer looped element when the second movable door is in a second movable door closed position.

A vending system is disclosed and claimed. In particular, the disclosed vending machine system allows multiple vendors to sell food items through a vending machine. The vending machine provides multiple locked bins, each of which can authenticate to a single vendor. Also, the vending machine implements price adjustment rules, such as raising the price of a particular item during, before, and after a high traffic event. In addition, customer dietary restrictions can be tracked, and purchases of food items that would violate those dietary restrictions can be prevented. The vending system allows a consumer to perform contactless vending transactions, with the identity of the consumer being verified through biometrics and a camera. Upon verification of the consumer, the vending system transacts payment for selected items, dispenses items in a contactless manner, updates inventory of items, records the purchase history of consumer, and provides indisputable visual media evidence of the transaction.

A vending system is disclosed and claimed. In particular, the disclosed vending machine system allows multiple vendors to sell food items through a vending machine. The vending machine provides multiple locked bins, each of which can authenticate to a single vendor. Also, the vending machine implements price adjustment rules, such as raising the price of a particular item during, before, and after a high traffic event. In addition, customer dietary restrictions can be tracked, and purchases of food items that would violate those dietary restrictions can be prevented. The vending system allows a consumer to perform contactless vending transactions, with the identity of the consumer being verified through biometrics and a camera. Upon verification of the consumer, the vending system transacts payment for selected items, dispenses items in a contactless manner, updates inventory of items, records the purchase history of consumer, and provides indisputable visual media evidence of the transaction.

A vending system is disclosed and claimed. In particular, the disclosed vending machine system allows multiple vendors to sell food items through a vending machine. The vending machine provides multiple locked bins, each of which can authenticate to a single vendor. Also, the vending machine implements price adjustment rules, such as raising the price of a particular item during, before, and after a high traffic event. In addition, customer dietary restrictions can be tracked, and purchases of food items that would violate those dietary restrictions can be prevented. The vending system allows a consumer to perform contactless vending transactions, with the identity of the consumer being verified through biometrics and a camera. Upon verification of the consumer, the vending system transacts payment for selected items, dispenses items in a contactless manner, updates inventory of items, records the purchase history of consumer, and provides indisputable visual media evidence of the transaction.

A vending system is disclosed and claimed. In particular, the disclosed vending machine system allows multiple vendors to sell food items through a vending machine. The vending machine provides multiple locked bins, each of which can authenticate to a single vendor. Also, the vending machine implements price adjustment rules, such as raising the price of a particular item during, before, and after a high traffic event. In addition, customer dietary restrictions can be tracked, and purchases of food items that would violate those dietary restrictions can be prevented. The vending system allows a consumer to perform contactless vending transactions, with the identity of the consumer being verified through biometrics and a camera. Upon verification of the consumer, the vending system transacts payment for selected items, dispenses items in a contactless manner, updates inventory of items, records the purchase history of consumer, and provides indisputable visual media evidence of the transaction.

Apparatuses and methods provide an automated store with a number of product locations and a fetch and delivery bucket that conveys product from a shelf location to a delivery location. Cameras and sensors within the automated store acquire data that may be stored in a remote database and analyzed to improve the reliability of the delivery process. Camera images may also be used to re-position the fetch and delivery bucket in real time, to provide images of actual, available product to consumers via a remote interface, to determine inventory, and to monitor the activities of replenishers and service personnel, and to generally operate the automated store remotely.

Apparatuses and methods provide an automated store with a number of product locations and a fetch and delivery bucket that conveys product from a shelf location to a delivery location. Cameras and sensors within the automated store acquire data that may be stored in a remote database and analyzed to improve the reliability of the delivery process. Camera images may also be used to re-position the fetch and delivery bucket in real time, to provide images of actual, available product to consumers via a remote interface, to determine inventory, and to monitor the activities of replenishers and service personnel, and to generally operate the automated store remotely.

A self-service vending device and a vending method thereof, and a self-service vending system. The self-service vending device includes: a device body, a door, at least one shelf mounted in the device body, a weighing module, and a main control module. The weighing module comprises a micro-control unit and a weighing unit corresponding to each shelf. The micro-control unit and the weighing unit corresponding to each shelf are connected. The weighing unit is used for acquiring the weight of goods on the corresponding shelf. The main control module is separately connected to the micro-control unit provided on each shelf to obtain the weight information of goods on each shelf after the vending, thereby determining vending information according to the value of change in the weight of the goods on each shelf before and after the vending. Vending information is identified independently of RFID electronic tags, and thus the costs are low, and the present invention is easy to promote.

A self-service vending device and a vending method thereof, and a self-service vending system. The self-service vending device includes: a device body, a door, at least one shelf mounted in the device body, a weighing module, and a main control module. The weighing module comprises a micro-control unit and a weighing unit corresponding to each shelf. The micro-control unit and the weighing unit corresponding to each shelf are connected. The weighing unit is used for acquiring the weight of goods on the corresponding shelf. The main control module is separately connected to the micro-control unit provided on each shelf to obtain the weight information of goods on each shelf after the vending, thereby determining vending information according to the value of change in the weight of the goods on each shelf before and after the vending. Vending information is identified independently of RFID electronic tags, and thus the costs are low, and the present invention is easy to promote.

A vending machine (100) and a vending method and vending system (1000) therefor, the vending machine (100) comprising a machine body (10), a door body (20), and at least one layer of shelves (30) and a weighing device (40) that are installed inside the machine body (10). The vending method comprises: collecting the weight of products on a shelf before and after vending (S1); calculating the difference of the change between the weight of the products on the shelf before vending and the weight of the products on the shelf after vending (S2); and if the difference of the change is less than a first weight change threshold, issuing an alarm prompt (S3), wherein the first weight change threshold is less than or equal to zero. Using the present invention may promptly determine the misplacement and replacement of the products without relying on an RFID tag.