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 smart vending apparatus and a control method thereof. The apparatus includes: a cabinet (10) provided with a product shelf (102) used to display items for sale, the items carrying item information tags. A main control system is provided within the cabinet (10) and has a tag scanner (304) and a communication device (306) being respectively connected to a central processor (302) thereof. Upon receiving a door-opening instruction sent by the server after the server authenticates the identity information, the central processor (302) controls the door (20) to switch from a closed state to an open state. After the door (20) switches from the open state to the closed state, the tag scanner (304) scans all item information tags in the cabinet (10) to determine current inventory information.

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.

The present invention relates to use of vending machines for dispensing or effecting automated sales of products. In particular, the invention is directed towards vending machines, methods of dispensing products from such vending machines, and methods for effecting payment for products or articles dispensed by a vending machine. In an embodiment, the vending machine comprises (i) a vending machine cabinet, (ii) at least one horizontally oriented partition chassis, wherein the partition chassis comprises a base plate, a plurality of partition trays independently mounted on said base plate and a plurality of load sensors, (iii) at least one door having a selectively actuatable lock, and (iv) a controller.

The present invention relates to use of vending machines for dispensing or effecting automated sales of products. In particular, the invention is directed towards vending machines, methods of dispensing products from such vending machines, and methods for effecting payment for products or articles dispensed by a vending machine. In an embodiment, the vending machine comprises (i) a vending machine cabinet, (ii) at least one horizontally oriented partition chassis, wherein the partition chassis comprises a base plate, a plurality of partition trays independently mounted on said base plate and a plurality of load sensors, (iii) at least one door having a selectively actuatable lock, and (iv) a controller.

A method and system for providing point-of-sale and point-of-delivery and/or distribution of products in a restricted access unit near the customer. The method and system utilize products equipped with radio frequency tags and reduce the effects of energy sharing, shadowing, and nulls. In one embodiment, a plurality of RF tagged products are placed within a refrigerator, cabinet, or other micro-warehouse that has a door or opening that can detect access to the micro-warehouse. .[.In one embodiment, one or more antennas are positioned within the door. Each antenna may have a transmission line of sight and be configured to emit a signal at predefined frequencies. Each antenna generates an electromagnetic field within the micro-warehouse. In one embodiment, the products are positioned in one or more bins, compartments, or similar devices located within the micro-warehouse such that at least two of the plurality of products are spaced a distance from each other to reduce energy sharing. The electromagnetic field is moved or altered within the micro-warehouse through the use of reflectors, devices that move the antennas, or other mechanisms..].

A refrigerated dispensing system is provided including an outer refrigerator cabinet and an interior, removable chassis that mounts a plurality of separately removable product storage and dispensing cartridges and a separately removable open-front product storage box. While the storage-box and individual cartridges are removably positionable within slots on one or more shelves inside of the chassis, the entire chassis (with storage box and cartridges positioned thereon) may be removed from the outer refrigerator cabinet. The open-front storage box is provided RFID product tracking for monitoring inventory of products stored within the storage box.

An article accommodation unit which can be attached to an article supply device, comprises a main body capable of accommodating articles in a state where the articles are laminated; an operation portion provided in the main body; and a lock portion provided in the main body and capable of locking the operation portion so as not to perform a certain operation, wherein the lock portion is configured so as to be able to release a lock of the operation portion on condition that the article accommodation unit is attached to the article supply device.

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.