Provided herein is a system for automated dispensing of articles. Systems may include: a robotic arm; an end-of-arm tool attached to the robotic arm; a scanning device proximate the end-of-arm tool; and a controller to control the robotic arm and the end-of-arm tool. The end-of-arm tool may include a body and two or more vacuum cups extending from the body, where the controller controls a level of suction provided to each of the two or more vacuum cups individually. Each of the two or more vacuum cups extending from the body may be movable between a retracted position proximate the body, and an extended position away from the body of the end-of-arm tool in response to instruction from the controller. Suction may be provided only to the vacuum cups of the two or more vacuum cups that are disposed in the extended position.

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.

Disclosed is a vending machine, including a cabinet, a bucket, a bucket drive mechanism, a first shutter mechanism, a second shutter mechanism, a controller and a storage column; a pickup port is arranged at the surface of the cabinet; the storage column stores the commodities; the bucket includes an inlet and an outlet; the inlet receives the commodity to be conveyed from the storage column, and the outlet is butted with the pickup port; the bucket drive mechanism drives the bucket to move in the cabinet; the first shutter mechanism blocks or opens the inlet; the second shutter mechanism blocks or opens the outlet; the controller controls the first shutter mechanism to open the inlet and the second shutter mechanism to block the outlet in the process of commodity to be conveyed entering the bucket. Further disclosed is a commodity conveying method.

An automatic vending machine includes a product housing rack including a plurality of product housing shelves that are disposed in an up-down direction, a plurality of product housing paths corresponding to the plurality of product housing shelves, each product housing path being defined in the corresponding product housing shelf and configured to house products, a plurality of product discharge devices corresponding to the plurality of product housing shelves and the plurality of product housing paths, each product discharge device being configured to separate and discharge, one by one, the products that are housed in the corresponding product housing path. The product housing shelf includes a front side shelf member and a back side shelf member that are divided in the front-back direction, supported by support members, and detachably coupled with each other so that the front side shelf member is sandwiched by the back side shelf member.

A dispenser assembly and method of providing a web material dispenser assembly that is configured to dispense towel and wipe web materials, whether continuous or interwoven, in a pull-through manner from a core of a roll of material. The dispenser assembly includes a housing having a base and a moveable cover. A roll guide is disposed in the housing and defines a portion of the dispense passage associated with extraction of material from the dispenser assembly. A restrictor plate is supported by the roll guide and is rotatable and axially translatable relative thereto. The restrictor plate defines a number of dispense openings that can be selectively aligned with the portion of the dispense passage defined by the roll guide such that the characteristics associated with the pull-through dispense activity of the dispenser assembly can be quickly and conveniently configured to achieve a desired dispense action.

Examples associated with device component distribution are described. One example apparatus includes a set of receptacles for storing electronic devices. The apparatus also includes a rotary distribution compartment to store components associated with the electronic devices. The apparatus also includes an apparatus controller. The apparatus controller includes an authentication module to authenticate a user based on a credential provided by the user. The apparatus controller also includes a distribution module. The distribution module grants the user access to a member of the set of receptacles storing an assigned device to be provided to the user. The distribution module also controls the rotary distribution compartment to dispense components associated with the assigned device.

Provided is a belt conveyor type dispensing mechanism for an article vending machine, in which an associated component other than a belt can be easily and compactly installed. The dispensing mechanism for the article vending machine includes a drive section that is disposed in an article storing shelf 13 and on which articles arranged in a front-rear direction are carried, the drive section being configured to drive based on a vending command, and a belt conveyor unit 57 that sequentially dispenses the articles forward, the belt conveyor unit 57 includes two belt conveyors 71 moving forward and arranged away from each other in a right-left direction, and a detection unit 100 of an article detection device and a gear to drive a rear rotary shaft over which belts of the belt conveyors 71 are looped are arranged between the two belt conveyors 71.

Provided is a belt conveyor type dispensing mechanism for an article vending machine, in which an associated component other than a belt can be easily and compactly installed. The dispensing mechanism for the article vending machine includes a drive section that is disposed in an article storing shelf 13 and on which articles arranged in a front-rear direction are carried, the drive section being configured to drive based on a vending command, and a belt conveyor unit 57 that sequentially dispenses the articles forward, the belt conveyor unit 57 includes two belt conveyors 71 moving forward and arranged away from each other in a right-left direction, and a detection unit 100 of an article detection device and a gear to drive a rear rotary shaft over which belts of the belt conveyors 71 are looped are arranged between the two belt conveyors 71.

Provided herein is a system for automated dispensing and packaging of articles. Systems may include: a controller configured to receive an indication of an order to be packaged, where the order includes one or more articles; a packaging station; a web of bags, where the web of bags is fed to the packaging station; a pneumatic table configurable to support a bag disposed at the packaging station; an opening mechanism including a pneumatic nozzle to open the bag disposed at the packaging station; a loading bin configured to be inserted into the open bag and deposit the one or more articles; and a closure apparatus to seal the bag disposed at the packaging station after receiving the one or more articles.

Provided is an automatic column setting device for an article vending machine. The device is for an article vending machine 1 including a column in an article storing shelf 13, to store articles arranged in a front-rear direction, and a dispensing mechanism 55 removably installed for the column in the shelf 13, to sequentially dispense the stored articles, the mechanism 55 is arbitrarily installable at a plurality of preset right and left positions in the shelf 13, and the automatic column setting device includes a motor presence/absence information preparing section 81 that detects an installation position of motor 61 in accordance with a connected state of motor 61, and a pattern extracting section 82 that determines a type and an installation position of the mechanism 55 in the shelf 13 based on presence/absence information of motor 61 that is detected by the motor presence/absence information preparing section 81.