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.

An economic self-service terminal with simple but high safety features is described here.

An economic self-service terminal with simple but high safety features is described here.

A comfort accessory vending apparatus for selling comfort products for overnight travel includes a housing and a door with a viewing window hingingly coupled to an open housing front side. A push flap is hingingly coupled to a receiving aperture to selectively grant access to a housing inside. Dispenser shelves are coupled to the housing and comprise a shelf body and a plurality of motorized retrieval tracks. Helical rods are coupled to a motor and secure a plurality of sleeping comfort items between adjacent turns of the helical rods. The motor rotates the helical rods to advance the plurality of sleeping comfort items. A payment interface is coupled to the door and is in operational communication with a control unit to receive payment and allow a user to select the desired sleeping comfort item to be dispensed.

A comfort accessory vending apparatus for selling comfort products for overnight travel includes a housing and a door with a viewing window hingingly coupled to an open housing front side. A push flap is hingingly coupled to a receiving aperture to selectively grant access to a housing inside. Dispenser shelves are coupled to the housing and comprise a shelf body and a plurality of motorized retrieval tracks. Helical rods are coupled to a motor and secure a plurality of sleeping comfort items between adjacent turns of the helical rods. The motor rotates the helical rods to advance the plurality of sleeping comfort items. A payment interface is coupled to the door and is in operational communication with a control unit to receive payment and allow a user to select the desired sleeping comfort item to be dispensed.

Disclosed is a bucket, including a bucket body having inner cavity, a power assembly and a driving assembly. The power assembly is configured to detachably mate with the power input member of a storage column of a vending machine, to supply power for the power input member. The driving assembly is connected to the power assembly and is configured to drive the power assembly to move back and forth in a set direction. Also disclosed is a vending machine.

This disclosure includes a parcel terminal that may include a shelving unit comprising a plurality of shelves that are separated by respective predetermined distances along a dimension of the unit. In an embodiment, the plurality of shelves may be evenly spaced. The parcel terminal may further include a receptable for receiving a parcel from a user, a loader configured to transfer the parcel from the receptacle to a shelf on the shelving unit, and an electronic controller in electronic communication with the loader. The electronic controller may be configured to determine a number of open shelves required to accommodate the parcel based on a size of the parcel and on the respective predetermined distances, to select a set of shelves having at least the required number of open shelves, and to initiate a movement of the loader so as to place the parcel within the selected set of shelves.

This disclosure includes a parcel terminal that may include a shelving unit comprising a plurality of shelves that are separated by respective predetermined distances along a dimension of the unit. In an embodiment, the plurality of shelves may be evenly spaced. The parcel terminal may further include a receptable for receiving a parcel from a user, a loader configured to transfer the parcel from the receptacle to a shelf on the shelving unit, and an electronic controller in electronic communication with the loader. The electronic controller may be configured to determine a number of open shelves required to accommodate the parcel based on a size of the parcel and on the respective predetermined distances, to select a set of shelves having at least the required number of open shelves, and to initiate a movement of the loader so as to place the parcel within the selected set of shelves.

A vending machine system for loading and dispensing pre-baked unpackaged food including a fixed cartridge disposed in a refrigerator of a vending machine, and a transport cartridge adapted to removably attach to the fixed cartridge, the transport cartridge operable for holding trays of unpackaged food and loading the trays of unpackaged food from the transport cartridge into the fixed cartridge, wherein, when the transport cartridge is removably attached to the fixed cartridge, a front opening of the transport cartridge aligns with a front opening of the fixed cartridge, and wherein the rack of the transport cartridge aligns with the conveyor system of the fixed cartridge such that trays of unpackaged food within the transport cartridge can simultaneously be transitioned from the rack to the conveyor system.

A vending machine with a curved exterior shape is disclosed. Some embodiments of the vending machine are circular in design, and include a transparent upper housing that allows customers to see into the interior of the vending machine. Products for vending may be stored in a non-transparent lower housing. A centrally-located product delivery system transports products for vending from the lower housing to delivery portals located on the upper housing. The product delivery system is able to move along a vertical line and rotate through the horizontal plane and can deliver products from any portion of the lower housing to any delivery portals located on the upper housing.