Provided herein is a methods, apparatus, and system for the configuration of customizable trays for the storage and dispensing of articles. Methods may include: receiving an indication of a plurality of articles to be stored in a tray; determining a plurality of bins corresponding to the plurality of articles; generating a layout of the bins on the tray; identifying locations of the plurality of articles within the bins on the tray; and causing the tray to be configured according to the layout of the plurality of bins on the tray. Methods may include: receiving an indication of an article to be loaded into a bin of the plurality of bins; receiving a unique identifier of the bin of the plurality of bins into which the article is loaded; and storing, in a memory, a correlation between the unique identifier of the bin and the article loaded into the bin.

A novel food station comprises a plurality of cubbies, each cubby sized to enclose a food portion container, and an externally accessible collection hatch large enough for the food portion container to pass therethrough. A heating system can controllably heat the food portion container within a selected one of the cubbies, independently of an operation of the heating system the other cubbies. A cooling system can perform cooling within a subset of cubbies that includes at least the selected cubby. An internal transport system includes an end effector that temporarily couples to the portion container carrier of the selected cubby and controllably moves the food portion container carrier within the food station to the collection hatch. A control system includes a memory that controls the heating and controls the movement of the internal transport system.

A direct-to-garment personalization system for personalizing an article having a direct-to-garment printer configured to print a graphic onto the article and a packaged article. The packaged article including the article to be printed; a hanger having a first arm coupled to a second arm, the first and second arms disposed in the article; and a container for receiving the hanger and the article in a rolled configuration. The system also includes a storage area containing the packaged article and a transfer system. The transfer system is configured to retrieve the packaged article from the storage area; remove the article from the container; and move the article to the direct-to-garment printer.

An apparatus and method for storing medical products such as pharmaceutical and medical products in climate controlled storage devices includes climate control systems in communication with inventory access and tracking systems.

A robot management system (RMS) includes a plurality of service robots deployed within an operations venue that includes a plurality of gaming devices, an operator terminal presenting a graphical user interface (GUI) to an operator, and a robot management system server (RMS server) configured in networked communication with the plurality of service robots. The RMS server is configured to: identify location data for the service robots; create an interactive overlay map of the operations venue that includes a static map of the operations venue, overlay data showing the location data of the plurality of service robots over the static map, and an interactive icon for each service robot of the plurality of service robots; display, via the GUI, the overlay map; receive a first input indicating a selection of a first interactive icon associated with a first service robot; and display current status information associated with the first service robot.

An automated temperature-controlled outdoor terminal for storage and handover of online grocery orders allowing simultaneous operation of two transactions and a method to operate the terminal is described here.

A self-service operating system and method, and an operation door. The system comprises: a control server, one or more operation doors, at least one robot, and one or more storage containers, wherein the control server is configured to respond to an item operation instruction, determine a target storage container and a target operation door which corresponds to an item to be operated, and send a carrying instruction to the robot; the robot is configured to respond to the carrying instruction to carry the target storage container to the target operation door, and a plurality of box openings on the target storage container respectively correspond to a plurality of box openings on the target operation door on a one-to-one basis; and the control server is further configured to control a box opening door of a target box opening on the target operation door to open.

The invention provides a vending machine for dispensing hot packaged food. The vending machine includes a storage and dispenser unit comprising plural dispensing trays arranged in an array for storing one or more packaged foods, a frame, and a carrier structure. Each individual dispensing tray includes a pivotable gate and a slideway inclined by a tilting angle from a horizontal axis. The carrier structure comprises a carrying arm having an engaging feature; and an engaging mechanism for actuating the pivotable gate. The engaging mechanism is configured to move the carrying arm towards the individual dispensing tray such that the engaging feature actuates the pivotable gate from a locked position to an unlocked position. The packaged food is prevented from sliding down when the pivotable gate is at the locked position. The packaged food is slidable relative to the individual dispensing tray when the pivotable gate is at the unlocked position.

An automated storage system for receiving, storing, and dispensing items is herein proposed. The system has an enclosure, which defines a storage volume, and a port which selectively connects the storage volume to the ambient space for deposit and retrieval of items. The system also includes a plurality of containers for containing at least one item being stored as well as a support structure for supporting the plurality of containers in the storage volume. The containers feature a base, an envelope extending from the base, and an opening opposing the base and providing access to an inner volume defined by the base and envelope for containing at least one item. The system includes a manipulator for transporting the containers between an access position at the port and a storage position at the support structure. Finally, the system includes a one-sided attachment interface between the container and the support structure for removably attach the container to the support structure in the storage position, in which the opening of the container is above the base.

A distribution site and a distribution method are provided. The distribution site includes: a building having a storage space configured to store goods and a distribution interface area configured to park an unmanned ground distribution vehicle that is capable of performing goods distribution; and a goods sorting device arranged in the building and configured to load the goods in the storage space onto the unmanned ground distribution vehicle.