Disclosed are a bucket and a vending machine. The bucket is used for the vending machine and includes a shell, a turnover body and a first driving mechanism. The shell has a base plate and the turnover body is provided with a storage cavity, an inlet and an outlet. Both the inlet and the outlet are connected with the storage cavity. The turnover body may be located in a first position and a second position. When the turnover body is located in the first position, the base plate closes the outlet; when the turnover body is located in the second position, the outlet deviates from the base plate and is opened. The first driving mechanism is in transmission connection with the turnover body and is configured to drive the turnover body to switch between the first position and the second position.

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.

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 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 reciprocatively in a width direction of the vending machine. Also disclosed is a vending machine.

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.

The invention relates to a device (100) for the sale of goods (161), having at least two storage areas (111, 112), in each of which a temperature different from the other storage areas can be set and/or adjusted in a respectively associated temperature range, and which are each arranged for the storage of goods (161), having an automated handling system (120), by means of which goods (161) can be removed from each of the storage areas (111, 112), and having a output device (130) in which goods (161) can be provided for removal, the device (100) being arranged to remove selected goods (161) from the storage areas (111, 112) by means of the handling system (120) and, after a release, to provide them for removal in the output device (130), a system having at least one such device and a method for operating such a device (100).

A programmatically integrated cooling module and freezing module. In the cooling module, the front and rear racks with cantilever storage slots for transportation baskets are installed in parallel and have a spacing greater than the width of the transportation basket. In the vertical plane of symmetry between the racks, there is a Cartesian frame manipulator with a trolley and a gripping mechanism. The internal space of the cooling module is circulated with cooling air at a stabilised temperature in the range between 1° C. and 8° C. (optimally 4° C.), produced by a refrigeration unit. On the front wall of the cooling module housing, below the storage slots of the front rack, there are sending and collecting windows. The windows are designed as sluices with a drawer whose rear opening is periodically closed by a movable rear partition and which at the front has a single-leaf door hinged vertically and locked by an electromagnetic lock. In the freezing module, lockers have walls perforated with holes and the number of the order currently available for pickup is illuminated on the door.

The present invention relates to pharmaceutical dispensing vehicles and/or mobile pharmaceutical dispensing machines, comprising: a vehicle and/or a frame comprising an inside and an outside; one or more pharmaceutical dispensing modules configured to perform parts of a pharmaceutical dispensing process, said one or more modules located inside said vehicle and/or frame; one or more delivery windows facing the outside of said vehicle and or frame, said one or more delivery windows are in communication with said one or more pharmaceutical dispensing modules and are configured to receive one or more pharmaceuticals ready to be dispensed; one or more user interfaces facing the outside of said vehicle and/or frame, said one or more user interfaces are in communication with said one or more pharmaceutical dispensing modules and are configured to receive one or more input related to a pharmaceutical dispensing request from at least one user.

An automatic locker device is configured for handling loads with operations of loading and retrieval. The device includes at least one storage zone for storing loads, at least one retrieval point and a handling mechanism, which is configured to move the loads from the at least one storage zone to the at least one retrieval point, for the retrieval operations. The automatic locker device also includes at least one buffer zone, distinct from the at least one storage zone. The handling mechanism is configured to move the loads from the at least one buffer zone to the at least one storage zone, for the loading operations.