A vending machine and an item dispensing method. The vending machine includes: a storage column used to store items; a bucket used to receive an item from the storage column; a first conveying mechanism disposed at the storage column and used to convey the item in the storage column to the bucket; a second conveying mechanism disposed at the bucket and used to convey the item from the storage column to the inside of the bucket; and a controller. The first and second conveying mechanisms are each electrically connected to the controller. The item dispensing method includes controlling the first conveying mechanism to convey an item to the bucket at a first preset speed and controlling the second conveying mechanism to convey the item to the inside of the bucket at a second preset speed, as the item is entering the bucket, the first preset speed being less than the second preset speed.

A cabinet for goods storage and access is provided, including: at least one fixed shelf configured to store goods; a moving member located on a side of the fixed shelf; a controller configured to control the moving member to move along the side of the fixed shelf to place goods in the fixed shelf or extract goods from the fixed shelf; a cabinet body surrounding the fixed shelf and the moving member, wherein a first slot is disposed on the cabinet body and adjacent to a moving track of the moving member, wherein the controller is configured to control the first slot to be opened or closed; and a volume recognizer disposed adjacent to the first slot to recognize a volume of goods entering the first slot.

Disclosed is a bucket applied in a vending machine, including a bucket body, a first driving mechanism and a second driving mechanism. The bucket body includes an inner cavity and two ports in communication with the inner cavity respectively. The two ports are arranged at an interval in a first preset direction. The first driving mechanism and the second driving mechanism are arranged at an interval in the bucket body in a second preset direction, and are respectively configured to detachably mate with a dispensing assembly of a storage column of the vending machine, to provide power to the dispensing assembly. Also disclosed is a vending machine including multiple storage columns and the aforementioned bucket.

A store includes: a selling apparatus configured to display product information to a user visiting the store and sell a product; and an automatic warehouse configured to store the product sold by the selling apparatus and convey the product to the selling apparatus. The automatic warehouse includes: a shelf including a plurality of belt conveyors provided in tiers, each of the plurality of belt conveyors constituting a shelf plate on which the product is stored; an elevator configured to move up and down with respect to the plurality of belt conveyors and accommodate the product conveyed from a belt conveyor; and a carrying-out mechanism configured to carry the product out of the elevator and move the product toward a take-out port provided in the selling apparatus to take out the product.

A vending machine and an item dispensing method. The vending machine includes: a storage column used to store items; a bucket used to receive an item from the storage column; a first conveying mechanism disposed at the storage column and used to convey the item in the storage column to the bucket; a second conveying mechanism disposed at the bucket and used to convey the item from the storage column to the inside of the bucket; and a controller. The first and second conveying mechanisms are each electrically connected to the controller. The item dispensing method includes controlling the first conveying mechanism to convey an item to the bucket at a first preset speed and controlling the second conveying mechanism to convey the item to the inside of the bucket at a second preset speed, as the item is entering the bucket, the first preset speed being less than the second preset speed.

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.

A self-vending beverage distribution station is disclosed. The station is housed inside an aircraft or vehicle monument having a counter surface and delivery points set thereinto, the counter supported by forward and rear structural walls which define an interior compartment. The station can accommodate multiple mobile beverage dispensing carts secured therein, each cart capable of dispensing a variety of canned beverages. The station includes beverage dispensing systems connected to the beverage carts. The beverage dispensing systems include a selector for retrieving selected cans from the cart, conveyors for transferring the selected cans to a can lift, and linear actuators for transporting the cans upward to the delivery points for collection by the requesting users or consumers. Control systems within the dispensing station receive user requests and coordinates operations of the beverage dispensing systems.

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).

Disclosed are a vending machine and a method of detecting height of a storage column. The vending machine may determine whether a sensor squarely faces the front end surface of the level plate of a storage column by detecting the type of an output signal of the sensor. When the sensor squarely faces the front end surface of the level plate of the storage column, the height of the level plate of the storage column may be obtained based on a height difference between the sensor and the bearing surface of a bucket and the height of the bucket. Thus, according to the height of the level plate of the storage column, the bearing surface of the bucket and the upper edge of the front end surface of the level plate of the storage column lie in the same level when dispensing an item.

The present disclosure provides a driving device, a bucket and a vending machine. The driving device comprises a base, a motor arranged on the base, a transmission mechanism in transmission connection with the output shaft of the motor and a power output wheel in transmission connection with the transmission mechanism; the transmission mechanism is configured to drive the power output wheel to rotate and to move from a first position to a second position when the output shaft of the motor rotates in a first preset direction; the transmission mechanism is also configured to drive the power output wheel to move from the second position to the first position when the output shaft of the motor rotates in a second preset direction; wherein the first preset direction is opposite to the second preset direction.