A cartridge for food delivery apparatus is disclosed. The cartridge is for storing and conveying items. The cartridge includes a housing and an outer looped element affixed at least partially in a main cavity of the housing. A movable inner looped element is mounted on rotatable rollers. A plurality of panels defines a plurality of movable chambers between the outer looped element and the movable inner looped element. Each of the plurality of movable chambers is defined by a space between a first panel and an adjacent panel of the plurality of panels. A first movable door partially defining the outer looped element covers a first opening providing access to at one of the chambers. A second movable door is on the outer looped element and allows items to exit the cartridge. Generally, the cartridge enables the on-demand delivery of food items having a generally planar shape or surface.

A sensing system (110) positioned relative to the conveyor belt (34) to sense the physical configuration of the belt side links (44) and (46) as well as the inclination or tilt of the side links.

A sensing system (110) positioned relative to the conveyor belt (34) to sense the physical configuration of the belt side links (44) and (46) as well as the inclination or tilt of the side links.

A conveyor controller for being implemented into a conveyor system includes control circuitry and one or more network interfaces for coupling with other conveyor controllers. In one embodiment, the control circuitry configured for detecting whether another conveyor controller is connected and to determine which network interface is used in order to set the direction of the conveyor system. In another embodiment, the control circuitry is configured, to receive configuration data from a conveyor controller connected to a network interface, and to detect if another conveyor controller is and to transmit configuration message to another conveyor controller that includes additional configuration data associated with the conveyor controller. In still another embodiment, the control circuitry transmits configuration data to a replacement conveyor controller upon getting a request from the replacement conveyor controller that has been connected to a network interface.

A conveyor controller for being implemented into a conveyor system includes control circuitry and one or more network interfaces for coupling with other conveyor controllers. In one embodiment, the control circuitry configured for detecting whether another conveyor controller is connected and to determine which network interface is used in order to set the direction of the conveyor system. In another embodiment, the control circuitry is configured, to receive configuration data from a conveyor controller connected to a network interface, and to detect if another conveyor controller is and to transmit configuration message to another conveyor controller that includes additional configuration data associated with the conveyor controller. In still another embodiment, the control circuitry transmits configuration data to a replacement conveyor controller upon getting a request from the replacement conveyor controller that has been connected to a network interface.

The present invention relates to a device for de-stacking and spreading out medication packaged in pouches (2), which pouches are arranged successively in a ribbon-like medication roll (101), comprising a transport track (102) configured to transport the unrolled pouches of the medication roll, wherein the transport track comprises a section over which the pouches are displaceable and wherein the underside of at least one pouch lies against an upper side of the section during operation, and the section comprises means for de-stacking and spreading out the medication in a pouch lying on the section during operation, wherein the device is configured to co-act with means for supplying or discharging the medication roll over the transport track.

A motorized drive roller conveyor includes an upstream zone and a downstream zone, with each zone having a drive roller, an idler roller that is driven by the drive roller, and a sensor. The upstream zone and the downstream zone are controlled by a card, which measures a gap between a first item on the conveyor and a second item on the conveyor by beginning a counter when a trailing edge of the first item passes the sensor of the upstream zone and stopping the counter when a leading edge of the second item passes the sensor of the upstream zone to generate a counter value. If the first item is stopped in the downstream zone, the card of the upstream zone causes the drive roller of the upstream zone to advance the second item into the downstream zone for a distance derived from the counter value before stopping the transportation of the second item.

A motorized drive roller conveyor includes an upstream zone and a downstream zone, with each zone having a drive roller, an idler roller that is driven by the drive roller, and a sensor. The upstream zone and the downstream zone are controlled by a card, which measures a gap between a first item on the conveyor and a second item on the conveyor by beginning a counter when a trailing edge of the first item passes the sensor of the upstream zone and stopping the counter when a leading edge of the second item passes the sensor of the upstream zone to generate a counter value. If the first item is stopped in the downstream zone, the card of the upstream zone causes the drive roller of the upstream zone to advance the second item into the downstream zone for a distance derived from the counter value before stopping the transportation of the second item.

A system for dispensing an item from a dispensing apparatus is disclosed. The system is attached to a dispensing apparatus lower portion of the dispensing apparatus. The system includes a plate and a flap movably attached to the plate. The flap has a flap open position and a flap closed position. As stop extends outward from a flap first surface of a flap lower portion. A movable arm is in attachment with the flap and moves the flap between the flap open position and the flap closed position. A heating element at least proximate to the flap. An opening on the flap extends between the flap first surface and a flap second surface. A rod is substantially vertically arranged and in attachment with the plate and configured such that the rod passes through the opening when the flap moves between the flap open position and the flap closed position.

A system for dispensing an item from a dispensing apparatus is disclosed. The system is attached to a dispensing apparatus lower portion of the dispensing apparatus. The system includes a plate and a flap movably attached to the plate. The flap has a flap open position and a flap closed position. As stop extends outward from a flap first surface of a flap lower portion. A movable arm is in attachment with the flap and moves the flap between the flap open position and the flap closed position. A heating element at least proximate to the flap. An opening on the flap extends between the flap first surface and a flap second surface. A rod is substantially vertically arranged and in attachment with the plate and configured such that the rod passes through the opening when the flap moves between the flap open position and the flap closed position.