A merchandise dispensing apparatus for deterring theft includes a housing having a plurality of walls defining an interior space within the housing. At least one merchandise support module is mounted in the housing and includes an electro-mechanical ejector located adjacent a front end of the at least one module. The ejector includes an electrical motor with an output shaft, along with an ejector plate movably mounted in relation to the housing. A gear train connects the output shaft of the motor to the ejector plate. A relay selectively provides electrical power to the motor.

A merchandise dispensing apparatus for deterring theft includes a housing having a plurality of walls defining an interior space within the housing. At least one merchandise support module is mounted in the housing and includes an electro-mechanical ejector located adjacent a front end of the at least one module. The ejector includes an electrical motor with an output shaft, along with an ejector plate movably mounted in relation to the housing. A gear train connects the output shaft of the motor to the ejector plate. A relay selectively provides electrical power to the motor.

Provided is a belt conveyor type dispensing mechanism for an article vending machine, in which an associated component other than a belt can be easily and compactly installed. The dispensing mechanism for the article vending machine includes a drive section that is disposed in an article storing shelf 13 and on which articles arranged in a front-rear direction are carried, the drive section being configured to drive based on a vending command, and a belt conveyor unit 57 that sequentially dispenses the articles forward, the belt conveyor unit 57 includes two belt conveyors 71 moving forward and arranged away from each other in a right-left direction, and a detection unit 100 of an article detection device and a gear to drive a rear rotary shaft over which belts of the belt conveyors 71 are looped are arranged between the two belt conveyors 71.

Provided is a belt conveyor type dispensing mechanism for an article vending machine, in which an associated component other than a belt can be easily and compactly installed. The dispensing mechanism for the article vending machine includes a drive section that is disposed in an article storing shelf 13 and on which articles arranged in a front-rear direction are carried, the drive section being configured to drive based on a vending command, and a belt conveyor unit 57 that sequentially dispenses the articles forward, the belt conveyor unit 57 includes two belt conveyors 71 moving forward and arranged away from each other in a right-left direction, and a detection unit 100 of an article detection device and a gear to drive a rear rotary shaft over which belts of the belt conveyors 71 are looped are arranged between the two belt conveyors 71.

A dispensing apparatus for dispensing articles includes a dispensing outlet, laterally opposed, elongate first and second guide walls defining a singulating channel therebetween, a dispensing path extending through the singulating channel to the dispensing outlet, and a drive system. The drive system includes a belt and a belt actuator operable to drive the belt. The dispensing apparatus is configured to convey articles on the belt in a dispensing direction along the dispensing path toward the dispensing outlet to be dispensed. The singulating channel is configured to singulate the articles as the articles are conveyed along the dispensing path and through the singulating channel toward the dispensing outlet to be dispensed. The first guide wall extends laterally across the singulating channel at an oblique angle to vertical to overhang at least a portion of the singulating channel and engage articles conveyed along the singulating channel.

A dispensing apparatus for dispensing articles includes a dispensing outlet, laterally opposed, elongate first and second guide walls defining a singulating channel therebetween, a dispensing path extending through the singulating channel to the dispensing outlet, and a drive system. The drive system includes a belt and a belt actuator operable to drive the belt. The dispensing apparatus is configured to convey articles on the belt in a dispensing direction along the dispensing path toward the dispensing outlet to be dispensed. The singulating channel is configured to singulate the articles as the articles are conveyed along the dispensing path and through the singulating channel toward the dispensing outlet to be dispensed. The first guide wall extends laterally across the singulating channel at an oblique angle to vertical to overhang at least a portion of the singulating channel and engage articles conveyed along the singulating channel.

An automated store for storing and then distributing articles, including a housing for receiving closed shipping containers for storage, and for distributing articles retrieved from inside the shipping containers to an output of the housing. The housing further including entry means for controlling entry into the housing of closed shipping containers. Automated forming means form an opening in each of the plurality of the shipping containers, storing means for storing the opened shipping containers, computer controlled retrieving means for entering into selected ones of the opened shipping containers via the formed opening to retrieve an article and moving means for moving the retrieved articles to an output are further included in the housing.

An automatic vending machine includes: a belt conveyor constituting a part of a column configured to store a product, the belt conveyor being able to convey the stored product along the column, and a controller configured to control an operation of the belt conveyor. The controller acquires an amount of movement of a belt of the belt conveyor moving to convey the product. The controller calculates the number of products stored in the column, based on the acquired amount of movement of the belt.

A vending system mounted on a substantially vertical surface (e.g., a wall) in accordance with at least one VESA mount standard.

A medicine dispenser, including a medicine prescription reader, for reading a medicine prescription including two due times, trays, each for containing medicine doses of one type only, and a robot, for dispensing medicine doses from at the trays to two cells of box according to the reading of the medicine prescription reader, thereby dedicating each of the cells to one of the due times.