Described are systems and methods to verify the identity of an evaluated device that has been previously identified and evaluated remotely from a reader device. The reader device obtains from an evaluated device temporally changing information, where the temporally changing information includes a unique identifier associated with the evaluated device and a proximity indication. The reader device verifies the temporally changing information by verifying that the unique identifier is contained in the temporally changing information, that the unique identifier is stored in a database associated with the reader device, and that the temporally changing information includes the proximity indication indicating that the evaluated device and the reader device are proximate to each other. Upon verifying the temporally changing information, the reader device obtains the price of the evaluated device, based on the unique identifier associated with the evaluated device. Upon obtaining the price of the evaluated device, the system compensates a user associated with the evaluated device.

A novel food station comprises first and second pluralities of cubbies, each sized to enclose a food portion container, and a food collection hatch that is selectively externally accessible. A heating system can controllably heat one or more of the first plurality of cubbies independently of the first plurality of cubbies, and a cooling system can cool one or more of the second plurality of cubbies independently of the first plurality of cubbies. An internal transport system including an end effector that temporarily couples to the portion container carrier of a selected cooled cubby of the second plurality of cubbies and can controllably move the food portion container carrier to a selected heated cubby or to the food collection hatch.

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 novel food station comprises first and second pluralities of cubbies, each sized to enclose a food portion container, and a food collection hatch that is selectively externally accessible. A heating system can controllably heat one or more of the first plurality of cubbies independently of the first plurality of cubbies, and a cooling system can cool one or more of the second plurality of cubbies independently of the first plurality of cubbies. An internal transport system including an end effector that temporarily couples to the portion container carrier of a selected cooled cubby of the second plurality of cubbies and can controllably move the food portion container carrier to a selected heated cubby or to the food collection hatch.

A system including software and hardware and a smartphone application for enabling consumers to order and pay for a consumable from an extensive menu of hot and cold choices, and from one or more consumable providers, then to receive the chosen consumable in a fresh and properly temperatured state at a pre-chosen time.

A power pack vending system comprises a plurality of kiosks including a magazine having a plurality of slots, and a plurality of rechargeable power packs. Each power pack has a unique identifier and is sized to be received within one slot. Each kiosk includes a computer for receiving and storing the unique identifier of each power pack received within the magazine, the specific slot the power pack is in, and current power pack information. The kiosk computer controls a charging unit for charging the power packs. The system includes a central management operation comprising a central computer and central database. The management operation communicates with each kiosk and the central database includes a database storing power pack information for every power pack and a database storing customer information. The central management operation receives, stores and processes information received from the kiosks and sends information to each of the kiosks.

A novel food station comprises a plurality of cubbies sized to enclose food portion containers, and an externally accessible collection hatch. An internal transport system uses an end effector to temporarily couple to a portion container carrier of a selected cubby, and to controllably move the food portion container carrier within the food station from the selected cubby to the collection hatch. The food station includes heating and cooling systems that selectively provide or remove heat to or from each of the plurality of cubbies independently of the other cubbies, with a heating or cooling rate, or for a heating or cooling duration, that is independently scheduled and controllable for each of the plurality of cubbies.

A novel food station comprises a plurality of cubbies, each sized to enclose a food portion container (FPC). Each cubby includes a cubby door and a door actuation mechanism that can open and close the cubby door independently from that of other cubbies. A heating system that can controllably heat the FPC within at least a first cubby, and a cooling system can perform cooling within at least a second cubby. The food station includes an internal transport system with an end effector that temporarily couples to the FPC, and controllably moves the FPC in a common transport space within the food station. The food station includes a control system that controls the heating, the cubby doors, and the movement of the internal transport system. Each cubby door, when closed, closes off the corresponding cubby interior space sufficiently to enable independent temperature control within the cubby interior space.

Various embodiments of apparatuses to turn a mobile phone over in, for example, a kiosk, and associated embodiments of kiosks are disclosed herein. Embodiments of such apparatuses can enable the kiosk to visually inspect both the front and back sides of the mobile device on an inspection surface with an inspection system (e.g., one or more imaging devices, lighting devices, etc.) positioned above the inspection surface, and can eliminate the need to position a second inspection system below a transparent inspection surface to visually inspect, e.g., the back side of the mobile device through the transparent inspection surface.

Systems and methods for distributing reusable takeout food or beverage related products, such as food containers, through a communicative process between consumers, vendors and designated return stations, also referred to herein as “drop stations.” The system may include a mobile application executable on mobile devices that communicates with a server connected to a network and a database accessible by the server that includes a list of approved users, vendors, and return stations, which are physical locations to which the consumers may return the containers after use. Consumers may operate their mobile devices executing a mobile application to scan or “checkout” a container at the time of purchase of a food item. Containers may be scanned by a scanning device prior to being provided to a vendor, which scan identifies the type of container being checked out to the vendor.