"To place a man in a multi-stage rocket and project him into the controlling gravitational field of the moon where the passengers can make scientific observations, perhaps land alive, and then return to earth--all that constitutes a wild dream worthy of Jules Verne. I am bold enough to say that such a man-made voyage will never occur regardless of all future advances."
Lee deForest, American radio pioneer ; 1957
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8160742 | Apparatus for dispensing and identifying product in washrooms An apparatus for the dispensing of product is provided. The apparatus includes a dispenser that is configured for dispensing product and a sensor in communication with an electrical circuit carried by the dispenser. The sensor is configured for detecting identificat... | 04/17/2012 |
| 8155784 | System and method for regulating vendible media products A system and method for regulating vendible media products is provided. A database stored information corresponding to a plurality of digital video discs within a vending apparatus at a vending location. A central server, having a memory, stores the database. An int... | 04/10/2012 |
| 8090472 | Medication dispensing apparatus for dispensing single items from multiple-compartment bins A medication dispenser provides automation to the steps of locating and acquiring medications to be administered to a patient. The medication dispenser includes an enclosure providing a secure environment for storing medications in multiple sized medication storage ... | 01/03/2012 |
| 8068933 | Products and processes for vending a plurality of products via defined groups Products and processes are disclosed for defining at least one inventory group. This at least one inventory group includes at least two products that are available for sale by a vending machine. The vending machine outputs an indication of products that the at least... | 11/29/2011 |
| 8060247 | System and method for communicating secondary vending options A system and method for communicating secondary vending options for a vendible media product having entertainment content therein is provided. The system comprises a transaction network, and a database in communication with the transaction network, wherein the datab... | 11/15/2011 |
| 8032252 | Items dispenser An automated small items dispensing apparatus is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the invention includes a networked, programmable, automatic medication items dispensing apparatus for use by individual patients who are enrolled in a medication protocol or medic... | 10/04/2011 |
| 7996107 | Device having a tool holder, a tool and a balance The invention relates to a device that comprises a tool holder that can be adjusted in an x-axis, a y-axis which is perpendicular thereto, and a z-axis that is perpendicular both to the x-axis and the y-axis and that can be pivoted about the z-axis. A dispense head ... | 08/09/2011 |
| 7979156 | Automatic vending machine An automatic vending machine (1) is provided with a vending machine main unit (10), with a play device (20) including a stuffed toy (21) on which a user can ride and a drive mechanism (24) for driving the stuffed toy (21), a... | 07/12/2011 |
| 7917246 | Lockable medicament dispensing apparatus with authentication mechanism Methods and apparatus for an electronically lockable dispensing apparatus with a patient authentication mechanism are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a medicament dispensing apparatus includes an electronic lock adapted to protect medicaments from theft or unau... | 03/29/2011 |
| 7912581 | Products and processes for vending a plurality of products via defined groups Products and processes are disclosed for defining at least one inventory group. This at least one inventory group includes at least two products that are available for sale by a vending machine. The vending machine outputs an indication of products that the at least... | 03/22/2011 |
| 7908031 | Means in a reverse vending machine (RVM) for receiving, handling, sorting and storing returnable items or objects The reverse vending machine (RVM) receives, handles, sorts, and stores returnable items or objects. The RVM includes an item supporting, rotating, sorting and conveyor unit, an upright storage chamber for such items, a safety apparatus to avoid operational hazards, ... | 03/15/2011 |
| 7885726 | Vending machine system and method for encouraging the purchase of profitable items This invention relates generally to systems and methods for delivering products-on-demand to individuals and, more particularly, to delivery via vending machines. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the method of the instant invention is initiated when a cust... | 02/08/2011 |
| 7869901 | Control systems and methods for a water dispenser assembly An appliance includes a dispenser having a water valve for controlling a flow of water through the dispenser and a flowmeter for measuring the amount of water dispensed through the dispenser, and a controller operatively coupled to the water valve and the flowmeter.... | 01/11/2011 |
| 7869902 | Intelligent seed treatment system and method A system and method for treating a least a portion of an initial seed sample to create one or more treated seed samples is provided. In various embodiments, one or more seed treatment apparatus components are in communication with one or more controllers such that s... | 01/11/2011 |
| 7865265 | Products and processes for vending a plurality of products via defined groups Products and processes are disclosed for defining at least one inventory group. This at least one inventory group includes at least two products that are available for sale by a vending machine. The vending machine outputs an indication of products that the at least... | 01/04/2011 |
| 7831335 | Ultrasonic sensor for detecting the dispensing of a product A vending machine includes a vend sensor for detecting a completion of a vend operation. The vend sensor includes an electronic circuit connected to first and second sound elements positioned on opposing sides of a product delivery chute of the vending machine. The ... | 11/09/2010 |
| 7801642 | System and method for checking the accuracy of a prescription fill A system and method are provided for checking the accuracy of a prescription fill in a pharmacy that includes activating an electronic scale coupled to a network, providing a user the ability to access a prescription to fill and displaying to the user data associate... | 09/21/2010 |
| 7797078 | Sticky note supply device and sticky note printer There is provided a sticky note supply device that separates an uppermost sticky note from a stacks of sticky note one by one so as to discharge to the outside of the device from a discharge section. The sticky note supply device includes a transport unit that separ... | 09/14/2010 |
| 7783381 | Products and processes for communicating information regarding a product dispensed by a vending machine According to an embodiment, information about a product is communicated to at least one customer of a vending machine. It is determined whether to dispense a product from the vending machine, and the product is dispensed from the vending machine. ... | 08/24/2010 |
| 7783380 | System and method for measuring, monitoring and controlling washroom dispensers and products An apparatus for the dispensing of product is provided. The apparatus may include a dispenser sensor unit in communication with a dispenser that is configured for the dispensing of product. The dispenser sensor unit may be configured for detecting information about ... | 08/24/2010 |
| 7756604 | Product control system A vending system restricts, limits and/or controls access and/or to various products, and tracks purchases, use or consumption of those products by an individual, group, class or classification, and implements continued decisions regarding future access within the c... | 07/13/2010 |
| 7702419 | System and method for filling a reservoir A system for automatically filling a reservoir. The system includes a first mechanism that automatically determines one or more parameters associated with the reservoir. A second mechanism fills the reservoir with an appropriate amount and type of filler based on th... | 04/20/2010 |
| 7584018 | Dispensing device having a storage chamber, a dispensing chamber and a feed regulator there between A method of dispensing medicaments may employ a drug dispensing device comprised of an upper hopper having an upper opening for receiving a medicament and a lower opening. The drug dispensing device also includes a lower hopper having an upper opening and a lower op... | 09/01/2009 |
| 7499769 | Products and processes for vending a plurality of products via defined groups Products and processes are disclosed for defining at least one inventory group. This at least one inventory group includes at least two products that are available for sale by a vending machine. The vending machine outputs an indication of products that the at least... | 03/03/2009 |
| 7480543 | Ultrasonic sensor for detecting the dispensing of a product A vending machine includes a vend sensor for detecting a completion of a vend operation. The vend sensor includes an electronic circuit connected to first and second sound elements positioned on opposing sides of a product delivery chute of the vending machine. The ... | 01/20/2009 |
| 7440818 | Medicament tray inventory system and method The invention relates to a method and system that utilizes one or more cassettes or trays, which hold one or more types of medicaments, the cassettes or trays being configured for intelligent dispensing of the medicaments. In one embodiment, a smart tray for dispens... | 10/21/2008 |
| 7428447 | Inventory management systems An inventory management system for use, for example, in automatically distributing items (such as laundered items) to users within a particular facility (e.g., a hospital), and for monitoring the amount (e.g., weight) of items distributed by the system. The system m... | 09/23/2008 |
| 7428446 | Dry powder dose filling systems and related methods Systems for flowably dispensing dry powders include means for generating a first non-linear vibration input signal, the first non-linear input signal comprising a carrier frequency modulated by a plurality of different selected frequencies that correspond to a first... | 09/23/2008 |
| 7392111 | Rotary desiccant feeder method and apparatus A method and apparatus for efficient dispensing of desiccant canisters into containers is disclosed. The apparatus includes a microprocessor that monitors a plurality of sensors, and applies control signals to a servomotor that controls a rotary disc that transports... | 06/24/2008 |
| 7359765 | Electronic pill dispenser An electronic pill dispenser includes a container and a cap removably attached to the container. Components of the pill dispenser include a power source, pill dispenser circuitry, a real time clock, a counter, a display, a dispensing mechanism, a sensor, a visual in... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7353193 | Fuel delivery system of machine, fuel delivery method and fuel delivery program of the same A fuel delivery system of a machine capable of efficiently feeding fuel, where a time of feeding fuel to a construction machine is estimated based on operation information of the construction machine. Based on position information of the construction machine acquire... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7346427 | Collecting liquid product volume data at a dispenser Disclosed are methods, systems, and computer program products for collecting liquid product volume data at a dispenser. The dispenser can include first and second totalizers that receive signals from a pulser that identifies the flow rate of liquid product dispensed... | 03/18/2008 |
| 7318537 | Method and apparatus for controlling the speed and/or direction of movement of a screw discharger This invention relates to a method and an apparatus for controlling the speed and/or direction of movement (A, B) of a screw discharger (1, 11, 101, 201). According to the invention, the bending load on the screw (2, 12, 102, 202) of the screw discharg... | 01/15/2008 |
| 7311223 | Apparatus for dispensing a plurality of powders and method of compounding substances An apparatus for dispensing a plurality of powders, such as colorants for paint, caulking or grout or components of cosmetics, comprising a plurality of containers for holding the powders, a plurality of metering powder pumps, connected to a container or having a co... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7295889 | Nutrition dispensers and method for producing optimal dose of nutrition with the help of a database arrangement A nutrition dispenser (100) for producing doses of nutrition and/or medication and a method for producing the doses with the help of the nutrition dispenser. A database arrangement is linked to the nutrition dispenser (100), and further, the nutrition ... | 11/13/2007 |
| 7289878 | Apparatus and method for modifying operation of an electric gun driver A method and apparatus for providing adjustment of current-related dispensing parameters in an electric dispensing gun. A control circuit receives user-selected inputs corresponding to dispensing parameters of the gun and converts those inputs into digital signals. ... | 10/30/2007 |
| 7286907 | Method and apparatus for conserving power consumed by a refrigerated appliance utilizing audio signal detection A refrigerated appliance that dispenses items for use with a power source and includes a cooling system. Power control circuitry is electrically coupled between the power source and components (for example, a compressor and one or more circulating fans of the coolin... | 10/23/2007 |
| 7277775 | Automated dynamic pressure-responsive dispensing systems, and associated methods and computer program products Methods, systems and computer program products for dispensing hyperpolarized gas include or operate a plurality of spaced apart individually operable valves positioned in fluid communication with and located along a gas flow path. The gas flow path that is intermedi... | 10/02/2007 |
| 7252715 | System for dispensing liquids The present invention provides a system to dispense a liquid, contained in a cartridge, onto a substrate employing a dispensing system under control of a processor in data communication with a memory. ... | 08/07/2007 |
| 7249356 | Methods and structure for batch processing event history processing and viewing A batch event historian gathers, stores and presents data regarding a batch process where relationships among the various elements of data are automatically derived by an executive program. A persistent store includes structure corresponding to the relationships def... | 07/24/2007 |