Product dispensing system and associated method

An automation apparatus for dispensing individually packaged products, the apparatus comprising:

• a first and a second storage module each adapted to store a plurality of products each contained in an individual package;
• a discharge assembly adapted to move selected ones of the individual packages from at least one of the storage modules;
• a conveyor moving along a conveyor path and adapted to transfer the selected individual packages from the discharge assembly to a designated space on the conveyor;
• and
• a plurality of buffer repositories in which individual packages are stored in advance of their being assembled.

A method of dispensing a selection of individually packaged products selected from a plurality of different individual packages, the method comprising:

• assigning a designated space on a conveyor for receiving the selection of individually packaged products;
• moving the designated space on the conveyor along a conveyor path past a first and a second storage location;
• retrieving a first subset of the selection of individually packaged products from the first storage location and a second subset of the selection of individually packaged products from the second storage location;
• placing the retrieved first subset of the selection of individually packaged products on the conveyor at the designated space;
• buffering the retrieved second subset of the selection of individually packaged products while the designated space on the conveyor approaches a location of the retrieved second subset of the selection of individually packaged products;
• and
• placing the retrieved second subset of the selection of individually packaged products on the conveyor at the designated space.