Dispensing consumer products

摘要

A system for dispensing consumer products includes a product bin unit; a product ejector; a product trigger; and a controller. The product bin unit includes a product bin; an ejector aperture; and a trigger aperture. The product ejector is coupled to the product bin unit through the ejector aperture and adapted to drive the product package from the product bin upon receipt of a dispensing signal. The product trigger is coupled to the product bin unit through the trigger aperture. The controller is in communication with the product ejector and the product trigger and includes at least one memory and a processor. The memory stores a dispensing module. The processor is adapted to execute the dispensing module, and the dispensing module is operable when executed to receive a dispensing instruction and transmit the dispensing signal to the product ejector based, at least in part, on the dispensing instruction.

主权项

1. A system for dispensing consumer products, comprising:
a product dispensing apparatus that comprises a housing that at least partially encloses:
a product bin unit comprising:
a product bin adapted to hold at least one product package;an ejector aperture; anda trigger aperture;a product ejector coupled to the product bin unit through the ejector aperture and adapted to drive the product package from the product bin upon receipt of a dispensing signal, wherein the product ejector comprises an electrically actuated piston-cylinder comprising: an electromagnet adapted to drive at least a portion of the piston to extend from the cylinder through the ejector aperture to be in contact with the product package upon energizing, and a spring adapted to drive the portion of the piston into the cylinder upon de-energizing of the electromagnet;a product trigger coupled to the product bin unit through the trigger aperture; anda controller in communication with the product ejector and the product trigger through one or more electrical connections, the controller comprising:
at least one memory, the memory storing a dispensing module and at least a portion of confidential data describing financial or proprietary information related to the consumer products; andone or more processors adapted to execute the dispensing module, the dispensing module operable when executed to:
present an authorization code request to a user that comprises a sales administrator or a sales associate of the product dispensing apparatus and is associated with management or sale of the consumer products enclosed in the product dispensing apparatus;receive an authorization code from the user, the authorization code comprising a password operable to secure the confidential data, wherein the password comprises an administrator's password facilitating administer-level access to the portion of confidential data;confirm the password as a valid code;receive a dispensing instruction from the user;transmit the dispensing signal to the product ejector based at least in part on the dispensing instruction and confirmation of the password as the valid code, such that the product ejector is electrically actuated to directly drive the product package from the product bin unit upon receipt of the dispensing signal;receive, from the product trigger, a particular confirmation signal confirming that the product package has been driven from the product bin unit;receive a request from the user for at least one sales data point associated with a value of sales of the product package in a specified time period, wherein the portion of confidential data describes financial or proprietary information related to the sales data point;generate a report comprising the sales data point; andsave the report for subsequent presentation to the user.