Dispensing systems with supplemental functions

Abstract

A dispensing device provides improved security and risk management through the inclusion of a security lock. The security lock may require authentication of a user as a condition for dispensing a dispensable included in a container of the dispensing device. The dispensable may include a consumable unit.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A system comprising:
 a cartridge defining a volume to hold a plurality of consumable units;   a mechanism mechanically coupled to the cartridge, the mechanism including a user input activatable to dispense individual doses of the plurality of consumable units from the cartridge;   a base defining a slot, the cartridge movable along the slot into releasable engagement with the base; and   a machine input separate from the user input, wherein, with the cartridge engaged with the base, the machine input bypasses at least a portion of the mechanism and is actuatable by the base to dispense one of the plurality of consumable units from the cartridge.   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the user input is activatable to dispense individual doses of the plurality of consumable units from the cartridge when the cartridge is separated from the base. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the volume of the cartridge is configured to hold the plurality of consumable units in bulk form. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the machine input requires less mechanical force than the user input to dispense one of the plurality of consumable units from the cartridge. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein, with the cartridge engaged with the base, the base exerts a force on the mechanism sufficient to activate the user input. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the user input includes a first layer having gear teeth and the mechanism further includes a second layer having gear teeth, the first layer squeezable such that gear teeth of the first layer engage gear teeth of the second layer. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein, with the first layer and the second layer engaged with one another via the respective gear teeth, the first layer and the second layer rotatable together to dispense individual doses of the plurality of consumable units from the cartridge. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the machine input squeezes the first layer such that the gear teeth of the first layer engage gear teeth of the second layer. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the base further includes a security lock mechanically coupled to the machine input and a user interface in communication with the security lock, and the machine input is actuatable by the base in response to user authentication received by the security lock from the user interface. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the cartridge includes a machine-readable identifier, the base is configured to detect the machine-readable identifier, and the user authentication is based on the machine-readable identifier. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the machine-readable identifier includes a radio-frequency identification tag. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the slot includes a locking mechanism to mechanically secure the cartridge in the slot. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the locking mechanism includes an electromagnet. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the slot includes an electromechanical interface for receiving the cartridge. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the base further includes a memory and a processor, the memory storing a predetermined schedule, and the processor configured to actuate the machine input according to the predetermined schedule to dispense one of the plurality of consumable units from the cartridge.