Dispensing systems with supplemental functions
View Patent ↗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. A device comprising:
a container configured to hold a plurality of consumable units;
a mechanism to dispense individual doses of the plurality of consumable units from the container;
a user input to manually activate the mechanism;
a machine input separate from the user input actuatable by a machine coupled to the device to activate the mechanism to dispense one of the plurality of consumable units;
a clip removably and replaceably coupled to the device, the clip sized and shaped to hold the container and to mechanically couple the device into the machine; and
a mechanical interface on the clip including one or more mechanical registration features to removably and replaceably insert the device into the machine.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein the device includes two or more independent dispensing reservoirs commonly controlled by the machine to provide a mixed consumable in response to a single dispense instruction from the machine.
3. The device of claim 1 further comprising a radio frequency identification tag storing information about the plurality of consumable units.
4. The device of claim 1 further comprising a memory configured to store a schedule for delivery of the consumable units to a user.
5. The device of claim 4 further comprising an output device to notify the user of a time to take one of the consumable units according to the schedule.
6. The device of claim 1 further comprising a memory configured to store a numeric amount of the consumable units in the container.
7. The device of claim 6 further comprising one or more sensors configured to detect the numeric amount.
8. The device of claim 6 further comprising processing circuitry to update the numeric amount when one of the consumable units is dispensed from the container.
9. The device of claim 1 further comprising a mechanical counter to indicate a numeric amount of the consumable units in the container.
10. The device of claim 1 further comprising a memory storing a machine-readable identifier for the device.
11. The device of claim 10 wherein the machine-readable identifier uniquely identifies the device.
12. The device of claim 10 wherein the machine-readable identifier encodes information about the device.
13. The device of claim 10 wherein the machine-readable identifier encodes information about contents of the container of the device.
14. The device of claim 1 further comprising a base configured to receive a plurality of dispensers including the device.
15. The device of claim 14 wherein the base includes a printer.
16. The device of claim 15 wherein the base further includes a processor configured to print a label identifying one or more consumable units dispensed from the plurality of dispensers.
17. The device of claim 15 wherein the base further includes a processor configured to print a dosing schedule for one or more consumable units dispensed from the plurality of dispensers.
18. The device of claim 1 wherein the clip includes a processor configured to control operation of the device.
19. The device of claim 1 wherein the clip electrically couples the device to the machine in a communicating relationship.
20. The device of claim 1 wherein the clip includes a second mechanical interface to removably and replaceably couple the clip to the container.
21. The device of claim 1 wherein the clip includes a memory storing a schedule for delivery of the consumable units to a user.
22. The device of claim 1 wherein the clip includes a memory storing a numeric amount of the consumable units in the container.