Dispensers with removable storage cartridges

1. A dispenser comprising:

(A) a dispenser housing comprising:

a dispenser body defining an interior portion and a dispenser body access opening; and

an access door that is mounted to selectively restrict access to said interior portion through said access opening;

(B) a storage cartridge that is mounted on one or more rolling mechanisms to roll adjacent said dispenser body; and

(C) a storage cartridge positioning system that is adapted to facilitate moving said storage cartridge into a “loading position” in which said storage cartridge is positioned to be loaded into said dispenser, wherein:

said dispenser is configured so that when said storage cartridge is in said loading position, said access door may be moved between a first position, in which said access door does not substantially restrict access to said interior portion through said access opening, and (2) a second position, in which said access door restricts access to said interior portion through said access opening;

said dispenser is further configured so that the motion of said access door from said first position to said second position serves to urge said storage cartridge from said “loading position” into a “loaded position” in which said storage cartridge is disposed substantially within said dispenser housings;

said storage cartridge positioning system is adapted to receive a particular one of said one or more rolling mechanisms and to maintain said rolling mechanism in a substantially fixed lateral position relative to said dispenser housing as said storage cartridge is being moved from said “loading position” into said “loaded position”;

said storage cartridge positioning system comprises a rolling mechanism guide that is adapted to guide said particular rolling mechanism into a predetermined position relative to said dispenser housing;

said rolling mechanism guide comprises a shock absorber disposed between said rolling mechanism support portion and said dispenser housings; and

said shock absorber is adapted to reduce the force exerted on said dispenser housing when said storage cartridge engages said rolling mechanism guide.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein said rolling mechanism guide comprises a substantially V-shaped rolling mechanism guiding portion that is adapted to guide said particular rolling mechanism toward said predetermined position.

3. The dispenser of claim 2 , wherein said rolling mechanism guide further comprises a stopper adjacent a base portion of said V-shaped rolling mechanism guiding portion for stopping said particular rolling mechanism when said particular rolling mechanism is immediately adjacent said base portion.

4. The dispenser of claim 3 , wherein:

said rolling mechanism guide comprises a storage cartridge support portion that extends at least partially between opposing side edges of said V-shaped rolling mechanism guiding portion, and

said rolling mechanism guide is configured so that as said storage cartridge is moved into said “loading position”, said rolling mechanism:

(A) moves onto said rolling mechanism support portion, and

(B) is guided into place adjacent said stopper by said rolling mechanism guiding portion.

5. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein said rolling mechanism guide comprises a storage cartridge support portion for at least partially supporting a weight of said storage cartridge as said particular rolling mechanism guide is guiding said particular rolling mechanism into said predetermined position.

6. The dispenser of claim 5 , wherein said dispenser is configured so that having said rolling mechanism at least partially support said weight of said storage cartridge results in an increase in the amount of friction between said rolling mechanism guide and a support surface on which rolling mechanism guide is disposed.

7. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein said storage cartridge positioning system comprises one or more storage cartridge positioning guides to facilitate moving said storage cartridge into a “loading position”.

8. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein said storage cartridge positioning system comprises a position sensing system comprising: (A) a sensor that is adapted for determining whether said storage cartridge is in said “loading position”; and (B) an alert mechanism that is adapted for issuing an alert to a user in response to said sensor determining that said storage cartridge is not in said “loading position”.

9. The dispenser of claim 8 , wherein said position sensing system is adapted for determining whether said cartridge is in said “loading position” in response to said user moving said access door adjacent said storage cartridge.

10. The dispenser of claim 9 , wherein said sensor is mounted adjacent said access door.

11. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein said dispenser further comprises a storage cartridge restraint that is adapted for substantially restricting the lateral movement of said storage cartridge relative to said access door, said storage cartridge restraint being mounted adjacent said access door.

12. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein:

said dispenser further comprises an attachment mechanism for attaching said storage cartridge adjacent said access door; and

said access door is adapted to be moved between said first and second positions while said storage cartridge is attached adjacent said access door via said attachment mechanism.

13. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein said dispenser comprises a stopping mechanism for restricting further movement of said storage cartridge toward said dispenser housing after said storage cartridge has moved into said “loaded position”.

14. The dispenser of claim 13 , wherein:

said particular rolling mechanism is a first rolling mechanism;

said one or more rolling mechanisms comprises a second rolling mechanism; and

said stopper is configured to engage said second rolling mechanism when said storage cartridge is in said loaded position.

15. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein:

said storage cartridge positioning system comprises a rolling mechanism guide comprising a stepped portion that is adapted to guide a particular one of said rolling mechanisms into a predetermined position relative to said dispenser housing.

16. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein said access door is adapted so that when said storage cartridge is in said loaded position, said access door may be moved into a closed position in which said access door selectively prevents access to said storage cartridge through said access opening.

17. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein:

said storage cartridge includes one or more shelves; and

said access door comprises at least one user door that is adapted to selectively restrict access to one or more items disposed on a particular one of said shelves.

18. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein:

said storage cartridge positioning system is adapted to receive a particular one of said one or more rolling mechanisms;

said particular rolling mechanism is mounted to swivel relative to said storage cartridge; and

said storage cartridge positioning system is adapted to maintain said particular rolling mechanism in a substantially fixed position as said storage cartridge is moved from said “loading position” to said “loaded position”.

19. The dispenser of claim 18 , wherein said storage cartridge is configured to pivot about said particular rolling mechanism from said “loading position” to said “loaded position”.

20. The dispenser of claim 18 , wherein said access door is adapted to rotate said storage cartridge from said “loading position” to said “loaded position” as said access door is moved from: (A) an “open” position in which said access door does not substantially restrict access to said interior portion to (B) a “closed” position in which said access door substantially restricts access to said interior portion through said access opening.

21. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein said dispenser is adapted to selectively, and in an automated fashion, provide users with access to one or more items disposed within said dispenser housing.

22. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said rolling mechanisms is a wheel.