Self-aligning modular latch

1. An automatic dispensing machine, comprising:

a cabinet comprising a drawer; and

a container disposed within the drawer, the container comprising:

a lid;

a housing;

a first latch mechanism portion coupled to the lid, the first latch mechanism comprising a latch being moveable relative to the lid, the latch extending from the lid and comprising a retention feature having a first reference surface; and

a second latch mechanism portion coupled to the housing, the second latch mechanism portion comprising:

an engagement element, freely movable between a first position and a second position, configured to engage the retention feature in the first position to restrict vertical movement of the lid, and disengage from the retention feature in the second position to permit vertical movement of the lid;

a first alignment feature having a first alignment surface, the first alignment feature configured to displace the latch in an assembled state in a first lateral direction towards the engagement element when the lid is moved toward the housing with the latch initially being displaced away from the engagement element in a second lateral direction that is opposite to the first lateral direction before the latch contacts the first alignment feature, such that the first reference surface aligns with the first alignment surface;

a second alignment feature configured to displace the latch in the second lateral direction; and

a third alignment feature having a second alignment surface, the third alignment feature configured to displace the latch in a third direction, when the lid is moved toward the housing.

2. The automatic dispensing machine of claim 1 , wherein the retention feature engages and displaces the engagement element in the first lateral direction toward the second position as the retention feature passes between the first alignment feature and the engagement element.

3. The automatic dispensing machine of claim 1 , wherein the first alignment feature is formed as a portion of the housing.

4. The automatic dispensing machine of claim 1 , wherein the second alignment feature is formed as a portion of the housing.

5. The automatic dispensing machine of claim 1 , wherein the latch comprises a second reference surface perpendicular to the first reference surface.

6. The automatic dispensing machine of claim 5 , wherein the third alignment feature configured to displace the latch in the third direction being perpendicular to the first lateral direction, when the lid is moved toward the housing with the latch displaced in a fourth lateral direction away from the engagement element that is opposite to the third direction, such that the second reference surface aligns with the second alignment surface.

7. The automatic dispensing machine of claim 6 , wherein the third alignment feature is formed as a portion of the housing.

8. The automatic dispensing machine of claim 6 , wherein the second latch mechanism portion comprises a fourth alignment feature configured to displace the latch in the fourth direction when the lid is moved toward the housing with the latch displaced in the third direction.

9. The automatic dispensing machine of claim 1 , wherein the latch mechanism further comprises a biasing element configured to direct the engagement element in the second lateral direction toward the first position.

10. The automatic dispensing machine of claim 1 , wherein a memory alloy wire actuator is coupled between the engagement element and the housing, the memory alloy configured to direct the engagement element in the first lateral direction toward the second position.

11. The automatic dispensing machine of claim 1 , wherein the engagement element is rotatably coupled to the housing.

12. A method comprising:

providing access to a drawer within a cabinet;

receiving a container within the drawer, the container comprising a lid and a housing;

moving the lid comprising a first latch mechanism portion comprising a latch extending from the lid and being moveable relative to the lid, toward the housing, the latch comprising a retention feature having a first reference surface, and the housing comprising a second latch mechanism portion comprising a first alignment feature and an engagement element freely movable between a first position and a second position;

engaging the latch against the first alignment feature to laterally displace the latch in an assembled state in a first lateral direction towards the engagement element when the lid is moved toward the housing with the latch initially being displaced away from the engagement element in a second lateral direction that is opposite to the first lateral direction before the latch contacts the first alignment feature, such that the first reference surface aligns with a first alignment surface of the first alignment feature;

displacing the latch in a third direction when the lid is moved toward the housing when the lid is brought together with the housing with the latch displaced in a fourth direction away from the engagement element that is opposite to the third direction, such that a second reference surface of the latch, perpendicular to the first reference surface, is aligned with a second alignment surface formed as a portion of the housing; and

directing the engagement element to the first position such that the engagement element interlocks with the retention feature to restrict vertical movement of the lid.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising directing the engagement element in the first lateral direction to the second position to permit vertical movement of the lid.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising displacing the engagement element in the first lateral direction toward the second position as the retention feature passes between the first alignment feature and the engagement element.

15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising displacing the latch in the second lateral direction when the lid is brought together with the housing with the latch displaced in the first lateral direction.

16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising displacing the latch in the fourth direction when the lid is brought together with the housing with the latch displaced in the third direction.