Systems and methods for dispensing items such as sacramental elements
AssigneeMPB Essential Technology, Inc.
InventorMichelle Pearson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for dispensing items utilizing a housing having a compartment configured to store a quantity of items, a dispensing device configured to dispense at least one of the items from the housing to an individual, an activation device configured to activate the dispensing device to dispense the at least one item from the housing in response to an interaction with the individual, an outlet in the housing through which the items may be individually dispensed from the housing by the dispensing device, and one or more light sources that emit UV-C radiation within the housing and irradiate exterior surfaces of the items or packaging of the items with the UV-C radiation. Methods utilizing the system may be used to dispense items, such as sacramental elements for Communion.
Claims18
A system for dispensing items, the system comprising:
- a housing having a compartment therein configured to store a quantity of items;
- a dispensing device configured to dispense at least one of the items from the housing to an individual;
- an activation device configured to activate the dispensing device to dispense the at least one item from the housing in response to an interaction with the individual;
- an outlet in the housing through which the items may be individually dispensed from the housing by the dispensing device;
- and
- one or more light sources that emit UV-C radiation within the housing and irradiate exterior surfaces of the items or packaging of the items with the UV-C radiation;
- wherein the dispensing device includes:
- a carriage configured to retain the items;
- a pusher device configured to physically contact and push the items individually from the carriage and through the outlet of the housing;
- a control device configured to activate the pusher device in response to the individual's interaction with the activation device;
- and
- means for powering the pusher device and the control system.
A system for dispensing items, the system comprising:
- a housing having a compartment therein configured to store a quantity of items;
- a dispensing device configured to dispense at least one of the items from the housing to an individual;
- an activation device configured to activate the dispensing device to dispense the at least one item from the housing in response to an interaction with the individual;
- an outlet in the housing through which the items may be individually dispensed from the housing by the dispensing device;
- and
- one or more light sources that emit UV-C radiation within the housing and irradiate exterior surfaces of the items or packaging of the items with the UV-C radiation;
- wherein the dispensing device is a self-contained body that is configured to be pre-filled with the items and be selectively inserted into and removed from the housing.
A method of distributing items, the method comprising:
- providing a system comprising a housing having a compartment therein configured to store a quantity of the items;
- sensing an interaction between an individual and an activation device of the system;
- activating a dispensing device of the system to dispense at least one of the items from the housing through an outlet of the housing in response the interaction between the individual and the activation device;
- irradiating exterior surfaces of the items or packaging of the items with UV-C radiation emitted from one or more light sources within the housing;
- and
- removing a first self-contained body comprising the dispensing device from the housing and then replacing the first self-contained body with a second self-contained body comprising a second dispensing device identical to the first dispensing device and pre-filled with additional items.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.