Systems and methods for dispensing items such as sacramental elements

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.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.