Inventory control system and method

A machine for dispensing controlled merchandise units, comprising:

• a structure defining a storage compartment for storing a plurality of the merchandise units;
• at least two actuating mechanisms each defining an opening, each of the openings dimensioned and configured to accept a noncurrency token of a different shape configuration from that accepted by at least one of the other openings, the at least two actuating mechanisms operable only when the respective different shaped token is present in the respective opening;
• and
• a metering mechanism operated by at least one of the at least two actuating mechanisms, the metering mechanism configured to dispense one of the merchandise units when operated by the respective actuating mechanism.

A method of accountably dispensing a units of controlled merchandise using a machine, the machine comprising:

• a structure defining a storage compartment for storing a plurality of the merchandise units;
• a plurality of actuating mechanisms each defining an opening, at least one of the openings dimensioned and configured to accept a different shaped noncurrency token from at least one of the other openings, each of the plurality of actuating mechanisms operable only when the correctly shaped token is present in the respective opening adapted to receive the correctly shaped token;
• and
• at least one metering mechanism operated by the plurality of actuating mechanisms, the metering mechanism configured to dispense one of the merchandise units when operated by at least one of the plurality of actuating mechanisms, the method comprising:
• receiving a payment for one of the merchandise units from a person;
• exchanging the payment received for a first shaped token taken from a reservoir containing a known number of shaped tokens, wherein at least two of the shaped tokens are shaped differently in a noncurrency configuration with respect to each other;
• placing the first shaped token in a first actuating mechanism adapted to only receive the first shaped token;
• operating a first actuating mechanism with the first shaped token present therein, the at least one metering mechanism releasing the merchandise unit in response to operating the first actuating mechanism;
• providing the merchandise unit to the person;
• and
• comparing a total amount of payment received against the total number of tokens removed from the token reservoir.

A method of controlling the inventory of merchandise units by using a machine, the machine comprising:

• a structure defining a storage compartment for storing the merchandise units;
• a plurality of actuating mechanisms each defining an opening, at least two of the openings dimensioned and configured to accept a noncurrency token, wherein the noncurrency token accepted by one of the at least two openings is a different shape configuration than the noncurrency token accepted by another of the at least two openings, and wherein each of the actuating mechanisms are operable only when the respective token is present in the opening;
• and
• at least one metering mechanism operated by the plurality of actuating mechanisms the at least one metering mechanism configured to dispense one of the merchandise units when operated by the respective actuating mechanism the method comprising:
• determining the number of merchandise units present in the storage compartment, each merchandise unit with a first cash value;
• providing a plurality of tokens to an attendant, each token with a second cash value and having a noncurrency shape configuration;
• providing a cash sum to the attendant;
• selling some or all of the merchandise units, each sale including
• receiving a request for one of the merchandise units from a customer,
• receiving money from a customer,
• placing one of the plurality of tokens in the actuating mechanism opening adapted to receive only a token of a predefined noncurrency shape configuration;
• operating the actuating mechanism with the correct token present in the actuating mechanism opening, the metering mechanism releasing a unit of merchandise in response, the token dropping into the compartment when the actuating mechanism is operated, and
• providing the released merchandise to the customer;
• counting the number of merchandise units after selling some or all of said merchandise units;
• counting the number of tokens in the compartment;
• and
• counting the number of tokens not in the compartment.