Secured dispensing cabinet and methods

A method for restocking items, the method comprising:

• providing a dispensing device comprising a cabinet having an interior;
• a dispenser frame coupled to the cabinet, wherein the dispenser frame includes a plurality of configurable dividers that are configured to hold a plurality of dispensing mechanisms that each hold a plurality of items within the interior;
• a lockable door coupled to the front of the cabinet so as to be positioned in front of the dispenser frame, a dispense drawer coupled to the cabinet for receiving dispensed items and a computer;
• providing a sensor mechanism associated with at least one of the dispensing devices;
• generating, by the sensor mechanism, a signal when an item from the associated dispensing mechanism is dispensed, wherein the signal is used to identify the associated dispensing mechanism;
• determining, by the computer, whether the associated dispensing mechanism needs to be replenished with at least one item, based at least in part on the signal generated by the sensor mechanism;
• entering restock information into the computer;
• entering restock user identification information into the computer;
• entering a request to restock items into the computer;
• unlocking and opening the door;
• actuating visual indicators associated with the dispensing mechanisms that are to be restocked, wherein the visual indicators continuously light a name of at least one item to be restocked;
• restocking the at least one item into at least one of the dispensing mechanisms having an actuated visual indicator;
• automatically sensing that the plurality of dividers have been repositioned and resized;
• automatically determining the plurality of divider's newly configured positions and sizes;
• and
• transmitting the plurality of divider's newly configured positions and sizes to the computer.

A dispensing mechanism, comprising:

• a housing that is configured to hold a plurality of items that are to be dispensed;
• an electrical interface that is adapted to electrically couple the housing to a dispensing cabinet, wherein the interface is electrically coupled to a computer;
• a dispensing device that is configured to receive an electrical signal from the interface to cause at least one of the items to be dispensed from the housing;
• a visual indicator operably coupled to the housing, wherein the visual indicator is configured to be actuated to indicate that the dispensing mechanism is to be restocked or modified;
• a sensing mechanism associated with the dispensing device and operably coupled to the housing, wherein the sensing mechanism is electrically coupled to the interface to generate an electrical signal when an item from the associated dispensing mechanism is dispensed, and wherein the computer is configured to determine that the associated dispensing mechanism needs to be replenished with at least one item, based at least in part on the signal received from the sensor mechanism;
• and
• a divider configuration sensor coupled with the computer configured to automatically sense that a plurality of configurable dividers have been repositioned and resized, to automatically determine the plurality of divider's newly configured positions and sizes, and to transmit the plurality of divider's newly configured positions and sizes to the computer.