The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 13, 2002
Filed:
Mar. 21, 2000
James B. O'Maley, Lighthouse Pt., FL (US);
Francis J. Parker, Cooper City, FL (US);
Alan Levy, Delray Beach, FL (US);
UltraClenz Engineering Group, Riviera Beach, FL (US);
Abstract
A dispenser apparatus for controlling the type and brand of a product dispensed therefrom, so that only authorized products are dispensed from the apparatus. A container inserted into a housing case stores the product, the container having an exit port. A chute directs the flow of the discharged product. A drive assembly causes the product to move from the container through the chute to be dispensed therefrom. A magnetic sensor is attached to a support surface of the housing case, and a wafer is attached to the container. The wafer has a magnet embedded therein, and the container is inserted into the housing case so that the wafer is received by and mates with the housing case to align the magnet with the magnetic sensor. A location of the magnet embedded in the wafer of the container is detected by the magnetic sensor of the housing case so that the container is identified. The drive means is only activated when the container is identified as an authorized container based on the location of the magnet.