Patent ID: 7694589

Claim:
A system comprising: a dispenser that dispenses a product from a product container; a load cell that generates product weight information associated with an amount of the product remaining in the product container, the load cell having a fixed end and a free end, wherein the free end of the load cell deflects at a first rate of distance per unit load when an amount of product remaining in the product container is less than a critical load; a load cell bracket positioned such that the free end of the load cell contacts the load cell bracket when an amount of product remaining in the product container is greater than a critical load, wherein the free end of the load cell deflects at a second rate of distance per unit load when the free end of the load cell is in contact with the load cell bracket, the second rate of distance per unit load being less than the first rate of distance per unit load; and a controller that, when the free end of the load cell is not in contact with the load cell bracket, enters a low/out-of-product mode and determines an actual amount of product dispensed during a product dispense cycle based on the product weight information generated by the load cell; wherein the controller further, when the free end of the load cell is in contact with the load cell bracket, enters a proof of delivery mode, determines a measured amount of product dispensed during a dispense cycle based on the product weight information generated by the load cell and generates a proof of delivery notification when the measured amount of product dispensed during a product dispense cycle satisfies a proof of delivery threshold.