Patent ID: 6850815

Claim:
A system of loading dispensable objects into a dispenser in an array of locations, each location being arranged to receive one of a variety of the objects to be dispensed, the system comprising: a. each of the array locations having a retainer that is moveable between a latched position retaining one of the objects and an unlatched position that can receive an object for retention and can release a retained object for dispensing; b. the dispenser having microcircuitry operably communicating with each of the retainers and including a memory of objects loaded into the array locations; c. a reload controller having an interface accessible to a person loading the dispenser; d. the reload controller communicating with the microcircuitry in the dispenser; e. the reload controller being programmed to direct loading of the dispenser with predetermined numbers of each of the varieties of the objects; f. the reload controller being arranged to enable the microcircuitry to unlatch selected ones of the retainers in response to input from the person loading the objects so that the unlatched retainers provide access to array locations available for objects to be loaded and visual indications to the person of array locations in which objects to be loaded can be placed; g. the unlatched retainers being manually latchable to retain the objects loaded into the array locations made accessible by the unlatched retainers; and h. the reload controller being arranged to receive confirmation from the person that the objects have been placed in the accessible and visually indicated array locations.