Abstract: A method for controlling access to and segregating items dispensed from a vending machine having a stock of said items, said method comprising: vending an item only when a control procedure is satisfied; storing a record indicating said vended item has been dispensed; if said vended item is not distributable to an authorized recipient; quarantining said vended item including inserting said vended item into a port on an exterior of said vending machine that conveys said inserted vended item to a secure repository in the interior of said machine; and updating said record to indicate said vended item has been returned to said machine.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for controlling access to and segregating dispensable items comprises a vending machine that contains the dispensable items to be vended. The vending machine includes an access control mechanism responsive to selection of one of the dispensable items for causing the vending machine to activate and vend the selected item. Transaction information associated with each of the vended items is stored in memory. The vending machine further includes a port on an exterior of the machine and adapted to receive items previously vended from the vending machine for return. A repository is located on the interior of the machine and operably connected to the port for quarantining the returned items, whereby the returned items are separated from the items to be vended. A sensor may be provided for sensing the returned items and causing the system to update transaction information to indicate that the sensed item has been returned to the machine.