Abstract: A remotely located product dispenser interfaced with a point of sale (POS) terminal is provided. To obtain product from the dispenser, a sale must first be entered in the POS terminal. After the sale is completed, the POS terminal communicates with the dispenser causing the dispenser to dispense the desired product in the purchased quantity. Further, the dispenser includes an improved mechanical transport system in the form of a collapsible gate that is connected to a belt. The transport system enables the dispenser to be configured for dispensing a much wider array of products.

Abstract: A system and method of dispensing lottery game tickets to a purchaser. A point-of-sale (“POS”) terminal is provided with a ticket dispenser assembly in communication with the point-of-sale terminal and a central inventory computer. The POS terminal has at least one dedicated key for requesting ticket information from the central computer and a cash tender key for completing a ticket purchase. The ticket dispenser assembly includes a POS monitor, a ticket controller and a ticket dispenser. The POS monitor passively monitors the electrical communications of the point-of-sale terminal, including the engagement of the dedicated key and the cash tender key, and intercepts the electrical communications corresponding to the engagement of the dedicated key. Upon actuation of the dedicated key and the cash tender key, the POS monitor sends a message to the ticket controller to dispense the desired number of tickets from the ticket dispenser according to the electrical communication produced by the POS terminal.