Refrigerated vending machine exploiting expanded temperature variance during power-conservation mode
View Patent ↗A refrigerated vending machine for dispensing items (such as soda cans or other beverage containers) includes a power source and a cooling system (e.g., evaporator, condenser, compressor, circulating fan). Power control circuitry selectively provides electrically coupling of at least one component of the cooling system to the power source. A controller, operably coupled to the power control circuitry, is adapted to control the power control circuitry in a power-conserving mode of operation and in a normal-operation mode. The controller automatically transitions from the power-conserving mode to the normal-operation mode based upon an activity event signal. The activity event signal may be provided by an occupancy sensor that senses occupancy in the vicinity of the refrigerated appliance. Alternatively, the activity event signal may represent vending activity (e.g., money insertion). The controller automatically transitions from the normal-operation mode to the power conservation mode based upon a temperature signal provided by an internal temperature sensor and/or the ouput of the occupancy sensor. The power-conserving mode of operation and the normal-operation mode provide different internal temperature characteristics (e.g., varying temperature variance) within a chamber in the refrigerated appliance.
1. A refrigerated appliance for use with a power source to dispense items, said system comprising:
a cooling system;
a temperature sensor that provides a temperature signal representing internal temperature of said refrigerated appliance;
power control circuitry that selectively provides electrically coupling of at least one component of said cooling system to power source; and
a controller, operably coupled to said power control circuitry, that is adapted to control said power control circuitry In a power-conserving mode of operation and in a normal-operation mode, said controller automatically transitioning between said power-conserving mode and said normal-operation mode based on an activity event signal and the temperature signal.
2. A refrigerated appliance according to claim 1 , wherein:
said activity event signal is provided by an occupancy sensor that senses occupancy in the vicinity of said refrigerated appliance.
3. A refrigerated appliance according to claim 1 , wherein:
said activity event signal represents vending activity associated with said refrigerated appliance.
4. A refrigerated appliance according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an occupancy sensor that generates a signal representing occupancy in the vicinity of said refrigerated appliance;
wherein said controller automatically transitions from said normal-operation mode to said power conservation mode based upon the signal provided by said occupancy sensor.
5. A refrigerated appliance according to claim 1 , wherein:
said power-conserving mode of operation and said normal-operation mode provide different internal temperature characteristics within a chamber in said refrigerated appliance.
6. A refrigerated appliance according to claim 5 , wherein:
said different internal temperature characteristics relate to temperature variance over positions within said chamber.
7. A refrigerated appliance according to claim 1 , wherein:
said cooling system includes at least one fan that circulates air within an internal chamber of said refrigerated appliance; and
said controller and said power control circuitry cooperate to deactivate said at least one fan most of the time in said power conservation mode.
8. A refrigerated appliance according to claim 1 , wherein said cooling system includes a compressor and said cooling system is shut down during said power-conserving mode.