Adaptive energy usage profile management and control system for vending devices and the like
First Claim
1. A vending machine, comprising:
- a product storage compartment configured to store products to be vended in an essentially vertical orientation such that products are vended from a bottom product storage compartment;
a refrigeration system providing cooling to the product storage compartment;
a plurality of temperature sensors positioned at different vertical positions within the product storage compartment; and
a controller in communication with the plurality of temperature sensors to receive temperature information for the different vertical positions within the product storage compartment, the controller operatively coupled to the refrigeration system to control operation thereof; and
wherein the controller operates the refrigeration system to maintain the product storage compartment at a predetermined vend temperature for a predetermined learning period of time;
wherein the controller monitors an amount of products vended by the vending machine during the learning period to construct a vend profile; and
wherein the controller operates the refrigeration system in accordance with the vend profile.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An adaptive energy usage management and thermal control system is provided to reduce the energy consumption and cost of operation of a vending machine. The system monitors actual usage of the vending machine to construct a vend profile. This vend profile is used to control periods of normal and conservation operation so as to maintain an adequate supply of product at an appropriate vend temperature based upon the anticipated requirement at any particular time of day, on any particular day of the week. Deviations in the actual demand for product from the vending machine are used to adjust the operating profile. The system may take advantage of information received from external networks the thermal storage capability of the products as well as the cost of energy to reduce energy consumption and the cost of operating the vending machine by varying its operating profile in view of such information.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A vending machine, comprising:
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a product storage compartment configured to store products to be vended in an essentially vertical orientation such that products are vended from a bottom product storage compartment;
a refrigeration system providing cooling to the product storage compartment;
a plurality of temperature sensors positioned at different vertical positions within the product storage compartment; and
a controller in communication with the plurality of temperature sensors to receive temperature information for the different vertical positions within the product storage compartment, the controller operatively coupled to the refrigeration system to control operation thereof; and
wherein the controller operates the refrigeration system to maintain the product storage compartment at a predetermined vend temperature for a predetermined learning period of time;
wherein the controller monitors an amount of products vended by the vending machine during the learning period to construct a vend profile; and
wherein the controller operates the refrigeration system in accordance with the vend profile. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of reducing the energy consumption of a vending machine, comprising the steps of:
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operating the vending machine in a normal mode of operation for a predetermined learning period of time;
monitoring an amount of products vended by the vending machine during the learning period;
constructing a vend profile; and
thereafter operating the vending machine in accordance with the vend profile. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification