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Energy management system for vending machines

  • US 4,417,450 A
  • Filed: 03/31/1982
  • Issued: 11/29/1983
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/17/1980
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. In a chilled product vending machine including a refrigeration compressor, temperature sensor means for detecting the temperature within said vending machine and turning said compressor ON and OFF to define a compressor cycle in response to the detection of predetermined temperature limits, an evaporator coil and evaporator fan means for blowing air across said evaporator coil and circulating said air throughout said vending machine, an energy management system comprising:

  • control means for cycling said evaporator fan means ON simultaneously with said compressor for a time period at least as long as said compressor cycle;

    delay means for cycling said evaporator fan means OFF at the end of a predetermined delay period after said compressor is turned OFF, said period of time being long enough to permit the temperature of said evaporator coil to temperature stabilize above the freezing temperature of water;

    memory means for storing a plurality of predetermined delay periods of different durations related to cooling characteristics of refrigeration systems of different types of vending machines; and

    selector switch means for selectively generating coded signals related to the respective different types of vending machines and applying said signals to said memory means for selectively retrieving an appropriate one of said delay periods for implementation by said delay means;

    whereby different types of vending machines with different cooling characteristics can be readily retrofitted with said energy management system.

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