Remote sensing ice merchandiser

• US 5,708,223 A
• Filed: 01/25/1996
• Issued: 01/13/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Leer Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: LEER Manufacturing Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Wyss, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOLAND, THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US08/591,896
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 73/865.9, 73/293, 62/125, 62/129
• US Class Current: 73/865.9
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 5/187 with ice level sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/2921 for discrete levels
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0071 Food articles which need to be processed for dispensing in a cold condition, e.g. ice and ice cream
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10

Abstract

Bagged ice is presented to consumers in an insulated cabinet having a storage chamber accessible through a front door. Photo-electric eyes are mounted within the cabinet to direct several beams of light across the chamber. When the level of bagged ice within the chamber has been depleted to a first level, one of the beams is no longer broken by the product. When it has been further depleted, a second, lower, beam is no longer broken. Information about the bagged ice level is collected by an electronic controller, and dispatched to an inventory control station by a communicator, which may be a telephone connection, a radio transmitter or a cellular telephony connection. An alternative embodiment has an acoustic transducer mounted within the cabinet to direct sound waves down into the chamber. The transducer detects waves reflected by the bagged ice, allowing the controller to compose a representation of the disposition of products within the chamber. The quantities of product are thus more accurately determined, especially in view of the irregular shape of the bagged ice. The representation may aid in the remote detection of unauthorized products within the chamber. When reduced levels of inventory are detected, a stockman may be dispatched to replenish the bagged ice.

Claims

1. An ice merchandiser inventory system comprising:

a) an insulated cabinet having walls defining a product storage chamber, wherein portions of the cabinet define an access opening for customer access to bagged ice contained within the storage chamber;

b) at least one door mounted to the cabinet, wherein the door may be opened for access to the storage chamber;

c) means for determining the level of bagged ice contained within the storage chamber mounted within the cabinet;

d) a controller electrically connected to the level determining means; and

e) a communicator electrically connected to the controller, wherein the controller passes information with respect to the bagged ice level detected by the level determining means through the communicator to an inventory control apparatus at a location remote from the cabinet, to thereby signal the need to restock the cabinet with additional bagged ice when ice levels fall below a predetermined level.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for determining the level of bagged ice contained within the storage chamber comprises:

a) a first photo-electric sensor mounted within the cabinet to direct a first light beam at a first level across the storage chamber; and

b) a second photo-electric sensor mounted within the cabinet to direct a second light beam across the storage chamber at a second level which is higher than the first level, whereby the absence of bagged ice within the storage chamber above the second level causes the second photo-electric sensor to detect a reduced level of stock within the storage chamber, and the absence of bagged ice within the storage chamber above the first level causes the first photo-electric sensor to detect a further reduced level of stock within the storage chamber.

3. An ice merchandiser comprising:

a) an insulated cabinet having walls defining a product storage chamber, wherein portions of the cabinet define an access opening for customer access to bagged ice contained within the storage chamber;

b) at least one door mounted to the cabinet, wherein the door may be opened for access to the storage chamber;

c) a first photo-electric sensor mounted within ,the cabinet to direct a first light beam at a first level across the storage chamber, whereby the absence of bagged ice within the storage chamber above the first level causes the first photo-electric sensor to detect a reduced level of stock within the storage chamber;

d) a controller electrically connected to the sensor; and

e) a communicator electrically connected to the controller, wherein the controller passes information with respect to the bagged ice level detected by the first sensor through the communicator to an inventory control apparatus at a location remote from the cabinet, to thereby signal the need to restock the cabinet with additional bagged ice when ice levels fall below a predetermined level.

4. The ice merchandiser of claim 3 further comprising a second photoelectric sensor mounted within the cabinet to direct a second light beam across the storage chamber at a second level which is higher than the first level, whereby the absence of bagged ice within the storage chamber above the second level causes the second photo-electric sensor to detect a reduced level of stock within the storage chamber, and the absence of bagged ice within the storage chamber above the first level causes the first photo-electric sensor to detect a further reduced level of stock within the storage chamber.