초록 ▼

An energy management system for a chilled product vending machine for controlling the cycling of the refrigeration system therefor and the ON-OFF status of the machine is described. The energy management system includes a microcomputer for controlling the above-described cycling and ON-OFF functions

An energy management system for a chilled product vending machine for controlling the cycling of the refrigeration system therefor and the ON-OFF status of the machine is described. The energy management system includes a microcomputer for controlling the above-described cycling and ON-OFF functions. A hand-held programmer is provided to input machine ON-OFF times to the microcomputer, the ON times defining sales periods. The microcomputer has data stored therein related to cooling characteristics of different types of machines which may be selectively accessed by manually-actuated selector switches. This enables retrofitting of the energy management system into various types of vending machines. The energy management system also provides increased cooling during high volume sales periods, morning warm-up prior to the beginning of a sales period, periodic continuous cool-downs to maintain acceptable product temperatures, and continuous cool-down following individual vends during a non-sales period. Safety features are also provided in case of microcomputer malfunction or power failures to protect the vending machines.

대표청구항 ▼

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 evapo

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.