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Title:
SELF CONTAINED VENDING MACHINE EMPLOYING EXPENDABLE REFRIGERANT
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2014/075164
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
A self contained vending machine apparatus employing expendable refrigerant has a substantially gas-tight thermally insulated enclosure, an open loop energy- autonomous refrigeration system and a control system. The substantially gas- tight thermally insulated enclosure has an interior for holding an object to be vended. The open loop energy-autonomous refrigeration system employs an expendable refrigerant that is admitted into the interior through an inlet and exhausted from the interior through an exhaust. The expendable refrigerant enters a gas phase when exposed to the interior and is free to directly contact the object to permit the expendable refrigerant to absorb heat directly from the object. The control system controls the inlet and the exhaust, and includes a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor and a processor. The processor causes the exhaust to be closed unless the measured pressure is above a high pressure reference in which case the processor causes the exhaust to be open. When the measured temperature is within an acceptable range, the processor causes the inlet to be open unless the measured pressure exceeds the high pressure reference, in which case the processor causes the inlet to be closed. When the measured temperature is too low, the processor causes the inlet to be closed and when the measured temperature is too high or the measured temperature has remained at a temperature within a range but higher than a desired temperature of the object for a pre-determined period of time, the processor causes the inlet to be open.

Inventors:
RUBIN LEONID B (CA)
RUBIN GEORGE (CA)
Application Number:
PCT/CA2012/001061
Publication Date:
May 22, 2014
Filing Date:
November 16, 2012
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
PACIFIC SURF PARTNERS CORP (CA)
International Classes:
G07F9/10; A47F3/04; A47F10/02; F25D11/00; F25D17/04; F25D29/00
Domestic Patent References:
WO2011056171A12011-05-12
WO2001090666A12001-11-29
Foreign References:
GB478979A1938-01-28
GB460066A1937-01-20
US6354370B12002-03-12
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
KNOX, John W. et al. (1055 West Georgia StreetSuite 2300,Box Royal Centr, Vancouver British Columbia V6E 3P3, CA)
Download PDF:
Claims:
THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A vending machine apparatus comprising: a substantially gas-tight thermally insulated enclosure having an interior for holding an object to be vended; an open loop energy-autonomous refrigeration system employing an expendable refrigerant, said refrigeration system comprising: an inlet for admitting said expendable refrigerant into said interior of said substantially gas-tight enclosure whereby said expendable refrigerant enters a gas phase when exposed to said interior and wherein said expendable refrigerant in the gas phase is free to directly contact said object to permit said expendable refrigerant in the gas phase to absorb heat directly from said object and thereby cool said object; an exhaust for exhausting said expendable refrigerant in the gas phase from the interior of said enclosure; a control system for controlling said inlet and said exhaust, said control system comprising: a temperature sensor for producing a temperature signal representing a measured temperature in said interior of said enclosure; a pressure sensor for producing a pressure signal representing a measured pressure in said interior of said enclosure; a processor operably configured to: regardless of measured temperature, cause the exhaust to be closed unless the measured pressure is above a high pressure reference whereupon the processor causes the exhaust to be open; when the measured temperature is neither above the high temperature reference nor below a low temperature reference, cause the inlet to be open unless the measured pressure exceeds the high pressure reference, whereupon the processor causes the inlet to be closed; when the measured temperature is below the low temperature reference, cause the inlet to be closed; when the measured temperature is above the high temperature reference or the measured temperature has remained at a temperature between the high and low temperature references but higher than a desired temperature of the object for a pre-determined period of time, cause the inlet to be open.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a vending mechanism for removing said object from said interior and for providing said object to a user; and wherein the processor is configured to control the vending mechanism to cause the vending mechanism to remove said object from said interior and to provide said object to a user.

The apparatus of claim 1 or 2 further comprising an independent renewable energy source for powering said control system.

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said independent renewable energy source comprises at least one of a rechargeable battery, a photovoltaic module and a wind turbine.

The apparatus of any one of claims 2 - 4 further comprising an input device in communication with said processor, for receiving user input identifying an object in said interior the user desires to be vended.

The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a wireless transceiver operably configured to permit the processor to conduct communications with a remote server to charge the user for the use of the vending machine.

The apparatus of any one of claims 2 - 4 wherein said controller is operably configured to generally maintain a temperature of between about -5 degrees Celsius(C) and about +20 degrees Celsius(C) in said interior.

The apparatus of any one of claims 1 - 7 wherein said desired temperature is between about 0 degrees C and about +10 degrees C.

9. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 - 8 wherein said pre-determined period of time is from about 3 minutes to about 10 minutes.

The apparatus of any one of claims 1-9 wherein said inlet is positioned in said enclosure such that said expendable refrigerant in the gas phase can flow around said object.

The apparatus of any one of claims 1 -10 further comprising a fan for directing said expendable refrigerant onto said object.

The apparatus of any one of claims 1-11 wherein said exhaust comprises an exhaust valve in communication with an exhaust opening in said enclosure and wherein said processor is operably configured to open and close the exhaust valve to control a rate at which said expendable refrigerant in the gas phase is exhausted from said interior of said enclosure.

13. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 -12 wherein said expendable refrigerant is comprised of mostly Carbon Dioxide.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said expendable refrigerant comprises liquid carbon dioxide and wherein the processor generally maintains the interior at a temperature that causes said liquid carbon dioxide to enter the gas phase on entry into said interior.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising a defined area for holding a container of said liquid carbon dioxide inside said enclosure.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a gas-permeable partition in said enclosure and separating the interior of said enclosure into at least two portions including a first portion that acts as said defined area, in which said expendable refrigerant is able to flow around said container to help maintain said container cool and a second portion in which said expendable refrigerant is able to flow about said object.

The apparatus of claim 15 or 16 further comprising a dispenser operably configured to dispense said liquid carbon dioxide, a syrup and water into a drink container to form a cold, consumable drink in said drink container.

The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising a selector enabling user selection of said syrup from among a plurality of syrups, to be conducted to said dispenser.

The apparatus of claim 17 or 18 further comprising a plurality of syrup containers from which a desired syrup can be selected for dispensing by said dispenser wherein at least some of said expendable refrigerant is directed to flow around said syrup containers to keep the syrup containers cool.

The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising a drink container positioner operably configured to position a drink container to receive said liquid carbon dioxide, syrup and water from said dispenser and a closure installer operably configured to install a closure on said drink container after said consumable drink has been formed in said container, to facilitate dispensing of said container.

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said expendable refrigerant comprises solid carbon dioxide and wherein the processor maintains the interior at a temperature that causes said solid carbon dioxide to directly enter the gas phase when exposed to said interior.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising a holder operably configured to hold said solid carbon dioxide such that a surface of said solid carbon dioxide faces said interior.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said inlet includes a partition between said surface of said solid carbon dioxide and said interior, wherein said inlet includes at least one closable opening in said partition, wherein opening and closing of said at least one closable opening is controlled by said processor.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said closable opening comprises a plurality of closable openings in said partition.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said closable openings include adjustable louvers controlled by said processor, for controlling sizes of respective openings to allow said processor to continuously adjust said respective openings.

Description:
SELF CONTAINED VENDING MACHINE EMPLOYING EXPENDABLE

REFRIGERANT

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

This invention relates to vending machines, and, in particular, to self contained cold product vending machines employing expendable refrigerant.

2. Description of Related Art

Vending products through vending machines is a multi-billion dollar industry.

Vending machines have low maintenance requirements and low staffing requirements and vending is a highly competitive industry, with a low barrier to entering the market. Most vending operators in North America and in many other countries are small companies with less than 10 employees.

Vending machines are typically used to dispense items such as snacks, beverages, alcohol, cigarettes, lottery tickets, consumer products and even gold and gems to customers automatically, after the customer inserts money or provides a credit card to be charged for use of the machine. Typical vending machines for cold products generally include a housing, a compartment for product storage, and robust, simple systems for product handling and vending to customers after payment. Machines for vending refrigerated products include conventional closed loop refrigeration systems employing a compressor that puts energy back into the refrigerant after such energy is lost in cooling products to be vended. Such machines may also include ventilation, lighting, and payment equipment. This type of vending machine has substantial electric energy consumption requirements that can generally only be met by taking electrical power from an electric utility company through an electric power grid. Unfortunately this requirement constrains the placement of such vending machines. Desirably, vending machines are placed at locations where users are most likely to make a purchasing decision. Stimulation of impulse buying and eliminating the inconvenience of traveling to a nearest retail outlet are at least some considerations. The requirement for a significant amount of electrical power, however, restricts placement of vending machines to locations with either existing electrical power connections or locations where electrical power infrastructure can be easily and economically established.

The power requirements of vending machines used to dispense hot and/or cold products are generally more onerous than the power requirements of ambient temperature product vending machines because heating and cooling of products while stored in the machine (for example - ice cream) and/or during a preparation stage (for example - coffee) require higher levels of energy consumption to meet the more extreme temperature requirements than those of vending machines that vend room temperature products. In addition, vending machines equipped with cooling functions are usually placed in locations with higher ambient temperature (example - beach) whereas vending machines for hot products are often located at colder locations. This can result in even greater energy demands because the difference in temperature between the ambient temperature and the desired temperature of the vended product are greater.

For example, a typical cold drink vending machine with 600 20oz. bottles of soda employing a closed loop refrigeration system involving a compressor typically requires about 564W of power when the refrigeration system is operating in a maximum cooling mode and only about 275W when the compressor is in a standby mode (Vending Machine Energy Consumption and Vending Miser Evaluation Submitted to: TAMU Energy Office By: John Ritter Joel Hugghins Energy Systems Laboratory Texas A&M University System October 31 , 2000 http://repositorv.tamu.edU/bitstream/handle/1969.1/2006/ESL- TR-00-1 1 - 01 .pdf?sequence=1 ). Therefore, a typical vending machine for cold drink vending needs to be connected to an electric power supply capable of supplying at least 600W of electric power. This can only be practically supplied by an electric power utility.

Some attempts have been made to utilize solar powered photovoltaic (PV) panels as a source of electric energy. For example, US patent 6,263,674 B1 entitled "Solar-powered, Mobile Vending Apparatus" describes a vending apparatus powered by arrays of photovoltaic cells, i.e. solar panels. Solar panels are secured in a horizontal position to a base and mounted to a top of the vending machine for converting solar energy to electrical energy. The dimensions of a typical vending machine are about 1 m to about 1.5 m in height, about 0.6m to about 1 m in width and about 0.6m to 1 m in depth resulting in a top surface area between about 0.36m 2 to about 1 m 2 .

Under laboratory conditions (25C temperature, direct light illumination, and light intensity of 1000 W/m 2 of specified spectra) the efficiency of the best available photovoltaic modules is about 16%. Therefore, the maximum power that can be generated by a PV panel under ideal laboratory conditions having a PV cell area of 1 m 2 is about 160W.

In practice, where solar panels are used in locations where a vending machine may be installed, the realizable efficiency becomes substantially lower and does not exceed 10% due to daily average intensity declines of up to 500W/m 2 as a result of daily and seasonal movement of the sun resulting in what are known as cosine optical losses. Therefore the maximum power generation of a PV module having an area of 0.36 or 1 m 2 is unlikely to exceed about 20W or about 56W respectively. This amount of PV-generated electrical power may be sufficient to support lighting, mechanical and electronic operations but is not sufficient to operate a refrigeration system employing a compressor. At 10% efficiency, in order to ensure a reliable source of 500W of electrical power for a cold product vending machine the total area of photovoltaic modules cannot be less than about 7.2 m 2 . This is between 7 and 20 times the area of the top of a conventional vending machine. The number of solar panels required to provide the required amount of exposed area for insolation would be impractical for a self-contained cold-product vending machine.

Therefore, vending machines with conventional refrigerator systems must be equipped with other sources of energy if they are to be made stand-alone. Practically, this has been done through the use of energy storage batteries and a DC/AC inverter.

US 201 1/0074334 A1 "Power-Saving Solar Power Supply System for Automatic Vending Machine" 201 1 to Ku-Fand WANG, Chih-Hao HSU, Ten-Yuan CHIEN, Wei CHIU describes that it is possible to decrease annual energy consumption of a vending machine by 34% after introducing certain power-saving systems and by employing photovoltaic modules and an energy storage battery. Although the described system can provide annual energy savings there is still a need to secure sufficient power for the operation of the compressor and the limitation of the area on top of the vending machine does not allow enough space to supply sufficient electric power from photovoltaic modules thus making such a vending machine impossible to operate as a stand-alone device. It therefore remains economically unattractive to provide a stand-alone cold product vending machine that does not rely on an external source of electrical power.

An alternative to the above-described vending machines would be required to provide a cost-effective stand-alone cold product vending machine that can operate completely independently of electric utility power. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a self contained vending machine apparatus employing expendable refrigerant. The apparatus has a substantially gas-tight thermally insulated enclosure, an open loop energy- autonomous refrigeration system and a control system. The substantially gas-tight thermally insulated enclosure has an interior for holding an object to be vended. The open loop energy-autonomous refrigeration system employs an expendable refrigerant that is admitted into the interior through an inlet and exhausted from the interior through an exhaust. The expendable refrigerant enters a gas phase when exposed to the interior and is free to directly contact the object to permit the expendable refrigerant to absorb heat directly from the object. The control system controls the opening and closing of the inlet and the exhaust, and includes a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor and a processor. Regardless of measured temperature, the processor causes the exhaust to be closed unless the measured pressure is above a high pressure reference in which case the processor causes the exhaust to be open. When the measured temperature is neither above a high temperature reference nor below a low temperature reference, the processor causes the inlet to be open unless the measured pressure exceeds the high pressure reference, whereupon the processor causes the inlet to be closed. When the measured temperature is below the low temperature reference, the processor causes the inlet to be closed and when the measured temperature is above the high temperature reference or the measured temperature has remained at a temperature between the high and low temperature references but higher than a desired temperature of the object for a pre-determined period of time the processor causes the inlet to be open.

The apparatus may include a vending mechanism for removing the object from the interior and for providing the object to a user, and the processor may be configured to control the vending mechanism to cause the vending mechanism to remove the object from the interior and to provide the object to a user. The apparatus may include an independent renewable energy source for powering said control system. The independent renewable energy source may include at least one of a rechargeable battery, a photovoltaic module and a wind turbine.

The apparatus may include an input device in communication with the processor, for receiving user input identifying an object in the interior the user desires to be vended.

The apparatus may include a wireless transceiver operably configured to permit the processor to conduct communications with a remote server to charge the user for the use of the vending machine.

The controller may be operably configured to generally maintain a temperature of between about -5 degrees Celsius(C) and about +20 degrees Celsius(C) in the interior. The desired temperature may be between about 0 degrees C and about +10 degrees C.

The pre-determined period of time may be from about 3 minutes to about 10 minutes.

The inlet may be positioned in the enclosure such that the expendable refrigerant in the gas phase can flow around the object.

The apparatus may include a fan for directing the expendable refrigerant onto the object. The exhaust may include an exhaust valve in communication with an exhaust opening in the enclosure and the processor may be operably configured to open and close the exhaust valve to control a rate at which the expendable refrigerant in the gas phase is exhausted from the interior of the enclosure.

The expendable refrigerant may be comprised of mostly Carbon Dioxide.

The expendable refrigerant may include liquid carbon dioxide and the processor may generally maintain the interior at a temperature that causes the liquid carbon dioxide to enter the gas phase on entry into the interior.

The apparatus may include a defined area for holding a container of the liquid carbon dioxide inside the enclosure.

The apparatus may include a gas-permeable partition in the enclosure and separating the interior of the enclosure into at least two portions including a first portion that acts as the defined area, in which the expendable refrigerant may be able to flow around the container to help maintain the container cool and a second portion in which the expendable refrigerant is able to flow about the object.

The apparatus may include a dispenser operably configured to dispense the liquid carbon dioxide, a syrup and water into a drink container to form a cold, consumable drink in the drink container.

The apparatus may include a selector enabling user selection of the syrup from among a plurality of syrups, to be conducted to the dispenser. The apparatus may include a plurality of syrup containers from which a desired syrup can be selected for dispensing by the dispenser. At least some of the expendable refrigerant may be directed to flow around the syrup containers to keep the syrup containers cool.

The apparatus may include a drink container positioner operably configured to position a drink container to receive the liquid carbon dioxide, syrup and water from the dispenser and a closure installer operably configured to install a closure on the drink container after the consumable drink has been formed in the container, to facilitate dispensing of the container.

The expendable refrigerant may include solid carbon dioxide and the processor may maintain the interior at a temperature that causes the solid carbon dioxide to directly enter the gas phase when exposed to the interior.

The apparatus may include a holder operably configured to hold the solid carbon dioxide such that a surface of the solid carbon dioxide faces the interior.

The inlet may include a partition between the surface of the solid carbon dioxide and the interior. The inlet may include at least one closable opening in the partition. Opening and closing of the at least one closable opening may be controlled by the processor.

The closable opening may include a plurality of closable openings in the partition.

The closable openings may include adjustable louvers controlled by the processor, for controlling sizes of respective openings to allow the processor to continuously adjust the respective openings. Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention,

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional/perspective view of a vending machine apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a processor circuit employed in the vending machine apparatus shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a dispensing machine module optionally employed in the vending machine shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a top cross-sectional view taken along lines 4 - 4 of Figure 3

illustrating components inside the dispensing machine module shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional/perspective view of a vending machine apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional/perspective view of a vending machine according to a third embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 7 is a top cross sectional view of a modified dispensing machine of the type shown in Figure 3 adapted to use solid CO 2 panels as an expendable refrigerant. Figure 8 is a cross sectional/perspective view of a vending machine apparatus according to an alternative embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to Figure 1 , a vending machine apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention is shown generally at 10. The apparatus 10 includes a substantially gas tight thermally insulated enclosure 12 having an interior 14 for holding an object such as a can of soda pop as shown at 16 to be vended. In the embodiment shown, the enclosure is comprised of an outer metal cabinet 18 lined with panels of insulating material 20, 22, 24, 26, and 28, for example. The insulating panels 20, 22, 24, 26, and 28 may be Styrofoam®, for example having a thickness of between about ½ inches to about 3 inches (1.27cm to 7.62cm). In this embodiment, the expendable refrigerant is carbon dioxide (C0 2 ) but could alternatively be liquid nitrogen, argon or other chemically inert and environmentally friendly gases. The expendable refrigerant, in this embodiment is provided by a replaceable container or canister 42 of liquid carbon dioxide held under low temperature at pressure in the canister. The canister can be replaced with a new one when it is depleted of CO2. The vending machine apparatus 10 further includes an open loop energy autonomous refrigeration system 30 employing an expendable refrigerant. The refrigeration system includes an inlet 32 in communication with the container 42 through a pressure reducer 46, and disposed at an upper portion of the interior for admitting the expendable refrigerant into the interior 14 of the enclosure 12 whereby the expendable refrigerant enters a gas phase when exposed to the interior and wherein the expendable refrigerant in the gas phase is free to directly contact the object 16 to permit the expendable refrigerant in the gas phase to absorb heat directly from the object and thereby cool the object. As can be seen, in Figure 1 , the expendable refrigerant emerges from the inlet 32 and is free to fall about the object 16 toward a lower portion of the enclosure 12. As a result, the expendable refrigerant in the gas phase flows all about the object 16 to be vended from an upper portion of the interior 14 of the cabinet to a lower portion thereof. The open loop energy autonomous refrigeration system 30 further includes an exhaust shown generally at 40 for exhausting the expendable refrigerant in the gas phase from the interior 14 of the enclosure. In the embodiment shown, the inlet 32 is an outlet of a solenoid controlled valve or inlet solenoid valve 48 that is selectively opened and closed to admit or cease admitting the expendable refrigerant into the interior 14 of the enclosure 12.

The exhaust 40 includes an opening 50 in a floor 52 of the interior 14, the opening 50 being in communication with a conduit 54 which is connected to an exhaust solenoid valve 56 and to a further conduit 58 having an opening 60 in the cabinet 18, in this case the front of the cabinet.

A control system for controlling the inlet 32 and the exhaust 40 and more particularly for controlling the inlet solenoid valve 48 and the exhaust solenoid valve 56 is shown at 70. The control system 70 includes a temperature sensor 72 for producing a temperature signal representing a measured temperature in the interior 14 of the enclosure 12. The control system 70 further includes a pressure sensor 74 for producing a pressure signal representing a measured pressure in the interior 14 of the enclosure 12. The control system 70 further includes a processor 76 in communication with the temperature sensor 72 and the pressure sensor 74, respectively, to control the operation of the inlet solenoid valve 48 and the exhaust solenoid valve 56.

It will be appreciated that as the expendable refrigerant is admitted into the interior 14 of the cabinet 18, the pressure in the interior will increase unless the interior is vented, such as through the exhaust 40. In addition, as an increasing amount of expendable refrigerant is admitted into the interior 14, the temperature inside the interior 14 decreases. Thus, it is necessary to establish a high pressure reference indicating an upper limit on an allowable pressure in the interior 14 of the enclosure 12 and to establish a high temperature reference indicating a maximum allowable temperature in the interior 14 of the enclosure

12 and to establish a low temperature reference indicating a lowest allowable temperature that can be established in the interior 14 of the enclosure 12 and to establish a desired temperature of the object. The high pressure reference may be 102 kilopascals, for example, the high temperature reference may be about 20 degrees Celsius, for example, and the low temperature reference may be about -5 degrees Celsius. The desired temperature of the object may be between about 0 degrees Celsius and about +10 degrees Celsius. With these established pressure and temperature references, the processor 76 is operably configured to:

1) regardless of measured temperature, cause the exhaust solenoid valve 56 to be closed unless the measured pressure is above the high pressure reference in which case the processor 76 causes the exhaust solenoid valve 56 to be opened; 2) when the measured temperature is neither above the high temperature reference nor below the low temperature reference, the processor 76 causes the inlet solenoid valve 48 to be open unless the measured pressure exceeds the high pressure reference whereupon the processor 76 causes the inlet solenoid valve to be closed;

3) when the measured temperature is below the low temperature reference, the processor 76 causes the inlet solenoid valve 48 to be closed; and

4) when the measured temperature is above the high temperature reference or the measured temperature has remained at a temperature between the high and low references but higher than the desired temperate of the object for a predetermined period of time, the processor 76 causes the inlet solenoid valve 48 to be opened. The predetermined time may be about 3 minutes to about 10 minutes, for example.

With the processor 76 configured in the above manner, the pressure is maintained less than the high pressure reference and the temperature is maintained within the desired temperature range and more particularly, at or near the desired temperature of the object. The desired temperature may ultimately be 2 - 3 degrees Celsius, for example, especially where the object 16 to be vended is a soft drink housed in a container such as a soda can, for example, as shown.

A standard pressure relief valve (not shown) may be provided to release pressure build-up that could occur in the event the processor 76 malfunctions and does not open the exhaust solenoid valve 56.

Referring to Figure 2, the processor 76 is shown in greater detail and includes a pressure input 80, a temperature input 82, an input device input 84, a payment receiver input 86, an inlet valve output 88, an exhaust valve output 90, a display output 92, a communications port 94, and outputs 96 and 98 for controlling light and sound equipment, for example. The pressure input 80 is connected to pressure sensor circuitry (not shown) that produces a signal compatible with the processor 76 in response to pressure measurements by the pressure sensor 74. Similarly, the temperature input 82 is operable to receive temperature signals produced by interface circuitry (not shown) in response to temperature measurements by the temperature sensor 72. Pressure sensing devices capable of resolving 1/10 of a kilopascal and ½ of a degree Celsius are suitable. The input device input 84 is operable to receive signals from an input device such as shown at 100 which, in this embodiment, may include a keyboard or lighted push buttons for example, actuable by the user to identify an object in the interior 14 of the enclosure 12 shown in Figure 1 , that the user desires to be vended. The payment receiver input 86 is operable to receive a signal from a payment device such as a coin collector or credit card reader 102. The inlet and exhaust valve outputs 88 and 90 produce signals operable to control valve control interfaces

(not shown) for controlling the inlet solenoid valve 48 and the exhaust solenoid valve 56. The display output 92 is operable to produce signals for receipt by a display interface (not shown) for controlling a display, such as shown at 104 for providing indications and/or instructions on how to operate the vending machine apparatus 10 to enable a user to make a purchase of an item to be vended by the machine and also to permit use in conjunction with the input device 100 for identifying to the processor the high pressure limit reference, the high temperature reference, the low temperature reference, the length of the predetermined period of time that the measured temperature has remained at a temperature between the high and low temperature references but higher than the desired temperature of the object, and the desired temperature of the object. Other configuration data affecting the operation the vending machine may also be entered through the keyboard. Still referring to Figure 2, the communications port 94 is, in this embodiment, connected to a wireless transceiver 106 to permit the processor 76 to conduct communications with a remote server (not shown) to charge the user for the use of the vending machine apparatus 10 or alternatively, to receive indications of the high pressure reference, the high temperature reference, the low temperature reference, the desired temperature range and the specific desired temperature of the object and the above-mentioned predetermined period of time. Other data or functional software or software updates executable by the processor may also be received through the wireless transceiver 106, for example. The outputs 96 and 98 may be used to control lights and sound equipment such as LED lights for illuminating various signage on the cabinet 18 and speakers (not shown), which may be provided on the cabinet 18 in positions in which they can be heard by the user to provide feedback to the user in addition to that provided by the display 104, for example to indicate erroneous entries or other information that is to be conveyed to the user. Such other information may include advertising, for example.

Referring back to Figure 1 , in the embodiment shown, the apparatus 10 includes a vending mechanism shown generally at 200 for removing the object 16 from the interior 14 and for providing the object to a user. The processor 76 is configured to control the vending mechanism 200 to cause the vending mechanism to remove the object 16 from the interior 14 and to provide the object to the user. To effect this, the vending mechanism 200 in this embodiment includes a vertical storage rack shown generally at 202 having parallel spaced apart guides 204, 206, 208, and 210 between which a plurality of objects to be vended such as soda pop cans are stacked in contiguous relation above a "next to be vended" can 212 at the bottom of the rack. The "next to be vended" can 212 is held in place by a first stop mechanism 214 which prevents the "next to be vended" can 212 from falling downwards and into a chute shown generally at 216. A "subsequently to be vended" can 218 is held above the "next to be vended" can 212 by a second stop mechanism 220. When the first stop mechanism 214 is actuated, by the processor 76, an interference member 222 thereof is retracted to allow the "next to be vended" can 212 to enter the chute 216. The chute 216 directs the "next to be vended" can 212 toward a holding area 224 defined between first and second vertically slidable partitions 226 and 228, respectively. Just before the first stop mechanism 214 is actuated, the processor 76 causes the first vertically slidable partition 226 to be retracted upwardly and then the first stop mechanism 214 is actuated whereupon the "next to be vended" can 212 enters the chute 216 which directs the "next to be vended" can 212 into the holding area 224. As soon as the "next to be vended" can 212 has entered the holding area 224, the processor 76 causes the first vertically slidable partiition 226 to be extended to thereby capture the "next to be vended" can 212 in the holding area between the first and second vertically slidable partitions 226 and 228. Then, with the first vertically slidable partition 226 closed, the second vertically slidable partition 228 is retracted giving the user access to the holding area 224 whereupon the user can fetch the "next to be vended" can

212 from the holding area 224 and thus the "next to be vended" can 212 has been vended to the user.

It will be appreciated that the apparatus 10 may include a plurality of racks of the type shown at 202, each having a chute directing bottles to be vended into the holding area 224 and each respective rack holding a plurality of bottles holding the same drink wherein each rack is associated with a separate and distinct respective drink. Separate user actuable push buttons, such as shown at 230 associated with corresponding racks and hence associated with respective drinks may be provided on a user facing side of the cabinet 18 to allow for user selection of a drink to be vended in the manner just described.

In the embodiment shown, the chute 216 separates the interior 14 into an upper chamber 231 and a lower chamber 233, but the chute is comprised of an open mesh frame or open mesh wire cloth, for example that allows gas to permeate therethrough. Thus, while the chute 216 divides the interior 14 into the upper and lower chambers 231 and 233, the expendable refrigerant in the gas phase is able to flow around the objects 16 to be vended and through the chute 216 into the lower chamber 233 of the interior 14 where it can contact the container 42 holding the liquid CO2 and thereby assist in keeping the container 42 cool. In this embodiment, as carbon dioxide C0 2 is heavier than air, the carbon dioxide accumulates at the lower portion of the interior 14 whereupon it may be easily exhausted by the exhaust 40 by opening up the exhaust solenoid valve 56 by the processor 76 to release accumulated gaseous carbon dioxide through the opening 60 in the enclosure 12. A fan 240 disposed on a ceiling of the interior 14 may agitate the gaseous expendable refrigerant to promote uniformity of temperature through the interior 14 and to cause it to better access the opening 50 in the floor 28 of the enclosure. In the embodiment shown, with the vertical storage rack 202 formed of the parallel spaced apart guides 204, 206, 208, and 210, the expendable refrigerant in the gas phase can flow around the objects 16 to be vended and thereby cool the objects. The expendable refrigerant has been described as initially liquid carbon dioxide which instantly turns into gaseous carbon dioxide upon release into the interior 14 of the enclosure 12. Carbon dioxide is a particularly good expendable refrigerant. It is stored in liquid form under a pressure of between about 5 to about 100 atmospheres at a temperature of between about -60 degrees Celsius to about -40 degrees Celsius. It is an odourless, colourless, non-flammable, non-corrosive flame extinguishing gas with a slightly pungent acid taste. The latent heat energy required to convert liquid CO2 into C0 2 vapour requires 574 kilojoules per kilogram that in this embodiment is collected from the initially warm objects to be vended, resulting in a cooling of these objects. Approximately, 3 kilograms of liquid C0 2 is sufficient to decrease the temperature of about four - 330 millilitre soft drink cans by about 30 degrees Celsius. Since the carbon dioxide is held under pressure, in liquid form, in the container 42, energy for moving the liquid C0 2 is essentially stored in the container 42 and is imparted to the liquid C0 2 when the inlet solenoid valve 48 is opened whereupon the pressure inside the container 42 drives the liquid C0 2 through a pressure reducing valve 46 and up to the inlet solenoid valve 48. When the liquid C0 2 is released into the interior 14 it instantly turns into vapour because the normal temperature of the enclosure is held at a temperature of between about -5 degrees Celsius and about +20 degrees Celsius which is well beyond the boiling point of liquid C0 2 at standard atmospheric pressure. Therefore, the selected temperature range and operation at approximately 1 atmosphere (i.e. ambient pressure in the vicinity of the enclosure 12), ensures that the liquid C0 2 will instantly turn to vapour immediately upon admission into the interior 14. Energy from the objects 16 to be vended is passed to the gaseous C0 2 and absorbed thereby which causes the objects to be vended to be cooled. It will be appreciated that what is described is an open loop refrigeration system whereby the refrigerant exiting the opening 60 is simply released into the ambient surroundings and is not recompressed into liquid for recirculation as in a closed loop refrigeration system. Thus, there is no close loop refrigeration cycle. Without the use of a closed loop refrigeration system, no compressor is needed in the vending machine because, the energy used to drive the gaseous C0 2 into the interior is simply the potential energy stored in the container 42 converted to kinetic energy to move the gas into the interior 14. Gravity causes the CO2 to drift downwardly past the objects 16 to be vended through the chute 216 which is gas permeable and into the lower chamber 233 of the interior 14 whereupon the C0 2 may be expelled through the exhaust 40. Thus, the energy provided for cooling is stored during the filling of the container 42 and no additional energy is required to move the refrigerant in such a manner that it cools the objects 16 to be vended. Optionally, the fan 240 may be provided but it will be appreciated that the fan requires very little energy compared to a compressor in a conventional closed loop refrigeration system.

In the embodiment described, the only other components requiring energy are the processor 76, the lighted display (not shown), the credit card reader 102, the communications port 94 and the wireless transceiver 106 and any power supply for controlling the inlet solenoid valve 48 and the exhaust solenoid valve 56 and the vending mechanism 200. The energy requirements for these components are sporadic and/or relatively minimal compared to that of a conventional closed loop refrigeration system and can be sufficiently provided by renewable energy sources such as a replaceable rechargeable battery 250, a photovoltaic (PV) array 252, and/or a wind generator 254, for example. Various schemes for connecting the battery 250 with the PV array 252 and the wind generator 254 to cause electrical energy to be available on a common bus are known and in this embodiment a power supply controller 256 is operable to receive electrical energy from the battery 250, the PV array 252, and the wind generator 254 and to make that energy available to the above-described components for operating the vending machine apparatus 10. By suitably sizing the PV array 252 the wind generator 254 and the battery 250, an excess of energy can be provided by the PV array 252 and the wind generator 254 (at certain times) to enable the controller 256 to use the excess energy generated by those devices for recharging the battery 250. Thus, no external power supply or conventional alternating current supply is required. This enables the vending machine apparatus 10 to operate as a stand alone unit at a remote location, for example, that does not have a conventional AC supply as is normally provided by an electrical utility company. The battery 250 may be replaced as required. Still referring to Figure 1 , the apparatus 10 further includes an optional drink dispenser shown generally at 300.

Referring to Figure 3, the drink dispenser 300 is shown in greater detail as a modular unit comprising a cabinet or housing 302 comprising a dispenser 304 operably configured to dispense liquid carbon dioxide from the container 42 shown in Figure 1 , as syrup (not shown) and water (not shown) are dispensed into a drink container such as shown at 306 to form a cold, consumable drink, in the drink container 306. In this embodiment, the drink dispenser 300 has first, second and third dispensing outlets 308, 310, and 3 2 grouped together to be suitably actuated to simultaneously dispense the liquid carbon dioxide, syrup, and water into the drink container 306.

Referring to Figure 4, the drink dispenser 300 is shown in cross-section. The cabinet 302 has an open back portion 320 sealed off by an openable door 322 connected to the cabinet 302 by a hinge 324. The door 322 is openable and closeable between the positions shown in broken outline and solid outline, respectively to provide access to an interior 326 of the cabinet 302. The cabinet 302 has an outer casing 328 defining an outer shape of the drink dispenser 300 and a layer of insulating material such as Styrofoam®, for example as shown at 330 is provided on inside surfaces of the outer casing 328. and on an inside surface of the door 322. Within the interior 326, in this embodiment there is stored a first, second, third, and fourth syrup containers 340, 342, 344, 346 and a water container 348. The syrup containers 340 - 346 are connected to respective conduits only one of which is shown at 350 and to respective reducing valves, one of which is shown at 352 and to respective dispensing valves only one of which is given a reference numeral at 354 and then to a common manifold 366 in communication with the second dispensing outlet 310.

The first dispensing outlet 308 is connected by a conduit to a C0 2 supply valve 358 connected by a conduit 360 to a downstream side of the pressure reducing valve 46 shown in Figure 1 that receives liquid CO2 from the container 42. Referring back to Figure 4, thus, a source of liquid pressurized CO2 is provided at the CO2 supply valve 358 and by selective operation of the CO2 supply valve 358, the liquid C0 2 is provided to the first dispensing outlet 308 and/or to a inlet conduit 362 having an opening 364 for admitting liquid C0 2 into the interior 326.

Liquid CO2 entering the interior 326 is immediately converted to CO2 vapour and permeates the interior 326 of the drink dispenser 300 to flow around the syrup containers 340 - 346 thereby keeping the syrup containers cold. The third dispensing opening 312 is connected by a conduit 366 to a flow control valve 368 connected through a pressure reducer 370 to the water container 348. The water container 348 is of a type that includes pressurized air for driving the water into the pressure reducer 370 to be selectively dispensed by the flow control valve 368 into the conduit 366 and out of the third dispensing opening 312. ln this embodiment, the drink dispenser 300 includes its own processor 380 connected to an input output device 382 seen best in Figure 3 having a display 384 and drink selectors 386. Referring back to Figure 4, the processor 380 is connected to the valves, one of which is shown at 354 operably configured to selectively provide syrup from the syrup containers 340 - 346 to the common manifold 356 for dispensing through the second dispensing outlet 310. Similarly, the processor 380 is in communication with the flow control valve 368 for selectively providing water from the water container 348 to the third dispensing outlet 312. And also similarly, the processor 380 is in communication with the

C0 2 supply valve 358 to control the flow of the liquid C0 2 to selectively dispense the liquid C0 2 through the first dispensing outlet 308 and to further selectively admit liquid C0 2 through the opening 364 into the interior 326 of the drink dispenser 300. The processor 380 is in communication with pressure and temperature sensors 390 and 392 respectively. The drink dispenser 300 further includes an exhaust opening 394 in communication with an exhaust valve 396 for releasing C0 2 vapour from the interior 326. The processor 380 may be programmed in the same way as described above to generally maintain the pressure in the interior 326 below a high pressure reference and to maintain the temperature inside the interior 326 between temperature limits, which may be the same as the temperature limits described above or different temperature limits. In this embodiment, however, the processor 380 is operable to selectively actuate one of the valves (354) associated with a syrup container 340 - 346 associated with respective user selectable push buttons (the drink selectors 386 in Figure 3) on the input output device 382 (in Figure 3) to provide for actuation of the valve 354 corresponding to a syrup of a drink selected by the user through the input output device (382 in Figure 3). Thus, effectively a desired syrup can be selected from a plurality of syrup containers, for dispensing by the dispenser along with at least some of the expendable refrigerant. The container 300 will first receive syrup, then water and then C0 2 . Referring to Figure 5, an apparatus according to an alternate embodiment of the invention is shown generally at 400. In this embodiment, the apparatus includes a housing or enclosure 402 having a floor 404 and an inner wall 406 to which various components are mounted. Adjacent the inner wall 406, a liquid C0 2 container 408 is provided and connected through a reducing valve 410 and a supply valve 412 to a liquid CO2 supply line 414. The liquid C0 2 supply line 414 is shown broken for the sake of clarity but continues near the top of the housing and terminates in a connection to a splitter valve 416 which is connected by a conduit 418 to a dispensing head 420 and connected by an internal conduit (not shown) to an outlet opening 422 for admitting liquid C0 2 into an interior 424 of the housing 402. The liquid CO2 instantly turns to vapour on entry into the interior 424 of the housing 402 and permeates toward the floor 404 thereby cooling components along its path. The C0 2 vapour accumulates near the floor 404 where it can flow around and can surround the liquid C0 2 container 408 containing the liquid C0 2 . A fan 425 may be provided near or at a top portion of the interior 424 of the housing 402 to assist in distributing C0 2 vapour within the interior 424.

Also positioned on the floor 404 are syrup containers, three of which are shown at 430 connected by respective pressure reducing valves 432 and respective supply valves 434 to a syrup supply conduit 436. The syrup supply conduit 436 is shown broken but extends to near the top of the interior 424 of the housing 402 where it is connected to a syrup pumping system shown generally at 438 and for pumping syrup through a conduit 440 to the dispensing head 420 (the syrup pumping system 438 may or may not be required depending on whether or not the syrup containers 430 are suitably pressurized).

Also situated on the floor 404 is a pressurized water container 450 having a pressure reducing valve 452 and a water supply valve 454 connected to a water supply line 456. The water supply line 456 is shown broken but continues at the top of the interior 424 of the housing 402 with a direct connection to the dispensing head 420. The dispensing head 420 is operably configured to dispense the liquid carbon dioxide, a syrup and water into a drink container, in this embodiment which is shown as an empty drink container 460, to form a cold consumable drink in the drink container 460. The apparatus 400 further includes a drink container holder shown generally at 470 for holding a plurality of empty drink containers as shown at 472, a drink container positioner shown generally at 474 operably configured to position a drink container from the drink container holder 470 under the dispensing head 420 to receive the liquid carbon dioxide, syrup and water from the dispenser. The apparatus 400 further includes a closure installer shown generally at 476 for installing a closure 478 on the drink container 460 with dispensed C0 2 , syrup and water forming the consumable drink therein. The apparatus 400 further includes a vending mechanism shown generally at 480 for removing the drink container 460 or other object from the interior 424 and for providing the drink container 460 to a user. The vending mechanism 480 includes inner and outer parallel spaced apart vertically slidable doors 482 and 484 which are seated on a platform 486 operable to support a sealed drink container containing a drink.

The apparatus 400 further includes a processor 500, like the one described above in connection with Figure 2, in communication with an input device 502, a credit card reader 504, pressure and temperature sensors 506, 508, and in communication with the various valves 412, 416, 434, 454 and further in communication with the dispensing head 420 and still further in communication with inner and outer door control mechanisms 510 and 512 respectively for controlling extension and retraction of the inner and outer parallel spaced apart vertically slidable doors 482 and 484. The drink container positioner 474 includes a robotic arm mechanism 520 that selectively grips one of the empty drink containers 460 held in the container holder 470 and through rotation of a shaft moves the arm to position the neck of the drink container 460 into a holder 516 under the dispensing head 420 to facilitate filling.

Similarly, a robotic arm mechanism 522 is configured to selectively grip the filled drink container 460 and move it into the closure installer 476.

The closure installer 476 includes a motor 524 and a closure rotating unit 526 driven by the motor 524 to rotate a threaded closure (e.g. the closure 78) such as a bottle cap onto a threaded nipple on the drink container 460 containing the dispensed drink.

The vending mechanism 480 includes a further robotic arm mechanism 528 which selectively grips the drink container 460 held by the closure installer 476 and moves the drink container 460 toward the vertically slidable inner door 482. The processor 500 is further in communication with motor drive circuitry (not shown) which produces signals that control the motors and robotic arms to effect movement of the drink container 460 from the drink container holder 470 to the dispensing head 420, to the closure installer 476, and to the vending mechanism 480. The processor 500 also controls the inner and outer door control mechanisms 510 and 512 to retract the vertically slidable inner door 482 as the robotic arm mechanism 528 rotates the drink container 460 away from the closure installer 476 so that the robotic arm mechanism 528 can place the sealed drink container 460 containing the drink on the platform 486. Then, the robotic arm mechanism 528 is moved back towards the closure installer 476 at which time the inner door control mechanism 510 causes the vertically slidable inner door 482 to be closed (i.e. extended) and the vertically slidable outer door 484 to be retracted thereby enabling user access to the drink container waiting on the platform 486. Referring to Figure 6, the use of a container of liquid CO2 to provide a source of expendable refrigerant is replaced by a solid source of C0 2 (commonly known as dry ice). In this embodiment, the enclosure 12 generally the same as that shown in Figure 1 is provided with insulating panels 590, 592, 594 in the same manner as described in connection with Figure 1 , but in this embodiment there is no floor insulating panel. Hooks such as shown at 600, 602, 604, 606, 608 and 610 are used to hold replaceable solid C0 2 panels including a full end panel 612, a ceiling panel 614, a front top panel 616, and a front bottom panel 618. Left and right side replaceable CO2 panels, only the left side panel 620 being shown in Figure 6 are also held by similar hooks. To these hooks 600 - 610, are further installed a rear shutter panel 630, a ceiling shutter panel 632, a front top shutter panel 634 a front bottom shutter panel 638 and left and right side shutter panels only the left side shutter panel being shown at 639. The shutter panels 630 - 639 define an interior 641 of the enclosure 12.

Each of the shutter panels 630 - 639 includes a plurality of moveable louvers, an exemplary one of which is shown at 640 for providing a corresponding adjustably closeable opening 642. By opening and closing the louvers 640, the size of the corresponding openings 642 through the shutter panel 630 is adjusted and this provides for controlling the exposure of interior facing surfaces of the replaceable

CO2 panels to the interior of the enclosure 12. The louvers 640 replace the inlet solenoid valve 48, shown in Figure 1 and act to control the amount of C0 2 vapour admitted into the interior 641 of the enclosure 12 from the replaceable C0 2 panels.

The enclosure 12 has a meshed floor 650 that permits a flow of CO2 vapour to pass into a small compartment 652 under the meshed floor 650 which houses an exhaust valve 654 for exhausting CO2 vapour through an opening 656 in a front face of the enclosure 2. The interior 641 of the enclosure 12 is fitted with the same vending mechanism shown at 200 in Figure 1 only the vertically slidable partitions 226 and 228 and the optional drink dispenser 300 being shown in Figure 6. Other components of the vending mechanism 200 shown in Figure 1 have been omitted from Figure 6 so that the panels and louvers can be seen more clearly. In the embodiment shown in Figure 6, the processor 500 is the same as that described in connection with Figure 1 with the exception with that instead of the inlet solenoid valve 48, the processor controls a louver actuation mechanism only two of which are shown at 670 and 672 for selectively opening and closing all of the louvers at the same time on any given shutter panel. Thus, generally the same control program used to control the processor 76 described in connection with Figure 1 can be used in the embodiment shown in Figure 6.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1 , liquid CO 2 was used to cool the objects 16 held in the interior 14 of the enclosure 12 for vending and to provide a source of liquid CO2 for the drink dispenser 300. Thus, where the drink dispenser 300 is included in the vending machine, a liquid CO2 canister such as shown at 674 in Figure 6 may be provided in the small compartment 652 and connected through a pressure reducing valve 676 and a conduit 678 to the conduit 360 shown in Figure 4 of the drink dispenser 300. Thus, the same drink dispenser 300 can be used in the embodiment shown in Figure 1 and 6.

As described above, the enclosure 12 has the meshed floor 650 that permits a flow of CO2 vapour to pass into the small compartment 652 under the meshed floor 650 and thus at least some of the CO 2 vapour emanating from the replaceable CO 2 panels in the dispensing portion of the enclosure 12 can flow into the small compartment 652 and about the liquid CO 2 canister 674 to thereby assist in keeping the liquid CO 2 canister 674 cool. Referring to Figure 7, an alternative embodiment of a dispensing mechanism is shown in cross-section. The drink dispensing unit 700 includes a housing 702 that has an open back portion 720 sealed off by an openable door 722 connected to the housing 702 by a hinge 724. The door 722 is openable and closeable between the positions shown in broken outline and solid outline, respectively to provide access to an interior 726 of the housing 702. The housing 702 has an outer casing 728 defining an outer shape of the drink dispensing unit 700 and a layer of insulating material such as Styrofoam® for example, as shown at 730 is provided in inside surfaces of the outer casing 728 and on an inside surface of the door 722. Hooks or clips, not shown, but like the ones described in connection with Figure 6 are connected to the outer casing 728 and hold replaceable solid CO2 panels (e.g. dry ice panels), only a left side panel 721 , a rear panel 723, a right side panel 725 and left and right front side panels 727 and 729 being shown in Figure 7. In addition, the drink dispensing unit 700 further includes shutter panels including a left side shutter panel 731, a rear shutter panel 733, a right side shutter panel 735, being shown in Figure 7. The left and right front side replaceable C0 2 panels 727 and 729 may be left uncovered and thereby provide a continuous supply of C0 2 vapour to the interior 726 or may optionally be covered if it is desired to have more control over the amount of C0 2 vapour admitted into the interior 726 by controlling the left and right side shutter panels 731 and 735, respectively. Similarly, the rear shutter panel 733 may be omitted and the interior facing face of the rear replaceable CO2 panel may be either left exposed or may be covered depending on the amount of C0 2 vapour required to achieve the temperature range desired in the interior 726. Left and right shutter control mechanisms 737 and 739 are actuated by the processor 792 which takes the place of, but functions like the processor 380 described above in connection with Figure 4. Thus, instead of controlling the admission of liquid C0 2 into the interior 726 the processor controls the left and right shutter control mechanisms 737 and 739 to regulate the flow of C0 2 vapour from the exposed surfaces of the corresponding left and right side panels 721 and 725, respectively. Otherwise, the interior 726 includes the same first, second, third, and fourth syrup containers 340, 342, 344, and 346 and water container 348 as described in connection with Figure 4. The syrup containers 340 - 346 are connected to respective conduits only one of which is shown at 350 into respective reducing valves, one of which is shown at 352 and to respective dispensing valves (e.g. the dispensing valve 354) and to the common manifold 356 in communication with the second dispensing outlet 310. The first dispensing outlet 308 is connected by a conduit to the CO 2 supply valve 358 connected by the conduit 360 to a downstream side of the pressure reducing valve 676 shown in Figure 6, that receives liquid CO 2 from the liquid CO 2 canister

674. The third dispensing outlet 312 is connected by the conduit 366 to the flow control valve 368 connected through the pressure reducer 370 to the water container 348. The drink dispensing unit 700 further includes an exhaust opening 794 in communication with an exhaust valve 796 for releasing CO 2 vapour from the interior 726 in the same manner as described above in connection with Figure 4. A processor 792 is programmed in the same way as described above in connection with Figure 4 to generally maintain the pressure in the interior 726 below a high pressure reference and to maintain the temperature inside the interior 726 between temperature limits which may be the same as the temperature limits described above or different temperature limits. In this embodiment, however, the processor 792 operates the louver control mechanisms 737 and 739, respectively instead of the CO 2 supply valve 358 shown in Figure 4 to control the exposure of the solid CO 2 panels to the interior 726 thereby controlling the amount of CO 2 vapour admitted into the interior 726. It should be noted that the drink dispensing unit 700 shown in Figure 7 may alternatively be used as a substitute for the drink dispenser 300 shown in Figures 3 and 4.

Referring to Figure 8, an apparatus according to another embodiment of the invention is shown generally at 800. This apparatus 800 generally includes the same enclosure as seen in Figure 1 except that it has a different vending mechanism shown generally at 802. In this embodiment, the vending mechanism 802 includes a continuous belt 804 to which is secured a plurality of platforms, one of which is shown at 806. The objects to be rendered are stored on respective platforms 806. The belt 804 is oriented in a vertical orientation and the platforms 806 are oriented generally in a horizontal orientation on one side of the belt 804. The belt 804 is wrapped around a drive sprocket 808 and an idler sprocket 810. The drive sprocket 808 is connected to a stepper motor (not shown) which is controlled by the processor 76. The motor rotates the drive sprocket 808 in the direction shown by arrow 812 such that a side belt 814 facing the inner door 226 moves downwardly in the direction of arrow 816 when the drive sprocket 808 is rotated in the direction of arrow 812. A mechanism (not shown) is provided with each platform 806, such that each platform remains in a horizontal position as the belt travels downwardly in the direction of arrow 816 until the platform reaches a predetermined position shown generally at 818 at which point the mechanism associated with the platform 806 is released, allowing the platform 806 to drop down and eject its contents into a chute 820 directed towards the inner door 226. The drive sprocket 808 is controlled by the stepper motor such that the belt 814 is moved in discrete distances whereby the rotation of the sprocket 808 is stopped as soon as the mechanism releases the platform 806 at position 818. Just prior to release of the mechanism, the processor 76 opens the inner door 226 such that when the objects to be dispensed travels down the chute, it lands in the space 224 between the inner and outer doors 226 and 228. After a time interval, or upon detection of the object to be vended in the inner space 224, the inner door 226 is closed and the outer door 228 is opened to give the user access to the object dispensed.

In the embodiment shown, the objects to be dispensed are shown as sandwiches, but the items could alternatively be vegetables, berries, or fruits, for example. Each of these items is a perishable product and such perishable products are particularly well suited for use with the dispensing apparatus of this embodiment because the interior 14 of the cabinet 18 is filled with C0 2 vapour emanating from the inlet 32 and this has a preservative effect on the perishable items on the platforms 806 that are intended to be vended. Thus, perishable items dispensed from this vending machine are held fresher longer than they would be without the presence of C0 2 vapour, thereby enabling this vending machine to dispense more desirable perishable products. It will be appreciated that the vending mechanism shown generally at 802 in this embodiment can also be employed in the enclosure shown in Figure 6 to achieve generally the same result.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, such embodiments should be considered illustrative of the invention only and not as limiting the invention as construed in accordance with the accompanying claims.




 
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