Concentric Wheel Merchandiser for Open-Front Cooling Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional open front coolers consume significantly more energy than glass door merchandisers due to the lack of insulation, which can lead to increased energy costs despite providing higher sales volumes through impulse purchases.
Innovation Solution
A merchandiser design incorporating a temperature-controlled compartment with concentric storage wheels, an input system, and an identification module that allows for the rotation and acceptance or rejection of products, coupled with a vending system to efficiently manage product dispensing and reduce energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an open front cooler is used to provide easy accessibility and promote impulse purchases, then consumer accessibility and sales volume are improved, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The merchandiser is divided into multiple compartments: an open front display compartment for consumer accessibility and a closed rear storage compartment for energy-efficient product storage. This segmentation allows the system to provide easy access to frequently purchased items while maintaining energy efficiency for bulk storage.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the merchandiser have different thermal characteristics - the front display area is open for accessibility while the rear storage area is enclosed and insulated for energy efficiency. This local differentiation of structural properties resolves the contradiction between accessibility and energy consumption.
2Use of energy by moving object
If a glass door merchandiser is used to reduce energy consumption, then energy efficiency is improved, but consumer accessibility and impulse purchase potential decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The merchandiser separates the display function (open front) from the storage function (closed rear), allowing consumers to easily access displayed items while the majority of products remain in energy-efficient enclosed storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a single-compartment design to a multi-compartment three-dimensional structure, creating distinct zones for different functions - the open front zone for accessibility and the enclosed rear zone for energy efficiency.
3Reliability
If products are stored in a temperature controlled compartment, then product freshness and quality are maintained, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The merchandiser segments products into two categories: those requiring temperature control (stored in the enclosed rear compartment) and those that can be displayed at ambient temperature (placed in the open front display area). This reduces the overall energy required for temperature control while maintaining product freshness where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of temperature controlling the entire merchandiser volume, the system applies temperature control only to the necessary rear storage portion, using partial cooling action to reduce energy consumption while still maintaining product quality for items that require it.
Data Source
AI summary
The present application provides a merchandiser for dispensing a number of products. The merchandiser may include an a temperature controlled compartment with a number of concentric storage wheels for storing the number of products therein, an input system positioned about the temperature controlled compartment, and a vending system positioned about the temperature controlled compartment.