Concentric Wheel Merchandiser for Accessible Low-Energy Cooling
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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 outweigh the increased sales revenue from impulse purchases, necessitating a solution that balances energy efficiency with consumer accessibility.
Innovation Solution
A merchandiser design incorporating a temperature-controlled compartment with concentric storage wheels, an input system, and a vending system that includes an identification module and pusher systems to efficiently manage and dispense products, allowing for impulse purchases while minimizing energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an open front cooler design is used to provide quick accessibility and impulse purchases, then consumer accessibility and sales volume are improved, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The merchandiser is divided into multiple temperature zones (frozen section, refrigerated section, and ambient section) within a single insulated enclosure. This segmentation allows different products to be stored at appropriate temperatures while maintaining energy efficiency through the shared insulated structure, resolving the contradiction between accessibility and energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements nested storage wheels within the insulated enclosure, where concentric storage wheels are positioned inside the temperature-controlled compartment. This nesting arrangement maximizes storage capacity and accessibility within the compact insulated space, providing open-front-like accessibility while maintaining the energy efficiency of a enclosed design.
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 capability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the merchandiser into multiple temperature sections with independent access points, consumers can access specific zones without exposing the entire contents to ambient air. This maintains energy efficiency while providing the accessibility needed for impulse purchases.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces vertical stacking of storage wheels and multi-level shelving within the insulated enclosure, creating vertical accessibility dimensions. This allows consumers to access products at various heights without compromising the insulated enclosure, maintaining energy efficiency while improving accessibility.
3Productivity
If concentric storage wheels are used to maximize storage capacity and accessibility, then product storage and retrieval are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple storage wheels are combined into a single concentric assembly that rotates together, allowing products to be accessed from multiple radial positions simultaneously. This merging of storage functions into one mechanical unit improves productivity while limiting complexity growth compared to multiple independent mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The concentric storage wheel assembly serves multiple functions: storage, rotation for accessibility, and organization of products by category or temperature requirement. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate mechanisms, improving productivity without proportionally increasing complexity.
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.