Merchandiser with on-product financial payment system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ice merchandisers lack the capability for self-service transactions and efficient product removal, leading to increased operational costs and reduced customer convenience due to the need for constant monitoring and potential for microbial contamination.
Innovation Solution
Integration of a financial payment system with load cells for mass determination and a self-elevating platform to facilitate ergonomic product removal, along with anti-microbial coatings and UV lamps for hygiene, enabling self-service transactions and reducing the need for constant monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If ice merchandisers are made large and heavy with temperature-controlled storage units, then ice product storage capacity is improved, but device complexity and operational cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ice merchandiser is equipped with an integrated payment system that enables customers to complete transactions directly at the device without staff intervention. The system automatically determines the mass of ice removed using load cells and calculates the amount of currency required, allowing the device to serve itself in terms of transaction processing and reducing the need for complex monitoring systems.
2Reliability
If constant monitoring of ice merchandisers is implemented, then prevention of microbial contamination is improved, but operational cost and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The payment system enables the ice merchandiser to automatically track and record each transaction, creating an audit trail that eliminates the need for constant manual monitoring. The system self-regulates by controlling access based on payment validation, thereby maintaining hygiene and reliability without requiring continuous human oversight.
3Reliability
If access control system is integrated with payment system, then security and hygiene are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The access control system is merged with the payment system into a single integrated unit. The payment system validates transactions and simultaneously controls access to the ice merchandiser, combining two functions into one system to minimize additional complexity while maintaining security and hygiene.
4Ease of operation
If self-service transactions are enabled, then customer convenience is improved, but need for payment system integration increases complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The ice merchandiser is equipped with an integrated payment system that enables customers to complete transactions directly at the device without staff intervention. The system automatically determines the mass of ice removed using load cells and calculates the amount of currency required, allowing the device to serve itself in terms of transaction processing and reducing the need for complex monitoring systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances customer convenience by allowing 24/7 self-service, reduces operational costs, and maintains a hygienic environment through efficient payment processing and ergonomic product retrieval, while minimizing microbial growth.
Implementation Method 1
a load cell structured to measure a mass of the bagged ice product
Data Source
AI summary
A merchandiser for storing a product for purchase by a customer is disclosed. The merchandiser includes a housing that defines a cavity for storing the product and a controller for facilitating a transaction for the product at the merchandiser. The controller is configured to: receive an input to initiate a transaction for the product, the input including a type and an amount of product to be purchased; unlock a door of the merchandiser to enable a removal of the product based on receiving the input; determine a completion of the transaction based on the door being in a close position for more than a preset amount of time; and charge the customer for the type and amount of product based on the completion of the transaction.