Merchandiser
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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 accessibility and energy efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A merchandiser design incorporating an ambient compartment for easy product access and a temperature-controlled compartment with a vending module that identifies ambient products to dispense corresponding temperature-controlled products, utilizing an internal transport system and payment module to optimize energy use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an open front cooler design 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 two distinct compartments: an ambient compartment for easy customer access and a temperature-controlled compartment for energy-efficient product storage. This segmentation allows the system to provide open-front accessibility only where needed while maintaining temperature control only for the products requiring it, thereby resolving the contradiction between accessibility and energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature-controlled environment is extracted from the entire merchandiser and applied only to a specific compartment containing the products that require temperature control. This extraction eliminates the need to cool the entire open-front structure, significantly reducing energy consumption while preserving customer accessibility to both ambient and temperature-controlled products.
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 are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The merchandiser separates the customer interaction zone (ambient compartment with open front) from the temperature control zone (temperature-controlled compartment), allowing customers to easily access ambient products while temperature-controlled products remain in an energy-efficient enclosed space with minimal door opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The ambient compartment acts as an intermediary between the customer and the temperature-controlled compartment, allowing customers to view and select products without frequently opening the temperature-controlled compartment door, thereby maintaining energy efficiency while preserving accessibility.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the temperature controlled compartment is minimized to reduce energy costs, then energy efficiency is improved, but product selection and storage capacity are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The merchandiser segments products into two categories: those requiring temperature control (stored in the smaller temperature-controlled compartment) and those that can be stored at ambient temperature (stored in the larger ambient compartment). This segmentation allows the system to minimize the temperature-controlled compartment size for energy efficiency while maintaining adequate overall storage capacity through the ambient compartment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds a dimensional aspect to product selection by offering both ambient and temperature-controlled product options, allowing customers to choose from a broader range of products stored in different temperature zones, thereby compensating for the reduced capacity of the temperature-controlled compartment.
Data Source
AI summary
The present application provides a merchandiser. The merchandiser may include an ambient compartment with at least one ambient product therein, a temperature controlled compartment with at least one temperature controlled product therein, and a vending module in communication with the temperature controlled compartment such that the vending module dispenses a temperature controlled product in response to an ambient product being placed in the vending module.