Refrigerated vending system and method

A refrigerated vending system for conducting automatic purchase transactions for refrigerated merchandise, the refrigerated vending system comprising:

• a refrigerated cooler comprising a cabinet having a refrigerated compartment and a door connected to the cabinet for movement with respect to the cabinet between a closed position in which the door closes the refrigerated compartment and an open position in which the door opens the refrigerated compartment, the cabinet comprising one or more shelves for supporting the refrigerated merchandise in the refrigerated compartment of the refrigerated cooler;
• an automatic lock configured to selectively lock and unlock the door in the closed position;
• a door sensor configured to detect movement of the door from the open position to the closed position;
• a three-dimensional imaging sensor inside the refrigerated cooler, the three-dimensional imaging sensor being configured to capture a three-dimensional image of the refrigerated compartment of the cabinet;
• an electronic payment terminal supported on the refrigerated cooler;
• and
• a vending transaction controller configured to;
• detect presentation of a method of payment to the electronic payment terminal;
• actuate the automatic lock to unlock the door;
• determine based on the door sensor that the door has been opened and closed after actuating the automatic lock to unlock the door;
• actuate the automatic lock to lock the door in response to determining based on the door sensor that the door has been opened and closed;
• actuate the three-dimensional imaging sensor to capture an updated three-dimensional image of the refrigerated compartment in response to determining based on the door sensor that the door has been opened and closed;
• determine, based on the updated three-dimensional image, the refrigerated merchandise that was removed while the door was open;
• and
• charge the method of payment that was presented to the electronic payment terminal for the refrigerated merchandise that was removed while the door was open.