Vending lock

A food storage vending cabinet for storing frozen or refrigerated food comprising an access control system for locking an unlocked refrigerated food storage vending cabinet having a food storage vending cabinet body and a food storage vending cabinet door operatively connected to the food storage vending, cabinet body, the food storage vending cabinet body having walls forming a refrigerated food storage vending area defined by the walls of the food storage vending cabinet body and the food storage vending cabinet door when closed to the food storage vending cabinet body, wherein the refrigerated food storage vending cabinet includes an air conditioning unit for providing refrigerated air at or below proper temperature level consistent throughout the refrigerated food storage vending area, wherein the refrigerated food storage vending area is adapted to store a plurality of frozen or refrigerated food products which present a risk of thawing or spoiling when exposed to an elevated air temperature limit, and wherein when the food storage vending cabinet door is closed to the food storage vending cabinet body, the plurality of food products in the refrigerated food storage vending area is conditioned by the refrigerated air provided throughout the refrigerated food storage vending area and being at an enclosure temperature, the system comprising:

• a locking element on a first one of the food storage vending cabinet body and the food storage vending cabinet door;
• a locking mechanism mounted to a second one of the food storage vending cabinet body and the food storage vending cabinet door and configured to selectively lock and unlock the food storage vending cabinet door to the food storage vending cabinet body;
• a controller configured to operate and communicate parameters of the access control system,
• the controller further configured to operate in a normal operation mode to permit public access to the refrigerated food storage vending area by a vendee and further configured to operate in a fault condition to restrict public access to the refrigerated food storage vending area by the vendee, wherein the controller comprises a plurality of data input ports configured for detecting an unlock signal;
• the controller further configured in the normal operation to maintain the locking mechanism in an unlocked position as the temperature of the refrigerated air in the refrigerated food storage vending area timely transitions from the elevated air temperature limit to the proper temperature level;
• the controller further configured in die normal operation to detect an event resulting in a change in the temperature of the refrigerated air in the refrigerated food storage vending area that requires locking the unlocked food storage vending cabinet, wherein the event presents a risk of thawing or spoilage of one or more food products within the refrigerated food storage vending area, and, in response, to transition to the fault condition and to actuate the locking mechanism to lock the food storage vending cabinet door to the food storage vending cabinet body, wherein actuation of the locking mechanism occurs after the temperature of the refrigerated air in the refrigerated food storage vending area exceeds and remains above the elevated air temperature limit for a period of one or more minutes;
• and
• a unlocking device to selectively unlock the locking mechanism after actuation of the locking mechanism in the fault condition.

A food storage vending cabinet for storing frozen or refrigerated food comprising an access control system for locking an unlocked refrigerated food storage vending cabinet having a food storage vending cabinet body and a food storage vending cabinet door operatively connected to the food storage vending cabinet body, the food storage vending cabinet body having walls forming a refrigerated food storage vending area defined by the walls of the thud storage vending cabinet body and the food storage vending cabinet door when closed to the food storage vending cabinet body, wherein the refrigerated food storage vending cabinet includes an air conditioning unit for providing refrigerated air at or below a proper temperature level consistent throughout the refrigerated food storage vending area, wherein the refrigerated food storage vending area is adapted to store a plurality of frozen or refrigerated food products which present a risk of thawing or spoiling when exposed to an elevated air temperature limit, and wherein when the food storage vending cabinet door is closed to the food storage vending cabinet body, the plurality of food products in the refrigerated food storage vending area is conditioned by the refrigerated air provided throughout the refrigerated food storage vending area and being at an enclosure temperature, the system comprising:

• a locking element on a first one of the food storage vending cabinet body and the food storage vending cabinet door;
• a locking mechanism mounted to a second one of the food storage vending cabinet body and the food storage vending cabinet door and configured to selectively lock and unlock the food storage vending cabinet door to the food storage vending cabinet body;
• a controller configured to operate and communicate parameters of the access control system,
• the controller configured to operate in a normal operation mode to permit public access to the refrigerated food storage vending area by a vendee and further configured to operate in a fault condition to restrict public access to the refrigerated food storage vending area by the vendee,
• the controller further configured in the normal operation to maintain the locking mechanism in an unlocked position as the temperature of the refrigerated air in the refrigerated food storage vending area timely transitions from the elevated air temperature limit to the proper temperature level;
• the controller further configured in the normal operation to detect an even resulting in a change in the temperature of the refrigerated air in the refrigerated food storage vending area that requires locking the unlocked food storage vending cabinet, wherein the event presents a risk of thawing or spoilage of one or more food products within the refrigerated food storage vending area, and, in response, to transition to the fault condition and to actuate the locking mechanism to lock the food storage vending cabinet door to the food storage vending cabinet body, wherein actuation of the locking mechanism occurs after the temperature of the refrigerated air in the refrigerated food storage, vending area exceeds and remains above the elevated air temperature limit for a period of one or more minutes;
• an unlocking device to selectively unlock the locking mechanism after actuation of the locking mechanism in the fault condition;
• and
• the controller further configured to communicate the enclosure temperature to one of a local area network and a wide area network.

A food storage vending cabinet access control system for locking an unlocked refrigerated food storage vending cabinet having a food storage vending cabinet body and a food storage vending cabinet door operatively connected to the food storage vending cabinet body, the food storage vending cabinet body having walls forming a refrigerated food storage vending area defined by the walls of the food storage vending cabinet body and the food storage vending cabinet door when closed to the food storage vending cabinet body, wherein the refrigerated food storage vending cabinet includes an air conditioning unit for providing refrigerated air at or below a proper temperature level consistent throughout the refrigerated food storage vending area, wherein the refrigerated food storage vending area is adapted to store a plurality of frozen or refrigerated food products which present a risk of thawing or spoiling when exposed to an elevated air temperature limit, and wherein when the food storage vending cabinet door is closed to the food storage vending cabinet body, the plurality of food products in the refrigerated food storage vending area is conditioned by the refrigerated air provided throughout the refrigerated food storage vending area and being at an enclosure temperature, the system comprising:

• a locking element on a first one of the food storage vending cabinet body and the food storage vending cabinet door;
• a locking mechanism mounted to a second one of the food storage vending cabinet body and the food storage vending cabinet door and configured to selectively lock and unlock the food storage vending cabinet door to the food storage vending cabinet body;
• a controller configured to operate and communicate e or more controller parameters of the access control system,
• the controller configured to operate in a normal operation mode to permit public access to the refrigerated food storage vending area by a vendee and further configured to operate in a fault condition to restrict public access to the refrigerated food storage vending area by the vendee,
• the controller further configured in the normal operation to maintain the locking mechanism in an unlocked position as the temperature of the refrigerated air in the refrigerated food storage vending area timely transitions from the elevated air temperature limit to the proper temperature level;
• the controller further configured in the normal operation to detect an event resulting in a change in the temperature of the refrigerated air m the refrigerated food storage vending area that requires locking the unlocked food storage vending cabinet, therein the event presents a risk of thawing or spoilage of one or more food products within the refrigerated food storage vending area, and, in response, to transition to the fault condition and to actuate the locking mechanism to lock the food storage vending cabinet door to the food storage vending cabinet body, wherein actuation of the locking mechanism occurs after the temperature of the refrigerated air in the refrigerated food storage vending area exceeds and remains above the elevated air temperature limit for a period of one or more minutes;
• an unlocking device to selectively unlock the locking mechanism after actuation of the locking mechanism in the fault condition;
• and
• the controller further configured to communicate the one or more controller parameters to one of a local area network and a wide area network.

A food storage vending cabinet access control system for locking an unlocked refrigerated food storage vending cabinet having a food storage vending cabinet body and a food storage vending cabinet door operatively connected to the food storage vending cabinet body, the food storage vending cabinet body having walls forming a refrigerated food storage vending area defined by the walls of the food storage vending cabinet body and the food storage vending cabinet door when closed to the food storage vending cabinet body, wherein the refrigerated food storage vending cabinet includes an air conditioning unit for providing refrigerated air at or below a proper temperature level consistent throughout the refrigerated food storage vending area, wherein the refrigerated food storage vending area is adapted to store a plurality of frozen or refrigerated food products which present a risk of thawing or spoiling when exposed to an elevated air temperature limit, and wherein when the food storage vending cabinet door is closed to the food storage vending cabinet body, the plurality of food products in the refrigerated food storage vending area is conditioned by the refrigerated air provided throughout the refrigerated food storage vending area, the system comprising:

• a locking element on a first one of the food storage vending cabinet body and the food storage vending cabinet door;
• a locking mechanism mounted to a second one of the food storage vending cabinet body and the food storage vending cabinet door and configured to selectively lock and unlock the food storage vending cabinet door to the food storage vending cabinet body;
• at least one controller configured to operate and communicate parameters of the access control system;
• the at least one controller configured to operate in a normal operation mode to permit public access to the refrigerated food storage vending area by a vendee and further configured to operate in a fault condition to restrict public access to the refrigerated food storage vending area by the vendee,
• the at least one controller further configured in the normal operation to maintain the locking mechanism in an unlocked position as the temperature of the refrigerated air in the refrigerated food storage vending area timely transitions from the elevated air temperature limit to the proper temperature level;
• the at least one controller further configured in the normal operation to detect an event resulting in a change in the temperature of the refrigerated air in the refrigerated food storage vending area that requires locking the unlocked food storage vending cabinet, wherein the event presents a risk of thawing or spoilage of one or more food products within the refrigerated food storage vending area, and, in response, to transition to the fault condition and to actuate the locking mechanism to lock the food storage vending cabinet door to the food storage vending cabinet body, wherein actuation of the locking mechanism occurs after the temperature of the refrigerated air in the refrigerated food storage vending area exceeds and remains above the elevated air temperature limit for a period of one or more minutes;
• an unlocking device to selectively unlock the locking mechanism after actuation of the locking mechanism in the fault condition;
• and
• wherein the at least one controller further comprises a first microcomputer configured to detect the temperature in the refrigerated food storage vending area, and a second microcomputer configured to communicate one of a lock signal and an unlock signal and a reset signal.

A food storage vending cabinet access control system for locking an unlocked refrigerated food storage vending cabinet having a food storage vending cabinet body and a food storage vending cabinet door operatively connected to the food storage vending cabinet body, the food storage vending cabinet body having walls forming a refrigerated food storage vending area defined by the walls of the food storage vending cabinet body and the food storage vending cabinet door when closed to the food storage vending cabinet body, wherein the refrigerated food storage vending cabinet includes an air conditioning unit for providing refrigerated air at or below a proper temperature level consistent throughout the refrigerated food storage vending area, wherein the refrigerated food storage vending area is adapted to store a plurality of frozen or refrigerated food products which present a risk of thawing or spoiling when exposed to an elevated air temperature limit, and wherein when the food storage vending cabinet door is closed to the food storage vending cabinet body, the plurality of food products in the refrigerated food storage vending area is conditioned by the refrigerated air provided throughout the refrigerated food storage vending area, the system comprising:

• a locking element on a first one of the food storage vending cabinet body and the food storage vending cabinet door;
• a locking mechanism mounted to a second one of the food storage vending cabinet body and the food storage vending cabinet door and configured to selectively lock and unlock the food storage vending cabinet door to the food storage vending cabinet body;
• at least one controller configured to operate and communicate parameters of the access control system;
• the at least one controller configured to operate in a normal operation mode to permit public access to the refrigerated food storage vending area by a vendee and further configured to operate in a fault condition to restrict public access to the refrigerated food storage vending area by the vendee,
• the at least one controller further configured in the normal operation to maintain the locking mechanism in an unlocked position as the temperature of the refrigerated air in the refrigerated food storage vending area timely transitions from the elevated air temperature limit to the proper temperature level;
• the at least one controller further configured in the normal operation to detect an event resulting in a change in the temperature of the refrigerated air in the refrigerated food storage vending area that requires locking the unlocked food storage vending cabinet, wherein the event presents a risk of thawing or spoilage of one or more food products within the refrigerated food storage vending area, and, in response, to transition to the fault condition and to actuate the locking mechanism to lock the food storage vending cabinet door to the food storage vending cabinet body, wherein actuation of the locking mechanism occurs after the temperature of the refrigerated air in the refrigerated food storage vending area exceeds and remains above the elevated air temperature limit for a period of one or more minutes;
• an unlocking device to selectively unlock the locking mechanism after actuation of the locking mechanism in the fault condition;
• and
• wherein the at least one controller further comprises a first microcomputer configured to detect the temperature in the refrigerated food storage vending area, and a second microcomputer configured to perform control logic for determining the transitioning of the lock mechanism from one of locked to unlocked and unlocked to locked.

A food storage vending cabinet access control system for locking an unlocked refrigerated food storage vending cabinet having a food storage vending cabinet body and a food storage vending cabinet door operatively connected to the food storage vending cabinet body, the food storage vending cabinet body having walls forming a refrigerated food storage vending area defined by the walls of the food storage vending cabinet body and the food storage vending cabinet door when closed to the food storage vending cabinet body, wherein the refrigerated food storage vending cabinet includes an air conditioning unit for providing refrigerated air at or below a proper temperature level consistent throughout the refrigerated food storage vending area, wherein the refrigerated food storage vending area is adapted to store a plurality of frozen or refrigerated food products which present a risk of thawing or spoiling when exposed to an elevated air temperature limit, and wherein when the food storage vending cabinet door is closed to the food storage vending cabinet body, the plurality of food products in the refrigerated food storage vending area is conditioned by the refrigerated air provided throughout the refrigerated food storage vending area, the system comprising:

• a locking element on a first one of the food storage vending cabinet body and the food storage vending cabinet door;
• a locking mechanism mounted to a second one of the food storage vending cabinet body and the food storage vending cabinet door and configured to selectively lock and unlock the food storage vending cabinet door to the food storage vending cabinet body;
• at least one controller configured to operate and communicate parameters of the access control system;
• the at least one controller configured to operate in a normal operation mode to permit public access to the refrigerated food storage vending area by a vendee and further configured to operate in a fault condition to restrict public access to the refrigerated food storage vending area by the vendee,
• the at least one controller further configured in the normal operation to maintain the locking mechanism in an unlocked position as the temperature of the refrigerated air in the refrigerated food storage vending area timely transitions from the elevated air temperature limit to the proper temperature level;
• the at least one controller further configured in the normal operation to detect an event resulting in a change in the temperature of the refrigerated air in the refrigerated food storage vending area that requires locking the unlocked food storage vending cabinet, wherein the event presents a risk of thawing or spoilage of one or more food products within the refrigerated food storage vending area, and, in response, to transition to the fault condition and to actuate the locking mechanism to lock the food storage vending cabinet door to the food storage vending cabinet body, wherein actuation of the locking mechanism occurs after the temperature of the refrigerated air in the refrigerated food storage vending area exceeds and remains above the elevated air temperature limit for a period of one or more minutes;
• an unlocking device to selectively unlock the locking mechanism after actuation of the locking mechanism in the fault condition;
• and
• wherein the at least one controller further comprises a first microcomputer configured to communicate a parameter of the access control system, and a second microcomputer configured to communicate one of a lock signal and an unlock signal and a reset signal.

A food storage vending cabinet access control system for locking an unlocked refrigerated food storage vending cabinet having a food storage vending cabinet body and a food storage vending cabinet door operatively connected to the food storage vending cabinet body, the food storage vending cabinet body having walls forming a refrigerated food storage vending area defined by the walls of the food storage vending cabinet body and the food storage vending cabinet door when closed to the food storage vending cabinet body, wherein the refrigerated food storage vending cabinet includes an air conditioning unit for providing refrigerated air at or below a proper temperature level consistent throughout the refrigerated food storage vending area, wherein the refrigerated food storage vending area is adapted to store a plurality of frozen or refrigerated food products which present a risk of thawing or spoiling when exposed to an elevated air temperature limit, and wherein when the food storage vending cabinet door is closed to the food storage vending cabinet body, the plurality of food products in the refrigerated food storage vending area is conditioned by the refrigerated air provided throughout the refrigerated food storage vending area, the system comprising;

• a locking element on a first one of the food storage vending cabinet body and the food storage vending cabinet door;
• a locking mechanism mounted to a second one of the food storage vending cabinet body and the food storage vending cabinet door and configured to selectively lock and unlock the food storage vending cabinet door to the food storage vending cabinet body;
• at least one controller configured to operate and communicate parameters of the access control system;
• the at least one controller configured to operate in a normal operation mode to permit public access to the refrigerated food storage vending area by a vendee and further configured to operate in a fault condition to restrict public access to the refrigerated food storage vending area by the vendee,
• the at least one controller further configured in the normal operation to maintain the locking mechanism in an unlocked position as the temperature of the refrigerated air in the refrigerated food storage vending area timely transitions from the elevated air temperature limit to the proper temperature level;
• the at least one controller further configured in the normal operation to detect an event resulting in a change in the temperature of the refrigerated air in the refrigerated food storage vending area that requires locking the unlocked food storage vending cabinet, wherein the event presents a risk of thawing or spoilage of one or more food products within the refrigerated food storage vending area, and, in response, to transition to the fault condition and to actuate the locking mechanism to lock the food storage vending cabinet door to the food storage vending cabinet body, wherein actuation of the locking mechanism occurs after the temperature of the refrigerated air in the refrigerated food storage vending area exceeds and remains above the elevated air temperature limit for a period of one or more minutes;
• an unlocking device to selectively unlock the locking mechanism after actuation of the locking mechanism in the fault condition;
• and
• wherein the at least one controller further comprises a first microcomputer configured to communicate a parameter of the access control system, and a second microcomputer configured to perform control logie for determining the transitioning of the lock mechanism from one of locked to unlocked and unlocked to locked.

A food storage vending cabinet access control system for locking an unlocked refrigerated food storage vending cabinet having a food storage vending cabinet body and a food storage vending cabinet door operatively connected to the food storage vending cabinet body, the food storage vending cabinet body having walls forming a refrigerated food storage vending area defined by the walls of the food storage vending cabinet body and the food storage vending cabinet door when closed to the food storage vending cabinet body, wherein the refrigerated food storage vending cabinet includes an air conditioning unit for providing refrigerated air at or below a proper temperature level consistent throughout the refrigerated food storage vending area, wherein the refrigerated food storage vending area is adapted to store a plurality of frozen or refrigerated food products which present a risk of thawing or spoiling when exposed to an elevated air temperature limit, and wherein when the food storage vending cabinet door is closed to the food storage vending cabinet body, the plurality of food products in the refrigerated food storage vending area is conditioned by the refrigerated air provided throughout the refrigerated food storage vending area, the system comprising:

• a locking element on a first one of the food storage vending cabinet body and the food storage vending cabinet door;
• a locking mechanism mounted to a second one of the food storage vending cabinet body and the food storage vending cabinet door and configured to selectively lock and unlock the food storage vending cabinet door to the food storage vending cabinet body;
• at least one controller configured to operate and communicate parameters of the access control system;
• the at least one controller configured to operate in a normal operation mode to permit public access to the refrigerated food storage vending area by a vendee and further configured to operate in a fault condition to restrict public access to the refrigerated food storage vending area by the vendee,
• the at least one controller further configured in the normal operation to maintain the locking mechanism in an unlocked position as the temperature of the refrigerated air in the refrigerated food storage vending area timely transitions from the elevated air temperature limit to the proper temperature level;
• the at least one controller further configured in the normal operation to detect an event resulting in a change in the temperature of the refrigerated air in the refrigerated food storage vending area that requires locking the unlocked food storage vending cabinet, wherein the event presents a risk of thawing or spoilage of one or more food products within the refrigerated food storage vending area, and, in response, to transition to the fault condition and to actuate the locking mechanism to lock the food storage vending cabinet door to the food storage vending cabinet body, wherein actuation of the locking mechanism occurs after the temperature of the refrigerated air in the refrigerated food storage vending area exceeds and remains above the elevated air temperature limit for a period of one or more minutes;
• an unlocking device to selectively unlock the locking mechanism after actuation of the locking mechanism in the fault condition;
• and
• wherein the at least one controller further comprises a first microcomputer configured to communicate one of a lock signal and an unlock signal and a reset signal, and a second microcomputer configured to perform control logic for determining the transitioning of the lock mechanism from one of locked to unlocked and unlocked to locked.