Vending lock

An enclosure access control system for selectively unlocking an enclosure having an enclosure body and at least one enclosure door which define a product storage area for storing one or more products, the product storage area being accessible by consumers after the at least one enclosure door is unlocked and when the at least one enclosure door is open, the system comprising:

• a locking element on a first one of the enclosure body and the at least one enclosure door;
• a locking mechanism on a second one of the enclosure body and the at least one enclosure door, the locking mechanism having an opening, the locking mechanism further including a latch configured to rotate to an open position within the opening, and the latch further configured to rotate to a closed position, the locking mechanism further including an electronically actuated latch engaging member adapted to engage the latch, and the lock mechanism configured for at least one of locking at least one enclosure door to the enclosure body and unlocking at least one enclosure door to the enclosure body;
• a controller in communication with an electronic interface and the locking mechanism, the electronic interface adapted to selectively signal the controller to unlock the locking mechanism;
• the controller configured to receive an unlock signal from the electronic interface and to send the unlock signal to the locking mechanism, the unlock signal generated by the electronic interface in response to the electronic interface receiving a consumer authorization to make a purchase;
• the locking mechanism being configured in a locked condition during stand-by operation and being configured to selectively move to an unlocked condition upon receiving the unlock signal from the controller.

An enclosure access control system for selectively unlocking an enclosure having an enclosure body and at least one enclosure door which define a product storage area for storing one or more products, the product storage area being accessible by consumers after the at least one enclosure door is unlocked and when the at least one enclosure door is open, the system comprising:

• a locking element on a first one of the enclosure body and the at least one enclosure door;
• a locking mechanism on a second one of the enclosure body and the at least one enclosure door, the locking mechanism configured for at least one of locking the at least one enclosure door to the enclosure body and unlocking the at least one enclosure door to the enclosure body;
• a controller in communication with an electronic interface and the locking mechanism, the electronic interface adapted to selectively signal the controller to unlock the locking mechanism;
• the controller configured to receive an unlock signal from the electronic interface and to send the unlock signal to the locking mechanism, the unlock signal generated by the electronic interface in response to the electronic interface receiving a consumer authorization to make a purchase;
• the locking mechanism being configured in a locked condition during stand-by operation and being configured to selectively move to an unlocked condition upon receiving the unlock signal from the controller;
• and
• a manual actuator configured to manually actuate the locking mechanism to unlock the at least one enclosure door from the enclosure body during a service operation.

A vending enclosure system comprising:

• an enclosure body, the enclosure body having walls forming a product storage area for storing one or more products;
• at least one enclosure door operatively connected to the enclosure body, the at least one enclosure door having a closed position and an opened position such that when the at least one enclosure door is in the closed position, the product storage area is isolated, and when the enclosure door is in the opened position, the product storage area is accessible for allowing consumers to select one or more of the products;
• a locking element on a first one of the enclosure body and the at least one enclosure door;
• a locking mechanism on a second one of the enclosure body and the at least one enclosure door, the locking mechanism configured for at least one of locking the at least one enclosure door to the enclosure body and unlocking the at least one enclosure door to the enclosure body;
• a controller in communication with an electronic interface and the locking mechanism, the electronic interface adapted to selectively signal the controller to unlock the locking mechanism;
• the controller configured to receive an unlock signal from the electronic interface and to send the unlock signal to the locking mechanism, the unlock signal generated by the electronic interface in response to the electronic interface receiving a consumer authorization to make a purchase;
• the locking mechanism being configured in a locked condition during stand-by operation and being configured to selectively move to an unlocked condition upon receiving the unlock signal from the controller, and
• a manual release actuator in the product storage area of the enclosure body for manually actuating the locking mechanism to unlock the at least one enclosure door.

A vending enclosure system comprising:

• an enclosure body, the enclosure body having walls forming a product storage area for storing one or more products;
• at least one enclosure door operatively connected to the enclosure body, the at least one enclosure door having a closed position and an opened position such that when at least one enclosure door is in the opened position, the product storage area is accessible for allowing consumers to select one or more products;
• a locking element on a first one of the enclosure body and the at least one enclosure door;
• a locking mechanism on a second one of the enclosure body and the at least one enclosure door, the locking mechanism configured for at least one of locking the at least one enclosure door to the enclosure body and unlocking the at least one enclosure door to the enclosure body;
• a controller in communication with an electronic interface and the locking mechanism, the electronic interface adapted to selectively signal the controller to unlock the locking mechanism;
• the controller configured to receive an unlock signal, the unlock signal from the electronic interface and to send the unlock signal to the locking mechanism, the unlock signal generated by the electronic interface in response to the electronic interface receiving a consumer authorization to make a purchase;
• the locking mechanism being configured in a locked condition during stand-by operation and being configured to selectively move to an unlocked condition upon receiving the unlock signal from the controller;
• a data connection port configured to communicate a fault condition of the system;
• and
• a visual indication device operatively connected to the data connection port configured to indicate the fault condition of the system.

A vending enclosure system comprising;

• an enclosure body, the enclosure body having walls forming a product storage area for storing one or more products;
• at least one enclosure door operatively connected to the enclosure body, the at least one enclosure door having a closed position and an opened position such that when at least one enclosure door is in the opened position, the product storage area is accessible for allowing consumers to select one or more products;
• a locking element on a first one of the enclosure body and the at least one enclosure door;
• a locking mechanism on a second one of the enclosure body and the at least one enclosure door, the locking mechanism configured for at least one of locking the at least one enclosure door to the enclosure body and unlocking the at least one enclosure door to the enclosure body;
• a controller in communication with an electronic interface and the locking mechanism, the electronic interface adapted to selectively signal the controller to unlock the locking mechanism;
• the controller configured to receive an unlock signal from the electronic interface and to send the unlock signal to the locking mechanism, the unlock signal generated by the electronic interface in response to the electronic interface receiving a consumer authorization to make a purchase;
• the locking mechanism being configured in a locked condition during stand-by operation and being configured to selectively move to an unlocked condition upon receiving the unlock signal from the controller;
• a data connection port configured to communicate a temperature of the system;
• and
• a visual indication device operatively connected to the data connection port configured to indicate the temperature of the system.

An enclosure access control system for selectively unlocking an enclosure having an enclosure body and at least one enclosure door which define a product storage area for storing one or more products, the product storage area being accessible by consumers after the at least one enclosure door is unlocked and when the at least one door is open, the system comprising:

• a locking element on a first one of the enclosure body and the at least one enclosure door;
• a locking mechanism on a second one of the enclosure body and the at least one enclosure door, the locking mechanism configured for at least one of locking the at least one enclosure door to the enclosure body and unlocking the at least one enclosure door to the enclosure body;
• a first controller comprising a first microcomputer, the first controller in communication with an electronic interface and the locking mechanism, the electronic interface adapted to selectively signal the first controller to unlock the locking mechanism;
• the first controller configured to receive an unlock signal from the electronic interface and to send the unlock signal to the locking mechanism, the unlock signal generated by the electronic interface in response to the electronic interface receiving a consumer authorization to make a purchase;
• and
• a second controller comprising a second microcomputer, the second controller in communication with the locking mechanism, the locking mechanism being configured in a locked condition during stand-by operation and being configured to selectively move to an unlocked condition upon receiving the unlock signal from the first controller.

An enclosure access control system for selectively unlocking an enclosure having an enclosure body and at least one enclosure door which define a product storage area for storing one or more products, the product storage area being accessible by consumers after the at least one enclosure door is unlocked and when the at least one enclosure door is open, the system comprising:

• a locking element on a first one of the enclosure body and the at least one enclosure door;
• a locking mechanism on a second one of the enclosure body and the at least one enclosure door, the locking mechanism configured for at least one of locking the at least one enclosure door to the enclosure body and unlocking the at least one enclosure door to the enclosure body;
• a controller in communication with an electronic interface and the locking mechanism, the electronic interface adapted to selectively signal the controller to unlock the locking mechanism;
• the controller configured to receive an unlock signal from the electronic interface and to send the unlock signal to the locking mechanism, the unlock signal generated by the electronic interface in response to the electronic interface receiving a consumer authorization to make a purchase;
• the locking mechanism being configured in a locked condition during stand-by operation and being configured to selectively move to an unlocked condition upon receiving the unlock signal from the controller;
• and
• wherein the product storage area contains one or more food products, wherein the controller is further configured to detect an event resulting in a change in temperature of the product storage area, wherein the event presents a risk of spoilage or thawing of the one or more food products in the product storage area, and in response, to restrict access by consumers to the product storage area, wherein restricted access occurs after the temperature of the product storage area transitions from a predetermined temperature level or limit for a period of one or more minutes.

An enclosure access control system for selectively unlocking an enclosure having an enclosure body and at least one enclosure door which define a product storage area for storing one or more products, the product storage area being accessible by consumers after the at least one enclosure door is unlocked and when the at least one enclosure door is open, the system comprising:

• a locking element on a first one of the enclosure body and the at least one enclosure door;
• a locking mechanism on a second one of the enclosure body and the at least one enclosure door, and the locking mechanism configured for at least one of locking the at least one enclosure door to the enclosure body and unlocking the at least one enclosure door to the enclosure body;
• at least one controller configured to receive an unlock signal from an electronic interface and to send the unlock signal to the locking mechanism, the unlock signal generated by the electronic interface in response to the electronic interface receiving a consumer authorization to make a purchase;
• the at least one controller comprising a first microcomputer configured to perform control logic for determining transitioning the locking mechanism from locked to unlocked;
• and
• the at least one controller comprising a second microcomputer, the second microcomputer being in communication with the locking mechanism, the locking mechanism being configured in a locked condition during stand-by operation and being configured to selectively move to an unlocked condition upon receiving the unlock signal.

An enclosure access control system for selectively unlocking an enclosure having an enclosure body and at least one enclosure door which define a product storage area for storing one or more products, the product storage area being accessible by consumers after the at least one enclosure door is unlocked and when the at least one enclosure door is open, the system comprising:

• a locking element on a first one of the enclosure body and the at least one enclosure door;
• a locking mechanism on a second one of the enclosure body and the at least one enclosure door, and the locking mechanism configured for at least one of locking the at least one enclosure door to the enclosure body and unlocking the at least one enclosure door to the enclosure body;
• at least one controller configured to receive an unlock signal from an electronic interface and to send the unlock signal to the locking mechanism, the unlock signal generated by the electronic interface in response to the electronic interface receiving a consumer authorization to make a purchase;
• the at least one controller comprising a first microcomputer configured to communicate a parameter of the enclosure;
• and
• the at least one controller comprising a second microcomputer, the second microcomputer being in communication with the locking mechanism, the locking mechanism being configured in a locked condition during stand-by operation and being configured to selectively move to an unlocked condition upon receiving the unlock signal.