Vending machine with self-contained, limited access microwave oven

A solid state controller for controlling the operations of a vending machine including a cabinet including a refrigerated compartment containing the plurality of product selections, a compressor associated therewith, a rapid heating means disposed inside the cabinet, a power connection to a power source for powering the compressor and the rapid heating means, a switch for cutting off power to the compressor, vending means for vending a particular product selection from said refrigerated compartment to a user upon the insertion of a credit unit, and an access door disposed in the cabinet between the user and the rapid heating means for limiting access thereto, said controller comprising:

• a microprocessor which is preprogrammed to:
• operate the vending means to vend said product selection to said user upon the insertion of said token;
• open the access door for a first, preset time period to permit access to the rapid heating means so that said selection may be exposed thereto;
• in response to a signal received during the first time period from a user activatable cooking switch, close the access door, turn on the rapid heating means for a second, preset period of time, and cut off the power supply to the compressor for a fourth, preset time period;
• upon the expiration of the second time period, open the access door to permit the heated selection to be removed from the heating means for a third, preset period of time;
• close the access door at the expiration of said third preset period of time;
• and
• restore power to the compressor at the end of the fourth preset time period.

A method of vending a refrigerated product to a user for subsequent heating, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a vending machine including a cabinet having a refrigerated compartment for containing a plurality of product selections, a compressor associated with said refrigerated compartment, means for vending a particular product selection from said compartment to a user upon the insertion of a credit item, a microwave oven disposed inside the cabinet, a power connection for providing power to said compressor and said microwave oven from a power source, a switch for cutting off the power connection to the compressor, an access door disposed in the cabinet between the user and the microwave oven for limiting user access thereto, and a user activatable cooking switch for closing the access door and turning the microwave oven on;
• vending said product selection to said user upon insertion of said token;
• opening said access door for a first preset time period to allow access to said microwave oven so said vended product selection maybe placed therein;
• upon activation of said cooking switch, closing said access door and turning on the microwave oven for a second preset period of time to heat said selection;
• turning off said power supply switch to said compressor for a fourth, preset time period;
• opening said access door at the end of said second period leaving said access door open for a third preset period of time so that the heated product may be removed from the oven;
• closing said access door at the end of the third preset time period;
• and
• restoring power to the compressor at the end of the fourth preset time period.