Remote sensing ice merchandiser

Abstract

Bagged ice is presented to consumers in an insulated cabinet having a storage chamber accessible through a front door. Photo-electric eyes are mounted within the cabinet to direct several beams of light across the chamber. When the level of bagged ice within the chamber has been depleted to a first level, one of the beams is no longer broken by the product. When it has been further depleted, a second, lower, beam is no longer broken. Information about the bagged ice level is collected by an electronic controller, and dispatched to an inventory control station by a communicator, which may be a telephone connection, a radio transmitter or a cellular telephony connection. An alternative embodiment has an acoustic transducer mounted within the cabinet to direct sound waves down into the chamber. The transducer detects waves reflected by the bagged ice, allowing the controller to compose a representation of the disposition of products within the chamber. The quantities of product are thus more accurately determined, especially in view of the irregular shape of the bagged ice. The representation may aid in the remote detection of unauthorized products within the chamber. When reduced levels of inventory are detected, a stockman may be dispatched to replenish the bagged ice.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.