Abstract: A display unit may be a cooler merchandiser for displaying products, such as food and beverages. The cooler merchandiser may have a housing that contains a display portion for displaying one or more products and a cooling portion that may be configured to cool the products in the display portion. A frame may be attached to the housing and may extend along at least a portion of the perimeter of a surface of the housing. A removable insert may slide into the frame so that it is positioned adjacent to a surface of the housing. The removable insert may include a cardboard material and the housing may include a rigid styrene material. The removable insert may display a graphics that may be customized. An opening may be provided in the housing to provide access to the display portion and a thermo-protective barrier may be provided to cover the opening.

Abstract: A vending machine system includes a control module for controlling a cooling system. The cooling system, which includes an evaporator, may omit a heating element for defrosting the evaporator. In operation, the control module cycles an evaporator fan in conjunction with a compressor based on a required set temperature to help keep products within a specified range. In an embodiment, the evaporator fan is turned on and off at substantially the same time as the compressor is turned on and off. In another embodiment, there is a predetermined delay after the compressor is turned on and off before the evaporator is respectively turned on and off. Other variations are contemplated.

Abstract: A vending machine system includes a control module for controlling a cooling system. The cooling system, which includes an evaporator, may omit a heating element for defrosting the evaporator. In operation, the control module cycles an evaporator fan in conjunction with a compressor based on a required set temperature to help keep products within a specified range. In an embodiment, the evaporator fan is turned on and off at substantially the same time as the compressor is turned on and off. In another embodiment, there is a predetermined delay after the compressor is turned on and off before the evaporator is respectively turned on and off. Other variations are contemplated.

Abstract: A display unit may be a cooler merchandiser for displaying products, such as food and beverages. The cooler merchandiser may have a housing that contains a display portion for displaying one or more products and a cooling portion that may be configured to cool the products in the display portion. A frame may be attached to the housing and may extend along at least a portion of the perimeter of a surface of the housing. A removable insert may slide into the frame so that it is positioned adjacent to a surface of the housing. The removable insert may include a cardboard material and the housing may include a rigid styrene material. The removable insert may display a graphics that may be customized. An opening may be provided in the housing to provide access to the display portion and a thermo-protective barrier may be provided to cover the opening.

Abstract: A vending machine system includes a control module for controlling a cooling system. The cooling system, which includes an evaporator, may omit a heating element for defrosting the evaporator. In operation, the control module cycles an evaporator fan in conjunction with a compressor based on a required set temperature to help keep products within a specified range. In an embodiment, the evaporator fan is turned on and off at substantially the same time as the compressor is turned on and off. In another embodiment, there is a predetermined delay after the compressor is turned on and off before the evaporator is respectively turned on and off. Other variations are contemplated.

Abstract: Heating devices and methods which are particularly useful in vending machines for hot products. Products such as beverages contained in individual containers such as cans are rapidly heated to serving temperature by induction heating for delivery to a customer. Various types of products with different heating characteristics are rapidly heated without deleterious effects on the product by varying the power and timing of the inductive heating. The type of product is identified by machine-readable indicia on the container which are automatically scanned prior to heating. The product containers are agitated before, during and/or after heating to mix the contents and distribute heat evenly. The containers are heated in a manner to safely heat the product without overheating or causing damage to the container.

Abstract: Heating devices and methods which are particularly useful in vending machines for hot products. Products such as beverages contained in individual containers such as cans are rapidly heated to serving temperature by induction heating for delivery to a customer. Various types of products with different heating characteristics are rapidly heated without deleterious effects on the product by varying the power and timing of the inductive heating. The type of product is identified by indicia on the container which are automatically scanned prior to heating. The product containers may be agitated before, during and/or after heating to mix the contents and distribute heat evenly. The containers are heated in a manner to safely heat the product without overheating or causing damage to the container.

Abstract: Heating devices and methods which are particularly useful in vending machines for hot products. Products such as foods, including beverages, contained in individual containers such as cans are rapidly heated to serving temperature by induction heating for delivery to a customer. Various types of products with different heating characteristics are rapidly heated without deleterious effects on the product by varying the power and timing of the inductive heating. The type of product is identified by machine-readable indicia on the container which are automatically scanned prior to heating. The containers may be agitated before, during and/or after heating to mix the contents and distribute heat evenly. The containers are heated in a manner to safely heat the product without overheating or causing damage to the container.

Abstract: Heating devices and methods which are particularly useful in vending machines for hot products. Products such as beverages contained in individual containers such as cans are rapidly heated to serving temperature by induction heating for delivery to a customer. Various types of products with different heating characteristics are rapidly heated without deleterious effects on the product by varying the power and timing of the inductive heating. The type of product is identified by indicia on the container which are automatically scanned prior to heating. The product containers may be agitated before, during and/or after heating to mix the contents and distribute heat evenly. The containers are heated in a manner to safely heat the product without overheating or causing damage to the container.

Abstract: Heating devices and methods which are particularly useful in vending machines for hot products. Products such as beverages contained in individual containers such as cans are rapidly heated to serving temperature by induction heating for delivery to a customer. Various types of products with different heating characteristics are rapidly heated without deleterious effects on the product by varying the power and timing of the inductive heating. The type of product is identified by machine-readable indicia on the container which are automatically scanned prior to heating. The product containers are agitated before, during and/or after heating to mix the contents and distribute heat evenly. The containers are heated in a manner to safely heat the product without overheating or causing damage to the container.

Abstract: Heating devices and methods which are particularly useful in vending machines for hot products. Products such as foods, including beverages, contained in individual containers such as cans are rapidly heated to serving temperature by induction heating for delivery to a customer. Various types of products with different heating characteristics are rapidly heated without deleterious effects on the product by varying the power and timing of the inductive heating. The type of product is identified by machine-readable indicia on the container which are automatically scanned prior to heating. The containers may be agitated before, during and/or after heating to mix the contents and distribute heat evenly. The containers are heated in a manner to safely heat the product without overheating or causing damage to the container.