Abstract: A merchandiser for storing at least one product for purchase by a customer is provided. The merchandiser includes: a housing defining a cavity configured to receive the at least one product; a door coupled to the housing and movable between a first position and a second position; a lock configured to lock the door in the first position; a door position sensor coupled to at least one of the door or the housing, and configured to monitor a contact area where the door selectively contacts the housing; and a control system coupled to the lock. The control system is configured to actuate the lock to an unlocked position when the door position sensor indicates that an object is present in the contact area and to selectively actuate the lock to a locked position based on the door position sensor indicating that no object is present in the contact area.

Abstract: A merchandiser for storing at least one product for purchase by a customer is provided. The merchandiser includes: a housing defining a cavity configured to receive the at least one product; an opening defined by the housing, the opening providing access to the cavity; and a door coupled to the housing and movable between a first position and a second position. The door substantially covers the opening in the first position and the door is positioned away from the opening in the second position such that the cavity is accessible. The merchandiser further includes a control system operable in a plurality of modes including at least a run mode and a setup mode. In the run mode, purchase of the at least one product is permitted. In the setup mode, one or more run mode provisions that control operation of the merchandiser in the run mode are received.

Abstract: A merchandiser for storing a product for purchase by a customer is disclosed. The merchandiser includes a housing that defines a cavity for storing the product and a controller for facilitating a transaction for the product at the merchandiser. The controller is configured to: receive an input to initiate a transaction for the product, the input including a type and an amount of product to be purchased; unlock a door of the merchandiser to enable a removal of the product based on receiving the input; determine a completion of the transaction based on the door being in a close position for more than a preset amount of time; and charge the customer for the type and amount of product based on the completion of the transaction.

Abstract: A merchandiser for storing a product for purchase by a customer is provided. The merchandiser includes: a housing that defines a cavity for storing the product; and a controller for facilitating a transaction for the product at the merchandiser. The controller includes one or more processors coupled to one or more memory devices. The one or more memory devices have instructions stored therein that are executable by the one or more processors to cause the controller to: receive an input to initiate the transaction for the product; unlock a door of the merchandiser to enable a removal of the product based on receiving the input; initiate a timer that defines an unlock time duration for the door; override the unlock time duration based on a received input; lock the door of the merchandiser based on the override; and charge the customer for the product of the transaction.

Abstract: A method of assembling an outer cabinet of an enclosure includes: coupling a first panel of the outer cabinet to a second panel of the outer cabinet utilizing a first joint type; coupling a third panel of the outer cabinet to the first panel using a second joint type by rotating the third panel relative to the first panel; coupling a fourth panel of the outer cabinet to the first panel using the second joint type by rotating the fourth panel relative to the first panel; coupling a fifth panel of the outer cabinet to the first panel using a third joint type; coupling the fifth panel to the third panel and to the fourth panel using a fourth joint type; and coupling a sixth panel to each of the second, third, fourth, and fifth panels to form the outer cabinet.

Abstract: A merchandiser for storing at least one product for purchase by a customer is provided. The merchandiser includes: a housing defining a cavity configured to receive the at least one product; an opening defined by the housing, the opening providing access to the cavity; and a door coupled to the housing and movable between a first position and a second position. The door substantially covers the opening in the first position and the door is positioned away from the opening in the second position such that the cavity is accessible. The merchandiser further includes a control system operable in a plurality of modes including at least a run mode and a setup mode. In the run mode, purchase of the at least one product is permitted. In the setup mode, one or more run mode provisions that control operation of the merchandiser in the run mode are received.

Abstract: A merchandiser for storing refrigerated product for purchase by a customer is provided. The merchandiser includes a housing defining a cavity; an opening defined by the housing, the opening providing access to the cavity; a door coupled to the housing and movable between a first position and a second position, wherein the door covers the opening in the first position and the door is positioned away from the opening in the second position such that the cavity is accessible; a lock coupled to the door, the lock actuable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the lock is configured to lock the door in the first position in the locked position; and a controller coupled to the lock, the controller configured to actuate the lock to the unlocked position in response to receiving an unlock signal from a remote device.

Abstract: A merchandiser for storing a product for purchase by a customer is disclosed. The merchandiser includes a housing that defines a cavity for storing the product and a controller for facilitating a transaction for the product at the merchandiser. The controller is configured to: receive an input to initiate a transaction for the product, the input including a type and an amount of product to be purchased; unlock a door of the merchandiser to enable a removal of the product based on receiving the input; determine a completion of the transaction based on the door being in a close position for more than a preset amount of time; and charge the customer for the type and amount of product based on the completion of the transaction.

Abstract: A merchandiser for storing a product for purchase by a customer is disclosed. The merchandiser includes a housing defining a cavity; a door coupled to the housing; a platform located in the cavity for holding the product; a load sensor structured to determine a weight of the product; and a controller coupled to the load sensor. The controller is structured to unlock the door based on a validation of payment information of the customer, and determine a weight of product removed during a transaction for the product based on a value regarding the weight of the product removed during the transaction being substantially constant for a preset amount of time.

Abstract: A merchandiser for storing refrigerated product for purchase by a customer is provided. The merchandiser includes a housing defining a cavity; an opening defined by the housing, the opening providing access to the cavity; a door coupled to the housing and movable between a first position and a second position, wherein the door covers the opening in the first position and the door is positioned away from the opening in the second position such that the cavity is accessible; a lock coupled to the door, the lock actuable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the lock is configured to lock the door in the first position in the locked position; and a controller coupled to the lock, the controller configured to actuate the lock to the unlocked position in response to receiving an unlock signal from a remote device.

Abstract: An ice merchandiser for storing bagged ice for purchase by a customer is provided. The ice merchandiser includes a payment system structured to enable a patron to facilitate a bagged ice product transaction at the ice merchandiser, and an access control system structured to selectively provide access to the ice merchandiser during the bagged ice product transaction based on the payment system providing an indication that payment for the ice product has been validated.

Abstract: A merchandiser for storing a product for purchase by a customer is disclosed. The merchandiser includes a housing defining a cavity; a door coupled to the housing; a platform located in the cavity for holding the product; a load sensor structured to determine a weight of the product; and a controller coupled to the load sensor. The controller is structured to unlock the door based on a validation of payment information of the customer, and determine a weight of product removed during a transaction for the product based on a value regarding the weight of the product removed during the transaction being substantially constant for a preset amount of time.

Abstract: A merchandiser for storing a product for purchase by a customer is disclosed. The merchandiser includes a housing defining a cavity; a door coupled to the housing; a platform located in the cavity for holding the product; a load cell structured to measure a mass of the product; and a controller communicably coupled to the load cell. The controller is structured to unlock the door based on a validation of payment information of the customer, determine a weight of product removed during a transaction for the product, determine a type of the product removed from the ice merchandiser based on the determined weight, and determine an amount of currency required for the transaction for the product based on the determined type of product removed.

Abstract: A method of assembling an outer cabinet of an enclosure includes: coupling a first panel of the outer cabinet to a second panel of the outer cabinet utilizing a first joint type; coupling a third panel of the outer cabinet to the first panel using a second joint type by rotating the third panel relative to the first panel; coupling a fourth panel of the outer cabinet to the first panel using the second joint type by rotating the fourth panel relative to the first panel; coupling a fifth panel of the outer cabinet to the first panel using a third joint type; coupling the fifth panel to the third panel and to the fourth panel using a fourth joint type; and coupling a sixth panel to each of the second, third, fourth, and fifth panels to form the outer cabinet.

Abstract: A joint for an outer cabinet of an enclosure is provided. The joint includes a first panel having a first flange extending away from the first panel in a substantially perpendicular manner; a second panel having a first flange extending away from the second panel in a substantially perpendicular manner; and a slide channel that defines a channel structured to receive the first flange of the first panel and the first flange of the second panel to couple the first panel to the second panel.

Abstract: An ice merchandiser for storing bagged ice for purchase by a customer is provided. The ice merchandiser includes a payment system for facilitating a bagged ice product transaction at the ice merchandiser. The payment system includes a mass determination module structured to determine a mass of bagged ice product removed during the bagged ice product transaction and a transaction module structured to determine an amount of currency required for the bagged ice product transaction based on the determined mass of bagged ice product removed.

Abstract: A joint for an outer cabinet of an enclosure is provided. The joint includes a first panel having a first flange extending away from the first panel in a substantially perpendicular manner; a second panel having a first flange extending away from the second panel in a substantially perpendicular manner; and a slide channel that defines a channel structured to receive the first flange of the first panel and the first flange of the second panel to couple the first panel to the second panel.

Abstract: An ice merchandiser includes a cabinet assembly including a base panel, a front panel, a rear panel, a right side panel, a left side panel, and a top panel. A first joint type is used to couple the rear panel to the base panel, the base panel to each of the right and left side panels, and the rear panel to each of the right and left side panels. A second joint type is used to couple the top panel to the right side panel, wherein the second joint type includes a slide channel structured to receive a flange of the right side panel and a flange of the top panel to couple the top panel to the right side panel. The first joint type differs from the second joint type, yet neither joint type utilizes a fastener or an adhesive.