Abstract:
The present invention relates to a frost and freezing (freeze-up) prevention control system for improving the efficiency of a cooling system commonly found in refrigerators, refrigerated vending machines, and or beverage coolers. Furthermore, the present invention can be retrofit onto, or originally manufactured into a cooling system. Suitable cooling systems are those commonly found in refrigerators, refrigerated vending machines and refrigerated beverage coolers. The present invention monitors, controls, and improves the efficiency of the refrigeration cycle by preventing the refrigerated cooling system from accumulating frost and or ice on critical cooling system components. Furthermore, by controlling the refrigeration cycle the present invention maintains a high level of cooling system efficiency and reduces the electrical power consumption required to operate the cooling system over the operational life of the cooling system.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This U.S. non-provisional application is a continuation-in-part application that claims priority of a U.S. non-provisional application, Ser. No. 09/309,937, inventor Vernon D. Camp et al, entitled FROST AND FREEZE-UP PREVENTION CONTROL SYSTEM FOR IMPROVING COOLING SYSTEM EFFICIENCY IN VENDING MACHINES, filed May 11, 1999 U.S. Pat. No. 6,148,625. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a frost and freezing (freeze-up) prevention control system for improving the efficiency of a cooling system commonly found in refrigerators, refrigerated vending machines, and or beverage coolers. Furthermore, the present invention can be retrofitted onto many existing refrigerated cooling systems commonly found in refrigerators, vending machines, and or refrigerated beverage coolers. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Refrigerated cooling systems are commonly found in refrigerated vending machines and beverage coolers. Beverage coolers are small refrigerated units commonly found in convenience stores near check out aisles and high traffic areas. Growing in popularity, one of the most common uses of beverage coolers can be providing patrons with immediate access to cold beverages in the front of the store, remote areas, or other high traffic areas. 
     Some early beverage cooler models kept beverages cold by packing the beverages in ice. Throughout the day and at high frequency, the ice that had melted required the store clerk to drain the cooler and refill it with more ice. In many stores there are few desirable ways to drain a cooler full of ice water without making a mess. The store clerk had to either use a hose and bucket to remove the melted ice water, provide drains in the store floor, or roll the cooler outside to drain the cooler in the street or on the grounds around the store. 
     Other problems with early cooler technology often included requiring the customer to reach into a basin of ice and water to retrieve a beverage. This left the customer with cold wet hands, and a store clerk with a wet store floor. 
     An advance in beverage cooler technology has seen the addition of cooling system technology to reduce the need for large quantities of ice, and frequent cooler draining. In most cases the addition of a cooling system slows the ice melting process. 
     Though cooling systems can adequately cool beverages without the need for ice it can be desirable in certain situations not to eliminate the ice from the cooler. Marketing sensitivities and trends may indicate, and customers may enjoy, opening the cooler to retrieve that “ice-cold” beverage. In the case where a cooling system is used in combination with ice a desirable reduction in the amount of melted ice can be realized. This reduction of melted ice is cost effective in both ice and store clerks time by decreasing the number of occurrences in a given day the cooler must be drained. 
     Refrigerated cooling systems with or without the use of ice, and whether in vending machines or beverage coolers are prone to frost and freeze-up. Freeze-up is a condition where frost and or ice build up on cooling system components. As frost and or ice build up the efficiency of the cooling system diminishes until a condition exists where the temperature set by the temperature control thermostat can not be realized. In this case the cooling system continuously runs potentially causing damage to the cooling system itself. 
     Once freeze-up occurs the cooling system can no longer adequately or properly operate. As frost and or ice build up on cooling system components the efficiency of the cooling system diminishes. To compensate for the reduction in efficiency the cooling system runs longer and longer to try to maintain the desired refrigerated temperature. As a result electrical power consumption required by the cooling system steadily increases. 
     Increased electrical power consumption increases the cost of operating a vending machine or beverage cooler. A priority, industry wide (refrigeration and vending industries) is to reduce operational electrical power consumption required by cooling systems. 
     Due to a number of factors including a small compartment size and a high frequency of beverage cooler lid openings, the beverage cooler can be subject to a higher frequency of freeze-ups then other refrigerated systems. 
     It is these deficiencies and shortcoming with current cooling systems commonly found in refrigerators, vending machines, and beverage coolers that gives rise to the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a frost and freezing (freeze-up) prevention control system for improving the efficiency of a cooling system commonly found in refrigerators, refrigerated vending machines and or beverage coolers. Furthermore, the present invention can be retrofit onto, or originally manufactured into a cooling system. Suitable cooling systems are those commonly found in refrigerators, refrigerated vending machines, and refrigerated beverage coolers. 
     The present invention further relates to monitoring, controlling, and improving the efficiency of the refrigeration cycle by preventing the refrigerated cooling system from accumulating frost and or ice on critical cooling system components. Furthermore, by controlling the refrigeration cycle the present invention maintains a high level of cooling system efficiency and reduces the electrical power consumption required to operate the cooling system over the operational life of the cooling system. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES 
     The present invention is best understood from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. Included in the drawings are the following Figures: 
     FIG. 1A shows a beverage cooler  500 ; 
     FIG. 1B shows a beverage cooler and cooling system  200 ; 
     FIG. 1C shows a refrigerated vending machine  600 ; 
     FIG. 1D shows a refrigerated vending machine and cooling system  200 ; 
     FIG. 1E shows a refrigerated pop-up beverage cooler  700 ; 
     FIG. 1F shows a refrigerated pop-up beverage cooler and cooling system  200 ; 
     FIG. 2A shows a frost and freeze-up prevention control system  100 ; 
     FIG. 2B shows a frost and freeze-up prevention control system  100 ; 
     FIG. 3 shows a cooling system  200  diagram; 
     FIG. 4 shows a cooling system with a system  100  operation routine  400  flowchart; and 
     FIG. 5 shows a frost control system  100 , system routine flowchart. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A number of factors can contribute to how fast and how often cooling system freeze-up can occur in a cooling system. An important factor can be how long the cooling system is allowed to run before, by way of a temperature control thermostat or other control means, the cooling system is turned OFF. 
     In many efficient cooling systems the system turns ON to cool the refrigerated compartment area and then turns itself OFF when the desired temperature has been reached. It can be the amount of ON time and OFF time that determines how fast and how often cooling system freeze-up occurs. 
     A significant reduction in electrical power consumption can be realized if the cooling system is maintained to operated at a high level of efficiency. With millions of cold drink vending machines and refrigerated beverage coolers in operation there is a long felt need for a solution to increase cooling system efficiency, and reduce the number and frequency of cooling system freeze-ups. 
     Referring to FIG. 1A there is shown a beverage cooler  500 . Interconnect with a cooler body  502  is a lid  504 . A beverage cooler  500  can be generally referred to as a beverage cooler, cooler, or a vending machine. A beverage cooler  500  can be a beverage cooler manufactured by or for such companies as COCA-COLA, PEPSICO, ROYAL, DIXIE NARCO, MERCHANDISING RESOURCES INC., CAVALIER, ROYAL, VENDO, AMS, AP, CRANE NATIONAL VENDERS or other manufactures of vending machines, snack machines, or beverage coolers. 
     Referring to FIG. 1B there is shown a cooling system  200  housed within a beverage cooler  500 . A cooler body  502  houses a cooling system  200 , and a frost and freeze-up prevention control system  100 . Further, cooling system  200  is electrically interconnected with the frost and freeze-up prevention control system  100 . 
     Referring to FIG. 1C there is shown a vending machine  600 . Interconnect with a vending machine body  602  is a door  604 . A vending machine  600  can be a vending machine manufactured by or for such companies as COCA-COLA, PEPSICO, ROYAL, DIXIE NARCO, MERCHANDISING RESOURCES INC., CAVALIER, ROYAL, VENDO, AMS, AP, CRANE NATIONAL VENDERS or other manufactures of vending machines, snack machines, or beverage coolers. A CAVALIER vending machine part number C1052, a DIXIE NARCO vending machine part number DNCB368 can be a vending machine  600 . 
     Referring to FIG. 1D there is shown a cooling system  200  housed within a vending machine  600 . A vending machine body  602  houses a cooling system  200 , and a frost and freeze-up prevention control system  100 . Further, cooling system  200  is electrically interconnected with the frost and freeze-up prevention control system  100 . 
     Referring to FIG. 1E there is shown a pop-up beverage cooler  700 . Interconnect with a cooler body  702  is a lid  704 . A pop-up beverage cooler  700  can be generally referred to as a beverage cooler, a cooler, or a vending machine. A pop-up beverage cooler  700  can be a pop-up beverage cooler manufactured by or for such companies as COCA-COLA, PEPSICO, ROYAL, DIXIE NARCO, MERCHANDISING RESOURCES INC., CAVALIER, ROYAL, VENDO, AMS, AP, CRANE NATIONAL VENDERS or other manufactures of vending machines, snack machines, or beverage coolers. 
     Referring to FIG. 1F there is shown a cooling system  200  housed within a pop-up beverage cooler  700 . A cooler body  702  houses a cooling system  200 , and a frost and freeze-up prevention control system  100 . Further, cooling system  200  is electrically interconnected with the frost and freeze-up prevention control system  100 . 
     For purposes of disclosure a beverage cooler  500 , a vending machine  600 , and a pop-up beverage cooler  700  can interchangeable be referred to as a beverage cooler, cooler, or vending machine. A vending machine can be a beverage cooler  500 , or a pop up beverage cooler  700 , or a snack vending machine (not shown). 
     Referring to FIG. 2A there is shown a frost and freeze-up prevention control system  100 . A frost and freeze-up prevention control system  100  can generally be referred to as a system  100 . 
     System  100  includes numerous mutually exclusive control means. In a plurality of embodiment specifications, and where embodiment cost considerations demand, there may arise a situation where a system  100  needs to be manufactured to include or exclude a specific combination of control means to produce the desired result at a desirable embodiment cost. For example and not limitation, a customer may desire to operate a system  100  without a humidity sensor  110 . In such a case a system  100  could be manufactured with the omission of a specific control means, such as humidity sensor  110 . In any combination the same inclusion or exclusion of control means can be applied to other control means and to system  100  in general. 
     In an exemplary embodiment a system  100  can be manufactured into a cooling system thermostat to provide temperature control and frost and or freeze-up prevention. In addition, a system  100  can be retrofit into existing cooling systems as a standalone system  100  device or as a combination thermostat and frost and or freeze-up prevention system. 
     Interconnect with a microcontroller  102  is a memory storage device  104  whereby microcontroller  102  can data communicate system settings and other data with memory storage device  104 . A microcontroller  102  can be a MICROCHIP part number PIC12C508, or a MICROCHIP part number PIC16C54. A memory storage device can be a MICROCHIP part number 93LC66. Preferably a memory storage device  104  is a nonvolatile device, such as the MICROCHIP 93LC66. 
     In an exemplary embodiment microcontroller  102  can be programmed with all required system settings and operation programming. FIG. 2B illustrates this type of embodiment. 
     In another exemplary embodiment system settings can be selected or changed by a user and subsequently stored in a memory storage device  104 . Further, system  100  can determine and optimize certain system performance settings, read, write or otherwise create and alter certain data resident in a memory storage device  104 . An example of such data can be a MAXIMUM RUNNING TIME, a MAXIMUM OFF TIME, a TOTAL RUN TIME, and a TOTAL CYCLE TIME setting where cooling system run time and defrost time (OFF time) can be monitored and controlled. 
     A memory storage device  104  can also record usage data that can subsequently be printed or data communicated to other data communication devices. Usage data can include cooling system parameters such as unit temperature, compressor ON and OFF cycles, etc. 
     Interconnected with a microcontroller  102  can be a temperature sensor  106 . A temperature sensor  106  can monitor cooling system and vending machine temperatures. Such temperature data could be recorded and otherwise utilized to optimize and monitor overall cooling system and frost and freeze-up prevention control system  100  performance. A temperature sensor can be a DALLAS part number DS1629. 
     Interconnected with a microcontroller  102  can be a cooling system control means  108 . In an exemplary embodiment cooling system control means  108 , being responsive to data communication from microcontroller  102 , can be used to interrupt, enable and or disable a cooling system, such as cooling system  200 . A cooling system control means  108  can be a relay driver for controlling a relay, such as cooling system relay  214 . In general, by way of cooling system relay  214  and system  100  the functional operation of the entire cooling system can be managed and controlled. A cooling system control means  108  can be a QT-OPTOELECTRONICS triac opto-isolator part number MOC3021. 
     In an exemplary embodiment a frost and freeze-up prevention control system can be electrically connected at a first point to a temperature control thermostat, and electrically connected at a second point to a cooling system relay, such as cooling system relay  214 . By way of cooling system control means  108  an electrical signal from a temperature control thermostat, such as thermostat  206  can be interrupted. Further, cooling system control means  108  can selectively allow the thermostat  206  electrical signal to electrically pass to the cooling system relay  214 . When the electrical signal from thermostat  206  is interrupted cooling system  200  is effectively disabled (turned OFF). Where as, when the electrical signal from thermostat  206  is not interrupted cooling system  200  operates normally. For purposes of disclosure the term interruptible can be generally referred too as turned OFF, disabled, or disabling. Interrupting or disabling an electrical signal from thermostat  206  effectively controls the refrigeration cycle. 
     Interconnected with microcontroller  102  can be a humidity sensor  110 . A humidity sensor  110  can monitor cooling system and vending machine humidity. Such humidity data could be recorded and otherwise utilized to optimize and monitor overall cooling system and frost and freeze-up prevention control system  100  performance. A humidity sensor  110  can be a GENERAL EASTERN part number GEI-CAP-S or GEI-CAP-V. 
     Interconnected with microcontroller  102  can be an input/output interface  112 . An input/output interface  112  can be utilized as general-purpose system inputs and outputs. Such general-purpose system inputs and outputs can be used for expansion to other electronic devices, interfacing to cooling system control systems or for receiving other external input or providing outputs to other external devices. An input/output interface  112  can be an ALLEGRO part number UDN2595. 
     Interconnected with microcontroller  102  can be a keypad  114 . In an exemplary embodiment a keypad  104  can be used to program, or otherwise alter the operational characteristics or performance of system  100 . Further, a keypad  114  can be used to initiate system functions. Such system functions can include printing performance reports, initialization control, system settings, maintenance, testing, or other system functions or program subroutines. A keypad  114  can be implemented with a plurality of pushbuttons such as OMRON pushbutton part number B3F1000. A keypad  114  can be a single switch or push button. Further a keypad  114  can be generally referred to as a control panel, pushbutton, switch, or button. 
     In another exemplary embodiment a keypad  114  can be detachable from a system  100 . Such a detachable keypad  114  can offer advantages of security, can reduce cost or satisfy specific customer specifications. 
     Interconnected with a microcontroller  102  can be a printer interface  116 . A printer interface  116  can be utilized to print system data, such data that may be stored in microcontroller  102  and memory storage device  104 . A printer interface  116  can be implemented with a plurality NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR 74LS244. 
     In an exemplary embodiment printed system data can include, cooling system operational performance data, system  100  operational performance data, and other overall system parameters and usage statistics. 
     Interconnected with microcontroller  102  can be a data communication interface  118 . A data communication interface  118  can interface a system  100  to other data communicating devices. A communication interface  118  can be an RS232, RS485, modem for data communication to a remote location, carrier current, wireless, or other data communication interface. Further, a communication interface  118  can be a plurality of, and a mixed combination of RS232, RS485, modems, carrier current, wireless, or other data communicating interface. A communication interface  118  can be implemented with a MAXIM part number MAX232CSE RS232 converter and transmitter, or a MAXIM part number MAX481 RS485 converter and transmitter, or a CERMETEK CH1786LC modem. 
     RS232 connections include a TRANSMIT data line, a RECEIVE data line, a CLEAR TO SEND data line, a DATA TERMINAL READY data line, a DATA SET READY data line, a CARRIER DETECT data line, a RING INDICATOR data line, and a SIGNAL GROUND. RS485 connections include a DATA “A” data line, and a DATA “B” data line. 
     Interconnected with microcontroller  102  can be a cooling system monitor  120 . A cooling system monitor  120  can monitor the ON and OFF system conditions and status of a cooling system, such as cooling system  200 . In addition a cooling system monitor  120  can monitor cooling system operational parameters. Such cooling system parameters can be power consumption, TOTAL RUN TIME, TOTAL CYCLE RUN TIME, and other cooling system parameters. 
     Referring to FIG. 2B there is shown a modified system  100 . In an exemplary embodiment only a microcontroller  102  and cooling system control means  108  are necessary to implement a frost and freeze-up prevention control system  100 . In this embodiment microcontroller  102  is programmed with all processing code and all settings, including a MAXIMUM RUNNING TIME setting, a TOTAL RUN TIME setting, a TOTAL CYCLE RUN TIME setting, and a MAXIMUM OFF TIME setting. 
     Referring to FIG. 3 there is shown a diagram of a cooling system  200 , which includes a system  100 . System  100  can be retrofit onto existing cooling systems, or manufactured into new cooling systems as original equipment. 
     Cooling systems, in general, are well known in the art. Furthermore, a person skilled in the art would understand how a cooling system, such as cooling system  200  could be configured or modified. Additionally, there can be a plurality of electrical connection points in which a system  100  could be electrically interconnected with a cooling system  200  to produce desirable results. 
     In an exemplary embodiment a system  100  can be manufactured into a cooling system thermostat to provide temperature control and frost and or freeze-up prevention. In addition, a system  100  can retrofit into existing cooling systems as a standalone system  100  device or as a combination thermostat and frost and or freeze-up prevention system. 
     In an exemplary embodiment a system  100  can be interconnect between a temperature control thermostat  206  and at least one of the electrical series connections between capacitor  208  and cooling system relay  214 , as shown in FIG. 3. A temperature control thermostat  206  is generally referred to as a thermostat, or thermostat  206 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment a cooling system can be implemented by electrically connecting a plurality of evaporator fans  202  in parallel with a condenser fan  204  which is in series with a thermostat  206 , as shown in FIG.  3 . Furthermore, a thermostat  206  can be electrically connected to a first electrical connection on a system  100 . 
     A capacitor  208  in series with a cooling system relay  214  can be electrically connected to a second electrical connection point on a system  100 . A compressor  212  can be electrically connected to the cooling system relay  214 , and an overload protector  210 . Power can be supplied to the cooling system as shown in FIG.  3 . 
     An evaporator fan  202  can be a HEATCRAFT part number 3EY0703M-009.00×012.00. A temperature control thermostat  206  can be a EATON part number C0027, SPST, 125V, 16/8FLA, 80/40. A condenser fan  204  can be a GENERAL ELECTRIC part number 5KSM51AG5194. A capacitor  208  can be a MALLORY part number 2252001F. An overload protector  210  can be a KLIXON part number MRT22AIN-69. A compressor  212  can be a ASPERD part number E6187Z. A relay  214  can be a KLIXON part number 9660A-182. Similar devices can be substituted for all the parts listed above. 
     Referring to FIG. 4 there is shown a cooling system  200  with a system  100  operation routine  300 . Cooling system routine  300  is a flowchart of how a cooling system, such as cooling system  200  interconnected with a system  100  operates to improve cooling system  200  operational efficiency and to prevent frost and freeze-ups. 
     Processing begins in block  302  where power is first applied to the cooling system  200 . Processing then moves to block  304 . 
     System  100  can be configured to turn ON and or be initialized or reset in several different ways. First system  100  can be configured to turn ON, initialized and or reset only when the thermostat  206  is in an ON state. Subsequently system  100  turns OFF when the thermostat  206  is in an OFF state. This method is preferable and allows the thermostat  206  to act as an ON and OFF switch to the system  100 . 
     In another exemplary embodiment a system  100  can be configured to be powered ON, OFF, initialized and or reset in accordance with the cooling system being powered ON and OFF. To clarify system  100  can receive power from, and be electrically connected to the cooling system in such a way that when the cooling system  200  turns ON, system  100  turns ON and when the cooling system  200  turns OFF, system  100  turns OFF. 
     In another exemplary embodiment a system  100  can be configured to be powered ON and remain ON whether the cooling system is powered ON or OFF. Further, the state of the thermostat  206  (ON or OFF) does not materially effect system  100  being powered ON. To clarify system  100  can receive continuous power while be electrically connected to the cooling system in such a way that when the cooling system turns ON, system  100  turns ON and when the cooling system turns OFF, system  100  remains ON. Further, regardless of the state of the thermostat  206  (ON or OFF) system  100  remains powered ON. 
     In block  304  a thermostat, such as thermostat  206  detects the temperature of the refrigerated compartment. If the measured temperature is out of range thermostat  206  turns ON the cooling system  200 . Processing then moves to decision block  306 . 
     In decision block  306  a test if performed to determine if an optimum refrigerated compartment temperature set by thermostat  206  has been reached. If the resultant is in the affirmative, that is the optimum temperature has been reached then processing moves to block  316 . If the resultant is in the negative, that is the optimum temperature has not been reached then processing moves to decision block  308 . 
     In decision block  308  a test is performed to determine if a MAXIMUM RUNNING TIME in system  100  has been reached or elapsed. The MAXIMUM RUNNING TIME is the maximum amount of time the cooling system  200  is allowed to continuously run operating in a cooling mode before a forced interrupt or disabling initiated by system  100  shuts OFF cooling system  200 . Such a forced interrupt or disabling is intended to preempt a long cooling system cooling cycle thus preventing the formation of frost and or ice on cooling system components. If the resultant is in the affirmative, that is the MAXIMUM RUNNING TIME has been reached or elapsed then processing moves to block  310 . If the resultant is in the negative, that is the MAXIMUM RUNNING TIME has not been reached or elapsed then processing moves back to decision block  306 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment the MAXIMUM RUNNING TIME can range from minutes to hours. A preferred MAXIMUM RUNNING TIME can be approximately three hours. 
     Furthermore, in an exemplary embodiment selection of the MAXIMUM RUNNING TIME period can in part be selected or determined based on certain factors that can include current ambient temperature, desirable cooling temperature, a not to exceed cooling system temperature (upper limit, lower limit, or temperature range limit), the delta between the ambient temperature and the desirable cooling temperature, the estimated length of time required for cooling system components that are susceptible to the formation of frost and or ice, to warm and reach a desirable warming temperature, or a combination of these and other factors. 
     In block  310  system  100  turns OFF the cooling system  200  preventing frost and ice from forming on the cooling system  200  or vending machine. The formation of frost or ice in the refrigerated compartment or on the cooling system is generally referred to as freezing, or freeze-up. The cooling system can be disabled by way of cooling system relay  214  and, cooling system control means  108 . Overall cooling system efficiency is maintained by not allowing frost and or freeze-up from occurring to or on cooling system  200  components. Processing then moves to decision block  320 . 
     In decision block  320  a determination is made as to whether or not a MAXIMUM OFF TIME has been reached or elapsed. The MAXIMUM OFF TIME is the maximum time that system  100  will interrupt effectively disabling the cooling system from turning back ON and operating normally. If the resultant is in the affirmative, that is the MAXIMUM OFF TIME has been reached or elapsed then processing moves to block  322 . If the resultant is in the negative, that is the MAXIMUM OFF TIME has not been reached or elapsed then processing moves to block  318  where a brief delay occurs. After the brief delay processing then moves back to block  320 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment a MAXIMUM OFF TIME can range from minutes to hours. A preferred MAXIMUM OFF TIME can be in the range of twenty to thirty minutes. 
     Furthermore, in an exemplary embodiment during such MAXIMUM OFF TIME ambient temperature can warn cooling system components that are susceptible to the formation of frost and or ice. Selection of the MAXIMUM OFF TILE period can in part be selected or determined based on certain factors that can include current ambient temperature, desirable cooling temperature, a not to exceed cooling system temperature (upper limit, lower limit, or temperature range limit), the delta between the ambient temperature and the desirable cooling temperature, the estimated length of time required for cooling system components that are susceptible to the formation of frost and or ice, to warm and reach a desirable warming temperature, or a combination of these and other factors. 
     In block  322  system  100  reestablishes normal operation status to the cooling system  200 . Normal operation can be reestablished by way of relay  214 , and cooling system control means  108 . Processing then moves to block  324  where the MAXIMUM RUNNING TIME timer is reset. Processing then moves to decision block  312 . 
     In block  316  thermostat  206  turns OFF the cooling system  200 . System  100  may be electrically connected to the cooling system  200  in such a way that when thermostat  206  turns OFF the cooling system  200 , system  100  also turns OFF. In which case when thermostat  206  turns ON the cooling system, system  100  turns ON, initializes, resets and resumes normal operation. Processing then moves to decision block  312 . 
     In another exemplary embodiment system  100  can be electrically connect to the cooling system  200  in such a way that when thermostat  206  turns OFF the cooling system  200 , system  100  remains powered ON and continues to function as normally-initializing and resetting as necessary. 
     In decision block  312  a test is performed to determine if the refrigerated compartment temperature is above the optimum temperature set by thermostat  206 . If the resultant is in the affirmative, that is the refrigerated compartment temperature is greater than the temperature set by thermostat  206  then processing moves to block  304 . If the resultant is in the negative, that is the refrigerated compartment temperature is not greater than the set temperature set by thermostat  206  then processing moves to block  314 . Processing in block  314  is a brief delay. Processing is then returned to decision block  312 . 
     Referring to FIG. 5 there is shown a system  100  operation routine  400  flowchart. In an exemplary embodiment system  100  can perform the following steps to insure frost and freeze-up does not occur in a vending machine or on a cooling system, such as a cooling system  200 . Processing begins in block  402  where power is applied to system  100 . Processing then moves to block  404 . 
     In block  404  initial system conditions are set and system  100  is initialized. Further, system  100  begins normal operation. Processing then moves to block  406 . 
     In block  406  a MAXIMUM RUNNING TIME timer is reset to zero each time cooling system  200  turns ON by way of thermostat  206  and then allowed to begin accruing time. Processing then moves to block  408 . 
     In block  408  the MAXIMUM RUNNING TIME timer continues to increment time while the cooling system in which system  100  is retrofit onto or originally manufactured into, is ON and running in an attempt to cool the vending machine refrigerated compartment area. Processing then moves to decision block  410 . 
     In decision block  410  a test is performed to determine if the MAXIMUM RUNNING TIME timer has reached an optimum time or total elapsed time count. If the resultant is in the affirmative, that is the MAXIMUM RUNNING TIME has reached an optimum time or total elapsed time then processing moves to block  412 . If the resultant is in the negative, that is the MAXIMUM RUNNING TIME has not reached an optimum time or elapsed time then processing returns to block  408 . 
     Processing in block  412  activates cooling system control means  108 , by way of microcontroller  102 . The resultant is that cooling system relay  214  change states and the cooling system  200  is interrupted, effectively disabling (turned OFF), preventing frost or freeze-up from occurring. In this processing step turning the cooling system  200  OFF, by way of system  100 , does not remove power from system  100 . As a result system  100  continues to operate normally. Processing then moves to block  414 . 
     In block  414  a MAXIMUM OFF TIME is reset to zero and then allowed to begin accruing time. Processing then moves to block  416 . 
     In block  416  the MAXIMUM OFF TIME timer continues to increment time while the cooling system  200  in which system  100  is retrofit onto, or originally manufactured into, is turned OFF and idle. Processing then moves to decision block  418 . 
     In decision block  418  a test is performed to determine if the MAXIMUM OFF TIME timer has reached an optimum time or total elapsed time count. If the resultant is in the affirmative, that is the MAXIMUM OFF TIME has reached an optimum time or total elapsed time then processing moves to block  420 . If the resultant is in the negative, that is the MAXIMUM OFF TIME has not reached an optimum time or elapsed time then processing returns to block  416 . 
     Processing in block  420  deactivates cooling system control means  108 , by way of microcontroller  102 . The resultant is that cooling system relay  214  change states and the cooling system  200  is allowed to operate normally. Processing then moves back to block  404 . 
     While this invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, it is not necessarily limited thereto. Accordingly, the appended claims should be construed to encompass not only those forms and embodiments of the invention specifically described above, but to such other forms and embodiments, as may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from its true spirit and scope.