Abstract:
The invention is an article vending machine comprising a plurality of article storage compartments covered by displaceable thermal barriers that are opened by an opener. The invention further comprises a cooling unit, an article extractor for extracting selected articles from the storage compartments, and a control center. Each article storage compartment has a displaceable thermal barrier that is opened and closed by an opener. Each displaceable thermal barrier is capable of being opened and closed independently of all other displaceable thermal barriers. During the vending cycle, only the displaceable thermal barrier covering the storage compartment accessed by the article extractor is opened, which prevents ambient air from mixing with cooled air in storage compartments not accessed by the article extractor. If a displaceable thermal barrier cannot be opened because it has frozen shut or the opener has broken, the remaining displaceable thermal barriers with functioning openers still can be opened.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an article vending apparatus for dispensing an article selected and removed by an article extractor from one of a plurality of article storage compartments, with each article storage compartment having a displaceable thermal barrier that can be opened and closed independently of the other displaceable thermal barriers. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Vending machines are a popular way to market and sell consumable items. Vending machines use various mechanisms and moving parts, such as gears, levers, ratchets, motors, and solenoids to properly vend the selected item. Certain consumable items, such as ice cream, must be stored in the vending machine in a certain temperature range to maintain the desired characteristics of the consumable item. When the mechanisms and moving parts of the vending machine are exposed to temperatures required to maintain certain consumable items such as ice cream in their desired state, mechanical failure is more likely. 
     One known way to decrease such mechanical failure is to store the consumable product in a cooled article storage compartment that is separated from the remainder of the vending machine cabinet by a thermal barrier. The thermal barrier can be opened when the article is selected and removed from the storage compartment and then closed when the vending cycle is completed. An example of such an apparatus is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,240,139 (“the &#39;139 patent) to Chirnomas. The apparatus disclosed by Chirnomas contains a freezer storage compartment with a thermal barrier for maintaining a frozen environment in isolation of the ambient temperature air filling the remaining interior space of the vending machine. The apparatus disclosed by the &#39;139 patent to Chirnomas further contains a mechanism for opening and closing the thermal barrier, a vacuum picker for removing a selected article from the storage freezer compartment, and a controller for controlling the vacuum picker and the opening and closing mechanism. The vacuum picker is located outside the freezer compartment in between operating cycles and enters the freezer compartment only when removing an article to be dispensed. 
     The apparatus disclosed by the &#39;139 patent to Chirnomas prevents the moving mechanisms from being constantly exposed to freezing temperatures inside the vending machine. However, the apparatus disclosed by Chirnomas creates another problem. During normal machine operation, the thermal barrier is opened and closed many times, which exposes the cooled article storage compartment and the articles being stored in the cooled article storage compartment to the ambient air. Such exposure to ambient air is undesirable because over time it can degrade the quality of the frozen articles. This is particularly true when the stored articles include cryogenically frozen and free flowing particles of ice cream, which can sinter, or stick together, when ambient air is repeatedly introduced into the cooled article storage compartment by the thermal barrier being opened during normal operation. Methods of manufacture of such cryogenically frozen and free flowing particles of ice cream are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,349,549 (“the &#39;549 patent) to Angus, et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,126,156 (“the &#39;156 patent) to Jones. Since one of the highly desirable characteristics of the frozen ice cream particles is their free flowing character, it is important that the particles are kept in a free flowing state before they are purchased by the consumer in a vending environment. An additional problem with moist ambient air being introduced into the cooled storage chamber is that moist air tends to form frost that can build up on the internal walls of the storage compartment and reduce the internal size of the storage compartment and adversely affect the positioning of the stored articles and the thermal and operational efficiency of the cooling units. 
     The above described problems of moist ambient air entering a cooled storage compartment in a vending machine and adversely affecting the stored article and cooling chamber are discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,118,009 (“the &#39;009 patent) to Chirnomas. The solution disclosed in the &#39;009 patent to Chirnomas is a storage compartment that is divided into a plurality of sub-compartments, each of which has a displaceable flap that covers the dispensing end of the sub-compartment. Each displaceable flap operates individually with respect to each sub-compartment, thereby allowing articles in the sub-compartments to pass therethrough during the dispensing operation. 
     The plurality of individual flaps disclosed in the &#39;009 patent to Chirnomas creates additional problems. First, when the storage compartments are cooled to very cold temperatures, for example −40 degrees Centigrade to store frozen free flowing ice cream beads, the flaps are exposed to very cold temperatures on a relative constant basis. These very cold storage temperatures have a tendency to adversely affect the flexibility and operability of the individual flaps. The individual flaps must remain flexible enough so that the suction force holding the article to the picker head is not overcome. When the very cold storage temperatures create enough rigidity in the flaps such that the suction force holding the article to the picker head is overcome, the vacuum picker is unable to remove the article from the storage cabinet. If the flexible flaps become brittle and break or otherwise degrade over time as they are exposed to cold temperatures, their ability to serve as an effective thermal barrier is compromised or eliminated. An additional problem is that the plurality of individual flexible flaps in the vending machine adds a multitude of additional moving pieces that are potentially prone to failure. The failure rate of the additional moving pieces is increased due to exposure to the frozen environment. The reintroduction of moving parts into the frozen environment recreates the very problem that U.S. Pat. No. 5,240,139 to Chirnomas sought to eliminate (separating the moving parts from the frozen environment). 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,481,226 (the &#39;226 patent) to Jones discloses a vending machine for serving extremely cold frozen product such as frozen and free flowing ice cream beads and pieces. The problem sought to be solved by the &#39;226 patent is how to maintain temperatures cold enough in a vending machine storage cabinet to preserve the free flowing nature and integrity of frozen and free flowing ice cream product. The &#39;226 patent discloses an invention directed toward modifying a vending machine to store product at a temperature no greater than −40 degrees Celsius by replacing the compressor with a compressor having higher compression, replacing existing refrigerant with a more efficient refrigerant, increasing the length of the capillary tube, and providing a thermostat capable of achieving a −40 Celsius set point. The disclosed preferred embodiment includes a safety switch that is operable to disable the vending machine from dispensing product if the temperature exceeds the set point. The &#39;226 patent further discloses a freezer chest with a single lid that overlies the top of the freezer chest and that is hinged along one edge for movement between the open and closed positions. The single lid remains closed to maintain the temperature within the freezer chest to its coldest possible temperature until the vending machine is in active operation. When a user selects an article for dispensing, the single lid overlying the freezer chest is opened by a motor so that the motorized serving arm may retrieve ice cream product from within the freezer chest. 
     U.S. Patent Application Publication 2005/0211720 (“the &#39;720 patent application”) to Chirnomas discloses a method and apparatus for storing articles for use with an article handling device. FIG. 5 and FIG. 9 of the &#39;720 patent application illustrate a multiple storage area arrangement where a single vacuum picker serves adjacent storage areas. FIG. 5 illustrates that each storage area has a door. However, the &#39;720 patent application does not disclose how the illustrated doors open (whether hinged, slidable, foldable, etc.) and whether the doors are capable of opening independently from one another. The &#39;720 Published patent application also does not disclose any control mechanism that controls the opening and closing of the doors in relation to the location or operation of the article vacuum picker. The &#39;720 patent app. discloses that the multiple storage areas may be maintained at different temperatures whereby one storage area may have an ambient temperature and the other storage areas may be cooled to a refrigerated temperature or freezing temperature. FIG. 5 and FIG. 9 of the &#39;720 patent app. illustrate and disclose a single cooling unit. 
     The above described prior art discloses vending machine apparatus and methods capable of storing, selecting, and dispensing articles, including frozen and free flowing pieces of ice cream. However, the above-described prior art apparatus and methods still suffer from a number of problems. One problem is how to effectively prevent ambient and moist air from mixing with the cooled and dry air existing in the cooled storage compartments. The &#39;139 patent to Chirnomas discloses thermal separating means being operative to prevent heat transfer between the cooled storage compartments and the remainder of the interior of the outer cabinet&#39;s interior. The thermal separating structure disclosed by the &#39;139 patent consists of (1) sliding panels positioned in sliding door tracks (FIG. 3 in the &#39;139 patent), (2) a multi-part cover constructed with numerous panel members that slide over or under adjacent members (FIG. 11 in the &#39;139 patent), (3) a plurality of hinged members that fold up against one another (FIG. 12 in the &#39;139 patent), (4) a single unit that is connected by at least one hinge to the freezer compartment and that opens in a vertically arcing motion (FIG. 13 in the &#39;139 patent), and (5) a single flexible member that slides in a track (FIG. 14 in the &#39;139 patent). Each of these disclosed structures suffers from the problem of allowing ambient air to mix with the air in the cooled storage compartments when the thermal barrier is displaced during normal vending operation. For example, the single unit that is connected by at least one hinge exposes all the cooled storage compartments to ambient air when it is opened in a vertically arcing motion. The remaining structures that displace by sliding or folding also may expose all the cooled storage compartments to ambient air during normal vending operation. For example, the sliding panels positioned in the sliding door tracks in FIG. 3 of the &#39;139 patent must expose all the cooled storage compartments to ambient air when sliding to open the cooled storage department disposed closest to the vertical rise in the sliding door track. Each of the other sliding or folding structures disclosed in the &#39;139 patent also suffers from this problem. 
     The &#39;226 patent to Jones discloses a freezer chest with a single lid that overlies the top of the freezer chest and that is hinged along one edge for movement between the open and closed positions. This single lid suffers from the same problems as the single unit that opens in a vertically arcing motion in the &#39;139 patent in that all the cooled storage compartments are exposed to ambient air when the single lid disclosed in the &#39;226 patent is opened. 
     The &#39;720 Published patent application to Chirnomas discloses a multiple storage area arrangement where each storage area has a door. However, as previously stated the &#39;720 Published patent application does not disclose how the illustrated doors open (whether hinged, slidable, foldable, etc.), whether the doors are capable of opening independently from one another, and does not disclose any control mechanism that controls the opening and closing of the doors in relation to the location or operation of the article vacuum picker. 
     The &#39;009 patent to Chirnomas discloses a plurality of individual flexible flaps designed to keep the ambient air from mixing with the individual storage compartments during the vending cycle. However, as discussed above, when the flexible flaps become brittle and break or otherwise degrade over time as they are exposed to cold temperatures, their ability to serve as an effective thermal barrier is compromised or eliminated. Further, the plurality of individual flexible flaps in the vending machine adds a multitude of additional moving pieces that are potentially prone to failure, particularly due to their exposure to the frozen environment. 
     A second problem is that a cooling unit in a vending machine may fail, thereby potentially resulting in spoilage to refrigerated and frozen articles being stored in the storage department. The &#39;226 patent to Jones discussed previously discloses a vending machine that includes a safety switch that is operable to disable the vending machine from dispensing product if the temperature exceeds the set point. However, the &#39;226 patent discloses a freezer chest with only a single lid that overlies the top of the freezer chest and that is hinged along one edge for movement between the open and closed positions. If the temperature exceeds the set point, the entire vending machine is disabled. 
     A third problem is that the displaceable thermal barrier may not open as a result of a failure of the opening mechanism, the displaceable thermal barrier becoming frozen shut due to a build up of ice, or due to some other failure. The vending machine disclosed in the &#39;139 patent to Chirnomas becomes incapable of vending product if the thermal separating barrier is broken, frozen shut, or is otherwise disabled. The vending machine disclosed in the &#39;139 patent to Chirnomas also is incapable of vending product if the opening mechanism is broken or otherwise disabled. 
     In light of the aforementioned problems existing in the prior art, there is a need for a more effective thermal barrier that results in less ambient air entering the cooled storage compartments during the vending cycle and that exposes less of the stored articles in the cooled storage compartments to ambient air during a vending cycle. There also is a need for a vending machine that can vend cooled and frozen stored articles when a displaceable thermal barrier opening mechanism breaks or fails or when a displaceable thermal barrier cannot otherwise be opened. There also is a need for a vending machine that can vend cooled and frozen stored articles when a cooling unit fails. 
     What is further needed is a vending machine with a control mechanism capable of recognizing when a displaceable thermal barrier cannot be opened, that can inform and warn the user that articles located in such storage compartments are unavailable for purchase but that other articles stored in other cooled storage compartments are still available for purchase, and that can direct the article extractor to select articles from storage compartments whose displaceable thermal barriers can be opened. 
     What is further needed is a vending machine with a control mechanism capable of recognizing when a cooling unit has failed, that can inform and warn the user that articles located in storage compartments with failed cooling units are unavailable for purchase but that other articles stored in other cooled storage compartments with properly functioning cooling units are still available for purchase, and that can direct the article extractor to select articles from storage compartments whose cooling units are functioning properly. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is an article vending machine comprising a plurality of article storage compartments covered by displaceable thermal barriers that are opened by an opener. The invention further comprises a cooling unit, an article extractor for extracting selected articles from the storage compartments, and a control center. Each article storage compartment has a displaceable thermal barrier that is opened and closed by an opener. Each displaceable thermal barrier is capable of being opened and closed independently of all other displaceable thermal barriers. During the vending cycle, only the displaceable thermal barrier covering the storage compartment accessed by the article extractor is opened, which prevents ambient air from mixing with cooled air in storage compartments not accessed by the article extractor. If a displaceable thermal barrier cannot be opened because it has frozen shut or the opener has broken or otherwise become disabled, the remaining displaceable thermal barriers with functioning openers still can be opened. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, each storage compartment is cooled by an independent cooling unit so that if one cooling unit fails, the remaining cooling unit or units remain functional to cool other storage compartments to within preset temperature ranges. 
     The invention provides a control center capable of recognizing when an article storage compartment cannot be accessed by the article extractor due to a frozen shut or jammed displaceable thermal barrier, or a broken or otherwise failed opener. Upon recognizing that a displaceable thermal barrier cannot be opened, the control center prevents the article extractor from attempting to select and extract an article located within the storage compartment that is associated with the failed displaceable thermal barrier and informs the user that articles located in such storage compartment are unavailable for purchase. The control center informs the user that other articles are available for purchase, and upon selection of an available article by the user, the control center directs the article extractor to select and extract the article from a storage compartment whose displaceable thermal barrier can be opened. 
     The control center also is capable of recognizing when a cooling unit has failed and the temperature inside an individual storage compartment served by the failed cooling unit has risen above a preset temperature range. Upon recognizing a failed cooling unit, the control center prevents the article extractor from selecting and extracting an article located within the storage compartment that is associated with the failed cooling unit and informs the user that articles located in such storage compartment are unavailable for purchase. The control center informs the user that other articles are available for purchase, and upon selection of an available article by the user, the control center directs the article extractor to select and extract the article from a storage compartment whose temperature remains within a preset temperature range. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  depicts a front perspective view of an exemplary vending machine constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  depicts an alternative embodiment of an opener. 
         FIG. 3  depicts an alternative embodiment of an opener. 
         FIG. 4  depicts an alternative embodiment on an opener. 
         FIG. 5  depicts an alternative embodiment of disposable thermal barriers. 
         FIG. 6  depicts an alternative embodiment of disposable thermal barriers. 
         FIG. 7  depicts an alternative embodiment of disposable thermal barriers. 
         FIG. 8  depicts an opening sensor. 
         FIG. 9  depicts a contact sensor. 
         FIG. 10  depicts a wiring diagram. 
         FIG. 11  depicts a flowchart of controller operation. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  depicts vending machine  100  having outer cabinet  101  with storage compartments  102 ,  103 ,  104 , and  105  disposed in a lower portion thereof. Storage compartment  102  has an open top that is covered by displaceable thermal barrier  107  (shown in closed position). Storage compartment  103  has an open top covered by displaceable thermal barrier  108  (shown in closed position). Storage compartment  104  has an open top  106  covered by displaceable thermal barrier  109  (shown in open position). Storage compartment  105  has an open top covered by displaceable thermal barrier  110  (shown in closed position). Although four storage compartments are shown in  FIG. 1 , it should be noted that the invention described herein is not limited to any specific number or arrangement of storage compartments. For example, two storage compartments may be used, or eight storage compartments may be used, and the storage compartments may be of different sizes. 
     Displaceable thermal barrier  107  is opened by opener  111  and opening sensor  115  senses whether thermal barrier  107  is opened. Displaceable thermal barrier  108  is opened by opener  112  and opening sensor  116  senses whether thermal barrier  108  is opened. Displaceable thermal barrier  109  is opened by opener  113  and opening sensor  117  senses whether thermal barrier  109  is opened. Displaceable thermal barrier  110  is opened by opener  114  and opening sensor  118  senses whether thermal barrier  107  is opened. Opening sensors  115 ,  116 ,  117 , and  118  are connected to controller  143  by controller-opening sensor connections  147 . 
     The openers  111 ,  112 ,  113 , and  114  as shown in  FIG. 1  are typical solenoid type openers. Other types of openers are possible. For example, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the opener may be a cable  201  attached to thermal barrier  202 , with thermal barrier  202  attached to storage compartment  203  by hinge  204 , and with cable  201  being further attached to motor  205 . Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the opener may be a gear system  301  attached to motor  302 . Alternatively, the opener may be a ratchet and gear system attached to a motor. In still another alternative, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the opener may be the article extractor. In this embodiment, the article extractor  401  lifts and separates displaceable thermal barrier  402  from storage compartment  403 , places removed displaceable thermal barrier  402  away from storage compartment  403 , releases thermal barrier  402 , extracts the selected article from storage compartment  403  and vends the selected article, then lifts thermal barrier  402  and places it back over storage compartment  403 . If two extractors are used, then one can be used to lift the thermal barrier, and the other can be used to extract the selected article. 
     Displaceable thermal barriers  107 ,  108 ,  109 , and  110  shown in  FIG. 1  are opened in an arcing motion as illustrated by displaceable thermal barrier  109  (shown in the open position). Alternatively, the displaceable thermal barriers may be opened in different ways. For example, as shown in  FIG. 5 , displaceable thermal barriers  501  may be jointed and may slide open along tracks  502 . Further, as shown in  FIG. 6 , displaceable thermal barriers  601  may be separated into segments  602  and folded open. Further, as shown in  FIG. 7 , displaceable thermal barriers  701  may be opened by sliding on tracks  702  under adjacent displaceable thermal barrier  703 . Still further, as shown in  FIG. 4 , displaceable thermal barrier  402  may be opened by lifting and separating the displaceable thermal barrier from the storage compartment. Each of these alternative embodiments may include different type openers as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 , and  4 . 
     Opening sensors  115 ,  116 ,  117 , and  118  as shown in  FIG. 1  are electrical contact switches as shown in  FIG. 8 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , displaceable thermal barrier  801  contains barrier contact plate  802 , which may be made of metal or other conductive material. Barrier contact plate is connected to wire  803 , which is connected to Controller  143 . Storage compartment  804  contains storage compartment contact plate  805 , which may be made of metal or other conductive material. Storage compartment contact plate  805  is connected to wire  806 , which is connected to Controller  143 . In use, when displaceable thermal barrier  802  is in a closed position, there is no contact or electrical conduction between barrier contact plate  803  and storage compartment contact plate  805 . When displaceable thermal barrier  802  is in fully opened position  807 , there is contact and electrical conduction between barrier contact plate  803  and storage compartment contact plate  805 , which completes an electrical circuit and sends an electrical signal through wire  803  or wire  806  to controller  143  that displaceable thermal barrier  802  is in fully opened position  807 . Alternatively, the opening sensor may operate in other ways. For example, the electrical contact may be positioned on the end of a sliding thermal barrier. The electrical contact also may be positioned on a folding thermal barrier in such a way as to complete an electrical circuit when the folding thermal barrier is completely opened. Further, the opening sensor need not be electrical in nature, but may be mechanical, photoelectrical, or any combination of these. 
     Cooling unit  119  is connected to storage compartment  105  by cooling tube  123 . Cooling unit  120  is connected is connected to storage compartment  104  by cooling tube  124 . Cooling unit  121  is connected is connected to storage compartment  103  by cooling tube  125 . Cooling unit  122  is connected is connected to storage compartment  102  by cooling tube  126 . Temperature sensor  127  is mounted in or on storage compartment  105  and senses the temperature of storage compartment  105 . Temperature sensor  128  is mounted in or on storage compartment  104  and senses the temperature of storage compartment  104 . Temperature sensor  129  is mounted in or on storage compartment  103  and senses the temperature of storage compartment  103 . Temperature sensor  130  is mounted in or on storage compartment  102  and senses the temperature of storage compartment  102 . Temperature sensors  127 ,  128 ,  129 , and  130  are connected to controller  143  by controller-temperature sensor connection  148 , which may be a wire or other electrical, mechanical, or photoelectrical structure capable of transmitting information. In an alternative embodiment, the cooling units can be redundantly connected to the storage compartments, and if one cooling unit fails, a controller can activate alternative connections so that other operative cooling units can be used to cool the storage compartment previously served by the failed cooling unit. 
     Pressure sensor  156  is connected to article extractor head  132 , and article extractor head  132  is connected to article extractor  131 . Pressure sensor  156  also is connected by controller-pressure sensor connection  157  to controller  143 . Article extractor  131  is connected to vacuum pump  141  by connected vacuum tube  142 . Article extractor  131  is connected to article extractor carriage  133 , and article extractor carriage  133  is connected to X-Y movement apparatus  134 . X-Y movement apparatus includes X gears  135 , which are connected to article extractor carriage  133 . X gears  135  run on X rail  136 . X-Y movement apparatus  134  further includes Y gears  137 , which run on Y rails  138 . Y rails  138  are connected to outer cabinet  101 . X-Y movement apparatus  134  is connected to XYZ transmission  139 . XYZ transmission  139  is connected to article extractor  131 . Motor  140  is connected to XYZ transmission  139  and provides power for article extractor  131  to telescope up and down along axis Z and for article extractor carriage  133  to move along the X axis and Y axis. Motor  140  is connected to controller  143  by controller-motor connection  152 . XYZ transmission  139  is connected to controller  143  by controller-XYZ transmission connection  151 . 
     In the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the article extractor is of a vacuum type. Alternatively, other types of article extractors may be used to extract the selected article from the storage compartment. For example, the article extractor may include a mechanical claw or scoop, a magnet, some form of adhesive, or a combination of the foregoing. Further, in the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the article extractor descends into the storage compartment by telescoping. Alternatively, the article extractor may descend into the storage compartment through use of alternative systems such as a cable and pulley system, a scissor system, or a screw system. 
     In the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , pressure sensor  156  includes an electrical contact switch as shown in  FIG. 9 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , article extractor head  132  and pressure sensor ring  901  are slideably connected by connectors  902 . Pressure sensor ring  901  contains pressure sensor ring contact plate  903 , which may be made of metal or other conductive material. Pressure sensor ring contact plate  903  is connected to wire  904 , which is connected to controller  143 . Article extractor head  132  contains article extractor head contact plate  905 . Article extractor head contact plate  905  is connected by wire  906  to controller  143 . Before the vending cycle begins, there is no contact or electrical conductivity between article extractor head contact plate  905  and pressure sensor ring contact plate  903  due to the biasing influence of compression springs  907 . 
     In use, after pressure sensor ring  901  contacts a selected article, the continued downward force of article extractor head  132  compresses compression springs  906  and there is contact and electrical conduction between article extractor head contact plate  905  and pressure sensor ring contact plate  903 , which completes an electrical circuit and sends an electrical signal through wire  904  or wire  906  to controller  143  that the selected article is in contact with article extractor head  132  and pressure sensor ring  901 . Alternatively, the pressure sensor may operate in other ways. For example, the sensor for determining whether a selected article is in contact with the article extractor head may be electrical, mechanical, photoelectrical, or any combination of these. Further, the sensor need not measure whether a pressure sensor ring is in contact with the article extractor head. Rather, the sensor may detect whether the selected article is in contact with the article extractor head by other methods, such as by measuring the degree of vacuum pressure within the article extractor head or by using a photoelectric eye. 
     In the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , article extractor head  132  is moved and positioned above the selected article through use of X-Y movement apparatus  134 . Alternatively, other types of movement systems may be used to move and position the article extractor. For example, the article extractor may be moved and positioned by a rotating and telescoping arm, an articulated arm, a scissor system, or by a vectoring system that can move and position the article extractor over a selected article. 
     Currency receiver  144  is attached to outer cabinet  101  and is connected to controller  143  by controller-currency receiver connection  153 . User control panel and display  145  is attached to outer cabinet  101  and is connected to controller  143  by controller-user control panel and display connection  154 . The user control and display  145  is capable of providing the user with useful information, such as article selection choices, article prices, article descriptions, availability of articles for purchase, and progress of the vending cycle. 
       FIG. 10  shows the connection diagram with regard to controller  143 , openers  111 ,  112 ,  113 , and  114 , opening sensors  115 ,  116 ,  117 , and  118 , cooling units  119 ,  120 ,  121 , and  122 , temperature sensors  127 ,  128 ,  129 , and  130 , XYZ transmission  139 , motor  140 , vacuum pump  141 , currency receiver  144 , user control panel and display  145 , and contact sensor  156 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . Alternatively, any one or more of the openers, opening sensors, cooling units, temperature sensors, XYZ transmission, motor, vacuum pump, currency receiver, user control panel and display, and contact sensor may be connected to the controller through a wireless connection. 
     In use, a user (not pictured) inserts money into currency receiver  144  and makes a selection from user control panel and display  145 , which is connected to controller  143 . If the user selects an article stored in cooled storage compartment  104 , then controller  143  determines the temperature in cooled storage compartment  104  as monitored by temperature sensor  128 . If controller  143  determines that the temperature in cooled storage compartment  104  is within a preset temperature range that is programmed into controller  143 , then controller  143  activates opener  113  through controller-opener connection  146 . Opener  113  then moves displaceable thermal barrier  109  into the open position as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Opening sensor  117  then senses the degree to which displaceable thermal barrier  109  has been opened. If controller  143 , which is connected to opening sensor  117  through controller-opening sensor connection  147 , determines that displaceable thermal barrier  109  has been opened sufficiently for article extractor  131  to extract a stored article from storage compartment  104 , then controller  143  activates the X-Y movement apparatus  134  through motor  140  and XYZ transmission  139  to move article extractor carriage  133  along X rail  136  and Y rails  138  to align article extractor  131  over the article selected by the user. Controller  143  then activates motor  140  and XYZ transmission  139 , which lowers article extractor  131  along the Z axis into storage cabinet  104  until article extractor head  132  contacts the article selected by the user. After article extractor head  132  contacts the article selected, contact sensor  156  senses the contact and communicates to controller  143  through controller-contact sensor connection  157  that contact has been made between the article extractor head  132  and the article selected by the user. Controller  143  then activates vacuum pump  110  through controller-vacuum pump connection  150 , which creates suction in vacuum tube  142  and on the end of article extractor head  132  in contact with the article selected. The vacuum suction on the article extractor head  132  sucks and holds the article selected against the article selector head  132 . Controller  143  then activates motor  140  and XYZ transmission  133 , which raise the article extractor and the selected article out of the cooled storage compartment. Controller  143  continues to raise the article extractor head as long as contact sensor  156  indicates that the selected article is in contact with the article extractor head  132 . Controller  143  then closes thermal barrier  1109  and returns article extractor  131  to its original position over the dispenser tray (not shown) through the activation of X-Y movement apparatus  134 . Controller  143  then deactivates vacuum pump  141 , which releases the selected article from article extractor head  132  into a dispensing tray for retrieval by the user. 
     The structure and operation of the X-Y movement apparatus  134  for positioning the article extractor  131  along X-Y rails above the selected article and use of the XYZ transmission  139  and motor  140  to lower and raise the article extractor  131  along the Z axis as described above should be well appreciated by persons in the vending machine art. Further, the use of a vacuum pump  141  to create a vacuum suction in an article extractor should be well appreciated by persons in the vending machine art. Still further, the use of a pressure sensor  156  to sense whether an article has contacted and remained in contact with an article extractor head should be well appreciated by persons in the vending machine art. Additionally, the use of cooling units to cool storage compartments to temperatures including without limitation −40 degrees Celsius should be well appreciated by persons in the vending machine art. Therefore, no further descriptions are deemed necessary for an adequate understanding of the basic structure and operation of these aspects of the vending machine of the present invention. 
     If controller  143  determines that the temperature in cooled storage compartment  102  is not within the preset temperature range programmed into controller  102 , then controller  143  does not activate opener  111  to open displaceable thermal barrier  107  and does not activate the X-Y movement apparatus  134  to align article extractor  131  over an article in storage compartment  102 . Further, if controller  143  determines from opening sensor  115  that displaceable thermal barrier  107  has not been sufficiently opened by opener  111  to extract a selected article from storage compartment  102 , then controller  143  does not activate the X-Y movement apparatus  134  to align article extractor  131  over an article in storage compartment  102 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, if controller  143  determines that the temperature in cooled storage compartment  102  is not within the preset temperature range programmed into controller  143  and/or that displaceable thermal barrier  107  is incapable of being opened by opener  111 , control center  143  determines whether the article selected by the user is available in another cooled storage compartment. If controller  143  determines that the selected article is available in another cooled storage compartment, for example in storage compartment  103 , then controller  143  determines whether the temperature in storage compartment  103  is within the preset temperature range programmed into controller  143 . If the article selected by the user is not available in any of the other cooled storage compartments, control center  143  alerts the user that the selected article is not available. If the article selected by the user is available in another cooled storage compartment, for example in cooled storage compartment  103 , and if the temperature in cooled storage compartment  103  is within the preset temperature range, controller  143  then opens displaceable thermal barrier  108  and activates the X-Y movement apparatus  134 , motor,  140 , and XYZ transmission  139  to move article extractor  131  to select, extract, and dispense the article selected by the user in the manner previously described. 
     If controller  143  determines that the temperature in another cooled storage compartment, for example storage compartment  103 , is not within the preset temperature range programmed into controller  143 , then control center  143  does not open displaceable thermal barrier  108  and does not activate the X-Y movement apparatus  134  to move article extractor  131  along rails in the X and Y directions to align article extractor  131  over an article in storage compartment  103 . Further, if controller  143  determines from opening sensor  116  that displaceable thermal barrier  108  has not been opened, controller  143  does not activate the X-Y movement apparatus to move article extractor  131  along rails in the X and Y directions to align the article extractor  131  over an article in storage compartment  103 . 
     The operations of controller  143  as depicted in  FIG. 1  with regard to displaying available product, detecting temperatures of the cooled storage cabinets, opening of the displaceable thermal barriers, sensing contact between the article extractor and the selected article, and warning of the users, is further described in the diagram shown in  FIG. 11 . As shown in  FIG. 11 , at the start of controller operation  1100 , controller  143  displays available articles on user control panel and display  145  ( 1101 ). Controller  143  detects when the user deposits adequate money in currency receiver  144  ( 1102 ). Controller  143  then detects when the user makes a selection on the user control panel and display  145  ( 1103 ). Controller  143  then determines the storage compartment where the selected article is located and determines the XY coordinates of the selected article ( 1104 ). Controller  143  then reads the temperature from the appropriate temperature sensor  127 ,  128 ,  129 , or  130  in the storage compartment where the selected article is located ( 1105 ). Controller  143  then determines whether the temperature in the storage compartment is within preset temperature range limits that have been programmed into controller  143  ( 1106 ). If the answer is yes in step ( 1106 ), then controller  143  activates the appropriate opener  111 ,  112 ,  113 , or  114  ( 1107 ). Controller  143  then determines whether the appropriate thermal barrier  107 ,  108 ,  109 , or  110  opened ( 1108 ). If the answer is yes in step ( 1108 ), then controller  143  activates the XY movement apparatus  134  including the XYZ transmission  139  and motor  140  to move article extractor  131  over selected article and lowers article extractor  131  to contact selected article ( 1109 ). Controller  143  then determines whether the contact sensor  156  senses contact with the selected article ( 1110 ). If the answer is yes is step ( 1110 ), then controller  143  activates the vacuum pump  141 , which creates vacuum to suck the selected article against the contact sensor  156  and article extractor head  132  ( 1111 ). Controller  143  then activates motor  140  and XYZ transmission  139  to extract the selected article from the storage compartment and move the article extractor  131  over the dispensing bin where the controller  143  shuts off the vacuum pump  141 , which releases the selected article into the dispensing bin to be retrieved by the user ( 1112 ), thereby ending the vending cycle. If the answer is no in steps ( 1106 ), ( 1108 ), or ( 1110 ), then controller  143  alerts the user and offers an alternative article choice or refund ( 1113 ). The controller  143  determines whether the user wants a refund ( 1114 ). If the answer is yes to ( 1114 ), the controller  143  activates the currency receiver  144  to provide a refund to the customer ( 1115 ). If the answer is no to ( 1114 ), then controller  143  detects when user makes a selection on the user control panel and display  145  ( 1103 ), and the control operations and vending cycle as described above continues. 
     It should be noted that controller  143  is not limited to operations  1100  as described in  FIG. 11 . The controller is capable of receiving and processing additional data and information and other operations can be programmed into the controller. For example, the controller is capable of holding and processing information concerning the identity, description, ingredients, and expiration date of the articles vended and where the articles are stored in the XY coordinate grid in the vending machine. If the controller detects that the temperature range in a storage compartment is outside the preset range, the controller can determine whether the selected article is in another storage compartment, check the temperature of the storage compartment, and vend the article without providing the user a warning. If the cooling units are redundantly connected to the storage compartments, the controller can open and close cooling tubes as appropriate to cool a storage compartment whose primary cooling unit has failed. 
     Storage compartments  102 ,  103 ,  104 , and  105  as shown in  FIG. 1  may be kept at a frozen temperature to store frozen free flowing beads of ice cream. Alternatively, storage compartments  102 ,  103 ,  104 , and  105  may be kept at different temperatures, e.g., two frozen and two cooled, so that different articles may be stored and vended. For example, storage compartments  102  and  103  may be kept at a freezing temperature to store frozen free flowing beads of ice cream and storage compartments  104  and  105  may be kept at a refrigerated temperature above freezing to store drinks such as soft drinks and bottled water. Alternatively, one or more storage compartments may be kept at ambient air temperature to vend items such as potato chips and candy. In such a case, the thermal barrier can serve as a barrier to prevent dust and other foreign objects and material from entering the storage compartment. 
     The foregoing description has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiment or embodiments discussed were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly and legally entitled.