MALVERN, PA.—USA Technologies has been issued a patent for the VM2iQ, a key technology in the EnergyMiser energy conservation product line that targets the nation’s four million vending machines and $46 billion vending industry. The company announced that the U.S. Patents and Trademark Office had issued patent number 7,286,907 for Method and Apparatus for Conserving Power Consumed by a Refrigerated Appliance Utilizing Audio Signal Detection.
“The patent protects strategic technology in the VM2iQ which is installed inside a vending machine and switches the cooling system in and out of energy savings mode by monitoring vending machine sales,” said Dan van der Hoop, vice president, engineering, USA Technologies. “The intelligent technology in the VM2iQ can save vending machine operators up to 35 percent annually in utility costs.”
The VM2iQ is the second generation of the VendingMiser which is installed internally, operates on audio signals, and switches the cooling system in and out of energy savings mode by monitoring vending machine sales. The VM2iQ has already been installed in tens of thousands of vending machines, including 20,000 machines operated by one of the world’s biggest retail chains, and 10,000 machines operated by a major American supermarket chain.
Twelfth Company Patent
The latest patent is the 12th USA Technologies energy patent protecting the company’s expanding portfolio of EnergyMiser energy management technology that lowers the energy consumed in vending machines, coolers, snack machines and commercial appliances. It brings to 69 the total number of patents issued to USA Technologies, which includes the e-Port cashless transaction technology, e-Suds online laundry technology, and Business Express 24×7 self-serve office center product line.
“The VM2iQ patent is among our most valuable, protecting a comprehensive range of intellectual property strategic to executing energy management technology for vending machines,” van der Hoop said. “It is a critical patent that responds to the growing demand in the U.S. and the world for solutions to lower energy consumption, costs and C02 emissions.”
Energy efficiency in vending machines is becoming a competitive weapon as operators pursue efficiencies and productivity improvements, while seeking ways to differentiate their vending machines to secure contracts. USA Technologies’ EnergyMiser is considered the only proven technology in the market that responds to the energy conservation demands of the vending industry.
The EnergyMiser product line is “plug-and-play” technology that begins saving power immediately, saves in excess of $100 per year per machine, pays for itself in about 12 months, and has a life span of 12 years or more. Other benefits include reduced vending machine run time and lighting burn time, resulting in less wear and tear, extending the machine’s life.
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