2. Inventor

Keith Aubin
Massachusetts, United States

3. Abstract

4. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to automated dispensing systems for granular bulk materials. More particularly, the invention pertains to self-service vending and exchange kiosks for metered distribution of granular de-icing materials, including but not limited to sodium chloride, calcium chloride, and magnesium chloride compositions, with integrated multi-product blending, weather-responsive dynamic pricing, container exchange functionality, and seasonal infrastructure conversion capabilities. The invention further relates to modular dispensing systems designed for unattended outdoor operation in harsh winter conditions, compatible with existing retail cage and locker infrastructure for scalable commercial deployment.

5. Background of the Invention

5.1 Current State of Ice Melt Distribution

The distribution of de-icing materials to residential and small commercial consumers in the United States is overwhelmingly reliant upon pre-packaged retail sales through hardware stores, home improvement centers, grocery stores, and gas stations. Consumers typically purchase de-icing salt, calcium chloride pellets, magnesium chloride pellets, or proprietary blends in pre-packaged bags ranging from 10 to 50 pounds. This distribution model has remained essentially unchanged for decades, despite significant advancements in retail automation, self-service technologies, and consumer expectations for convenience.

The United States de-icing materials market exceeds $2 billion annually, with residential and small commercial consumers accounting for a substantial portion of demand. Demand is highly seasonal, concentrated in the months of October through April in northern climates, and is intensely weather-dependent, with consumption spiking dramatically in the 24 to 48 hours preceding and during winter storm events.

5.2 Limitations of Existing Solutions

The current retail distribution model for de-icing materials presents numerous deficiencies:

• Availability limitations. Retail stores operate on fixed hours and frequently experience stockouts immediately preceding and during winter storms — precisely when consumer demand is highest.
• Physical handling burden. De-icing materials are dense and heavy. A standard 50-pound bag requires significant effort, particularly for elderly, disabled, or physically limited consumers.
• Lack of product customization. Consumers cannot select or customize the de-icing product formulation at the point of sale.
• Pricing inflexibility. Retail prices are fixed regardless of weather conditions, demand levels, or inventory availability.
• Seasonal infrastructure underutilization. Existing retail infrastructure for seasonal products — particularly outdoor display cages used for propane tank exchange — sits idle during the opposite season.

5.3 Gap in Prior Art

A comprehensive search of existing patents reveals no prior art for automated dispensing of granular de-icing materials through self-service kiosks, vending machines, or exchange systems. Adjacent prior art categories (ice vending, general auger vending, dynamic pricing vending, heated food dispensing, reverse vending, de-icing formulation patents, and propane exchange systems) are all distinguished from the present invention.

The present invention addresses a clear gap in the prior art by providing the first automated, self-service system for dispensing, blending, and exchanging granular de-icing materials, with weather-responsive dynamic pricing, multi-product blending at the point of sale, and seasonal infrastructure conversion capability.

6. Summary of the Invention

The present invention is an automated, modular system for self-service dispensing and exchange of granular de-icing materials, designed for unattended outdoor operation at retail locations including gas stations, convenience stores, grocery stores, and other commercial sites.

The system comprises the following principal novel elements:

• Single-Hopper + Liquid CaCl₂ Injection. Single dry NaCl hopper with liquid calcium chloride injection system at point of dispensing, enabling multi-product output (Basic, Pro, Pet) from simplified single-hopper architecture.
• Precision Metered Dispensing with Multi-Sensor Fill Control. IR break-beam sensors, platform load cells with tare compensation, ultrasonic fill-level monitoring, and capacitive overflow detection — a three-tier overflow prevention system.
• Weather-Responsive Dynamic Pricing. Pricing engine connected to NWS, NOAA, or commercial weather APIs; automatically adjusts pricing based on predicted precipitation, temperature, and storm severity.
• Hybrid Dispensing and Container Exchange. Bulk dispensing mode and exchange mode from a unified control system with container tracking and deposit credits.
• Anti-Caking Material Conditioning. Vibration motors, low-wattage heaters, and mechanical bridge-breaker agitators maintain flowability of hygroscopic de-icing materials.
• Cage-Compatible Form Factor with Seasonal Conversion. Compact enclosure (~48″ × 30″ × 48″) compatible with standard retail propane exchange cage mounting locations.
• Ground-Level Refill System. Secondary intake hopper at pickup truck bed height with flexible screw conveyor.
• Cloud-Connected Remote Management. Cellular telemetry for real-time monitoring, diagnostics, and remote control.

7. Brief Description of Drawings

See the Figure Gallery below for all 10 patent figures with reference tables.

• FIG. 1 — External perspective view of the dispensing system enclosure
• FIG. 2 — Multi-hopper blending system cross-section
• FIG. 3 — Container detection & fill control detail
• FIG. 4 — Control system block diagram
• FIG. 5 — User interaction flowchart
• FIG. 6 — Ground-level refill system
• FIG. 7 — Hybrid exchange + dispensing layout
• FIG. 8 — Weather-responsive pricing system diagram
• FIG. 9 — Seasonal conversion concept
• FIG. 10 — Compact form factor with dimensions

8. Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

8.1 Structural Enclosure and Form Factor

Referring to FIG. 10, the system is housed within a weatherproof enclosure of approximately 48″W × 30″D × 48″H, compatible with standard retail propane exchange cage mounting locations. The enclosure comprises a welded 304 stainless steel frame with 16-gauge 304 stainless steel panels, powder-coated with UV-stable polyester.

The enclosure is organized into three functional zones:

• Zone 1 — Storage (upper 24″): Single NaCl hopper + liquid CaCl₂ reservoir with lockable, gasketed lids. Sloped roof with 5° pitch for rain/snow shedding.
• Zone 2 — Dispensing (middle, 10–24″ above ground): Metering augers, blending chamber, discharge chute, and container receptacle with guide rails and platform scale. 14″ × 16″ customer access opening at waist height.
• Zone 3 — Interface & Electronics (front face, 30–48″): Payment terminal (~40″), 7″ weatherproof LCD touchscreen (~42″), status LEDs, NEMA 4X electronics enclosure housing ESP32 controller, motor drivers, relay board, power supplies, and cellular modem.

Empty weight: ~185 lbs. Maximum loaded weight: ~935 lbs.

FIG. 10 — Compact Form Factor with Dimensions (48″W × 30″D × 48″H)

8.2 Multi-Product Hopper and Blending System

The primary architecture comprises a single dry NaCl storage hopper with metering auger, paired with a liquid CaCl₂ injection system at the dispensing output. This single-hopper + liquid injection design enables three product tiers (Basic, Pro, Pet) from a simplified mechanical system.

Hopper Construction

Each hopper: 0.500″ wall HDPE or 14-gauge 316L stainless steel, truncated pyramid with ≥55° wall angle. Three-hopper config: ~14″ × 26″ × 18″ internal (~150–200 lbs each). Two-hopper config: ~21″ × 26″ × 18″ (~225–275 lbs each).

Metering Auger Assembly

3″ OD 304 stainless auger screw, 1.5″ pitch, single-flight helical, 12″ effective conveying length. NEMA 23 stepper motors (3.0A, 2.2 N·m) with flexible jaw couplings. At 1/16 microstepping: 3,200 steps/rev yielding ~0.00012 lbs/microstep resolution — far exceeding the ±5% blend accuracy target.

Product Tiers (3-Tier Line)

• Basic ($10.99): 100% NaCl dispensed as-is from single hopper
• Pro ($14.99): NaCl + liquid CaCl₂ injection at point of dispensing — enhanced melt performance
• Pet ($32): Prefilled MgCl₂/CaCl₂ buckets in locker array — no dispensing required

Blended margin across product line: ~68%.

FIG. 2 — Multi-Hopper Blending System Cross-Section

8.3 Auger-Based Metered Dispensing Mechanism

Horizontally mounted auger-style screw conveyors provide precise volumetric metering. The 3″ OD / 1.5″ pitch geometry is optimized for 2–8mm de-icing pellets. Radial clearance of 0.125″ balances metering accuracy against particle variation tolerance.

Motor stall detection via drive current monitoring triggers anti-caking subsystem activation and retry. Persistent stalls alert the operator via cellular telemetry with graceful degradation to reduced product offering.

8.4 Container Detection and Fill Control System

Referring to FIG. 3, a multi-sensor approach provides redundancy and fail-safe operation:

• Container Presence: Two pairs of through-beam IR sensors at 2″ and 8″ above platform — both must be interrupted to enable dispensing.
• Container Alignment: Four HDPE guide rails in truncated cone pattern center 8–12″ diameter containers.
• Weight Monitoring: Four 50kg half-bridge load cells in Wheatstone bridge with HX711 24-bit ADC. 10 Hz sample rate, tare function, predictive cutoff algorithm (halts ~0.3–0.5 lbs before target). Accuracy: ±0.5 lbs at 25 lbs (±2%).
• Ultrasonic Fill Level: IP67 sensor aimed downward into container — emergency stop if material within 1″ of rim.
• Three-Tier Overflow Prevention: (1) Load cell target → stop; (2) Ultrasonic rim detection → stop; (3) Capacitive sensor at discharge lip → hardware relay interlock independent of microcontroller.

FIG. 3 — Container Detection & Fill Control Detail

8.5 Anti-Caking and Material Conditioning Subsystem

Referring to FIG. 9, a three-pronged approach for hygroscopic materials (especially CaCl₂ and MgCl₂):

• Vibration: DC vibrator motors (12V, 65 Hz, 50 lbs force) with pre-dispense pulse, intermittent cycling, scheduled maintenance bursts, and on-demand flow-blockage activation.
• Low-Wattage Heating: Silicone heater pads (120V AC, 50–100W each) maintain wall temp ≥40°F when ambient <35°F. Snap-disc thermostat + 194°F thermal fuse. Total: 150–300W for three hoppers.
• Bridge-Breaker: 0.500″ 304 SS shaft with two UHMW paddles, 5–10 RPM gearmotor. Runs during dispensing, 10-sec bursts every 2h idle, and on-demand.

All material-contact surfaces: HDPE, UHMW, electropolished 304/316 SS, optional PTFE coating.

8.6 User Interface and Payment System

Weatherproof 7″ LCD touchscreen at ~42″ height + contactless payment terminal at ~40″. Supports NFC (credit/debit/Apple Pay/Google Pay), QR code payment, and optional RFID. ESP32-WROOM-32 controller with SIM7600G 4G LTE modem, MQTT telemetry at 60-sec intervals.

8.7 Weather-Responsive Dynamic Pricing Engine

Connected to NWS, NOAA, and/or commercial weather APIs (polled every 30 min). Multi-factor pricing algorithm considers: precipitation type/probability, accumulation, storm duration, temperature, severity classification, inventory level, time-of-day patterns, and historical sales.

Tiered Storm Severity Model

Maximum price caps configurable by operator and subject to price gouging regulations. Automated resupply notifications when predicted 48h demand exceeds inventory.

FIG. 8 — Weather-Responsive Pricing System Diagram

8.8 Remote Monitoring, Telemetry, and Inventory Management

SIM7600G 4G LTE cellular modem. MQTT protocol: 60-sec intervals during transactions, 15-min during idle. Telemetry: hopper levels (ultrasonic), transaction records, motor parameters, anti-caking status, environmental data, power status, faults. Cloud dashboard with real-time status, historical analytics, multi-unit fleet management, and remote commands (emergency stop, enable/disable, pricing updates).

FIG. 4 — Control System Block Diagram

8.9 Ground-Level Refill System

Referring to FIG. 6, the refill system enables replenishment from pickup truck bed height (~30–36″) without forklifts:

• Intake Hopper: HDPE, 3–4 cu ft (~200–280 lbs), 24″ × 18″ opening, 55° taper, lockable lid with 2″ standpipe rim.
• Flexible Screw Conveyor: 3″ OD helical wire in 3.5″ ID UHMW tube, 24″ min bend radius, ~6–7 ft total. 120V AC ½ HP gearmotor (top-mounted, pull operation). Throughput: ~300–500 lbs/hr.
• Distribution Manifold: 3-way 304 SS diverter valve with operator-selectable hopper destination. 4″ tri-clamp quick-disconnect for seasonal removal.

Ultrasonic level sensors provide automatic conveyor shutoff. Dispensing can continue during refilling.

FIG. 6 — Ground-Level Refill System

8.10 Hybrid Dispensing and Container Exchange Mode

Two modes from unified control:

• Bulk Dispensing Mode: Material metered from hoppers into customer/system container. Customer selects product/blend and quantity by weight.
• Container Exchange Mode: Customer deposits empty branded container → retrieves pre-filled container from electronically-locked locker. Containers tracked via RFID/NFC/QR. System validates, records exchange, issues deposit credit.
• Hybrid Operation: Both modes available simultaneously. Customer selects "Fill My Container" or "Exchange a Bucket" from touchscreen.

FIG. 7 — Hybrid Exchange + Dispensing Layout

8.11 Seasonal Infrastructure Conversion System

Interchangeable product modules with standardized bolted flanges and quick-disconnect jaw couplings — module swap by single operator in ~30–60 min. Software reconfiguration via cloud platform updates product catalog, pricing, branding, inventory parameters, dispensing parameters, and safety parameters.

FIG. 9 — Seasonal Conversion Concept

8.12 Power Supply and Environmental Hardening

Primary: 120V AC, 20A service with GFCI and MOV surge protection. Steady-state: 300–500W (heating), 100–200W (dispensing). Peak: <15A. Alternatives: Battery, solar, or hybrid configurations for off-grid/emergency deployment.

Environmental: Operating range -20°F to 100°F. IP55 enclosure, IP67 individual sensors/electronics. Three heating circuits. THWN-2 wiring in sealed conduit. All materials inherently corrosion-resistant (HDPE, UHMW, 316L SS, 304 SS with powder coat).

8.13 Container Tracking and Deposit System

RFID (UHF, ISO 18000-6C), NFC (ISO 14443/15693), and/or QR code tags on each branded container. Central database tracks: first fill date, fill-return cycles, last fill/return date and location, condition flags, customer account. Deposit accounting: initial $5–10 deposit, carried forward on exchanges, refunded on final return. Validation rejects counterfeit and expired containers.

8.14 Cloud Management Platform

Web-based operator dashboard with real-time status, historical analytics, revenue reporting, product mix analysis, and demand patterns. Fleet management: territory grouping, route optimization, comparative analytics, centralized pricing policy, role-based access. RESTful APIs and webhooks for partner integration (POS, ERP).

9. Alternative Embodiments

• Multi-Hopper Variant — Multiple hoppers with independent augers for higher-throughput deployments requiring simultaneous dry blending.
• Dispensing-Only Configuration — Omits exchange compartments, simplest deployment.
• Exchange-Only Configuration — Omits bulk dispensing, operates as smart locker exchange unit.
• Wall-Mounted Variant — Separated interface panel and dispensing mechanism.
• Trailer-Mounted Configuration — Mobile deployment for events, emergency supply, temp retail.
• Industrial-Scale Variant — 10–50 cu ft hoppers, 4–6″ augers for municipal/commercial use.
• Food-Grade Adaptation — NSF/ANSI 51 compliant for rice, grains, animal feed, humanitarian aid.
• Liquid CaCl₂ Injection (PRIMARY) — Liquid calcium chloride injection at point of dispensing, enabling Pro-tier product from single NaCl hopper. This is the primary architecture for multi-product delivery.
• Hybrid Payment Systems — Coins, currency, vouchers, SMS codes for low-banking environments.

11. Legal Boilerplate

Scope Disclaimer

The foregoing description of preferred and alternative embodiments is intended to be illustrative and not limiting. Various modifications, equivalents, substitutions, and alterations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The invention is defined not by the foregoing description, but by the claims appended hereto.

Provisional Filing Purpose

This document serves as a provisional patent application under 35 U.S.C. §111(b), establishing a priority date for the disclosed invention. The level of detail provided is intended to satisfy written description and enablement requirements of 35 U.S.C. §112.

Invention Ownership

The invention was conceived and reduced to practice by Keith Aubin. All rights including patent, continuation, divisional, and derivative rights are asserted by the inventor.

Filed as a Provisional Patent Application under 35 U.S.C. §111(b)
Inventor: Keith Aubin
Date: ____________, 2026

📐 Figure Gallery — All Patent Drawings

All 10 SVG figures from the V2 provisional patent application. Click any figure to view full size.

FIG. 1 — External Perspective View of Kiosk Unit

Ref	Component
101	Enclosure
102	Payment terminal
103	Product selection display
104	Dispensing outlet
105	Container placement area
106	Signage area
107	Cage frame

FIG. 2 — Multi-Hopper Blending System Cross-Section

Ref	Component
201	Hopper A — MgCl₂
202	Hopper B — CaCl₂
203	Hopper C — NaCl
204	Metering auger
205	Stepper motor
206	Blending chamber
207	Discharge valve
208	Dispensing chute

FIG. 3 — Container Detection & Fill Control Detail

Ref	Component
301	Container
302	Load cell platform
303	IR break-beam emitter
304	IR receiver
305	Ultrasonic fill sensor
306	Guide rails
307	Dispensing nozzle
308	Capacitive overflow sensor

FIG. 4 — Control System Block Diagram

Ref	Component
401	Main controller (MCU)
402	Stepper motor drivers
403	Sensor array
404	Payment terminal
405	Cellular modem
406	Power management
407	Display
408	Heating system
409	Weather API input
410	Cloud management platform

FIG. 5 — User Interaction Flowchart

FIG. 6 — Ground-Level Refill System

Ref	Component
601	Secondary intake hopper
602	Flexible screw conveyor tube
603	Main hopper
604	Tri-clamp quick-disconnect
605	Diverter valve
606	Drive motor

FIG. 7 — Hybrid Exchange + Dispensing Layout

Ref	Component
701	Dispensing section
702	Exchange lockers
703	Filled bucket compartment
704	Empty bucket return
705	Shared payment terminal
706	Shared controller

FIG. 8 — Weather-Responsive Pricing System Diagram

Ref	Component
801	Weather API (NWS/NOAA)
802	Weather processor
803	Storm severity index
804	Pricing engine
805	Inventory level sensor
806	Base price table
807	Dynamic price display
808	Inventory engine
809	Resupply alert
810	Operator notification

FIG. 9 — Seasonal Conversion Concept

Ref	Component
901	Cage frame
902	Summer product modules
903	Winter dispensing module
904	Shared payment system
905	Seasonal software config

FIG. 10 — Compact Form Factor with Dimensions (48″W × 30″D × 48″H)

Ref	Component
1001	Upper zone — hoppers/storage
1002	Middle zone — dispensing area
1003	Lower zone — electronics/power