Patent ID: 11945652
Assignee: nan
Field: Control (Instruments)
Classification: CPC B  F  G | IPC B  G

Claim 5:
6. A cold storage unit according to claim 1 that further comprises one or more of the following:
(a) a reader, optionally a barcode reader, to identify temperature sensitive products loaded into or removed from the cold storage unit via the loading zone; and/or
(b) a plurality of product carriers disposed in a plurality independently addressable storage bays, wherein optionally a storage bay includes at least one empty or loaded product carrier; and/or
(c) each sensed loading slot of the moveable loading tray is associated with a sensor, optionally a capacitive sensor, configured to sense whether the slot contains a product container or product carrier, wherein optionally the moveable loading tray can move between a first position in the loading zone to a second position in the adjacent accessible temperature-controlled cold storage zone, wherein when in the second position the end effector can operably interact with at least one of the loading tray's loading slots to move one or more product containers or product carriers between the loading tray and end effector; and/or
(d) each storage area framework(s) is(are) a modular array, optionally comprising columns and rows, of independently addressable storage bays of the same or different sizes each operably accessible to the end effector, wherein each array optionally comprises a series of substantially parallel vertical members, and optionally substantially parallel horizontal members, spaced to produce the plurality of independently addressable storage bays of the same or different sizes, each of which is configured to accommodate a temperature sensitive product container or empty or loaded product carrier, wherein storage bays of two or more different sizes are present in the storage area framework(s), a plurality of differently sized product carriers are used, with each of differently sized product carriers configured for storage in at least one storage bay in the storage area framework(s); and/or
(e) each of the plurality of independently addressable storage bays defines a chamber, optionally a rectangular chamber, having an open end that is accessible to the end effector for insertion and removal of a temperature sensitive product container or empty or loaded product carrier, wherein each storage bay optionally comprises a series of spaced, substantially parallel vertical members, and optionally substantially parallel horizontal members, wherein the vertical members contain one or more flanges to engage and suspend one or more temperature sensitive product containers or empty or loaded product carriers, which flanges optionally include one or more detents to engage a corresponding structure on a product carrier; and/or
(f) the robot is a multi-axis robot configured to move the end effector vertically and horizontally in order to allow the end effector to place or remove one or more temperature sensitive product containers or empty or loaded product carriers in or from the independently addressable storage bays in the storage area framework(s); and/or
(g) each independently addressable storage bay is configured to receive a product carrier adapted to (A) hold a temperature sensitive product container and (B) be engaged by the end effector for movement inside the cold storage unit; and/or
(h) a primary power supply and, optionally, a backup power supply, optionally comprising one or more batteries; and/or
(i) a security interface to control internal access to the cold storage unit, wherein such access control optionally comprises a login code verification and/or a biometric sensor scan; and/or
(j) the product access panel comprises a door positioned above the loading zone, wherein the door optionally can open partially or completely to expose one or more of the sensed loading slots in the loading tray in the loading zone; and/or
(k) product carriers to carry temperature sensitive product containers stored in the cold storage unit, wherein each product carrier includes a latch configured to be releasably but connectedly engaged by an adaptor of the end effector; and/or
(l) the temperature of each cold storage zone is monitored by one or more temperature sensors and temperature data from the temperature sensors is stored in a memory associated with at least one of the cold storage unit's one or more computers; and/or
(m) the cold storage zone temperature(s) is(are) displayed on a display panel visible to a user of the cold storage unit; and/or
(n) a touchscreen interface to provide user access to the cold storage unit and information regarding its operation and/or stored product inventory.