Patent ID: 9643742
Date: 2017-05-09
CPC Classifications: B65B,B65G,F25C

Claim:
1. An apparatus comprising: a temperature-controlled storage unit defining an internal region in which a plurality of ice-filled bags are adapted to be stored, a portion of the internal region being an available space in which a first ice-filled bag is adapted to be disposed; one or more tracks extending within the internal region; a first kicker assembly coupled to the one or more tracks and movable therealong within the internal region, the first kicker assembly comprising a first basket sized to support the first ice-filled bag before the first ice-filled bag is disposed in the available space; and a first sensor coupled to the first kicker assembly and movable therewith, relative to the temperature-controlled storage unit, to identify the available space before the first ice-filled bag is disposed in the available space; wherein, after the first sensor has identified the available space, the first basket is actuated to dispose the first ice-filled bag in the available space; and wherein, during the actuation of the first basket to dispose the first ice-filled bag in the available space, the first sensor is stationary.