Patent ID: 8381534

Claim:
A method comprising: distributing a first ice-filled bag within an internal region defined by a temperature-controlled storage unit, comprising: providing a first kicker assembly comprising a first basket, wherein the first kicker assembly is movable within the internal region; disposing the first ice-filled bag in the first basket of the first kicker assembly, wherein the first ice-filled bag is adapted to be dropped within the internal region as a result of being discharged from the first kicker assembly; searching for an available space in the internal region in which to dispose the first ice-filled bag, comprising: coupling a first sensor to the first kicker assembly so that the first sensor is movable with the first kicker assembly; moving the first kicker assembly, and thus the first ice-filled bag and the first sensor, within the internal region; and determining, using the first sensor, that there is not a second ice-filled bag immediately below the first kicker assembly and at a location within the internal region towards which the first ice-filled bag would be dropped if the first ice-filled bag were to be discharged from the first kicker assembly, thereby identifying the location as the available space in the internal region; and disposing the first ice-filled bag in the available space in the internal region, comprising: dropping the first ice-filled bag within the internal region by discharging the first ice-filled bag from the first kicker assembly.