An article storage and dispensing apparatus and method in which articles made by series production are distributed from an article supplier into a storage compartment of predetermined dimensions for storage of articles in front and rear rows of article storage positions. An article distributor in the storage compartment has a carriage, a carriage drive which is configured to drive the carriage in a reversible horizontal carriage drive direction across at least part of the width of the storage compartment, and an article support mounted on the carriage and configured to receive articles from the article supplier above the support when the carriage is in a start position. An article dispenser is associated with the article support to dispense articles selectively in opposite horizontal dispensing directions transverse to the carriage drive direction off the front and rear ends of the support to drop into front and rear article rows.

An article storage and dispensing apparatus and method in which articles made by series production are distributed from an article supplier into a storage compartment of predetermined dimensions for storage of articles in front and rear rows of article storage positions. An article distributor in the storage compartment has a carriage, a carriage drive which is configured to drive the carriage in a reversible horizontal carriage drive direction across at least part of the width of the storage compartment, and an article support mounted on the carriage and configured to receive articles from the article supplier above the support when the carriage is in a start position. An article dispenser is associated with the article support to dispense articles selectively in opposite horizontal dispensing directions transverse to the carriage drive direction off the front and rear ends of the support to drop into front and rear article rows.

A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a storage chamber, a drawer door comprising a drawer part defining a storage space and a door part, an elevation device for elevating the storage space, a driving device, and a wiring guider between a top surface of the storage chamber and a bottom surface of the drawer door, the wiring guider guiding a wiring that provides an electrical connection between the cabinet and the driving device. The wiring guider includes a rotation connection member that rotatably couples a first end of the wiring guide to the cabinet, a guide head that fixedly couples a second end of the wiring guide to the door part, and a flexible portion that connects the rotation connection member to the guide head. The wiring between the cabinet and the driving device sequentially passes through the rotation connection member, the flexible portion, and the guide head.

A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a storage chamber, a drawer door comprising a drawer part defining a storage space and a door part, an elevation device for elevating the storage space, a driving device, and a wiring guider between a top surface of the storage chamber and a bottom surface of the drawer door, the wiring guider guiding a wiring that provides an electrical connection between the cabinet and the driving device. The wiring guider includes a rotation connection member that rotatably couples a first end of the wiring guide to the cabinet, a guide head that fixedly couples a second end of the wiring guide to the door part, and a flexible portion that connects the rotation connection member to the guide head. The wiring between the cabinet and the driving device sequentially passes through the rotation connection member, the flexible portion, and the guide head.

Systems and methods have demonstrated the capability of rapidly cooling the contents of pods containing the ingredients for food and drinks.

A metering apparatus (1) for metering frozen piece goods, comprising a housing (10) which defines a refrigerated chamber (11), wherein a piece goods container (3), a first conveyor unit (4), and a weighing unit (5) are arranged in the refrigerated chamber (11), wherein piece goods can be transported from the piece goods container (3) via the first conveyor unit (4) to the weighing unit (5), wherein an airlock (13) is arranged below the weighing unit (5), through which piece goods can pass out of the refrigerated chamber (11).

The present disclosure provides cryogenic storage systems and methods of using the cryogenic storage systems. A cryogenic storage system of the present disclosure may comprise a cryogenic tank with an inner door and an outer door, and a robot apparatus located adjacent to the cryogenic tank. The cryogenic tank may store multiple racks such that at most a single rack is removable through the inner door or the outer door. The cryogenic tank may store the multiple racks in multiple groups of racks comprising a first group of racks located at a first radial distance and a second group of racks located at a second radial distance that is greater than the first radial distance. The robot apparatus may selectively open and close the inner or outer doors, and insert or withdraw the single rack into or out of the cryogenic tank through the inner door or the outer door.

A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a storage chamber, a drawer door configured to be inserted into and withdrawn out of the storage chamber, a driving device provided at the door part, an elevation device provided at the drawer part and having a scissors lift assembly, and a connecting assembly that couples the driving device to the scissors lift assembly to transfer driving force from the driving device to the scissors lift assembly. The elevation device is configured, based on being uncoupled from the connecting assembly, to be separable from the drawer part, and the elevation device includes a restricting unit configured to restrict the scissors lift assembly from unfolding when the elevation device is separated from the drawer part. The drawer door includes a drawer part and a door part that is configured to, based on the drawer door being inserted into the storage chamber, close the storage chamber.

An article storage and dispensing apparatus and method in which articles made by series production are distributed from an article supplier into a storage compartment of predetermined dimensions for storage of articles in front and rear rows of article storage positions. An article distributor in the storage compartment has a carriage, a carriage drive which is configured to drive the carriage in a reversible horizontal carriage drive direction across at least part of the width of the storage compartment, and an article support mounted on the carriage and configured to receive articles from the article supplier above the support when the carriage is in a start position. An article dispenser is associated with the article support to dispense articles selectively in opposite horizontal dispensing directions transverse to the carriage drive direction off the front and rear ends of the support to drop into front and rear article rows.

An article storage and dispensing apparatus and method in which articles made by series production are distributed from an article supplier into a storage compartment of predetermined dimensions for storage of articles in front and rear rows of article storage positions. An article distributor in the storage compartment has a carriage, a carriage drive which is configured to drive the carriage in a reversible horizontal carriage drive direction across at least part of the width of the storage compartment, and an article support mounted on the carriage and configured to receive articles from the article supplier above the support when the carriage is in a start position. An article dispenser is associated with the article support to dispense articles selectively in opposite horizontal dispensing directions transverse to the carriage drive direction off the front and rear ends of the support to drop into front and rear article rows.