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 is an example of a storage cabinet, and includes a door sensor, a weight sensor, a wireless tag reader, a memory, and a microcomputer. The microcomputer identifies an ID that is not readable by the wireless tag reader after a timing at which a weight increase is detected by the weight sensor in a first period, as an ID of a newly loaded food item, the first period being a period from when a door is opened to when the door is closed that is determined based on a result of detection performed by the door sensor, and adds the identified ID to registration information that is stored in the memory.

A refrigerator utilizes a quick fill dispenser that incorporates a fluid storage receptacle that is easily removable for cleaning and/or dispensing independently of the refrigerator, and that is coupled to a dock through a combined inlet/outlet through which the receptacle is filled and fluid is dispensed through the receptacle. A dock closure may also be used to inhibit fluid flow through the combined inlet/outlet when the fluid storage receptacle is removed.

A refrigerator utilizes a quick fill dispenser that incorporates a fluid storage receptacle that is easily removable for cleaning and/or dispensing independently of the refrigerator, and that is coupled to a dock through a combined inlet/outlet through which the receptacle is filled and fluid is dispensed through the receptacle. A dock closure may also be used to inhibit fluid flow through the combined inlet/outlet when the fluid storage receptacle is removed.

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.

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.

Disclosed is a heat shielding device which shields heat from a chamber wall to the outside by creating one or more gas insulating layers around a chamber heated to a high temperature, thereby reducing heat loss and power consumed when heating the chamber to a certain temperature and reducing safety problems such as burning of an operator.

Disclosed is a heat shielding device which shields heat from a chamber wall to the outside by creating one or more gas insulating layers around a chamber heated to a high temperature, thereby reducing heat loss and power consumed when heating the chamber to a certain temperature and reducing safety problems such as burning of an operator.

The present application discloses a storage box, comprising an enclosure, a storage box body, a pivot shaft connected to the enclosure and the storage box body, an elastic element disposed between the pivot shaft and the enclosure, and a locking device, wherein the elastic element always provides a driving force driving the storage box body to turn outwards the enclosure about the pivot shaft; the locking device comprises a locking portion disposed on the enclosure, and a fitting portion which is disposed on the storage box body and push-fitted with the locking portion. The storage box body can automatically turn without a handle being disposed, thereby expanding the space for storing items.

An apparatus for preserving consumable products comprising an inner housing arranged within an outer insulated housing, wherein walls of the inner housing define a compartment for receiving consumable products, said walls comprising an inlet wall for inflow of a heat exchange fluid into the compartment, an opposed outlet wall for outflow of a heat exchange fluid out of the compartment, side walls and a base, the side walls and base adjoining the inlet wall to the outlet wall, wherein the inlet wall and outlet wall each include a series of apertures to accommodate a continuous heat exchange fluid flow through the apparatus such that, in operation, consumable products received in the compartment of the inner housing are immersed in the heat exchange fluid to exchange heat with the heat exchange fluid.