A refrigeration device includes a cabinet defining a compartment and is operable to control an environment within the compartment. At least one sensor is associated with the compartment. A processor receives compartment data from the at least one sensor associated with the compartment. The processor operates an environmental control system of the refrigeration device according to the compartment data. The processor is communicatively connected to and operates a graphical display of an input module to present compartment data in a graphical user interface of the input module.

Provided is a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a main body defining a storage space, a cryogenic freezing compartment provided in the storage space, and a thermoelectric module assembly disposed at one side of the cryogenic freezing compartment so that the cryogenic freezing compartment is cooled to a temperature less than that of the storage space. The cryogenic freezing compartment includes a cryogenic case into which an insulation material is filled to be thermally insulated from the storage space and in which a cryogenic freezing space is defined, a case door opening and closing the cryogenic case, and a rail assembly connecting the cryogenic case to the case door and extending and contracted in multi-stages to allow the case door to be slid to be inserted and withdrawn. The rail assembly is mounted on the cryogenic case outside the cryogenic freezing space.

In a method for freezing a liquid located in a container, in particular a liquid drug, the container is exposed to a cold gas in order to freeze the liquid. The cold gas preferably flows around the container, and/or is cooled in another way in order to freeze the liquid. The container is insulated at a surface of at least one first volume portion of the container, and the container is cooled nearly immediately at a surface of a second volume portion of the container by the cold gas such that the liquid freezes through later in the at least one first volume portion than in the second volume portion.

In a method for freezing a liquid located in a container, in particular a liquid drug, the container is exposed to a cold gas in order to freeze the liquid. The cold gas preferably flows around the container, and/or is cooled in another way in order to freeze the liquid. The container is insulated at a surface of at least one first volume portion of the container, and the container is cooled nearly immediately at a surface of a second volume portion of the container by the cold gas such that the liquid freezes through later in the at least one first volume portion than in the second volume portion.

A vending machine that automatically heats frozen foods, to provide customers with rapidly heated food. The vending machine has separate freezing and heating units, which are highly effective for their respective functions and yet sufficiently insulated from each other so as not to affect the quality of the food. In addition, the vending machine has a mechanism to transmit the food from the freezing to the heating unit for rapid heating, and to a pickup unit for the customer to pickup the food.

A vending machine that automatically heats frozen foods, to provide customers with rapidly heated food. The vending machine has separate freezing and heating units, which are highly effective for their respective functions and yet sufficiently insulated from each other so as not to affect the quality of the food. In addition, the vending machine has a mechanism to transmit the food from the freezing to the heating unit for rapid heating, and to a pickup unit for the customer to pickup the food.

A method efficiently changes the state of an object at low cost and in a short time, in which a state change control device changes the state of an object by bringing the object into contact with an ice slurry to cause a temperature change to the object. The device includes an ice slurry contact part that brings the object and the ice slurry into contact with each other at a predetermined relative speed and changes the temperature of the object, and an ice slurry supply part that supplies the ice slurry to the ice slurry contact part.

A method efficiently changes the state of an object at low cost and in a short time, in which a state change control device changes the state of an object by bringing the object into contact with an ice slurry to cause a temperature change to the object. The device includes an ice slurry contact part that brings the object and the ice slurry into contact with each other at a predetermined relative speed and changes the temperature of the object, and an ice slurry supply part that supplies the ice slurry to the ice slurry contact part.

A merchandiser for storing a product for purchase by a customer is disclosed. The merchandiser includes a housing defining a cavity; a door coupled to the housing; a platform located in the cavity for holding the product; a load cell structured to measure a mass of the product; and a controller communicably coupled to the load cell. The controller is structured to unlock the door based on a validation of payment information of the customer, determine a weight of product removed during a transaction for the product, determine a type of the product removed from the ice merchandiser based on the determined weight, and determine an amount of currency required for the transaction for the product based on the determined type of product removed.

A merchandiser for storing a product for purchase by a customer is disclosed. The merchandiser includes a housing defining a cavity; a door coupled to the housing; a platform located in the cavity for holding the product; a load cell structured to measure a mass of the product; and a controller communicably coupled to the load cell. The controller is structured to unlock the door based on a validation of payment information of the customer, determine a weight of product removed during a transaction for the product, determine a type of the product removed from the ice merchandiser based on the determined weight, and determine an amount of currency required for the transaction for the product based on the determined type of product removed.