A merchandiser for storing a product for purchase by a customer is disclosed. The merchandiser includes a housing that defines a cavity for storing the product and a controller for facilitating a transaction for the product at the merchandiser. The controller is configured to: receive an input to initiate a transaction for the product, the input including a type and an amount of product to be purchased; unlock a door of the merchandiser to enable a removal of the product based on receiving the input; determine a completion of the transaction based on the door being in a close position for more than a preset amount of time; and charge the customer for the type and amount of product based on the completion of the transaction.

A method for manufacturing a heat insulation box, wherein said method involves disposing an outer box over the outside of an inner box such that there is space therebetween, covering an opening with an elastic sheet from the outside of the outer box, inserting a jig into the opening from the outside of the outer box to force the elastic sheet into the space between the inner box and the outer box, and injecting the urethane foam heat insulating material into the space between the inner box and the outer box so as to foam therein to form a recess with the elastic sheet tightly adhering to the surface thereof.

A method for manufacturing a heat insulation box, wherein said method involves disposing an outer box over the outside of an inner box such that there is space therebetween, covering an opening with an elastic sheet from the outside of the outer box, inserting a jig into the opening from the outside of the outer box to force the elastic sheet into the space between the inner box and the outer box, and injecting the urethane foam heat insulating material into the space between the inner box and the outer box so as to foam therein to form a recess with the elastic sheet tightly adhering to the surface thereof.

A cryogenic freezer features a dewar defining a storage space. A reservoir is positioned within or adjacent to the storage space and is configured to contain a cryogenic liquid with a headspace above the cryogenic liquid in a reservoir interior space that is sealed with respect to the storage space. A refrigeration module is in heat exchange relationship with the reservoir. A sensor is configured to determine a temperature or pressure within the reservoir. A system controller is connected to the sensor and the refrigeration module and configured so that the refrigeration module is adjusted to provide additional cooling to the reservoir when a pressure or temperature within the headspace increases.

A cryogenic freezer features a dewar defining a storage space. A reservoir is positioned within or adjacent to the storage space and is configured to contain a cryogenic liquid with a headspace above the cryogenic liquid in a reservoir interior space that is sealed with respect to the storage space. A refrigeration module is in heat exchange relationship with the reservoir. A sensor is configured to determine a temperature or pressure within the reservoir. A system controller is connected to the sensor and the refrigeration module and configured so that the refrigeration module is adjusted to provide additional cooling to the reservoir when a pressure or temperature within the headspace increases.

An apparatus for cryostorage and manipulation of a plurality of container units includes a cryochamber having a cryo-access port. The cryochamber is electrically cooled at cryogenic temperatures. A unit holder is located inside the cryochamber and is configured to hold a plurality of container units. A user access area is provided for selectively permitting access to a chosen container unit by an authenticated user who has been authenticated by the apparatus. A motive grasper is provided for selectively removing the chosen container unit from the cryochamber through the cryo-access port, and selectively placing the chosen container unit into the user access area.

An apparatus for cryostorage and manipulation of a plurality of container units includes a cryochamber having a cryo-access port. The cryochamber is electrically cooled at cryogenic temperatures. A unit holder is located inside the cryochamber and is configured to hold a plurality of container units. A user access area is provided for selectively permitting access to a chosen container unit by an authenticated user who has been authenticated by the apparatus. A motive grasper is provided for selectively removing the chosen container unit from the cryochamber through the cryo-access port, and selectively placing the chosen container unit into the user access area.

In a refrigerator control method according to an embodiment of the present invention, a control unit intermittently turns on a temperature sensor on a predetermined cycle when a deep-freezing chamber mode is turned off, so that the temperature sensor senses the internal temperature of a deep-freezing chamber for a first set time, and the sensed internal temperature of the deep-freezing chamber is transmitted to the control unit so as to minimize power consumption.

A method for controlling a refrigerator including: determining whether a defrosting period for a freezing chamber and a deep freezing chamber has elapsed; when it is determined that the defrosting period has elapsed, performing a deep cooling operation for bringing at least one among the temperature of the deep freezing chamber and temperature of the freezing chamber down to a temperature lower than a control temperature; and defrosting the deep freezing chamber when the deep cooling operation is terminated. When the defrosting of the deep freezing chamber is started, a freezing chamber valve is closed to block cold air flow. The defrosting of the deep freezing chamber includes cold sink defrosting and heat sink defrosting performed after the cold sink defrosting is completed, and while the heat sink defrosting is being performed, a deep freezing chamber fan is driven to remove vapor generated during the cold sink defrosting.

A method for controlling a refrigerator including: determining whether a defrosting period for a freezing chamber and a deep freezing chamber has elapsed; when it is determined that the defrosting period has elapsed, performing a deep cooling operation for bringing at least one among the temperature of the deep freezing chamber and temperature of the freezing chamber down to a temperature lower than a control temperature; and defrosting the deep freezing chamber when the deep cooling operation is terminated. When the defrosting of the deep freezing chamber is started, a freezing chamber valve is closed to block cold air flow. The defrosting of the deep freezing chamber includes cold sink defrosting and heat sink defrosting performed after the cold sink defrosting is completed, and while the heat sink defrosting is being performed, a deep freezing chamber fan is driven to remove vapor generated during the cold sink defrosting.