An automated order fulfillment system is disclosed having different temperature zones and robots and containers capable of and/or configured to work in these different temperature zones. Containers include insulated wall panels and a thermal insert which may be chilled to maintain a temperature within the container below ambient temperature. Structure within a storage location for the containers may be used to open and close the containers to facilitate cooling of the thermal insert.

Beverage container packing trays, systems, and techniques of packing beverage containers include at least a beverage container tray including beverage container contoured compartments configured to receive one or more beverage containers in a lay flat configuration. The beverage container contoured compartments include at least a cradle element, a conical element, and a neck support element. The beverage container tray includes thermo pack compartments that house transport thermo packs adjacent to at least a portion of the beverage containers.

A beverage container includes a base, a stem, and a bowl. The base has a base lateral dimension parallel to the horizontal supporting plane. The stem extends upwardly from a stem lower end coupled to the base to a stem upper end. The stem has a heat pipe extending between the stem lower end and the stem upper end. The stem has a stem lateral dimension smaller than the base lateral dimension. The bowl is coupled to the stem upper end and extends upwardly of the stem. The bowl defines a liquid chamber having an upper opening. Other beverage containers, systems, methods, and heat transfer pads are also disclosed.

A beverage container includes a base, a stem, and a bowl. The base has a base lateral dimension parallel to the horizontal supporting plane. The stem extends upwardly from a stem lower end coupled to the base to a stem upper end. The stem has a heat pipe extending between the stem lower end and the stem upper end. The stem has a stem lateral dimension smaller than the base lateral dimension. The bowl is coupled to the stem upper end and extends upwardly of the stem. The bowl defines a liquid chamber having an upper opening. Other beverage containers, systems, methods, and heat transfer pads are also disclosed.

A beverage dispenser for dispensing beverage containers includes an outer shell with an internal track that dispense rolling beverage containers from the track and one or more internal ice liners that retain ice to keep the beverage containers chilled.

A beverage dispenser for dispensing beverage containers includes an outer shell with an internal track that dispense rolling beverage containers from the track and one or more internal ice liners that retain ice to keep the beverage containers chilled.

A beverage chiller assembly has a bottom vessel portion and a top portion comprising a plurality of extruded tubes arranged in an array. The bottom and top portions fit together to receive and expeditiously chill a beverage, such as an individual portion of hot coffee, to produce ice coffee, or a bottle of white wine, or a serving of another beverage. The tubes are pre-cooled and extend vertically down into the beverage or fluid volume, and are arranged and dimensioned to provide effective, fast and substantially uniform cooling of the intended beverage volume to a specified serving temperature. Embodiments quickly convert hot coffee to iced coffee, or chill white wine to a proper temperature for serving. Specific embodiments may attain a stable final temperature and also function as serving vessels at table.

A beverage chiller assembly has a bottom vessel portion and a top portion comprising a plurality of extruded tubes arranged in an array. The bottom and top portions fit together to receive and expeditiously chill a beverage, such as an individual portion of hot coffee, to produce ice coffee, or a bottle of white wine, or a serving of another beverage. The tubes are pre-cooled and extend vertically down into the beverage or fluid volume, and are arranged and dimensioned to provide effective, fast and substantially uniform cooling of the intended beverage volume to a specified serving temperature. Embodiments quickly convert hot coffee to iced coffee, or chill white wine to a proper temperature for serving. Specific embodiments may attain a stable final temperature and also function as serving vessels at table.

Delivering items to users by a delivery organization comprises a recyclable delivery container suitable to hold multiple items at different temperatures for the duration of the delivery. The delivery container may be a cube or a rectangular prism constructed of an insulating material. The delivery organization may position panels in the delivery container to separate two or three compartments of the delivery container, each compartment to be cooled to a different temperature than the others. The panels are constructed of an insulating material created by recyclable layers of cardboard and plastic. The delivery organization determines an appropriate coolant to cool all three compartments based on heat transfer requirements of the compartments and positions the coolant in the bottom of the first compartment. The items are placed in the appropriate compartments of the delivery container. Vents can be provided to relieve pressure created by the coolant.

Delivering items to users by a delivery organization comprises a recyclable delivery container suitable to hold multiple items at different temperatures for the duration of the delivery. The delivery container may be a cube or a rectangular prism constructed of an insulating material. The delivery organization may position panels in the delivery container to separate two or three compartments of the delivery container, each compartment to be cooled to a different temperature than the others. The panels are constructed of an insulating material created by recyclable layers of cardboard and plastic. The delivery organization determines an appropriate coolant to cool all three compartments based on heat transfer requirements of the compartments and positions the coolant in the bottom of the first compartment. The items are placed in the appropriate compartments of the delivery container. Vents can be provided to relieve pressure created by the coolant.