CPC B65G 1/137 (2013.01) [B65G 1/045 (2013.01); B65G 1/133 (2013.01); F25D 13/06 (2013.01); G07F 11/54 (2013.01); F25D 2500/06 (2013.01)] | 19 Claims |
1. An automated temperature sensitive product cold storage unit comprising:
(a) a housing comprising at least one product access panel, wherein inside the housing at least the following are disposed:
(i) a product loading zone accessible via the access panel and configured to receive one or more temperature sensitive products, optionally vaccine products, pharmaceutical products, and/or reagents;
(ii) a stationary storage area framework comprising a hollow core and a plurality of independently addressable storage bays cylindrically arrayed within the stationary storage area framework around the core, each storage bay being configured to store one or more temperature sensitive products or product carriers;
(iii) at least one accessible temperature-controlled cold storage zone that bounds a volume that encloses at least a portion of the plurality of independently addressable storage bays in the storage area framework, which cold storage zone comprises at least one temperature sensor; and
(iv) one robot, which robot is a rotatable R, Θ, Z gantry robot disposed in the hollow core of the cylindrically arrayed storage area framework and is configured to transport temperature sensitive products or product carriers between the loading zone and storage bays of the stationary storage area framework;
(b) a refrigeration unit operably connected to the cold storage zone; and
(c) a computer(s) configured to control operation of the cold storage unit and maintain a temperature between about 1° C. and about 12° C. in at least one accessible temperature-controlled cold storage zone.
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