US 11,988,435 B2
Automated blast cell loading and unloading
Daniël Walet, Irvine, CA (US); Alexander Ming Zhang, San Diego, CA (US); Claire O'Connor, Olathe, KS (US); and Ben Philipsen, Olathe, KS (US)
Assigned to Lineage Logistics, LLC, Irvine, CA (US)
Filed by Lineage Logistics, LLC, Irvine, CA (US)
Filed on Jun. 21, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/339,006.
Application 18/339,006 is a continuation of application No. 17/540,202, filed on Dec. 1, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0349621 A1, Nov. 2, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F25D 17/06 (2006.01); F25D 17/04 (2006.01); F25D 23/02 (2006.01); F25D 25/04 (2006.01); B66C 19/00 (2006.01)
CPC F25D 17/06 (2013.01) [F25D 17/045 (2013.01); F25D 23/02 (2013.01); F25D 25/04 (2013.01); B66C 19/00 (2013.01); F25D 2317/063 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for cooling items, the system comprising:
a blast chilling area in a facility;
a plurality of blast cells positioned in the blast chilling area, wherein the plurality of blast cells are separated by aisles, each of the plurality of blast cells comprising:
a housing defining (i) a bay space, (ii) a first air passage in a first end of the bay space, and (iii) a second air passage in an opposing second end of the bay space, wherein the bay space, the first air passage, and the second air passage collectively provide a closed-loop within which air is circulated within the housing, wherein the bay space includes a plurality of layers that are each configured to hold one or more rows of items to be cooled,
a plurality of channels arranged within the rear air passage, each of the plurality of channels defining a fluid pathway that is fluidly separate from other fluid pathways provided by others of the plurality of channels, the plurality of channels configured to, over their length, turn a direction of airflow from the rear end of the bay space through the plurality of layers, and
a door positioned on a side of the housing configured to be opened and closed to load and unload the items onto the one or more rows of the plurality of layers in the bay space; and
at least one autonomous machine configured to automatically move in the aisles separating the plurality of blast cells in the blast chilling area, the at least one autonomous machine further configured to load and unload the items in each of the plurality of blast cells.