Locker system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017299249-A1
Application number	US-201715609874-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 31, 2017
Priority date	Jan 29, 2014
Publication date	Oct 19, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A temperature controlled storage apparatus includes a plurality of lockable storage spaces. Each of the plurality of lockable storage spaces includes one or more compartments. The temperature of each of the one or more compartments is independently controllable to provide any one of a chilled temperature or a frozen temperature. Access to the storage space is remotely programmable.

First claim

1 - 56 . (canceled)

57 . An assembly of storage spaces, comprising:
a) three or more storage spaces, each of the three or more storage spaces comprising one or more compartments; wherein each of the three or more storage spaces comprises a remotely programmable insulated lockable door; and b) at least one common distribution system comprising a refrigerant that is arranged to be in cooperation with a refrigeration system, said at least one common distribution system distributing the refrigerant to exchange heat with the one or more compartments in the each of the three or more storage spaces; c) a heating system for providing heat to each of the compartments; and wherein the one or more compartments is independently controllable to any of:—
i) ambient storage temperature having a temperature range between 4° C. to 21° C.; or
ii) chilled temperature; or
iii) frozen temperature.

58 . The assembly of claim 57 , wherein each of the three of more storage spaces comprising a plurality of compartments.

59 . The assembly of claim 57 , wherein each of the compartments comprises;
a) a cavity; b) an insulating layer exterior of the cavity; c) at least one heat exchanger for cooperation with the refrigeration system, said at least one heat exchanger being mounted to at least one wall of the cavity and partially embedded within the insulation layer.

60 . The assembly of claim 59 , wherein (a) each cavity has an internal volume of (i) substantially 65 litres or (ii) substantially 145 litres or (iii) substantially 226 litres or (b) each cavity has an internal length of substantially 620 mm and a width of substantially 420 mm and a height of (i) substantially 250 mm or (ii) substantially 560 mm or (iii) substantially 870 mm.

61 . The assembly of claim 57 , wherein the assembly of storage spaces comprises a housing having a cavity with internal frontal dimensions to accommodate the three or more storage spaces and the one or more compartments have external dimensions in substantially integral ratios such that different combinations of the one or more compartments substantially fills the cavity and the height of the one or more compartments are in substantially integral ratios and the width of the one or more compartments are in substantially integral ratios and the depth of the one or more compartments are in substantially integral ratios and the integral ratios is x:y:z, where x or y or z has any value of 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5.

62 . The assembly of claim 57 , wherein the refrigeration system is located remotely to the assembly of storage spaces; and wherein the refrigeration system is in cooperation with the at least one common distribution system.

63 . The assembly of claim 57 , wherein the quantity of heat transferred to the refrigerant is separately varied through a heat exchanger.

64 . The assembly of claim 63 , wherein the quantity of heat transferred is varied by varying a duration of time the refrigerant passes to the compartments or through the heat exchanger and/or wherein the quantity of heat transferred is varied by varying the quantity of refrigerant to the compartments.

65 . The assembly of claim 57 , wherein the assembly comprises a chiller unit in cooperation with the refrigeration system so as to dissipate heat from the refrigerant; the chiller unit is a separate chiller refrigeration unit, said chiller unit is in cooperation with the refrigeration system by a separate distribution system for distributing a heat transfer fluid to exchange heat with the refrigerant in the refrigeration system.

66 . The assembly of claim 65 , wherein the refrigeration system of the assembly is a primary refrigeration system and said separate distribution system distributes the heat transfer fluid to exchange heat with refrigerant from a plurality of primary refrigeration systems.

67 . The assembly of claim 57 , wherein each compartment comprises at least one fan for varying the quantity of heat transfer between the refrigerant and the compartment.

68 . The assembly of any of claim 57 , wherein the each of the compartments are modular.

69 . The assembly of claim 57 , wherein the each of the compartments are removable.

70 . The assembly of any of claim 57 , wherein one or more sealing members are provided to effect sealing each of the compartments from the atmosphere and wherein the sealing members are provided on the remotely programmable insulated lockable door, in or adjacent the compartments or both on the remotely programmable insulated lockable door and in or adjacent the compartments.

71 . The assembly of claim 57 , wherein the remotely programmable insulated lockable door comprising a master door, said master door comprising fixing points for detachably securing at least one insulating panel to the master door and the at least one insulating panel is detachably secured to the master door by means of a snap-on fixture or magnetic means.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Dade Nigel
• Hunt Gareth
• Chung Hoi Kan
• Imam Nashim

Classifications

• G07C9/23

  by means of a password · CPC title

• F25B5/02

  arranged in parallel · CPC title

• G07F11/62

  in which the articles are stored in compartments in fixed receptacles · CPC title

• F25B29/003

  of the compression type system · CPC title

• G07F9/105

  Heating or cooling means, for temperature and humidity control, for the conditioning of articles and their storage (dispensers for food articles requiring a processing by temperature treatment or conditioning before they are ready for dispensing G07F17/0064) · CPC title