초록 ▼

An automated freezer stores food items stacked in a removable cartridge. The food items are dispensed from the automated freezer in response to a request for the food items. The food items are loaded into the cartridge outside of the automated freezer. When the cartridge is inserted into the automat

An automated freezer stores food items stacked in a removable cartridge. The food items are dispensed from the automated freezer in response to a request for the food items. The food items are loaded into the cartridge outside of the automated freezer. When the cartridge is inserted into the automated freezer, the upper end of the cartridge is inserted into a buffer, pushing a plurality of arms in the buffer upwardly to allow food items to pass through the buffer. When the cartridge is removed from the freezer for reloading of food items, a resilient member biases the arms downwardly to retain any food items in the buffer and to prevent any food items in the buffer from falling.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An automated freezer comprising:a freezer compartment for storing food therein contained in a removable cartridge;a removable cartridge located in the freezer compartment for storing at least one item;a platform moveable within said removable cartridge in response to a request

What is claimed is: 1. An automated freezer comprising:a freezer compartment for storing food therein contained in a removable cartridge;a removable cartridge located in the freezer compartment for storing at least one item;a platform moveable within said removable cartridge in response to a request for said at least one item;a retention mechanism to retain at least a portion of said at least one item in the automated freezer when said cartridge is removed from the automated freezer, wherein said retention mechanism is a plurality of arms moveable between a first position and a second position, and said plurality of arms enter said inner passage when in said first position and said plurality of arms do not enter said inner passage when in said second position; anda buffer defining an inner passage, said buffer having a lower end and said retention mechanism, wherein said cartridge further includes an upper end, and said upper end of said cartridge is received in said lower end of said buffer.