ROTO molded freezer cabinet with drop-in refrigerant unit

Abstract

A freezer or ice merchandiser that includes a roto molded freezer cabinet having a first access panel for consumers and a second access panel for restocking agents. In some cases, the second access panel may allow for loading and unloading of pallets of goods, such as packages of ice, via a pallet jack or forklift. The freezer cabinet may also include one or more ramps for assisting the restocking agent in loading and unloading pallets of goods stored within an interior of the freezer cabinet.

Description

ROTO MOLDED FREEZER CABINET WITH DROP-IN REFRIGERANT UNITCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 595,408, filed on November 2, 2023 and entitled “ROTO MOLDED FREEZER CABINET WITH DROP-IN REFRIGERANT UNIT,” the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND

[0002] Today, the packaged ice industry utilizes standard freezer cabinets that typically include a single door for the loading and unloading of bags or packages of ice. Conventionally, a purchaser removes a single bag of ice from a top of a stack of ice bags leaving the lower bags in place. Likewise, when the freezer cabinet is loaded, a user may pile additional ice bags onto the stack through the door as a one by one process that is both time consuming and costly. In some cases, if the user fails to remove the older bags of ice from the bottom and reload with the newer bags on top, the lower bags may over time develop freezer burn and / or become a solid block of ice opposed to individual cubes or nuggets, thereby damaging the product prior to sale.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0003] The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The use of the same reference numbers in different figures indicates similar or identical components or features.

[0004] FIG. 1 is an example perspective view of a freezer cabinet or merchandiser according to some implementations.

[0005] FIG. 2 is an example front view of a freezer cabinet or merchandiser of FIG. 1 according to some implementations.

[0006] FIG. 3 is an example side view of a freezer cabinet or merchandiser of FIG. 1 according to some implementations.

[0007] FIG. 4 is an example perspective view of a stocked freezer cabinet or merchandiser of FIG. 1 with the second access panel open according to some implementations.

[0008] FIG. 5 is an example perspective view of an empty freezer cabinet or merchandiser of FIG. 1 with the second access panel open according to some implementations.

[0009] FIG. 6 is an example perspective view of a freezer cabinet or merchandiser of FIG. 1 with the first access panel open according to some implementations.

[0010] FIG. 7 is an example perspective view of a freezer cabinet associated with the merchandiser of FIG. 1 according to some implementations.

[0011] FIG. 8 is an example exploded view of a refrigeration unit associated with the merchandiser of FIG. 1 according to some implementations.

[0012] FIG. 9 is an example front view of a refrigeration unit associated with the merchandiser of FIG. 1 with the cover removed according to some implementations.

[0013] FIG. 10 is an example perspective view of a refrigeration unit associated with the merchandiser of FIG. 1 with the cover removed according to some implementations.

[0014] FIG. 11 is an example zoomed view of the first ramp and the second ramp of the merchandiser of FIG. 1 according to some implementations.

[0015] The figures depict various embodiments for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following discussion that alternativeembodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles described herein.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] Discussed herein is a freezer cabinet or merchandiser for use in various types of retail sales of packaged ice or bags of ice. For example, conventional ice merchandisers are constructed from sheet metal, foam, and wood. These conventional ice merchandisers require labor-intensive assembly processes and are susceptible to damage. In contrast, the freezer cabinet or merchandiser, discussed herein, is configured for a streamlined manufacturing process that produces a freezer cabinet or merchandiser having a robust or durable exterior, reducing the chances of dings and dents. Moreover, the lighter weight of the freezer cabinet enables easier mobility, addressing ergonomic concerns and reducing the risk of injuries. For example, the freezer cabinet or merchandiser may be manufactured using a rotomolded process that generates a hollow plastic exterior by slowly rotating and heating a mold filled with resin or various plastic powders. As one illustrative example, the freezer cabinet may be formed of Polyethylene. The freezer cabinet may then accommodate a drop-in refrigerant unit that may be easily installed and allow for efficient colling of the entire cabinet’s interior. In one example, the condensing unit of the drop-in refrigerant unit may be attached to the top of a unifying base and an evaporator of the drop in refrigerant unit may be attached to the bottom, such that the evaporator may be located within the cavity defined by the freezer cabinet.

[0017] The conventional ice merchandisers also require labor-intensive manual loading and unloading of packaged ice or bags of ice on a regular basis. For example, a retail establishment may utilize the conventional ice merchandiser by allowing a customer topurchase single bags or packages of ice in which the purchaser is responsible for selecting and removing the package of ice from the merchandiser. However, when the conventional ice merchandiser is loaded or stocked, a stocking agent, typically an employee or delivery agent, replaces consumed packages of ice with new packages via a loading process that requires each package to be placed within the conventional ice merchandiser. In some cases, if the stocking agent fails to remove the older packages of ice from the bottom and restocks the merchandiser by placing the newer packages on top of older ones, the older bags may, over time, develop freezer bum and / or become solid, thereby damaging the product prior to a sale.

[0018] Accordingly, unlike the conventional ice merchandiser, the freezer cabinet or merchandiser, discussed herein, is configured with a first door that may be utilized by a customer to purchase and remove single packages of ice and a second door that may be used by the restocking agent to load an entire pallet of packaged ice at one time. In some cases, the freezer cabinet or merchandiser, discussed herein, may be configured to accommodate a forklift or other equipment access to the storage area via the second door to lift and remove remaining packages within the freezer cabinet and to load new packages in a labor and time efficient manner that eliminates the manual package or bag handling. Additionally, if any packages of ice are left on the removed pallet, those packages can be loaded on top of the newly inserted pallet and packages ensuring that the oldest packages are consumed prior to the newly added ones, thereby mitigating risk of damage (e.g., freezer bum, frost bite, solidification, and the like) to the products prior to sale.

[0019] In some implementations, the freezer cabinet or merchandiser discussed herein, may include a first access panel or door for use by a consumer along a front facing surface and a second access panel or door that may allow a restocking agent to open oraccess substantially all of the front surface. In some cases, one or more foldable ramps may be deployed when the second access panel or door is open to allow for loading and unloading equipment (e.g., a forklift, pallet jack, or the like) to quickly remove a stocked pallet and replace with a newly fully stocked pallet.

[0020] In some cases, the foldable ramp may include a first ramp and a second ramp that are spaced apart to accommodate an expected wheel distance of a pallet jack or forklift, or the like. In some cases, the foldable ramp may be retractable into the freezer cabinet during use, foldable to fit between a loaded pallet and the second door (e.g., the front surface of the freezer cabinet or the like), or otherwise obstructed from the view of a consumer when accessing the packages of ice via the first door.

[0021] In some cases, the freezer cabinet may include an opening, recess, or area for receiving and mating with a drop-in refrigerant unit along a top surface. The use of a drop-in refrigerant unit may allow for ease of installation at a factory or on-site (e.g., at a retail establishment location, and the like) as well as to allow for ease of repair in case of damage. For instance, if a drop-in refrigerant unit fails, the merchandiser may be repaired by removal of the damaged unit and installation of a new operational drop-in refrigerant unit.

[0022] FIG. 1 is an example diagram of an ice merchandiser 100 according to some implementations. As discussed above, the ice merchandiser 100 may include a freezer cabinet 102 configured to receive a drop-in refrigerant unit 104 along a top surface 106 of the cabinet 102. In some cases, the drop-in refrigerant unit 104 may have various form factors and the top surface 106 of the cabinet 102 may include an opening or recessed area to receive the drop-in refrigerant unit 104, such that the drop-in refrigerant unit 104 may be installed and / or replaced on site at a retail vendor without the need to remove and replace the entire ice merchandiser 100.

[0023] The freezer cabinet 102 may include a front surface 108 that is configured to be accessible by a consumer when the ice merchandiser 100 is installed on-site at a retail vendor or other establishment. In some cases, the front surface 108 may include a first access panel or door 110 and a second access panel or door 112. In the current example, the first access panel 110 is configured along an upper portion of the front surface 108 of the freezer cabinet 102.

[0024] The first access panel 110 may be configured to allow a consumer to open or otherwise access the contents of the freezer cabinet 102 (e.g., packages or bags of ice or other frozen goods, such as vegetables, meats, and the like) and remove single instances or packages of from within the freezer cabinet 102. In some cases, the first access panel 110 may be between approximately 20 inches and 70 inches tall and 20 inches and 45 inches wide. In other examples, the first access panel 110 may be between approximately 30 inches and 60 inches tall and 30 inches and 40 inches wide. In various examples, the first access panel 110 may allow access to the interior of the freezer cabinet 102 while the second access panel 112 remains closed.

[0025] In the illustrated example, the second access panel 112 may configured to open or otherwise allow access to the interior of the freezer cabinet 102 in addition to the first access panel 110. In some cases, the first access panel 110 may be integral to a surface of the second access panel 112, such that the first access panel 110 forms a portion of the surface of the second access panel 112. In this manner, the second access panel 112 is larger (in both width and height) than the first access panel 110. The second access panel 112 may be configured to allow access to a re-stocking agent when the contents of the freezer cabinet 112 are depleted or consumed or partially depleted or consumed. For example, in some cases, the second access panel 112 may be substantially the entirety of the front surface 108 of the freezer cabinet 102. Forexample, the second access panel 112 may be between approximately 90 inches and 110 inches tall and 40 inches and 60 inches wide. In other examples, the second access panel 112 may be between approximately 95 inches and 100 inches tall and 50 inches and 55 inches wide. In one specific example, the second access panel 112 may be approximately 99.5 inches tall and 52 inches wide.

[0026] In some examples, the top surface 106 may also be between approximately 40 inches and 100 inches deep. In other examples, the top surface 106 may also be between approximately 50 inches and 70 inches deep. In one specific example, the top surface 106 may be approximately 62.16 inches deep.

[0027] In some cases, the second access panel 112 may be configured to allow the restocking agent to load and unload pallets of goods in and out of the freezer cabinet as a batch process or single task. For example, the restocking agent may utilize a pallet jack or forklift to lift and remove a pallet of at least partially consumed or depleted goods from the interior of the freezer cabinet 102 and subsequently load a new or fresh pallet of the goods into the freezer cabinet 102 as a replacement or restocking event. Accordingly, unlike conventional ice or freezer merchandisers that require manual removal of each individual package of goods from the interior of the conventional freezer cabinet, the ice merchandiser 100, discussed herein, allows from restocking via use of a full pallet of goods via a single actions, thereby substantially reducing restocking costs and time when compared to conventional ice or freezer merchandisers.

[0028] The side surface 116 may also include a number of recessed areas 114 to assist a restocking agent in opening the second access panel 112. In some cases, each of the recessed areas 114 may allow for a locking mechanism or latching mechanism to secure the second access panel 112 to the freezer cabinet 102 during normal retail operations.

[0029] FIG. 2 is an example front view of a freezer cabinet or merchandiser 100 according to some implementations. As discussed above, the merchandiser 100 is configured to have a first access panel 110 for use by a consumer to remove individual packages of goods, such as ice, and a second access panel 112 for use by a restocking agent to load and unload pallets of goods, such as ice. In the current example, the first access panel 110 may include a handle 202 or the like to assist a consumer in opening and closing the first access panel 110. The front surface 108 of the freezer cabinet 102 may also include a shield 204 to allow air to pass out of the freezer cabinet 102 as part of the refrigeration or cooling system.

[0030] In some cases, the freezer cabinet 102, including the first access panel 110 and the second access panel 112, may be roto molded from a plastic, polymer, or other similar material (such as Polyethylene and polyurethane) that is light weight and insulating. By utilizing a roto molding process for the freezer cabinet 102, the manufacturing costs may be reduced when compared to conventional metal cabinets while the speed of manufacturing may be increased. Likewise, installation of the roto molded freezer cabinet 102 on-site at the retail establishment may have reduced costs and increased speeds when compared to conventional heavy metal freezer cabinets.

[0031] FIG. 3 is an example side view of a freezer cabinet or merchandiser 100 of FIG. 1 according to some implementations. In the current example, the side surface of the freezer cabinet 116 is shown. As discussed above the side surface 116 and / or the opposing side surface (not shown) may include the plurality of hinges or joints which may be recessed into the side surface 116 to allow the second access panel 112 to fully open aside from the front surface 108 of the freezer cabinet 102. In this manner, the second access panel 112 may open sufficiently to allow the restocking agent to loadand / or unload pallets of goods from the interior of the freezer cabinet 102, as discussed herein.

[0032] In the current example, the side surface 116 may also include a locking mechanisms 302 for the second access panel 112. For example, the second access panel 112 may include one or more locking or mating components that are configured to lock or otherwise secure the second access panel 112 in a closed position while the ice merchandiser 100 is in use by the retail establishment. For example, the locking mechanisms 302 may include a key based locking system, an electronic locking system (e.g., a code based, wireless signal based, biometric based, or the like locking mechanism).

[0033] As illustrated, the freezer cabinet 102 may also include the first access panel 110 having a handle 202 to allow a consumer to access the goods (such as packages of ice) within the freezer cabinet 102 and remove individual packages, as discussed herein. In the current example, the freezer cabinet 102 has a right side of the freezer cabinet illustrated. However, it should be understood that either the right side or the left side of the freezer cabinets 102 may include the plurality of recessed areas 114 and / or the locking mechanism 302.

[0034] FIG. 4 is an example perspective view of a stocked freezer cabinet or merchandiser 100 of FIG. 1 with the second access panel 112 open according to some implementations. As illustrated, the second access panel 112 is open and the first access panel 110 is closed, such that the merchandiser 100 is in a restocking configuration. As illustrated, the interior 402 of the freezer cabinet 102 is fully exposed as the second access panel 112 together with the integrated first access panel 110 are positioned fully to the side of the opening to the interior 402. For example, the second access panel 112 may be coupled to a side surface of the freezer cabinet 102 via a hinged mechanism404, generally indicated by 404. For instance, the second access panel 112 may also include a plurality of hinges or joints 404 to allow the front surface 108 of the freezer cabinet 102 and / or the second access panel 112 to open outward and aside from the opening to the interior 402 of the freezer cabinet 102.

[0035] In this manner, the second access panel 112 (together with the integrated first access panel 110) may be moved to the exterior of the opening replacing the front surface 108 of the freezer cabinet 102 during a restocking event. In some cases, the hinged mechanism 404 may be recessed into a side surface of the freezer cabinet 102 to allow for a wider opening of the second access panel 112 during a restocking event. In various cases, the hinged mechanism 404 may be configured on either side of the freezer cabinet 102 to allow for a modular access panel that may open in either direction (e.g., to the right or left of the freezer cabinet 102) based on situation and space available on-site at a retail establishment.

[0036] In some specific examples, the second access panel 112 and the hinged mechanism 404 may be along the top surface 106 of the freezer cabinet 102 to allow the second access panel 112 to open upwards from the freezer cabinet 102 when movement and space on-site is limited. Likewise, the first access panel 110 may be configured to open to the right, left, and / or upwards during use based on available space on-site at the retail establishment.

[0037] In one specific example, the second access panel 112 may be hinged or jointed to deploy downwards from the freezer cabinet 102 such that the second access panel 112 itself may form a ramp for the pallet jack to load and unload the pallets from the freezer cabinet 102. In yet other examples, the second access panel 112 may be bifurcated to allow, for example, a portion of the second access panel to open to the left and a second portion to open to the right. As another example of a bifurcated secondaccess panel 112, the first portion may be configured to open upwards, and the second portion may open downward and again act as a ramp to assist with loading and unloading of pallets from the interior of the freezer cabinet 102.

[0038] In the current example, the freezer cabinet 102 includes a first retractable or hinged ramp 406 and a second retractable or hinged ramp 408. In the current example, the first ramp 406 and the second ramp 408 may be configured to align with wheels of a pallet jack or forklift that maybe used to load and unload pallets 410 of goods (such as packages of ice) into and out of the cavity defined by the interior 402 of the freezer cabinet 102. In the current example, the first ramp 406 and the second ramps 408 may each include a reattaching or folding mechanism, generally indicated by 412. The reattaching or folding mechanism 412 is configured to close into the interior 402 of the freezer cabinet 102 while the pallet 410 is in place within the interior 402 and the second access panel 112 is in a closed configuration.

[0039] In some cases, a distance between a center of the first ramp and a center of the second ramp may be approximately 14 inches. For example, the distance between the first ramp and the second ramp may be configured to accommodate the distance between the forks and / or wheels of a standard pallet jack or the like. As one illustrative example, the distance between a center of the first ramp and a center of the second ramp may be between approximately 12 inches and 16 inches. In another illustrative example, the distance between a center of the first ramp and a center of the second ramp may be between approximately 10 inches and 18 inches.

[0040] FIG. 5 is an example perspective view of an empty freezer cabinet or merchandiser 100 of FIG. 1 with the second access panel open 112 according to some implementations. As illustrated, the second access panel 112 is open and the first access panel 110 is closed, such that the merchandiser 100 is in a restocking configuration. Asillustrated, the interior 402 of the freezer cabinet 102 is fully exposed as the second access panel 112 together with the integrated first access panel 110 are positioned fully to the side of the opening to the interior 402. For example, as discussed above, the second access panel 112 may be coupled to a side surface of the freezer cabinet 102 via the hinged mechanism 404, generally indicated by 404.

[0041] In some cases, the second access panel 112 may also include a plurality of hinges or joints 404 to allow the front surface 108 of the freezer cabinet 102 and / or the second access panel 112 to open outward and aside from the opening to the interior 402 of the freezer cabinet 102. In this manner, the second access panel 112 (together with the integrated first access panel 110) may be moved to the exterior of the opening replacing the front surface 108 of the freezer cabinet 102 during a restocking event.

[0042] As discussed herein, the freezer cabinet 102 includes the first retractable ramp 406 and the second retractable ramp 408. In the current example, the first ramp 406 and the second ramp 408 may be configured to align with wheels of a pallet jack or forklift that maybe used to load and unload pallets of goods (such as packages of ice) into and out of the cavity defined by the interior 402 of the freezer cabinet 102.

[0043] In the current example, the bottom surface 502 of the interior 402 of the freezer cabinet 102 may include one or more pads 504 to assist with preventing the pallet from moving when the pallet is loaded into the interior 402 of the freezer cabinet 102 and when a customer is removing individual packages of goods, such as ice, via the first access panel 110. In some examples, the pads 504 may have a coefficient of friction greater than or equal to 0.5. In other cases, the coefficient of friction for the pads 504 may be greater than or equal to 0.6 and may be formed from a rubberized or polyurethane material.

[0044] In the current example, the freezer cabinet 102 may include one or more sensors, such as sensor 506. In some cases, the sensor 506 may include one more image devices or proximity sensors that generate data usable to determine if the contents of the interior 402 of the freezer cabinet 102 require restocking. For instance, the sensor data may indicate that a level of the goods within the cabinet 102 are equal to or below a desired threshold. In these cases, the merchandiser 100 may be configured to send a restocking alert or notification to a restocking agent (such as via an application installed on an electronic device associated with the restocking agent, a user associated with the retail establishment, and / or the like).

[0045] FIG. 6 is an example perspective view of a freezer cabinet or merchandiser 100 of FIG. 1 with the first access panel open 110 according to some implementations. In the current example, a pallet of goods (such as packages of ice) may be loaded into the merchandiser 100 and a consumer may have purchased a package. The consumer may open or access the interior 402 of the freezer cabinet 102 via the first access panel 110 which is shown in an open configuration.

[0046] FIG. 7 is an example perspective view of a freezer cabinet 102 associated with the merchandiser 100 of FIG. 1 according to some implementations. In the current example, the recess or opening 702 for receiving the refrigerant unit 104 (not shown) is illustrated. In this manner, the refrigerant unit 104 may be releasably coupled to the freezer cabinet 102 in a manner that the refrigerant unit 104 may draw fresh air from the exterior environment, cool the air, and output the air into the cavity defined by the interior surface 402 of the cabinet 102, thereby providing a controlled interior 402 environment within the freezer cabinet 102.

[0047] In the current example, a bottom surface 704 of the freezer cabinet 102 is shown.In this example, the bottom surface 704 may include one or more rows of pads orstabilizers 706. In some cases, the rows of pads or stabilizers 706 may prevent the freezer cabinet 102 from moving during use or once installed on-site at a retail establishment.

[0048] FIG. 8 is an example exploded view of a refrigeration unit 104 associated with the merchandiser 100 of FIG. 1 according to some implementations, FIG. 9 is an example front view of a refrigeration unit 104 associated with the merchandiser 100 of FIG. 1 with the cover 802 removed according to some implementations, and FIG. 10 is an example perspective view of a refrigeration unit 102 associated with the merchandiser of FIG. 1 with the cover 802 removed according to some implementations.

[0049] In the current examples, the refrigeration unit 104 may include a cooling system 804 condenser unit 806 and fan or blower 808. The refrigeration unit 104 may also include a mounting platform 810 for coupling the refrigeration unit 104 to the freezer cabinet and an evaporator 812 for pumping cooled air into the cavity of the interior of the freezer cabinet. In some cases, the refrigeration unit 104 may include a wireless control system that may comprise an antenna 814 and one or more control boards, generally indicated by 816. In these examples, a user may control the temperature within the merchandiser via a wireless system, such as an application installed on a portable electronic device.

[0050] In some cases, the mounting platform 810 may be coupled to the freezer cabinet via one or more bolts and may include an opening 1002 to allow for one or more lines to pass from the cooling system 804 to the evaporator 812 and / or the interior of the freezer cabinet.

[0051] As discussed herein, the refrigeration unit 104 may be modular such that the unit 104 may be installed and / or replaced on-site at retail establishment without requiring the removal and / or replacement of the freezer cabinet.

[0052] FIG. 11 is an example zoomed view of the first ramp 406 and the second ramp 408 of the merchandiser 100 of FIG. 1 according to some implementations. For example, as discussed herein, the freezer cabinet 102 includes a first retractable or hinged ramp 406 and a second retractable or hinged ramp 408. In the current example, the first ramp 406 and the second ramp 408 may be configured to align with wheels of a pallet jack that maybe used to load and unload pallets of goods (such as packages of ice) into and out of the cavity defined by the interior 402 of the freezer cabinet 102. In the current example, the first ramp 406 and the second ramps 408 may each include a reattaching or folding mechanism 412. The reattaching or folding mechanism 412 is configured to close into the interior 402 of the freezer cabinet 102 while the pallet 410 is in place within the interior 402 and the second access panel 112 is in a closed configuration.

[0053] In some cases, a distance between a center of the first ramp 406 and a center of the second ramp 408 may be approximately 14 inches. For example, the distance between the first ramp and the second ramp may be configured to accommodate the distance between the forks and / or wheels of a standard pallet jack or the like. As one illustrative example, the distance between a center of the first ramp and a center of the second ramp may be between approximately 12 inches and 16 inches. In another illustrative example, the distance between a center of the first ramp and a center of the second ramp may be between approximately 10 inches and 18 inches.

[0054] In the current example, the pads 504 along the bottom surface of the interior 402 of the freezer cabinet 102 may assist with preventing the pallet from moving whenthe pallet is loaded into the freezer cabinet 102, such as when a customer is removing individual packages of goods (e.g., ice) via the first access panel 110. In some examples, the pads 504 may have a coefficient of friction greater than or equal to 0.5. In other cases, the coefficient of friction for the pads 504 may be greater than or equal to 0.6 and may be formed from a rubberized or polyurethane material.

[0055] Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features described. Rather, the specific features are disclosed as illustrative forms of implementing the claims.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A freezer merchandi ser compri sing : a freezer cabinet having a plurality of surfaces that define a cavity, the freezer cabinet including: a first access panel along a front surface of the plurality of surfaces of the freezer cabinet having an open configuration to allow access to the cavity and a close configuration to seal the cavity from an exterior environment; a second access panel along the front surface of the plurality of surfaces of the freezer cabinet having an open configuration to allow access to the cavity and a closed confirmation to seal the cavity from an exterior environment, the first access panel forming a portion of the second access panel; and a refrigerant unit configured to maintain a controlled environment within the cavity by cooling air to a desired temperature and exhausting the cooled air into the cavity of the freezer unit.

2. The freezer merchandiser of claim 1, wherein the freezer cabinet includes a recessed area along a top surface of the plurality of surfaces to receive the drop-in refrigerant unit.

3. The freezer merchandiser of claim 1 , wherein the freezer cabinet is formed from a roto molded polymer.

4. The freezer merchandiser of claim 1, wherein: a depth of the freezer cabinet is between approximately 40 inches and 100 inches; a height of the freezer cabinet is between approximately 20 inches and 70 inches; and a width of the freezer cabinet is between approximately 20 inches and 45 inches.

5. The freezer merchandiser of claim 1, wherein the first access panel may be positioned in the open configuration while the second access panel is in the closed configuration.

6. The freezer merchandiser of claims 1, wherein: the first access panel is configured to allow individual packages to be removed from the cavity of the freezer cabinet; and the second access panel is configured to allow one or more pallets of packages to be loaded or unloaded from the cavity.

7. The freezer merchandiser of claims 1, further comprising a first ramp extendable from the cavity of the freezer cabinet to a floor of the exterior environment.

8. The freezer merchandiser of claims 7, further comprising a second ramp extendable from the cavity of the freezer cabinet to the floor of the exterior environment, a distance between a center of the first ramp and a center of the second ramp is approximately 14 inches.

9. The freezer merchandiser of claims 8, wherein the first ramp and the second ramp are configured to extend to the floor of the exterior environment when the second access panel is in the open configuration and to retract into the cavity of the freezer cabinet when the second access panel is in the closed configuration.

10. An ice merchandiser comprising: a freezer cabinet having a plurality of surfaces that define a cavity, the freezer cabinet including a first access panel along the front surface of the plurality of surfaces of the freezer cabinet having an open configuration to allow access to the cavity and a closed confirmation to seal the cavity from an exterior environment; a first ramp extendable from the cavity of the freezer cabinet to a floor of the exterior environment; and a refrigerant unit configured to maintain a controlled environment within the cavity by cooling air to a desired temperature and exhausting the cooled air into the cavity of the freezer unit.

11. The ice merchandiser of claim 10, further comprising a second access panel along a front surface of the plurality of surfaces of the freezer cabinet having an open configuration to allow access to the cavity and a close configuration to seal the cavity from an exterior environment, the second access panel being integral to a surface of the first access panel.

12. The ice merchandiser of claim 11, wherein: the first access panel is configured to allow individual packages to be removed from the cavity of the freezer cabinet; andthe second access panel is configured to allow one or more pallets of packages to be loaded or unloaded from the cavity.

13. The ice merchandiser of claim 10, further comprising a second ramp extendable from the cavity of the freezer cabinet to the floor of the exterior environment, a distance between a center of the first ramp and a center of the second ramp is approximately 14 inches.

14. The ice merchandiser of claim 13, wherein the first ramp and the second ramp are configured to extend to the floor of the exterior environment when the second access panel is in the open configuration and to retract into the cavity of the freezer cabinet when the second access panel is in the closed configuration.

15. The ice merchandiser of claim 10, wherein the first access panel is substantially all of the front surface of the freezer cabinet.

16. A system comprising: a freezer cabinet having a plurality of surfaces that define a cavity, the freezer cabinet including: a first access panel along a front surface of the plurality of surfaces of the freezer cabinet having an open configuration to allow access to the cavity and a close configuration to seal the cavity from an exterior environment; a second access panel along the front surface of the plurality of surfaces of the freezer cabinet having an open configuration to allow access to the cavity and a closed confirmation to seal the cavity from an exterior environment, the first access panel forming a portion of the second access panel; a first ramp extendable from the cavity of the freezer cabinet to a floor of the exterior environment; and a refrigerant unit configured to maintain a controlled environment within the cavity by cooling air to a desired temperature and exhausting the cooled air into the cavity of the freezer unit.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein: the first access panel is configured to allow individual packages to be removed from the cavity of the freezer cabinet; and the second access panel is configured to allow one or more pallets of packages to be loaded or unloaded from the cavity.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the freezer cabinet includes a recessed area along a top surface of the plurality of surfaces to receive the drop-in refrigerant unit.

19. The system of claim 16, further comprising a second ramp extendable from the cavity of the freezer cabinet to the floor of the exterior environment.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the first ramp and the second ramp are configured to extend to the floor of the exterior environment when the second access panel is in the open configuration and to retract into the cavity of the freezer cabinet when the second access panel is in the closed configuration.

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