Locker system for delivery of heat sensitive products
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing locker systems for heat-sensitive products, such as fresh food, lack flexibility in maintaining different temperature ranges and rapid cooling after product deposition, limiting their ability to store products at suitable temperatures for varying durations.
Innovation Solution
A locker system with multiple lockable compartments, each controlled by a cooling device using liquid CO2, which includes an expansion chamber and a common duct for gaseous CO2 distribution, allowing for adjustable temperature control and rapid cooling based on product-specific requirements identified via labels or a database.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a compression motor cooling device is used in existing locker systems, then refrigeration can be provided, but the system cannot maintain different temperature ranges or achieve rapid cooling after product deposition
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into multiple independent cooling circuits, each capable of maintaining different temperature ranges. This allows the locker to provide refrigerated compartments with different temperature settings simultaneously, enabling versatile temperature management without requiring a single complex cooling system.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling device incorporates rapid cooling capability that can be activated dynamically after product deposition. The system transitions from a static cooling mode to an active rapid cooling mode, allowing the locker to adapt its cooling intensity based on real-time needs, thus achieving both flexibility and efficiency.
2Adaptability or versatility
If predetermined refrigerated compartments are used, then products can be stored at low temperature, but the system lacks flexibility for product-specific temperature requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that allow the locker to receive information about the deposited products and automatically adjust the temperature settings of appropriate compartments. This enables the locker to adapt to product-specific temperature requirements while maintaining ease of operation, as the temperature adjustment occurs automatically based on product identification.
Solution Approach 2:
The locker system can change operational parameters such as temperature settings dynamically based on the type of product being stored. Different product categories trigger different temperature parameters, allowing the system to provide precise temperature control for various products without complicating the user interface or delivery process.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple independent cooling systems are implemented for different temperature ranges, then temperature flexibility is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple cooling functions into a unified cooling device architecture. By combining multiple cooling circuits and control mechanisms into a single integrated system, the locker achieves multiple temperature ranges without the complexity and cost of completely separate cooling systems. The unified design allows shared components and coordinated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling device is designed with multi-functionality, where a single cooling system can serve multiple temperature range requirements. The system can operate in different modes to provide various temperature settings, making the cooling device universal rather than requiring specialized systems for each temperature range, thus reducing overall complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the storage of heat-sensitive products within precise temperature ranges, ensuring their quality by allowing rapid cooling and maintaining optimal conditions until customer pickup, enhancing the flexibility and efficiency of temperature management.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling device (120); wherein said cooling device comprises an expansion chamber (122) receiving liquid CO2 from a reserve of liquid CO2 and delivering gaseous CO2 in each of said refrigerated lockable compartments
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A locker system for delivering heat sensitive products comprising a plurality of lockable compartments including at least one refrigerated lockable compartment (100r), a control unit (106) for controlling said plurality of lockable compartments, and a cooling device (120), wherein said cooling device comprises an expansion chamber (122) receiving liquid CO2 from a reserve (126) of liquid CO2 and delivering gaseous CO2 in each of said refrigerated lockable compartments through at least one common duct (132).