U.S. patent application number 17/248370 was filed with the patent office on 2022-07-28 for ultra-low temperature storage and dispensing system.
The applicant listed for this patent is Alpha International Health Solution Limited. Invention is credited to Jun CHEN, Kwan Chung Jonathan LAU.
Application Number | 20220236002 17/248370 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | |
Filed Date | 2022-07-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220236002 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LAU; Kwan Chung Jonathan ;
et al. |
July 28, 2022 |
ULTRA-LOW TEMPERATURE STORAGE AND DISPENSING SYSTEM
Abstract
A storage and dispensing system for storing and dispensing
temperature sensitive items is provided. The system includes a
storage chamber, a dispensing chamber, an electro-mechanical
module, and a cooling system. The storage chamber has walls
defining plural compartments formed integrally therein for storing
the temperature sensitive items at an ultra-low temperature. Each
compartment is formed as a cylindrical sector with an inclined
bottom surface. The plural compartments are arranged
circumferentially around a vertical axis and stacked together in
one or more rows, thereby an individual temperature sensitive item
is slidable out of a respective compartment to the dispensing
chamber by gravitational force. The electro-mechanical module is
configured to rotate the storage chamber about the vertical axis.
The storage chamber does not include any mechanical or electrical
components inside, which avoids the need for devices that can
tolerate an extremely low temperature environment.
Inventors: |
LAU; Kwan Chung Jonathan;
(Hong Kong, CN) ; CHEN; Jun; (Hong Kong,
CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Alpha International Health Solution Limited |
Hong Kong |
|
CN |
|
|
Appl. No.: |
17/248370 |
Filed: |
January 22, 2021 |
International
Class: |
F25D 29/00 20060101
F25D029/00; F25D 11/02 20060101 F25D011/02; F25D 25/00 20060101
F25D025/00; F25D 19/04 20060101 F25D019/04; F25D 25/02 20060101
F25D025/02 |
Claims
1. A storage and dispensing system for storing and dispensing
temperature sensitive items, the system comprising: a storage
chamber having a plurality of walls defining plural compartments
formed integrally therein for storing the temperature sensitive
items at an ultra-low temperature, each compartment being formed as
a cylindrical sector with an inclined bottom surface, the plural
compartments being arranged circumferentially around a vertical
axis and stacked together in one or more rows, thereby an
individual temperature sensitive item is slidable out of a
respective compartment by gravitational force; a dispensing chamber
configured to receive the temperature sensitive items from the
storage chamber and move the temperature sensitive items to an
outlet for collection; and an electro-mechanical module configured
to rotate the storage chamber about the vertical axis, thereby the
storage chamber does not include any mechanical or electrical
components inside, wherein: the storage chamber is surrounded by a
thermal-insulating circumferential wall with one or more door
assemblies on the thermal-insulating circumferential wall operable
to allow the individual temperature sensitive item to slide from
the respective compartment to the dispensing chamber.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the electro-mechanical module
comprises a motor shaft and one or more mounting plates for
attaching the storage chamber to the motor shaft to transfer a
rotational movement to the storage chamber.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the electro-mechanical module
comprises a servo motor or a stepping motor.
4. The system of claim 2, wherein the electro-mechanical module
comprises a prime motor and a reduction gear assembly, wherein the
prime motor is a direct current motor or an alternating current
motor.
5. The system of claim 2, wherein the electro-mechanical module and
the storage chamber are separated by a thermal insulating plate
such that the electro-mechanical module operates at a temperature
higher than the ultra-low temperature.
6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a cooling system having
a first cooling module and a second cooling module, wherein the
first cooling module is configured to cool the storage chamber to
the ultra-low temperature, and the second cooling module is
configured to cool the dispensing chamber to a low temperature.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein the cooling system comprises a
compressor, a condenser, an accumulator, an expansion valve, and an
evaporator.
8. The system of claim 6 further comprising a temperature feedback
control unit configured to periodically sense temperatures of the
storage chamber and the dispensing chamber and adjust the cooling
system for maintaining the storage chamber at the ultra-low
temperature and the dispensing chamber at the low temperature.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the temperature feedback control
unit comprises a plurality of temperature sensors positioned at a
plurality of locations on a peripheral surface of the storage
chamber for determining the temperature of the storage chamber.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of temperature
sensors is selected from a group consisting of a thermocouple, a
resistance temperature detector, and a thermistor.
11. The system of claim 8, wherein the temperature feedback control
unit comprises one or more dispenser temperature sensors positioned
to determine the temperature of the temperature sensitive items in
the dispensing chamber.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more dispenser
temperature sensors are selected from a group consisting of a
thermocouple, a resistance temperature detector, a thermistor, and
an infrared temperature sensor.
13. The system of claim 8 further comprises a display module
configured to display the temperatures of the storage chamber and
the dispensing chamber.
14. The system of claim 1, wherein the dispensing chamber comprises
a vertical reciprocating mechanism and a tray, and the vertical
reciprocating mechanism moves the tray vertically to one or more
positions corresponding to the one or more rows of the storage
chamber.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein the vertical reciprocating
mechanism comprises a conveyor belt, a hydraulic cylinder, a lead
screw, a ball screw, or an electrically driven push pull rod for
moving the tray vertically.
16. The system of claim 14, wherein the vertical reciprocating
mechanism comprises a position alignment device positioned at a
bottom side of the tray for detecting one or more position
alignment marks to align the tray to the one or more door
assemblies.
17. The system of claim 1, wherein an individual door assembly
comprises a sliding door, one or more push pull rods, and a control
unit.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein the control unit is configured
to move the sliding door along a sliding rail between an open
position and a close position.
19. The system of claim 1, wherein the inclined bottom surface has
one or more holes disposed therethrough for allowing air
circulation between each of the plural compartments.
20. The system of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensitive items
are vaccines for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
21. The system of claim 8 further comprising a main control unit
configured for: activating the electro-mechanical module to rotate
the storage chamber; coupling control signals to the one or more
door assemblies and the dispensing chamber for moving the
temperature sensitive items from the storage chamber to the outlet;
and controlling the cooling module based on temperature data from
the temperature sensors.
22. The system of claim 21, wherein the main control unit comprises
a feature extraction module configured to analyze the temperature
data by extracting a maximum temperature or an average temperature
from each temperature sensors, wherein the feature extraction
module performs time-domain analysis on the temperature data.
23. The system of claim 22, wherein the time-domain analysis
determines a standard deviation and a peak-to-peak temperature
difference for each temperature sensors over a short period of
time.
24. The system of claim 21 further comprising a wireless
communication interface connected to the main control unit and
configured for communicating with external devices or a cloud
database.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to an ultra-low
temperature storage and dispensing system, and particularly relates
to a system for storing temperature sensitive pharmaceutical or
biological items, such as medicines, biological samples, or
vaccines, at ultra-low temperature and dispensing thereof.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Since the worldwide outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019
(COVID-19), research institutions, universities, government
laboratories, and pharmaceutical companies around the world engage
in the research to find a vaccine that can effectively shield and
protect the people from the COVID-19. As of early January 2021,
according to the information from the World Health Organisation
(WHO), there are 63 vaccines in clinical development and another
172 vaccines in pre-clinical development. Among all, Pfizer and
Moderna both announced promising clinical results, offering hope
that the COVID-19 pandemic can end soon. However, the two vaccines
require to be kept frozen at ultra-low temperature. The Pfizer's
vaccine has to be stored at -70.degree. C. (-94.degree. F.), and
the Moderna vaccine at -20.degree. C. (-4.degree. F.). If the
vaccine is not kept at such a low temperature, the messenger RNA
(mRNA) may break down, and the vaccine's effectiveness is
affected.
[0003] The mRNA vaccine technology is new, and no mRNA vaccines
have ever been approved by the United States Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) before the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. In the future,
other vaccines using the mRNA technology may also have a similar
challenge. In particular, when a vaccine is urgently needed, the
development of the vaccine may not complete the stress test on
various storage temperatures and may require a freezing temperature
to ensure that the mRNA is not broken down easily. A system for
ultra-low temperature storage and dispensation is required for
earlier deployment of the vaccine.
[0004] In view thereof, a well developed cold chain for delivering,
storing, and dispensing the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine is challenging and
expensive. The ultra-low temperature environment is required to not
only provide such a low temperature but also to continuously
maintain that temperature accurately and reliably. Any temporary
loss of cooling could potentially weaken or damage the vaccine,
rendering ineffective vaccination. Many refrigeration systems known
in the art have the common structure of the sealing door that may
temporarily increase the temperature of the enclosure (or part of
the enclosure) when the sealing door is opened for loading and
unloading of the vaccine. There is no mechanism that can
effectively minimize the chance of temperature fluctuations.
[0005] If any conveyor belts or robotic arms are used for picking
up the vaccine from the storage, such conveyor belts and robotic
arms should be able to sustain an ultra-low temperature
environment. However, in reality, most commercial-off-the-shelf
electrical devices and mechanical parts cannot tolerate a hostile
operation environment and cannot function properly at an extremely
low temperature environment. Only those specifically designed
components for aerospace applications or research can be applied to
the refrigeration system. Therefore, it is practically infeasible
to design a conveying system for pickup up the vaccine from the
storage and to transport the vaccine to the medical practitioner
for administration.
[0006] Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a system that
seeks to address at least some of the above problems and
limitations in storing pharmaceutical or biological items at
ultra-low temperature and dispensing thereof. Furthermore, other
desirable features and characteristics will become apparent from
the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background
of the disclosure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Provided herein is an ultra-low temperature storage and
dispensing system. It is an objective of the present disclosure to
provide a system for storing pharmaceutical or biological items,
such as medicines, biological samples, or vaccines, at ultra-low
temperature, and dispensing thereof conveniently while minimizing
the risk of handling errors and temperature rise of other items in
the storage chamber.
[0008] In accordance with certain embodiments of the present
disclosure, a storage and dispensing system for storing and
dispensing temperature sensitive items is provided. The system
comprises a storage chamber, a dispensing chamber, an
electro-mechanical module, and a cooling system. The storage
chamber has walls defining plural compartments formed integrally
therein for storing the temperature sensitive items at an ultra-low
temperature. Each compartment is formed as a cylindrical sector
with an inclined bottom surface. The plural compartments are
arranged circumferentially around a vertical axis and stacked
together in one or more rows, thereby an individual temperature
sensitive item is slidable out of a respective compartment to the
dispensing chamber by gravitational force. The dispensing chamber
is configured to receive the temperature sensitive items from the
storage chamber and move the temperature sensitive items to an
outlet for collection. The electro-mechanical module is configured
to rotate the storage chamber about the vertical axis, thereby the
storage chamber does not include any mechanical or electrical
components inside. The storage chamber is surrounded by a
thermal-insulating circumferential wall with one or more door
assemblies on the thermal-insulating circumferential wall operable
to allow the individual temperature sensitive item to slide from
the respective compartment to the dispensing chamber.
[0009] In accordance with a further aspect of the present
disclosure, the electro-mechanical module comprises a motor shaft
and one or more mounting plates for attaching the storage chamber
to the motor shaft to transfer a rotational movement to the storage
chamber.
[0010] Preferably, the electro-mechanical module comprises a servo
motor or a stepping motor. Alternatively, the electro-mechanical
module comprises a prime motor and a reduction gear assembly,
wherein the prime motor is a direct current motor or an alternating
current motor.
[0011] Preferably, the electro-mechanical module and the storage
chamber are separated by a thermal insulating plate such that the
electro-mechanical module operates at a temperature higher than the
ultra-low temperature.
[0012] In accordance with a further aspect of the present
disclosure, the cooling system has a first cooling module and a
second cooling module. The first cooling module is configured to
cool the storage chamber to the ultra-low temperature. The second
cooling module is configured to cool the dispensing chamber to a
low temperature.
[0013] Preferably, the cooling system comprises a compressor, a
condenser, an accumulator, an expansion valve, and an
evaporator.
[0014] In accordance with a further aspect of the present
disclosure, the system further comprises a temperature feedback
control unit configured to periodically sense temperatures of the
storage chamber and the dispensing chamber and adjust the cooling
system for maintaining the storage chamber at the ultra-low
temperature and the dispensing chamber at the low temperature.
[0015] Preferably, the temperature feedback control unit comprises
a plurality of temperature sensors positioned at a plurality of
locations on a peripheral surface of the storage chamber for
determining the temperature of the storage chamber. The plurality
of temperature sensors is selected from a group consisting of a
thermocouple, a resistance temperature detector, and a
thermistor.
[0016] Preferably, the temperature feedback control unit comprises
one or more dispenser temperature sensors positioned to determine
the temperature of the temperature sensitive items in the
dispensing chamber. The one or more dispenser temperature sensors
are selected from a group consisting of a thermocouple, a
resistance temperature detector, a thermistor, and an infrared
temperature sensor.
[0017] In accordance with a further aspect of the present
disclosure, the system further comprises a display module
configured to display the temperatures of the storage chamber and
the dispensing chamber.
[0018] In accordance with a further aspect of the present
disclosure, the dispensing chamber comprises a vertical
reciprocating mechanism and a tray, and the vertical reciprocating
mechanism moves the tray vertically to one or more positions
corresponding to the one or more rows of the storage chamber.
[0019] Preferably, the vertical reciprocating mechanism comprises a
conveyor belt, a hydraulic cylinder, a lead screw, a ball screw, or
an electrically driven push pull rod for moving the tray
vertically.
[0020] Preferably, the vertical reciprocating mechanism comprises a
position alignment device positioned at a bottom side of the tray
for detecting one or more position alignment marks to align the
tray to the one or more door assemblies.
[0021] In accordance with a further aspect of the present
disclosure, an individual door assembly comprises a sliding door,
one or more push pull rods, and a control unit.
[0022] Preferably, the control unit is configured to move the
sliding door along a sliding rail between an open position and a
close position.
[0023] In accordance with a further aspect of the present
disclosure, the inclined bottom surface has one or more holes
disposed therethrough for allowing air circulation between each of
the plural compartments.
[0024] In accordance with a further aspect of the present
disclosure, the temperature sensitive items are vaccines for
coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
[0025] In accordance with a further aspect of the present
disclosure, the system further comprises a main control unit
configured for activating the electro-mechanical module to rotate
the storage chamber; coupling control signals to the one or more
door assemblies and the dispensing chamber for moving the
temperature sensitive items from the storage chamber to the outlet;
and controlling the cooling module based on temperature data from
the temperature sensors.
[0026] Preferably, the main control unit comprises a feature
extraction module configured to analyze the temperature data by
extracting a maximum temperature or an average temperature from
each temperature sensors, wherein the feature extraction module
performs time-domain analysis on the temperature data.
[0027] Preferably, the time-domain analysis determines a standard
deviation and a peak-to-peak temperature difference for each
temperature sensors over a short period of time.
[0028] In accordance with a further aspect of the present
disclosure, the system further comprises a wireless communication
interface connected to the main control unit and configured for
communicating with external devices or a cloud database.
[0029] This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of
concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in
the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify
key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter,
nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of
the claimed subject matter. Other aspects and advantages of the
present invention are disclosed as illustrated by the embodiments
hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0030] The appended drawings contain figures to further illustrate
and clarify the above and other aspects, advantages, and features
of the present disclosure. It will be appreciated that these
drawings depict only certain embodiments of the present disclosure
and are not intended to limit its scope. It will also be
appreciated that these drawings are illustrated for simplicity and
clarity and have not necessarily been depicted to scale. The dotted
lines in the drawings are used to indicate the internal structures
that may not be seen from the external view. The present disclosure
will now be described and explained with additional specificity and
detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
[0031] FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the ultra-low
temperature storage and dispensing system in accordance with
certain embodiments of the present disclosure;
[0032] FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the temperature
sensors arranged on the storage chamber in accordance with certain
embodiments of the present disclosure;
[0033] FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the operation of
the electro-mechanical module of FIG. 1;
[0034] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the electro-mechanical
module in accordance with certain embodiments of the present
disclosure;
[0035] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the layout of the
cooling system of FIG. 1;
[0036] FIG. 6A is a fragmentary perspective view of the storage
chamber and the door assembly in accordance with certain
embodiments of the present disclosure;
[0037] FIG. 6B is a top view of the fragmentary storage chamber and
the door assembly of FIG. 6A; and
[0038] FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the dispensing
chamber of FIG. 1;
[0039] FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating the ultra-low
temperature storage and dispensing system in accordance with
certain embodiments of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0040] The following detailed description is merely exemplary in
nature and is not intended to limit the disclosure or its
application and/or uses. It should be appreciated that a vast
number of variations exist. The detailed description will enable
those of ordinary skilled in the art to implement an exemplary
embodiment of the present disclosure without undue experimentation,
and it is understood that various changes or modifications may be
made in the function and structure described in the exemplary
embodiment without departing from the scope of the present
disclosure as set forth in the appended claims.
[0041] The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any
element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to
occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a
critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all
of the claims. The invention is defined solely by the appended
claims including any amendments made during the pendency of this
application and all equivalents of those claims as issued.
[0042] As used herein, the term "ultra-low temperature" refers to a
temperature range from about -10.degree. C. (-14.degree. F.) to
about -150.degree. C. (-238.degree. F.), and preferably from
-18.degree. C. (-0.4.degree. F.) to -100.degree. C. (-148.degree.
F.), and more preferably from -50.degree. C. (-58.degree. F.) to
-80.degree. C. (-112.degree. F.).
[0043] The term "low temperature" refers to a temperature range
from about 0.degree. C. (-32.degree. F.) to about 10.degree. C.
(50.degree. F.), and more preferably from 2.degree. C.
(35.6.degree. F.) to 8.degree. C. (46.4.degree. F.).
[0044] The term "ambient temperature" refers to a normal room
temperature. For the purpose of the present invention, the ambient
temperature means a temperature range from about 10.degree. C.
(50.degree. F.) to about 40.degree. C. (104.degree. F.), and more
preferably around 25.degree. C. (77.degree. F.).
[0045] The term "compressor" refers to a device for effecting
compression of a fluid. Generally, the compressor is powered by an
electric motor.
[0046] The term "refrigerant" refers to a fluid in a cooling system
which undergoes changes in temperature, pressure, and possibly
phase to absorb heat at a lower temperature and reject it at a
higher temperature.
[0047] The term "medicine", as used herein, is intended to be a
generic term referring to, but not limited to, drugs, pills, fluid,
chemicals, vitamins, supplements, minerals, ampoule, and the like,
in any and all variety of vessels. A medicine may be in any state
of matter (e.g., solid, liquid, gas, or any combinations thereof)
and may include a combination of one or more medicines.
[0048] The term "cloud", as used herein, is construed and
interpreted in the sense of cloud computing or, synonymously,
distributed computing over a network unless otherwise specified.
The term "server" is interpreted in the sense of computing. The
term "database" may be, for example, electrical circuits, hard
disks and/or other solid-state disks for storing data. Generally, a
server is equipped with one or more processors for executing
program instructions, and/or one or more storages for storing data.
The server may be a standalone computing server or a distributed
server in the cloud.
[0049] Terms such as "upper", "lower", "top", "bottom", and
variations thereof are used herein for ease of description to
explain the positioning of an element, or the positioning of one
element relative to another element, and are not intended to be
limiting to a specific orientation or position. A vertical axis A
is defined by the gravity as shown in FIG. 1, extending from the
top to the bottom of the storage and dispensing system 10.
Furthermore, a horizontal axis B that is substantially
perpendicular to the vertical axis A is also defined. Terms such as
"first", "second", and variations thereof herein are used to
describe various elements, regions, sections, etc. and are not
intended to be limiting.
[0050] Terms such as "connected", "in communication", "mounted",
and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass direct
and indirect connections, communication and mountings; and are not
restricted to electrical, physical or mechanical attachments,
connections, or mountings.
[0051] The present disclosure generally relates to an ultra-low
temperature storage and dispensing system. More specifically, but
without limitation, the present disclosure relates to a system for
storing temperature sensitive items at ultra-low temperature and
dispensing the temperature sensitive items.
[0052] The storage and dispensing system (hereinafter referred to
as "system") 10 of the present disclosure forms a crucial part of
the cold-chain for the temperature sensitive items. The cold-chain
is a temperature-controlled supply chain that includes equipment
and procedures for transporting, storing, and handling the
temperature sensitive items from the time they are manufactured to
dispensed for use. In certain embodiments, the temperature
sensitive items are pharmaceutical or biological items, such as
medicines, biological samples, specimen, or vaccines. In
particular, the present disclosure is motivated by the need for an
improved storage for storing the vaccines for coronavirus disease
2019 (COVID-19) at ultra-low temperature, with a dispensing module
that allows the user, such as a medical practitioner, to
conveniently collect the vaccine from the storage for
administration while minimizing the risk of handling errors and
temperature rise of other stored vaccines.
[0053] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the system 10 for
storing and dispensing temperature sensitive items according to
certain embodiments of the present disclosure. The system 10
includes a dispensing chamber 100, an electro-mechanical module
200, a storage chamber 300, and a cooling system 400. The cooling
system 400 is positioned above the storage chamber 300 and
configured to provide a cooling effect to the storage chamber 300
and the dispensing chamber 100. In order to ensure that the storage
chamber 300 is suitable for keeping or preserving the temperature
sensitive items for an extended period of time, the temperature of
the storage chamber 300 is maintained at an ultra-low temperature.
For the case of Pfizer's vaccine for COVID-19, the storage chamber
300 is maintained at -70.degree. C. (-94.degree. F.).
[0054] Considering the required temperature range for storing the
temperature sensitive items, the enclosed area inside the storage
chamber 300 is maintained at an extremely low temperature
environment. It is difficult to source suitable mechanical parts or
electrical and electronic components that can tolerate such a
hostile operating environment. In view thereof, the storage chamber
300 of the present disclosure advantageously does not include any
mechanical or electrical components inside. Furthermore, the system
10 allows the user to select one or more temperature sensitive
items from the storage chamber 300 and collect the selected item
for use.
[0055] The storage chamber 300 is generally cylindrical in shape,
with a dispensing chamber 100 longitudinally connected to the
storage chamber 300 and fitted to a curved peripheral surface. The
storage chamber 300 is configured to store plural temperature
sensitive items. When a user selects to dispense any item from the
system 10, the item is transferred from the storage chamber 300 to
the dispensing chamber 100 for collection. Particularly, the
dispensing chamber 100 comprises a tray 110 and is configured to
receive the temperature sensitive items from the storage chamber
300 and move the temperature sensitive items to an outlet 120 for
collection. In certain embodiments, the tray 110 is movable
vertically for conveying the temperature sensitive items to the
outlet 120, where the user can open a door 121 to collect.
[0056] Also referring to FIG. 2, the storage chamber 300 is
preferably partitioned by a plurality of walls 313 to define plural
compartments 310 formed therein, each compartment 310 stores one or
more temperature sensitive items therein at an ultra-low
temperature. Preferably, each compartment 310 is formed as a
cylindrical sector with an acute angle. A number of compartments
310 are arranged on the same vertical position and
circumferentially around a vertical axis A to form a circular layer
of compartments 305. One or more circular layers of compartments
305 are stacked together such that the storage chamber 300 has one
or more rows. In certain embodiments, the acute angle of each
compartment 310 is 36 degrees, then each circular layer of
compartments 305 may comprise ten compartments 310.
[0057] The dispensation of the temperature sensitive items is
enabled by rotating the storage chamber 300 to a direction that
aligns a particular column of compartments 310 with the dispensing
chamber 100. By an accurate control of the rotation of the storage
chamber 300, a different column of compartments 310 can be selected
to engage with the dispensing chamber 100. In certain embodiments,
all the compartments 310 in the storage chamber 300 are rotatable
as a whole as they are formed integrally. The rotation of the
storage chamber 300 does not require any mechanical structure
inside the storage chamber 300. Instead, the storage chamber 300 is
rotated about the vertical axis by the electro-mechanical module
200, which is preferably positioned under the storage chamber
300.
[0058] In certain embodiments, the electro-mechanical module 200
and the storage chamber 300 are separated by a thermal insulating
plate 540 such that the electro-mechanical module 200 operates at a
temperature higher than the ultra-low temperature. Preferably, the
electro-mechanical module 200 operates at ambient temperature.
Therefore, the electro-mechanical module 200 can use standard
commercial-off-the-shelf mechanical parts and electrical components
without the need of sourcing components with high thermal
tolerance.
[0059] FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the operation of
the electro-mechanical module 200 for rotating the storage chamber
300. Although the illustrated embodiment is performing a rotation
in an anti-clockwise direction, it is apparent that the rotation
may also be in a clockwise direction or both directions. The
electro-mechanical module 200 comprises a motor shaft 210 and one
or more mounting plates 220 for attaching the storage chamber 300
to the motor shaft 210 to transfer a rotational movement to the
storage chamber 300. The one or more mounting plates 220 may be
welded to or otherwise fixed to the thermal insulating plate 540 in
such a way as to firmly connect the one or more mounting plates 220
to the storage chamber 300. In one embodiment, the
electro-mechanical module 200 may comprise a servo motor or a
stepping motor. The servo motor or the stepping motor may further
be connected to one or more reduction gear or the like. In another
alternative embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the
electro-mechanical module 200 may comprise a prime motor 231 and a
reduction gear assembly 232. The prime motor 231 can be any
suitable electric motor selected from an alternating current (AC)
motor, a brushed direct current (DC) motor, a brushless DC motor, a
permanent magnet DC motor, and the like. For cooling down the
electro-mechanical module 200 to avoid over-heating, a fan and a
plurality of ventilation openings (not shown) may be provided.
[0060] Turning now to the cooling system 400 of a preferred
embodiment of the present disclosure as illustrated in FIG. 5, the
cooling system 400 includes two substantially identical cooling
modules, referred to as first cooling module 410 and second cooling
module 420. A single-stage vapor-compression refrigeration system
is used as an example. The first cooling module 410 is configured
to cool the storage chamber 300 to the ultra-low temperature, for
example, -70.degree. C. (-94.degree. F.) or lower. Similarly, the
second cooling module 420 is configured to cool the dispensing
chamber 100 to the low temperature, for example, 8.degree. C.
(46.4.degree. F.) or lower.
[0061] In the first cooling module 410, a first refrigerant is in
fluid communication through the conduits 418 of the first cooling
module 410. A first compressor 411 compresses the first refrigerant
and is operatively connector to a first condenser 412. The first
condenser 412 is a heat exchange that cools and condenses the first
refrigerant from the first compressor 411. A first condenser fan
413 directs ambient air across the condenser 412 to facilitate heat
transfer from the first refrigerant to the surrounding environment.
The first refrigerant then flows through an expansion valve 414,
where the first refrigerant expands to a low pressure and a low
temperature. The cold first refrigerant then flows through the
first evaporator 415, which is another heat exchange that is
configured to absorb heat from the storage chamber 300. A first
cooling fan 416 is used to facilitate the cooling effect and direct
the cool air into the storage chamber 300. After picking up the
heat in the first evaporator 415, the first refrigerant returns to
the first compressor 411 through a first accumulator 417 to
complete the first refrigeration system.
[0062] In the second cooling module 420, a second refrigerant is in
fluid communication through the conduits 428 of the second cooling
module 420. A second compressor 421 compresses the second
refrigerant and is operatively connector to a second condenser 422.
The second condenser 422 is a heat exchange that cools and
condenses the second refrigerant from the second compressor 421. A
second condenser fan 423 directs ambient air across the condenser
422 to facilitate heat transfer from the second refrigerant to the
surrounding environment. The second refrigerant then flows through
an expansion valve 424, where the second refrigerant expands to a
low pressure and a low temperature. The cold second refrigerant
then flows through the second evaporator 425, which is another heat
exchange that is configured to absorb heat from the dispensing
chamber 100. A second cooling fan 426 is used to facilitate the
cooling effect and direct the cool air into the dispensing chamber
100. After picking up the heat in the second evaporator 425, the
second refrigerant returns to the second compressor 421 through a
second accumulator 427 to complete the second refrigeration
system.
[0063] It is apparent that the cooling system 400 may be
implemented by other configurations other than the single-stage
vapor-compression refrigeration system without departing from the
scope and spirit of the present disclosure. For example, the
cooling system 400 may employ a cascade configuration, a
multi-stage configuration, or other configurations.
[0064] Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2, the system 10 of the
present disclosure further comprises a temperature feedback control
unit configured to periodically sense temperatures of the storage
chamber 300 and the dispensing chamber 100, and to adjust the
cooling system 400 for maintaining the storage chamber 300 at the
ultra-low temperature and the dispensing chamber 100 at the low
temperature. The temperature feedback control unit comprises a
plurality of temperature sensors 520 positioned at a plurality of
locations on a peripheral surface of the storage chamber for
determining the temperature of the storage chamber 300, and one or
more dispenser temperature sensors 521 positioned to determine the
temperature of the temperature sensitive items in the dispensing
chamber. In certain embodiments, the plurality of temperature
sensors 520, 521 is selected from a group consisting of a
thermocouple, a resistance temperature detector, and a thermistor.
In the storage chamber 300, each temperature sensor 520 has a
measuring end arranged inside the storage chamber 300 for obtaining
an accurate measurement of the temperature inside, and a
non-measuring end of the temperature sensor 520 clamped or
otherwise affixed outside the storage chamber 300 in a way that the
operation of the temperature sensor 520 is not affected by the
extremely low temperature environment of the storage chamber 300.
For the dispenser temperature sensor 521, it is selected from a
group consisting of a thermocouple, a resistance temperature
detector, a thermistor, and an infrared temperature sensor.
Preferably, the one or more dispenser temperature sensors 521 are
configured to measure the temperature of the dispensing chamber 100
and the temperature sensitive item on the tray 110. All the
temperature measurements are transmitted to a main control unit 500
for feedback control, which will be detailed. In certain
embodiments, the system 10 has a display module 510 configured to
display the temperatures of the storage chamber 300 and the
dispensing chamber 100.
[0065] Now referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, the storage chamber 300
and the door assembly 320 are illustrated. As discussed, the
storage chamber 300 has a plurality of walls 313 defining plural
compartments 310 formed integrally therein for storing the
temperature sensitive items. Each compartment 310 is formed by two
side walls 313A, 313B sandwiching the enclosed area, which is
maintained at an extremely low temperature environment. The two
side walls 313A, 313B diverge from the vertical axis A to the
peripheral surface of the storage chamber 300. The bottom side of
the compartment 310 is an inclined bottom surface 311 that is
inclined by a pre-determined angle from a plane defined by the
horizontal axis B. The pre-determined angle can be an angle that
provides a sufficient gravitational force to the temperature
sensitive item to slide down along the inclined bottom surface 311.
In certain embodiments, the pre-determined angle is in a range
between 20 degrees to 50 degrees. On the inclined bottom surface
311, there is provided one or more holes 312 disposed therethrough
for allowing air circulation between each of the plural
compartments 310. Therefore, the cool air from the first cooling
module 410 can pass through the one or more holes 312 on the
inclined bottom surface 311 and maintain the temperature of all
compartments 310 at the desired temperature range.
[0066] The storage chamber 300 is surrounded by a
thermal-insulating circumferential wall 330 with one or more door
assemblies 320 on the thermal-insulating circumferential wall 330
operable to allow the temperature sensitive item to slide from the
respective compartment 310 to the dispensing chamber 100 by the
gravitational force. In view thereof, no mechanical part or robotic
device is required for moving the temperature sensitive item from
the storage chamber 300 to the dispensing chamber 100, which can
also minimize the risk of handling errors and temperature rise of
other temperature sensitive items in the storage chamber 300.
Furthermore, the user is also not exposed to the risk of
operational safety by reducing the need of handling such an
extremely low temperature environment.
[0067] The thermal-insulating circumferential wall 330 is arranged
to enhance the thermal insulation effect of the storage chamber
300. In certain embodiments, the thermal-insulating circumferential
wall 330 is formed of one or more insulators, such as fiberglass,
polystyrene, polyurethane foam, vacuum insulation layer, and the
like.
[0068] In certain embodiments, the one or more door assemblies 320
are provided vertically in the form of a column at positions
corresponding to the one or more rows of the storage chamber 300,
which are equivalent to the vertical positions of each circular
layer of compartments 305. Each individual door assembly 320
comprises a sliding door 323, one or more push pull rods 322, and a
control unit 321. The sliding door 323 is preferably an insulated
door arranged for permitting egress of the temperature sensitive
item from the respective compartment 310. The control unit 321
further comprises one or more pulleys and an actuator for moving
the sliding door 323 along a sliding rail 324 between an open
position and a close position.
[0069] For example, when the user wants to collect the temperature
sensitive item from a particular compartment 310, the
electro-mechanical module 200 rotates the storage chamber 300 to an
angle that aligns that particular compartment 310 with the sliding
door 323. Next, the door assembly 320 of the respective row of that
compartment 310 is actuated and pulls the sliding door 323 along
the sliding rail 324 to an open position, thereby the temperature
sensitive item can slide out of the compartment 310 to the
dispensing chamber 100.
[0070] In FIG. 7, a fragmentary view of the dispensing chamber 100
is depicted. The dispensing chamber 100 comprises a vertical
reciprocating mechanism and a tray 110 moveable along a frame 140.
The frame 140 limits the movement of the tray 110 to a vertical
direction substantially equivalent to the vertical axis A. The tray
110 has one or more vertical guiding means 141 to support the tray
110 at a position along the frame 140. The vertical reciprocating
mechanism is configured to move the tray 110 vertically to one or
more positions, wherein the one or more positions corresponding to
the vertical positions of the one or more rows of the storage
chamber 300. In certain embodiments, the vertical reciprocating
mechanism comprises a position alignment device 150 positioned at a
bottom side of the tray 110 for detecting one or more position
alignment marks under the one or more door assemblies 320, thereby
the tray 110 can align with the one or more door assemblies 320.
The position alignment device 150 is further configured to
communicate with the main control unit 500 for determining the
vertical position of the tray 110.
[0071] In certain embodiments, the tray 110 further comprises a
slider 130 positioned above the tray 110, and in the vicinity of
the boundary between the tray 110 and the door assembly 320.
Therefore, the slider 130 provides a support for the temperature
sensitive item to slide down from the compartment 310 to the tray
110. The vertical reciprocating mechanism may be any of various
conventional mechanisms capable of realizing vertical reciprocating
movements, such as a conveyor belt, a hydraulic cylinder, a lead
screw, a ball screw, or an electrically driven push pull rod.
[0072] Electrical power can be supplied to the system 10, which can
be supplied from a battery, a power outlet, or alternatively
through a voltage regulator. Interconnecting wiring and cables,
power supply housing, and other electronic parts may be used and
may be positioned at various locations throughout the system 10 for
providing power to at least the electro-mechanical module 200, the
dispensing chamber 100, the door assemblies 320, and the cooling
system 400. For convenience and simplicity, the electrical power
and the respective electronic parts have not been shown in the
figures.
[0073] FIG. 8 shows a block diagram illustrating the system 10
according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. The
system 10 is generally controlled by a main control unit 500, which
is configured to receive one or more control signals from a control
panel 530. The user can use the control panel 530 to adjust the
temperature and dispense an item from the storage chamber 300. The
main control unit 500 couples control signals to activate the
electro-mechanical module 200 and rotate the storage chamber 300 to
a particular angle. The main control unit 500 also couples control
signals to the dispensing chamber 100 to move the tray 110 in a
particular vertical position, such that when the corresponding door
assembly 320 is actuated, the item in the compartment 310 can slide
down to the tray 110.
[0074] The temperatures of the storage chamber 300 and the
dispensing chamber 100 are detected by the temperature sensors 520,
which periodically feedback the temperature data to the main
control unit 500. In certain embodiments, the main control unit 500
includes a feature extraction module 501 configured to analyze the
temperature data. The feature extraction module 501 extracts a
maximum temperature or an average temperature from each temperature
sensors 520. The feature extraction module 501 performs time-domain
analysis on the temperature data. Preferably, the time-domain
analysis determines the standard deviation and peak-to-peak
temperature difference for each temperature sensors 520 over a
short period of time, such as 1 to 10 minutes, for determining the
overall cooling condition of the storage chamber 300.
[0075] The cooling module 400 is controlled by the main control
unit 500 based on the temperature data from the temperature sensors
520, such that the temperatures of the storage chamber 300 and the
dispensing chamber 100 are maintained relatively stable at the
desired temperature range. A display module 510, including at least
a display driver and a display panel, is also connected to the main
control unit 500 for displaying at least the temperature of the
storage chamber 300. In certain embodiments, the display module 510
is a touch screen panel which can also receive control signals from
the user.
[0076] The system 10 of the present disclosure may be operable as
an Internet of things (IoT) device, as the main control unit 500 is
further connected to a wireless communication interface 550 for
communicating with external devices or a cloud database. In such
embodiment, the wireless communication interface 550 is configured
to support one or more communication protocols, including cellular
radio connections, Bluetooth, Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN),
and Near Field Communication (NFC). In case the system 10 does not
have Internet-connectivity or a wireless network is not present,
the system 10 may first be connected to other communication
devices, such as external data transmitter, cell phones, desktop
computers, laptop computers, or tablet computers, etc., and then
connected to the Internet via the communication devices.
[0077] By operating as an IoT device, the system 10 can provide a
report to external devices, wherein the report comprises
temperature data of the storage chamber 300 and the dispensing
chamber 100, the inventory status, error records, and other device
information. The user can also use an external device to control
the system 10 remotely by adjusting the rotational speed of the
electro-mechanical module 200, and controlling the temperature of
the storage chamber 300 and the dispensing chamber 100.
[0078] This illustrates the storage and dispensing system for
storing and dispensing temperature sensitive items in accordance
with the present disclosure. It will be apparent that variants of
the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or
alternatives thereof, may be combined into many other devices. The
present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects
as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the disclosure is
indicated by the appended claims rather than by the preceding
description, and all changes that come within the meaning and range
of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced
therein.
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