Abstract: A system may include a beverage compartment with a beverage positioned therein, a wetted material disposed about the beverage, at least one sorption cartridge, and a vacuum pump. The sorption cartridge may be in communication with the beverage compartment, and the vacuum pump may be in communication with the sorption cartridge to create a vacuum in the sorption cartridge and the beverage compartment, causing water to evaporate from the wetted material and be captured by the sorption cartridge, thereby lowering the temperature of the wetted material and in turn cooling the beverage. In some instances, the sorption cartridge may be detached from the vacuum pump and the beverage compartment to discharge the captured water therein by way of solar energy. In other instances, the sorption cartridge may be in communication with a heater assembly to blow heated air through the sorption cartridge to discharge the captured water therein.

Abstract: A system may include a beverage compartment with a beverage positioned therein, a wetted material disposed about the beverage, at least one sorption cartridge, and a vacuum pump. The sorption cartridge may be in communication with the beverage compartment, and the vacuum pump may be in communication with the sorption cartridge to create a vacuum in the sorption cartridge and the beverage compartment, causing water to evaporate from the wetted material and be captured by the sorption cartridge, thereby lowering the temperature of the wetted material and in turn cooling the beverage. In some instances, the sorption cartridge may be detached from the vacuum pump and the beverage compartment to discharge the captured water therein by way of solar energy. In other instances, the sorption cartridge may be in communication with a heater assembly to blow heated air through the sorption cartridge to discharge the captured water therein.

Abstract: A system may include a beverage compartment with a beverage positioned therein, a wetted material disposed about the beverage, at least one sorption cartridge, and a vacuum pump. The sorption cartridge may be in communication with the beverage compartment, and the vacuum pump may be in communication with the sorption cartridge to create a vacuum in the sorption cartridge and the beverage compartment, causing water to evaporate from the wetted material and be captured by the sorption cartridge, thereby lowering the temperature of the wetted material and in turn cooling the beverage. In some instances, the sorption cartridge may be detached from the vacuum pump and the beverage compartment to discharge the captured water therein by way of solar energy. In other instances, the sorption cartridge may be in communication with a heater assembly to blow heated air through the sorption cartridge to discharge the captured water therein.

Abstract: Vacuum cooling assemblies for cooling a beverage are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the vacuum cooling assembly may include a container compartment, a container disposed within the container compartment, and at least one beverage supply line in communication with the container compartment. The at least one beverage supply line may be configured to supply the beverage to the container within the container compartment. The vacuum cooling assembly also may include at least one vapor trap in communication with the container compartment. Moreover, the vacuum cooling assembly may include a vacuum pump in communication with the at least one vapor trap. The vacuum pump may be configured to create a vacuum in the at least one vapor trap and the container compartment, causing at least a portion of the beverage to evaporate, thereby vacuum cooling the beverage within the container.

Abstract: The present application provides an intake mechanism for a product into a merchandiser. The intake mechanism may include an input tray, a reciprocating assembly to maneuver the input tray, an identification module, and an input control system. The input control system permits access to the merchandiser as the input tray is maneuvered by the reciprocating assembly if the product is identified by the identification module.

Abstract: The present application provides a product vending module for vending a number of products. The product vending module includes a product row configured to contain a number of products therein. The product vending module also includes a product gate positioned about the product row and rotatable from a closed position preventing access to the number of products to an open position allowing access to one of the number of products while preventing access to a remainder of the number of products, the product gate including a biased base. The product vending module further includes a product locking system in communication with the product gate, the product locking system including a locking pin releasably engaging the biased base and movable from a first allowing rotation of the product gate toward the closed position to a second position restricting rotation of the product gate toward the closed position.

Abstract: A system may include a beverage compartment with a beverage positioned therein, a wetted material disposed about the beverage, at least one sorption cartridge, and a vacuum pump. The sorption cartridge may be in communication with the beverage compartment, and the vacuum pump may be in communication with the sorption cartridge to create a vacuum in the sorption cartridge and the beverage compartment, causing water to evaporate from the wetted material and be captured by the sorption cartridge, thereby lowering the temperature of the wetted material and in turn cooling the beverage. In some instances, the sorption cartridge may be detached from the vacuum pump and the beverage compartment to discharge the captured water therein by way of solar energy. In other instances, the sorption cartridge may be in communication with a heater assembly to blow heated air through the sorption cartridge to discharge the captured water therein.

Abstract: The present application provides a cooler. The cooler may include an outer frame, a product space within the outer frame, and a number of shelf assemblies positioned within the product space. The shelf assemblies may include an evaporator and a phase change material therein.

Abstract: The present application provides a merchandiser. The merchandiser may include a temperature controlled compartment, a product input system adjacent to the temperature controlled compartment, and a multi-chute product dispensing mechanism positioned within the temperature controlled compartment. The multi-chute product dispensing system may include a number of product chutes in communication with a dispense activation mechanism.

Abstract: The present application provides a merchandiser. The merchandiser may include a temperature controlled compartment, a product input system adjacent to the temperature controlled compartment, and a multi-chute product dispensing mechanism positioned within the temperature controlled compartment. The multi-chute product dispensing system may include a number of product chutes in communication with a dispense activation mechanism.

Abstract: Vacuum cooling assemblies for cooling a beverage are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the vacuum cooling assembly may include a container compartment, a container disposed within the container compartment, and at least one beverage supply line in communication with the container compartment. The at least one beverage supply line may be configured to supply the beverage to the container within the container compartment. The vacuum cooling assembly also may include at least one vapor trap in communication with the container compartment. Moreover, the vacuum cooling assembly may include a vacuum pump in communication with the at least one vapor trap. The vacuum pump may be configured to create a vacuum in the at least one vapor trap and the container compartment, causing at least a portion of the beverage to evaporate, thereby vacuum cooling the beverage within the container.

Abstract: The present application provides a cooler. The cooler may include an outer frame, a product space within the outer frame, and a number of shelf assemblies positioned within the product space. The shelf assemblies may include an evaporator and a phase change material therein.

Abstract: Milking cups are attached to the teats of the female animal by positioning the milking cups relative to at least one teat by means of a control system responsive to a first sensor. The relative position of the teats in a substantially horizontal plane is determined by a second sensor and the milking cups are attached one after another while the at least one teat is continually sensed by the first sensor.

Abstract: An automatic milking device employs a robot arm, a sensor and a control system for searching for, finding and following the teats on the cow's udder. The control system employs a model to provide corrected position information for comparison with sensed position information so that a selection may be made based upon stored criteria.

Abstract: A pair of horizontally spaced support surfaces support the rear hooves of an animal. A forwardly inclined surface extends upwardly from each support surface toward the front end of the device, and a sidewardly inclined surface extends upwardly from each of the support surfaces toward the center of the device. The sidewardly extending surfaces intersect one another along a line extending parallel with the sides. A plurality of horizontally spaced bars are disposed rearwardly of and at an elevation above the support surfaces. The rearmost bar has a central portion disposed at a higher elevation than the adjacent bar.

Abstract: A milking cup is moved into position surrounding a cow's teat by power operated members controlled by an electrical circuit including a pair of spaced ultrasonic detectors for locating the teat. Each detector includes a transmitter and a receiver. The ultrasonic fields produced by the transmitters intersect one another at a position spaced from the transmitters. Conical reflecting surfaces are disposed adjacent the transmitters and receivers to reflect ultrasonic waves to obtain a detection field of predetermined dimensions and to determine the area within which the ultrasonic waves are reflected back to the receivers. The generatrix of the conical reflecting surfaces may be slightly concave or convex.