Abstract: A picker apparatus and method for retrieving a frozen container from a cold storage environment is described. The apparatus includes a picker, a transport assembly, and an ejection assembly. The picker is positioned in front of a selected container that is stored on a palletized shelf within the cold storage environment. The picker also includes a displacement mechanism that imparts a displacement force to the selected container sufficient to separate the container from a frozen adhesion associated when the container is located on the palletized shelf. The picker also includes a retraction assembly that is coupled to the displacement mechanism, in which the retraction assembly retracts the displaced container into a pickup region. The transport assembly moves the picker from the selected container location to a transfer location adjacent to a receiving window. The ejection assembly ejects the container from the picker housing into the receiving window.

Abstract: A dynamic shelving system and method is described. The shelving system includes a horizontal mounting structure and a vertical mounting structure that provides an adjustable support framework within a thermally insulated enclosure. The vertical mounting structure includes a plurality of vertical columns and the horizontal mounting structure includes a plurality of horizontal columns. Each shelf supports a frozen or refrigerated container. Additionally, each shelf includes a pallet and a depth adjustment plate. The pallet further includes a plurality of pallet openings that are positioned to align with at least one vertical column. Horizontal adjustment openings are associated with the horizontal mounting structure. Each vertical mounting column includes a column width adjustment opening that causes the vertical mounting column to be fixedly coupled to the horizontal mounting structure when a fastener passes through the horizontal adjustment opening and the column width adjustment opening.