Dynamic shelving for automated frozen food kiosk system

A dynamic shelving system for use within a kiosk, the shelving system comprising:

• a horizontal mounting structure and a vertical mounting structure that provide an adjustable support framework within a thermally insulated enclosure, wherein 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, and each shelf includes a pallet and a depth adjustment plate wherein the pallet further includes a plurality of pallet openings that are positioned to align with at least one vertical column;
• a plurality of horizontal adjustment openings associated with the horizontal mounting structure, wherein each of the vertical columns includes a column width adjustment opening that causes the vertical columns to be fixedly coupled to the horizontal mounting structure when a fastener passes through the horizontal adjustment opening and the column width adjustment opening;
• a plurality of row height adjustment openings disposed along the vertical column, wherein the row height adjustment openings supports variable vertical placement of the pallet;
• each depth adjustment plate selectively varies the depth of a shelving plane;
• wherein the shelving system maintains structural and thermal integrity under frozen operating conditions;
• wherein the plurality of pallets and associated plurality of depth adjustment plates are coupled to the vertical column using at least one or a plurality of mechanical fasteners and a plurality of slot-in interfaces;
• and
• wherein each pallet includes a planar upper surface with a predefined loading zone and having a geometric clearance to facilitate reliable engagement by a retrieval mechanism.

A method for configuring an adjustable shelving system for a plurality of frozen or refrigerated containers, the method comprising,

• providing a horizontal mounting structure and a vertical mounting structure that provide an adjustable support framework within a thermally insulated enclosure, wherein the vertical mounting structure includes a plurality of vertical columns and the horizontal mounting structure includes a plurality of horizontal columns;
• coupling a plurality of horizontal adjustment openings associated with the horizontal mounting structure with a plurality of vertical columns that includes a column width adjustment opening that causes the vertical 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;
• installing a plurality of shelves, in which each shelf supports a frozen or refrigerated container, and each shelf includes a pallet and a depth adjustment plate;
• selecting a vertical position for each shelf, wherein the pallet further includes a plurality of pallet openings that are positioned to align with at least one of the vertical columns;
• modifying the depth of one or more shelves by installing the depth adjustment plate to selectively define a rear stop position relative to a front access face of the shelf;
• and
• securing the pallets and the depth adjustment plates using at least one of a mechanical fastener and slot-in interface.