Abstract: The temperature of shelves used in a food holding cabinet are measured using a transistor. The voltage across a PN junction being known to be temperature dependent, the shelf temperature can be inferred from a calculated temperature of a PN junction of a transistor thermally coupled to a heated or refrigerated shelf. No calibration of the measurement device is required since the PN junction voltage, current and temperature relationship is well known.

Abstract: Fixed amounts of granular and granulated seasonings are dispensed from a rotatable disc that lies flat or horizontal and which includes a through-hole or void. The void is gravity-filled with granulated seasonings from a hole in the bottom of a hopper. A screen below the disc is formed to have open, through-holes and a solid land. The void in the disc fills with granules when the void is beneath a hole in the hopper but over a solid land thus preventing granules to spill through the disc. Rotation of the disc moves the void away from the land, allowing granules in the void to fall through holes in the screen. A gasket provides a seal between the disc and the hopper. The disc is rotated back and forth around its axis by vertical movement of an actuator about the horizontal hinge.

Abstract: A steamer for sandwich buns, bagels, croissants, cakes, vegetables, pastas, and other foods delivers fixed amounts of water onto a hot, dry platen through a vertically-oriented water conduit which is also thermally insulated from the hot platen and made from thermally insulating materials. The vertically-oriented water conduit retains water after a water supply is shut off at the beginning or end of a steam generating cycle. Orienting the conduit vertically reduces the surface area of liquid water exposed to air. Insulating the water conduit from the hot platen reduces the rate at which water standing in the conduit evaporates. Tubes used in the water conduit are insulating and easily removed from the water conduit assembly and flexible. Minerals that precipitate out of solution and become deposited onto the flexible tube are easily removed by flexing the flexible tube.

Abstract: A dispenser for viscous liquids effectuates sequential operations by hydrostatic pressure on an assembly of two pistons separated from each other in a cylinder by a separation spring. When the piston assembly is embedded in material to be dispensed, the space between the pistons fills with material to be dispensed. Pressuring the reservoir by squeezing it or by the addition of pressurized gas, forces the piston assembly down the cylinder at the end of which is an opening from which material in the piston assembly can escape. One of the pistons moves toward the other end by pressure from the reservoir, causing material in the piston assembly to be dispensed. The volume inside the piston assembly defines and limits the volume of material that can be dispensed.

Abstract: A drawer seal includes a magnetic coupler, a bellows filled or substantially filled with a vibration dampening material and which is affixed to either a drawer or cabinet by a base member. The base member can be embodied as a dart that extends into a hole formed into the drawer or cabinet. A refrigerated food storage cabinet includes a self-closing drawer provided with the drawer seal whereby the drawer is less likely to rebound open.

Abstract: Temperature control is provided to food dispensing vessels like condiment dispensers that are too tall to be stored in a shallow, temperature-controlled tray or basin by using inclined or tilted, thermally-conductive tubes placed inside a temperature-controlled tray. Thermal insulating covers improve the thermal efficiency of the tubes.

Abstract: A controller for a food holding oven determines one or more time periods during each of which heat is directed at a pre-cooked food item. By controlling the heat intensity and the time over which different amounts of heat are provided to different types of pre-cooked food items, the time during which a particular type of pre-cooked food item can be kept palatable is maximized.

Abstract: Disclosed is an inkjet printer including an inkjet head containing electrically conductive ink and having a nozzle for spraying the ink and a mask positioned on a side of the inkjet head, the mask having a number of slits formed so that the electrically conductive ink passes through the slits and an electromagnetic field is established. The electromagnetic field is used to control the direction of movement of sprayed ink for uniform ink spraying.

Abstract: Wind-driven electrical generators will slow and lose kinetic energy when the wind slows or stops. When the wind slows or stops, kinetic energy in the rotating turbine and other rotating components that would otherwise be lost, is conserved by supplying a supplemental mechanical energy to the rotating components using a battery-powered motor. The electrical power for the drive motor is obtained from solar-charged batteries. In an alternate embodiment, solar cells provide all of the energy for the drive motor.

Abstract: A system and process for generating hydroelectric power within a body of water uses head pressure existing between two depths of the water. A vertically arranged conduit has an upper water intake and is in fluid communication with a reservoir situated at a lower depth. In a first cycle, water flow is established in the conduit between the water intake and lower reservoir when the reservoir is substantially full of air but at a hydrostatic pressure less than the hydrostatic pressure at the top of the water conduit. A turbine mounted adjacent the reservoir and at a lower depth than the water intake drives an electric generator. As water is introduced into the reservoir, air is scavenged by a compressor and used to drive water from a second reservoir. After the first reservoir is generally full of water, valves are provided to cease the flow of water through the water intake and flow of air out the exhaust tube.

Abstract: A wire mesh burner plate for use in large, gas burners for large ovens is comprised of spaced-apart wire mesh plates. The spacing between the wire mesh plates defines an air/fuel mixture space. The fuel passes through the lower or first mesh, experiences a pressure drop, mixes with air and passes through a second wire mesh. The gas combusts after passing through the second wire mesh. The fine gauge of the mesh prevents combustion from flowing backwardly into the fuel/air mixture space. Several individual wire mesh burner plates can be flexibly attached to each other such that a very wide space can be covered. Thermal stresses are reduced by being distributed across multiple burners.

Abstract: Cone-shaped food items and cones having various food stuffs in them are cooked by placing a cone-shaped food item into a cone-shaped heating station that travels through an oven and past an inclined heater element. The heating station rotates the cone-shaped food item so that it is uniformly heated as it passes through the oven.

Abstract: A food timing system is disclosed that includes a number of timer modules associated with food holding devices in a restaurant. The timer modules are connected in a network for communicating information about the food being held in food holding compartments of the food holding devices. Each timer module includes a plurality of timers, with each timer being associated with a food holding compartment of a food holding device. The timers measure the holding time of food in each food holding compartment and are capable of transferring the holding time to another timer when the food is transferred to a holding compartment associated with the other timer.

Abstract: Apparatus, and associated method, for controlling intermittent operation of a windshield wiper assembly. A user interface, formed of a pair of momentary contact switches, is used to set the repetition rate of intermittent operation of a wiper blade and, subsequently, when desired, to terminate the intermittent operation. A first of the switches is actuated two times, with the time period separating the actuations defining the repetition rate of the wiper blade when in the intermittent mode of operation.