Abstract: A universal food holding cabinet has multiple compartments, the temperatures of which are under software control by microprocessors or microcontrollers located on power supply circuit boards for corresponding compartments. Each compartment can have different temperature control requirements with different requirements being met by a different program in different processors, or different operating parameters for the same program. The cabinet is configured to prevent the power supply boards from being installed incorrectly, to provide an address to a power supply circuit board when it is installed and by which a power supply circuit can be addressed by a master controller.

Abstract: Bezels or escutcheons for a temperature-controlled food holding cabinet are removable and field replaceable by the use of interlocking tabs and detents that hold the escutcheon in place and align the escutcheon to electrical connectors. A tab formed on either the escutcheon or chassis of the cabinet, engages a corresponding detent formed on either the cabinet chassis or the escutcheon. Two tabs and detents are preferably used. One tab engages a corresponding detent with an interference fit.

Abstract: Edges of English muffins and certain other types of bread products known to burn during toasting are protected from burning by a bread product edge toasting shield. One embodiment of the bread product edge shield is a baffle formed of orthogonal or substantially orthogonal metal strips. A second embodiment is a cylindrical tube. The edge toasting shield blocks infrared energy waves that would otherwise be incident upon the bread product edges at angles of incidence less than about eighty degrees relative to horizontal.

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: A food warming apparatus includes a heating compartment that can hold one or more trays containing previously cooked food portions. A rack in the heating compartment includes a support member, a channel, and a stop that blocks the front end of the channel. A cover that includes a horizontal section and a vertical section is mounted on the support such that the horizontal section is supported on one side by the support member and on the other side by the vertical section, which is positioned in the channel behind the stop. When a tray is inserted into the receiving space defined by the cover and support member, the cover is lifted up so that the horizontal section rests on the tray and at least partially blocks the open top of the tray, thereby restricting evaporation of liquids from the previously cooked food portions contained in the tray.

Abstract: One or more piezoelectric devices cool or heat a thermally-conductive basin. The basin is sized, shaped and arranged to receive two or more food serving trays. In a preferred embodiment, the food serving trays are sized, shaped and arranged to provide an air gap between the tray and the thermally-conductive basin so that the tray is cooled by convection and radiation but not conduction.

Abstract: A dual-sided, conveyor toaster provides operator-adjustable conveyors that are also operator removable. The removable conveyor assemblies are chain driven and removably supported in the toaster by re-positionable mounting mechanisms embodied as either adjustable pins that engage fixed slots or adjustable slots that engage fixed pins. Fixed pins can be located on the conveyor and engage adjustable slots in the toaster; adjustable pins can be located on the toaster and engage fixed slots on the conveyor. The conveyor assemblies use non-marring plates to urge food products against the heated platen surfaces and to carry the food products across the platen.

Abstract: A toaster for bread-type food products includes a housing defining at least one toasting cavity having an upper mouth for depositing the food products into the cavity and a lower opening from which toasted food products exit the cavity. A perforate rack is provided beneath the lower opening and onto which the toasted food products are deposited as they exit the cavity. The rack is perforated to significantly reduce the surface area of the rack which might otherwise stick to the toasted food products. An imperforate plate is juxtaposed behind the perforate rack to prevent crumbs from the toasted food products from falling into the bottom of the toaster. The plate is spaced from the rack a sufficient distance to prevent any portions of the toasted food products from projecting through the perforate rack and touching the plate and sticking thereto. As disclosed herein, the perforate rack is provided as a wire form structure.

Abstract: A method of toasting a food product like an English muffin irradiates the food product with infrared (IR) energy from an infrared energy source while simultaneously directing an unheated air stream toward the food product.

Abstract: A temperature controlled food storage unit is provided with a Peltier device (18) to effectuate the temperature of food place in a thermally conductive container or basin (24). Air from a fan (52) is passed through an air duct (50) and over a heat sink (22), which is thermally coupled to one side of the Peltier device (18). A hand-operated damper (54, 64) is used to control the air flow through the air duct (50) and over the heat sink (22) thereby controlling heat exchange between the Peltier device (18) and ambient air.

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: 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 food heating device (100) includes a first conveyor (107) having a first thermally-conductive belt (105) and a second conveyor (107) having a second thermally-conductive belt (105). A first platen (101) is disposed on a first side of the first thermally-conductive belt (105) and a second platen (103) disposed on a first side of the second thermally-conductive belt (105). The first conveyor (107) and the second conveyor (107) are arranged and spaced to transport a food product (201, 203, 205) between a second side of the first thermally-conductive belt (105) and a second side of the second thermally-conductive belt (105).

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: In one embodiment, a food heating device includes a first platen and a first conveyor arranged and spaced to transport a food product between the first platen (501) and the first conveyor (503). A second platen (501) and a second conveyor (503) arranged and spaced to transport the food product (203) between the second platen (501) and the second conveyor (503). A first end of the first platen (501) is disposed near a first end of the second conveyor (503) and a first end of the first conveyor (503) is disposed near a first end of the second platen (501) such that the food product (203) is automatically transferred from the first platen (501) to the second platen (501).

Abstract: A food heating device includes a platen (101) and a pair of conveyor segments (103). A first conveyor segment is arranged and spaced to transport a food product (201, 203, 205) between a first side of the platen (101) and the first conveyor segment (103). A second conveyor segment (103/703/903) is arranged and spaced to transport the food product between a second side of the platen (101) and the second conveyor segment (103/703/903). A transfer device (505/705) may be disposed at one end of the platen (101) such that the transfer device transfers the food product (203) from the first side of the platen (101) to the second side of the platen (101).

Abstract: One embodiment of a food heating device includes a platen (101) and an opening (103) disposed in the platen (101). The opening (103) is arranged and sized to receive a food product (203) from a first side of the platen (101) and to output the food product (203) to a second side of the platen (101). Alternative embodiments involve diagonally guiding a food product (203) along a different arrangements of platens (801, 901, 1001, 1101, 1401).

Abstract: Passive temperature control is provided to vessels too tall to be stored in a shallow, temperature-controlled tray or basin by a vertically oriented thermally-conductive tube. In one embodiment, an insulative collar covers the tray and insulates portions of the tube that extend above the top of the tray. Optional heat sinking fins and air convection holes increase heat transfer between the tube and the tray.

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: A food heating device usable as a toaster, fryer or warmer uses a metal plate having separately heated regions separated by a thermal break. The separately heated regions use separately energized and controlled heating elements embedded to the material from which the metal plate is made. One region can be kept hot while the other region is shut off or kept at a lower temperature until demand requires both sides to be heated. Separating the regions by a thermal break reduces heat transfer from the hot side to the cool side.