Abstract: A conveyor belt assembly includes a conveyor belt to move an item, a drive pulley driven by a motor and a non-drive pulley. The conveyor belt includes a v-belt on the inner surface of the conveyor belt proximate to both of the edges. Each v-belt is received in a groove in the drive pulley and the non-drive pulley. The engagement of the v-belts in the grooves prevent lateral movement of the conveyor belt during use. The conveyor belt also includes an edge seal positioned around both the opposing edges of the conveyor belt. Alternately, the conveyor belt assembly includes two conveyor belts assemblies pressed together and separated by a gap.

Abstract: An automated grill automatically transfers frozen food from a freezer component to grilling component by an automatic loading device in response to a signal. Frozen food is loaded in a loading side in the freezer component. When the signal is received indicating that the food is to be grilled, food in a feeding side is raised and delivered to the loading device. When a sensor detects that food is positioned in the loading device, the loading device removes the food from the freezer component and into the grilling component. The food is then grilled as it travels between two substantially vertical grilling structures each surrounded by a conveyor belt. Preferably, the conveyor belt is made of a non-stick coated Invar. A lateral sensor detects and compensates for lateral movement of the conveyor belts. After the food exits the grilling component, the food slides onto a heated holding area for serving.

Abstract: An automated system for preparing and delivering postmix beverages in response to one or more drink orders being entered from a remote point of sale unit or a local keypad and including: a postmix beverage preparation assembly for dispensing ice and a selected postmix beverage into a cup; an oblong carousel type conveyor assembly including a plurality of upwardly open cup holders which are driven by a motor driven belt so as to pass beneath a cup dispensing station, an ice dispensing station, a beverage dispensing station, and a plurality of pick-up stations; a cup storage and dispenser assembly including a bidirectionally rotatable turret upon which is mounted a plurality of different sized cup supply tubes for holding a respective stack of beverage cups; and a pneumatic vertically driven cup gripper/extractor mechanism having a pair of pneumatically operated gripper arms which operate to remove a cup from a selected supply tube on the turret and placing the extracted cup into an empty cup holder which is th

Abstract: A student response system which centrally processes student response data received from a plurality of classrooms. The system includes a main controller coupled to an instructors's terminal in each of the classrooms. The system also includes a plurality of student response keypads in each of the classrooms as well as a plurality of student data controllers associated with each of the classrooms wherein each student data controller is coupled to a group of keypads to accumulate data therefrom. The main controller is responsive to commands from an instructor's terminal to control each of the student data controllers in the instructor's classroom to accumulate data from the keypads in a particular manner for transmission to the main controller which then processes the data. The student response system may be operated in a Sign-On mode, Test mode, Survey mode or Student Election mode and may further be used to generate seating charts for each of the classrooms.

Abstract: A dual compartment sandwich package fabricated of foamed polystyrene or the like and adapted to retain therein in appealing and acceptable form a sandwich including a hot meat portion, such as a hamburger, and a cool trimmings portion, such as lettuce and tomato. The package includes a base and cover having central rib means for rigidifying the package and preventing bending about the longitudinal and transverse axes thereof. There are four cooperating slots and tabs for temporary or secure locking of the cover to the base, which latter condition also forms an external seal to prevent heat exchange with the ambient atmosphere, while the central rib means form an internal barrier to prevent transfer of air and heat between the two compartments. A method of packaging a hot meat portion-cool trimmings portion sandwich, such as a lettuce and tomato hamburger sandwich for dispensing and final assembly by a customer in such a dual compartment package is also disclosed.

Abstract: A food plate package having a bottom plate and a top cover for the temporary storage of prepared food products, the top cover being convex-oval, with support ribs integrally formed in the cover. The support ribs provide a raised flat surface to stably support another food plate package when stacking one on top of the other. Channels are provided between the support ribs for an air space between adjacent packages when stacked and the subsequent dissipation of overly high temperatures in the central portion.