Abstract: A substantially circular slicer knife is provided having an interior base portion made of a first material and an outer edge portion made of a second material. The outer edge portion is metallurgically bonded to the interior base portion.

Abstract: A promotion management system identifies store-selected identifiers as necessary to implement a particular promotion across multiple store chains. An audit system compares number of promotion offers distributed to number of linking items sold.

Abstract: A slicer comprising a slicer body including a rotatable blade for slicing a product, and a tray mounted for reciprocal movement relative the slicer body and for supporting and moving the product relative the blade. The tray includes a tray body and a unitary handle. In another embodiment, the invention is a slicer including a slicer body having a rotatable blade for slicing a product and a tray for supporting the product and moving the product relative the blade. The slicer further includes a handle unitary with the tray, the handle providing a surface which a user may grip to manually move the tray.

Abstract: A refrigeration unit includes an evaporator assembly including an evaporator coil forming a first part of a refrigerant path. A condenser assembly is at least partially disposed in a compartment in a housing and includes a condenser coil forming a second part of the refrigerant path. A condensate pan is arranged and configured to receive condensate having dropped from the evaporator assembly. The condensate pan has a first portion that is exposed to pressure conditions in the compartment and a second portion that is spaced away from the compartment and exposed to ambient pressure.

Abstract: A mixing machine includes a drive assembly and control system for making speed changes on the fly and for providing controlled acceleration and deceleration. A bowl receiving portion may be movable between a lowered position and a raised position with a power bowl lift mechanism provided to effect such movement. Advanced control features and special function modes may also be provided.

Abstract: A substantially circular slicer knife is provided having an interior base portion made of a first material and an outer edge portion made of a second material. The outer edge portion is metallurgically bonded to the interior base portion.

Abstract: A label printing apparatus for accommodating a plurality of widths of rolled label stock is provided. The label printing apparatus includes a frame, a label stock support arm extending from the frame, and a print head located for having label stock pass thereby for printing. The label stock support arm may have at least two stepped regions for supporting rolled label stock, including a first stepped region with edges spaced apart by a first distance corresponding to a first width of label stock and a second stepped region with edges spaced apart by a second distance corresponding to a second width of label stock. One or more label stock guides may include recessed regions for guiding different widths of label stock. A movable wall may also be provided. The various features could also be provided in connection with printers using rolled print media other than label stock.

Abstract: A food product slicer with a rotatable slicer knife includes a knife sharpener and an associated knife guard assembly with a guard member positioned for protecting the edge of the knife when the sharpener is positioned in its standby, or non-sharpening state.

Abstract: A printer for printing between a print roller and a print head having a print head alignment system is provided. The print head alignment system includes a print roller assembly, a print head support assembly and an actuating assembly. The print roller assembly includes at least one stop and a print roller mounted thereto. The print head support assembly includes a print head mounted thereto and at least one detent, a surface of the detent engaging a surface of the stop to maintain alignment of the print head with the print roller. The actuating assembly is associated with one of the print head support assembly and the print roller assembly to separate the detent and the stop before moving one the print head and print roller to provide an access space between the print head and the print roller for allowing print media to be removed and inserted.

Abstract: In one aspect, a food thawing cabinet includes at least one thawing chamber and one or more wall blowers and a heater for producing a controlled high volume of air flow over food product, with the heater controlled in a cyclic manner. In another aspect, various advanced control techniques for controlling heat input are provided in an effort to lower the time required to thaw frozen food products in a safe manner.

Abstract: A method for selectively printing different messages on labels printed by an in-store scale involves providing an in-store scale including a label printing mechanism with a supply of labels and a communications link for receiving information from a site external to the store. The scale label printing mechanism is configured in a first state and, during the first state, simultaneous printing of two types of information on a first label takes place. In particular, both (i) product information for a specified product to which the first label will be applied and (ii) a first message pertaining to a product which is different than the specified product to which the first label will be applied, are printed on the first label. The in-store scale receives a message control signal via the communications link which configures the scale label printing mechanism in a second state. During the second state, simultaneous printing of two types of information on a second label takes place.

Abstract: In an in-store oven system audible customer messages are automatically generated based upon a food product cooked in an oven within the store.

Abstract: In a dish carrier for dishwashers, in addition to lower supporting surfaces (8) and upper supporting surfaces (10), at least one upper extra supporting surface (34) which is offset forwards and/or upwards relative to the upper supporting surfaces is provided in compartments (22) for accommodating items (12, 14) to be washed in order to hold relatively flat items to be washed, for example trays (14), approximately parallel to deeper items which are to be washed, for example soup plates (12).

Abstract: A scale includes a printing mechanism that operates to produce both adhesive product pricing labels and non-adhesive promotion offer labels using label stock with a heat activated adhesive.

Abstract: A scale system, such as a food product scale in a perishables department of a store, includes multiple scale login enabling RF identification units for use by corresponding service personnel, and a scale adapted to identify an acceptable RF identification unit that meets criteria indicative of likelihood of scale use and to perform an automated login operation for the identified RF identification unit.

Abstract: A method for selectively printing different messages on labels printed by an in-store scale involves providing an in-store scale including a label printing mechanism with a supply of labels and a communications link for receiving information from a site external to the store. The scale label printing mechanism is configured in a first state and, during the first state, simultaneous printing of two types of information on a first label takes place. In particular, both (i) product information for a specified product to which the first label will be applied and (ii) a first message pertaining to a product which is different than the specified product to which the first label will be applied, are printed on the first label. The in-store scale receives a message control signal via the communications link which configures the scale label printing mechanism in a second state. During the second state, simultaneous printing of two types of information on a second label takes place.

Abstract: A mixing element for attachment to a mixer output shaft of a mixer and a mixer including the mixing element. The output shaft has transversely-extending first and second driving pins. The mixing element includes a collar portion having a keyway. The keyway has a shaft-receiving passageway and first and second pin-receiving pathways. The shaft-receiving passageway extends longitudinally downward from the keyway opening. The pin pathways each project outward from the shaft-receiving passageway and each include an entry portion and a torque-receiving portion spaced from the entry portion.

Abstract: In a waste pulping apparatus, an impeller assembly comprises a rotating blade for pulping solid waste to form a slurry, the rotating blade having an axis of rotation, a base and a plurality of ears that axially extend away from the base. The impeller assembly also includes a sieve ring having axially opposed first and second ends, an inner cylindrical surface and an outer cylindrical surface, where the sieve ring encircles the base of the rotating blade at the first end so that a portion of the ears are radially spaced inside the inner cylindrical surface so that the ears rotate within the sieve ring. A plurality of pumping vanes are also provided for pumping the slurry, where each pumping vane has a pumping surface that rotates radially outside the outer cylindrical surface of the sieve ring. Preferably, the pumping vanes can be easily changed to allow for various head condition while providing a predetermined pumping capacity.

Abstract: A warewash machine includes a multi-position splash guard enabling multiple machine configurations in which undesired overspray is reduced or eliminated. A drip flange may also be provided to increase the amount of water that impinges upon wares.