Abstract: A cooking unit includes a cooktop, a hood assembly, a duct assembly, and a fan. The cooktop defines a slot at least partially extending along a peripheral edge of the cooktop. The hood assembly includes a hood support extending upward from the cooktop and a hood coupled to the hood support. The hood support defines a conduit. The hood defines an intake and a hood chamber connecting the intake to the conduit of the hood support. The duct assembly includes ducting extending beneath the cooktop. The ducting connects the conduit to the slot. The fan is positioned to drive air into the intake, through the hood chamber, through the conduit, through the ducting, and out of the slot. At least a portion of the air exiting the slot returns to the intake such that an air curtain is generated between the slot and the intake.

Abstract: A cooking unit includes a cooktop, a hood assembly, a duct assembly, and a fan. The cooktop defines a slot at least partially extending along a peripheral edge of the cooktop. The hood assembly includes a hood support extending upward from the cooktop and a hood coupled to the hood support. The hood support defines a conduit. The hood defines an intake and a hood chamber connecting the intake to the conduit of the hood support. The duct assembly includes ducting extending beneath the cooktop. The ducting connects the conduit to the slot. The fan is positioned to drive air into the intake, through the hood chamber, through the conduit, through the ducting, and out of the slot. At least a portion of the air exiting the slot returns to the intake such that an air curtain is generated between the slot and the intake.

Abstract: One embodiment of the disclosure relates to a heated food container including an interior chamber with an upper portion, a lower portion, and a wall defining an opening into the interior chamber. The opening is configured to permit the movement of food into and/or out of the interior chamber. The heated food container further includes a fan configured to supply air to a duct system and a heater configured to heat the air in the duct system. The duct system includes a first air duct configured to direct the heated air across the opening such that the heated air forms a barrier between the interior chamber and an exterior environment and a first bypass duct configured to deliver heated air directly to the lower portion of the interior chamber without being directed across the opening.

Abstract: A food container includes an interior chamber sized to contain food items, the interior chamber having a first temperature zone and a second temperature zone. The food container further includes an opening providing access to the interior chamber, a fan configured to supply an air stream to a duct system, and a heater configured to heat the air stream, where the duct system is configured to deliver a portion of the air stream across the opening, creating an air curtain. The food container further includes a diverter disposed in the air curtain to divert a portion of the air stream out of the air curtain and into the interior chamber, the diverter configured to cause the second temperature zone to maintain a second temperature different from the first temperature.

Abstract: One embodiment of the disclosure relates to a heated food container including an interior chamber with an upper portion, a lower portion, and a wall defining an opening into the interior chamber. The opening is configured to permit the movement of food into and/or out of the interior chamber. The heated food container further includes a fan configured to supply air to a duct system and a heater configured to heat the air in the duct system. The duct system includes a first air duct configured to direct the heated air across the opening such that the heated air forms a barrier between the interior chamber and an exterior environment and a first bypass duct configured to deliver heated air directly to the lower portion of the interior chamber without being directed across the opening.

Abstract: A food container is shown having a plurality of openings used to move food into and/or out of the container. Each of the openings has an air curtain positioned across the opening. The air curtains form barriers between the interior of the container and the exterior environment. The food container may be capable of humidifying and/or heating food positioned therein.

Abstract: The present description relates to a food container which comprises at least one opening through which food is moved and a humidity source in fluid contact with an air stream providing humidity to the air stream. The air stream is directed across the opening to form a barrier between the interior of the container and the exterior environment.