Abstract: A food holder comprising a substantially symmetrical U-shaped body having a pair of opposite digit pockets for accepting fingers or a thumb of a user of the food holder therein and a food pocket located between the digit pockets. The digit pockets taper to accept the fingers or thumb placed therein and to frictionally connect the food holder to a hand of the user. An exterior surface of the digit pockets has elongated ridges to prevent cutting of the surface and into the interior of the pockets during use of the food holder. The food holder is used to hold food by placing the food within the food pocket and moving the digit pockets towards each other. The food holder is preferably used to hold food while the food is being cut.

Abstract: A dough divider including a hopper with a lid, latch assembly and press plate. The lid has an open and closed position. The latch assembly is adapted to maintain the lid in the closed position when activated and to discontinue maintaining the lid in the closed position when deactivated. The press plate is vertically slidable within the hopper, with the hopper being adapted to accept dough between the lid and the press plate. The press plate is adapted to be driven towards the lid in order to compress the dough between the press plate and the lid within the hopper. The latch assembly is automatically activated to maintain the lid in the closed position while the press plate is being driven towards the lid. The latch assembly is automatically deactivated to discontinue maintaining the lid in the closed position after the dough has been compressed and divided within the hopper.

Abstract: A food slicer comprising a base having a slanted chute, a cutting blade housing and a cutting blade extending into the chute. The chute comprises a first panel having a first wall and a second panel having a second wall. Food is placed into a top of the chute and forced to slide to a bottom of the chute by gravity to cut the food with the cutting blade. The first panel and the second panel define a cavity having a uniform cross section. The first panel is adjustably positioned relative to the second panel, whereby the first wall can be moved towards and away from the second wall, thereby altering the size of the cavity in the chute. The food slicer can be placed on a mobile cart and connected thereto to thereby allow easy transportation of the food slicer.

Abstract: A sealing apparatus includes a frame structure including a base and an actuator support extending upward from the base, a container support including a container receiver, and a heater platen suspended from the actuator support above the container support. The heater platen is shiftable between a load/unload position wherein a container can be loaded into and unloaded from within the container receiver and an associated lid can be positioned over the container, and a sealing position wherein the heater platen presses the container and the lid on the container support. The sealing apparatus also includes an actuator that includes a support structure pivotally attached to the frame and supporting the heater platen, and an L-shaped handle having a first end, second end and a pivot point located between the first end and the second end.

Abstract: A proofer includes an enclosure defining a chamber. An air circulation system includes a passageway having an air inlet and an air outlet connected to the chamber. A first fan pulls air into the air inlet from the chamber, and expels air from the outlet into the chamber. A fluid reservoir is positioned adjacent the air circulation system, such that air contacting fluid in the reservoir upon actuation of the first fan is humidified. A heating element heats fluid in the fluid reservoir, and a second fan flows air over at least a portion of the reservoir outside the chamber and cools fluid in the reservoir. A controller selectively actuates the heating element and the second fan based upon the temperature and/or humidity in the chamber to control the temperature of the fluid in the reservoir and thereby reduce fluctuations in temperature and humidity within the chamber.

Abstract: A sealing apparatus includes a frame structure including a base and an actuator support extending upward from the base, a container support including a container receiver, and a heater platen suspended from the actuator support above the container support. The heater platen is shiftable between a load/unload position wherein a container can be loaded into and unloaded from within the container receiver and an associated lid can be positioned over the container, and a sealing position wherein the heater platen presses the container and the lid on the container support. The sealing apparatus also includes an actuator that includes a support structure pivotally attached to the frame and supporting the heater platen, and an L-shaped handle having a first end, second end and a pivot point located between the first end and the second end.

Abstract: A container and lid sealing apparatus comprising a frame structure including a sealing position, support beams, a shiftable container support which includes a container retainer and shiftable on drawer rails from a position for loading and unloading a container into and out of the retainer, to the sealing position for sealing a lid on the tray, an upper heater platen suspended above the tray support, and an actuator actuable to force the upper heater platen downwardly with force onto a container and lid on the support. The force is equally distributed on all portions of the platen to seal a lid onto a container. The actuator may be either a manual actuator or an air actuator. The actuator is multi-axially pivotally coupled to the platen to thereby allow the platen to rock and seek and obtain a parallel relation with the container flange and lid.

Abstract: A dough divider including a hopper with a lid, a latch assembly and a press plate. The lid has an open position and a closed position. The latch assembly is adapted to maintain the lid in the closed position when activated and to discontinue maintaining the lid in the closed position when deactivated. The press plate is vertically slidable within the hopper; with the hopper being adapted to accept dough between the lid and the press plate. The press plate is adapted to be driven towards the lid in order to compress the dough between the press plate and the lid within the hopper. The latch assembly is automatically activated to maintain the lid in the closed position while the press plate is being driven towards the lid. The latch assembly is also automatically deactivated to discontinue maintaining the lid in the closed position after the dough has been compressed and divided within the hopper.

Abstract: A bagel slicer generally comprising a base, a flexible connector, a lid and a knife. The base has upwardly projecting bagel retention protrusions and two end walls attached to opposing ends of the base which define a bagel receiving space. Between the walls there is a first plurality of elongated side members in a parallel spaced relationship to each other, and a second plurality of elongated side members in a parallel spaced relationship to each other and to the first plurality of elongated side members. Each elongated member is engaged with the walls such that there remains slots between them to insert a knife. A flexible connector is attached to the lid and one of the walls.

Abstract: A container and lid sealing apparatus comprising a frame structure including a sealing position, support beams, a shiftable container support which includes a container retainer and shiftable on drawer rails from a position for loading and unloading a container into and out of the retainer, to the sealing position for sealing a lid on the tray, the drawer rails being vertically depressible with the container support, when under vertical force, to move it down onto the support beams, an upper heater platen suspended above the tray support, and an air actuator actuable to force the upper heater platen downwardly with force onto a container and lid on the support. The force is equally distributed on all portions of the platen to seal a lid onto a container. A cam switch is positioned to be actuated by the support in the sealing position for controlled activation of an air logic system to the actuator.

Abstract: A container and lid sealing apparatus comprising a frame structure including a sealing position, support beams, a shiftable container support which includes a container retainer and shiftable on drawer rails from a position for loading and unloading a container into and out of the retainer, to the sealing position for sealing a lid on the tray, the drawer rails being vertically depressible with the container support, when under vertical force, to move it down onto the support beams, an upper heater platen suspended above the tray support, and an air actuator actuable to force the upper heater platen downwardly with force onto a container and lid on the support. The force is equally distributed on all portions of the platen to seal a lid onto a container. A cam switch is positioned to be actuated by the support in the sealing position for controlled activation of an air logic system to the actuator.