Abstract: A cooked food staging device and method are provided. The device and method are particularly suited for storing breaded, battered or bread food items for extended periods of time without becoming soggy. A heated compartment having a slot has a flexible member covering at least a portion of the slot to restrict airflow and to permit access to the food items contained therein, which may be contained on trays, without the necessity of removing the tray to view and remove selected food items therefrom.

Abstract: A banquet cart includes a heater received in an opening in the bottom panel of the banquet cart. Plates of food are loaded into the interior compartment of the banquet cart in the kitchen. The heater includes a central heater unit and two heat retention material heating panels. The central heater unit heats the interior compartment of the banquet cart for twenty minutes. The central heater unit is turned off, and smaller heaters are turned on to heat the heat retention material heating panels for forty minutes. The smaller heaters are turned off and the banquet cart is rolled from the kitchen to a hallway proximate to the dining area for serving the plates of food to guests. The heated heat retention material heating panels can maintain the temperature of the air in the interior compartment of the banquet cart warm for approximately two hours and forty minutes, keeping the food in the banquet cart warm.

Abstract: A food treatment cabinet having a frame/housing defining a food treatment space. First structure is provided for at least one of heating, cooling, and adding moisture to air within the food treatment space. The frame/housing has a first wall with a first opening therethrough to selectively permit introduction of food into the food treatment space and withdrawal of food from the food treatment space. A first fin projects away from the first wall above at least part of the first opening to inhibit heat transfer between the food treatment space and the atmosphere externally of the food treatment space.

Abstract: A self-biasing system for articles has an article support, a frame for controlling the movement of the support and a biasing structure capable of moving the support. The system can be a self-leveling article dispenser with the frame including elongate channel members. The channel members define an elongated cavity capable of receiving articles to be dispensed. A platform is slidably received in the cavity. A plate has one part of a reversibly extensible structure secured thereto. A flexible line has a segment secured to the platform and the linear movement thereof is controlled by a guide on the plate and a guide associated with the frame.