Food shelving and cycling system
First Claim
1. A shelving and cycling system for a wrapped food item comprising:
- a frame;
an elongated shelf for storing a wrapped food item and including an entrance end through which a wrapped food item is placed into the shelf and an exit end through which a wrapped food item is removed from the shelf, the shelf being supported by the frame in a canted orientation so that a wrapped food item placed onto the shelf through the entrance end is gravitationally directed toward the exit end of the shelf;
a gate assembly associated with the shelf including a gate movably mounted adjacent the exit end of the shelf for movement between a closed position at which the gate prevents the food item for gravitationally exiting the shelf through the exit end thereof and an opened position at which the food item is permitted to gravitationally move through the exit end of the shelf and means for moving the gate between the opened and closed positions;
means associated with the gate moving means for initiating movement of the gate to its opened position upon the occurrence of a predetermined event to permit the food item to gravitationally exit the exit end of the shelf; and
sensor means associated with the shelf for sensing the presence of a food item positioned within the shelf, and the associated means is connected to the sensor means for monitoring the period of time that a food item is positioned within the shelf and for initiating the movement of the gate to its opened position upon the passage of the prescribed period of time.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A food shelving and cycling system for wrapped food items includes an elongated shelf for storing wrapped food items and unwrapping apparatus for separating each food item from its wrapping. Sensors mounted within the floor of the shelf and a controller monitor the time that a wrapped food item is positioned within the shelf and initiates its removal from the shelf if the food item is positioned within the shelf in excess of a desired period of time. The system includes heating components for heating the food items until removed from the shelf, and the unwrapping apparatus facilitates the division of a food item and its wrapping into edible and non-edible refuse.
68 Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A shelving and cycling system for a wrapped food item comprising:
-
a frame; an elongated shelf for storing a wrapped food item and including an entrance end through which a wrapped food item is placed into the shelf and an exit end through which a wrapped food item is removed from the shelf, the shelf being supported by the frame in a canted orientation so that a wrapped food item placed onto the shelf through the entrance end is gravitationally directed toward the exit end of the shelf; a gate assembly associated with the shelf including a gate movably mounted adjacent the exit end of the shelf for movement between a closed position at which the gate prevents the food item for gravitationally exiting the shelf through the exit end thereof and an opened position at which the food item is permitted to gravitationally move through the exit end of the shelf and means for moving the gate between the opened and closed positions; means associated with the gate moving means for initiating movement of the gate to its opened position upon the occurrence of a predetermined event to permit the food item to gravitationally exit the exit end of the shelf; and sensor means associated with the shelf for sensing the presence of a food item positioned within the shelf, and the associated means is connected to the sensor means for monitoring the period of time that a food item is positioned within the shelf and for initiating the movement of the gate to its opened position upon the passage of the prescribed period of time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A food warmer and cycling system for wrapped food items comprising:
-
a frame; an upper section including a plurality of elongated shelves arranged in a side-by-side arrangement and supported by the frame so that one end of each shelf is elevated above the other end of the shelf, the elevated end of the shelf providing an entrance end through which a wrapped food item is placed into the shelf and the lower end of the shelf providing an exit end through which a wrapped food item is removed from the shelf so that a wrapped food item placed into the shelf through the entrance end is gravitationally directed toward the exit end of the shelf; gate means including a first gate movably mounted adjacent the exit end of each shelf for movement between a closed position at which the first gate prevents a food item from gravitationally exiting the shelf through the exit end thereof and an opened position at which the food item is permitted to gravitationally move through the exit end of the shelf and means for moving the first gate between its opened and closed positions; said gate means including a second gate movably mounted intermediate of the entrance end and exit end of each shelf for movement between a closed position at which the second gate prevents the advance of a food item positioned adjacent the second gate toward the shelf exit end and an opened position at which a food item positioned adjacent the second gate is permitted to gravitationally move past the second gate toward the exit end of the shelf and means for moving the second gate between its opened and closed positions; and means associated with the means for moving the first and second gates for initiating movement of each of the first gate and the second gate to its opened position upon the occurrence of a predetermined event to permit a food item to gravitationally move along or off of the shelf. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
Specification