Rethermalization system
First Claim
1. A rethermalization system for rapidly rethermalizing refrigerated foods, for maintaining the foods in refrigerated state until they are rethermalized, and heating certain foods to a desired temperature at a serving time while maintaining certain other foods in a chilled condition comprising:
- a plurality of trays for supporting food items thereon including food items to be rethermalized;
a rethermalization cart for holding a plurality of trays;
a plurality of heater shelves, including heaters, disposed in the cart under the trays for selectively rethermalizing desired foods located on the trays;
a refrigerator adapted to receive said rethermalization cart for maintaining the food at a desired refrigerated temperature and containing a docking location; and
control means and power supply for supplying power to at least one heater according to a rethermalization program such that said heater is maintained within a first temperature range for a first time interval, a second temperature range for a second time interval for cooking said food items at a desired temperature and a third temperature range for a third time interval for maintaining said food item at a desired serving temperature, wherein said first temperature range is higher than the second cooking temperature range of the food item to be rethermalized.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A rethermalization system for storage of prepared meals in a refrigerated state, rethermalization of the meals in accordance with a rethermalization program, and maintenance of the rethermalized meal at a desired serving temperature is disclosed. Refrigerated meals are placed within racks in a rethermalization cart that is retained in a refrigerated area. Beneath the trays are located heater shelves containing one or more heating elements to heat selected food items located on the tray. The carts incorporate controllers which, upon receiving a start signal, provide power to the heater shelves of the cart in accordance with a rethermalization program. The controllers are specially adapted to enable a user to provide various heater shelves on the same cart with different programs to compensate for temperature stratification and warm and cool areas within the refrigerated environment. In an embodiment, the rethermalization program is a three stage rethermalization cycle with the food first heated to a temperature greater than the desired cooking temperature, the food is then maintained at the desired cooking temperature for a period of time and finally, the temperature is reduced and maintained at a desired serving temperature until the tray is removed from the cart or the system is turned off.
52 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A rethermalization system for rapidly rethermalizing refrigerated foods, for maintaining the foods in refrigerated state until they are rethermalized, and heating certain foods to a desired temperature at a serving time while maintaining certain other foods in a chilled condition comprising:
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a plurality of trays for supporting food items thereon including food items to be rethermalized; a rethermalization cart for holding a plurality of trays; a plurality of heater shelves, including heaters, disposed in the cart under the trays for selectively rethermalizing desired foods located on the trays; a refrigerator adapted to receive said rethermalization cart for maintaining the food at a desired refrigerated temperature and containing a docking location; and control means and power supply for supplying power to at least one heater according to a rethermalization program such that said heater is maintained within a first temperature range for a first time interval, a second temperature range for a second time interval for cooking said food items at a desired temperature and a third temperature range for a third time interval for maintaining said food item at a desired serving temperature, wherein said first temperature range is higher than the second cooking temperature range of the food item to be rethermalized. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A rethermalization system for rapidly rethermalizing refrigerated foods, for maintaining the foods in a refrigerated state until they are rethermalized, and heating certain foods to a desired temperature at a serving time while maintaining certain other foods in a chilled condition comprising:
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a refrigerator for maintaining the food at a desired refrigerated temperature and containing a docking location; a rethermalization cart adapted to be received within said docking location of said refrigerator; a plurality of support means disposed within said rethermalization cart for supporting food items, said support means further comprising heater shelves, including heaters; a plurality of food service trays adapted to receive a plurality of food items thereon, including food items to be rethermalized, said food service trays further adapted to be supported within said rethermalization cart by said support means and position food items to be rethermalized over said heaters in conductive heat exchange relationship with said heater shelves of said support means; and control means and power supply for supplying power to at least one heater according to a rethermalization program, said rethermalization program defining at least two temperature ranges at which said heaters are maintained, the first of said two temperature ranges being maintained for a first time interval and the second of said temperature ranges being maintained for a second time interval, said second temperature range corresponding to a desired cooking temperature and said first temperature range being greater than said second temperature range. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification