Food holding cabinet assembly

Abstract

A holding cabinet assembly for holding pre-processed food products and a process for maintaining the product appearance of a pre-processed food product for a predetermined amount of time includes a steamer assembly capable of containing heated water which is maintained at a first substantially fixed temperature and a cabinet housing coupled to the steamer assembly and having air circulated therein with the air in the cabinet housing being maintained at a second substantially fixed temperature. As a result of controlling and maintaining the temperature of the water in the steamer assembly and air in the food cabinet housing, the relative humidity of the food cabinet housing is maintained at a substantially fixed value. In this holding cabinet assembly, a plurality of compartments are arranged in the housing with each compartment including an openable and closeable drawer. A carrier insert is adapted to be removably supported in each of the drawers. Each of the carrier inserts is capable of holding a plurality of the pre-processed food products whereby the food products in the carrier inserts can be conditioned at the fixed relative humidity of the food cabinet housing. In addition, a control indicator is provided for controlling and sequencing the removal of pre-processed food products from each compartment before the expiration of a predetermined amount of time.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A food holding cabinet assembly for holding pre-processed food products comprising: 
 a steamer assembly capable of containing a water reservoir;    first heater means for heating water in the water reservoir and maintaining the water in the water reservoir at a first substantially fixed temperature;    a cabinet housing coupled to said steamer assembly and having air circulated therein;    second heater means for heating air passing through the cabinet housing and maintaining the air in the cabinet housing at a second substantially fixed temperature so as to maintain a substantially fixed relative humidity within said cabinet housing;    a plurality of compartments arranged in said housing with each compartment having an openable and closeable drawer; and    a carrier insert adapted to be removably supported in each of said drawers, each said carrier insert capable of holding a plurality of said pre-processed food so that said pre-processed food products in said carrier inserts are conditioned at the substantially fixed relative humidity of said food cabinet housing so as to maintain the product appearance of the pre-processed food products.    
     
     
         2 . The food holding cabinet assembly of  claim 1  wherein said pre-processed food products are selected from the group consisting of cooked baked goods and toasted baked goods.  
     
     
         3 . The food holding cabinet assembly of  claim 1  wherein said pre-processed food products are toasted hamburgers buns.  
     
     
         4 . The food holding cabinet assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first fixed temperature of the water in said water reservoir is within the range of between approximately 130° to 180° F.  
     
     
         5 . The food holding cabinet assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first fixed temperature of the water in said water reservoir is approximately 150° F.  
     
     
         6 . The holding cabinet assembly of  claim 1  wherein the second fixed temperature of the air passing through said cabinet is within the range of between approximately 125° to 150° F.  
     
     
         7 . The food holding cabinet assembly of  claim 1  wherein the second fixed temperature of the air passing through said cabinet is approximately 135° F.  
     
     
         8 . The food holding cabinet assembly of  claim 1  wherein the relative humidity in the cabinet is fixed at approximately 70%.  
     
     
         9 . The food holding cabinet assembly of  claim 1  wherein first and second heater means are separately controlled.  
     
     
         10 . The food holding cabinet assembly of  claim 1  and further including control indicating means for indicating the relative freshness of the pre-processed food products in each of the plurality of compartments of the cabinet housing and for sequencing the selection of the pre-processed food products in each of the plurality of compartments of the cabinet housing.  
     
     
         11 . The food holding cabinet assembly of  claim 10  wherein said control indicating means including a product quality timer being placed adjacent to each compartment of said cabinet which has colored light indicators for sequencing the selection of the pre-processed food products in each of the plurality of compartments of the cabinet housing.  
     
     
         12 . The food holding cabinet assembly of  claim 1  wherein each of said carrier inserts can hold up to ten hamburger buns.  
     
     
         13 . The food holding cabinet assembly of  claim 1  wherein each of said carrier inserts includes drainage means for promoting drainage of moisture form the pre-processed food products held in each of said carrier inserts.  
     
     
         14 . The food holding cabinet assembly of  claim 13  wherein said drainage means includes a plurality of rows of open slits provided on a supporting surface of each of said carrier inserts.  
     
     
         15 . The food holding cabinet assembly of  claim 14  wherein adjacent rows of said plurality of rows of said open slits are substantially offset from one another.  
     
     
         16 . The food holding cabinet assembly of  claim 14  wherein alternate rows of said plurality of rows of said open slits are substantially aligned with one another.  
     
     
         17 . The food holding cabinet assembly of  claim 14  wherein each said open slit in the plurality of rows of open slits is approximately 2 inches long and one-eighth of an inch wide.  
     
     
         18 . A process for maintaining the product appearance of a pre-processed food product for a predetermined amount of time comprising the steps of: 
 a) heating water in a water reservoir of a steamer assembly to a first substantially fixed temperature and maintaining the water in the water reservoir at said first substantially fixed temperature;    b) coupling a food cabinet housing having a plurality of compartments to the steamer assembly;    c) heating air passing through said food cabinet housing to a second substantially fixed temperature and maintaining the air in said food cabinet housing at said second fixed temperature so as to control and maintain a fixed relative humidity within said food cabinet housing;    d) movably guiding a plurality of drawers each in a corresponding one of said plurality of compartments;    e) placing pre-processed food products in a plurality of carrier inserts;    f) selectively opening each drawer of the plurality of drawers;    g) removably supporting each of said carrier inserts containing pre-processed food products in a corresponding opened drawer of said plurality of drawers;    h) closing each of said drawers removably supporting said carrier insert so that said pre-processed food products in said carrier inserts are conditioned at the fixed relative humidity of said food cabinet housing for up to the predetermined amount of time so as to maintain the product appearance of the pre-processed food products; and    i) controlling and sequencing the removal of the pre-processed food products from each compartment before the expiration of the predetermined amount of time.    
     
     
         19 . The process for maintaining the product appearance of a pre-processed food product for a predetermined amount of time of  claim 18  wherein said pre-processed food products placed in said carrier inserts are selected from the group consisting of cooked baked goods and toasted baked goods.  
     
     
         20 . The process for maintaining the product appearance of a pre-processed food product of  claim 18  wherein said pre-processed food products are toasted hamburger buns.  
     
     
         21 . The process for maintaining the product appearance of a pre-processed food product of  claim 18  and further comprising the step of maintaining the first fixed temperature of the water in the water reservoir of said steamer assembly to be within the range of between approximately 130° to 180° F.  
     
     
         22 . The process for maintaining the product appearance of a pre-processed food product of  claim 18  and further comprising the step of maintaining the first fixed temperature of the water in the water reservoir of said steamer assembly at a temperature of approximately 150° F.  
     
     
         23 . The process for maintaining the product appearance of a pre-processed food product of  claim 18  and further comprising the step of maintaining the second fixed temperature of the air in the food cabinet housing to be within the range of between approximately 125° to 150° F.  
     
     
         24 . The process for maintaining the product appearance of pre-processed food product of  claim 18  and further comprising the step of maintaining the second fixed temperature of the air in the food cabinet housing at a temperature of approximately 135° F.  
     
     
         25 . The process for maintaining the product appearance of a pre-processed food product of  claim 18  and further comprising the step of conditioning the pre-processed food products in said food cabinet housing at a fixed relative humidity of approximately 70%.  
     
     
         26 . The process for maintaining the product appearance of a pre-processed food product of  claim 18  and further comprising the step of indicating by colored light differentiation the sequencing of removal of the pre-processed food products from each compartment before the expiration of the predetermined amount of time.  
     
     
         27 . The process for maintaining the product appearance of a pre-processed food product of  claim 18  and further comprising filling each carrier insert with up to ten hamburger buns.  
     
     
         28 . The process for maintaining the product appearance of a pre-processed food product of  claim 18  and further comprising the step of promoting drainage of moisture from the pre-processed food products held in each said carrier insert.  
     
     
         29 . The process for maintaining the product appearance of a pre-processed food product of  claim 28  wherein said drainage promoting step includes the step of providing a plurality of rows of open slits on a supporting surface of each of said carrier inserts.  
     
     
         30 . The process for maintaining the product appearance of a pre-processed food product of  claim 29  and further comprising the step of substantially offsetting adjacent rows of said plurality of rows of open slits from one another.  
     
     
         31 . The process for maintaining the product appearance of a pre-processed food product of  claim 29  and further comprising the step of substantially aligning alternate rows of said plurality of rows of open slits with one another.  
     
     
         32 . The process for maintaining the product appearance of a pre-processed good product of  claim 18  and further comprising placing a steam baffle plate between said steamer assembly and said food cabinet housing.  
     
     
         33 . The process for maintaining the product appearance of a pre-processed food product of  claim 18  and further comprising the step of leaning each of said plurality of pre-processed food products in each of said carrier inserts by providing an angled surface along a rear surface of each carrier insert which is set at approximately 41.5° from horizontal.  
     
     
         34 . The process for maintaining the product appearance of a pre-processed food product of  claim 18  and further comprising the step of conditioning said pre-processed food products at the fixed relative humidity of the food cabinet housing for up to approximately 90 minutes.  
     
     
         35 . A food holding cabinet assembly for holding pre-processed food products comprising: 
 a food holding cabinet including a plurality of compartments maintained at a fixed relative humidity with each compartment including an openable and closeable drawer; and    a plurality of carrier inserts adapted to be removably supported in a corresponding one of said drawers, each said carrier insert capable of holding a plurality of said pre-processed food products whereby the pre-processed food products are subjected to said fixed relative humidity of said food holding cabinet so as to maintain the physical characteristics of the pre-processing for a predetermined amount of time.    
     
     
         36 . The holding cabinet assembly of  claim 35  wherein each of said drawers can be independently opened irrespective of the remaining drawers so that the pre-processed food products in the closed drawers are not exposed to exterior conditions.  
     
     
         37 . The food holding cabinet assembly of  claim 35  wherein each of said carrier inserts includes drainage and air flow means for promoting drainage of moisture from the pre-processed food products held in each said carrier insert and for promoting circulation of air flow around said pre-processed food products.  
     
     
         38 . The food holding cabinet assembly of  claim 35  wherein each of said drainage and air flow means includes a plurality of rows of open slits extending in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of opening/closing of the drawer into and out of the food housing cabinet.  
     
     
         39 . The food holding cabinet assembly of  claim 38  wherein adjacent rows of said plurality of rows of open slits are substantially offset from one another.  
     
     
         40 . The food holding cabinet assembly of  claim 38  wherein alternate rows of said plurality of rows of open slits are substantially aligned with one another.  
     
     
         41 . The food holding cabinet assembly of  claim 38  wherein each of said open slit in the plurality of rows of open slits is approximately 2 inches long and one-eighth inch wide.  
     
     
         42 . The food holding cabinet assembly of  claim 35  wherein each said carrier insert includes a back wall angled from horizontal at approximately 41.5° so that each pre-processed food product leans against the adjacent food product in said carrier insert so that the weight of each pre-processed food product is distributed.  
     
     
         43 . The food holding cabinet assembly of  claim 33  wherein each drawer includes air flow openings provided in a bottom wall and side walls connected to said bottom wall to promote air flow within said drawer.  
     
     
         44 . A food holding cabinet assembly for holding pre-processed food products comprising: 
 a steamer assembly including a water reservoir which is maintained at a first substantially fixed temperature;    a cabinet housing mounted on said steamer assembly and having air circulated therein, said air in said cabinet housing being maintained at a second substantially fixed temperature so as to maintain a substantially fixed relative humidity within said cabinet housing;    coupling means for coupling said cabinet housing to said steamer assembly; and    a plurality of compartments arranged in said housing with each compartment including a separately openable/closeable drawer with each said drawer capable of storing a plurality of pre-processed food products therein so that said pre-processed food products in said drawers are conditioned at the substantially fixed relative humidity of said cabinet housing so as to maintain the product appearance of said pre-processed food products.    
     
     
         45 . The food holding cabinet assembly of  claim 44  wherein said coupling means includes a pair of rails provided on top of said steamer assembly on which a corresponding pair of coupling members of said food cabinet housing slidable ride so that said food cabinet housing is slidably movable between a first operative position, wherein said food cabinet housing is mounted on said steamer assembly, and a second cleaning position, wherein said food cabinet housing is moved off said steamer assembly so that an interior portion of said steamer assembly is exposed for cleaning.  
     
     
         46 . The food holding cabinet assembly of  claim 45  wherein a steam baffle plate separates said steamer assembly and said food holding cabinet.  
     
     
         47 . A process for maintaining the product appearance of a pre-processed food product for a predetermined amount of time comprising the steps of 
 a) heating water in a water reservoir of steamer assembly to a first fixed temperature and maintaining the water in the steamer assembly at said first substantially fixed temperature;    b) placing a food cabinet housing having a plurality of compartments in a position so that the steam generated in said steamer assembly passes into said cabinet housing;    c) heating air passing through said food cabinet housing to a second fixed temperature and maintaining the air in said food cabinet housing at a second substantially fixed temperature so as to control and maintain a fixed relative humidity within said food cabinet housing;    d) movably guiding each of a plurality of drawers in a respective one of said plurality of compartments so that each drawer can be independently opened/closed with respect to the other drawers;    e) independently opening each of said drawers and placing pre-processed food products in said opened drawer;    f) closing said opened drawer into said respective compartment so as to store pre-processed food products in said respective compartment;    g) conditioning the pre-processed food products at the fixed relative humidity of said food cabinet housing up to a predetermined amount of time so as to maintain the product appearance of the pre-processed food products; and    h) independently opening one of said drawers and removing the conditioned pre-processed food products from its respective compartment prior to the expiration of the predetermined amount of time.    
     
     
         48 . The process for maintaining the product appearance of a pre-processed food product for a predetermined amount of time of  claim 47  and further comprising the step of controlling the sequencing of the removal of the pre-processed food products from each compartment before the expiration of the predetermined amount of time.  
     
     
         49 . The process for maintaining the product appearance of a pre-processed food product for a predetermined amount of time of  claim 48  and further comprising the step of holding said pre-processed food products in a carrier insert which is removably supported in a corresponding one of said plurality of drawers.  
     
     
         50 . The process for maintaining the product appearance of a pre-processed food product for a predetermined amount of time of  claim 49  and further comprising the step of promoting drainage of moisture from the pre-processed food products held in each carrier insert.  
     
     
         51 . The process for maintaining the product appearance of a pre-processed food product for a predetermined amount of time of  claim 48  and further comprising the step of placing a steam baffle plate between said steamer assembly and said food cabinet housing to pass steam generated in said steamer assembly into said food cabinet housing.