Open holding cabinet, trays and controls

Abstract

A cabinet for holding food having a housing and a plurality of slots is provided. A tray is receivable in each of the plurality of slots for receiving food. A controller is operatively associated with each of the plurality of slots to independently control cooking instructions for each of the plurality of slots. A cabinet for holding food having a housing with a plurality of slots is provided. A tray is receivable in each of the plurality of slots for receiving food. The cabinet has an inputting device and a controller, wherein the controller receives instructions from the inputting device to control cooking instructions in each of the plurality of slots.

1 - 28 . (canceled)  
     
     
         29 . A cabinet for holding food comprising: 
 a housing;    said housing having a plurality of slots;    a tray receivable in each of said plurality of slots for receiving food; and    a controller operatively associated with each of said plurality of slots to independently control cooking instructions for each of said plurality of slots.    
     
     
         30 . The cabinet of  claim 29 , wherein said cabinet further comprises a touch screen, said touch screen operatively associated with said controller to receive pre-programmed cooking instructions for said plurality of slots.  
     
     
         31 . The cabinet of  claim 29 , wherein said touch screen is operatively connected to said controller to change between a plurality cooking modes of cooking instructions for said plurality of slots.  
     
     
         32 . The cabinet of  claim 30 , wherein said tray has an identifier identifying a food type, said identifier recognizable by said slot.  
     
     
         33 . The cabinet of  claim 32 , wherein identifier is an RF tag, said RF tag recognizable by an RF sensor associated with said slot.  
     
     
         34 . The cabinet of  claim 33 , wherein said controller responds to said RF sensor to activate preprogrammed cooking instructions for said food type.  
     
     
         35 . The cabinet of  claim 33 , wherein said each of said plurality of slots is pre-programmed to recognize a single RF tag associated with a food type.  
     
     
         36 . The cabinet of  claim 30 , wherein said cooking instructions are directed to food type, cooking temperature of said food type, cooking time of said food type.  
     
     
         37 . The cabinet of  claim 29 , wherein said each said plurality of slots has at least one opening, said at least one opening partially covered by a flexible sheet.  
     
     
         38 . The cabinet of  claim 29 , wherein said flexible sheet is a transparent Teflon sheet.  
     
     
         39 . The cabinet of  claim 29 , further wherein each of said plurality of slots has an upper heater and a lower heater, said upper heater and said lower heater capable of being controlled independently.  
     
     
         40 . The cabinet of  claim 30 , wherein said touch screen comprises a series of LEDs, said LEDs indicative of food expiration status  
     
     
         41 . The cabinet of  claim 30 , wherein said touch screen comprises a series of LEDs indicative of tray position.  
     
     
         42 . The cabinet of  claim 39 , wherein said heaters are deactivated upon total removal of said tray from each said slot.  
     
     
         43 . A cabinet for holding food comprising: 
 a housing;    said housing having a plurality of slots;    a tray receivable in each of said plurality of slots for receiving food;    a inputting device; and    a controller,    wherein said controller receives instructions from said inputting device to control cooking instructions in each of said plurality of slots.    
     
     
         44 . The cabinet of  claim 43 , wherein said inputting device is a touch screen display.  
     
     
         45 . The cabinet of  claim 43 , wherein said touch screen display is operatively connected to said controller to change between a plurality cooking modes of cooking instructions for said plurality of slots.  
     
     
         46 . The cabinet of  claim 43 , wherein each of said plurality of slots is configured to respond to an identifier associated with each said tray to activate cooking instructions.  
     
     
         47 . The cabinet of  claim 46 , wherein each said plurality of slots is configured to accept a tray of a single food type.  
     
     
         48 . The cabinet of  claim 46 , wherein each of said plurality of slots is configured to accept a tray of a variety of food types.  
     
     
         49 . The cabinet of  claim 46 , wherein identifier is an RF tag, said RF tag recognizable by an RF sensor associated with said slot.  
     
     
         50 . The cabinet of  claim 43 , wherein said cooking instructions are directed to food type, cooking temperature of said food type, cooking time of said food type.  
     
     
         51 . The cabinet of  claim 43 , wherein said each said plurality of slots has at least one opening, said at least one opening partially covered by a flexible sheet.  
     
     
         52 . The cabinet of  claim 43 , wherein said flexible sheet is a transparent Teflon sheet.  
     
     
         53 . The cabinet of  claim 43 , further wherein each of said plurality of slots has an upper heater and a lower heater, said upper heater and said lower heater capable of being controlled independently.  
     
     
         54 . The cabinet of  claim 44 , wherein said touch screen comprises a series of LEDs, said LEDs indicative of food expiration status  
     
     
         55 . The cabinet of  claim 44 , wherein said touch screen comprises a series of LEDs indicative of tray position.  
     
     
         56 . The cabinet of  claim 53 , wherein said heaters are deactivated upon total removal of said tray from each said slot.