Food preparation apparatus and associated appliance modules and methods. Appliances modules can be selectively docked at docks of an appliance interface of a base. An appliance module includes a food container support surface movable between cooking and holding positions. An appliance module includes a receptacle having a holding well that can be selectively configured in a generally horizontal position or an inclined position.

Disclosed herein is a cooking system for cooking food, the system including a housing having a hollow interior, a lid movable relative to the housing, at least one heating element associated with one of the housing and the lid, wherein the cooking system is operable in a plurality of modes including a conductive cooking mode and a convective cooking mode, wherein in the conductive cooking mode the cooking system is operable as a conductive cooker and in the convective cooking mode the cooking system is operable as a convection cooker.

An intelligent multifunctional storage cabinet device includes a smart cabinet and a backend control terminal, wherein the smart cabinet is connected to and communicates with the backend control terminal via a network connection. The smart cabinet includes a cabinet and a monitoring device. The monitoring device is installed on the top of the cabinet, and the monitoring device is connected to and communicates with the backend control terminal via a network connection. The cabinet includes a parcel storage component comprising a plurality of parcel storage compartments, a food storage component comprising a plurality of food storage compartments, and a key storage component comprising a plurality of key storage compartments. The key storage compartment is located between the parcel storage compartment and the food storage compartment. The parcel storage compartment is located at one side of the food storage compartment.

An intelligent multifunctional storage cabinet device includes a smart cabinet and a backend control terminal, wherein the smart cabinet is connected to and communicates with the backend control terminal via a network connection. The smart cabinet includes a cabinet and a monitoring device. The monitoring device is installed on the top of the cabinet, and the monitoring device is connected to and communicates with the backend control terminal via a network connection. The cabinet includes a parcel storage component comprising a plurality of parcel storage compartments, a food storage component comprising a plurality of food storage compartments, and a key storage component comprising a plurality of key storage compartments. The key storage compartment is located between the parcel storage compartment and the food storage compartment. The parcel storage compartment is located at one side of the food storage compartment.

A vending machine system for loading and dispensing pre-baked unpackaged food including a fixed cartridge disposed in a refrigerator of a vending machine, and a transport cartridge adapted to removably attach to the fixed cartridge, the transport cartridge operable for holding trays of unpackaged food and loading the trays of unpackaged food from the transport cartridge into the fixed cartridge, wherein, when the transport cartridge is removably attached to the fixed cartridge, a front opening of the transport cartridge aligns with a front opening of the fixed cartridge, and wherein the rack of the transport cartridge aligns with the conveyor system of the fixed cartridge such that trays of unpackaged food within the transport cartridge can simultaneously be transitioned from the rack to the conveyor system.

A method of controlling food cabinet is provided, the method includes steps of: receiving, by processor, a first instruction of controlling sliding door to close, and controlling driving device to start closing action of the sliding door based on the first instruction; controlling, by the processor, driving component to drive the fixed block so as to drive the first driving sheet to push the sliding door to close, thereby finishing the first stroke, wherein the first driving sheet butts against the sliding door during the first stroke; controlling, after confirming by the processor that the first stroke is finished, the second driving sheet to adjust to a state in which the second driving sheet butt against the sliding door; and controlling, by the processor, the driving component to drive the fixed block so as to drive the second driving sheet to push the sliding door to close, thereby finishing the second stroke, whereby the sliding door is entirely closed; wherein the second driving sheet butts against the sliding door during the second stroke.

A method of controlling food cabinet is provided, the method includes steps of: receiving, by processor, a first instruction of controlling sliding door to close, and controlling driving device to start closing action of the sliding door based on the first instruction; controlling, by the processor, driving component to drive the fixed block so as to drive the first driving sheet to push the sliding door to close, thereby finishing the first stroke, wherein the first driving sheet butts against the sliding door during the first stroke; controlling, after confirming by the processor that the first stroke is finished, the second driving sheet to adjust to a state in which the second driving sheet butt against the sliding door; and controlling, by the processor, the driving component to drive the fixed block so as to drive the second driving sheet to push the sliding door to close, thereby finishing the second stroke, whereby the sliding door is entirely closed; wherein the second driving sheet butts against the sliding door during the second stroke.

A food pan well includes a base defining an internal cavity and a temperature regulating system disposed within the internal cavity. The base is configured to support a food pan such that the food pan is selectively suspendable within the internal cavity. The temperature regulating system includes a cooling assembly configured to facilitate cooling at least a sidewall of the food pan and a warming assembly configured to facilitate warming at least a bottom surface of the food pan.

Packaging for a food product has a box made from cardboard material with a base and a lid. The lid is fitted pivoting around a hinge fixed to the base. An electrically conducting foil is installed so as to separate the food product and the base. The lid is cut by a cutting line extending to define a central area and a peripheral area each arranged pivotally with respect to the base. The central area is inscribed inside the peripheral area. The central area is facing the electrically conducting foil and extends partly in a front side panel of the lid opposite the side panel supporting the hinge.

A tortilla cooking device includes induction stages arranged in a substantially vertical configuration, with some of the induction stages including one or more induction elements. The cooking device also includes tortilla pans. A respective tortilla pan is configured for being removably positioned on at least one of the induction stages and formed from a material suitable for magnetic induction based heating. The tortilla pay converts magnetic energy received from at least one induction element of the induction stage to thermal energy. A respective induction stage includes a recessed portion substantially matching a protruding bottom surface of the tortilla pans. The tortilla pans further include a lip structure for retaining one or more materials on a cooking portion of the tortilla pans. The cooking device further includes a casing unit configured to contain the plurality of induction stages arranged in a substantially vertical configuration.