An insulating device can include an aperture having a waterproof closure which allows access to the chamber within the insulating device. The closure can help prevent any fluid leakage into and out of the insulating device if the insulating device is overturned or in any configuration other than upright. The closure also prevents any fluid from permeating into the chamber if the insulating device is exposed to precipitation, other fluid, or submersed under water. This construction results in an insulating chamber impervious to water and other liquids when the closure is sealed.

Systems for heating or cooling a food service container to an appropriate temperature for service or transport, and cabinets including such systems. A first manifold allows a seal to be made against a first surface of one or more Peltier chips and defines a flow path for a heat transfer fluid which directly contacts the first surfaces of the Peltier chips. The fluid circulates through tubing from the first manifold to a first radiator. A second opposite manifold defines a flow path for a heat transfer fluid which directly contacts the second surfaces of the Peltier chips. The fluid then circulates through tubing from the second manifold to a second radiator. The first radiator may be disposed inside, and the second radiator outside, the cabinet. Application of current in a first direction to the Peltier chips can heat the cabinet and reversal of the current may cool the cabinet.

A method of displaying a battery life for a warming cart battery is provided. The method includes the steps of detecting with a processor that a warming cart battery voltage is out of range of a predetermined threshold, determining with a processor an operation state of each of a plurality of periphery warming cart devices, and automatically setting a battery scale of a warming cart battery based on which of the plurality of periphery warming cart devices are in an active operation state.

In an embodiment, an automatic food preparation and serving apparatus comprises: a digital electronics storage controller configured to send signals representing an order input; a storage apparatus comprising a plurality of temperature-control regions and configured to hold one or more magazines in the plurality of temperature-control regions, each of the one or more magazines configured to store a plurality of food canisters, and configured to regulate temperature of contents in the plurality of food canisters in the plurality of temperature-control regions; a canister transport mechanism configured to transport the plurality of food canisters away from the storage apparatus; a food dispensing mechanism configured to receive the plurality of food canisters transported away from the storage apparatus and to dispense one or more ingredients stored in one or more of the plurality of food canisters according to the signals from the digital electronics storage controller.

In an embodiment, an automatic food preparation and serving apparatus comprises: a digital electronics storage controller configured to send signals representing an order input; a storage apparatus comprising a plurality of temperature-control regions and configured to hold one or more magazines in the plurality of temperature-control regions, each of the one or more magazines configured to store a plurality of food canisters, and configured to regulate temperature of contents in the plurality of food canisters in the plurality of temperature-control regions; a canister transport mechanism configured to transport the plurality of food canisters away from the storage apparatus; a food dispensing mechanism configured to receive the plurality of food canisters transported away from the storage apparatus and to dispense one or more ingredients stored in one or more of the plurality of food canisters according to the signals from the digital electronics storage controller.

An automatic cooking machine (1) and a control method therefor are provided. The automatic cooking machine (1) comprises a cabinet assembly (11), and a control module, an information acquisition module, and a multiple heating bins (2) provided on the cabinet assembly (11). The information acquisition module is configured to acquire cooking information of a meal box and transmit the cooking information to the control module; and the control module is configured to receive the cooking information and control the heating bins (2) to cook food in the meal box.

An automatic cooking machine (1) and a control method therefor are provided. The automatic cooking machine (1) comprises a cabinet assembly (11), and a control module, an information acquisition module, and a multiple heating bins (2) provided on the cabinet assembly (11). The information acquisition module is configured to acquire cooking information of a meal box and transmit the cooking information to the control module; and the control module is configured to receive the cooking information and control the heating bins (2) to cook food in the meal box.

One variation of a food production system includes a module housing: supporting a food preparation surface located at work surface height; configured to transiently house a food-dispensing module configured to dispense an ingredient toward the first autonomous assembly zone; including a positioner module arranged within the autonomous assembly zone and configured to transiently locate a food container below the food-dispensing module for dispensation of the ingredient into the food container; including a window arranged on a front side of the module housing and configured to enable user access to the autonomous assembly zone. The food production system further includes a controller configured to: receive a food order; coordinate motion of the positioner module to locate the food container below the food-dispensing module; and selectively trigger the food-dispensing module to dispense the ingredient into the food container to assemble a unit of a food product according to the food order.

A mobile galley cart including a wheeled insulated housing having a door configured to open to access to the interior of the housing, a thermoelectric chiller mounted near the bottom of the cart, cold air ducting in fluid communication with the thermoelectric chiller and opening to the interior of the housing, and warm air ducting including a warm air exhaust arranged to exhaust warm air from the mobile galley cart. A mobile galley cart system including a cart configured to dock at a separate service wall to provide service connections therebetween.

The invention is an apparatus used to divide existing cooking equipment into isolated areas to substantially reduce fluid or physical contact for preparing one or more types of food at once, to maximize existing baking equipment versatility. Features of the apparatus are a housing component; one or more arm components which attach or reside within the housing component. The one or more arm components are configured to expand and retract from the housing component and adjust to the shape of various cooking equipment. The base of the housing component and a base of the one or more arm components are effectively in a same horizontal plane so cooking equipment may be effectively partitioned. Each component within the design contains a magnet that facilitates the invention's ability to affix to cookware containing ferrous materials.