The present invention relates to a dish warming system that includes a plurality of dish warming assemblies each having a plate with a power source and a heat element. The power source of each dish warming assembly allows for the concurrent charging of the plurality of dish warming assemblies while stacked. The heat element in some iterations of the system includes a pressure switch that activates the heat element when a dish is placed on the dish warming assembly.

A plate delivery system provides storage for plates in a first-in, last-out configuration. As the kitchen staff completes a meal (plated), the plate holding the meal is presented to the plate delivery system and the plate moves into the plate delivery system to be ready for the next plate. After a number of plates are stored in the plate delivery system, the plate delivery system is transported from the kitchen to the eating area (e.g., restaurant table or banquet table) and each plate is sequentially presented to a delivery mechanism (e.g., a robot or a waitperson) for final delivery to the table. In some embodiments, the plate delivery system is enclosed and has a cover mechanism to prevent food contamination by foreign matter and in some embodiments, the plate delivery system has heating/cooling mechanisms to help keep warm food warm or cool food cool.

A plate delivery system provides storage for plates in a first-in, last-out configuration. As the kitchen staff completes a meal (plated), the plate holding the meal is presented to the plate delivery system and the plate moves into the plate delivery system to be ready for the next plate. After a number of plates are stored in the plate delivery system, the plate delivery system is transported from the kitchen to the eating area (e.g., restaurant table or banquet table) and each plate is sequentially presented to a delivery mechanism (e.g., a robot or a waitperson) for final delivery to the table. In some embodiments, the plate delivery system is enclosed and has a cover mechanism to prevent food contamination by foreign matter and in some embodiments, the plate delivery system has heating/cooling mechanisms to help keep warm food warm or cool food cool.

A heat retentive server includes a chamber defined between an upper shell and a lower shell that are connected to one another. An induction-heatable member is positioned in the chamber, and the induction-heatable member may be heated by electromagnetic induction to a first temperature that is greater than the heat deflection temperature of the upper shell. Buffering material is positioned in the chamber between the induction-heatable member and the upper shell, and the buffering material is adapted for providing predetermined conductive heat transfer from the induction-heatable member to the upper shell so that at least a portion of the upper shell is heated to a second temperature that is greater than the heat deflection temperature of the upper shell. The second temperature is less than the first temperature.

A heat retentive server includes a chamber defined between an upper shell and a lower shell that are connected to one another. An induction-heatable member is positioned in the chamber, and the induction-heatable member may be heated by electromagnetic induction to a first temperature that is greater than the heat deflection temperature of the upper shell. Buffering material is positioned in the chamber between the induction-heatable member and the upper shell, and the buffering material is adapted for providing predetermined conductive heat transfer from the induction-heatable member to the upper shell so that at least a portion of the upper shell is heated to a second temperature that is greater than the heat deflection temperature of the upper shell. The second temperature is less than the first temperature.

Devices for prolonging the quality of a warm food item contained within the device, the devices include an enclosure, a convection heat source, a ventilation system, and a radiant heat source. The enclosure is configured to receive the warm food item. The convection heat source is mounted inside the enclosure and configured to direct heated air within the enclosure. The ventilation system is mounted to the enclosure and configured to move air through the enclosure. The radiant heat source is mounted inside the enclosure in a position to irradiate the warm food item received in the enclosure. In some examples, the devices include an enclosure, a convection heat source, and a radiant heat source with the convection heat source configured to direct heated air within the enclosure from a plurality of positions along a sidewall from a back to a front of the enclosure.

Devices for prolonging the quality of a warm food item contained within the device, the devices include an enclosure, a convection heat source, a ventilation system, and a radiant heat source. The enclosure is configured to receive the warm food item. The convection heat source is mounted inside the enclosure and configured to direct heated air within the enclosure. The ventilation system is mounted to the enclosure and configured to move air through the enclosure. The radiant heat source is mounted inside the enclosure in a position to irradiate the warm food item received in the enclosure. In some examples, the devices include an enclosure, a convection heat source, and a radiant heat source with the convection heat source configured to direct heated air within the enclosure from a plurality of positions along a sidewall from a back to a front of the enclosure.

An actively heated or cooled mug has a body with a chamber that can receive and hold a beverage and a heating or cooling system disposed at least partially in a cavity below the chamber. The heating or cooling system has a heating or cooling element to actively heat or cool the chamber, power storage devices, and circuitry that controls the operation of the heating or cooling elements. A user interface is electrically connected to the circuitry and has one or more selection members actuatable a) to turn off the one or more heating or cooling element or b) to adjust a temperature setting to one of multiple temperature settings configured to control the one or more heating or cooling elements to heat or maintain the liquid at a user selected temperature.

A multi-zone food holding bin has a continuous food supporting surface with multiple food holding zones. Each food holding zone is independently controllable so that different food temperatures may be maintained in adjacent food holding zones.

An actively heated drinkware container includes a vessel with a chamber that receives and holds a volume of liquid. The drinkware container includes a heating module with a first heating element operable to heat one portion of the chamber and a second heating element operable to heat another portion of the chamber, the second heating element spaced from the first heating element. Operation of the first and second heating elements generates a circulation current in the volume of liquid in the chamber that mixes the liquid and diffuses a temperature of the liquid to thereby reduce temperature stratification of the liquid in the chamber and so that a temperature of the liquid throughout the volume of liquid in the chamber is approximately uniform.