An apparatus for supporting and surrounding a tray holding a circular dough base of a pizza so as to intercept and retain food particles and splatter as food ingredients are being deposited on the dough base. The apparatus includes multi-tiered platforms and upright walls of progressively greater diameter, to receive pizza trays bearing pizza dough of different nominal sizes. The platforms or walls or both have finger holes to enable ejection of an assembled pizza. The platforms and upright walls are rotatably mounted to a base, so that the pizza dough can be rotated as food ingredients are deposited thereon. Four or more tiers may be provided.

An apparatus for supporting and surrounding a tray holding a circular dough base of a pizza so as to intercept and retain food particles and splatter as food ingredients are being deposited on the dough base. The apparatus includes multi-tiered platforms and upright walls of progressively greater diameter, to receive pizza trays bearing pizza dough of different nominal sizes. The platforms or walls or both have finger holes to enable ejection of an assembled pizza. The platforms and upright walls are rotatably mounted to a base, so that the pizza dough can be rotated as food ingredients are deposited thereon. Four or more tiers may be provided.

A basin which stackably interlocks with 20-inch square racks that hold dish and glassware washed in commercial dishwashers. The basin has substantially the exterior configuration of a commercial dishwasher rack and receives a plurality of dishwasher racks stacked above. The basin solid on its base and sides for prohibiting substances which drip down into it from racks stacked above from dripping onto the floor. The basin has circular indentations in the top surface of the base, trapping water and preventing it from sloshing from side to side of the basin when it is carried or moved. The basin may be loaded into a dolly used to transport commercial dishwasher racks, as the dollies typically have an open bottom. Thus, the basin can provide the water-catching function for racks loaded onto a dolly. Grooves in the basin's bottom surface permit stacking on top of a rack or other basins for storage.

A basin which stackably interlocks with 20-inch square racks that hold dish and glassware washed in commercial dishwashers. The basin has substantially the exterior configuration of a commercial dishwasher rack and receives a plurality of dishwasher racks stacked above. The basin solid on its base and sides for prohibiting substances which drip down into it from racks stacked above from dripping onto the floor. The basin has circular indentations in the top surface of the base, trapping water and preventing it from sloshing from side to side of the basin when it is carried or moved. The basin may be loaded into a dolly used to transport commercial dishwasher racks, as the dollies typically have an open bottom. Thus, the basin can provide the water-catching function for racks loaded onto a dolly. Grooves in the basin's bottom surface permit stacking on top of a rack or other basins for storage.

Provided is a cantilever box including at least two trays, including a lowermost tray and an uppermost tray, interconnected therebetween by cantilever links pivotally secured to the trays, the trays are convertible at least between a stacked position, and an extended position; a first gripping portion, disposed at the uppermost tray, configured for being gripped by a user for converting the trays between their extended position and their stacked position; and a securing mechanism switchable between a locked state in which when the trays are at their extended position, the securing mechanism is configured for arresting a locking member, thereby locking the trays at their extended position; and an unlocked state in which the securing mechanism is disengaged from said locking member, thereby facilitating displacement of the trays from their extended position into their stacked position.

Provided is a cantilever box including at least two trays, including a lowermost tray and an uppermost tray, interconnected therebetween by cantilever links pivotally secured to the trays, the trays are convertible at least between a stacked position, and an extended position; a first gripping portion, disposed at the uppermost tray, configured for being gripped by a user for converting the trays between their extended position and their stacked position; and a securing mechanism switchable between a locked state in which when the trays are at their extended position, the securing mechanism is configured for arresting a locking member, thereby locking the trays at their extended position; and an unlocked state in which the securing mechanism is disengaged from said locking member, thereby facilitating displacement of the trays from their extended position into their stacked position.

Methods and apparatus for vacuum forming and subsequently applying topical coatings fiber-based food containers. The slurry includes one or more of an embedded moisture barrier, vapor barrier, and oil barrier, and the topical coating comprises one or more of a vapor barrier, a moisture barrier, an oil barrier, and an oxygen barrier. For food containers having deep sidewalls, a spray coating system includes a first nozzle for applying a full cone spray pattern to the bottom surface of the container, and a second nozzle for applying a hollow cone spray pattern to the inside surfaces of the side walls.

Methods and apparatus for vacuum forming and subsequently applying topical coatings fiber-based food containers. The slurry includes one or more of an embedded moisture barrier, vapor barrier, and oil barrier, and the topical coating comprises one or more of a vapor barrier, a moisture barrier, an oil barrier, and an oxygen barrier. For food containers having deep sidewalls, a spray coating system includes a first nozzle for applying a full cone spray pattern to the bottom surface of the container, and a second nozzle for applying a hollow cone spray pattern to the inside surfaces of the side walls.

A method of forming a container from a blank. The method can comprise obtaining a blank having a wall portion, a flange portion, and a coating on at least a portion of the flange portion. At least one score line can extend at least partially in the flange portion, and the coating can at least partially cover the at least one score line. The method further can comprise forming the container from the blank by forming a wall of the container from the wall portion and forming a flange of the container from the flange portion. The flange can extend from the wall. The forming the container further can comprise forming the at least one score line into at least one pleat in at least the flange. The coating can at least partially cover the at least one pleat to form a substantially continuous sealing surface on the flange.

A method of forming a container from a blank. The method can comprise obtaining a blank having a wall portion, a flange portion, and a coating on at least a portion of the flange portion. At least one score line can extend at least partially in the flange portion, and the coating can at least partially cover the at least one score line. The method further can comprise forming the container from the blank by forming a wall of the container from the wall portion and forming a flange of the container from the flange portion. The flange can extend from the wall. The forming the container further can comprise forming the at least one score line into at least one pleat in at least the flange. The coating can at least partially cover the at least one pleat to form a substantially continuous sealing surface on the flange.