Refrigerated point-of-use holding cabinet with downloadable software
AssigneePrince Castle LLC
InventorLoren Veltrop
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A refrigerated point-of-use food holding cabinet keeps food products cold in compartments having cross sections that are substantially U-shaped. Food products are kept refrigerated using heat-absorbing, heat-exchangers thermally coupled to the U-shaped compartment. Refrigeration is provided by either a conventional reversed-Brayton cycle, one or more Peltier devices or a chilled, re-circulating liquid that does not change phase as it circulates but which is chilled by another refrigeration system, such as a conventional refrigeration system. An optional cover helps prevent food flavor transfers between compartments. Semiconductor temperature sensors and a computer effectuate temperature control.
Claims22
A food holding cabinet comprising:
- a thermally conductive tray receiving member comprising a bottom and side walls, the side walls extending upwardly from the bottom, the bottom and side walls defining a cavity in which food or a food holding tray can be placed to be refrigerated;
- a refrigeration device, coupled to the tray receiving member;
- a first computer coupled to and configured to control the refrigeration device, the first computer comprising a first non-transitory memory device coupled to the first computer and storing at least one of:
- data and executable program instructions for the first computer, the first computer being configured to be capable of being coupled to a second computer, the first computer being additionally configured to be able to receive from the second computer at least one of:
- data and executable program instructions for the first computer, and configured to be able to execute program instructions that the first computer receives from the second computer.
A food holding cabinet comprising:
- first and second tray receiving members within the at least one tier of the cabinet, each of the tray receiving members being generally U-shaped in cross-section having a horizontal bottom and side walls extending generally vertically from the horizontal bottom;
- a first refrigeration device coupled to the first tray receiving member;
- a first computer coupled to and configured to control the first refrigeration device, the first computer comprising a first non-transitory memory device coupled to the first computer and storing at least one of:
- data and program instructions for the first computer;
- a second computer coupled to the first computer, the second computer comprising a second, non-transitory memory device storing at least one of:
- data and executable program instructions for the first computer;
- and
- wherein the first computer is configured to be able to receive and execute program instructions that the first computer receives from the second computer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.