Patent ID: 6603098
Filing Date: 2003-08-05
Classification: A47F,A47J,F26B

Abstract:
A modular merchandiser system for displaying and warming previously baked dough products under controlled drying conditions, which comprises:a merchandiser comprising: an enclosure having one or more wall members that define an interior space visually accessible from outside the enclosure, at least one aperture for access into the interior space, at least one support surface for supporting one or more previously baked dough products that contain a predetermined average moisture level therein, and at least one mounting structure associated with the enclosure for mounting and positioning each support surface at a user accessible location in the interior space of the enclosure, a heat source for providing heated air in the enclosure wherein the support surface contacts at least a portion of the previously baked products so that those portions are shielded from direct contact with the heated air such that the drying of moisture in the baked products is controlled to maintain the organoleptic and/or texture properties of the products at essentially the same level as those of freshly baked products for a period of at least about 2 hours, a temperature control device operatively associated with the heat source for controlling the temperature in the enclosure to a value in the range of between 95 and 150Â° F., and an airflow control device for controlling air flow and air velocity in the enclosure to provide a Reynolds number of airflow of about 1150 to 2300 and an air velocity of 0.1 to 1 m/s to facilitate convention heating and controlled drying of the baked dough product; and a warming compartment disposed adjacent to the merchandiser.