Patent ID: 6315039
Filing Date: 2001-11-13
Classification: A47J,Y10S

Abstract:
A refrigeration and rethermalization apparatus for maintaining food items placed on meal serving trays, including hot food items to be served at an elevated temperature, in a refrigerated state and rethermalizing the hot food items at a desired time prior to meal serving, the apparatus comprising:a cabinet having a front, a back, a top, and a bottom, said cabinet including:an upper tray storage compartment for storing meal serving trays containing hot and cold food items in a refrigerated state;a lower tray storage compartment for storing soiled meal serving trays in a refrigerated state to inhibit spoilage of soiled food items left thereon; anda divider for physically and atmospherically isolating the upper tray storage compartment from the lower tray storage compartment and inhibiting contamination of food items stored in the upper tray storage compartment by soiled trays stored in the lower tray storage compartment;at least one door adjacent the front of the cabinet for accessing the upper and lower tray storage compartments;a refrigerator for refrigerating the upper and lower tray storage compartments; andmeans for heating a hot food item positioned on a tray in the upper tray storage compartment.