Food dispensers

Abstract

A food product dispenser has a hinged lid which can be converted between a self-closing lid and a lid which is not self-closing and, in the non-self-closing configuration, can be retained open by gravity, including while the dispenser is in a frontwardly-tilted orientation. The invention includes methods of making the lid conversion while setting up the dispenser, illustratively by inspecting one or all of the hinge structures and adding a hinge stop to a hinge structure, or removing a hinge stop from the hinge structure, in light of the result of the inspection. An optional frontwardly-disposed down panel may have a planar surface or surface element which can be printed with graphics and / or a textual message.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]This invention relates to containers / receptacles which are used in food service operations to dispense condiments. A typical use is in a bar or tavern setting where condiments are added to mixed drinks, or in buffet / self-serve style settings where the customer serves himself / herself from an array of food choices, including condiments, displayed at a serving table. Another typical use is at the condiment table in a fast-food restaurant. Still another typical use is in a sandwich restaurant where workers select product, including condiments, from among a variety of choices displayed in a matrix of such products, while building a sandwich for a customer.[0002]In such environment, where the product is being transferred from a tray / container, a certain amount of spillage of the product occurs during the transfer of the product from the container to the customer's plate or tray, or to a sandwich.[0003]Thus, it would be desirable to provide a food dispenser...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0019]In some embodiments, the method further comprises a hinge access opening in the optional downwardly-extending portion of a given such receptacle flange, facilitating inspection of the hinges and facilitating adding or removing such hinge stop.

Problems solved by technology

In such environment, where the product is being transferred from a tray / container, a certain amount of spillage of the product occurs during the transfer of the product from the container to the customer's plate or tray, or to a sandwich.

In addition, certain food products are susceptible to drying out when left exposed to ambient atmosphere for an extended period of time such as during a typical day of food service operations.

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