Temperature controlled food display system

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a system, apparatus, and method for a modular food tray system having a plurality of food trays that can be used for heating, cooling, or a combination thereof. The system can include a first food tray for heating and a second food tray for cooling, generally mounted at a different elevation from the first food tray. Alternatively, one or both of the food trays can be designed for cooling through temperature elements coupled thereto and the tray can be heated by overhead radiant heating elements for dual temperature capabilities. The first food tray can be mounted above the second food tray. The first food tray can include a thermal shield between a heating element in the first food tray and the second food tray. In other embodiments, the second food tray can be mounted above the first food tray with a thermal shield therebetween.

1 - 41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . A temperature controlled food display system, comprising:
 a first food tray having an upwardly facing first food support surface adapted to support and display food;   a first cooling element coupled to the first food tray and configured to cool the first food support surface, the first cooling element including a conduit configured to have cooling fluid passed therethrough, the conduit being disposed at least partially within the first food tray between the first food support surface and a surface supporting the conduit from beneath;   a first heating element configured to heat the first food support surface;   at least one radiant element comprising at least one of a heating element and a light positioned in the temperature controlled food display system to direct radiant heat or light downward onto the first food support surface of the first food tray; and   at least one controller configured to activate and deactivate at least one of the first cooling element, the first heating element, and the at least one radiant element.   
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 42 , further comprising a first unenclosed space above the first food tray providing unobstructed access to the first food tray from a front and rear of the system. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 42 , further comprising a refrigeration unit below the first food tray for supplying said cooling fluid to the conduit of the first cooling element, the refrigeration unit comprising a compressor and a condenser. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 42 , further comprising a support structure supporting the first food tray, and a canopy coupled to the support structure and located directly above the first food tray, the at least one radiant element being coupled to the canopy. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 42 , further comprising:
 a second food tray at an elevation below the first food tray, the second food tray having an upwardly facing second food support surface adapted to support and display food;   the second food tray comprising a second heating element, or a second cooling element, or a combination thereof, allowing the second food support surface of the second food tray to be heated, or cooled, or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 46 , further comprising a first unenclosed space above the first food tray providing unobstructed access to the first food tray from a front and rear of the system, and a second unenclosed space between the first food tray and the second food tray providing unobstructed access to the second food tray from the front and rear of the system. 
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 42 , further comprising a support structure supporting the first food tray, wherein the support structure comprises upright members, wherein the first food tray is coupled to the upright members, and wherein the first food tray is unenclosed at a front and rear of the system to provide unobstructed access to food displayed on the first food tray from the front and rear of the system. 
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein the controller is adapted to activate the first cooling element and deactivate the first heating element to operate the first food tray as a cooling food tray, and to deactivate the first cooling element and activate the first heating element to operate the first food tray as a heating food tray. 
     
     
         50 . A temperature controlled food display system, said system comprising:
 a canopy;   a first food tray positioned below the canopy, the first food tray having an upwardly facing first food support surface adapted to support and display food;   a first unenclosed space between the canopy and the first food tray providing unobstructed access to the first food tray from a front and a rear of the system, a first light coupled to the canopy adapted to illuminate the first food support surface;   a first radiant heating element coupled to the canopy and configured to direct radiant heat downward onto the first food support surface;   the first food tray comprising a first cooling element for cooling the first food support surface, the first cooling element including a first conduit configured to have cooling fluid passed through it, the first conduit being disposed at least partially within the first food tray directly below the first food support surface; and   a controller operable to activate the first radiant heating element and to deactivate the first cooling element of the first food tray for operating the first food tray as a heating food tray, the controller being further operable to deactivate the first radiant heating element and to activate the first cooling element for operating the first food tray as a cooling food tray.   
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 50 , further comprising a first upright member at a first side of the system, and a first tray support coupled to the first upright member for supporting the first food tray. 
     
     
         52 . The system of  claim 51 , wherein the first upright member supports the canopy directly above the first food tray. 
     
     
         53 . The system of  claim 52 , further comprising a second upright member at a second side of the system opposite the first side of the system, and wherein the first tray support and the canopy are coupled to the first and second upright members. 
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 50 , wherein the first tray support has a border surrounding the first food tray. 
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 54 , wherein the controller includes operator-activated switches on the border. 
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 50 , wherein the first food tray comprises a thermal shield below the first conduit of the first cooling element. 
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 56 , wherein the first food tray comprises a lower shell below the thermal shield. 
     
     
         58 . The system of  claim 50 , wherein the first conduit of the first cooling element is in direct contact with the first food support surface. 
     
     
         59 . The system of  claim 50 , further comprising a second food tray below the first food tray, the second food tray having an upwardly facing second food support surface adapted to support and display food, and a second unenclosed space between the first food tray and the second food tray providing unobstructed access to the second food tray from the front and rear of the system. 
     
     
         60 . The system of  claim 59 , wherein the second food tray comprises a second cooling element configured to cool the second food support surface, the second cooling element including a second conduit configured to have cooling fluid passed through it, the second conduit being disposed at least partially within the second food tray directly below the second food support surface. 
     
     
         61 . The system of  claim 60 , further comprising a second light below the first food tray for illuminating the second food support surface, and a second radiant heating element below the first food tray configured to direct radiant heat downward onto the second food support surface. 
     
     
         62 . The system of  claim 59 , further comprising a first upright member at a first side of the system, a first tray support coupled to the first upright member for supporting the first food tray at an location directly above the second food tray, and a second tray support coupled to the first upright member for supporting the second food tray. 
     
     
         63 . The system of  claim 62 , wherein the first upright member supports the canopy directly above the first food tray. 
     
     
         64 . The system of  claim 63 , further comprising a second upright member at a second side of the system opposite the first side of the system, and wherein the first tray support, the second tray support, and the canopy are coupled to the first and second upright members. 
     
     
         65 . A temperature controlled food display system, comprising:
 a support structure;   a first food tray coupled to the support structure, the first food tray comprising a heating element that, when activated, heats an upwardly facing first food support surface of the first food tray, said first food support surface being adapted to support and display food, the heating element being disposed at least partially within the first food tray beneath the first food support surface;   a second food tray at an elevation below the first food tray, the second food tray comprising a cooling element configured to have cooling fluid from a source of cooling energy circulated therethrough and that, when activated, cools a second food support surface of the second food tray, said second food support surface being adapted to support and display food;   a first unenclosed space above the first food tray providing unobstructed access to the first food tray from a front and a rear of the system;   a second unenclosed space above the second food tray providing unobstructed access to the second food tray from the front and rear of the system; and   wherein the cooling element and the heating element operate independently so that the cooling element cools while the heating element heats.   
     
     
         66 . The system of  claim 65 , further comprising a plurality of heating and cooling outlets along the support structure adapted to be coupled with the heating element and the cooling element. 
     
     
         67 . The system of  claim 65 , further comprising a cooling element coupled to the first food tray to form a combination unit and wherein the first food tray is adapted to be selectively operated as a heating tray and as a cooling food tray. 
     
     
         68 . The system of  claim 65 , further comprising a heating element coupled to the second food tray to form a combination unit and wherein the second food tray is adapted to be selectively operated as a heating tray and as a cooling food tray. 
     
     
         69 . The system of  claim 65 , further comprising a canopy above the first food tray, and a heating element or a light supported by the canopy for directing radiant heat or light down onto the first food support surface of the first food tray. 
     
     
         70 . A temperature controlled food display system, comprising:
 an upright structure;   a first tray support coupled to the upright structure;   a first food tray coupled to the first tray support at a first elevation, the first food tray comprising a first food support surface adapted to support and display food, and a first cooling element at least partially within the first food tray for cooling the first food support surface;   a second food tray at a second elevation below the first elevation of the first food tray, the second food tray comprising a second food support surface adapted to support and display food;   the second food tray comprising a heating element, or a second cooling element, or a combination thereof, allowing the second food support surface of the second food tray to be heated, or cooled, or a combination thereof;   first and second light sources above respective first and second food trays for illuminating the first and second food support surfaces;   a first unenclosed space above the first food tray providing unobstructed access to the first food tray from a front and a rear of the system; and   a second unenclosed space above the second food tray providing unobstructed access to the second food tray from the front and rear of the system.   
     
     
         71 . The system of  claim 70 , in combination with a counter, said upright structure extending up from the counter. 
     
     
         72 . A temperature controlled food tray system, comprising:
 a first food tray including an upwardly facing food support surface;   a heating element disposed at least partially within the first food tray beneath the food support surface and configured to have at least one of fluid and electricity passed therethrough, the heating element being configured to heat the food support surface from below;   a cooling element including a conduit disposed at least partially within the first food tray beneath the food support surface and configured to have cooling fluid passed therethrough, the cooling element being configured to cool the food support surface from below;   a thermal shield disposed at least partially beneath the heating element and the cooling element and at least partially within the first food tray;   a shell disposed at least partially beneath the thermal shield, the thermal shield being disposed at least partially between the food support surface and the shell;   a refrigeration unit comprising a compressor, a condenser, and a control system for controlling operation of the refrigeration unit;   wherein the heating element is configured to receive at least one of fluid and electricity from a heating source; and   wherein the cooling element is configured to receive cooling fluid from the refrigeration unit.   
     
     
         73 . The system of  claim 72 , wherein the compressor and the condenser of the refrigeration unit are located below the first food tray. 
     
     
         74 . The system of  claim 73 , in combination with a counter at least partially enclosing the condenser and compressor of the refrigeration unit.