Hot and cold holding system

Abstract

A food pan well includes a base defining an internal cavity and a temperature regulating system disposed within the internal cavity. The base is configured to support a food pan such that the food pan is selectively suspendable within the internal cavity. The temperature regulating system includes a cooling assembly configured to facilitate cooling at least a sidewall of the food pan and a warming assembly configured to facilitate warming at least a bottom surface of the food pan.

1 . A food pan well comprising:
 a base defining an internal cavity, the base configured to support a food pan such that the food pan is selectively suspendable within the internal cavity; and   a temperature regulating system disposed within the internal cavity, the temperature regulating system including:
 a cooling assembly configured to facilitate cooling at least a sidewall of the food pan; and 
 a warming assembly configured to facilitate warming at least a bottom surface of the food pan. 
   
     
     
         2 . The food pan well of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling assembly includes:
 a cooling conduit configured to receive a cooling working fluid; and   a cooling pump configured to drive the cooling working fluid through the cooling conduit.   
     
     
         3 . The food pan well of  claim 2 , wherein the food pan is a first food pan, the cooling conduit is a first cooling conduit associated with the first food pan, and the cooling pump is a first cooling pump, wherein the base is configured to support a second food pan at the same time as the first food pan, and wherein the cooling assembly includes a second cooling conduit associated with the second food pan and a second pump associated with the second cooling conduit. 
     
     
         4 . The food pan well of  claim 1 , wherein the warming assembly includes:
 a warming conduit configured to receive a warming working fluid; and   a warming pump configured to drive the warming working fluid through the warming conduit.   
     
     
         5 . The food pan well of  claim 4 , wherein the food pan is a first food pan, the warming conduit is a first warming conduit associated with the first food pan, and the warming pump is a first warming pump, wherein the base is configured to support a second food pan at the same time as the first food pan, and wherein the warming assembly includes a second warming conduit associated with the second food pan and a second pump associated with the second warming conduit. 
     
     
         6 . The food pan well of  claim 1 , wherein the warming assembly includes:
 an induction heating coil; and   an inverter configured to regulate power provided to the induction heating coil.   
     
     
         7 . The food pan well of  claim 6 , wherein the food pan is a first food pan, the induction heating coil is a first induction heating coil associated with the first food pan, wherein the base is configured to support a second food pan at the same time as the first food pan, wherein the warming assembly includes a second induction heating coil associated with the second food pan, and wherein the inverter is configured to regulate the power provided to the first induction heating coil and the second induction heating coil. 
     
     
         8 . The food pan well of  claim 6 , wherein the food pan is a first food pan, the induction heating coil is a first induction heating coil associated with the first food pan, and the inverter is a first inverter associated with the first induction heating coil, wherein the base is configured to support a second food pan at the same time as the first food pan, wherein the warming assembly includes a second induction heating coil associated with the second food pan and a second inverter associated with the second induction heating coil, and wherein the second inverter is configured to regulate the power provided to the second induction heating coil independent of the first inverter. 
     
     
         9 . The food pan well of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling assembly includes an air current generator configured to provide a cooled air current within the internal cavity. 
     
     
         10 . The food pan well of  claim 9 , wherein the air current generator is configured to provide the cooled air current across a top of the food pan. 
     
     
         11 . The food pan well of  claim 1 , wherein the food pan is a first food pan having a first depth, wherein the base is configured to support a second food pan having a second depth, and wherein the second food pan is interchangeable with the first food pan. 
     
     
         12 . The food pan well of  claim 1 , further comprising a thermal distribution plate positioned within the internal cavity, the thermal distribution plate configured to spread thermal energy provided by the warming assembly evenly across the bottom surface of the food pan. 
     
     
         13 . The food pan well of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature regulating system includes an internal enclosure positioned within the internal cavity, the internal enclosure including a bottom wall and a peripheral wall extending around the bottom wall, the bottom wall and the peripheral wall cooperatively defining a temperature regulating cavity that at least partially receives the food pan, wherein at least one of the cooling assembly or the warming assembly is positioned outside of the temperature regulating cavity. 
     
     
         14 . The food pan well of  claim 13 , wherein the bottom wall is manufactured from a first material and the peripheral wall is manufactured from a second material different than the first material. 
     
     
         15 . A food pan well comprising:
 a base defining an internal cavity, the base configured to support a food pan such that the food pan is selectively suspendable within the internal cavity; and   a temperature regulating system disposed within the internal cavity, the temperature regulating system including:
 a cooling assembly including at least one of:
 a cooling conduit configured to receive a thermally regulated working fluid, the cooling conduit positioned proximate a sidewall of the food pan when the food pan is suspended within the internal cavity; or 
 an air current generator configured to provide a cooled air current within the internal cavity; and 
 
 a warming assembly including:
 an induction heating coil positioned beneath a bottom wall of the food pan when the food pan is suspended within the internal cavity; and 
 an inverter configured to regulate power provided to the induction heating coil. 
 
   
     
     
         16 . The food pan well of  claim 15 , wherein the cooling assembly includes the cooling conduit. 
     
     
         17 . The food pan well of  claim 15 , wherein the cooling assembly includes the air current generator. 
     
     
         18 . The food pan well of  claim 17 , wherein the wherein the air current generator is configured to provide the cooled air current across a top of the food pan when the food pan is suspended within the internal cavity. 
     
     
         19 . The food pan well of  claim 15 , wherein the cooling assembly includes the cooling conduit and the air current generator. 
     
     
         20 . A food pan well comprising:
 a base defining an internal cavity, the base configured to support a plurality of food pans such that the plurality of food pans are selectively suspendable within the internal cavity simultaneously; and   a temperature regulating system including:
 a cooling assembly including:
 a plurality of cooling conduits positioned within the internal cavity, each of the plurality of cooling conduits positioned proximate a sidewall of a respective one of the plurality of food pans when the respective one of the plurality of food pans is suspended within the internal cavity; and 
 a plurality of cooling pumps, each of the plurality of cooling pumps associated with one of the plurality of cooling conduits and configured to drive a working fluid therethrough; and 
 
 a warming assembly including:
 a plurality of induction heating coils positioned within the internal cavity, each of the plurality of induction heating coils positioned beneath a respective one of the plurality of food pans when the respective one of the plurality of food pans is suspended within the internal cavity; and 
 an inverter configured to regulate power provided to each of the plurality of induction heating coils.