Serving presentation system and method

Abstract

In accordance with an embodiment, a serving presentation system includes: a mobile cart comprising a cart housing defining a cart cavity, a first port in the cart housing, and a cart conveyor system disposed within the cart cavity that may convey a serving from the cart cavity toward the first port. The serving presentation system also includes a table including a table housing defining a table cavity and a table surface with a table top port that may receive the serving therethrough, a second port in the table housing that may align and/or engage with the first port to define a passage between the cart cavity and the table cavity, a table conveyor system disposed within the table cavity that may convey the serving into the table cavity from the cart conveyor, and a lifter that may transition the serving from the table cavity through the table top port.

1 . A serving presentation system, comprising:
 a mobile cart comprising a cart housing defining a cart cavity;   a first port in the cart housing;   a cart conveyor system disposed within the cart cavity and configured to convey a serving from the cart cavity toward the first port;   a table comprising a table housing defining a table cavity and a table surface with a table top port configured to receive the serving therethrough;   a second port in the table housing that is configured to align and/or engage with the first port to define a passage between the cart cavity and the table cavity;   a table conveyor system disposed within the table cavity and configured to convey the serving into the table cavity from the cart conveyor; and   a lifter configured to transition the serving from the table cavity through the table top port.   
     
     
         2 . The serving presentation system of  claim 1 , wherein the cart conveyor system comprises a cartridge comprising a plurality of shelves configured to hold a plurality of servings. 
     
     
         3 . The serving presentation system of  claim 2 , wherein each shelf of the plurality of shelves comprises a respective conveyor portion configured to be cycled into an active position by the cartridge such that the respective conveyor portion can transition a respective serving toward the first port. 
     
     
         4 . The serving presentation system of  claim 1 , wherein the cart conveyor system is configured with a shelf which tilts when actuated to cause a serving placed thereon to slide toward the first port. 
     
     
         5 . The serving presentation system of  claim 1 , wherein the cart conveyor system comprises a first conveyor belt and the table conveyor system comprises a second conveyor belt. 
     
     
         6 . The serving presentation system of  claim 1 , wherein the cart conveyor system comprises a loader configured to convey the serving into the cart cavity. 
     
     
         7 . The serving presentation system of  claim 1 , a first door of the first port and a second door of the second port, wherein the first door and the second door are configured to:
 close to block the passage in a detached system configuration and   open to provide access to the passage in an engaged system configuration.   
     
     
         8 . The serving presentation system of  claim 1 , wherein, in an engaged system configuration, the table conveyor system is configured to extend into the table cavity and/or the cart conveyor system is configured to extend into the table cavity. 
     
     
         9 . The serving presentation system of  claim 1 , wherein the table conveyor system comprises a plurality of conveyor segments and each segment of the plurality of conveyor segments comprises a respective lifter configured to be actuated to lift a respective serving into a respective table top port of a plurality of table top ports. 
     
     
         10 . The serving presentation system of  claim 1 , wherein the table top port is one of a plurality of table top ports and each respective table top port of the plurality of table top ports comprises a respective concealment configured to be actuated to cover or expose the respective table top port. 
     
     
         11 . The serving presentation system of  claim 1 , comprising one or more sensors configured to monitor positioning of the serving relative to the table top port and actuate the lifter based on the positioning. 
     
     
         12 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, at a conveyor system within a cavity defined by a table housing of a table, one or more dishes sequentially via an ingress opening in the table housing, wherein the table housing is configured to conceal the cavity;   conveying, via the conveyor system, each of the one or more dishes to a corresponding target position along the conveyor system; and   actuating one or more lifters to lift each dish from its corresponding target position through a respective table top port to a surface of the table.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , comprising:
 monitoring, via one or more sensors, respective positions of each of the one or more dishes as each of the one or more dishes is conveyed via the conveyor system; and   determining, via the one or more sensors, that the one or more dishes are in position for lifting to trigger actuating the one or more lifters.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise one or more pressure sensors configured to monitor pressures along the conveyor system at each of the corresponding target positions. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , comprising:
 actuating the one or more respective lifters to cause the one or more dishes to descend from the surface of the table through the respective table top ports to the conveyor system; and   conveying, via the conveyor system, each of the one or more dishes to an egress opening in the table housing.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , comprising:
 conveying, via the conveyor system, each of the one or more dishes to a dish receptacle via the egress opening.   
     
     
         17 . A serving presentation table, comprising:
 a table housing defining a table cavity with an entry port on a side surface of the table housing and a table top port on a top surface of the table housing, the entry port and the table top port configured to allow a serving to enter and exit the table cavity therethrough;   a table conveyor system disposed within the table cavity and configured to convey the serving into the table cavity through the entry port;   a lifter configured to transition the serving from the table cavity through the table top port; and   a concealer configured to conceal the table top port during transition of the serving through the table to port and to open to reveal the serving when the serving is positioned in or above the table top port.   
     
     
         18 . The serving presentation table of  claim 17 , wherein the table conveyor system comprises a plurality of conveyor segments and each segment of the plurality of conveyor segments comprises a respective lifter configured to be actuated to lift a respective serving into a respective table top port of a plurality of table top ports. 
     
     
         19 . The serving presentation table of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of conveyor segments comprises one or more belt conveyors, roller conveyors, chain conveyors, motorized conveyors, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The serving presentation table of  claim 17 , wherein each respective lifter comprises a scissor lifter, a pulley lifter, or a hydraulic lifter.