Food pan cooling system with an upper open food holding area and a lower food compartment with quick chill function

Abstract

A refrigerated food preparation table includes a housing defining both (i) an upper food preparation holding area with food pan receiving locations and (ii) a food compartment. A cooling system includes a cooling air flow path with a first region for delivering cooling air at least one of below or alongside food pans in the upper food preparation holding area and a second region, downstream of the first region, for delivering at least a portion of the cooling air into the food compartment after the portion of the cooling air has passed below or alongside food pans in the upper food preparation holding area. The cooling air flow path includes a third region, upstream of the first region, and an openable/closeable path portion into the food compartment from the third region for selective delivery of at least some cooling air from the third region into the food compartment.

1 . A refrigerated food preparation table, comprising:
 a housing at least in part defining both (i) an upper food preparation holding area with multiple food pan receiving locations and (ii) a food compartment that is accessible via at least one of a door or a drawer;   a cooling system including a cooling air flow path internal of the housing, the cooling air flow path including a first region configured for delivering cooling air at least one of below or alongside food pans in the upper food preparation holding area and a second region, downstream of the first region, for delivering at least a portion of the cooling air into the food compartment after the portion of the cooling air has passed below or alongside food pans in the upper food preparation holding area;   wherein the cooling air flow path includes a third region, upstream of the first region, and a selectively openable/closeable path portion into the food compartment from the third region for selective delivery of at least some cooling air from the third region into the food compartment without the at least some cooling air passing below or alongside food pans in the upper food preparation holding area.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerated food preparation table of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured for operation in at least a first mode and a second mode, wherein, in the first mode, the controller is configured to close the selectively openable/closeable path portion, wherein, in the second mode, the controller is configured to open the selectively openable/closeable path portion. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerated food preparation table of  claim 2 , wherein the cooling system includes a fan for moving cooling air along the cooling air flow path, wherein, in the first mode, the controller operates the fan to output a first cooling air flow rate, wherein, in the second mode, the controller operates the fan to output a second cooling air flow rate, wherein the second cooling air flow rate is higher than the first cooling air flow rate. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerated food preparation table of  claim 2 , wherein in the first mode, the food compartment is maintained at a first temperature condition for refrigerating food items in the food compartment, wherein, in the second mode, the cooling system maintains the food compartment at a second temperature condition for rapidly chilling food items, the second temperature condition being lower than the first temperature condition. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerated food preparation table of  claim 2 , wherein the first temperature condition is a temperature or temperature range at or above 32° F., wherein the second temperature condition is a temperature or temperature range at or below 30° F. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerated food preparation table of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling air flow path includes at least a first inlet for delivering cooling air to the food compartment in both a first mode and a second mode of the food preparation table, and the selectively openable/closeable path portion includes at least a second inlet for delivering cooling air to the food compartment, wherein an air flow rate through the second inlet in the second mode is higher than in the first mode. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerated food preparation table of  claim 6 , wherein the air flow rate through the second inlet in the first mode is substantially zero. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerated food preparation table of  claim 7 , wherein, in the first mode, the first inlet is open and the second inlet is closed, wherein, in the second mode, the first inlet is open and the second inlet is open. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerated food preparation table of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling air flow path includes a supply plenum and a return plenum, wherein the supply plenum and the return plenum are adjacent each other to provide a heat exchange relationship between cooling air in the supply plenum and cooling air in the return plenum such that the cooling air in the return plenum gives up heat to the cooling air in the supply plenum. 
     
     
         10 . A refrigerated food preparation table, comprising:
 a housing at least in part defining both (i) an upper food preparation holding area with multiple food pan receiving locations and (ii) a food compartment that is accessible via at least one of a door or a drawer;   a cooling system configured to provide cooling air;   wherein the food preparation table is selectively operable in at least a first mode and a second mode;   wherein, in the first mode and the second mode, the cooling system is configured to deliver cooling air to the upper food preparation holding area and at a downstream location at least some of the cooling air is then delivered into the food compartment;   wherein, in the second mode, but not the first mode, the cooling system is configured to provide a further cooling air flow into the food compartment, wherein the further cooling air flow is not delivered to the upper food preparation holding area before being delivered into the food compartment.   
     
     
         11 . The refrigerated food preparation table of  claim 10 , wherein in the first mode, the food compartment is maintained at a first temperature condition for refrigerating food items in the food compartment, wherein, in the second mode, the cooling system maintains the food compartment at a second temperature condition for rapidly chilling food items, the second temperature condition being lower than the first temperature condition, wherein the first temperature condition is a temperature or temperature range at or above 32° F., wherein the second temperature condition is a temperature or temperature range at or below 30° F. 
     
     
         12 . A refrigerated food preparation table, comprising:
 a housing at least in part defining both (i) an upper food preparation holding area with multiple food pan receiving locations and (ii) a food compartment that is accessible via at least one of a door or a drawer;   a cooling system configured to provide cooling air;   wherein the food preparation table is configured for operation in at least a first mode and a second mode;   wherein, in the first mode, the cooling system cools the upper food preparation holding area and maintains the food compartment at a first temperature condition for refrigerating food items therein, wherein, in the second mode, the cooling system cools the upper food preparation holding area and opens an additional flow path into the food compartment so as to maintain the food compartment at a second temperature condition for rapidly chilling food items.   
     
     
         13 . The refrigerated food preparation table of  claim 12 , wherein the first temperature condition is a temperature or temperature range at or above 32° F., wherein the second temperature condition is a temperature or temperature range below 30° F. 
     
     
         14 . A refrigerated food preparation table, comprising:
 a housing at least in part defining an upper food preparation holding area with multiple food pan receiving locations;   a cooling system configured to provide cooling air;   a cooling air flow path arrangement for delivering cooling air to the upper food preparation holding area, the cooling air flow path arrangement including a first path portion that delivers cooling air to a rear side of the upper food preparation holding area and a second path portion for delivering cooling air to a front side of the upper food preparation holding area, such that opposing cooling air flows into the upper food preparation holding area are provided.   
     
     
         15 . The refrigerated food preparation table of  claim 14 , wherein the upper food preparation holding area comprises a well with a bottom wall extending from the front side toward the rear side, wherein the bottom wall includes a cooling air outlet opening positioned along a middle section of the bottom wall to allow cooling air to exit the well, such that cooling air delivered to both the front side and the rear side of the food recessed well exits the recessed well at the middle section of the bottom wall. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigerated food preparation table of  claim 14 , further comprising at least one food pan in the upper food preparation holding area, wherein the food pan includes first and second sidewalls having a plurality of openings therein, wherein the first sidewall faces the rear side of the upper food preparation holding area and the second side wall faces the front side of the upper food preparation holding area. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerated food preparation table of  claim 16 , wherein the food pan includes third and fourth sidewalls having a plurality of openings therein.