Convertible heated/refrigerated merchandiser system

Abstract

A merchandiser system and method for providing a product for display and/or sale. The merchandiser system includes a selectable temperature mode that provides controlled heating or cooling to the same product space. The product space is selectively heated or cooled by a heating subsystem and a cooling subsystem. The method includes providing a product in a temperature configurable product space and selectively heating or cooling the product in the product space in response to a control input.

1 . A merchandiser system comprising:
 a product space;   a cooling subsystem arranged and disposed to selectively cool the product space;   a heating subsystem arranged and disposed to selectively heat the product space; and   a controller configured to selectively activate either the cooling subsystem or the heating subsystem to heat or cool the product space.   
     
     
         2 . The merchandiser system of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling subsystem includes an evaporator, condenser and a compressor operably connected in a refrigerant loop. 
     
     
         3 . The merchandiser system of  claim 1 , wherein the heating subsystem includes one or more heated surfaces. 
     
     
         4 . The merchandiser system of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more heated surfaces include a heated shelf. 
     
     
         5 . The merchandiser system of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more heated surfaces are heated with resistive heating elements. 
     
     
         6 . The merchandiser system of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more heated surfaces are heated with radiant heating elements. 
     
     
         7 . The merchandiser system of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling subsystem and the heating subsystem include one or more shared components. 
     
     
         8 . The merchandiser system of  claim 6 , wherein the cooling subsystem and the heating subsystem include a heat pump system including an evaporator, condenser and a compressor operably connected in a refrigerant loop. 
     
     
         9 . The merchandiser system of  claim 1 , wherein the product space is a unitary space for heating or cooling. 
     
     
         10 . The merchandiser system of  claim 1 , wherein the product space is a zoned space for zoned heating or cooling. 
     
     
         11 . A method for providing a cooled or heated product comprising:
 a merchandiser system is provided having a product space, a cooling subsystem, a heating subsystem, and a controller, the controller having a configuration that includes a first operational mode to activate the cooling subsystem and a second operational mode to activate the heating subsystem;   cooling the product space with the cooling subsystem when the controller is in the first operational mode; and   heating the product space with the heating subsystem when the controller is in the second operational mode.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the cooling subsystem includes an evaporator, condenser and a compressor operably connected in a refrigerant loop to cool air to be directed into the product space. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the heating includes heating on one or more heated surfaces. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more heated surfaces includes a heated shelf. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more heated surfaces are heated with resistive heating elements. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more heated surfaces are heated with radiant heating elements. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the cooling subsystem and the heating subsystem include one or more shared components. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the cooling subsystem and the heating subsystem include a heat pump system including an evaporator, condenser and a compressor operably connected in a refrigerant loop. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the product space is a unitary space for heating or cooling. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the product space is a zoned space for zoned heating or cooling.