초록 ▼

Thermally convertible food presentation modules are described. A single module may be used for both heating and refrigeration of foodstuffs as desired at any given time. Any well of a module may be switched between heating and cooling of food regardless of the status of any other well of the module.

Thermally convertible food presentation modules are described. A single module may be used for both heating and refrigeration of foodstuffs as desired at any given time. Any well of a module may be switched between heating and cooling of food regardless of the status of any other well of the module.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A food presentation module generally immobile in use, comprising: a. a frame;b. at least two wells for receiving containers of bulk food, the wells being uncovered in use so as to expose food received therein to the ambient environment, each well being thermally isolated from other wells; andc. a

1. A food presentation module generally immobile in use, comprising: a. a frame;b. at least two wells for receiving containers of bulk food, the wells being uncovered in use so as to expose food received therein to the ambient environment, each well being thermally isolated from other wells; andc. a system for controlling temperatures of the at least two wells independently, wherein temperatures of the wells may be switched between heating and refrigerating, regardless of the temperature of the other well such that food received in the first well may be refrigerated to a temperature substantially below ambient while food received in a the second well may be heated to a temperature substantially above ambient, food received in the first well may be heated to a temperature substantially above ambient while food received in the second well may be refrigerated to a temperature substantially below ambient, both wells may be heated, or both wells may be refrigerated. 2. A module according to claim 1, further comprising a third well for receiving a container of food and in which the temperature-control system-controls temperature of the third well independently of temperatures of the first and second wells. 3. A module according to claim 1, in which each of the first and second wells defines a floor, further comprising a thermal blanket attached to each floor. 4. A module according to claim 3 in which each thermal blanket comprises silicone rubber. 5. A module according to claim 4 in which each floor is sloped so as to direct any fluid otherwise tending to accumulate on the floor toward an exit for draining. 6. A module according to claim 1, further comprising a heating element attached to a floor of each of the wells. 7. A module according to claim 1, in which each of the first and second wells further defines a plurality of generally vertically-extending walls, further comprising at least one pipe contacting each wall, such at least one pipe configured to contain refrigeration fluid. 8. A module according to claim 7 in which each of the first and second wells further comprises a plurality of generally vertically-extending exterior walls spaced from the plurality of vertically-extending walls so as to form insulative gaps therebetween. 9. A module according to claim 1, in which the first and second wells are spaced by a distance of only approximately three inches. 10. A method of presenting food for consumption by a plurality of persons, the method comprising: a. providing a fixed-position food presentation module comprising a frame and at least first and second wells for receiving containers of food, such wells being uncovered so as to expose the food containers to the ambient environment; andb. heating the first well while simultaneously refrigerating the second well, refrigerating the first well while simultaneously heating the second well, heating both wells, or refrigerating both wells. 11. A method according to claim 10 in which temperature of food received in the first well is maintained at temperature of at least 150° F. while temperature of food received in the second well is maintained at temperature of no more than 41° F. 12. A food presentation module, comprising: a. a frame;b. at least first and second wells for receiving containers of bulk food, the first and second wells being thermally isolated from one another and each having (1 ) an electrical-resistance heating mechanism secured thereto and (2 ) one or more refrigerant pipes secured thereto;c. a condensing unit to cause refrigerant to flow through the one or more refrigerant pipes; andd. a temperature controlling system that controls temperatures of the first and second wells independently, wherein the temperature of the first or second well may be switched between heating and refrigerating regardless of the temperature of the other of the first or second well, such that both wells may be heated, both wells may be refrigerated, the first well may be heated while the second well is refrigerated, or the second well may be heated while the first well is refrigerated. 13. The food presentation module of claim 12, further comprising at least a third well for receiving a container of food and in which the temperature controlling system controls the temperature of the third well independently of temperatures of the first and second wells. 14. A food presentation module for both heating and refrigeration of foodstuffs at any given time, comprising: a. at least two wells configured for receiving containers of food for maintaining desired temperatures of the food, the wells being thermally isolated from one another and each having (1 ) an electrical-resistance heating mechanism secured thereto and (2 ) one or more refrigerant pipes secured thereto;b. a frame for housing the at least two wells, the frame comprising a condensing unit to cause refrigerant to flow through the one or more refrigerant pipes and a system control for each well;wherein each of the at least two wells may be independently switched between heating and cooling, such that each well can independently heat or cool food, regardless of the temperature of any other well. 15. The food presentation module of claim 14, further comprising at least a third well for receiving a container of food and in which the temperature controlling system controls the temperature of the third well independently of temperatures of the first and second wells. 16. The food presentation module of claim 14, wherein the one or more refrigerant pipes are positioned along external sides of the well. 17. The food presentation module of claim 16, wherein the one or more refrigerant pipes are positioned horizontally along external sides of the well. 18. The food presentation module of claim 14, wherein each of the wells comprises an integral surface that is continuous from a vertical wall to a horizontal floor. 19. The food presentation module of claim 14, wherein the electrical-resistance heating mechanism is secured to a floor of the well. 20. A food presentation module, comprising: a. at least two wells configured for receiving containers of food, the wells being thermally isolated from one another and each having (1 ) an electrical-resistance heating mechanism secured thereto and (2 ) one or more refrigerant pipes associated therewith; andb. an independent electronic control system for each well, wherein the control system allows each well to be switched between heated or cooled and prevents concurrent heating and cooling of a single well. 21. The food presentation module of claim 20, further comprising at least a third well or a fourth well. 22. The food presentation module of claim 20, wherein each of the at least two wells may be independently switched between heating and cooling, such that each well can independently heat or cool food, regardless of the temperature of another well. 23. A food presentation module, comprising: a. at least two wells configured for receiving bins of food;b. an electronic control system for each well, wherein the control system allows each well to be independently switched between heated or cooled and prevents concurrent heating and cooling of a single well;c. a frame for housing the at least two wells and the electronic control system, the frame further comprising a condensing unit that causes refrigerant to flow through one or more refrigerant pipes associated with a particular well when the electronic control system for that well is set to refrigerate the well,wherein in use, bins of food to be heated or cooled are positioned in one or both of the at least two wells. 24. A food presentation module generally immobile in use, comprising: a. a frame;b. at least one well for receiving a container of bulk food, the at least one well being thermally isolated from the atmosphere, the at least one well having (1 ) an electrical-resistance heating system and (2 ) one or more refrigerant pipes associated therewith; andc. a system for controlling various temperature of the at least one well, wherein temperatures of the well may be switched between heating and refrigerating. 25. The A food presentation module of claim 20, further comprising: c. a frame for housing the at least two wells and the electronic control system, the frame further comprising a condensing unit that causes refrigerant to flow through the one or more refrigerant pipes of either the first or second well when the electronic control system for that well is set to refrigerate the well. 26. The food presentation module of claim 23, wherein the wells are thermally isolated from one another and each has (1 ) an electrical-resistance heating system and (2 ) one or more refrigerant pipes associated therewith.