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The present disclosure provides a system, apparatus, and method for a modular food tray system having a plurality of food trays that can be used for heating, cooling, or a combination thereof. The system can include a first food tray for heating and a second food tray for cooling, generally mounted

The present disclosure provides a system, apparatus, and method for a modular food tray system having a plurality of food trays that can be used for heating, cooling, or a combination thereof. The system can include a first food tray for heating and a second food tray for cooling, generally mounted at a different elevation from the first food tray. Alternatively, one or both of the food trays can be designed for cooling through temperature elements coupled thereto and the tray can be heated by overhead radiant heating elements for dual temperature capabilities. The first food tray can be mounted above the second food tray. The first food tray can include a thermal shield between a heating element in the first food tray and the second food tray. In other embodiments, the second food tray can be mounted above the first food tray with a thermal shield therebetween.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A temperature controlled food tray system, comprising: an upright structure;a first tray support coupled to the upright structure at a first elevation;a first food tray coupled to the first tray support, the first food tray having an upwardly facing food support surface;a cooling element coupled

1. A temperature controlled food tray system, comprising: an upright structure;a first tray support coupled to the upright structure at a first elevation;a first food tray coupled to the first tray support, the first food tray having an upwardly facing food support surface;a cooling element coupled to the first food tray and configured to cool the food support surface, the cooling element including a conduit configured to have cooling fluid passed there through, the conduit being disposed at least partially within the first food tray between the food support surface and a surface supporting the conduit from beneath;a heating element configured to heat the food support surface;a canopy having a top surface and a downwardly facing surface, the canopy being coupled to the upright structure at a second elevation higher than the first elevation;at least one radiant element coupled beneath the downwardly facing surface of the canopy and configured to direct radiant energy downwardly; andat least one controller, the at least one controller being configured to activate and deactivate at least one of the cooling element, the heating element and the radiant element. 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a second food tray with a temperature element coupled thereto, the second food tray being coupled to the upright structure at a third elevation different from the first and second elevations. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the radiant element is selected from the group consisting of a radiant heating element and a light. 4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a thermal shield disposed at least partially between the conduit and the surface supporting the conduit from beneath. 5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a refrigeration unit fluidicly coupled to the cooling element of the first food tray. 6. A temperature controlled food tray system, comprising: an upright structure having a heating outlet and a cooling outlet; a first food tray with a plurality of heating elements that, when activated, heats an upwardly facing food support surface of the first food tray, the plurality of heating elements being disposed at least partially within the first food tray beneath the food support surface; a second food tray with a cooling element configured to have cooling fluid from a source of cooling energy circulated there through and that, when activated, cools a surface of the second food tray; wherein the first and second food trays are coupled to the upright structure, at least one of the plurality of heating elements is coupled to the heating outlet and the cooling element is coupled to the cooling outlet; and wherein the cooling element and the plurality of heating elements operate independently so that the cooling element cools while the heating elements heat. 7. The system of claim 6, further comprising an additional temperature element coupled to at least one of the first food tray and the second food tray, the at least one food tray comprising the additional temperature element being configured to operate selectively as a heating tray or a cooling tray. 8. The system of claim 6, further comprising a refrigeration unit fluidicly coupled to the cooling outlet. 9. A temperature controlled food tray system, comprising: a support structure comprising at least one upright member and at least a first tray support and a second tray support, the tray supports being coupled to the upright member;at least one cooling outlet configured to couple to a food tray having a cooling element and to provide cooling fluid to the cooling element;at least one heating outlet configured to couple to a food tray having a heating element;a first food tray coupled to the first tray support and coupled to the at least one heating outlet, the at least one cooling outlet, or a combination thereof;a second food tray coupled to the second tray support and coupled to the at least one heating outlet, the at least one cooling outlet, or a combination thereof; andat least one controller that selectively activates or deactivates one or more of the at least one heating and cooling outlets;wherein at least the first food tray includes a cooling element configured to have cooling fluid from a source of cooling energy circulated there through, the cooling element being disposed at least partially beneath an upwardly facing food support surface of the first food tray and at least partially above a lower shell supported by the first tray support. 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the shell further comprises one or more extensions that at least partially surround the cooling element. 11. The system of claim 9, wherein the first tray support further comprises a receiver configured to support the shell. 12. The system of claim 9, wherein at least one of the first food tray and the second food tray comprises a heating element and a cooling element and is configured to be selectively operated as a heating tray or a cooling tray. 13. The system of claim 9, further comprising a thermal shield disposed at least partially between the cooling element and the shell. 14. The system of claim 9, further comprising a refrigeration unit fluidicly coupled to the at least one cooling outlet. 15. A temperature controlled food tray system, comprising: at least a first food tray, the first food tray including an upwardly facing food support surface; a heating element disposed at least partially within the first food tray beneath the food support surface and configured to have at least one of fluid and electricity passed there through, the heating element being configured to heat the food support surface from below; a cooling element including a conduit disposed at least partially within the first food tray beneath the food support surface and configured to have cooling fluid passed there through, the cooling element being configured to cool the food support surface from below; a thermal shield disposed at least partially beneath the heating element and the cooling element and at least partially within the first food tray; and a shell disposed at least partially beneath the thermal shield, the thermal shield being disposed at least partially between the food support surface and the shell; wherein the heating element is configured to receive at least one of fluid and electricity from a heating source; and wherein the cooling element is configured to receive fluid from a cooling source. 16. The system of claim 15, further comprising one or more extensions that at least partially surround at least one of the heating element and the cooling element. 17. The system of claim 15, wherein at least one of the heating element and the cooling element comprises a portion that extends from the first food tray and is configured to couple with an outlet. 18. The system of claim 15, further comprising a border that at least partially surrounds the food support surface of the first food tray. 19. The system of claim 15, further comprising a radiant element coupled above the food support surface, wherein the radiant element is selected from the group consisting of a radiant heating element and a light.