Abstract: A smoker apparatus is disclosed that provides a smoker cabinet having upper and lower end portions. The cabinet has a top, a bottom and a side wall or walls and an interior. The cabinet includes a plurality of vertically spaced apart shelves mounted within the cabinet interior. A cabinet door that enables access to the shelves. A gaseous fuel supplied burner element is positioned next to the lower end portion of the cabinet, the burner element being removably connectable to a source of gaseous fuel. A pair of containers is mounted within the cabinet below the shelves and above the burner element. One of the containers is preferably a water container for containing water. The other of the containers being a wood chips container for containing wood chips, wherein the wood chips container is positioned in between the water container and the burner element. A slide bracket supports the containers, the slide bracket positioned generally in between the burner element and the shelves.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to ultrasonic extrusion apparatus, methods and products. A flowable substrate may be supplied by an infeed to an extrusion chamber having an ultrasonic horn. The flowable substrate contacts the ultrasonic resonant horn and receives ultrasonic energy before and/or as passing through an extrusion orifice. Suitable flowable substrates may include meat emulsions, pomace solutions, and dough. The extruded product may have virtually any solid or hollow shape. The flowable substrate may form a shape-retaining product that may be cut without significantly deforming.

Abstract: A capsule for the preparation of a coffee extract from coffee contained therein and hot water injected under pressure in the capsule by a water injection device. The capsule has a frusto-conical body with a rim, sidewall, and an inlet wall and a lower delivery wall sealed to the rim and contains a predosed amount of coffee. The inlet wall may have a flat or convex portion and a structure in relief or in recess arranged for facilitating penetration of blades belonging to the injection device and extending on a substantially circular path of predetermined radius R1 equal to the radius R2 of the circular path along which the blades of the injection device extend.

Abstract: A coffee machine for preparing hot, milk-containing beverages and having a milk supply (15) and a discharge means (8). In order to achieve improved handling, the milk supply (15) is configured for accommodating concentrated milk, and a mixing device (17) is provided for mixing the concentrated milk with water.

Abstract: Enhanced power factor correction for a welding-based power supply includes a controller that tracks a rectified input voltage waveform and detects zero-crossing events therein. The controller generates an ideal sinusoidal current reference signal synchronized by expected zero-crossings in the supplied power. The reference signal is used in a current control loop within the controller to control the power electronics such that the waveform of the current drawn by the power supply matches the waveform of the input voltage. The frequency of the supplied power may be calculated using the expected zero-crossings and used to adjust the expected zero-crossings.

Abstract: A system (1) for preparing a predetermined amount of beverage suitable for consumption, provided with an exchangeable holder (2, 102), and an apparatus (4) provided with a fluid dispensing device (6) which is detachably connected to the holder (2, 102) for dispensing at least one amount of at least a first fluid, such as water, under pressure to the exchangeable holder (2, 102), wherein the exchangeable holder (2, 102) is provided with at least one storage space (8, 108) which is filled with a second fluid, such as a concentrate, the holder (2, 102) further being provided with at least one first mixing chamber (10, 110), the exchangeable holder (2, 102) comprising a first holder part (198) and a second holder part (199), the first holder part (198) comprising a substantially flat contacting surface (166), and the at least one storage space (8, 108) and the first mixing chamber (10, 110) each comprising a wall (167, 168) offset relative to the contacting surface (166), which, each, form part of the first holde

Abstract: A cooking oven comprising a cooking cavity and an exhaust gas purification assembly comprising a self-heated filter element comprising a gas-permeable, electrically conductive silicon carbide material and a current supply structure operable for self-heating said filter element. Preferably, said purification assembly comprises a self-heated filter element comprised of a foamed silicon carbide structural element.

Abstract: A cooking pan apparatus, system, and method of use, comprising: a drain opening in a side wall of the pan; and a pan handle attached to the side wall, comprising a hollow drain channel enclosing the drain opening and running from proximate the drain opening to a drain exit proximate a distal end of the pan handle.

Abstract: A flexible composite with integral flights is provided and methods for making the same. The composite is made from, for example, silicone rubber, urethane rubber, polytetrafluoroethylene or other polymer. The composites are useful for making conveyor belts for use in high temperature food processing, and particularly for contact toasters. The conveyor belts are an improvement over the prior art in that they prevent slippage of the articles conveyed, may be manufactured at low cost, and are relatively easy to clean.

Abstract: A baby formula maker includes a main body including a base, a housing, and a top cover; an electric motor; a gear assembly; a pivotal cover plate; a baby formula assembly including a baby formula reservoir, a reciprocating screw communicating with a bottom of the baby formula reservoir and operatively driven by the gear assembly, and a pivotal gate in front of the reciprocating screw; an outlet under the pivotal gate; two release mechanisms on both sides of the housing respectively for locking both the baby formula assembly and the cover plate; a hot water assembly including a water reservoir, a heating member, and a pump; a control assembly for controlling the hot water assembly, the motor, and the baby formula assembly, the control assembly including a display and an array of buttons for adjusting settings; and a magnetic assembly.

Abstract: A toaster comprises a housing, at least one spring-loaded bread tray, one or more heating elements, a bread tray retaining mechanism, a bread tray partial retaining mechanism, and a lifter arm slot. The bread tray is movable between an up position and a down position and is biased toward the up position. The bread tray retaining mechanism selectively retains the bread tray in the down position while the toasting operation is in progress and releases the bread tray from the down position when the toasting operation is complete. The bread tray partial retaining mechanism selectively retains the bread tray in a position between the down position and the up position after the bread tray is released by the bread tray retaining mechanism. In one embodiment, the lifter arm slot comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion being wider than the upper portion.

Abstract: A cooking aid and methods of manufacturing and using the same are disclosed. The cooking aid includes a piece of foil for wrapping around a turkey or other fowl or food to serve as a cooking blanket to retain heat and moisture, and also serve as a lifter for lifting the fowl out of a roasting pan. The foil typically includes one or more pleated sections having panels folded along longitudinal folds which may be unfolded to expand the piece of foil. The foil may include left and right pleated sections with a central section of the foil therebetween. Drain holes are typically formed in the central section, which may also be embossed with logos or the like. Axial sections of the foil may be folded at an axial fold to overlay one another. Portions of the foil may be formed into rolled handles to help lift the fowl.

Abstract: A heater (A1) includes a substrate (1), a heating resistor (2) formed on the substrate (1) and an electrode (3) electrically connected to the heating resistor (2) and containing a metal component. The heater (A1) further includes a diffusion prevention layer (4) which is held in contact with at least part of the electrode (3) and prevents the metal component from diffusing from the electrode (3). By preventing the diffusion of the metal component from the electrode (3) to the heating resistor (2), the separation of the heating resistor (2) and the electrode (3) is prevented.

Abstract: The invention relates to an automatic milk foamer having a container for receiving milk and a base body on which or in which the container can be placed. The milk foamer also includes a stirring device that can be placed in the container for foaming the milk, a motor provided in the base body for driving the stirring device, and a heating device for warming the milk present in the container. The heating device includes an alternating magnetic field generator provided in the base body for generating an alternating magnetic field. The container is designed such that it heats up due to the alternating magnetic field.

Abstract: A set of articles comprises a beverage making device (1), at least one pad holder which is suitable for receiving and supporting at least one pad comprising a filter envelope and containing a quantity of beverage extract, and at least one brewing unit (21) having a space (23) for receiving and accommodating a quantity of beverage extract in a loose form. Advantageously, the space (23) of the at least one brewing unit (21) is large enough for enabling the brewing unit (21) to be used in a process of making a considerably larger quantity of beverage than may be obtained by using at least one pad and a pad holder. In this way, it is achieved that it is possible to make a large variety of quantities of beverage without a need of using another beverage making device (1), wherein a range of possible quantities may run from one cup to an entire jug.

Abstract: A stick electrode for depositing an high strength weld metal bead on a workpiece where the yield strength of the weld metal is between 85 ksi and 125 ksi irrespective of the cooling rate. The electrode deposits weld metal having 0.80-1.85% by weight manganese, 0.25-0.50% by weight molybdenum, 1.25-2.50% by weight nickel, and less than 0.07% by weight carbon, wherein the ratios of the carbon, manganese and molybdenum are adjusted to provide a carbon equivalent in deposited weld metal in the range of 0.17 to 0.30 and preferably less than 0.22.

Abstract: A heat treatment vessel configured to receive at least two stacks of food products, includes a chamber with an inlet opening and a discharge opening separated from the inlet opening. The vessel also includes a movement device configured to engage a stack received through the inlet opening and to transport it toward the discharge opening.

Abstract: A method for supplying a mask through which air flows with a regulated degree of humidification (m) is provided. The method may include: providing a water reservoir configured such that the air circulates in contact with the surface of water within the reservoir is charged with humidity; providing a heating device for heating the water in the reservoir by circulating an electric current; measuring an average intensity (Iav) of the current passing through the heating device; and controlling the average intensity (Iav) relative to a reference value (Iavc) to obtain a degree of humidification (m) of the air that is independent of the ambient temperature (Ta). An apparatus for regulating the degree of humidification of air flow, as well as a heating humidifier including such a regulation device, are also provided.

Abstract: A system for controlling a pitting system is disclosed. The system comprises a processor configured to: receive a first sensor data; receive a second sensor data; and determine a prune processing parameter based at least in part on the first sensor data and the second sensor data. The system further comprises a memory coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor with instructions.

Abstract: For the determination of the welding current to be used for the resistance welding of the overlap seam of container bodies, welding with a test body is carried out with a changing strength of welding current which in the test body produces a varying welding of the seam. The current strength varies from welding of this seam with a too high temperature to welding with a too low temperature. Along with this the welding current strength used in the welding is determined so that it is further determined at which point of the seam the welding has been accomplished and with what strength of welding current. By means of a mechanical and/or optical investigation of the welded seam it can then be easily determined where the seam has been correctly welded for the series production of container bodies from the same sheet material as the test bodies. When such a point or such a region of the seam is known the welding current used in the test welding can be taken as the welding current for serial production.