Abstract: A device for spreading a runny batter on a hotplate for manufacturing pancakes or crêpes, including a rotary shaft intended to be disposed almost perpendicular with respect to the cooking face of the hotplate, a plate fixed to said rotary shaft, said plate carrying a spreading and raking means, and at least one abutment designed to bear, run or slide on the heating face of the hotplate. The spreading and raking includes at least one rake, the working free edge of which is rectilinear, making it possible to spread a portion of batter previously deposited on the heating face of said hotplate and rake the thickness of batter as long as it remains liquid so as to redeposit a layer of material upstream in order to layer the batter and fill in the holes, reproducing the action of a person skilled in the art of making pancakes or crêpes.

Abstract: A popcorn extruder includes a feeder, a popping chamber, a heating device, an unloading device, and a discharge tube. The chamber is a vertical cylindrical barrel. Said heating device and said unloading device are installed on top of the barrel and at the bottom of the barrel, respectively. Said feeder has a discharge end connected with the upper-end side wall of the chamber. Said discharge tube has one end installed at the upper-end side wall of the chamber. Said unloading device has a conical structure. Said conical structure is located in the chamber, and said conical structure has the tapered end facing up. Said heating device includes a fan, an air duct and a heater installed in the air duct; said fan is connected with one end of the air duct; and said air duct has the other end inserted in the chamber and is adjacent to the conical structure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for venting a liquid supply of a beverage machine, e.g., by permanently open orifice and/or pressure relief valve. The orifice may always vent a heater tank, even while liquid is delivered to the tank by a liquid pump and/or while the tank is pressurized by an air pump to deliver liquid from the tank. A filter may be positioned between a heater tank and orifice and/or air pump. The pressure relief valve may be positioned between the liquid pump and the inlet side of the heater tank, e.g., so relatively cool water is released by the pressure relief valve when open.

Abstract: Aspects relating to a method and apparatus for venting a heater tank of a beverage forming apparatus using a vent valve that is opened and closed based on an operation to move a brew chamber lid between an open lid position and a closed lid position are provided. In one aspect, the vent valve may be positioned on a vent line distinct from a delivery line that delivers heated liquid from the heater tank to the brew chamber. In another aspect, at least a portion of the delivery line may extend downwardly from the top of the heater tank to a location between the top and the bottom of the heater tank. In another aspect, the at least a portion of the vent valve may be attached to the handle for movement with the handle.

Abstract: A squeezer unit (1), comprising: two female drums (2) with an internal cavity (3), with a central shaft, which can rotate in opposite directions, comprising a number of cavities (4) to house a fruit to be squeezed, two male drums (5) with an internal cavity (6), with a central shaft, located below the female drums (2), in such a way that each male drum (5) can rotate in a direction opposite to that of the corresponding female drum (2) located above the same, the male drums (5) comprising a number of protrusions (7) which can be coupled to the cavities (4) of the female drums (2) to squeeze out the juice, a support (8) for the squeezer unit (1) comprising a frontal plate (9) which can be coupled to the male drums (5) and the female drums (2), where each of the female drums (2) and the male drums (5) comprises a frontal extension (10) which is coaxial with its central axis, each frontal extension (10) being integral with the body of the corresponding drum (2, 5), and the frontal plate (9) of the support (8)

Abstract: A coffee brewing system and method that includes a brew chamber that holds a brew solution during a brew cycle and dispenses the brew solution; a water system that dispenses water into the brew chamber; a content sensing system that measures the brew solution contents added to the brew chamber; a temperature control system with a heating element and a temperature sensor; at least one recirculating processing loop with a particle monitor system, wherein the recirculating processing loop circulates brew solution extracted from the brew chamber; and a control system that is communicatively coupled to the content sensing system, the temperature control system and the particle monitor system during a brew cycle, wherein the control system controls a brew cycle based on a selected a specified taste profile.

Abstract: A portable, battery-operated vacuum infusion machine includes a top container assembly with a compartment that houses an air pump, a battery, and a controller. The top container assembly couples to the top opening of a separate bottom container. When coupled together, the top and bottom containers are connected by flow holes superimposed by a filter in the top container. An air pump switched on or off by a controller exerts negative pressure in the bottom container by means of a suction port and induces liquid in the top container to enter the bottom container under pressure while the filter in the top container ensures that the infusion residue is separated from the liquid and only the prepared infusion has passage to the bottom container. The bottom container can be opened by means of removing the top container in order to allow for serving the prepared infusion.

Abstract: A used capsule moving assembly includes a capsule blocking device leaving a capsule opening accessible, a used capsule moving device supporting the capsule blocking device and moving the capsule blocking device by taking it in front of a cutting device to partially open a capsule lid, in front of an emptying device to empty a used or extracted or exhausted substance, including used ground coffee, from a capsule body without breaking or destroying the capsule body, and in front of a capsule collection device to collect the capsule body emptied of the used or extracted or exhausted substance. The used capsule moving device displaces the capsule blocking device along a linear path at least when the capsule blocking device is placed so as to take the capsule body with the longitudinal capsule axis thereof in front of each of the cutting, emptying, and collection devices.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a cooking system for cooking food, the system including a housing having a hollow interior, a lid movable relative to the housing, at least one heating element associated with one of the housing and the lid, wherein the cooking system is operable in a plurality of modes including a conductive cooking mode and a convective cooking mode, wherein in the conductive cooking mode the cooking system is operable as a conductive cooker and in the convective cooking mode the cooking system is operable as a convection cooker.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a movable type grill roaster. In the present invention, bucket depressions and a rod rolling part are provided in a chain. Accordingly, when grilling rods constituting a grill roasting plate are sequentially transferred via the chain, the grilling rods may be transferred while being rolled. The phenomenon in which meat adheres to the grilling rods is prevented. The sequentially supplied grilling rods are arranged at stable locations, and thus there is overcome the problem in which meat falls between the grilling rods constituting a grill roasting plate. When the grilling rods fall to a collection container, the falling grilling rods may be evenly distributed without being concentrated on any one point in the collection container via a fall guide piece. The convenience in use is improved during a grilling rod supply process, a meat roasting process, and a grilling rod collection process.

Abstract: A beverage brewing system having, inter alia, a brew hopper, a hydraulic siphoning component affixed thereto and a solenoid-actuated door switch mechanism. The beverage brewing system includes a hydraulic siphoning component configured to allow hot water to bloom and steep for a controlled amount of time in a brew hopper. The beverage brewing system further includes a brew-hopper agitation mechanism.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing device and methods for dispensing beverages are provided. In one embodiment, the beverage dispensing device includes a housing, a carbonation assembly, a carriage assembly, and one or more flavorant containers. The beverage dispensing device can also include a controller with a UI to allow a user to customize aspects of a beverage. These customizable aspects can include fluid volume, carbonation level, flavorant type, and/or flavorant amount. Based on the customized aspects of the beverage, the beverage dispensing device can dispense an amount of carbonated or uncarbonated water, and can dispense a type and amount of flavorant. Illustrative embodiments of flavorant containers are also provided.

Abstract: A versatile kitchen appliance for electrically frying and simultaneously producing a plurality of plantain pieces, while manually shaping them into flat or basket-shaped fried, by exchanging removable trays, and pressing the plantain slices placed in a frying oil container, thereby creating fried, pressed plantain slices that are flat, or otherwise basket-shaped for further stuffing with other food fillings such as meat, seafood, cold meats, fruit.

Abstract: A cooking system that utilizes vibration to improve the convenience of preparing food and the quality of the finished product. The system uses a vibrating device coupled to a cooking vessel with a pad and/or isolation blocks disposed between the vibrator and the vessel. The cooking system can be adapted to prepare specific foods in specific quantities, such as popcorn in pre-packaged containers.

Abstract: A robotic kitchen system for preparing food items in combination with at least one kitchen appliance such as a fryer comprises an automated bin assembly, a robotic arm, and a basket held by the robotic arm. The automated bin assembly comprises at least one automated bin for holding the food items. A camera or sensor array collects image data of the food items in the bin(s). A central processor is operable to compute and provide directions to the first robotic arm and automated bin assembly based on the image data and stored data to (a) move the robotic arm to the bin; (b) actuate the bin to drop the food items from the bin into the basket; (c) and to move the basket into the fryer all without human interaction. Related methods are also described.

Abstract: Provided are an uncovering assembly of a household appliance, and a household appliance. A positioning portion cooperates with a positioning structure on a shell of the household appliance in the uncovering assembly, a cover is prevented from being loosened relative to the shell, in this way visual fool proofing may be achieved. A lock catch switches from an unfastening position to a fastening position after the positioning portion cooperates with the positioning structure. The lock catch, after entering the fastening position, is in mutual restriction with a fastening structure in a vertical direction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a smoker device for imparting smoked flavors to beverages and foodstuffs can include a base having at least a wall defining a first end and a floor with an opening defining a second end, a cover capable of being positioned over the base first end, thereby defining an enclosed cavity, and a conduit portion defining an open channel at a first end and closed at a second end, the first end connecting to a perimeter of the base floor opening, creating a passageway from the enclosed cavity to the channel. Also disclosed is a method for using the smoker device to impart smoked flavors to beverages and foodstuffs.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for real time automatic scoring of physical and operational properties of automatic espresso coffee machines applicable both for a single machine and a network of machines. The scoring scheme includes semantic context based on automatic monitoring of operation process variables and end-user annotations and scoring criteria. The method is decoupled from the coffee machine's controlling apparatus and utilizes a sensory reading device that is able to communicate over standard and proprietary network protocols with sensors and with other devices of the same type over direct, peer to peer or standard network, and Internet connections.

Abstract: A device is described for breaking an egg and separating an egg white from the yolk of the egg. The device includes a support base and a chute coupled to the support base. The chute has front end, a rear end, an enclosed section at the front end, and an open section at the rear end. The device includes a breaker that spans across the chute. The breaker is configured to crack a shell of the egg to release the yolk and the egg white onto the chute.

Abstract: A tray assembly includes a tray having a top side, an underside opposite the top side, and a plurality of protrusions extending from the underside. Each protrusion defines a recess in the top side and has a bottom wall and a contoured surface connecting the bottom wall to the top side. The tray assembly also includes a diffuser in the form of a plate with a plurality of apertures therethrough. The diffuser is couplable to the tray and positionable a spaced distance above the top side of the tray.