Abstract: There is disclosed herein a device (100) compatible with more than one type of portafilter to remove a coffee puck contained within an open compartment of the respective portafilter (180, 182), the coffee puck having an exposed first major face and a second major face in contact with the compartment, the device including: a body (102) providing an interior space (108) and having a rim (118) surrounding an aperture of the space (108), with the rim (118) being configured to engage the respective portafilter such that the first major face of the coffee puck in the open compartment of the respective portafilter (180, 182) communicates with the aperture; a vacuum source (132) to create a pressure differential between the first major face and the second major face of the coffee puck; and a sealing member (158) to sealingly connect the respective portafilter (180, 182) and the rim (118) so that air pressure applied to the first major face is less than air pressure applied to the second major face of the coffee puck

Abstract: A liquid heating appliance for making a beverage, the liquid heating appliance comprising: a plurality of heating components for heating a liquid, where at least a first of the plurality of heating components is powered using mains power, a power management system, wherein the power management system comprises: a controller, and an energy storage device, wherein the controller is arranged to: control an amount of the mains power applied to the first of the plurality of heating components, control an amount of stored power from the energy storage device to be applied to at least a second of the plurality of heating components, and switch polarity of the voltage of the stored power from the energy storage device to be applied to the second of the plurality of heating components after one or more heating cycles associated with the second of the plurality of heating components.

Abstract: A temperature sensor fitting for use with a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of ingredients that are inside a heating vessel of a kitchen device, the temperature sensor fitting comprising: a collar comprising an inner threaded portion; a PTFE insulator comprising an outer threaded portion that corresponds with the inner threaded portion of the collar, and further comprises an inner threaded portion; a metal cap comprising an outer threaded portion that corresponds with the inner threaded portion of the PTFE insulator; wherein the PTFE insulator provides thermal isolation between a temperature sensor and a heating plate of the kitchen device; and wherein the collar comprises an outer surface that corresponds with an edge of a floor of a heating vessel of a kitchen device and the outer surface is suitable for welding to the edge of the floor to form a weld seal.

Abstract: A display assembly (201) for a kitchen device (100), the display assembly (201) including: a liquid crystal display panel (214) having a plurality of liquid crystal elements (300) forming a dot matrix (302); a memory device (225) for storing executable instructions for operating the dot matrix (302); a processor (202) adapted to execute the executable instructions to: determine a required output of the dot matrix (302); retrieve a predetermined instruction set from the memory device (225) that corresponds to the required output; and operate the dot matrix (302) using the predetermined instruction set, wherein the predetermined instruction set includes an instruction for each element (300) in the plurality of liquid crystal elements (300).

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a sous vide appliance (10) including: a tube (12) having longitudinally opposite first and second ends (14, 13), and providing a liquid flow path (26) having an inlet adjacent the first end (14), and an outlet adjacent the second end (13); a heating element (31) mounted adjacent the tube (12) to heat liquid passing along the flow path from the inlet to the outlet; an outer housing (11) within which the tube (12) is located; and a switch (32) located between the tube (12) and the housing (11) and operatively associated with the heating element (31) to provide for the delivery of electric power to the heating element (31).

Abstract: An appliance (210) to heat a liquid, the appliance (21) including: a vessel (212) to receive the liquid to be heated, the vessel (212) having a generally central upright longitudinal axis (218), a bottom housing (220), and a side wall (222) extending upwardly from the bottom housing (220), with a portion of the bottom housing (220) and side wall (222) at least partly enclosing a chamber (234) within which the liquid is heated; and a heating element (238) in thermal communication with the chamber (234) so that heat generated by the element (238) can be delivered to the liquid via convection, wherein the housing (210) includes a deformable sealing member (268) sealingly associated with the element (238) to sealingly connect the element (238) and bottom housing (220), with the member (268) inhibiting transmission of sound from the chamber (234).

Abstract: A food processor (100) with a food preparation vessel (102), a base (104) housing a drive motor (111) and a spindle assembly (140) for detachable engagement with an accessory (109) for rotation in the preparation vessel (102). The spindle assembly (140) has a gear assembly such that the accessory (109) is driven at a speed that differs from that of the drive motor (111).

Abstract: A kitchen device (10), the kitchen device (10) including: a base (12) having a motor (58); a vessel assembly (14) removably mounted on the base (12), the vessel assembly (14) having: a vessel (16) providing a space (36) to receive ingredients to be processed; a blade assembly (38) at least partly located in the space (36) and drivable by the motor (58) to process the ingredients, the blade assembly (38) also projecting outwardly from the vessel (16) to provide for driving engagement by the motor (58); and a collar (40) to engage the blade assembly (38) and secure the blade assembly (38) to the vessel (16), the collar (40) being movable relative to the vessel (16) between a release position allowing removal of the blade assembly (38) from the vessel (16) and a securing position fixing the blade assembly (38) to the vessel (16); the kitchen device (10) further including a sensor mechanism (39) to detect, when the vessel assembly (14) is mounted on the base (12), whether the collar (40) is in the securing positi

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the operation of a kitchen appliance (100). A processor (122) receives (220) a stored sequence of user settings and at least one recorded parameter, and applies (226) the stored sequence of user settings to the kitchen appliance. A sensor (140) senses at least one sensed parameter while the stored sequence of user settings is applied to the kitchen appliance (100). The processor (122) determines (228) a difference between the at least one sensed parameter and corresponding recorded parameter(s) and, if the determined difference exceeds a difference threshold, adjusts (234) at least one user setting applied.

Abstract: A decanting vessel has an internal pump for recirculating a beverage such as wine and aerating it within the decanter.

Abstract: An appliance including: a vessel to receive a liquid, the vessel having a longitudinal axis, a bottom wall, and a side wall at least partly enclosing a chamber within which the liquid is heated, the chamber having an upper region axially spaced from the bottom wall, and a lower region located between the bottom wall and the upper region; a heating element within the chamber; a heater base including at least a portion of an induction coil; connections to deliver an alternating current to the induction coil to deliver a magnetic field to the lower region; the element being movable relative to the coil between an operative position at which the element is located within the lower region to be energised by the magnetic field to cause heating of the element, and an inoperative position at which the element is located in the upper region to not energize the element.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a toaster (2) for toasting bread or other food, the toaster (2) comprising: a body (4) having an upward facing slot (6) to receive a slice of bread or a food to be toasted; a carriage (16) mounted in the body beneath the slot (6) to receive a slice of bread, the carriage (16) being movable between an elevated position and a lowered position; a heating panel (10) mounted to the body (4) in an upright configuration adjacent the carriage (16) for toasting one side of a slice of bread in the carriage (16); a linkage assembly (53) for connecting the heating panel (10) to the carriage (16); wherein, the heating panel (10) has a contracted form when not toasting bread, and an expanded form when toasting bread, the heating panel (10) having a vertical dimension in the contracted form that is less than the vertical dimension in the expanded form, and the linkage assembly (53) is configured to move the carriage (16) from the elevated position to the lowered position when the heating panel (10)

Abstract: A safety system (4) for a kitchen device (1) having a vessel (5) and a lid (21), the safety system (4) comprising: a processor (10); a retaining arm (7) adapted to, in a retaining position, retain the lid (21) against the vessel (5); a first sensor (40) adapted to communicate a retaining signal to the processor (10) when the retaining arm (7) is in the retaining position; and a second sensor (43) adapted to communicate a function signal to the processor (10), the function signal indicating a function of the lid (21), wherein the processor (10) is adapted to select an operating mode of the kitchen device (1) in response to the retaining signal and the function signal.

Abstract: An induction heater (10) for a jug (11). The jug (11) includes a base (12) from which there upwardly extends a side wall (13). The induction heater (10) includes an outer housing (15) that encloses that chamber (16). Located in the chamber (16) is the electronic component for the heater (10), including an electronic oscillator (17). The heater (10) includes a cavity (18) within which the jug (11) is located.

Abstract: An induction heating circuit for an appliance, the induction heating circuit comprising: an AC power supply with an AC monitoring output connected to the active line of the AC power supply, the AC monitoring output providing an indication of current being drawn from the AC power supply; a control circuit comprising at least one processor and a semiconductor current sensor, the semiconductor current sensor arranged to i) detect the current being drawn from the AC power supply and ii) output an output voltage based on the detected current; and an induction driving circuit for driving an inductor of the appliance comprising a semiconductor switch, wherein the semiconductor switch is controlled by the processor based on, at least, the output voltage.

Abstract: A kitchen device comprising a cooking vessel, a heating plate, a first temperature sensor and a second temperature sensor, wherein the first temperature sensor is thermally connected to, at least part of, the heating plate of the kitchen device for measuring the temperature of the heating plate, and the second temperature sensor is located in a position to measure the temperature of one or more ingredients that are inside the cooking vessel and the second temperature sensor is thermally isolated from the cooking vessel by a sensor isolation seal.

Abstract: A locking mechanism (104) for a kitchen device (101) having a vessel (105), the vessel (105) providing an interior space and having a rim (106) surrounding an opening (105a) of the space, and a lid (121) to engage the rim (106) to close the space, the locking mechanism (104) comprising: a retaining arm (107), the retaining arm (107) being attachable to the device (101) and movable between a free position, wherein the lid (121) is movable with respect to the vessel (105), and a retaining position, wherein the retaining arm (107) is engageable with the lid (121) to retain the lid (121) against the vessel (105) to at least partly close the opening (105a); a securing assembly (108), the securing assembly (108) being attachable to the device (101) to engage the retaining arm (107) and movable between a free position, wherein the retaining arm (107) may be moved between the free position and the retaining position, and a securing position, wherein the securing assembly (108) engages the retaining arm (107) to preve

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a humidity sensor (10) for a cooking appliance (100). The humidity sensor (10) comprises: a sensor assembly (30) comprising: conductive plates (50) having a space located therebetween, wherein the conductive plates (50) are electrically charged and subsequently discharged over time; a dielectric plate (60) locatable in the space between the conductive plates (50), wherein the dielectric plate (60) is removable from the space between the conductive plates (50) for cleaning; a controller (20), in electrical communication with the sensor assembly (30), configured to: measure a capacitive characteristic across the conductive plates (50) whilst the dielectric plate (60) is located in the space; and determine, based on the capacitive characteristic, a humidity measurement indicative of the humidity within the cooking appliance (100).

Abstract: A cooking appliance (10) including: a body (12) with a front face; at least one projection (24, 26, 28) extending from the front face, and that is manipulated by a user to control the appliance (10); and an interface (30) releasably mounted on the front face adjacent the projection (24, 26, 28), the interface (30) being mountable in a first orientation or a second orientation, with the orientation to be selected by the user when mounting the interface (30) on the front face.