Abstract: An apparatus for preparing fruit includes a main housing with a cutting area containing a cutting assembly and a drive assembly, a removable cup assembly for inserting the fruit into the apparatus, and a removable drawer and tray for removing cut pieces of fruit from the apparatus after a cutting operation. The apparatus includes a rinsing assembly for cleaning the fruit and the cutting assembly, and a deflector configured to route cut pieces of fruit into the tray and waste material through a disposal outlet. The cutting assembly is configured to perform one or more cutting operations depending on the type of fruit detected in the cup assembly: wedging for apples, lemons, limes, and pears, and cutting/peeling for oranges and grapefruits. The apparatus quickly prepares various fruits for consumption without requiring an operator to touch the cut pieces of fruit.

Abstract: A valve assembly for dispensing a confectionary product has an inlet (70), a first outlet (72), and a second outlet (90). The assembly has a valve member (80) shiftable between: a first condition providing communication between the inlet and the first outlet; and a second condition providing communication between the inlet and the second outlet.

Abstract: A cooking system includes a first cooking apparatus including a first base and a first upper heating unit. The first base has a first lower heating plate and the first upper heating unit has a first upper heating plate. The first upper heating unit is moveable to bring the first upper heating plate towards the first lower heating plate. The first base includes a mounting surface configured to receive a plurality of interchangeable lower heating plates including the first lower heating plate and the first upper heating plate is one of a plurality of interchangeable upper heating plates.

Abstract: A beverage system includes a pump that draws a set amount of a flavored concentrate into a mixing chamber for mixing with water to form a beverage. A locking ring attaches an adapter plate to a pump head. When the locking ring is in a locked position, a magnet of the locking ring is detected by a reed switch. If the locking ring rotates from the locked position, the reed switch does not detect the magnet, indicating that the locking ring, and therefore the pump head, is incorrectly or not completely installed. The controller then stops operation of the pump.

Abstract: A beverage system includes a pump that draws a set amount of a flavored concentrate into a mixing chamber for mixing with water to form a beverage. A pump head includes a piston opening that receives a piston and a water port that defines a water flow path. The pump head includes protrusions. An adapter plate includes a piston opening that receives the piston and a water opening that receives the water port of the pump head. The adapter plate includes depressions. When the adapter plate is installed in the pump, the piston opening of the adapter plate and the piston opening of the pump head align, and the water port of the pump head is received in the water opening of the adapter plate. The protrusions of the pump heads are received in the depressions of the adapter plate, aligning the pump head and the adapter plate.

Abstract: A coffee brewer includes a drawer having an upper cartridge shell and a lower cartridge shell that enclose a coffee cartridge. Before the drawer is opened, an operator pulls an arm to rotate the upper cartridge shell relative to the lower cartridge shell. As the drawer is pulled, a slidable track moves relative to a fixed track, and the upper cartridge shell is biased upwardly. An ejector arm on the coffee brewer engages an ejector blade on the lower cartridge shell and biases the lower coffee shell downwardly to eject the used coffee cartridge into a used cartridge bin. As the drawer continues to open, the lower cartridge shell returns to the original position. A new coffee cartridge can then be added to the lower cartridge shell. The drawer is then closed and the brewing process can begin.

Abstract: An automated grill automatically transfers frozen food from a freezer component to grilling component by an automatic loading device in response to a signal. Frozen food is loaded in a loading side in the freezer component. When the signal is received indicating that the food is to be grilled, food in a feeding side is raised and delivered to the loading device. When a sensor detects that food is positioned in the loading device, the loading device removes the food from the freezer component and into the grilling component. The food is then grilled as it travels between two substantially vertical grilling structures each surrounded by a conveyor belt. Preferably, the conveyor belt is made of a non-stick coated Invar. A lateral sensor detects and compensates for lateral movement of the conveyor belts. After the food exits the grilling component, the food slides onto a heated holding area for serving.

Abstract: A pump transfers syrup through a supply line and through a valve assembly for mixing with ice cream in a mixing chamber to form a frozen dessert or milkshake. When the syrup flows through the passive valve, the pressure along the supply line increases. When syrup delivery is complete, a first timer is initiated to dispense ice cream into the mixing chamber for 0.4 seconds to flush out any remaining syrup. A second timer is also initiated when the syrup delivery is complete to reverse the pump for 0.2 seconds to remove the residual pressure in the supply line. By removing the residuals pressure, syrup in the supply line is prevented from oozing out of the valve apparatus and into the mixing chamber.