Abstract: A temperature-regulating appliance includes a top portion, a base, and a mounting adapter. The top portion has an upper surface and a lower surface. The top portion is configured to be mounted to a countertop. The base includes a housing defining an internal compartment and a thermal element disposed within the internal compartment of the housing. The mounting adapter extends from the lower surface of the top portion to the housing. The mounting adapter detachably couples the base to the top portion.

Abstract: A temperature-regulating unit includes a base, a thermal element, a contactless sensing assembly, and a controller. The base is configured to support at least one of a pan or a food product. The thermal element is positioned to thermally regulate the at least one of the pan or the food product. The contactless sensing assembly is positioned to acquire sensor data regarding the at least one of the pan or the food product. The controller is configured to receive the sensor data from the contactless sensing assembly and adaptively control the thermal element based on the sensor data.

Abstract: A heating unit includes a housing defining a thermal cavity, a reflector assembly disposed within the thermal cavity, and a heating element disposed within the thermal cavity. The reflector assembly includes a first reflector coupled to an interior surface of the housing and a second reflector coupled to the first reflector. The first reflector is spaced from the interior surface forming a first air gap therebetween and the second reflector is spaced from the first reflector forming a second air gap therebetween. The heating element is at least partially surrounded by the reflector assembly.

Abstract: A heating unit includes a housing defining a thermal cavity and has a first longitudinal edge and an opposing second longitudinal edge, a reflector assembly disposed within the thermal cavity, a heating element, and a lighting element. The housing defines a vent positioned at least one of laterally between a central longitudinal plane of the housing and the first longitudinal edge and laterally between the central longitudinal plane and the opposing second longitudinal edge. The reflector assembly is coupled to an interior surface of the housing. A spacer is positioned between the reflector assembly and the interior surface forming an air gap therebetween. The heating element extends within the central longitudinal plane and is at least partially surrounded by the reflector assembly. The lighting element is positioned along at least one of the first longitudinal edge and the opposing second longitudinal edge such that the vent is positioned laterally between the lighting element and the heating element.

Abstract: A thermal management unit includes a panel and a cooling element. The panel is manufactured from a thermally conductive metallic material. The cooling element is configured to perform a cooling operation. The cooling element is positioned to selectively cool the panel.

Abstract: A heating and cooling unit includes a panel, a heating assembly configured to heat the panel as part of a heating operation, and a cooling assembly configured to cool the panel as part of a cooling operation. The heating assembly includes a first plate disposed along a first side of the panel, the first plate having a body that defines a slot. The heating assembly further includes a heating element disposed within the slot. The cooling assembly includes a second plate coupled to the first plate and a cooling element coupled to the second plate. The panel, the heating assembly, and the cooling assembly are arranged in a stacked configuration with the heating assembly between the panel and the cooling assembly.

Abstract: A food pan well includes a base defining an internal cavity and a temperature regulating system disposed within the internal cavity. The temperature regulating system includes an internal enclosure and at least one of a cooling assembly and a warming assembly. The internal enclosure is positioned within the internal cavity. The internal enclosure includes a bottom wall and a sidewall that extends around a periphery of the bottom wall. The bottom wall and the sidewall cooperatively define a temperature regulated cavity. The base is configured to support one or more food pans such that the one or more food pans are selectively suspendable within the temperature regulated cavity. The cooling assembly is positioned to facilitate cooling at least one of the one or more food pans and the warming assembly is positioned to facilitate warming at least one of the one or more food pans.

Abstract: A food preparation appliance includes a processing mechanism, a thermal element, a sensor positioned to acquire identifying data regarding identifying characteristics of a food product to be processed by the food preparation appliance, and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to receive the identifying data from the sensor, identify a type of the food product based on the identifying data, and automatically set a predefined operating parameter of at least one of the processing mechanism and the thermal element to provide target processing of the food product based on the type and the identifying characteristics.

Abstract: A toaster includes a housing, a conveyor configured to support food products, a motor configured to drive the conveyor to move the food products through the housing, a heating element disposed adjacent the conveyor and configured to emit thermal energy toward the food products as the food products are moved through the housing, a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature within the housing, and a controller operatively coupled to the temperature sensor and configured to control the motor to drive the conveyor at a conveyor speed. The controller is configured to store the sensed temperature within the housing as a function of time and calculate a derivative of the sensed temperature with respect to time. The controller is configured to vary the conveyor speed based on a value of the derivative.

Abstract: A conveyor oven comprising a housing defining a cook chamber and a heating element adjacent the cook chamber. A controller is programmed to control a cook time based upon a current estimated temperature in the oven, wherein the current estimated temperature is a function of a heat power input during a previous time period and can also be a function of a previous estimated temperature. The oven can further include a conveyor and a motor coupled to the conveyor, wherein the controller is programmed to control a cook time of the conveyor. The controller can also be programmed to control the cook time based upon a product loading condition. The oven can further include a presence sensor for detecting the presence of food in the oven and for providing a corresponding signal. Preferably, the calculation is an eye calculation that is a function of a previous eye calculation.