Abstract: A grill has a base platter, a bell-shaped container, a heat diffuser, and a set of vertical skewers and baskets, with each of the skewers having a skewer rod for receiving a meat to be roasted and a handle located at one end of the rod, and each of the baskets having a middle rod and articulated baskets mounted on the middle rod, between which the meat to be roasted can be fixed, and a handle provided on one end of the middle rod, such that tips of rods of the skewers and the baskets are supported by braces of the base platter, intermediate extensions of the skewers and the baskets supporting the meat extend vertically along the bell-shaped container, and upper ends of the rods of the skewers of the baskets close to the handles remain coupled with the streaks of the upper wall of the bell-shaped container.

Abstract: A self-supporting field director for use in heating an article in a microwave oven is characterized by a plurality of vanes, each vane extending radially outwardly from a central axis and being angularly adjacent to two other vanes. The vanes are supported by a slotted central support member. Each vane has a substrate formed from an electrically non-conductive material. A portion of at least one of the first and second major surfaces is covered by an electrically conductive material.

Abstract: A control system and method that controls the processing, logging, visual display, and product tracking functions for thermal processing equipment includes one or more wireless temperature probes. The wireless temperature probes allow the system to obtain and process real time data information and provide real time control, logging, display and validation for thermal processing. The wireless temperature probes transmit a signal to a receiver through an antenna configured in the thermal processing equipment, and the receiver sends that information to a control panel. The control panel utilizes a graphical user interface with touch screen capabilities, an input/output device, a process and storage media to log and control the process implemented for the food product.

Abstract: A beverage machine comprising a drip tray device that can accommodate recipients of different heights. The drip tray device is formed of a collect tank and has a first drip support grid removably mounted on the tank for holding short recipients and has a second drip support for longer recipients such as a glass. The whole device is removable for ease of emptying and rinsing. In a possible mode, the first removable grid is provided with a gutter to evacuate liquid in a main collect reservoir.

Abstract: An infusion extractor is provided including a plunger to be inserted into an infusing container containing the infusion mixture that has vertical inner walls oriented parallel to a vertical axis of the container. The plunger includes a first surface with a seal situated at an edge of the surface. The seal is adapted for sealing against the inner walls of the infusing container as the plunger moves within the container, to define a first chamber containing the mixture of infusible material and extract. The plunger also includes a second surface extending from the first surface and defining a second chamber; the second surface includes extract flow openings which permit flow of extract from the first chamber into the second chamber. At least a portion of the extract flow openings are situated at a depth either above or below the first surface along the vertical axis.

Abstract: A tortilla warmer control system is disclosed for controlling preparation and dispensing of tortillas. The control system includes a control unit capable of receiving inputs from a user, and providing outputs. The control unit receives user inputs including: a frequency of heating sessions, a number of tortillas to be heated and dispensed during each heating session; and tortilla texture. The control unit provides outputs including: a speed at which tortillas are to be conveyed through a heating sub-system of the tortilla warmer, and/or a temperature to be provided during each heating session; and a heating session initiation signal. The user inputs received by the control unit can also include a selected rate at which the tortillas are to be dispensed during the heating session. The outputs provided by the control unit can also include a rate at which tortillas are introduced into the heating sub-system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hand tool for squeezing, chopping and pureeing food. The hand tool allows a user to chop, drain and/or puree food with one tool and can be used in conjunction with an ordinary bowl or colander. The hand tool of the present invention has a head portion having a convex pressing surface and a handle portion, allowing a user to grips the end of the handle and apply force directly over the pressing surface to squeeze food and/or expel moisture. A scraping edge allows the user to scrape food against the holes in a strainer or colander or to scrape particles from the sides of a bowl. A blade is attached to the head portion of the tool and can be used to chop and puree food.

Abstract: A dough preparing machine for preparing dough is provided. The dough preparing machine includes a dough batching system for assembling dry ingredients, a dough mixing device, and a dough compressing and dividing device. The dough preparing machine is operable to produce customizable and discrete loaves of dough for baking. The dough preparing machine gathers necessary ingredients for making dough, mixes the dough to a desired consistency, and divides the dough. The mixing device is configured to mix the dough in a bowl and transfer the dough to a container for compressing and dividing operations. The compressing and dividing device includes a first plate having a plurality of blocks and a second plate having a plurality of blades. The blades are configured to slide between the blocks after compressing operations and divide the dough.

Abstract: In described embodiments, a hot liquid extraction system includes a vessel, a controllable steam and water source external from the vessel which heats the liquid of the corresponding vessel, a filter assembly disposed within the vessel operable to filter and remove a solid from the brewed beverage, and a valve to dispense the filtered beverage from the base of the brew vessel. Some embodiments include one or more valves operable to regulate water flow and steam into the brewing vessel, and a filter operable to separate a brewed liquid from a flavor base and to remove a spent flavor base from the system. Some embodiments include processor control of the system, allowing for operation tailored to individual user requirements that might be downloaded to the processor through various wired and non-wired interfaces.

Abstract: A reusable self-supporting field director structure for use in heating an article in a microwave oven is characterized by an integral array of rigid vanes extending radially outwardly from a central axis, the vanes being molded from an electrically non-conductive heat-resistant material. At least a portion of one major surface of each vane has an electrically conductive material embedded thereinto. The electrically non-conductive heat-resistant material is either a polymeric resin (with an optional reinforcing matrix) or paperboard material. A plurality of bracing members, each extending between the first major surface of one vane and the second major surface of an adjacent vane, may be integrally molded into the field director structure.

Abstract: A reusable self-supporting field director useful for heating an article in a microwave oven is characterized by a plurality of vanes, each vane extending radially outwardly from a central axis and being angularly adjacent to two other vanes. The vanes are attached to each other at their inner ends. Each vane has a substrate formed from an electrically non-conductive material, and an electrically conductive sheath encasing the substrate so that a portion of the first and second major surfaces are covered by an electrically conductive material. The sheath is arranged on the substrate in a laterally symmetric fashion so that thermal expansion effects due to heating are equalized across the thickness of each vane.

Abstract: A system and process for steeping tea in a vessel is disclosed. The present invention incorporates the use of an infusing filter seated on or within a vessel and a lid or retaining mechanism to steep tea in water. The vessel has an retaining ledge that supports a mating infuser placed inside. The infuser seats in a stationery position on the mating ledge inside the vessel, offset from the center of the vessel, to allow for stirring, pouring or drinking of the resulting beverage without introducing the infusible material into the resulting steeped beverage product. The infuser comprises a filter element that holds the infusible material and allows contact with the water. The infusing filter is retained in its seated position in the cup, ether by a lid or positive locking mechanism that allows for the safe and convenient portage of the tea steeping assembly.

Abstract: An oven serves for heat-treating food pieces laid upon a grid in a cabinet by a heat source. The grid has an upper part of an endless chain running around a number of chain supports of which a lower and upper support defines a lower and upper end of the upper chain part. Portions of food pieces such as French fries can be quickly and easily heat-treated in rapid succession in this oven in a simple and economical manner.

Abstract: An improved brewing basket, and receptacles for receiving the basket, collectively forming an improved brewing apparatus. A siphon is received within the receptacle aperture and is covered by a shroud depending from the floor of the basket. The basket is elevated with respect to the receptacle, preferably supported predominantly by the siphon. The apparatus of the invention is quite flexible, and by permitting use of a single basket for loose and filter pack teas, the complexity of manufacturing and sales is reduced. Other advantageous features include a stainless steel insert to assist in containing the siphon within the shroud, retaining tabs within the shroud to help secure the siphon, and one or more, preferably three or more, protrusions extending upwardly from the floor of the basket to assist in keeping any infusion bags from lying flat on the floor of the basket, and thereby to promote infusion. Preferably, the shroud is integral with the basket floor and extends both above and below the floor.

Abstract: A coffee maker has a water reservoir, an in-line water heater, a brew basket for receiving coffee grounds, a water passage between the water reservoir and the brew basket, a water level sensor located in the water reservoir, a water level indicator, and a controller in communication with the water level sensor and the water level indicator. The passage passes through the in-line water heater for delivering heated water to the brew basket. The controller activates the water level indicator in response to a signal from the water level sensor. A method of making coffee in the coffee maker includes determining, in the controller, an operating condition for a coffee bean grinder and operating the coffee bean grinder based on the operating condition to grind coffee beans and produce a quantity of ground coffee beans.

Abstract: A device for preparing a beverage from a capsule containing an ingredient of the beverage, includes a housing with a cavity to which used capsules are evacuated; and a collection receptacle in the cavity of the housing. The receptacle has an opening for receiving the evacuated used capsules and collecting the capsules. The receptacle has a reception orientation in which the receptacle is arranged to be filled with capsules up to a maximum level of fill in the cavity which extends above the opening of the receptacle in the reception orientation of the receptacle. The receptacle being tiltable or pivotable in the cavity into a removal orientation for allowing removal of the collection receptacle filled with capsules from the cavity.

Abstract: A reusable self-supporting field director for use in heating an article in a microwave oven is characterized by a plurality of vanes, each vane extending radially outwardly from a central axis and being angularly adjacent to two other vanes. The vanes are attached to each other at their inner ends. Each vane has a substrate formed from an electrically non-conductive material and an electrically conductive wrapper that wraps the substrate so that a portion of the first and second major surfaces are covered and the radially outer end of each vane is wrapped by an electrically conductive material. The wrapper and the substrate are arranged in a laterally symmetric fashion so that thermal expansion effects due to heating are equalized across the thickness of each vane.

Abstract: A brewing device includes a brewing cylinder and a piston received in and reciprocally movable inside the brewing cylinder. The brewing device is connected to a water supply device that supplies a liquid to the brewing cylinder. The piston includes a piston head that is hollow and includes a bar mounted to an inside wall thereof and a piston rod that forms a pivot hole rotatably jointed to the bar to allow the bar to do movement. The piston rod forms a lid at a location close to the pivot hole that selectively sets the piston in a closed condition, whereby through change of position of the lid by the piston rod, the piston is switchably set in an open configuration and a closed configuration for readily controlling amount of water contained in the brewing cylinder to meet various conditions for different quantities of brewing water.

Abstract: A brewing device (1) for a coffee machine comprises a brewing cylinder (2) with a cylindrical bore (3), an upper piston (5) and a lower piston (4), by means of which the brewing cylinder (2) is able to be closed off to form a brewing chamber (6). The surface of the upper piston (5) and of the lower piston (4) facing the brewing chamber (6) is provided in each case with a sieve (11, 12), through which hot water is able to be conducted into the brewing chamber (6) or coffee is able to be discharged from the brewing chamber (6) in each case via a connecting channel (7, 8) provided in the respective piston (4, 5). At least one of the sieves (11, 12) is installed on a supporting structure (9, 10) that is placeable on one of the pistons (4, 5) and is lockable therewith. The respective supporting structure (9, 10) is provided with a connecting element (13, 14), which is connectable in a sealed way to the connecting channel (7, 8) of the respective piston (4, 5).

Abstract: A capsule (1) for the preparation of beverages within dispensing machines, has a sealing film (4) which is perforated at the time of the use when the pressurized infusion water is supplied to the capsule and deforms the film (4), bringing it into contact with underlying perforation means (6) fixed to the same capsule.