Abstract: A solid-fuel grilling device comprises a direct-current power source. A direct-current sensor is in communication with the direct-current power source. The direct-current sensor is configured to gather power characteristic data in relation to the direct-current power source. A solid-fuel grilling component is in communication with the direct-power source. The direct-power source provides power to the solid-fuel grilling component. A processor, in communication with the direct-current sensor, is configured to analyze the power characteristic data and determine operational health of solid-fuel grill components.

Abstract: An automated cooking system is provided for adding time and labor efficiencies in food production environments such as restaurants. The automated cooking system includes at least a fryer, a dispensing freezer, a hot holding station, a plurality of baskets, and a gantry system. The gantry system includes a gantry control for a gantry, configured to engage and move each of the baskets. A method for managing basket workflow during food preparation at an automated cooking system is described. Further, a method for managing basket workflow at a dispensing freezer during food preparation at an automated cooking system is described. The automated cooking system and methods provide repetition of basket loading and discharge cycles such that the gantry can fully manage and automate cooking using up to 6 or more baskets at the fryer, thereby maximizing food product throughput in the standard footprint space for the fryer.

Abstract: A cooking system includes a housing having at least one internal compartment and a cooking container receivable within said at least one internal compartment. A cooking volume is defined within an interior of said cooking container. A bottom surface of said cooking container is angled upwardly. A heating element is associated with said at least one internal compartment.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for forming tea using a tea material, the method includes providing a vessel comprising an internal space configured to receive a liquid, inserting a container assembly into the vessel, the container assembly configured to contain the tea material and allow the liquid to interact with the tea material when submerged within the liquid, injecting steam through a double-walled nozzle into the vessel to heat the liquid while maintaining an exterior surface of the steam nozzle below the temperature of the steam, and allowing the tea material to stew within the liquid to form the tea. There is also disclosed an apparatus for forming a tea configured to inject steam into a vessel to heat a liquid to be infused with a tea material, and a beverage cartridge for forming a tea to be deposited into the vessel.

Abstract: Device for heating milk or milk froth with steam in a steam/liquid mixer which is equipped with a tubular mixing chamber, at least one steam supply pipe and a milk/milk froth supply nozzle aligned in the longitudinal direction of the mixing chamber. The steam supply pipe operatively discharges steam into a steam supply chamber upstream of the mixing chamber and which is connected to the mixing chamber by steam inlet holes running around the milk/milk froth supply nozzle in the longitudinal direction of the mixing chamber. The steam supply holes are preferably aligned axially parallel to the center axis of the mixing chamber. This arrangement of the steam inlet holes brings about even and thorough mixing of the steam with the cold milk or the milk froth in the mixing chamber, and so optimal heating of the milk or the milk froth.

Abstract: A milk supply device for supplying milk from a milk supply container to a milk dispensing device is provided. The milk supply device comprises a milk transport line which can be connected to the milk supply container and with which milk which has been taken from the milk supply container can be delivered to the milk dispensing device. The milk supply device further comprises a three-way junction, which can be operated such that optionally milk can be transported from the milk supply container to the milk dispensing device, whilst the milk transport line is sealed off by it, at the same time, relative to the cleaning agent transport line, in a fluid-impermeable manner, or cleaning agent can be conducted from the cleaning agent transport line in the direction towards the milk dispensing device and/or in the direction towards a discharge of the milk supply device.

Abstract: An alcoholic beverage maturing device is provided including a container and an ultrasonic energy device. The container defines an interior volume for holding an alcoholic beverage and the ultrasonic energy device is configured for subjecting the alcohol beverage within the interior volume of the container to ultrasonic energy. The ultrasonic energy device defines a range of exposure of ultrasonic energy to the interior volume of the container that is greater than 180 degrees in order to efficiently subject the alcoholic beverage contained therein to ultrasonic energy.

Abstract: A welding tool includes a tool support and a welding torch coupled to the tool support. The welding tool is configured to rotate relative to the tool support about a welding axis. A locating device is coupled to the tool support and is movable between a retracted position and an extended position. In the extended position, the locating device extends toward the welding axis. The locating device includes a recess at an end of the locating device. The recess is configured such that, when a predetermined object to be welded (such as an anchor rod) is positioned at least partially within the recess of the locating device in the extended position, the welding axis passes through the object to be welded.

Abstract: A cooking system for cooking food is provided, the system including a housing defining a hollow chamber configured to receive a food container. The housing has an upper portion defining an opening to the hollow chamber. A lid is configured to cover the upper portion of the housing and the opening to the hollow chamber in a closed position. The lid is moveable to an open position where the lid does not cover the opening to the hollow chamber. At least one heating element is associated with at least one of the housing and the lid. The cooking system is operable in a plurality of modes including a pressure cooking mode and a dry cooking mode. In the pressure cooking mode, the cooking system is operable as a pressure cooker and in the dry cooking mode, the cooking system is operable as a dry cooker.

Abstract: Provided is an alimentary-product assembling and dispensing device comprising: a plurality of alimentary-ingredient dispensers positioned to dispense respective ingredients in a plurality of different locations of a robotic work environment; a robot configured to receive an open-top vessel from an open-top-vessel dispenser and move the open-top vessel to the different locations to receive different ingredients from the plurality of alimentary-ingredient dispensers, wherein the robot comprises four or fewer degrees of freedom; and a vending aperture through which consumers retrieve vended alimentary products assembled by the robot from ingredients dispensed from the plurality of alimentary-ingredient dispensers.

Abstract: A microwave heating device includes at least two radiating portions that are adapted to radiate microwaves to the heating chamber and can be operated according to a plurality of operational configurations that differ in frequency and/or in phase shift(s) between the radiated microwaves. Data of energy efficiency, as a function of operational configurations, can be obtained for a product in the heating chamber. For example, energy efficiency data are obtained through a learning procedure. The obtained data can be processed to select one or more operational configurations ranking high in energy efficiency and a heating procedure for the product inside the heating chamber can be executed by operating the at least two radiating portions according to the selected one or more operational configurations.

Abstract: Provided is a device, comprising: a barrier configured to impeded or prevent particles shed by a robot in a first volume of space from entering a second volume of space in which the robot manipulates a workpiece; and a robot having three or more degrees of freedom, the robot comprising: a first portion disposed on a first side of the barrier in the first volume, the first portion comprising an actuator of the robot, the actuator being configured to drive movement of the robot to manipulate the workpiece; and a second portion disposed on a second side of the barrier in the second volume, the second portion comprising an end-effector of the robot by which the robot makes contact with the workpiece.

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 deployable grill including a support frame having a support member operable between a stowed position and a deployed position. First and second brackets outwardly extend from the support member and are spaced-apart from one another to define a receiving area therebetween. A heating element is disposed on the support member adjacent to the receiving area. At least one spit rod is received in the receiving area.

Abstract: A swing/rotating gas metal arc welding torch, include a hollow shaft motor and a feeder panel. An upper extending shaft of the feeder panel penetrates through a brush mechanism, and is fixedly connected to a lower extension shaft of the hollow shaft by means of a coupling, and a lower extending shaft of the feeder panel penetrates through a support bearing mounted in a brush base and is then connected to an eccentric or bent conductive rod mechanism; the motor base is fixedly connected to the brush base by means of connecting screws, and a welding shielding gas is provided and welding torch cooling is achieved by means of inner holes of the connecting screws as well as a built-in gas passage and a cooling water passage of the brush base; the length of the conductive rod mechanism is adjusted by means of modulation or extension and retraction.

Abstract: This invention provides a coffee maker having: an upper structure with a filter (1) and a measurement chamber (2); the measurement chamber (2) has TDS sensor (8), a temperature sensor (9) and a fluid transfer system (7); a lower structure with a weight sensor (52); a plurality of connecting elements (4) enacting the upper structure above the lower structure; and carafe (6) to be placed between the upper structure and lower structure; and a display panel (51) showing data from the TDS sensor, temperature sensor, or weight sensor.

Abstract: An oven appliance may include a cabinet, a plurality of chamber walls, a cooking surface, a top heating element, a temperature sensor, and a controller. The cooking surface may be defined in a cooking chamber. The top heating element may be mounted above the cooking surface to heat the cooking chamber. The temperature sensor may be disposed within the cabinet. The controller may be configured to initiate a cooking operation that includes initiating preheat activation of the top heating element, receiving temperature signals from the temperature sensor during the preheat activation, determining a preheat threshold is met based on the received temperature signals, and initiating cooking activation of the top heating element based on a cooking cycle having a predetermined time interval subsequent to determining the preheat threshold is met. Initiating cooking activation may include directing the top heating element based on the cooking cycle for the predetermined time interval.

Abstract: A cooking appliance including a temperature sensing system having an upper housing having a first heating surface and a lower housing having a second heating surface includes a temperature sensing probe, a control panel and a control unit in electrical communication with the temperature sensing probe and the control panel. The temperature sensing probe is removably received by the upper housing and extends through the first heating surface. The control panel has one or more input buttons for allowing a user to select at least one input parameter including a desired internal temperature of a food item.

Abstract: The pot cover assembly includes a pot cover body and a spill-proof detection device. The spill-proof detection device is a capacitive detection device and it is provided on the pot cover body. At least a lower surface of the spill-proof detection device forms a detection plane and a capacitance value of the spill-proof detection device is changed as a function of a contact medium of the detection plane.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for a welding-type power system that includes an engine comprising a starter battery. An electric generator is turned by the engine. A power bus connects an output of the generator to a welding-type output. A sensor measures a power demand on the power bus. A controller is configured to control the engine to adjust speed in response to a measured power demand on the power bus, and to control a converter to connect the starter battery to output power to the power bus in response to the measured power demand.