Abstract: The toaster oven of the present invention includes a housing having an internal heating compartment, an upper heating element and a lower heating element. The upper heating element and the lower heating element are independently controllable between zero power and full power in dependence upon a user-selected operating mode.

Abstract: A compacting auger for ground coffee has an automatic cut off that responds to either timing signals or to the torque resistance to the augur offered by the coffee that has been compacted. The automation of the cut off increases the consistency of compaction and reduces the amount of skill required to compact ground coffee for making espresso.

Abstract: The invention proposes a device for preparing a beverage from a food substance contained in a capsule (24) by injection of a liquid into the capsule (24), wherein said liquid is provided by a pump (70) of the device, said device comprising an extraction head (20) having an aperture (22) for inserting a capsule-holder (30) providing the capsule (24) to a capsule-holder receiving chamber (25) of the device, a closing mechanism (21) to selectively enclose said capsule (24) in the capsule-holder receiving chamber (25), at least one injection member (11) to supply a liquid received from the pump (70) to the inside of the capsule (24), a control unit (80) for controlling at least the pump (70) of the device, and decoding means (1) connected to the control unit (80) and designed to read information from the capsule-holder (30).

Abstract: Aging of alcoholic beverages is expedited by increasing the exposed surface area of wood by introducing multiple wooden surfaces, improving mixing by reducing the spacing between wooden surfaces, maintaining the temperature of alcoholic beverage to optimal level and reducing the cost or production by working with larger volumes at a time.

Abstract: A container-processing apparatus includes a pasteurizer with plural zones, and a transport element. The zones, which follow one another in a transport direction, include a preheating set, a cooling set, and pasteurizing set. The transport element moves containers through the sets, where they are subjected to a treatment medium at different treatment temperatures. Treatment temperatures in zones in the preheating set rise in steps from zone to zone. In the pasteurizing set, treatment temperature is maintained at or above pasteurizing temperature. In the cooling set, treatment temperatures decrease in steps zone to zone. The transport element transports containers in the pasteurizer at a changeable transport speed that is subject to continuous control.

Abstract: The invention proposes a device for preparing a beverage from a food substance contained in a capsule (24) by injection of a liquid into the capsule (24), wherein said liquid is provided by a pump (70) of the device, said device comprising an extraction head (20) having an aperture (22) for inserting a capsule-holder (30) providing the capsule (24) to a capsule-holder receiving chamber (25) of the device, a closing mechanism (21) to selectively enclose said capsule (24) in the capsule-holder receiving chamber (25), at least one injection member (11) to supply a liquid received from the pump (70) to the inside of the capsule (24), a control unit (80) for controlling at least the pump (70) of the device, and decoding means (1) connected to the control unit (80) and designed to read information from the capsule-holder (30).

Abstract: A delivery head for a beverage preparation machine comprising a movable first part, a fixed second part and a cartridge guide; the first part being movable between an open position and a clamping position; the cartridge guide being operatively engaged with the first part and slidably movable relative to the second part between a loading position and a dispensing position; the cartridge guide being located in the loading position when the first part is in the open position so as to enable loading of a cartridge into the cartridge guide; wherein on movement of the first part into the clamping position the cartridge guide is slidable into the dispensing position due to the operative engagement of the cartridge guide with the first part.

Abstract: A mobile welding system that does not rely exclusively on a track to define the path of the welder.

Abstract: A beverage preparation machine for dispensing beverages comprising: a housing; a first reservoir station; a first reservoir for containing an aqueous medium, the first reservoir being connectable to said first reservoir station; an auxiliary module station for receiving an auxiliary module.

Abstract: A forced hot air roller conveyor drying assembly is provided. It consists primarily of two parts; a roller conveyor for rolling cylindrical elongated food members while transporting them horizontally from one end of the conveyor to the other, and a hot air drying assembly for blowing hot air around the product as it is being rolled. The combined rolling of the product and the drying of the product helps ensure that the physical roundness of the food product remains nice and uniform while it is being uniformly dried. The forced hot air assembly may include a fan and heating elements, the fan directing warm air to the product rolling horizontally through the assembly and the roller conveyor may be comprised of a multiplicity of paired roller members driven by chain links, which chains are in turn driven by an axle engaging a drive sprocket.

Abstract: The cake making implement may be used to simultaneously smooth icing on a top surface and a side surface of a cake. The cake making implement may include a top smoother and a side smoother. The top smoother may be adapted to smooth the top surface of the cake. The side smoother may be adapted to smooth the side surface of the cake up to the top surface.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an assembly for selectively aerating a liquid including a base member a reservoir adapted to receive the liquid. The assembly also includes a support member non-rotatably coupled to the base member and a diverter member coupled to the support member and rotatable between a first diverter position and a second diverter position. The diverter member has at least one primary aperture and at least one secondary aperture. The assembly additionally includes an aerator member non-rotatably secured to the diverter member, the aerator member having an aeration aperture. In the first diverter position, a portion of the liquid in the reservoir flows through the primary aperture. In the second diverter position, a portion of the liquid in the reservoir flows through the secondary aperture, and though the aeration aperture.

Abstract: Provided is a method for obtaining a cooking vessel comprising the following steps: producing a container having an aluminum outer face and an inner face, carrying out hard anodization of at least the outer face of the container. At least one coloring step is carried out on the anodized outer face following hard anodization, said coloring step employing at least one water-soluble anthraquinone organic dye. Also provided is a culinary article or an electric cooking appliance comprising a cooking vessel obtained by the above method.

Abstract: A system for dosing coffee beans, comprising a coffee bean package provided with walls enclosing an inner space for coffee beans, a coffee bean outlet for delivering coffee beans, and a coupling part for coupling and uncoupling the coffee bean package with an apparatus that is provided with a coffee bean grinder, and an at least partly movably arranged coffee bean receiving device for supplying coffee beans from the coffee bean package to the grinder, which coffee bean receiving device is provided with a dosing space for being capable of containing a predetermined dose of coffee beans, wherein the coffee bean package prior to use in itself is closed off such that exposure of the coffee beans to ambient air is prevented, and the coffee bean receiving device is arranged to be guided through the coffee bean outlet into the inner space of the coffee bean package for letting coffee beans from the coffee bean package into the dosing space, and to guide the dosing space through the coffee bean outlet out of the inne

Abstract: A vacuum container and/or pump system may include a rounded rectangular base container with opening at a top to receive foodstuffs, adapted with an edge; an optional cover having at least two locking latches adapted to couple to the edge, the cover to close the opening of the container, the cover including: a circular vacuum tubular opening forming a cylindrical hole through the cover, and a cross-shaped notch on the inner cross-section of the tube, through which at least a portion of a plug is received and disposed when evacuating air, and optionally the cover may include a spinner, chopper, and/or twist/lock cap (coupling plug to container) to prevent loss of vacuum of the container (when cap has been twisted in locked position). A vacuum bag may include an opening; resealable fastener; hole for evacuating air with pump; cap for covering hole; and removable clip for easing closure.

Abstract: An automated system for brewing and dispensing a brewed beverage is provided including a beverage brewing apparatus configured to dispense the brewed beverage into a container. A user interface is disposed with said beverage brewing apparatus. The user interface includes at least one iced beverage user input directed to preparation of the brewed beverage when the brewed beverage is to be dispensed over ice. A controller is operably coupled to the user interface and the beverage brewing apparatus. The controller is programmable to compensate for dilution of the brewed beverage in the container.

Abstract: A machine is provided for preparing a desired product from a capsule containing desired ingredients. The machine includes a brew chamber that is adapted to hold the capsule at a downward angle relative to a horizontal plane. A cover for the brew chamber is adapted to move between an open position and a closed position. A loading mechanism is provided for extending and retracting the brew chamber. An injection system is provided for injecting a fluid into the capsule. A fluid transfer system is provided for transferring a desired fluid from a fluid source to the injection system. A dispensing system is provided for dispensing product to a receptacle. A reusable capsule is also provided for use with the machine.

Abstract: A heating cooker includes a container for containing an object to be heated, a stirrer for stirring the object inside the container, and a stirring controller for controlling a stirring operation of the stirrer. In cooking the object under stirring by the stirrer, the stirring controller determines a state of the object from at least one of a cooking menu to be executed and a heating time, and controls at least one of a stirring speed, a stirring-operation timing and a stirring direction of the stirrer in accordance with the state of the object. Thus, the heating cooker can perform proper stirring suited to a mixed state and/or viscosity of ingredients during the cooking process.

Abstract: A system and method to address the shortcomings of previous and existing designs by incorporating novel and unique features allowing the invention to perform well for a wide variety of popular dishes and meal solutions. Some embodiments of the present invention include a kitchen countertop barrel cooker which rotate bite size or smaller food ingredients around a horizontal axis and use a unique tumbler blade design which also rotates food around perpendicular horizontal axes resulting in thorough mixing and equalization of temperature throughout. The resulting uniform temperature allows readings from a non-contact infrared sensor to be relevant and effective for automatically assessing and controlling doneness. The embodiments vary primarily in how ingredients are handled. Each allows the draining of unwanted liquid from the ingredient contents during cooking or before unloading.

Abstract: A beverage preparation machine (1) comprises: an arrangement (40) for processing one or more beverage ingredients to dispense a beverage; a control unit (21) connected to the ingredient processing arrangement for controlling the processing of such one or more beverage ingredients; and a communication module (11) for communication with an external network (50, 511). The communication module (11) is prevented from controlling the ingredient processing arrangement (40).