Abstract: A toaster heating assembly (55A, 55B) including: a frame (60); a panel (65) at least partly supported by the frame (60); a spacer (80) mounted to the panel (65); and an elongate heating element (93) having a plurality of spaced apart elongate heating element portions (95) supported by the spacer (80), so that the spacer (80) is located between the plurality of heating element portions (95) and the panel (65) to provide a gap (94) between the plurality of heating element portions (95) and the panel (65).

Abstract: A liquid heating appliance for making a beverage, the liquid heating appliance comprising: a plurality of heating components for heating a liquid, where at least a first of the plurality of heating components is powered using mains power, a power management system, wherein the power management system comprises: a controller, and an energy storage device, wherein the controller is arranged to: control an amount of the mains power applied to the first of the plurality of heating components, control an amount of stored power from the energy storage device to be applied to at least a second of the plurality of heating components, and switch polarity of the voltage of the stored power from the energy storage device to be applied to the second of the plurality of heating components after one or more heating cycles associated with the second of the plurality of heating components.

Abstract: An appliance (210) to heat a liquid, the appliance (21) including: a vessel (212) to receive the liquid to be heated, the vessel (212) having a generally central upright longitudinal axis (218), a bottom housing (220), and a side wall (222) extending upwardly from the bottom housing (220), with a portion of the bottom housing (220) and side wall (222) at least partly enclosing a chamber (234) within which the liquid is heated; and a heating element (238) in thermal communication with the chamber (234) so that heat generated by the element (238) can be delivered to the liquid via convection, wherein the housing (210) includes a deformable sealing member (268) sealingly associated with the element (238) to sealingly connect the element (238) and bottom housing (220), with the member (268) inhibiting transmission of sound from the chamber (234).

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a toaster (10) including: a housing (12); a pair of opposing food guards (24a, 24b) located within the housing (12) and defining a toasting cavity (25a, 25b) for receiving foodstuff to be toasted; a pair of heating elements (28) located within the housing (12), each heating element (28) being located on a respective side of the pair of food guards (24a, 24b), wherein each food guard (24a, 24b) is spaced from the corresponding heating element (28) by a clearance (81); and wherein each food guard (24a, 24b) has an upwardly-extending portion (75c, 75d) that extends upwardly to a portion (75a, 75b) that extends transversely from the upwardly-extending portion so as to extend above the corresponding heating element (28), the transversely-extending portion (75a, 75b) of each food guard (24a, 24b) projecting away from the opposing food guard (24a, 24b).

Abstract: An appliance for making a beverage comprising: a conduit defining a liquid flow path for the liquid; a pump to move the liquid under pressure along the flow path and configured to operate in a first mode and a second mode, different to the first mode, a sensor assembly configured to determine a first flow rate of the liquid in the flow path when the pump operates in the first mode and determine a second flow rate when the pump operates in the second mode; and a controller operatively coupled with the pump and the sensor assembly and configured to cause the pump to switch from the first mode to the second mode if the first flow rate is below a first threshold and to cause the pump to switch from the second mode to the first mode if the second flow rate is above a second threshold. In the second mode, the pump causes the liquid to move under increased pressure than in the first mode to at least aid in resolving cavitation. A method of controlling the appliance to make a beverage is also disclosed.

Abstract: A toaster heating assembly (55A, 55B) including: a frame (60); a panel (65) at least partly supported by the frame (60); a spacer (80) mounted to the panel (65); and an elongate heating element (93) having a plurality of spaced apart elongate heating element portions (95) supported by the spacer (80), so that the spacer (80) is located between the plurality of heating element portions (95) and the panel (65) to provide a gap (94) between the plurality of heating element portions (95) and the panel (65).

Abstract: An energy management system (401) for a kitchen appliance (201), the energy management system (401) comprising: a mains power system, a backup energy storage system (405), and a con-troller (411), wherein the controller (411) is arranged to: determine a state of health of the energy storage system; determine a state of charge of the energy storage system; determine how energy from the energy storage system is to be used based on the determined state of health, the determined state of charge and at least one measured variable obtained from a kitchen appliance (201), and apply the energy to operate at least one function of the kitchen appliance (201).

Abstract: A toaster (103) having a side wall (10) with a reflective surface (16) to reflect radiant heat towards a toasting chamber (13), and an external surface to which there is attached a sensor assembly (12). The sensor assembly (12) provides a source beam to illuminate part of the product and receives a reflected beam that is received by a sensor, with the sensor providing a signal indicative of a property of the reflected beam and therefore a chromatic property of the product.

Abstract: An appliance (100, 200) for heating a liquid to make a beverage, the appliance (1) including: a sensor assembly (10) including: a duct (12) having an inlet (18) and an outlet (20), the duct (12) defining a liquid flow path (21) between the inlet (18) and the outlet (20) for the liquid; a sensor (22) having an operative end portion (28) in the flow path (21) for measuring line parameters of the liquid in the flow path (21); and a nozzle (34) to receive water under pressure and direct a water jet transverse to the flow path (21) and towards the operative end portion (28) of the sensor (22) to at least aid in cleaning the operative end portion (28) of the sensor (22).

Abstract: An appliance (210) to heat a liquid, the appliance (21) including: a vessel (212) to receive the liquid to be heated, the vessel (212) having a generally central upright longitudinal axis (218), a bottom housing (220), and a side wall (222) extending upwardly from the bottom housing (220), with a portion of the bottom housing (220) and side wall (222) at least partly enclosing a chamber (234) within which the liquid is heated; and a heating element (238) in thermal communication with the chamber (234) so that heat generated by the element (238) can be delivered to the liquid via convection, wherein the housing (210) includes a deformable sealing member (268) sealingly associated with the element (238) to sealingly connect the element (238) and bottom housing (220), with the member (268) inhibiting transmission of sound from the chamber (234).

Abstract: A liquid heating appliance for making a beverage, the liquid heating appliance comprising: a plurality of heating components for heating a liquid, where at least a first of the plurality of heating components is powered using mains power, a power management system, wherein the power management system comprises: a controller, and an energy storage device, wherein the controller is arranged to: control an amount of the mains power applied to the first of the plurality of heating components, control an amount of stored power from the energy storage device to be applied to at least a second of the plurality of heating components, and switch polarity of the voltage of the stored power from the energy storage device to be applied to the second of the plurality of heating components after one or more heating cycles associated with the second of the plurality of heating components.

Abstract: A kettle (10) comprising: a hollow body (14) having a bottom wall (16) and a side wall (18) extending upwardly from the bottom wall (16) to a rim (19), with the side wall (18) surrounding a cavity (22) to receive water to be heated, the bottom wall (16) having an inner surface (17) facing the cavity (22), the inner surface (17) having an area; and a heating element (32) in thermal communication with the bottom wall (16) to thereby heat the water, the heating element (32) occupying a horizontal area that is at least 30% of the inner surface area (17).

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a toaster (10) including: a housing (12); a pair of opposing food guards (24a, 24b) located within the housing (12) and defining a toasting cavity (25a, 25b) for receiving foodstuff to be toasted; a pair of heating elements (28) located within the housing (12), each heating element (28) being located on a respective side of the pair of food guards (24a, 24b), wherein each food guard (24a, 24b) is spaced from the corresponding heating element (28) by a clearance (81); and wherein each food guard (24a, 24b) has an upwardly-extending portion (75c, 75d) that extends upwardly to a portion (75a, 75b) that extends transversely from the upwardly-extending portion so as to extend above the corresponding heating element (28), the transversely-extending portion (75a, 75b) of each food guard (24a, 24b) projecting away from the opposing food guard (24a, 24b).

Abstract: A toaster (103) having a side wall (10) with a reflective surface (16) to reflect radiant heat towards a toasting chamber (13), and an external surface to which there is attached a sensor assembly (12). The sensor assembly (12) provides a source beam to illuminate part of the product and receives a reflected beam that is received by a sensor, with the sensor providing a signal indicative of a property of the reflected beam and therefore a chromatic property of the product.