Abstract: A cooking appliance, in particular a commercial cooking appliance, with a housing, in which a cooking chamber is arranged, which has a cooking chamber opening, which can be opened and closed using a cooking chamber door; with an optical system, which has at least one optical capturing device above the cooking chamber opening; and with a protection against contamination for the optical system, wherein the protection against contamination has a catching surface, which can be moved using a drive unit and which, seen in the capturing direction of the optical system, is arranged in front thereof.

Abstract: There are disclosed cooking devices and methods for automatically emptying the drain/waste water of such devices with minimal spillage of the drain/waste water. More particularly, disclosed are structures for automatically emptying the drain/waste water of cooking devices that employ a moveable collection device with minimal spillage of the drain/waste water. The cooking devices of the present disclosure provide increased safety by: reducing the possibility of a slippery floor; reducing the potential of food/food area contamination; and reducing the possibility of water penetrating building construction or causing mold growth. Also disclosed are methods of suing such devices and methods of retrofitting cooking devices with such means for automatically emptying the drain/waste water.

Abstract: A cleaning system for cleaning a cavity of food or beverage preparation device. The cavity is connected with a pipe system. The pipe system supplies a fluid through the pipe system to the cavity. When the fluid flow stops, any remainder of the fluid in the pipe system is removed by passing a gas (for example, air) through the pipe system or by a valve disposed at a high location of the pipe system.

Abstract: A system that provides notice of a lost signal. A wireless device and a control device employ radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, which uses radio frequency signals to communicate with one another via communication link having a reception range. The control device transmits a signal to the wireless device via the communication link. The wireless device responds by transmitting a return signal via the communication link. The control device processes the return signal to determine if the wireless device is within the reception range, if not, the control device provides an audible, written or visual alarm.

Abstract: There are disclosed cooking devices and methods for automatically emptying the drain/waste water of such devices with minimal spillage of the drain/waste water. More particularly, disclosed are structures for automatically emptying the drain/waste water of cooking devices that employ a moveable collection device with minimal spillage of the drain/waste water. The cooking devices of the present disclosure provide increased safety by: reducing the possibility of a slippery floor; reducing the potential of food/food area contamination; and reducing the possibility of water penetrating building construction or causing mold growth. Also disclosed are methods of suing such devices and methods of retrofitting cooking devices with such means for automatically emptying the drain/waste water.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatuses for grease separation during a cooking cycle of a food product in a cooking device. The methods and apparatuses perform grease separation by bifurcating the cooking cycle. In a first portion of the cooking cycle, in which the system is closed to ingress of the atmosphere by creating a water barrier in a collector box to seal a cooking chamber in which the food product is cooking, all cooking fluids exiting the cooking device pass into the water barrier. In a second portion of the cooking cycle, the collector box is emptied and the system is opened to capture all cooking fluids exiting the cooking device in the collector box. During the open portion, a grease/cooking fluid interface is monitored and the captured cooking fluids, containing a high percentage of grease, are pumped out of the collector box.

Abstract: A cleaning system for cleaning a cavity of food or beverage preparation device. The cavity is connected with a pipe system. The pipe system supplies a fluid through the pipe system to the cavity. When the fluid flow stops, any remainder of the fluid in the pipe system is removed by passing a gas (for example, air) through the pipe system or by a valve disposed at a high location of the pipe system.

Abstract: A method of operating a commercial cooking device with the following method steps: loading food products into a cooking chamber of the cooking device; starting an associated cooking program including starting to run a motor of a fan for circulating hot air and/or steam within the cooking chamber for the purpose of cooking the food products; and stopping the motor of the fan at a predetermined period of time before the associated cooking program is finalized.

Abstract: A switching device for controlling an industrial cooking apparatus having a cooking chamber that can be closed by means of a door having a movable door handle with a movable door latch attached to it, with a switch fixed to the housing and with a magnet for actuating the switch, the magnets being arranged in the movable door latch at a position that is positioned adjacent to the switch in a latched state of the door.

Abstract: A switching device for controlling an industrial cooking apparatus having a cooking chamber that can be closed by means of a door having a movable door handle with a movable door latch attached to it, with a switch fixed to the housing and with a magnet for actuating the switch, the magnets being arranged in the movable door latch at a position that is positioned adjacent to the switch in a latched state of the door.