Abstract: Cooking apparatus having first and second platens with product recognition. A positioning mechanism moves the second platen toward the first. A detector senses the second platen making contact with a food product disposed on the first platen and provides a signal. A controller uses the signal to measure the travel distance of the second platen. The product thickness is a function of the travel distance, which is used to select a cooking procedure for the food product. The controller then executes the selected cooking procedure to cook the food product. The detector can include a micro switch, proximity sensor, touch sensor, strain sensor, thermal sensor, optical sensor, sonar sensor or positioning load change sensor.

Abstract: A cooking device and method for removal of contaminants from an air stream that circulates in the cooking device. The cooking device includes a fan that operates to circulate the air stream in a path that includes a cooking chamber and a heating chamber of the cooking device. A catalytic material is disposed on one or more surfaces of a structure that is disposed in close proximity to the fan, such as about the periphery of the fan. The structure may include honeycomb, laminar or finned arrangements.

Abstract: A toploading weighing instrumentality which determines loss on drying by a cylindrical microwave.

Abstract: A toploading weighing instrumentality which determines loss on drying by a cylindrical microwave. The cylindrical cavity of the microwave includes a power supply, a magnetron, a power module operatively coupled between said power supply and said magnetron for driving said magnetron, a wave guide communicating with the magnetron and with a microwave containment chamber for delivering energy thereto, at least one microwave energy sensor for sensing microwave energy or magnetic and/or electric field strength within the chamber for controlling, inter alia, the loss on drying process of the sample being assayed and determining when the drying process is complete. A precision electronic balance is operatively disposed within the microwave chamber for allowing a specimen being assayed to be weighed. In addition, a ventilation chamber is provided for venting moisture from the microwave chamber.

Abstract: A toploading weighing apparatus which determines weight loss for a sample by drying the sample in a cylindrical microwave with a specific structure.