Abstract: A method of controlling a cooking apparatus includes identifying an initial thickness of a food product on a lower heating plate of the cooking apparatus and calculating a difference between an initial gap value corresponding to the initial thickness of the food product and a predefined final gap value. The method includes controlling at least one of a pressure of at least one of an upper heating plate and a lower heating plate on the food product, a rate of descent of the upper heating plate toward the lower heating plate, and a rate of ascent of the lower heating plate toward the upper heating plate based on the calculated difference between the initial gap value and the predefined final gap value.

Abstract: A method of controlling a cooking apparatus includes identifying an initial thickness of a food product on a lower heating plate of the cooking apparatus and calculating a difference between an initial gap value corresponding to the initial thickness of the food product and a predefined final gap value. The method includes controlling at least one of a pressure of at least one of an upper heating plate and a lower heating plate on the food product, a rate of descent of the upper heating plate toward the lower heating plate, and a rate of ascent of the lower heating plate toward the upper heating plate based on the calculated difference between the initial gap value and the predefined final gap value.

Abstract: A method of controlling a cooking apparatus includes identifying an initial thickness of a food product on a lower heating plate of the cooking apparatus and calculating a difference between an initial gap value corresponding to the initial thickness of the food product and a predefined final gap value. The method includes controlling at least one of a pressure of at least one of an upper heating plate and a lower heating plate on the food product, a rate of descent of the upper heating plate toward the lower heating plate, and a rate of ascent of the lower heating plate toward the upper heating plate based on the calculated difference between the initial gap value and the predefined final gap value.

Abstract: A method of controlling a cooking apparatus includes identifying an initial thickness of a food product on a lower heating plate of the cooking apparatus and calculating a difference between an initial gap value corresponding to the initial thickness of the food product and a predefined final gap value. The method includes controlling at least one of a pressure of at least one of an upper heating plate and a lower heating plate on the food product, a rate of descent of the upper heating plate toward the lower heating plate, and a rate of ascent of the lower heating plate toward the upper heating plate based on the calculated difference between the initial gap value and the predefined final gap value.

Abstract: A pressure fryer includes a cooking well having a conical bottom and a substantially vertical sidewall extending upwardly from the conical bottom. A series of vertical fins is mounted to the sidewall. The vertical fins are spaced from one another and a series of undulating fins are mounted between the vertical fins. A heat shield surrounds the cooking well and vertical and undulating fins. The heat shield has an upper wall extending to the cooking well and an outer cover that covers the heat shield and defines an exhaust gas chamber between the outer cover and the heat shield. The fryer includes a multi-shelf rack system and a lift operably connected to the multi-shelf rack system.

Abstract: A pressure fryer includes a cooking vessel having a cooking well having a conical bottom and a substantially vertical sidewall extending upwardly from the conical bottom. A series of vertical fins are mounted to the sidewall and spaced from one another. A series of undulating fins are mounted between the vertical fins. The pressure fryer further includes filter system having a filter vessel having a body, an inlet, an outlet and a vent line. An outer basket is disposed in the body and an inner basket is disposed in the outer basket. Sidewalls of the outer and inner basket having openings therein. A filter media is disposed between the inner basket and the outer basket. A method for filtering used cooking oil in a pressure fryer is also disclosed.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus includes a base including a lower heating plate and upper heating unit including an upper heating plate and a cleaning structure configured to move a cleaning blade along at least one of the lower heating plate and the upper heating plate. The apparatus also includes a control circuit configured to control movement of the cleaning blade across the one of the lower heating plate and the upper heating plate.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus includes a base including a lower heating plate an upper heating unit including an upper heating plate and a cleaning structure configured to move a cleaning blade along at least one of the lower heating plate and the upper heating plate. The apparatus also includes a control circuit configured to control movement of the cleaning blade across the one of the lower heating plate and the upper heating plate.

Abstract: A cooking system includes a first cooking apparatus including a first base and a first upper heating unit. The first base has a first lower heating plate and the first upper heating unit has a first upper heating plate. The first upper heating unit is moveable to bring the first upper heating plate towards the first lower heating plate. The first base includes a mounting surface configured to receive a plurality of interchangeable lower heating plates including the first lower heating plate and the first upper heating plate is one of a plurality of interchangeable upper heating plates.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus includes a base including a lower heating plate an upper heating unit including an upper heating plate and a cleaning structure configured to move a cleaning blade along at least one of the lower heating plate and the upper heating plate. The apparatus also includes a control circuit configured to control movement of the cleaning blade across the one of the lower heating plate and the upper heating plate.

Abstract: A method of controlling a cooking apparatus includes identifying an initial thickness of a food product on a lower heating plate of the cooking apparatus and calculating a difference between an initial gap value corresponding to the initial thickness of the food product and a predefined final gap value. The method includes controlling at least one of a pressure of at least one of an upper heating plate and a lower heating plate on the food product, a rate of descent of the upper heating plate toward the lower heating plate, and a rate of ascent of the lower heating plate toward the upper heating plate based on the calculated difference between the initial gap value and the predefined final gap value.

Abstract: A heating apparatus includes a first heating plate (212) configured to contact a first side of an object to heat the object and a second heating plate (222) configured to contact a second side of the object opposite the first side to heat the object. The heating apparatus also includes an actuator assembly (214, 215, 216, 217) configured to move the at least one of the first heating plate and the second heating plate linearly along a first axis and to move the first heating plate rotationally along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis and rotationally along a third axis perpendicular to the first axis and the second axis.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus includes a base including a lower heating plate and an upper heating unit including an upper heating plate. The cooking apparatus includes a robotic arm connected to the upper heating unit to move the upper heating plate between at least a cooking position adjacent to the lower heating plate and a non-cooking position separated from the lower heating plate based on a control program.

Abstract: A cooking system includes a first cooking apparatus including a first base and a first upper heating unit. The first base has a first lower heating plate and the first upper heating unit has a first upper heating plate. The first upper heating unit is moveable to bring the first upper heating plate towards the first lower heating plate. The first base includes a mounting surface configured to receive a plurality of interchangeable lower heating plates including the first lower heating plate and the first upper heating plate is one of a plurality of interchangeable upper heating plates.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus includes a base including a lower heating plate, an upper heating unit including an upper heating plate and a mounting structure configured to support the upper heating unit, where the mounting structure includes a motor mounting part. The cooking apparatus includes two or more motors configured to control an angle of the upper heating plate with respect to at least two axes that cross each other by controlling a length of wire extending between the two or more motors and the upper heating plate. The cooking apparatus also includes at least one sensor configured to detect an angle of the upper heating plate and a controller configured to receive from the at least one sensor a signal corresponding to the angle of the upper heating plate and to automatically adjust the angle of the upper heating plate to correspond to a pre-defined plane.