Abstract: An appliance includes a cabinet, an interior cavity defined by the cabinet, a storage compartment positioned within the interior cavity that supports a temporarily stored item, a temperature control system, a gas detector, and a scanning apparatus that has at least one camera and is configured to record and store image data associated with a user's preference. The scanning apparatus conducts first and second data capturing phases. A difference between first and second data sets is analyzed to produce a current inventory manifest. The appliance also includes a weight scale and a controller. The controller evaluates a location of the temporarily stored item based on the image data and determines remaining contents of the temporarily stored item based on data from the weight scale. The controller determines a preferred air velocity for the storage compartment based upon data collected from the gas detector and the weight scale.

Abstract: An appliance includes a temperature control system, a light source, and a spectrometer. The spectrometer works in conjunction with the light source to obtain a measured value of a foodstuff. The measured value is at least one of an absorbance value, a transmittance value, and a reflectance value. The measured value from the foodstuff is compared to a reference value for the foodstuff.

Abstract: A particulate separating mechanism for an appliance includes a fluid inlet that receives an inlet fluid. The inlet fluid includes particulate matter. A labyrinth separator is positioned to generate a first turbulence of the fluid. The first turbulence separates a first portion of the particulate matter into a particulate collection portion. A main filter is positioned downstream of the labyrinth separator and has a constricting portion and opposing turbulence chambers that are vertically oriented to produce a second turbulence of the fluid. The second turbulence separates a second portion of the particulate matter from the fluid. A fluid outlet delivers the fluid having the first and second portions of the particulate matter removed into a processing chamber for processing articles.

Abstract: An appliance includes a temperature control system, a light source, and a spectrometer. The spectrometer works in conjunction with the light source to obtain a measured value of a foodstuff. The measured value is at least one of an absorbance value, a transmittance value, and a reflectance value. The measured value from the foodstuff is compared to a reference value for the foodstuff.

Abstract: A particulate separating mechanism for an appliance includes a fluid inlet that receives an inlet fluid. The inlet fluid includes particulate matter. A labyrinth separator is positioned to generate a first turbulence of the fluid. The first turbulence separates a first portion of the particulate matter into a particulate collection portion. A main filter is positioned downstream of the labyrinth separator and has a constricting portion and opposing turbulence chambers that are vertically oriented to produce a second turbulence of the fluid. The second turbulence separates a second portion of the particulate matter from the fluid. A fluid outlet delivers the fluid having the first and second portions of the particulate matter removed into a processing chamber for processing articles.

Abstract: An appliance includes a temperature control system, a light source, and a spectrometer. The spectrometer works in conjunction with the light source to obtain a measured value of a foodstuff. The measured value is at least one of an absorbance value, a transmittance value, and a reflectance value. The measured value from the foodstuff is compared to a reference value for the foodstuff.

Abstract: An appliance includes a temperature control system, a light source, and a spectrometer. The spectrometer works in conjunction with the light source to obtain a measured value of a foodstuff. The measured value is at least one of an absorbance value, a transmittance value, and a reflectance value. The measured value from the foodstuff is compared to a reference value for the foodstuff.