Abstract: The present invention provides a food and/or beverage item counting device to be provided in a food and/or beverage item provision system including a transport path that passes along a customer table to transport carriers each configured to allow a food and/or beverage item to be placed thereon, the food and/or beverage item counting device including: a first information acquiring unit disposed upstream of the table and configured to acquire information relating to each of the carriers on the transport path; a second information acquiring unit disposed downstream of the table and configured to acquire information relating to each of the carriers on the transport path; and a first calculating unit configured to calculate the number of the food and/or beverage items taken out from the transport path to the table, wherein each of the carriers is provided with identification information for identifying the carrier.

Abstract: The foodstuff assembly system can include: a robot arm, a frame, a set of foodstuff bins, a sensor suite, a set of food utensils, and a computing system. The system can optionally include: a container management system, a human machine interface (HMI). However, the foodstuff assembly system 100 can additionally or alternatively include any other suitable set of components. The system functions to enable picking of foodstuff from a set of foodstuff bins and placement into a container (such as a bowl, tray, or other foodstuff receptacle). Additionally or alternatively, the system can function to facilitate transferal of bulk material (e.g., bulk foodstuff) into containers, such as containers moving along a conveyor line.

Abstract: Example embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to food preparation systems and associated automated gantry systems. An example automated food preparation system may include a housing that supports one or more baskets therein and a gantry system. The gantry system may include a retrieval arm and a drive system operably coupled with the retrieval arm. The drive system may cause movement of the retrieval arm in at least two directions relative to the housing. In operation, the retrieval arm may engage a basket and cause movement of the basket about the housing. In some instances, an ejection mechanism is provided that receives the basket from the retrieval arm and causes removal of the contents of the basket.

Abstract: A distribution system, an information processing device, and a method that can manage a last time at which a human touched an article prior to the article being received, or can manage an amount of elapsed time from that last time. The distribution system 1 includes a first distribution mechanism 10 that includes a first transporter 11 that transports an article to a destination of the article. The distribution system 1 also includes a manager that manages a first time that is a time earlier than a receiving time at which the article transported by the first transporter 11 is received and that is a last time at which a human contacted the article, or manages a first amount of elapsed time that is an amount of elapsed time from the first time.

Abstract: The method and system disclosed herein presents a food preparation system that provides a user-friendly data collection and data annotation process that leverages crowd-sourced data to reduce the prohibitive costs associated with developing an extensive training set using dedicated cooking experiments and specialized manual annotation efforts. The food preparation system and corresponding method collect one or more data types (e.g., structured data such as temperature and weight data, and unstructured data such as images and thermal maps) and allow the collected data to be annotated by human users in order to provide information regarding the process of cooking, as well as food item identity, location, and/or outline information. A combination of image processing and user input is utilized in order to create models with food recognition and determining cooking progress.

Abstract: Provided is a cooking ingredient supplying device that allows easy removal and refilling of ingredient blocks. In a cooking ingredient supplying device in which a plurality of ingredient blocks M are placed on a tray and an ingredient feeding member is driven by a drive mechanism to sequentially feed and supply the ingredient blocks M from the ray in a temperature-retention cabinet body, the tray is provided so as to be pulled out from the temperature-retention cabinet body in a tray pull-out direction (Y direction) that intersects with an ingredient feed direction (X direction) by the ingredient feeding member.

Abstract: A system and method for estimating a time to foodstuff completion can include receiving a measured foodstuff parameter, determining a current foodstuff state based on: a previous foodstuff state and the measured foodstuff parameter, selecting a foodstuff parameter curve based on the current foodstuff state, determining an estimated time to completion using the foodstuff parameter curve.

Abstract: Controlling a heating process is provided. An image of a raw food item is captured. Using a generative model, synthesized images of the cooked food are generated at different levels of doneness based on the raw image. A selection of one of the synthesized cooked images is received. The food item is cooked to the levels of doneness corresponding to the one of the synthesized cooked images.

Abstract: According to one aspect, a method includes determining when a vehicle has arrived at a destination and performing a first authentication process when it is determined that the vehicle has arrived at the destination. The first authentication process being arranged to authenticate a first party to enable the first party to interact with the vehicle. The method also includes determining when the first party has successfully completed the first authentication process, performing a second process when it is determined that the first party has successfully completed the first authentication process, determining whether the second process is successfully completed, and enabling the first party to interact with the vehicle when it is determined that the second process is successfully completed. Performing the second process includes determining when the first party is present within the sensing zone. The first authentication process and the second process are contactless with respect to the vehicle.

Abstract: Provided are systems and processes for optimizing assignments of deliveries for perishable goods. In one aspect, a method is provided for pairing a set of created orders with a set of available couriers. The set of created orders may include orders confirmed by the merchant and the set of available couriers include couriers that are online with an active status. Feasible pairings are generated between each courier and each created order. Infeasible pairings are eliminated based on factors such as transportation mode. Possible routes for each pairing are generated and scored based on weighted factors. The scores are optimized to achieve a set of routes with a maximum score. The routes are then offered to the corresponding courier if the courier will arrive at or after the created order is completed by the merchant. A neural network may be implemented to recognize the optimal score for a given duration.

Abstract: A food processor for preparing a food includes a food preparation space with one or more devices for preparing the food in the food preparation space. The food processor also includes at least one interface for connecting the food processor to another household appliance and a user interface unit for providing user interfaces. The food processor includes a control unit for providing control programs and a communication unit for providing communication channels.

Abstract: An infrared source is arranged relative to support for bread product and operates to direct IR energy to the bread product. A light source is arranged relative to the support and operates to illuminate the bread product and a camera operates to capture images of the bread product. A processor receives the images from the camera. The processor compares successive images received from the camera. Based upon the comparison, the processor operates the IR source to achieve a predetermined toasting level of the bread product.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and articles to provide customized control of a cooking appliance, such as a sous vide cooker. A user provides a selection of one or more ending characteristics for a food product. A processor-based device determines one or more output food preparation parameters based on the user's selection of the one or more ending characteristics. Measurements of temperature, power delivery, or other characteristics may be obtained during cooking process. A cooking program controlling the cooking process may be revised or updated based at least in part on the obtained measurements or analysis of the measurements. Estimations or projections about the cooking process may be presented to a user via a user interface of the cooking appliance or a user interface of a computing device (e.g., smartphone) associated with the user.

Abstract: The foodstuff assembly system can include: a robot arm, a frame, a set of foodstuff bins, a sensor suite, a set of food utensils, and a computing system. The system can optionally include: a container management system, a human machine interface (HMI). However, the foodstuff assembly system 100 can additionally or alternatively include any other suitable set of components. The system functions to enable picking of foodstuff from a set of foodstuff bins and placement into a container (such as a bowl, tray, or other foodstuff receptacle). Additionally or alternatively, the system can function to facilitate transferal of bulk material (e.g., bulk foodstuff) into containers, such as containers moving along a conveyor line.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method (100) for operating a food processor (10), in which, in a preparation mode, at least one processor device (50) of said food processor (10) is actuated so as to prepare food at least partly automatically, wherein a monitoring device (200) determines detection values (106) by detecting (105), at said processor (10), at least two detection variables (102) specific to a state of preparation.

Abstract: A cook top includes an inputter configured to receive input of a user manipulation, and a cooker configured to heat a cooking device placed on the cook top. A communicator is configured to perform communication with a user terminal device and a range hood. A processor is configured to: control an operating state of the cooker according to the user manipulation, transmit a signal for controlling an operating state of the range hood to correspond to the operating state of the cooker to the range hood, and control the communicator to transmit state information of the cook top that includes information of the operating state of the cooker to the user terminal device.

Abstract: Temperature probe systems and methods include a probe body having a sharp end adapted to penetrate an edible substance, a plurality of temperature sensing elements distributed along a length of the probe body, electrical components operable to receive data signals from the plurality of temperature sensing elements, the electrical components disposed in the probe body between the sharp end and at least one of the temperature sensing elements, and an insertion aid. The electrical components may include wireless components to facilitate communications with a host cooking appliance, and the temperature sensing elements may be used to measure temperature and communicate the temperature measurements via the wireless components to the host cooking appliance. The insertion aid, the probe body, and the temperature sensing elements may include one or more heat resistant materials.

Abstract: An oven appliance may include a cabinet, a plurality of chamber walls, a cooking surface, a top heating element, a temperature sensor, and a controller. The cooking surface may be defined in a cooking chamber. The top heating element may be mounted above the cooking surface to heat the cooking chamber. The temperature sensor may be disposed within the cabinet. The controller may be configured to initiate a cooking operation that includes initiating preheat activation of the top heating element, receiving temperature signals from the temperature sensor during the preheat activation, determining a preheat threshold is met based on the received temperature signals, and initiating cooking activation of the top heating element based on a cooking cycle having a predetermined time interval subsequent to determining the preheat threshold is met. Initiating cooking activation may include directing the top heating element based on the cooking cycle for the predetermined time interval.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a food processor for preparing a food in a pot. The food processor comprises the pot, a heating element for heating the pot or a food in the pot, and a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature TSUR, TMED of the pot or a food in the pot. The food processor comprises a monitoring device which is configured such that the monitoring device can detect an exceeding of a boiling point SP of a food in the pot on the basis of a temperature measurement value TNTC(k) of the temperature sensor and an electrical measurement value u(k), which depends on an energy supply to the heating element. Furthermore, the present disclosure relates to a process and a computer program product. A food processor with boiling point detection can thus be made available with particularly low production effort.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an appliance. In one embodiment, the appliance has an enclosed structure which includes a first portion configured to receive one or more meal cartridges, and store and preserve the meal cartridges at a selected temperature range; a second portion; and transfer mechanism configured to transfer at least one meal cartridge in the first portion to the second portion within the enclosed structure in response to a command input for cooking the at least one meal cartridge. The second portion is configured to accept the at least one meal cartridge, receive a cooking instruction command including a cooking duration and temperature determined for the at least one meal cartridge, and cook the at least one meal cartridge based upon the cooking duration and temperature.

Abstract: A system and method for assisting a user in assembling a culinary combination according to a recipe. The system comprises a scale and a computing device configured to communicate with the scale. The system displays information regarding ingredients of the recipe and displays a progress of assembling the culinary combination based on the information from the scale. In some embodiments, a bar graph is displayed with a bar proportional to the measured amount of an ingredient of the recipe compared to a target amount for the ingredient. In some embodiments, the system displays a build column of one or more recipe blocks, representing actions or ingredients of the recipe. An active recipe block is displayed with a portion of the recipe block displayed in a different manner in proportion to the measured amount of an ingredient of the recipe compared to a target amount for the ingredient.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and articles to provide customized cooking instructions to users via a communications device. The user is provided with audio/visual prompts depicting one or more ending characteristics of a food product, such as texture or doneness. The user provides a selection of the one or more ending characteristics according to the user's preferences. A processor-based device determines one or more output food preparation parameters based on the user's selection of the one or more ending characteristics for the food product. The one or more determined output food preparation parameters are provided to a communication device of the user so that the user may cook the food product according to the output food preparation parameters.

Abstract: A device for communicating a system status visually is disclosed. The device comprises a primary indicator and a secondary indicator, and in an embodiment comprises a surround indicator and a tail indicator. Both indicators allow light to pass through a translucent portion to be visible by a user, and the device utilizes illumination elements such as multicolor LEDs to present the indicators in colors to communicate system status or a data category to inform a user about the system with simplified color signals easily perceived at a distance. The device can be configured to accept multiple sensor or signal inputs and control one or more powered devices to effect feedback control of a system variable, e.g. temperature. The tail indicator can change colors to communicate a data category provided by a signal input. The surround indicator can change colors to communicate a system status.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus, system, method, and program are provided. The information processing apparatus includes storage circuitry, communication circuitry and control circuitry. The storage circuitry stores ingredients classification information that is information obtained by classifying ingredients into upper and lower classes. The communication circuitry receives menu information from a user terminal. The control circuitry specifies each low-order ingredient that is an ingredient included in a lower class of each high-order ingredient, which is an ingredient of an upper class, from the ingredients classification information in a case where the high-order ingredient is included in the menu information, controls the communication circuitry to transmit ingredient information including information of the low-order ingredient to the user terminal, and receives registration of the menu information when the communication circuitry receives the menu information including the low-order ingredient.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an electronic device binding method, an electronic device, and an electronic device binding system. The electronic device binding method includes: receiving, at an electronic device and from the server, a binding request originating from a mobile terminal, and displaying the binding request, wherein the binding request contains device information of the electronic device and user information of the mobile terminal; generating at the electronic device a binding result in response to a first operation of an operator of the electronic device on the binding request, and transmitting the binding result from the electronic device to the server.

Abstract: A system and method for simultaneously filling containers of different shapes and/or sizes are disclosed. A plurality of vehicles are routable along a track system to facilitate simultaneous delivery of first containers and second containers to different unit operation stations. The first and second containers may differ from one another in outer shape and/or interior volume.

Abstract: A system and method for simultaneously filling containers with different fluent products are disclosed. The system includes a plurality of vehicles that are independently routable along a track system to deliver containers to at least one unit operation station for dispensing fluent materials into the containers. The containers receive one or more fluent materials that differ from another in ingredients and/or weight percentage of at least one ingredient.

Abstract: A track system includes a primary transport portion and a secondary transport portion along which a plurality of vehicles can be propelled. Each secondary transport portion includes a unit operation station for performing a transformation on a container or the contents therein.

Abstract: A user interface includes a touch-sensitive display and a display control unit for controlling the touch-sensitive display. A method for controlling a household appliance using the graphical user interface includes the steps of: displaying a first graphical representation on the touch-sensitive display, the first graphical representation including one or more symbols (V1, V2), each symbol (V1, V2) being associated with an appliance subunit of the household appliance; touching a symbol (V1, V2) by a touching means in order to change of a setting value of the appliance subunit associated with the touched symbol (V1) by moving the touching means; determining the moving speed of the touching means by the display control unit; and displaying information at the touch-sensitive display depending on the determined moving speed of the touching means.

Abstract: A microwave oven includes: a cooker body in the shape of a box having a heating chamber with an opening at the front side thereof; a storage having a door which opens and closes the opening, and an inner box including two side plates, a bottom plate and a back plate connected to the door, the storage being movable to the front side and storing an object to be cooked; and a hot-air generating unit generating hot air. The hot-air generating unit is located at the outer side of a rear wall of a heating chamber, and an air outlet from which hot air is blown out is located on the rear wall at a position higher than the back plate.

Abstract: An appliance includes a first gas-burning heating element, a first gas path extending from an inlet to the first heating element, and a first solenoid valve positioned within the first gas path. The appliance further includes a second gas path extending from upstream of the first solenoid valve to the first heating element and supplying a base gas flow to the first heating element. A controller is electronically coupled with the first solenoid valve for controlling a supplemental flow of gas through the first gas path to the first heating element such that the supplemental gas flow combines with the base gas flow to achieve a total gas flow. The controller controls the supplemental flow to adjust the total gas flow by pulsing the first solenoid valve at a first rate corresponding to a desired rate of the total gas flow to the first heating element.

Abstract: Disclosed are cooking devices having inspection systems including: a distance sensor and a digital optical recognition device. The distance sensor detects the position of the food product placed in the cooking device and the digital optical recognition device captures a series of images for the purpose of food product recognition. Once the food product is recognized, the operator is provided with the correct cooking cycle/program for the position and type of food product placed in the cooking device. The inspection systems also ensure that the food product has been properly cooked at the end of the cooking cycle/program. The inspection systems ensure: (1) the food product is correctly recognized; (2) the cooking cycle/program is correctly selected; (3) the correct cooking cycle/program is followed to completion and (4) the quality of the cooked food product meets expected standards.

Abstract: A mobile terminal and a method for generating recipe information of the mobile terminal are disclosed, in which information useful for a user is generated by taking a picture and using externally collected data. The method for generating recipe information of a mobile terminal, which performs communication with at least one home appliance to generate recipe information comprises the steps of carrying out a function of generating recipe information on the basis of a user request; collecting operation data of the at least one home appliance driven in association with cooking; receiving a request for taking images received through a camera in a state that the function of generating recipe information is being carried out; and taking the images received through the camera in response to the request for taking images and processing the operation data collected from the at least one home appliance in association with the taken images.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cooking control method performed by a cooking apparatus for a food item. The method comprises obtaining a unique identifier and cooking data for the food item, and checking for a record of the unique identifier in a memory of the cooking apparatus. If a record of the unique identifier is located in the memory, then the cooking apparatus will not cook the food item. Otherwise a cooking process based on the cooking data to cook the food item is performed. Accordingly, cooking data for a given instance of a food item can only be used once in order to activate a cooking process performed by the cooking apparatus. The present invention also features product recall as well as the ability to track food item sales via a cooking data communications system.

Abstract: Provided are a cooking appliance, and a system and method for controlling a cooking appliance. The system includes a RF tag and a cooking appliance. The RF tag stores food information about foods as integrants of a dish and the cooking appliance having a RF reader reads the food information stored in the RF tag. The cooking appliance includes a memory, a cooking appliance controller, and a display unit. The memory stores dish information about dishes that can be cooked using the food information. The cooking appliance controller reads dish information from the memory, and the display unit displays at least one of the dish information to a user.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a new, different cooking process of products to be nixtamalized, for instance, corn, as well as a specially designed reactor to be used in the deep thermal treatment. Essentially, the process comprises the loading of a mixture of product to be nixtamalized and water into the container; shaking of the mixture by air injection from an air compressor; separation of floating residues and discharge of wastewater; introduction of hot and clean water into the container and the addition of lime, thus creating a product-water-lime mixture; stirring of the product-water-lime mixture by injecting air from the air compressor; igniting the burner until a target temperature is obtained in the reactor container; and turn off the burner and conditioning of moisture inside the reactor container for a determined period of time where prior to the end of the determined period of time it is proceeded to shake the cooked product-water-lime mixture by air injection from the air compressor.

Abstract: A beverage preparation machine is electrically operated and has a control unit, at least one functional unit, and an electric circuit for supplying the functional unit and the control unit with current. The electric circuit has a switch for switching the current on or off, through respective first and second operations of an operating element. The switch has a first switch contact and a second switch contact, which are connected in parallel in the electric circuit. The first switch contact is brought into a closed state by the first operation of the operating element, and assumes an open state after the second operation. The control unit provides a control signal so that the second switch contact is closed after the first operation of the switch and opened after the second operation of the switch.

Abstract: Nutritional substance systems and methods are disclosed enabling the tracking and communication of changes in nutritional, organoleptic, and aesthetic values of nutritional substances, and further enabling the adaptive storage and adaptive conditioning of nutritional substances.

Abstract: Methods and systems for processing food products, such as a cranberry food product, are provided. A cranberry food solution may be provided and heated to a first temperature. The cranberry food solution may then be cooled to a second temperature and the processed cranberry food solution may be filled aseptically into an aseptic package. The package filled with the cranberry food solution may be then cooled to a third predetermined time so that the cranberry food solution congeals in the package.

Abstract: A reliable conveyor oven minimizes escape of heat by minimizing the time that inlet and outlet openings appear in the baking oven. This may reduce energy consumption by 25%. The baking oven may have a conventional oven and an extension chamber, an outlet opening of the conventional oven acting as an inlet to the extension chamber, the extension chamber having an exit door, the baking oven also having an entrance door defining an entrance inlet. A conveyor holding food items runs through a length of the baking oven. An exit optical sensor may be attached to the extension chamber on opposite sides of the extension chamber such shat an item on the conveyor moving through the extension chamber interrupts a signal between the transmitted and the receiver. The exit sensor may be operatively engaged to a controller for actuating the exit door open and closed rotationally using a pneumatic piston.

Abstract: An automated cooking system that accepts remote orders includes an automated cooking device, a communications device, and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to receive a remote order for a customer via the communications device, wherein the order includes a requested delivery time, schedule a preparation completion time of the order based on the delivery time, and instruct the automated cooking device to prepare the order based on the scheduled completion time of the order.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for monitoring a heating apparatus that includes a motion detector configured to determine whether a person is proximate the heating apparatus. The motion detector is default deactivated. Further disclosed is a heat sensor configured to determine whether the heating apparatus has a temperature that is above a threshold. The heat sensor is default deactivated. A processor is in operable communication with each of the motion detector and the heat sensor configured to cyclically repeat a first countdown. The heat sensor is temporarily activated once during each of the repeated first countdowns. The processor is configured to perform a second countdown when the activated heat sensor determines that the heating apparatus has the temperature that is above the threshold. The second countdown is reset each time the motion detector determines that a person is proximate the heating apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cooking control method performed by a cooking apparatus for a food item. The method comprises obtaining a unique identifier and cooking data for the food item, and checking for a record of the unique identifier in a memory of the cooking apparatus. If a record of the unique identifier is located in the memory, then the cooking apparatus will not cook the food item. Otherwise a cooking process based on the cooking data to cook the food item is performed. Accordingly, cooking data for a given instance of a food item can only be used once in order to activate a cooking process performed by the cooking apparatus. The present invention also features product recall as well as the ability to track food item sales via a cooking data communications system.

Abstract: A food preparation and delivery system can include a plurality of cooking units such as ovens, each containing one or more prepared, but partially or completely uncooked, food items. The food items in the cooking units are for delivery to each of a corresponding plurality of consumer delivery destinations. The cooking units are loaded into a cargo compartment of a delivery vehicle for delivery to the plurality of consumer delivery destinations. The cooking conditions within the cooking unit are controlled such the each food item is cooked prior to arrival at the consumer destination location. In at least some embodiments, the estimated delivery time for each consumer destination location can be dynamically updated and the cooking conditions within the cooking unit adjusted.

Abstract: A cooking appliance for processing and preparing foods with an external user interface that includes a base structure (48) on which a support suitable for holding a container (2) containing foods to be processed is assembled, motorized driving device suitable for rotating detachable stirring or cutting means inside the container (2), an electronic circuit for powering and controlling thent driving device and heat energy transferring means controlled by an appliance microcontroller, a user interface integrated in a user computing device (D) detached with respect to the appliance for inputting operating parameters of the appliance, and the user computing device (D) is communicated with the appliance microprocessor through a wireless communication interface for inputting operating instructions of the appliance or cooking programs.

Abstract: A cooking appliance for processing and preparing foods that includes a base structure (48) on which a support suitable for holding a container (2) containing foods to be processed is assembled, a motorized driving device suitable for rotating a detachable stirring or cutting device inside the container (2), an electronic circuit for powering and controlling the driving device and a heat energy transferring device which is controlled by an appliance microcontroller, and a dedicated computing device (85) integrating a user interface and a telecommunication interface, which, depending on the instructions provided by a user, is suitable for at least sending instructions containing cooking parameters and/or programs to the appliance microcontroller through a data bus and for displaying any anomaly detected by the appliance microcontroller through a multifunction touch screen.

Abstract: An appliance network has a networked appliance configured to perform a food preparation operation on an article and a cooking sensor accessory in communication with the networked appliance and configured to sense a state of at least one of the article, the cooking sensor accessory, and the networked appliance.

Abstract: A system and method for preparing food products in a programmable appliance such as a microwave includes an appliance configured with a communication element for communicating with a device such as a smartphone, tablet, or computer. The device is configured to scan a product identifier such as a barcode and match the scanned identifier with a list of known identifiers stored in a database. The database associates each of the product identifiers with a product and instructions for cooking the product in the appliance. In another aspect of the invention, a remote server may be provided and configured to receive information from the device such as demographic information relating to the user of the system and the products used thereby.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cooking control method performed by a cooking apparatus for a food item. The method comprises obtaining a unique identifier and cooking data for the food item, and checking for a record of the unique identifier in a memory of the cooking apparatus. If a record of the unique identifier is located in the memory, then the cooking apparatus will not cook the food item. Otherwise a cooking process based on the cooking data to cook the food item is performed. Accordingly, cooking data for a given instance of a food item can only be used once in order to activate a cooking process performed by the cooking apparatus. The present invention also features product recall as well as the ability to track food item sales via a cooking data communications system.

Abstract: An automated food preparation system is described. It allows precise, automated control of the food preparation process, and has the ability to perform an automated cleanup. It comprises at least one manipulator to process and move ingredients, a control system, an autonomously accessible ingredient storage system, and at least one cooking receptacle.