A system and method for an automated cooking device that includes a multi-ingredient dispenser with a base, liquid dispenser and a dispensing selector, wherein the base comprises a set of base receptacles; a set of ingredient dispenser units that removably couple with the base receptacles and controllably open when in an engaged mode with the dispensing selector of the multi-ingredient dispenser; a cooking apparatus with a heating unit and mixing unit; and a control unit that is configured to process a multi-stage cooking process and that at least partially controls the dispensing selector, heating unit, mixing unit, and liquid dispenser.

A foreign substance trap device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a first member in which at least one fluid intake hole is formed; a second member in which at least a portion of an exhaust channel, through which gas in liquid flowing inside through the fluid intake hole is discharged, is formed; and a movable member movably disposed between the first member and the second member and closing the exhaust channel by being moved by liquid in fluid flowing inside through the fluid intake hole.

A foreign substance trap device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a first member in which at least one fluid intake hole is formed; a second member in which at least a portion of an exhaust channel, through which gas in liquid flowing inside through the fluid intake hole is discharged, is formed; and a movable member movably disposed between the first member and the second member and closing the exhaust channel by being moved by liquid in fluid flowing inside through the fluid intake hole.

A method for operating an automated food making apparatus having a motor, actuator arm, and an apparatus. The apparatus may be a paddle with flexible fins. The method rotates the paddle with a pin-shaft mechanism to dispense an ingredient placed in a canister, controls the motor automatically based on weight sensor readings, and locates a position of the actuator arm with position sensors. The same motor dispenses ingredients from a plurality of canisters. The method may have a plurality of paddle rotation and weight measurement steps until a target weight is reached. The plurality of paddle rotation steps may be unidirectional or bidirectional paddle rotation. The paddle may be rotated according to one or more paddle rotation algorithms, an error recovery algorithm, or different algorithms based on the amounts of ingredients remaining in the canister. The paddle may be rocked until the target weight is achieved.

A method for operating an automated food making apparatus having a motor, actuator arm, and an apparatus. The apparatus may be a paddle with flexible fins. The method rotates the paddle with a pin-shaft mechanism to dispense an ingredient placed in a canister, controls the motor automatically based on weight sensor readings, and locates a position of the actuator arm with position sensors. The same motor dispenses ingredients from a plurality of canisters. The method may have a plurality of paddle rotation and weight measurement steps until a target weight is reached. The plurality of paddle rotation steps may be unidirectional or bidirectional paddle rotation. The paddle may be rotated according to one or more paddle rotation algorithms, an error recovery algorithm, or different algorithms based on the amounts of ingredients remaining in the canister. The paddle may be rocked until the target weight is achieved.

Systems, devices, and methods for storing and/or cooking food items via a food storage and cooking device are described. In some embodiments, a method of cooking a food item via includes disposing a food item in a food container, an inner volume of the food container configured to receive a flow of fluid and an outlet of the food container substantially aligned with a drain. A volume of fluid having a temperature sufficient to cook the food item is conveyed into the inner volume of the food container. After a predetermined time, a flow of fluid is conveyed into the inner volume of the food container such that the volume of fluid in the inner volume of the food container exceeds a threshold volume. The volume of fluid is then drained automatically into the drain in response to the volume of fluid exceeding the threshold volume.

Systems, devices, and methods for storing and/or cooking food items via a food storage and cooking device are described. In some embodiments, a method of cooking a food item via includes disposing a food item in a food container, an inner volume of the food container configured to receive a flow of fluid and an outlet of the food container substantially aligned with a drain. A volume of fluid having a temperature sufficient to cook the food item is conveyed into the inner volume of the food container. After a predetermined time, a flow of fluid is conveyed into the inner volume of the food container such that the volume of fluid in the inner volume of the food container exceeds a threshold volume. The volume of fluid is then drained automatically into the drain in response to the volume of fluid exceeding the threshold volume.

A system and method that includes selecting a first automated cooking recipe associated with user instructions and device cooking instructions; presenting the user instructions through a first controller device, which comprises providing ingredient preparation instruction and providing instruction on loading a set of ingredients in an automated cooking device; delivering cooking instructions of the automated cooking recipe to the automated cooking device; and directing a cooking routine of the automated cooking device according to the cooking instructions.

A system and method that includes selecting a first automated cooking recipe associated with user instructions and device cooking instructions; presenting the user instructions through a first controller device, which comprises providing ingredient preparation instruction and providing instruction on loading a set of ingredients in an automated cooking device; delivering cooking instructions of the automated cooking recipe to the automated cooking device; and directing a cooking routine of the automated cooking device according to the cooking instructions.

The slow cooker with heating and cooling functions comprises a base with both heating and cooling functions, a crock, and a lid. Food may be placed into the crock and covered with the lid. The crock may then be placed into the base, which may be programmed to heat and/or cool the food in the crock. The base further comprises a controller that determines when, how long, and to what extent the heat or cooling should be applied to the crock. The controller may display operational status and accept operational input from a touch sensitive display on the front of the base. The controller may communicate wirelessly with a smart device so that operational status and operational input that are accessible on the front of the base may be accessed from the smart device.