Devices and methods for automating the process of making flatbread, such as roti. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a housing, an ingredient metering assembly, a mixing bowl assembly, a mixing actuator assembly, a cooking assembly, and an electronic assembly. The housing defines an interior volume and has several access openings with corresponding lids and/or covers. The ingredient metering assembly includes a flour container assembly, a flour delivery system, a water reservoir, and an oil reservoir. The mixing bowl assembly includes two bowls and a measurement system. The mixing actuator assembly includes a mixing mount, a mixing motor, a mixing paddle assembly, and a lower motor. The cooking assembly includes two platens and an actuator assembly. The electronic assembly includes a power source, a control module, and a LCD input/output screen. All components are integrated within the housing such that the apparatus is a consumer grade countertop appliance.

Devices and methods for automating the process of making flatbread, such as roti. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a housing, an ingredient metering assembly, a mixing bowl assembly, a mixing actuator assembly, a cooking assembly, and an electronic assembly. The housing defines an interior volume and has several access openings with corresponding lids and/or covers. The ingredient metering assembly includes a flour container assembly, a flour delivery system, a water reservoir, and an oil reservoir. The mixing bowl assembly includes two bowls and a measurement system. The mixing actuator assembly includes a mixing mount, a mixing motor, a mixing paddle assembly, and a lower motor. The cooking assembly includes two platens and an actuator assembly. The electronic assembly includes a power source, a control module, and a LCD input/output screen. All components are integrated within the housing such that the apparatus is a consumer grade countertop appliance.

A cooking apparatus (10), comprising a host (60) and a container (50), wherein the host (60) is arranged outside the container (50), and the host (60) and the container (50) are arranged in parallel on a placement plane. Therefore, the overall stability of the cooking apparatus (10) can be effectively improved, and the container (50) and the host (60) can be prevented from shaking and tilting.

A roasting and glazing apparatus comprising a housing, a bowl assembly having a bowl support and a roaster bowl, an agitator rotatably mounted within the roaster bowl, a heater to heat the roaster bowl, and a cantilever arm disposed external to the housing. The cantilever arm, when moved, moves the roaster bowl between fully lowered and fully raised positions. A first piston is coupled to the bowl support and provides, when engaged, a counterforce to the weight of the bowl assembly. The first piston is engaged at least during the raising of the roaster bowl. A second piston provides a counterforce during the lowering of the roaster bowl from a partially lowered position to the fully towered position. The second piston is not engaged during lowering of the roaster howl from the fully raised position to the partially lowered position. After producing roasted and glazed nuts using the apparatus, the roaster bowl is raised to facilitate removal of the roasted and glazed nuts, and then the roaster bowl is lowered. After the roaster bowl is lowered to the partially lowered position, the engagement of the second piston results in additional downward force to further lower the roaster bowl thus preventing injury or damage during the final lowering of the roaster howl into its fully lowered position.

A heating appliance includes a translucent cooktop and a burner in communication with the cooktop. The burner is operable between deactive and active states. The upper surface of the cooktop defines a cooldown state after the burner is moved from the active to the deactive state. A light module includes a light source and is in an illuminated state when the burner is in the active state and when the cooktop is in the cooldown state. A light guide extends from the light module and around a portion of the burner. The light guide is positioned such that the light source directs light through the light guide. The outer surface of the light guide includes a formed surface that directs light upward and through the cooktop, wherein the light guide is visible through the cooktop when the light module is in the illuminated state.

A heating appliance includes a translucent cooktop and a burner in communication with the cooktop. The burner is operable between deactive and active states. The upper surface of the cooktop defines a cooldown state after the burner is moved from the active to the deactive state. A light module includes a light source and is in an illuminated state when the burner is in the active state and when the cooktop is in the cooldown state. A light guide extends from the light module and around a portion of the burner. The light guide is positioned such that the light source directs light through the light guide. The outer surface of the light guide includes a formed surface that directs light upward and through the cooktop, wherein the light guide is visible through the cooktop when the light module is in the illuminated state.

A heating appliance includes a translucent cooktop and a burner in communication with the cooktop. The burner is operable between deactive and active states. The upper surface of the cooktop defines a cooldown state after the burner is moved from the active to the deactive state. A light module includes a light source and is in an illuminated state when the burner is in the active state and when the cooktop is in the cooldown state. A light guide extends from the light module and around a portion of the burner. The light guide is positioned such that the light source directs light through the light guide. The outer surface of the light guide includes a formed surface that directs light upward and through the cooktop, wherein the light guide is visible through the cooktop when the light module is in the illuminated state.

A heating appliance includes a translucent cooktop and a burner in communication with the cooktop. The burner is operable between deactive and active states. The upper surface of the cooktop defines a cooldown state after the burner is moved from the active to the deactive state. A light module includes a light source and is in an illuminated state when the burner is in the active state and when the cooktop is in the cooldown state. A light guide extends from the light module and around a portion of the burner. The light guide is positioned such that the light source directs light through the light guide. The outer surface of the light guide includes a formed surface that directs light upward and through the cooktop, wherein the light guide is visible through the cooktop when the light module is in the illuminated state.

In a cooking appliance, the appliance generally includes at least one cooking grate having a first rail, a second rail, and a plurality of rods extending between the first and second rails in spaced relationship with each other, each of the plurality of rods having a respective heating element such that the at least one cooking grate facilitates directly contacting a food product with a plurality of the heating elements during cooking.

A method of producing roasted and glazed nuts includes the steps of providing a roaster apparatus having a roaster bowl, placing water and a mixture of nuts and sugar in the roaster bowl, mixing the water and the mixture, heating the roaster bowl while mixing to produce roasted and sugar coated nuts, adding water to the roaster bowl to produce roasted and glazed nuts, and lifting a cantilever arm coupled to the roaster's housing to raise the roaster bowl from a fully lowered position to a raised position. A first piston coupled to the bowl support is engaged during the raising of the roaster bowl to provide a counterforce to the bowl assembly's weight. The method further includes removing the roasted and glazed nuts from the roaster bowl when in the raised position, lowering the cantilever arm to lower the roaster bowl from the raised position to a partially lowered position, and then lowering the cantilever arm to lower the roaster bowl to the fully lowered position. A second piston is engaged during the lowering of the roaster bowl from the partially lowered position to the fully lowered position to provide an additional counterforce thus preventing injury during the final lowering of the roaster bowl. The second piston is not engaged during the lowering of the roaster bowl from the raised position to the partially lowered position.