A food preparation device may include a tunnel cavity having a prep portion and a cooking portion, a conveyor belt extending through a length of the tunnel cavity, a cooking controller operably coupled to the prep portion and the cooking portion to selectively distribute power to at least a radio frequency (RF) capacitive heating source and a cold air source in the prep portion and at least a heat source in the cooking portion, and an interface panel. The prep portion and the cooking portion are positioned in a linear series in the tunnel cavity. The RF capacitive heating source comprises a ground plate and an anode plate.

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.

An electric cooker having a base body provided with an electric heater, a lid member provided with an electric heater and pivotably supported to the base body by a hinge shaft, and a hinge-shaft-height adjustment mechanism for adjusting the vertical position of the hinge shaft. The hinge-shaft-height adjustment mechanism includes a support portion mounted on the base body, an adjustment guide hole formed on the support portion to have a wide-width portion and a narrow-width portion alternately in a vertical direction, the hinge shaft formed with an engaging shaft portion which is engaged with the adjustment guide hole to be capable of moving vertically and rotating, and an operating lever pivoting with the hinge shaft. The engaging shaft portion moves from either the wide-width portion in an upper or lower side to the other of those through the narrow-width portion by rotating according to operation of the operating lever.

A multifunctional electric oven is equipped so that it is easy to change the placement of food and to utilize different heating methods, with high heating efficiency, energy saving and convenient to operation. The multifunctional electric oven comprises a main body assembly, an electric control assembly, an upper acting door, and a side acting door. The electric assembly is located on the main body assembly. The upper acting door and the side acting door are located separately at the top and front of the main body assembly. When the two doors are closed they and the main body assembly together form a closed heating cavity with a heating tube inside. The heating tube can be rotated so as to be placed in a flat position or an upright position. The upper acting door and the side acting door can be opened or closed individually or jointly, to achieve different cooking functional modes.

A method of preparing meals in a computerized kitchen workspace is set forth. The computerized kitchen workspace includes one or more robots for preparing and cooking food in the kitchen workspace. Kitchen appliances may be automatically controlled according to a recipe. The one or more robots may access kitchen items necessary for meal preparation by rotating automated shelves. The meal may then be automatically prepared by the one or more robots. Automated storage shelves may be provided with electrical power for powering kitchen appliances found on the shelves.

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 appliance includes a cabinet and a heated chamber positioned within the cabinet. The heated chamber is defined by a plurality of walls. The cooking appliance also includes a heating element positioned within the heated chamber. The heating element is movably mounted within the heated chamber such that the heating element is movable between a first position and a second position. The first position may be adjacent one wall of the plurality of walls and the second position may be spaced apart from the one wall of the plurality of walls. The first position may be approximately parallel to a horizontal direction and the second position may be approximately perpendicular to the horizontal direction.

Methods for heat treating food products include controlling a temperature of a heating element to a maximum temperature correlated to a desired temperature for the food product. A sensed temperature of the heating element may be used to control the maximum temperature. An oven includes a heating element and a temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature of the heating element, and a controller that limits the temperature the heating element based on output from the temperature sensor.

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.

An automated, on-demand baking system including a computer controllable injector configured to be operative to programmably inject liquid baking ingredients through a wall of and into a mixing, baking and dispensing container, a computer controllable rotator configured to be operative to programmably rotate the mixing, baking and dispensing container containing baking ingredients, thereby mixing the baking ingredients into a dough, a heating generator operative to cause baking of the dough in the mixing, baking and dispensing container and a controller operative to govern the operation of the computer controllable injector, the computer controllable rotator and the heating generator.