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.

An automated meal preparation system can include food storage matrix(es) with chute(s), food storage cartridge(s), mechanical cartridge dispenser(s), basket(s), manipulator(s), actuator(s), conveyer(s), buffer queue(s), gripper(s), catapult arm(s), cooking receptacle(s), and processor(s). A manipulator can move a basket to a chute where an actuator actuates a mechanical cartridge dispenser to pass a cartridge into the basket. The manipulator can move the cartridge to the conveyer, which moves the cartridge to a buffer queue at a conveyer gate. A gripper at the buffer queue can accept the cartridge and move it to an unpacking position where a catapult arm operates with the gripper to separate a cartridge lid from a cartridge container. The catapult arm can rotate the cartridge to empty its food into a cooking receptacle that spins while cooking the food. Processor(s) can control the motions of the manipulator, conveyer, gripper, catapult arm, and cooking receptacle.

An automated meal preparation system can include food storage matrix(es) with chute(s), food storage cartridge(s), mechanical cartridge dispenser(s), basket(s), manipulator(s), actuator(s), conveyer(s), buffer queue(s), gripper(s), catapult arm(s), cooking receptacle(s), and processor(s). A manipulator can move a basket to a chute where an actuator actuates a mechanical cartridge dispenser to pass a cartridge into the basket. The manipulator can move the cartridge to the conveyer, which moves the cartridge to a buffer queue at a conveyer gate. A gripper at the buffer queue can accept the cartridge and move it to an unpacking position where a catapult arm operates with the gripper to separate a cartridge lid from a cartridge container. The catapult arm can rotate the cartridge to empty its food into a cooking receptacle that spins while cooking the food. Processor(s) can control the motions of the manipulator, conveyer, gripper, catapult arm, and cooking receptacle.

An automatic cooking system includes a computer system that stores recipes, cooking stations each comprising a cookware that can cook food ingredients therein to produce a first cooked food, wherein the computer system can assign and schedule a plurality of dishes to be cooked at the cooking stations, containers configured to hold food ingredients, mini vehicles each carrying containers of food ingredients, wherein the computer system can control at least some of movements of the mini vehicles in accordance to the recipes, a loading apparatus configured to load containers of food ingredients to the mini vehicles, and a dispensing apparatus that can dispense food ingredients from containers to a cookware.

An automatic cooking system includes a computer system that stores recipes, cooking stations each comprising a cookware that can cook food ingredients therein to produce a first cooked food, wherein the computer system can assign and schedule a plurality of dishes to be cooked at the cooking stations, containers configured to hold food ingredients, mini vehicles each carrying containers of food ingredients, wherein the computer system can control at least some of movements of the mini vehicles in accordance to the recipes, a loading apparatus configured to load containers of food ingredients to the mini vehicles, and a dispensing apparatus that can dispense food ingredients from containers to a cookware.

A cooking assembly can include a cooking vessel, a mixer, and a motor. The cooking vessel can include a bottom contact portion including a first bore therethrough, a heating portion spaced above the bottom contact portion and including a second bore therethrough, and a sidewall connected to the heating portion and together with the heating portion configured to retain food in the cooking vessel. The mixer can be located within the cooking vessel, where the mixer configured to rotate relative to the heating portion. The motor can be connected to the mixer via the first bore and the second bore to drive the mixer to rotate.

A cooking assembly can include a cooking vessel, a mixer, and a motor. The cooking vessel can include a bottom contact portion including a first bore therethrough, a heating portion spaced above the bottom contact portion and including a second bore therethrough, and a sidewall connected to the heating portion and together with the heating portion configured to retain food in the cooking vessel. The mixer can be located within the cooking vessel, where the mixer configured to rotate relative to the heating portion. The motor can be connected to the mixer via the first bore and the second bore to drive the mixer to rotate.

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.

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.

A food cooker comprises: a water supplying part for supplying, as hot water or purified water, water supplied from the tap or a spring water container, according to the selection of a user, so as to supply the water such that food can be cooked; a cooking part enabling food to be cooked using the water supplied to a container, and provided in the downward direction of the water supplying part such that the user can be prevented from being burned by residual heat after the food is cooked; and a controller part provided at the water supplying part and the cooking part so as to enable a water supply, heating time and temperature to be controlled such that the food contained in the container is cooked, and thus the present invention can be provided regardless of location and can prevent the user from being burned by residual heat after the food is cooked.