A method of thawing an object (21) in a frozen state placed in an interior of a container (10), in which an AC voltage which is 10V or higher and 5 kV or lower is applied to the object (21) in the frozen state to flow a current which is 1 μA or higher and 1000 mA or lower, through the object (21) in the frozen state, includes the steps of: partially thawing the object (21) in the frozen state in such a manner that a temperature in the interior of the container (10) is controlled to cause the object (21) in the frozen state to be partially thawed while applying the AC voltage to the object (21) in the frozen state; and stopping application of the AC voltage to the object (21) and preserving the object (21) while maintaining a state in which the object (21) partially thawed.

A method of thawing an object (21) in a frozen state placed in an interior of a container (10), in which an AC voltage which is 10V or higher and 5 kV or lower is applied to the object (21) in the frozen state to flow a current which is 1 μA or higher and 1000 mA or lower, through the object (21) in the frozen state, includes the steps of: partially thawing the object (21) in the frozen state in such a manner that a temperature in the interior of the container (10) is controlled to cause the object (21) in the frozen state to be partially thawed while applying the AC voltage to the object (21) in the frozen state; and stopping application of the AC voltage to the object (21) and preserving the object (21) while maintaining a state in which the object (21) partially thawed.

The present disclosure relates to a beverage and/or flowable edible product dispensing apparatus, comprising: a programmable controller; a touchscreen interface including an indicator of at least one edible item for selection, the operator interface in communication with the programmable controller a dispensing system in communication the operator interface, the programmable controller, being wirelessly connected to the internet, and being operable to associate the at least one edible item with the least one beverage and/or flowable edible and/or inedible product; and the dispensing system dispenses an amount of the at least one beverage and/or flowable edible and/or inedible product associated with the selected edible item when the at least one edible and/or inedible item is selected.

The present disclosure relates to a beverage and/or flowable edible product dispensing apparatus, comprising: a programmable controller; a touchscreen interface including an indicator of at least one edible item for selection, the operator interface in communication with the programmable controller a dispensing system in communication the operator interface, the programmable controller, being wirelessly connected to the internet, and being operable to associate the at least one edible item with the least one beverage and/or flowable edible and/or inedible product; and the dispensing system dispenses an amount of the at least one beverage and/or flowable edible and/or inedible product associated with the selected edible item when the at least one edible and/or inedible item is selected.

A defrosting apparatus has a foundation unit having a top surface and sidewalls, housing an electrically-powered water pump with an inlet and an outlet, with an opening in a sidewall enabling water to pass from outside the foundation unit to inside, a vertically oriented conduit extending from the top surface of the foundation unit, with a lower end connected to the outlet of the water pump, and an upper end, a horizontally-oriented conduit having a first and a second end, connected proximate the first end to the upper end of the vertically-oriented conduit, a vertically-oriented downspout connected at the second end of the horizontally-oriented, telescoping conduit assembly, the downspout open at a lower end, and a control unit comprising a CPU, a digital memory and wireless communication circuitry, the control unit coupled to a temperature sensor in contact with the flowing water, and to pump control inputs.

A defrosting apparatus has a foundation unit having a top surface and sidewalls, housing an electrically-powered water pump with an inlet and an outlet, with an opening in a sidewall enabling water to pass from outside the foundation unit to inside, a vertically oriented conduit extending from the top surface of the foundation unit, with a lower end connected to the outlet of the water pump, and an upper end, a horizontally-oriented conduit having a first and a second end, connected proximate the first end to the upper end of the vertically-oriented conduit, a vertically-oriented downspout connected at the second end of the horizontally-oriented, telescoping conduit assembly, the downspout open at a lower end, and a control unit comprising a CPU, a digital memory and wireless communication circuitry, the control unit coupled to a temperature sensor in contact with the flowing water, and to pump control inputs.

A refrigerator has a thawing device. The thawing device includes a cylinder, having a thawing chamber with a forward opening; a device door; and a radio frequency generation module, upper and lower electrode plates electrically connected thereto generating radio frequency waves in the thawing chamber; and at least one temperature sensor is disposed on the inner wall of the thawing chamber and configured to sense the temperature of an object to be processed, thereby adjusting the power of the radio frequency generaton module to prevent the object to be processed from being excessively thawed.

A refrigerator has a thawing device. The thawing device includes a cylinder, having a thawing chamber with a forward opening; a device door; and a radio frequency generation module, upper and lower electrode plates electrically connected thereto generating radio frequency waves in the thawing chamber; and at least one temperature sensor is disposed on the inner wall of the thawing chamber and configured to sense the temperature of an object to be processed, thereby adjusting the power of the radio frequency generaton module to prevent the object to be processed from being excessively thawed.

A domestic appliance for cooling and heating food items and/or beverage items may include a shell, a door, a cooling compartment defined at least in part by the shell and the door, the compartment being configured store the food items and/or the beverage items in a cooled environment and at least one solid state heating element inside of the cooling compartment, the at least one solid state heating element configured to emit infrared radiation to heat at least one of the food items and/or the beverage items without heating the surroundings or other contents of the cooling compartment.

A defrosting tray includes a metal substrate, a thermal conductive ceramic coating formed on the top surface of the metal substrate, and an inorganic nanocoating formed on a top surface of the thermal conductive ceramic coating. The thermal conductive ceramic coating is configured to enhance a heat transfer capability of the metal substrate. In particular, the first ceramic coating and the first inorganic nanocoating together define a defrosting surface with sub-micron pyramidal arrays.