Cooking apparatus and method with product recognition

Abstract

Cooking apparatus having first and second platens with product recognition. A positioning mechanism moves the second platen toward the first. A detector senses the second platen making contact with a food product disposed on the first platen and provides a signal. A controller uses the signal to measure the travel distance of the second platen. The product thickness is a function of the travel distance, which is used to select a cooking procedure for the food product. The controller then executes the selected cooking procedure to cook the food product. The detector can include a micro switch, proximity sensor, touch sensor, strain sensor, thermal sensor, optical sensor, sonar sensor or positioning load change sensor.

1 . A method for cooking a food product in a cooking apparatus that has first and second platens, said method comprising: moving said second platen toward said first platen; in response to said second platen making contact with a food product disposed on said first platen, recognizing said food product due to its thickness; and based on said recognized food product, selecting said one of a plurality of cook procedures to cook said food product. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said thickness is derived from a travel distance of said second platen. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said travel distance is derived from a predetermined reference point and a non-cooking position of said second platen. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: providing a signal as said second platen, when moved by said positioning mechanism toward said first platen, makes contact with said food product, and wherein said recognizing step uses said signal to recognize said food product due to its thickness. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said selecting step matches said thickness of said recognized food product with a corresponding thickness of a plurality of predetermined thicknesses and selects said cook procedure based on said match. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , if said recognized thickness is in-between two of said predetermined thicknesses, said selecting step selects one of said two predetermined thicknesses that is closest to said recognized thickness. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said predetermined thicknesses is comprised of a plurality of thickness windows, and wherein said selecting step matches said recognized thickness to one of said thickness windows and uses the matched thickness window for selecting said cook procedure. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , if said recognized thickness falls in-between two of said thickness windows, said selecting step uses that one of the two thickness windows that is closest to said recognized thickness for selecting said cook procedure. 
     
     
         9 . A method of positioning a second platen to a cooking position for the cooking of a food product disposed on a first platen, said method comprising: moving said second platen toward and/or away from said first platen; providing a signal as said second platen makes contact with said food product; and in response to said signal, bringing said second platen to a cooking position in relation to said food product. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said signal is provided by a detector. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said detector comprises a device that is selected from the group consisting of: micro switch, proximity sensor, touch sensor, strain sensor, thermal sensor, optical sensor and sonar sensor. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said detector is disposed on a positioning mechanism of said cooking apparatus, said second platen and/or a support of said first platen. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said detector is a proximity sensor disposed on a member of a positioning mechanism of said cooking apparatus. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said moving step uses a motor responsive to a drive signal to move said second platen, and wherein said detector provides said signal in response to a change in load on said motor. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said motor is an electric motor, and wherein said detector comprises a sensor disposed to monitor a motor current of said motor and provide said signal in response to a change of said motor current. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said moving step uses a positioning mechanism to move said second platen, and wherein said bringing step brings said positioning mechanism and/or said second platen to said cooking position.