Apparatus and method for heating and cooking food using laser beams and electromagnetic radiation

Abstract

A heating and cooking apparatus inside the cooking chamber of a 3D food printer includes a laser cooking apparatus controlled by a processor implementing particular computer program instructions specific to the operation of the heating and cooking apparatus. The laser cooking apparatus includes at least one laser system with at least one laser beam able to heat the food product to its cooking temperature. Each laser system provides two or more laser beams, each of which can be deflected and focused into the food product with a beam spot of adjustable diameter. The heating and cooking apparatus also can include an electromagnetic radiation heating apparatus that is controlled by the processor and emits electromagnetic radiation to warm the food product inside the cooking chamber to a temperature below its cooking temperature.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.