Patents Examined by Hung D Nguyen
  • Patent number: 11363685
    Abstract: Carriers suitable for transporting a plurality of articles through a microwave heating zone are provided. Carriers as described herein may include an outer frame and upper and lower support structures vertically spaced from one another to provide a cargo volume into which the articles are loaded. At least a portion of the upper and/or lower support structures may be formed of an electrically conductive material. Additionally, the carrier may include removable article spacing members, such as vertical spacing members and dividers, that can be selectively inserted to adjust the size and/or shaper of the cargo volume. Carriers as described herein may be configured to receive a variety of different articles, including trays and pouches, and the articles may be loaded into the carrier in a nested or overlapping manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: 915 Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold Dail Kimrey, Jr., Matthew Raider, Lea Mohr, John Hirschey, Michele Reeve
  • Patent number: 11346605
    Abstract: A melting method including a step of loading solid metal material into an electric furnace, a step of generating an electric arc between at least one electrode and the metal material, a step of perforating the metal material during which the electrode is moved through the metal material, a step of melting the solid metal material in order to obtain a molten material, and a step of refining the molten material by adding reaction compounds. At least one of the steps includes regulating the electric parameters of the electric arc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignees: DANIELI AUTOMATION S.P.A., DANIELI & C. OFFICINE MECCANICHE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Damiano Patrizio, Antonello Mordeglia
  • Patent number: 11337553
    Abstract: An electric heating griddle device for baking spherical foods able to shorten the time of baking spherical foods includes an iron plate part 2 made of cast iron having an upper surface 2a and a lower surface 2b that are planar, and which is formed to be a predetermined thickness between the upper surface and the lower surface, and an electric heating part 3 connected to the iron plate part 2 so as to contact a heat transfer surface 3a with the lower surface of the iron plate part 2. The iron plate part 2 has a plurality of recess parts 21 which are formed to be concave from the upper surface 2a to bake the spherical foods and the electric heating part 3 is formed so as that the heat transfer surface 3a is broad to substantially conform to the lower surface 2b of the iron plate part 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: HOT LAND CO., LTD
    Inventor: Morio Sase
  • Patent number: 11337554
    Abstract: Toasting apparatus for preparing food products, e.g., buns, are provided for a griddle including a flat griddle surface onto which food products may be placed for cooking, as well as methods for using such apparatus. The apparatus includes a rigid frame movable between a raised position to place food products on or remove food products from the griddle surface and a lowered position wherein a lower surface of the frame is positioned above the griddle surface. The frame includes a plurality of flexible members, e.g., elongate strips, including intermediate regions extending from the lower surface to contact food products on the griddle surface such that the flexible members conform to shapes of food products placed on the griddle surface when the frame is placed in the lowered position to apply pressure to the food products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: IN-N-OUT BURGERS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Howard Frantz, Mark Courtney
  • Patent number: 11337278
    Abstract: An electrical heating cable with a first power supply conductor, a second power supply conductor, and a third power supply conductor. Each of the first, second and third power supply conductors extend along a length of the cable. The electrical heating cable also includes an electrically conductive heating element body, wherein the first, second and third power supply conductors are electrically coupled to each other via the electrically conductive heating element body. The second power supply conductor is provided with a layer of electrically insulating material which covers only a part of a surface of the second power supply conductor. The layer is provided between the surface of the second power supply conductor and the electrically conductive heating element body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Heat Trace Limited
    Inventors: Neil Malone, Jason Daniel Harold O'Connor, Peter Richard Howe, Ian James Scott
  • Patent number: 11326135
    Abstract: An additive dispensing device for dispensing of additives into a pressurised vessel, more particularly a fermentation vessel of a brewing system, is disclosed. The device has a vessel body including a chamber, the chamber having a closed end and an open end. A pressure release means is provided between the chamber and atmosphere. A controllable valve positioned between the closed end and the open end, configured to selectively open and close a flow path between the closed end and the open end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Natural Brew Inc
    Inventors: Matthew Charles Dromgool, Brian Watson
  • Patent number: 11330678
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for boil detection at a heating zone of an induction hob (1), the method comprising the steps of: —disabling (S110) a power control mechanism of the induction hob by setting the frequency of the AC-current provided to an induction coil of the induction hob to a fixed value; —measuring (S120) values of an electrical parameter provided within the induction hob (1); —interpolating (S130) the measured electrical parameter values by gathering a plurality of values of the electrical parameter within a time window and calculating the average value of said gathered plurality of values thereby obtaining interpolated electrical parameter values. —calculating (S140) a gradient measure indicative for the differential change of the interpolated electrical parameter values over time; —determining (S150) the boil point based on the calculated gradient measure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Nicola Terracciano, Laurent Jeanneteau, Alex Viroli, Massimo Nostro, Svend Erik Christiansen
  • Patent number: 11330679
    Abstract: A heating apparatus includes a heating circuit configured to heat a product to be heated; a door; a door lock mechanism configured to lock the door with the door closed; and a processor configured to control the heating circuit and the door lock mechanism, wherein based on an indication of a heating time period and a “settling” time period, the processor causes the door lock mechanism to lock the door, with the door closed, from a beginning of the heating until an end of the “settling” time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsutada Fukumori, Akio Iijima
  • Patent number: 11324080
    Abstract: An induction heating cooking device includes a cooking table having an auxiliary slit; an induction coil for generating a magnetic field so as to inductively heat a cooking container placed on the cooking table; multiple light sources disposed at the outside of the induction coil; and a main slit through which light emitted from the light sources passes. The induction heating cooking device forms a virtual flame image on the cooking container, thereby enabling the heating state of the induction heating cooking device to be intuitively checked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hee Sup Kim, Han Seong Kang, Jong Sung Park, Jung Kwon Kim, Hyung Jin Kim, Pung Yeun Cho, Yeon A Hwang
  • Patent number: 11324082
    Abstract: A thermal increase system includes one or more multi-level electrodes configured to radiate electromagnetic energy into a cavity in response to receiving a radio frequency (RF) signal from an RF signal source. Each multi-level electrode is positioned adjacent to a wall of the cavity, and each multi-level electrode includes a base portion coupled to an elevated portion. A radiating surface of the elevated portion is at a height of at least 0.5 centimeters (cm) from a radiating surface of the base portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Jamison Michael McCarville, Lionel Mongin, Pierre Marie Jean Piel
  • Patent number: 11320203
    Abstract: An electric power method for an electric arc furnace includes regulating the electric power frequency of a power voltage and a power current of the electrodes, independently from the mains frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignees: DANIELI AUTOMATION S.P.A., DANIELI & C. OFFICINE MECCANICHE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Enzo Gigante, Federico Pasut, Andrea Polo
  • Patent number: 11310873
    Abstract: A fluid heating component including: a pillar-shaped member made of ceramics and formed with through channels through which a fluid passes, and a conductive coating layer disposed on at least a part of a circumferential surface of the pillar-shaped member, wherein the conductive coating layer is disposed on coats the whole circumference of a cut surface of the pillar-shaped member in a state where the conducive coating layer is electrically connected, in the cut surface of the pillar-shaped member which is perpendicular to a passing direction of the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironori Takahashi, Hiroki Ishida
  • Patent number: 11309195
    Abstract: Described herein is a technique capable of processing a substrate uniformly using microwaves. According to one aspect of the technique of the present disclosure, there is provided a heating element used in a substrate processing apparatus configured to heat a substrate supported by a substrate retainer by microwaves and process the substrate, the heating element including a dielectric material of an annular shape capable of generating heat by the microwaves. An inner circumferential portion of the heating element is located outer than an outer circumferential portion of the substrate, and the heating element is supported by the substrate retainer without contacting the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: KOKUSAI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Yanagisawa, Yukitomo Hirochi
  • Patent number: 11304271
    Abstract: A compound heating apparatus includes a microwave generating unit and an infrared radiation generator disposed in a casing outwardly of a heating chamber of the casing. A light shield is disposed around the infrared radiation generator, and has a shield opening facing toward the heating chamber. A microwave blocker plate covers the shield opening. An air supply module is connected to the light shield to blow air to the light shield for causing heat radiant energy generated from the infrared radiation generator to pass acceleratedly by forced heat convection through microwave blocking holes of the microwave block plate to the heating chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Food Industry Research and Development Institute
    Inventors: Feng-Chi Liu, Jia-Yan Hou, Binghuei-Barry Yang
  • Patent number: 11297695
    Abstract: A dielectric heating device is provided with two or more electrodes, a grounded surface connected to a first electrode, a signal source connected to a second electrode to output a high-frequency signal, a first element interposed serially between the signal source and second electrode, and a second element interposed serially between the grounded surface and first electrode. The first element includes two terminals that electrically connect the signal source and second electrode in a non-contact manner, to cause the high-frequency signal outputted from the signal source to pass through the first element, by using the electric coupling between the two terminals. The second element includes two terminals that electrically connect the grounded surface and first electrode in a non-contact manner, to output, by using the electric coupling between the two terminals, the high-frequency signal outputted from the signal source, to the grounded surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihito Hirai, Eigo Kuwata, Osamu Wada, Kazuhiro Iyomasa
  • Patent number: 11297696
    Abstract: A microwave oven includes a housing that defines a cavity therein, a heating source configured to heat an object in the cavity, an exhaust device disposed at a lower portion of the housing, a door that is connected to the housing and defines a suction hole configured to receive air from an outside of the door and a discharge hole configured to discharge the air received through the suction hole, and a display disposed at a front surface of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sangcheol Lee, Kyoungjoon Park, Jaekyung Yang, Wontae Kim
  • Patent number: 11287838
    Abstract: A cartridge for use in an aerosol-generating system is provided, including a liquid storage portion including a housing configured to hold a liquid aerosol-forming substrate, the liquid storage portion including at least two parts in fluid communication with each other; a first part of the liquid storage portion including a heater assembly, a first capillary material, provided in contact with the heater assembly, and a second capillary material in contact with the first capillary material and spaced apart from the heater assembly by the first capillary material; and a second part of the liquid storage portion including a container configured to hold the liquid aerosol-forming substrate in liquid form to supply the liquid to the second capillary material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Alexandre Malgat, Noori Moyad Brifcani, Rui Batista, Oleg Mironov
  • Patent number: 11286535
    Abstract: Provided is a heat treatment apparatus (1), including: a conveying device (10), which is configured to convey a rod-shaped workpiece (W) at a predetermined velocity along an axial direction of the workpiece (W); and a heating device (2) including a heating coil (3) configured to inductively heat the workpiece (W) being conveyed to a quenching temperature, wherein the heating coil (3) includes a first heating section (3A) and a second heating section (3B), which are coupled to each other in series along the axial direction of the workpiece (W), and is electrically connected to a single high-frequency power supply (4), and wherein a coil pitch (D2) of the second heating section (3B) arranged relatively on a front side in a conveying direction for the workpiece (W) is larger than a coil pitch (D1) of the first heating section (3A) arranged relatively on a rear side in the conveying direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsuneaki Hiraoka, Yuuki Tabuchi, Shintaro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11284745
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Marmon Foodservice Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Shei, Loren Veltrop, Henry Africano, David E. Paton, Nicholas Paul Mandarino
  • Patent number: 11287189
    Abstract: A billet pushout system is provided for an electric induction billet heating line with long length revolute jointed pushout rods forming a non-jamming pushout rod assembly that is stored in a linear enclosure connected to an arcuate enclosure that deploys and retracts the pushout rod assembly to and from the electric induction billet heating line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: CLINTON MACHINE, INC.
    Inventors: Ted L. Loznak, Thomas Stanley Domagala