Abstract: A fixing device for heating and fixing an unfixed image to a record member, including: a heating roller having a core roller and a layer of a resistance heating material formed on an outer or inner peripheral surface of the core roller; a pair of carriers rotatably carrying the heating roller; a pair of ring-shaped current receiver members each located between the carrier and a center of the heating roller, a pair of current supply members being in contact with the current receiver members; and insulating members made of an electrical insulation material, each being in contact with an outer end of the current receiver member and extending toward the carrier, wherein a distance L3 from the inner end of the carrier to the outer end of the current receiver member is 1 mm or more, a sum (L1+L2) of a width L1 of the insulating member and a height L2 of the insulating member from the core roller is 2.5 mm or more, and the distance L3 and the width L1 satisfy a relationship of L3.gtoreq.L1.

Abstract: This invention relates to an image heating device comprising a heating member, a backup member for forming a nip in cooperation with the heating member, a temperature detecting element for detecting a temperature of the heating member, and heating condition determination means for determining a heating condition, according to a change rate of the temperature detected by the temperature detecting element while a recording sheet is held in the nip.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a take-up downstream from a heating surface for advancing corrugated paperboard sheet along a path of travel adjacent the heating surface; an initial sheet feeder for initially feeding a leading portion of the corrugated paperboard sheet along the path of travel; and sliding contact assemblies positioned opposite the heating surface for slidably contacting and applying pressure to urge the advancing corrugated paperboard sheet against the heating surface. Accordingly, heat is transferred from the heating surface to the moving corrugated paperboard sheet and without a conventional conveyor belt. The pressure applied by the sliding contact assemblies may be released when the initial sheet feeder is feeding the leading portion of the corrugated paperboard sheet. The apparatus may also generate a gas cushion to thereby reduce friction between the heating surface and the corrugated paperboard sheet when initially feeding the leading portion of the corrugated paperboard sheet.

Abstract: A food warming apparatus includes a housing defining at least one warming cavity having a ceiling. A heater warms food products within the cavity. A grate is provided within the cavity spaced below the ceiling of the cavity. At least one food tray is provided for containing food products and is supportable on the grate beneath the ceiling of the cavity. A seal is operatively associated between the top of the tray and the ceiling of the cavity. The grate includes a biasing portion for biasing the tray upwardly toward the ceiling to assure operability of the seal.

Abstract: A method and device for heating silicon carrier bodies in a deposition reactor are by means of radiated heat. In this method, the carrier bodies are irradiated by means of a heat radiation device which emits radiation having a color temperature of at least 2000.degree. C.

Abstract: The apparatus for making beverages comprises a kettle 15, a stand 10 and separable electrical connector means 16a,b to automatically connect the kettle with an electrical power supply connector in the stand when the kettle is placed on the stand; the stand is extended and provides a platform for a pot 13 and an electric heating member 14 is provided to heat a vessel on the platform alongside the kettle, and is provided with switch means to selectively energize the heating member and/or the kettle.

Abstract: A thermal processor and method for using the same which is particularly useful for developing a sheet of imaging material, such as photothermographic film. The thermal processor includes means for transporting the imaging material through the apparatus. The thermal processor also includes means for heating the imaging material to develop the image in the imaging material. The thermal processor also includes a fog reduction system which removes a gaseous by-product emitted from the imaging material which may cause fogging of the image as the image is developed on the imaging material.

Abstract: An apparatus for warming a bottle of refrigerant so as to elevate the pressure within the bottle and increase the rate of refrigerant flow through an open discharge valve. The apparatus includes a housing having a cradle positioned therein for receiving the bottle and spacing same from the walls of the housing to ensure proper air circulation through the interior space. A lid removably covers an opening in the housing and has a central aperture for the passage of the valve stem of the bottle. The lid also has an air intake vent and an air exhaust vent adjacent the central aperture. An air flow passageway connects the air intake vent with the air exhaust vent for circulating air to and from the interior space of the housing. An electrical resistance heater and an electric blower are positioned within the passageway. The blower impels air through the passageway from the air intake vent to the air exhaust vent and past the heater.

Abstract: An improved heat tunnel is provided for use with a thermo-forming press. The heat tunnel includes a first oven body having a heat source therein for applying heat to a web of thermo-formable material as the web is supported therein. The tunnel includes a second oven body having a heat source therein for applying heat to a web of thermo-formable material as the web is supported therein. Furthermore, the tunnel has an adjustable length tunnel body carried between the first and second oven bodies and configurable to adjust the overall length of the heat tunnel so as to realize a desired delivery of heat to a web of material being passed there through.

Abstract: The carrying case for storing and transporting heated articles includes a thermal storage assembly having a heat retention member for absorbing and retaining sensible heat and for releasing the sensible heat of a extended period time. The thermal storage assembly includes a heating coil assembly secured to a surface of the heat retention member. The heating coil assembly includes a resistive heating coil disposed adjacent to the heat retention member. The heating coil has a power cord connected to the coil with the coil being retained within a sealed thermally conductive pouch.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing laminated integrated circuit cubes includes a hermetically sealable oven chamber. At least one conductive heating device is used to heat the cube to a cure temperature. A vacuum source is connected to the oven chamber to remove gas from between the integrated circuit layers prior to curing. A press device applies pressure to the cube while it is heated under vacuum. A cooling gas is circulated through the oven chamber after curing. A cooling fluid can also be circulated through cooling channels in at least one wall of the oven chamber to cool the chamber.

Abstract: A vacuum coffee maker has a starved electric heating arrangement having a solid body providing a reservoir. The chamber is covered by a circular lid that prevents flow of steam directly vertically up a tube from the chamber. At the end of a normal heating cycle, the temperature of the body rises rapidly and power supplied to a heating element is automatically turned off under the control of a thermostat. The heating arrangement is used without alteration (e.g. to the setting of the thermostat) to keep-warm hot coffee in a lower container after the end of the normal heating coffee-making cycle. The effect of having the lid is that during a keep-warm function, the reservoir is generally starved of liquid because any liquid entering the reservoir is immediately evaporated and this restricts flow of more liquid into the reservoir and hence starves the reservoir.

Abstract: A lightwave cooking oven method and apparatus are disclosed wherein a thermistor determines an elevation temperature at a given location on the oven where oven secondary heating has a relation to the cooking time of the food and periodically reducing the power to lamps substantially midway during the normal cooking time at the beginning of which the elevated temperature was determined for a given recipe. The power can be reduced by being turned off or lowered.

Abstract: A food delivery container is provided for pizza or other food items and includes a heating element having a phase change material such as a ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene which transforms from a solid to a semi-solid at approximately 248.degree.-275.degree. F. The heating element comprises a rigid envelope which is permeable to prevent gaseous build-up during heating. The heating element, when placed within a suitable insulated container, will maintain food warm for several hours during storage or delivery. In one embodiment of the heating element, an electric resistance grid is provided for supplying heat energy.

Abstract: An oven assembly having a housing enclosing a cooking compartment and a blower compartment, and having a blower for circulating air within the cooking compartment, a door mounted to the housing, and a failsafe switch that is capable of deactivating the blower when the door is opened beyond a set point in the range between at least about 10% to 50%.

Abstract: A heat treatment apparatus for semiconductor wafers includes a reaction chamber, a heater, a heat-insulating member, a first cooling gas path, a second cooling gas path, a blower and a controller. The reaction chamber houses semiconductor wafers. The heater is provided outside the reaction chamber to heat it. The heat-insulating member is provided outside the heater to keep the temperature of the reaction chamber. The first cooling gas path is interposed between the reaction chamber and heater, while the second cooling gas path is disposed between the heater and heat-insulating member. The blower allows gas to flow through the first and second gas paths to cool the reaction chamber. The controller controls the heater to increase the temperature of the reaction chamber and does the blower to decrease the temperature thereof.

Abstract: A Nip Forming Fuser Roll (NFFR) fuser. The fuser is constructed to be self-stripping, that is, the roll contacted by the substrate carrying the toner images is fabricated from a relatively thick elastomeric material which under pressure exerted through contact of the nip forming members is sufficiently strained as the substrate passes in and out of the nip that the fuser roll is self-stripping. An external source of energy in addition to an internal source is used for elevating the surface temperature of the fuser roll member contacted by the toner image carrying substrate. A shield is provided for precluding contact of the external heat source by the substrate in the event of a misstrip. The shield which is fabricated from an infrared radiation transmissive polymer material is supported in intimate contact with the heated fuser member to minimize the presence of oxygen for minimizing the possibility of substrate combustion.

Abstract: A thermal processor particularly useful for developing a sheet of imaging material, such as photothermographic film. A thermal processor useful for thermally developing an image in an imaging material. At least a first roller and a second roller are positioned to contact the imaging material when the imaging material is transported into the thermal processor. A first heating means includes first and second curved, heated portions which wrap around a first circumferential portion of the first roller and the second roller to heat these rollers.

Abstract: A NFFR is disclosed which does not exhibit the phenomena of droop which can occur when the fuser switches from a standby to a run mode of operation. The elimination of droop is effected using an external heat source which together with an internal source of heat supplies heat to the surface of the heated fuser member to maintain its surface temperature at a preset standby value until such time as the fuser roll core reaches a temperature level sufficient to maintain the heated fuser member surface at a substantially constant temperature during standby and run modes of operation.

Abstract: There is disclosed an impedance-heated furnace for processing a nonflowable but conveyable material at the processing temperature comprising a nonrotating shell having electrical-conducting properties, and heated to a processing temperature using electrical impedance as the heat source. The shell includes an inlet and an outlet and a conveyor means, which also may be heated by impedance, for transporting or carrying the material along or through the shell. The resulting solids and any generated or volatilized gases are recovered separately.