Abstract: A microwave heating device includes radiating portions adapted to radiate microwaves to the heating chamber and is operated according to operational configurations that differ in frequency or in phase shift(s) between the radiated microwaves. A learning procedure is executed by sequentially operating the radiating portions in several operational configurations. Energy efficiency data are calculated for those operational configurations. An operating frequency is selected based on energy efficiency data. An operational configuration with a maximum energy efficiency at the selected operating frequency is taken as a reference. A heating procedure is executed by sequentially operating the radiating portions in operational configurations having the selected operating frequency and respective phase shift(s) chosen around the respective phase shift(s) of the reference operational configuration.

Abstract: An apparatus for defrosting or cooking foods, the apparatus including both radio frequency dielectric heating means and an induction heating means. The radio frequency dielectric heating means includes at least two electrodes positioned at a treatment zone, and a device for applying, between the electrodes, a difference in electric potential which is variable with a frequency between 1 MHz and 300 MHz. The induction heating means is electromagnetically coupled to at least one of the electrodes which is at least partly made of ferromagnetic material, such that the electrode transmits heat to the food.

Abstract: An apparatus for simultaneously heating a plurality of food products, comprising: a containment structure forming a housing chamber; one or more separating elements mounted in the housing chamber to delimit a plurality of separate housing compartments for receiving the food products; radio frequency dielectric heating means with an operating frequency of between 1 MHz and 300 MHz, mounted in the containment structure and comprising at least one first electrode and one second electrode; wherein the housing compartments are aligned along a row, the first electrode and the second electrode delimiting on two opposite sides the row; and wherein inside the housing chamber, between the first electrode and the second electrode, there is also at least one inductor.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a microwave heating device and a method for operating a microwave heating device, in particular to heat at least one product inside a heating chamber of the device. The microwave heating device comprises at least two radiating portions that are adapted to radiate microwaves to the heating chamber and can be operated according to a plurality of operational configurations that differ in frequency and/or in phase shift(s) between the radiated microwaves. A learning procedure can be executed by sequentially operating the at least two radiating portions in several operational configurations. Energy efficiency data are calculated for those operational configurations. An operating frequency can be selected, the selection being based on energy efficiency data. An operational configuration with a maximum energy efficiency at the selected operating frequency may be taken as a reference.

Abstract: A microwave heating device and a method for operating a microwave heating device to heat a product inside a heating chamber includes at least two radiating portions that are adapted to radiate microwaves to the heating chamber and can be operated according to a plurality of operational configurations that differ in frequency or phase shift(s) between the radiated microwaves. A learning procedure can be executed by sequentially operating the radiating portions in several operational configurations for which energy efficiency data are calculated. An operating frequency can be selected via an algorithm that optimizes a mathematical function based on energy efficiency data. An operational configuration with a maximum energy efficiency at the selected operating frequency may be taken as a reference.

Abstract: A microwave heating device includes radiating portions adapted to radiate microwaves to the heating chamber and is operated according to operational configurations that differ in frequency or in phase shift(s) between the radiated microwaves. A learning procedure is executed by sequentially operating the radiating portions in several operational configurations. Energy efficiency data are calculated for those operational configurations. An operating frequency is selected based on energy efficiency data. An operational configuration with a maximum energy efficiency at the selected operating frequency is taken as a reference. A heating procedure is executed by sequentially operating the radiating portions in operational configurations having the selected operating frequency and respective phase shift(s) chosen around the respective phase shift(s) of the reference operational configuration.

Abstract: An apparatus for defrosting and/or cooking foods, comprising both radio frequency dielectric heating means (15) and induction heating means (21); the radio frequency dielectric heating means (15) comprises at least two electrodes (16) positioned at a treatment zone (4), and a device (17) for applying between the electrodes (16) a difference in electric potential which is variable with a frequency of between 1 MHz and 300 MHz, while the induction heating means (21) are electromagnetic ally coupled to at least one of the electrodes (16) which is at least partly made of ferromagnetic material, for, in use, heating it in such a way that the electrode (16) transmits heat to the food (5).

Abstract: An apparatus for simultaneously heating a plurality of food products, comprising: a containment structure forming a housing chamber; one or more separating elements mounted in the housing chamber to delimit a plurality of separate housing compartments for receiving the food products; radio frequency dielectric heating means with an operating frequency of between 1 MHz and 300 MHz, mounted in the containment structure and comprising at least one first electrode and one second electrode; wherein the housing compartments are aligned along a row, the first electrode and the second electrode delimiting on two opposite sides the row; and wherein inside the housing chamber, between the first electrode and the second electrode , there is also at least one inductor.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a microwave heating device and a method for operating a microwave heating device, in particular to heat at least one product inside a heating chamber of the device. The microwave heating device comprises at least two radiating portions that are adapted to radiate microwaves to the heating chamber and can be operated according to a plurality of operational configurations that differ in frequency and/or in phase shift(s) between the radiated microwaves. A learning procedure can be executed by sequentially operating the at least two radiating portions in several operational configurations. Energy efficiency data are calculated for those operational configurations. An operating frequency can be selected, the selection being based on energy efficiency data. An operational configuration with a maximum energy efficiency at the selected operating frequency may be taken as a reference.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a microwave heating device and a method for operating a microwave heating device, in particular to heat at least one product inside a heating chamber of the device. The microwave heating device comprises at least two radiating portions that are adapted to radiate microwaves to the heating chamber and can be operated according to a plurality of operational configurations that differ in frequency and/or in phase shift(s) between the radiated microwaves. A learning procedure can be executed by sequentially operating the at least two radiating portions in several operational configurations. Energy efficiency data are calculated for those operational configurations. An operating frequency can be selected via an algorithm that optimizes a mathematical function based on energy efficiency data. An operational configuration with a maximum energy efficiency at the selected operating frequency may be taken as a reference.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for heating a food product constituted of a sandwich or the like, before it is consumed, in which the food product 4 is enclosed between at least a first heating element 6 and a second heating element 7 facing each other, the first heating element 6 comprising a first plurality 8 of electrically conductive raised elements 9 protruding towards the second heating element 7, and the second heating element 7 comprising a second plurality 10 of electrically conductive raised elements 9 protruding towards the first heating element 6, and is radio frequency heated using the raised elements 9 as electrodes 11, 12.

Abstract: An apparatus for heating foods comprises a supporting structure, a treatment zone designed to receive at least one food product to be heated, a radio frequency dielectric heating system, a system for moderating the temperature of at least one surface of the food product during heating. The temperature moderating system comprises at least one fluid container intended to be interposed between an electrode of the dielectric heating system and a surface of the food product received in the treatment zone. During use of the apparatus, the radio frequency dielectric heating system supplies energy to the food product in the treatment zone, the at least one fluid container receives thermal energy from the surface of the food product, a fluid circulates in the at least one fluid container between the infeed and the outfeed for removing at least part of the thermal energy received.