Steam Generating Patents (Class 219/682)
  • Patent number: 11219331
    Abstract: An apparatus for preparing beverages comprises a water induction heater, a pump for feeding the water to the heater, a logic unit for controlling said heater and said pump, a device for heating and/or frothing milk, wherein said logic unit is configured for controlling the pump and the heater so that it is produced steam for heating and/or frothing the milk fed into said device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Inventor: Carlo Doglioni Majer
  • Patent number: 10813490
    Abstract: An inlet for steam ovens includes a movable fitting that shifts between extended and retracted positions. The water inlet assembly may be substantially hidden by an oven door when the oven door is in a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Dhanaji H. Bhosale, Massimiliano Frontini, Sachin Shinde, Gaurav N. Patil
  • Patent number: 10708985
    Abstract: The present application provides a cover body component, applied to a microwave oven, the cover body component including: a cover body, wherein the cover body defines a hollow cavity with one opening end; and at least one water storage portion arranged on the cover body and used for storing water, wherein a vent hole is arranged on the at least one water storage portion, and the vent hole is connected to the hollow cavity. According to the cover body component provided by the present application, the cover body component provided with the water storage portion is deployed, water is accommodated in the water storage portion, the vent hole on the water storage portion is away from a normal water level line in the water storage portion, moreover the vent hole on the water storage portion is connected to the hollow cavity of the cover body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignees: GUANGDONG MIDEA KITCHEN APPLIANCES MANUFACTURING CO., LTD., MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Haidong Lu, Bo Liu
  • Patent number: 10561273
    Abstract: A food cooking appliance which utilizes both steam and heat for rapidly cooking food products is disclosed. The food products are disposed within food containers which are effectively formed as openings within one or more plates or templates, wherein the openings may have different geometrical configurations and size dimensions, and the one or more plates or templates are pivotally movable between upper or raised non-cooking positions and lower cooking positions at which the food products, disposed within the openings, are disposed atop one or more heated grills or platens. One or more covers are also utilized to cover the plates or templates such that the food products are cooked within covered cooking chambers. A steam generator is also provided so as to generate steam which is fluidically conducted into the covered cooking chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: A. J. ANTUNES & CO.
    Inventors: Bhupendra R. Patel, Dipan Patel, Jignesh Patel, Francisco Vega
  • Patent number: 10517306
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a food conditioning apparatus is provided and comprises a heating chamber configured to receive food, a steam generator configured to generate steam for the chamber, at least one heating element configured to provide dry heat to the chamber and the food therein through at least one of radiation and convection, and a control system configured to automatically operate a sequence of at least two stages. At least one stage comprises the generating for the chamber during a first duration, and at least one other stage comprises providing dry heat to the chamber for a second duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Inventor: Udi Meirav
  • Patent number: 10337744
    Abstract: A heat cooking device comprises a casing, a heating chamber, and an exhaust duct having an outlet provided on a rear edge side of an upper surface of the casing such that exhaust air from an inside of the casing is blown out forward. An upper outer wall surface of a rear surface plate of the casing is covered by the exhaust duct to form an exhaust passage between the casing and the exhaust duct. A guidance part is provided inside the exhaust passage, and guides the water infiltrating into the exhaust passage through the outlet of the exhaust duct, downward inside the exhaust passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohiro Kitaura, Yoshikazu Kitaguchi, Noriko Izumi, Mari Nishide, Junichi Takeuchi, Yasuhiko Kamii, Yoshihiro Okamoto
  • Patent number: 10028450
    Abstract: A control system for a canopy to treat plants is disclosed. In one implementation according to examples of the present disclosure, a method comprises receiving a treatment temperature from a user device. The method further comprises flowing a fluid from a hot fluid generating system to a canopy. The method further comprises selectively enabling and disabling a fluid flow from the hot fluid generating system to the canopy to maintain the treatment temperature within the canopy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Skavis Corporation
    Inventors: Randall James Davis, Charles Francis Noll, Jr., Tom Wallis Airhart, James Seth Niece, Brian Lee Kelley, Matthew Phillip Vogel
  • Patent number: 9258851
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes: a supplied electric power value accepting unit accepting a supplied electric power value, which is a difference between an electric power value of microwaves incident on a microwave irradiation apparatus and an electric power value of microwaves reflected by the microwave irradiation apparatus; a temperature accepting unit; an electric energy calculating unit calculating an electric energy corresponding to a microwave irradiation time, using the supplied electric power value; a temperature change calculating unit calculating a temperature change corresponding to the microwave irradiation time, using the accepted temperature; a judging unit, using the electric energy, the temperature change, and a relational expression for associating the electric energy and the temperature change, judging whether the relational expression is satisfied within a tolerable range; and an output unit outputting occurrence of an abnormality, when it is judged that the relational express
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: MICROWAVE CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasunori Tsukahara, Akinori Ishizuka, Yukari Deguchi
  • Patent number: 8997638
    Abstract: A steam cooking apparatus includes a steam generating unit to generate steam from a supply of water, a steam container to cook food using the steam from the steam generating unit, a steam supply pipe coupled to the steam generating unit in order to supply the steam container with the steam generated by the steam generating unit, a steam pipe coupled to the steam container in order to supply the steam container with the steam passing through the steam supply pipe, and a steam pipe connection tube including a first connection portion coupled with the steam supply pipe and a second connection portion coupled with the steam pipe, the second connection portion coupled with the steam pipe being formed to have a diameter which is expanded toward the steam pipe so as to guide the steam pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Guan Yong Park, Jae Hyoun Kim, Han Seong Kang, Yun Ic Hwang, Kyoung Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 8876969
    Abstract: A process for lowering the carbon content in ash includes introducing the ash having a carbon content of 1 to 20 wt-% into a reactor where the ash is burnt at a temperature between 700 and 1100° C. Fuel is also introduced into the reactor. During combustion, microwave radiation is fed into the reactor. At least part of the energy released during the combustion is recovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Nikola Anastasijevic, Guenter Schneider
  • Patent number: 8863654
    Abstract: A cooking device has a casing 1, a heating chamber 8 provided in the casing 1, an exhaust tube 18 for guiding exhaust from inside of the heating chamber 8 through an electric component chamber 9 in the casing 1 to front face side, and a dew receiving container 4 that is provided on front face side of the casing 1 and that receives and diffuses the exhaust from the exhaust tube 18 to outside of the casing 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinji Asami, Takashi Utsumi, Shinya Ueda, Hiroyuki Kato
  • Patent number: 8847130
    Abstract: A heating unit can reduce the rate of power consumption for heating a vehicle, so that the running distance of the vehicle is increased and hence the battery charging cycle of the vehicle is prolonged. A heating unit of a vehicle heating system includes a casing made of a metal material capable of electromagnetically shielding microwaves, a support arranged in the hollow section of the casing, a plurality of microwave absorbing/heat emitting members arranged at the support and a microwave outputting unit arranged in the casing to output microwaves toward respective microwave absorbing/heat emitting members, blown air being heated by heat generated as a result of absorption of microwaves by the microwave absorbing/heat emitting members at the time for blown air to flow from the upstream side to the downstream side in the hollow sections of the microwave absorbing/heat emitting members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignees: Kabushiki-Kaisha TAKUMI, Kabushiki-Kaisha Lead Industry
    Inventors: Norio Niwa, Ryousei Noda, Hiroki Anzai
  • Patent number: 8785828
    Abstract: A cooking device comprises: a body casing (1); a heating chamber (2) disposed within the body casing (1) and provided with a gas discharge opening; a gas discharge path having one end connected to the gas discharge opening of the heating chamber; a cooling fan disposed within the body casing (1) and cooling an electric component; and a cooling path formed within the body casing (1) and leading from an outside-air suction opening (100) through the cooling fan and an electric component chamber to a cool-air introducing opening (31a) in a gas discharge duct (30). At least a part of cooling air from the cooling fan flows along the cooling path, passes through a space near heaters (14, 14) within the body casing (1), enters the gas discharge duct (30) from the cool-air introducing opening (31a), and is discharged from a gas-discharge external opening (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoneo Komuro
  • Patent number: 8772685
    Abstract: A microwave steam cooking container system for cooking foodstuff, comprising a water reservoir, a food container comprising a plurality of apertures on a bottom thereof, an outer wall portion and an inner wall portion, and a microwave shielding material encapsulated between said inner and outer wall portions, a cover comprising an inner wall portion and an outer wall portion, and a microwave shielding material encapsulated between said cover inner and said cover outer wall portions, wherein said food container is stacked and removably placed within said water reservoir, wherein in the assembled position the foodstuff to be cooked is shielded from cooking by direct exposure to microwave energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Dart Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Dimitri M. C. J. Backaert, Maartkin Demuynck
  • Patent number: 8695487
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cooking appliance provided with: a water tank (30) disposed inside a main case (10); a steam-generation device (40) that generates steam by heating water supplied from the water tank (30); a heating chamber (20) to which steam from the steam-generation device (40) is supplied; an exhaust duct (72), provided inside the main case (10), for expelling exhaust from inside the heating chamber (20) to outside the main case (10); an exhaust temperature sensor (74) that measures the temperature of the exhaust air inside the exhaust duct (72); and a steam-generation decision unit that, upon cooking in which steam is supplied from the steam-generation unit (40) into the heating chamber (20), uses information on a physical quantity (the exhaust temperature measured by the exhaust temperature sensor (74)), which indirectly indicates whether there is water in the steam-generation device (40), to decide whether or not to halt steam generation, including the case in which the water tank (30) is out of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuaki Sakane, Toshiaki Ueki
  • Patent number: 8492691
    Abstract: A portable and microwave safe container for steaming food. The container includes a lid, having an upper and lower portion, for coupling over a substantially circular food chamber. The upper and lower lid portions are connected together for holding water and creating steam therebetween when microwaved. The lower lid portion includes a middle portion and an outwardly extending sloped channel for holding water therein. The middle portion includes a plurality of steam holes for allowing steam to escape after the water is heated and move into the food chamber for heating the food contained therein. The food chamber has a lip for allowing the lower lid portion to securely rest thereon and cover the food chamber. A pivoting handle is affixed to the lid for locking the lid to the food chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Inventor: Sonia Corella Hernandez
  • Patent number: 8367989
    Abstract: The invention relates to a removable lid for defining a food cooking or heating enclosure (5) in a microwave oven, comprising an outer wall (2) pervious to microwaves and sealed for air and steam, an inner wall (3) pervious for microwaves and adapted for the passage of air and steam, and an intermediate ply (4) made of a porous water-retaining material and provided between the inner and outer walls, characterised in that the outer wall (2) includes at its inner face oriented towards the inner wall (3) at least one convex conformation (10) for defining a cold condensation area, the inner wall (3) being open opposite each convex conformation in order to expose at least the portion of the intermediate ply (4) surrounding the convex conformation (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Inventor: Georges Pralus
  • Patent number: 8354071
    Abstract: A sterilizing device is described, for sterilizing items through steam sterilization. The device has a base and a cover that couple to form an enclosed space, with an item mount provided within the enclosed space. A portion of water is provided in the base portion, which can be converted to steam in a microwave to sterilize any items placed on the mount. The device further employs several downward-facing valves to provide for the release of steam and the draining of excess or heated water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Handy Baby Products Limited
    Inventor: Martina Maria Delaney
  • Patent number: 8304697
    Abstract: A smoker device having a low profile fits beneath the lower most rack of an oven thereby allowing full use of all possible shelves of the oven. The smoker device comprises a uniquely shaped bi-level heater element that allows the smoker device pan to be cradled just above the bottom wall of the oven chamber. A method and system allow a processor control of the smoker device manually or automatically as a part of a programmed recipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Cleveland Range, LLC
    Inventors: Owen R. McGhee, Jr., David R. Lastoria, David S. Schwerzler
  • Patent number: 8222572
    Abstract: A steam generator for food processor comprising a shell separated into a sink and a steam generating chamber, wherein the sink has an inlet for importing water from a water source, and the bottom of the sink has an outlet in communication with the steam generating chamber, wherein the generating chamber comprises a heater inside for heating the flowed-in water, as well as a steam outlet. The steam generator is separated from the cavity of the food processor and will not be polluted by the food, so that the generated steam remains pure, which ensures food safety and the taste, and the heating unit of the steam generating device does not connect with the cavity of the microwave oven, so the cavity will not be distorted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Tsann Kuen (China) Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Huaili Zhang, Yunhua Chen, Chihming Wen
  • Patent number: 8191465
    Abstract: An oven includes a scanning mechanism that facilitates cooking food items according to cooking recipes/programs associated with the food items. The oven may include a Bluetooth link to facilitate receipt of cooking programs and other information, as well as export of data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Premark FEG L.L.C.
    Inventors: David D. Sager, Sebastien R. Delbos, Michel G. Foray
  • Patent number: 8161870
    Abstract: A heating cooker includes a steam generator for generating steam for heating cooking, a removable water tank for storing water to be supplied to the steam generator, a pump 35 for supplying water from the water tank to the steam generator, a drain valve 70 for draining water within the steam generator into the water tank, a first timer TM1 which starts counting when water is supplied to the steam generator by the pump 35, and an operation panel 11 including a notification section for notifying of draining the water within the water tank. When the first timer TM1 has counted over a first specified time, the control unit 80 makes the operation panel 11 notify of draining the water within the water tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Yamamoto, Masahiro Nishijima, Toshiaki Ueki
  • Publication number: 20120043315
    Abstract: A cooking device includes a casing, a heating chamber (102) provided in the casing and having an opening on a front side thereof, and a heat shield member (122) for blocking heat that transfers from the heating chamber (102) toward the casing. At least a part of the heat shield member (122) is located in a position that enables the heat shield member (122) to receive water droplets dropping through between the heating chamber (102) and the casing (101). The configuration reduces the possibility that a motor (133) and other components located below the heating chamber (102) fails by becoming wet due to condensate water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Inventors: Hiromi Suenaga, Shigenori Morimoto
  • Publication number: 20120043318
    Abstract: A cooking device comprises: a body casing (1); a heating chamber (2) disposed within the body casing (1) and provided with a gas discharge opening; a gas discharge path having one end connected to the gas discharge opening of the heating chamber; a cooling fan disposed within the body casing (1) and cooling an electric component; and a cooling path formed within the body casing (1) and leading from an outside-air suction opening (100) through the cooling fan and an electric component chamber to a cool-air introducing opening (31a) in a gas discharge duct (30). At least a part of cooling air from the cooling fan flows along the cooling path, passes through a space near heaters (14, 14) within the body casing (1), enters the gas discharge duct (30) from the cool-air introducing opening (31a), and is discharged from a gas-discharge external opening (28).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Inventor: Yoneo Komuro
  • Patent number: 8093537
    Abstract: A process for the production of short cooking time rice is characterized by that hulled rice of at least 10% moisture content, if required in packaging suitable for ready cooking, is heat treated for 1 to 30 minutes continuously or interrupted by equal or alternating capacity microwave radiation, to reach maximum 130° C. An apparatus for the production of short cooking time rice has a microwave furnace with a tunnel made from a suitable material, wherein the rice packed into packages is movable within the tunnel by a conveyor. Regarding the easy and short process, a remarkable energy saving is possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignees: Linn High Therm GmbH, Alfoldi Malomipari RT.
    Inventors: Horst Linn, Andras Vass, Ivanne Pallai, Gyula Fazekas, Janos Kovacs, Istvan Edes
  • Publication number: 20110215091
    Abstract: A combination oven that is operable with convection air, impingement air, microwave energy and steam in various combinations thereof. The oven has an oven chamber and a fan box that are located front to back. A fan in the fan box circulates heated air by discharging via openings in a top and a bottom and taking in via an intermediate opening of a baffle plate. Impingement plates are easily installed and removed in the oven chamber to provide impingement air upwardly or downwardly. Microwave energy is provided through the side walls of the oven chamber. Intake ports for cooling air are located in a bevel between the side walls and bottom wall of the oven's outer enclosure so as to allow the oven to be located right next to other structures, such as a wall. An interlock assembly is also provided for the oven door. A steam generation apparatus provides steam assist and includes a steam generation unit, a steam controller and means to control retention and release of steam via the oven's vent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Inventor: Keith A. Stanger
  • Patent number: 7977612
    Abstract: A container for microwavable food has a main container part for accommodating a food product to be cooked and open from above, a cover covering the main container part from above, and at least one insert accommodated in the container part and provided with a plurality of perforations for placing a food product to be steamed on the insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Inventors: Mariean Levy, Marvin Levy, Paul Lam
  • Publication number: 20110147376
    Abstract: A cooking device comprises: a heating chamber (11) equipped with a placement section (11d), the placement section (11d) being adapted such that a tray (17) is placed thereon, the tray (17) having a placement net (17a) for placing thereon an object to be cooked; a vapor generating device (1) for generating vapor and supplying the vapor between the placement net (17a) and the tray (17); a circulation duct (12) having a circulation fan (16) and circulating gas in the heating chamber (11); a convection heater (15) provided in the circulation duct (12); a gas supply opening (38) provided below the tray (17); a gas discharge opening (41) provided below the tray (17); and a magnetron (33) for supplying a microwave to the heating chamber (11).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Shinya Ueda, Hideo Shimoda, Takashi Utsumi
  • Patent number: 7947934
    Abstract: To provide a high-frequency cooking apparatus of which installation performance, handling performance, and quality can be enhanced. A high-frequency cooking apparatus 10 for heat-processing an object to be heated, by supplying high frequency and steam into a heating chamber, is provided with a water tank 13 which stores water for generating the steam. The water tank 13 is detachably assembled toward the front to a lower part of a body 11 of the high-frequency cooking apparatus which has the heating chamber, and a tray 12 is integrally assembled to the water tank 13.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Ikuhiro Inada, Tomotaka Nobue, Yuji Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 7926274
    Abstract: The Rankine engine with efficient heat exchange system provides a rapidly rechargeable thermal energy storage bank operably connected to a heat engine capable of propelling a vehicle. Microwave energy is supplied to the system via a network of waveguides. Thermal storage bank has a slurry in a heat exchanger capable of sustaining operation of the engine without requiring the microwave source. The slurry provides a mixture of powdered stainless steel and silicone oils functioning as the working fluid in the hot side of the heat exchanger. The slurry may be heated by plugging the system into standard AC power for a predetermined microwave heat charging duration. A closed, triple-expansion, reciprocating Rankine cycle engine capable of operating under computer control via a high pressure micro-atomized steam working medium is provided to propel the vehicle. A variety of working fluids are capable of powering the Rankine cycle engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: FSTP Patent Holding Co., LLC
    Inventor: Stephen J. Farkaly
  • Patent number: 7928339
    Abstract: A device for producing a gas plasma by ionisation of a gas using a microwave source of determined nominal power (Pn), includes a magnetron 7 receiving its electric energy from a supply circuit. The device is characterized in that the power (Pd) delivered by the supply circuit to the magnetron 7 is no more than one quarter of the nominal power (Pn) of the magnetron 7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Societe pour la Conception des Application des Technique Electroniques-SATELEC
    Inventors: Pascal Regere, André Ricard, Sarah Cousty
  • Patent number: 7915568
    Abstract: The present invention disclosed a multifunction microwave oven with superheated steam and the control method thereof, so as to heat the food uniformly and to provide versatile heating modes including at least superheated steam mode, ordinary steam mode and convective hot flow mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Inventor: Dong-Iei Wang
  • Publication number: 20100163553
    Abstract: A microwave steam cooking container system for cooking foodstuff, comprising a water reservoir, a food container comprising a plurality of apertures on a bottom thereof, an outer wall portion and an inner wall portion, and a microwave shielding material encapsulated between said inner and outer wall portions, a cover comprising an inner wall portion and an outer wall portion, and a microwave shielding material encapsulated between said cover inner and said cover outer wall portions, wherein said food container is stacked and removably placed within said water reservoir, wherein in the assembled position the foodstuff to be cooked is shielded from cooking by direct exposure to microwave energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: Dart Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Dimitri M.C.J. BACKAERT, Maartkin DEMUYNCK
  • Patent number: 7692124
    Abstract: Provided is an air flow passage of a microwave oven including: a cavity for accommodating foods therein; an electric component chamber disposed at a predetermined portion of the cavity; a suction hole formed at one sided portion of the cavity such that the cavity communicates with the electric component chamber; an exhaust hole formed at the other sided portion of the cavity, through which air sucked through the suction hole is exhausted; an exhaust guide covering an outer wall of the cavity where the exhaust hole is formed, for guiding air exhausted through the exhaust hole to an outside of the microwave oven; and a back plate having an exhaust passage hole communicating with one end of the exhaust guide, through which air is exhausted. According to the present invention, hot air of an inside of the microwave oven can be smoothly exhausted. In particular, since the exhausted air does not return to the electric component chamber, cooling efficiency can be enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Duck Gil Lee
  • Patent number: 7677161
    Abstract: There is provided a highly safe steam oven capable of controlling the amount of steam generated appropriately. Water dripped from a water feeder to the inside of a cooking chamber is converted into steam by a heater in the cooking chamber. The thus generated steam in the cooking chamber is discharged through a steam channel which keeps the inside of the cooking chamber connected to the outside of the steam oven. The temperature of steam passing through the steam channel is measured by a steam temperature measuring device. The amount of water fed from the water feeder is controlled in response to the measured temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignees: Fujimak Corporation, Extein Corporation, Jamco Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Matsuo, Hiroyuki Hozumi, Yoichi Kurita
  • Patent number: 7669591
    Abstract: According to the invention, a steam generator is provided with a housing for forming a steam generating chamber, the housing having a steam outlet port. A heater plate is supported by the housing within the steam generating chamber. A water inlet valve is fluidly connected to the housing for selectively supplying water into the steam generating chamber whereby water is directed to the heater plate for conversion to steam. The heater plate forms a bottom wall of the steam generating chamber and is arranged to have a high point. The water inlet valve is opened and closed in accord with a duty cycle which alternates between two phases: a fill phase duty cycle and a steady state duty cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Laura Fossati, Davide Parachini, Nicola Bedetti, Robert Eckstein, Willemen Mauritz
  • Patent number: 7645966
    Abstract: An attachment structure of a storage unit having: a tank casing body; a tank casing door member, and a lock portion; and an operation member, and a push button, wherein: an outer circumference of a storage unit is surrounded with an opening portion of an exterior panel; the push button is protruded from an outer surface of the exterior panel in a mount position of the exterior panel when the exterior panel is in assembling work; and a space for inserting a circumferential edge of the opening portion of the exterior panel is formed on the back of the push button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Hayakawa, Kouji Kanzaki, Toshifumi Kamiya, Takashi Sugimoto, Yasuhiko Inoue, Yukikazu Niizuma
  • Publication number: 20090212045
    Abstract: A steam generator for food processor comprising a shell separated into a sink and a steam generating chamber, wherein the sink has an inlet for importing water from a water source, and the bottom of the sink has an outlet in communication with the steam generating chamber, wherein the generating chamber comprises a heater inside for heating the flowed-in water, as well as a steam outlet. The steam generator is separated from the cavity of the food processor and will not be polluted by the food, so that the generated steam remains pure, which ensures food safety and the taste, and the heating unit of the steam generating device does not connect with the cavity of the microwave oven, so the cavity will not be distorted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: TSANN KUEN (CHINA) ENTERPRISE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Huaili Zhang, Yunhua Chen, Chihming Wen
  • Publication number: 20090212044
    Abstract: The present invention seeks to solve the above problem by providing a cooking appliance comprising a cooking appliance comprising a heating component; an area for receiving, in use, an ingredient storage device comprising a plurality of ingredient locations, each ingredient location storing an ingredient; control means; and a cooking region the appliance being arranged to selectively control, in use, in accordance with instructions provided by the control means, the cooking position of the ingredient locations such that the ingredient in a location is only heated when said location coincides with the cooking region, to bring, in use, the ingredients to readiness for consumption at the same time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: The Technology Partnership PLC
    Inventors: John Stanton, Sarah Barrington, David Anderson
  • Patent number: 7414227
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to achieve a high frequency heating apparatus having a steam generating function that can implement simplification and miniaturization of the construction of a steam supply mechanism by omitting dedicated pump means for supplying water of a water tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouji Kanzaki, Yuji Hayakawa
  • Publication number: 20080148962
    Abstract: This is an oven with at least dual heating by microwaves (10), on the one hand, and by indirect steam (12), on the other, comprising a cooking cavity (1) and an external steam generator, connected to the cavity (1) by a steam supply pipe emerging in the cavity (1) through an opening (3). An obstacle to microwave radiation (136) is arranged in the said opening (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: PREMARK FEG L.L.C.
    Inventor: Gerard Beausse
  • Publication number: 20080073338
    Abstract: To provide a high-frequency cooking apparatus of which installation performance, handling performance, and quality can be enhanced. A high-frequency cooking apparatus 10 for heat-processing an object to be heated, by supplying high frequency and steam into a heating chamber, is provided with a water tank 13 which stores water for generating the steam. The water tank 13 is detachably assembled toward the front to a lower part of a body 11 of the high-frequency cooking apparatus which has the heating chamber, and a tray 12 is integrally assembled to the water tank 13.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ikuhiro Inada, Tomotaka Nobue, Yuji Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 7326893
    Abstract: A high frequency heating apparatus having a steam generating function including a heater main body 111 embedded with heater 27, a transport tube heating portion 113 for boiling a liquid in a transport tube 112, and a heat conduction control portion 114 comprising a material having a heat conductivity smaller than a heat conductivity of a material forming an evaporating portion 25 and capable of restraining adherence of scale in accordance with local boiling in the transport tube by reducing an amount of heat conducted to the transport tube 112 while ensuring heat energy supplied to an evaporating side by setting heater to a high temperature. Further, a steam supply mechanism for excellently maintaining a balance of supply of the heat energy to a side of a transport portion and a side of an evaporating portion and continuously generating steam at a high temperature near to 100° C. can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouji Kanzaki, Yasuhisa Mori, Masato Matsuda, Hiroshi Kawai
  • Patent number: 7304278
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a high frequency heating apparatus having a steam generating function in which a time required for evaporation of dropped water can be remarkably increased when water is dropped onto an evaporation tray and the heating efficiency is high. The high frequency heating apparatus has a steam generating function that includes a high frequency generator and a steam generator that includes an evaporation tray provided on the bottom surface of a heating chamber in which a heating target is mounted and a heater device for heating the evaporation tray to generate steam in the heating chamber, wherein the heater device is constructed as a heater device (11) having a sheathed heater (113) embedded in an aluminum die cast (111), and the heater device is directly attached to the back side of the evaporation tray (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouji Kanzaki, Yuji Hayakawa, Takahiko Yamasaki, Yasuhisa Mori, Takayuki Akashi, Hiroshi Kawai
  • Patent number: 7199340
    Abstract: A high frequency heating apparatus 100 having a high frequency generating portion 13 and a steam generating portion 15 for generating steam into a heating chamber 11 for accommodating a thing to be heated and serving to supply at least one of a high frequency and steam into the heating chamber 11, thereby heating the thing to heated, includes a pan 21 which serves to mount the thing to be heated thereon and is provided to be upward removable apart from a bottom face of the heating chamber 11 at a predetermined interval, thereby dividing a space in the heating chamber 11, steam delivery means 29 for supplying the steam generated by the steam generating portion 15 into an upper space positioned above the pan 21, and preheating means 17 for raising an atmospheric temperature in the heating chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiko Yamasaki, Yasuhisa Mori, Satomi Uchiyama
  • Patent number: 7166824
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a high-frequency heating apparatus with steam generation function and control method thereof. When high-frequency heating treatment for heat-treating with a high frequency and steam heating treatment for heat-treating with steam generated in a heating chamber are performed in order separately or at the same time for heat-treating the heated material, while air in the heating chamber is agitated, the air is circulated in the heating chamber. An appropriate heating program is automatically selected in response to the type of heated material to perform heat treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouji Kanzaki, Yuji Hayakawa, Satomi Uchiyama, Kenji Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7112770
    Abstract: A humidification system and method particularly well adapted for use in commercial aircraft to provide substantially micro-organism free humidified air within a passenger cabin of the aircraft. The system employs a vessel for holding a quantity of water therein. The vessel is disposed within a microwave oven which is used to heat the water within the vessel to the boiling point such that steam is generated therefrom. This steam is directed into an airflow duct and used to humidify an airflow being supplied into a cabin area of the aircraft. The steam is substantially micro-organism free. A controller is used to cycle the filling and draining of the vessel to achieve a desired humidity level for the airflow. Optimally, a vacuum accumulator is employed to assist in rapid draining of the water from the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Justin H. Doh, George Bates, III
  • Patent number: 7105785
    Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a high-frequency heating apparatus which has simple configuration, in which leakage into the apparatus from a water tank is prevented without large-sizing the apparatus, which is not influenced by heat from a heating chamber and which is sanitary and provides ease of use. To achieve the object, the high-frequency heating apparatus 100 provided with a high frequency generator that supplies a high frequency to the heating chamber for housing an object to be heated and a steam generator that generates steam in the heating chamber for supplying at least either a high frequency or steam to the heating chamber and heating the object to be heated is provided and the water tank for supplying water to the steam generator is arranged in any position on the outside face of the high-frequency heating apparatus 100 so that the water tank can be detached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouji Kanzaki, Yuji Hayakawa, Masaharu Tsujimoto, Toshifumi Kamiya
  • Patent number: 7105786
    Abstract: A high frequency heating apparatus with steam generation function for supplying at least any one of high frequency and steam to a heating chamber 11 for accommodating an object to be heated and heat-treating the object to be heated, the apparatus has a high frequency generating part 13, a steam generating part 15 for generating steam inside the heating chamber 11, a temperature detecting part 20 for detecting temperature of the steam generating part, and a control part 501 for controlling a heater, wherein the steam generating part is controlled to heat based on temperature information of the temperature detecting part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouji Kanzaki, Yuji Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 7087873
    Abstract: A high-frequency heating apparatus with a steam generating function, which heat-treats a to-be-heated object by supplying at least high-frequency waves or steam to a heating chamber 11 that accommodates the object. This high-frequency heating apparatus has a high frequency wave generating portion 13, a steam generating portion 15 for generating steam in the heating chamber 11, and a circulating fan 17 for agitating air in the heating chamber 11. Moreover, the high-frequency heating apparatus has a chamber air heater 19 for heating air circulating in the heating chamber 11. The steam generating portion 15 generates steam by heating an evaporating dish 35 that has a water storing recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Hayakawa, Kouji Kanzaki