Abstract: A continuous microwave furnace (10) with furnace modules (12) is described, which modules, in a series of sequential placement, one after the other, form a heated zone. On the respective housing casing (14) is provided at least one microwave radiating source (30) located at a corresponding radiation window (31). In each respective furnace module (12) a sheet steel bottom (26) is furnished, this being adjustable as to height and is constructed with secondary radiating openings (28). In the continuous microwave furnace (10) is provided a transport apparatus (33), which is constructed of a conveyor belt or transport rollers. Air openings (35) can be supplied, neighboring the radiation window (31) of the respective microwave radiation source (30). The respective radiation source (30) is then combined with an air regulating apparatus (45).

Abstract: This disclosure sets forth a microwave sintering process for green oxide particles introduced from a source such as a hopper or a container, a downwardly directed funnel and a discharge outlet from the funnel. Particles are introduced into an elongate rotatable tube. The tube is inclined at a controlled angle. Particles traverse the tube, passing through a central heating zone between inlet and outlet. The time interval of the particles in the heating zone is controlled by adjustment of the angle of inclination, particle size, and rotation rate to assure that all particles are processed and converted from green to sintered oxide particles.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to the fabrication of a highly wear layer either directly upon an article or tool support structure or body, or as a wear resistant insert or element which is subsequently attached to the tool body. The wear material is formed by sintering particulate material using the absorption of microwave energy as a means of heating. The disclosure also encompasses post manufacture annealing, using heating by microwave radiation, of both highly wear resistant inserts and composite articles which consist of a wear resistant layer and a body. The wear resistant material, whether fabricated directly upon an article or fabricated separately and subsequently affixed to an article, provides an abrasive wear surface and greatly increases the life of the article. Microwave sintered wear resistant surfaces for mills, drills, grinders, brakes, bearings, saw blades and other articles and assemblies are disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the processing of a material in a sealed rotating drum by exposing the material to an electromagnetic field, and more particularly to a source of microwave energy, while the material is moving through the drum. The material is moved through the drum by fixed specially shaped fins on the inside of the drum, a freely rotating spiral on the inside of the drum, or placing the drum on a slope to move the material by gravity. Special carriers are placed in the drum to recirculate in the drum and mull and grind the material and keep the drum wall clean. If the material is to be processed by a microwave and the material being processed is microwave absorptive, the carriers can be made of a microwave reflective material such as stainless steel. If the material is to be processed by a microwave and the material being processed is microwave transparent, the carriers can be made of an absorptive material such as magnetic steel.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for baking dough capable of easily adjusting the texture of dough without changing the mixture of ingredients of the dough. The apparatus includes a microwave irradiation part provided with a downstream belt conveyor and an upstream belt conveyor which is disposed immediately before the downstream belt conveyor and moves slower than the downstream belt conveyor. When the apparatus is incorporated into a crumb production line or bread production line, crumbs and bread having different dough textures can be easily baked.

Abstract: A microwave furnace for heating materials has a microwave chamber with two microwave compartments made of microwave reflective material for retaining microwaves. One of the compartments is fixed and has an opening for discharging heated material. The other compartment is a rotating drum. The furnace also includes an elongated tubular member having a first and second open end. The tubular member is made of a microwave transparent material and is retained within the microwave chamber. A feeding mechanism feeds the material to be heated into the first end of the tubular member. The microwave furnace is provided with a mount for supporting the tubular member within the rotating microwave chamber by clasping the tubular member. The mount is adapted to rotate the tubular member along its axis and to position the tubular member such that the second end of the tubular member is substantially adjacent to the discharge opening of the fixed microwave chamber.

Abstract: A pass through oven system using a microwave oven with doors and a conveyor belt passing through the oven cavity. A sensor system detects the food item on the conveyor belt and identifies the food item. A controller in response to the sensor system moves the conveyor so that the food item is positioned within the cavity of the microwave oven, automatically engages the oven for a preset duration depending upon the identity of the food item and then moves the conveyor to remove the food item from the cavity.

Abstract: A frit-drying system for cathode ray tubes is to utilize VHF and it is to evaporate organic matters which are contained in the frit spread on the funnel by a VHF dielectric heating method that matters with dipole components are heated from the inner part of the frit by dielectric loss of VHF when the VHF is injected on the matters with dipole components. A frit-drying system for cathode ray tubes utilizing VHF includes a funnel transferring device, and a main furnace body which defines the VHF room for drying frit therein, a VHF oscillating device, and VHF induction path which inducts VHF generated from the VHF oscillating device into the main furnace body.

Abstract: A microwave applicator of microwave reflective material having a closed first end, four side walls and, in a first embodiment, an open second end spaced apart from and facing a ground plate, the ground plate extending in a pair of transverse directions and having a longitudinal direction perpendicular thereto, and in a second embodiment, a closed second end, the applicator forming a cavity containing a desired hybrid mode having a low wave impedance in the longitudinal direction and an absence of an E field component in one of the transverse directions.

Abstract: "An apparatus for plasma treating fine-grained materials, having a receptacle that can be evacuated and that accepts and agitates the materials to be treated, and having an electromagnetic device that comprises an excitation device and electrodes and to activate a process gas filling the space of the receptacle means to form a plasma, wherein the receptacle has a conveyor which conveys the material from one end to another end and is configured for continuous admission and discharge of the material and admission and discharge of the process gas, but that is otherwise hermetically closed, and at which or in which the electromagnetic excitation device that effects the plasma formation within the conveyor is arranged.

Abstract: A microwave applicator device for continuous heat treatment of elongate products comprises an applicator housing that defines a generally rectangular waveguide cavity and at least one excitation system for exciting the cavity with microwaves propagating in TE.sub.01 transverse electric mode, the system including at least one microwave generator associated with a feed waveguide connected to the cavity via a window formed through a wall of the cavity. The front and rear walls of the feed waveguide are respectively connected to the front and rear edges of the window, and the feed waveguide is associated with a guide flap extending in the cavity in the vicinity of the rear edge of the window, and with a guide member provided substantially facing the window.

Abstract: A two-zone lime mud calciner is provided for processing lime mud from kraft pulp recovery operations. A conveyer is employed for conveying lime mud horizontally through the calciner. The first zone and second zone of the calciner each contains a dielectric hysteresis heating device for first drying the lime mud in the first zone and then decomposing the dried lime mud to lime and carbon dioxide. A co-current flow of purge air removes steam generated in the first zone and a counter-current flow of purge air removes carbon dioxide generated in the second zone with a vent being provided adjacent the upstream and of the second zone.

Abstract: An apparatus assembly for heating a product has a tunnel and microwave generators positoned for generating a microwave field zone within the tunnel. A conveyor belt extends within the tunnel for passing a product through the tunnel. A plate formed of a material impermeable to microwaves is positioned in the tunnel so that an entire width of the belt passes over the plate in the microwave field zone so that microwave energy is reflected away from the belt. In addition, heating elements for generating an infrared energy zone and a further conveyor belt may be positioned so that a product passed through the tunnel then is passed by the further conveyor belt through the infrared energy zone.

Abstract: An oven for cooking and browning foods has heated, radiant walls. Heat may be supplied by a gas burner flame in a plenum behind the walls, with products of combustion thus being isolated from the food in the oven chamber. In one embodiment food products are continuously conveyed through the oven chamber and are either cooked or simply browned in the oven by the radiant wall heat. Fats and other materials rendered from the food products, if not fully incinerated in the oven chamber, may be transferred along with exhaust air from the oven chamber to a separate combustion chamber, for incineration. Steam or other inert gas is introduced to the oven chamber to minimize oxidation and prevent flame. An alternative wall heating system uses electric resistance heat elements inside a thin ceramic wall. In another embodiment a web-like metal conveyor of a radiant wall oven is returned through the oven in order to heat the conveyor sufficiently to put grill stripes on a product being browned, such as meat.

Abstract: An apparatus for drying a fried food has a dry chamber being provided with separated chambers in which the food is transported in order, a microwave oscillator for supplying a microwave energy to the respective separated chambers, and hot blast generator for supplying heated air to the respective separated chambers. The length in the food forward direction of each of the separated chamber is equal to or longer than that of just before chamber. The microwave energy supplied to each of the separated chamber corresponds to the water content of the fried food passing through the chamber.

Abstract: Pressed garments are treated with microwaves to activate chemicals without heating the garments, resulting in permanent creases without fabric damage. An apparatus controls the process or curing cross-linking agent impregnated cellulosic fabric with microwave energy. The application allows finite control of the curing process necessary to impart a proper cure of wrinkle free fabric. The garment surface temperatures are continually remotely sensed. The microwave energy is cycled on and off so as not to overcure, avoiding loss of fabric memory and avoiding hot spots or burned fabric.

Abstract: A sample is heated by microwaves, and the temperature of the sample is measured by a radiation pyrometer arranged to receive radiation directly from the sample. The sample is disposed in a chamber having an orifice dimensioned to block the passage of microwaves, and admit the passage of radiation. The chamber has an upper wall in which one or more openings are formed for receiving a sample-containing receptacle.

Abstract: There is disclosed a microwave applicator which is positioned above an electrically conductive conveyor band on which products, such as biscuits in a baking oven, are carried to be subjected to microwave radiation, the applicator having a launch section configured to provide an electric field in the region above the band which is that which would exist in a parallel plate transmission line extending lengthwise of the oven, the electric field having a plane of polarity which is normal to the plane of the band.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for a uniform and fast heating of products by microwaves that are pulsed and introduced intermittently into the products, with the products to be treated, such as chemical or pharmaceutical products or foodstuffs, particularly ready-cooked meals, being conveyed by a continuously working endless conveyor belt through a treatment chamber in open or closed microwave-permeable trays and with the treatment chamber being equipped with microwave generator supply channels that are arranged in a vertical or inclined position relative to the conveyor belt. The line is operated at a microwave power profile that shortens the build-up time and breaking time of the microwave pulses, at a working frequency of 50 kHz that has an edge steepness of 2 microseconds, and with pulses the amplitudes of which have a rectangular form and the length of which is in the microseconds or milliseconds region.

Abstract: A new microwave autoclave apparatus, and a method for pasteurizing, sterilizing or retorting food product in a continuous mode, and in commercial quantities, using microwave radiant energy. In this new microwave autoclave apparatus, containers of food-stuff are held tightly within individual moving bottom vessel, and a corresponding moving top cover. The moulds therefrom, made of a material which is permeable to microwave radiation, are linked together to form a chain such that a continuous flow of container enters and leaves a microwave chamber. The synchronization of the moving top covers with the moving bottom vessels, and the opposing forces applied thereupon provide tightly fitted cavities capable of supporting substantial pressure, and thus providing a retort effect. The moulds prevent undesired expansion of containers during heating periods, without applying adverse pressure beyond its original shape during the cooling phase.

Abstract: An installation for continuously treating a granular or powdered product. The installation includes at least one microwave applicator which is connected to a generator by a coupling device. The installation further includes a dielectric duct which has an axis and an internal surface. The dielectric duct passes through the applicator and contains a rotating metal screw for conveying the granular or powdered product therethrough. This is accomplished by constructing the screw so that it includes at least one helically wound wire which extends longitudinally through the duct at a radial distance from the axis of the duct and proximate the internal surface of the duct. An annular clearance is thereby defined between the wire and the internal surface of the duct.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for regenerating saturated adsorbents using microwave energy. A saturated adsorbent, such as activated carbon, is fed onto a continuously moving conveyor belt. The conveyor belt transports the carbon to a microwave cavity where the carbon is exposed to microwave energy. The cavity is defined by a containment enclosure which is sealed to prevent radiation leakage. The carbon is heated to a sufficient temperature to cause the contaminants to desorb. The system also includes vents for removing the desorbed contaminants and a holder for receiving the treated carbon discharged from the belt. The microwave cavity may be divided into a number of heating compartments so that the carbon on the belt is heated to different temperatures in each compartment. Each compartment is separately vented, thereby allowing selective recovery of the different contaminants in the carbon.

Abstract: For improving the keeping qualities of certain food products, especially sliced meat products, it is suggested that the food products immediately after they have been packed are subjected to a heat treatment by means of microwave energy, so that they are maintained at a temperature in the interval 50.degree.-80.degree. C., preferably 50.degree.-70.degree. C., during a time period of 5-60 seconds. The food products (12) are moved by means of an endless belt (9) in a path across an elongated wave guide (15, 21) which has at least one slot (19; 22, 23) extending across the whole food products movement path.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preparing essentially fat free chips such as potato chips and the like having an appearance and taste similar to conventional chips without the use of deep fat frying processes. The method of the present invention includes the steps of exposing sliced raw potatoes and the like to a high intensity microwave field that rapidly converts moisture within the slice into steam. These exposed slices are then dried by longer exposure to a lower energy microwave field. The apparatus of the present invention includes a meander waveguide with a microwave absorptive terminator at an end of the waveguide. Apertures are provided along portions of the waveguide for transporting the potato slices and the like through the waveguide. A belt link type conveyor belt having an open lattice structure is employed to convey raw product slices through the meander waveguide.

Abstract: A sample is heated by microwaves, and the temperature of the sample is measured by a radiation pyrometer arranged to receive radiation directly from the sample. The sample is disposed in a chamber having an orifice dimensioned to block the passage of microwaves, and admit the passage of radiation. The chamber has an upper wall in which one or more openings are formed for receiving a sample-containing receptacle.