Abstract: The two halves of medicine-filled, gelatin capsules are fitted together and passed through a field of microwave energy to selectively melt the overlapping portions of the two halves whereby they become sealed together when the capsules are removed from the microwave energy field and permitted to cool.

Abstract: Wet and pliable strands of freshly extruded spaghetti are draped over horizontally disposed rods whose respective ends rest in helical grooves in a first pair of mutually parallel, rotating shafts which carry the rods and the spaghetti through a drying oven, the rods being transferred to helical grooves in a second pair of mutually parallel, rotating shafts which carry the rods and spaghetti through the oven in a direction transverse to the direction in which they are carried by the first pair of shafts.

Abstract: Pavement (12) is rapidly heated in depth by irradiation with microwave energy accompanied by supplemental surface heating which counteracts an inverted temperature gradient otherwise produced by microwave heating. Energy efficiency is increased by performing the surface heating with thermal energy derived from the exhaust gases of a motor (19) which drives a generator (18) to energize the microwave source (68). An energy applicator (36) simultaneously applies both the microwave energy and hot gas to a selected area of pavement while blocking release of microwave energy in upward and outward directions and is preferably attached to a mobile support (37) through support and positioning linkage (38) which enables shifting of the applicator between localized areas of pavement to be heated.

Abstract: Asphaltic concrete constituents (13) or the like deposited in a windrow (14a) along a surface (12) to be paved are molded into a preliminary narrow layer (14b) of greater height than the final layer (14d) of pavement to be formed on the surface and are then heated by directing microwave energy into the preliminary layer. The heated preliminary layer is then spread out to form the final thinner layer of paving material for smoothing and compaction. Molding means (37) for the preliminary layer and microwave heating means (38) may be carried on a vehicle (16) which travels along the windrow. The vehicle may also carry mixing, spreading and compaction means (39, 92, 89) or some or all of these elements may be on a separate paver vehicle.