Patents Examined by Quang Van
  • Patent number: 9274467
    Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a coil; a belt member; a first core and a second core which are provided inside the belt member; a contact member contacting an inner surface of the belt member along a widthwise direction of the belt member; a pressing member configured to press the belt member against the contact member; a core supporting member configured to support the first and second cores; a pressing mechanism configured to generate pressure for forming a nip; and an adjusting portion, provided on the core supporting member, configured to adjust the height of each of the first core and the second core so that the height of a supporting surface configured to support the first core and the height of a supporting surface for supporting the second core are different from each other with respect to a direction perpendicular to the supporting surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Suguru Takeuchi, Tatsuhito Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9271340
    Abstract: A microwave filter for use with a microwave brazing system having a brazing chamber, a vacuum line, and a pressure gauge located proximate the vacuum line. The microwave filter includes a baffle plate configured to be mounted in an opening between the brazing chamber and the pressure gauge, and a plurality of hollow pipes configured to substantially prevent the transmission of microwaves from the brazing chamber to the pressure gauge, and further configured to allow gas to flow between the brazing chamber and the vacuum line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Turbine Overhaul Services Pte Ltd
    Inventors: Kin Yong Lim, Garimella Balaji Rao
  • Patent number: 9260978
    Abstract: A system for heating a stator segment includes a first frame member, a plurality of arms extending radially from the first frame member, and a heater releasably connected to each arm. The system further includes a biasing element for biasing each heater away from the first frame member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Bradford Holmes, Charles Van Buchan, Jason Matthew Clark
  • Patent number: 9254952
    Abstract: A microwave heating construct may include a widened base. The construct may be erected by folding end panels of the construct towards one another and optionally securing the panels in the folded position. The construct may be formed from a blank. The construct and/or blank may include a removable portion at least partially defined by a line of disruption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventor: Kelly R. Fitzwater
  • Patent number: 9242780
    Abstract: A frozen food package and method of producing and using the same is disclosed. The food package includes a bag which is freezable, ovenable and microwaveable. A frozen food assembly within the bag includes food (uncooked, cooked, or partially cooked), preferably an entree. Typically, the food assembly includes a meat, a fruit or vegetable, and a flavoring liquid such as a broth or stock, and may include infused oil or a dairy product. The food is typically embedded in the frozen liquid to facilitate handling and shipping and to align the frozen food with a display window of the bag. Chemical preservatives are not necessary and sauces may be omitted although sauces are not burned in the cooking process. The method typically includes sealing the frozen food in the liquid-impermeable bag and cooking the food in the sealed bag. The resulting dish is a substantial improvement over the well-known precooked frozen meals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: PROVITA CUISINE, LLC
    Inventor: Eric A. Carré
  • Patent number: 9241374
    Abstract: To reduce the air exhausted to outside a main body after cooling a heat generating component from being taken in again from an intake port. The flow of cooling wind cooled the heat generating component is discharged from an exhaust port at other than a first peripheral wall with the flow bent inside the main body. When rectified inside the main body and discharged from the exhaust port, the cooling wind grows to a flow speed of a certain extent to become an exhaust air that a flowing direction is clearly defined, so that it is less likely to be taken in again from the intake port, it is less likely to be subjected to the influence of obstacles of the exhaust port, use can be made in a kitchen cabinet of the intake and exhaust air at the back side, and it is satisfactory and is less likely to be damaged without involving sense of unpleasantness by the exhaust air to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eiji Matsui, Akira Kataoka, Takehiko Shigeoka, Takaaki Kusaka, Kenji Ogawa
  • Patent number: 9232570
    Abstract: A method of generating an RF field reflection, including positioning a grid wall in front of a conductive wall, launching RF energy at the grid wall and the conductive wall, including first and second linearly polarized orthogonal components, and reflecting one component from the grid wall set and allowing the other component to pass through the grid wall set with little reflection to reflect from the conductive wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Inventor: Robert L. Eisenhart
  • Patent number: 9227752
    Abstract: Various blanks and constructs formed therefrom are provided. The various constructs include features for supporting a food item at an elevated position to enhance the heating, browning, and/or crisping of the food item in a microwave oven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventor: Kelly R. Fitzwater
  • Patent number: 9224623
    Abstract: There is provided a microwave irradiation apparatus capable of independently controlling a temperature of a target object while irradiating microwave to the target object. The microwave irradiation apparatus 2 includes a processing chamber 4 configured to be vacuum-evacuated; a supporting table 6 configured to support the target object; a processing gas introduction unit 106 configured to introduce a processing gas into the processing chamber; a microwave introduction unit 72 configured to introduce the microwave into the processing chamber; a heating unit 16 configured to heat the target object; a gas cooling unit 104 configured to cool the target object by a cooling gas; a radiation thermometer 64 configured to measure a temperature of the target object; and a temperature control unit 70 configured to adjust the temperature of the target object by controlling the heating unit and the gas cooling unit based on the temperature measured by the radiation thermometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Shigeru Kasai, Ryoji Yamazaki, Mitsutoshi Ashida, Yuji Obata, Sumi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9226346
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and methods for performing chemical reactions. In particular, the present invention relates to an apparatus for heating chemical reaction mixtures. The apparatus applies one or more semiconductor based microwave generators making the apparatus suitable for parallel processing of chemical reaction mixtures. The invention further relates to methods for performing chemical reactions, e.g. methods for heating a plurality of samples simultaneously or sequentially, methods for monitoring a microwave heated chemical reaction, and methods where the optimum conditions with respect to parameters, such frequency and applied power can be determined for the system consisting of apparatus plus sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Biotage AB
    Inventor: Magnus Fagrell
  • Patent number: 9226345
    Abstract: A wave choke system for an oven door of a microwave oven has an elongated channel for an outer portion of the oven door and an elongated cover sheet covering partially the width of an open longitudinal side of the channel. The cover sheet includes a plurality of slots extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cover sheet. Each slot includes an open end at a longitudinal edge of the cover sheet and a closed end on the opposite side of the open end, a broadening in a central portion of the slot, a first small portion between the open end and the broadening and a second small portion between the broadening and the closed end. The slots are reciprocally intersected, so that the contours of the slots and the intermediate pieces between the slots are formed complementarily to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS CORPORATION N.V.
    Inventors: Abdel-Ilah Zbat, Arnd Hofmann
  • Patent number: 9205968
    Abstract: A microwave energy interactive structure includes microwave energy interactive material supported on a microwave energy transparent substrate, and a plurality of spaced apart microwave energy transparent segments circumscribed by the microwave energy interactive material. The plurality of spaced apart microwave energy transparent segments define a pattern of loops that may be dimensioned to induce resonance of microwave energy during microwave heating of a food item on the structure. The structure may also include a plurality of microwave energy transparent elements that are operative as fuses to prevent overheating of the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Neilson Zeng, Laurence M. C. Lai, Scott W. Middleton
  • Patent number: 9204501
    Abstract: A device for applying microwave energy to a product having a microwave cavity defined by a top wall, bottom wall, and opposing sidewalls. The central portion of the microwave cavity contains a conveyer for moving product through the microwave cavity. A waveguide passes through one of the walls of the microwave cavity and directs microwave energy through the mouth of the waveguide which is located in the central portion of the microwave cavity, near the conveyer. The microwave energy is applied directly to the product without the need for antennas, stirring devices, scattering devices, or diffusing devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Cibus Wave LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Cashman, Richard Cashman
  • Patent number: 9199781
    Abstract: A flexible packaging laminate for a microwavable package has a built-in vent for steam. The vent is formed by an outer score line through the outer layer(s) of the laminate to define an outer flap, and a smaller-footprint inner score line formed through the inner layer(s) of the laminate, so that there is a marginal region of U- or V-shape bounded between the two score lines. A patch of pressure-sensitive adhesive is disposed between the outer and inner structures of the laminate such that PSA is present in the marginal region. Pressure exerted on the inner flap or plug created by the inner score line overcomes the PSA between the outer flap and the inner structure in the marginal region, causing the outer flap to be pushed out along with the inner flap or plug, thereby venting steam through the resulting opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Brent Bosman
  • Patent number: 9204499
    Abstract: An induction heating cooker and a control method thereof that stably adjust power of a cooking coil when a plurality of containers having different cooking conditions is placed on the cooking coil includes a plurality of heating coils disposed below a cooking plate and a controller to determine whether a container is placed on the heating coils, wherein the controller determines whether a plurality of containers is placed on one of the heating coils and, when the containers are placed on one of the heating coils, adjusts a power of the heating coil on which the containers are placed based on powers of other heating coils occupied by the containers. Cooking using a plurality of containers is stably performed based on user intention even when cooking conditions of the containers placed on a heating coil differ.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ha Na Kim, Jong Chull Shon, Sung Ho Lee, Min Gyu Jung
  • Patent number: 9198234
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon fluid pipeline may include pipeline segments connected together in end-to-end relation between first and second spaced apart geographic locations and configured to carry hydrocarbon fluid therethrough. The hydrocarbon fluid pipeline may also include a radio frequency (RF) heating station that may include an RF source and an RF heater between adjacent pipeline segments of the plurality thereof. The RF heater may include an inner tubular dielectric coupler between the adjacent pipeline segments, and an electrically conductive outer housing surrounding the inner tubular dielectric coupler and connected to the RF source to heat the hydrocarbon fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: HARRIS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark Ernest Blue, Ronald Edward Jackson, Jr., Michael Joseph Ottomanelli, Donald S. George
  • Patent number: 9191999
    Abstract: A cooking device includes an airflow system that generates airflow within a duct and a cooking chamber that is configured to vent heated air and/or steam within the cooking chamber to the duct. The heated air and/or steam vented to the duct is accelerated by the airflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: MANITOWOC FOODSERVICE COMPANIES, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Anthony, Gordon Hind
  • Patent number: 9173516
    Abstract: A microwave oven mixing device (12) has an enclosure (14) which is free-standing and has an open bottom 26. A stirring paddle (16) is secured in a fixed position to the enclosure (14) and extends downward from a top (28) of the enclosure (14). The enclosure (14) is placed in a microwave oven (6) with the stirring paddle (16) extending into the contents of container (18) which is located atop a turntable (10). The enclosure (14) has two telescopically extendable halves (22, 24) which are configured in fixed relation to one another for engaging at least two walls of the microwave oven (6) to hold the stirring paddle (16) in fixed relation to the oven (8) as the contents of the container (18) are moved by the turntable (10) against the stirring paddle (16) to stir the contents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Inventor: Michael G Messer
  • Patent number: 9167633
    Abstract: Devices and methods for RF heating of food, using techniques which allow uniformity and/or controlled non-uniformity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: GOJI LIMITED
    Inventors: Eran Ben-Shmuel, Alexander Bilchinsky, Udi Damari, Omer Einav, Benny Rousso, Shlomo Ben-Haim
  • Patent number: 9163855
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus including an induction device (110) for heating water in a channel and supplied by a high-frequency generator (113), and an electromagnetic scale-preventative device (120) upstream from the heating circuit (110) and powered by a frequency generator (113). A channel sensor (130) detects a request for water and a control circuit (150) receives the water request signal (Sec) from the sensor (130) so as to control the operation of the heating circuit (110) and of the scale-preventative device (120), adjusting the power thereof in order to adjust the temperature and to stop the operation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Inventor: Dominique Akel