Abstract: The heater is primarily intended for infra-red drying of travelling sheet material such as printed or lacquered paper. Parallel elongate heating elements are contained in a housing having a front window and a rear openable cover carrying a ceramic reflector behind the heating elements, which reflector also serves to insulate the cover against heat from the elements. End portions of the elements are supported in rearwardly directed clips whereby elements removal and replacement can be readily effected at the rear of the housing. The clips are carried by opposed support bars which with adjacent side walls of the housing define cooling air ducts, the bars having openings for directing cooling air onto the end portions of the elements or to enable the latter to extend into the ducts for direct cooling. The front window is provided with air venting slots parallel with the heating elements and positioned opposite spaces between the latter.

Abstract: A humidifier including a base defining a boiler cavity; a liquid supply supported on the base and having a discharge opening communicating with the boiler cavity and adapted to maintain a given level of liquid therein; and an evaporation unit removably mounted on the base and adapted to induce evaporation of liquid contained thereby, and a vapor passage having a receiving end communicating with said cavity so as to receive vapor therefrom and a discharge end for discharging the vapor received from cavity. Also icluded is an electrical supply for supplying electrical energy to the heater; a switch mounted on the evaporation unit and adapted in one condition for deactivating the electrical supply and in another condition for activating the electrical supply and an actuator for producing the one condition in response to separating movement between the base and evaporation unit.

Abstract: A humidifier including a base defining a cavity; a liquid supply tank removably mounted on the base and adapted to maintain a given level of liquid in the cavity; an electrically energized humidification unit for inducing dispersal of the liquid contained in the cavity; an electrical supply for supplying electrical energy to the humidification unit; and a sensing circuit for preventing electrical energization of the humidification unit with the tank removed from the base.

Abstract: An improved heaterboard, and method and apparatus for producing same is disclosed herein. A foil layer is bonded to a paperboard substrate and a circuit path is cut in the foil layer to define a heating circuit. In a preferred method, the circuit is defined by cut scores and short-circuiting across the cut scores is prevented by a reverse scoring operation in which the circuit pattern is scored in the surface of the heaterboard opposite the surface having the foil heating layer thereon. Various heaterboard circuit patterns and an apparatus for forming heaterboards are also disclosed.

Abstract: A toaster having double-wall construction controls the flow of air within its interior so that its exterior is kept cool. Air intake occurs near the edge of the top toaster slot where bread or the like is inserted for toasting. Intake air then travels down the immediate interior of the toaster and is introduced to the toasting chamber and an associated warm air flow channel near the bottom of the toaster. Air warmed by the toasting chamber and associated channel rises and pulls cooler air from below. The warm exhaust air is channelled away from the cool intake air by means of a top cover.

Abstract: A fragrance diffuser (100) comprises a housing defining a chamber (116) for holding a fragrance-emitting block (110), a heating element (112) located within the housing, a timing and indicating circuit board (114) to signal when the predicted life of the fragrance emitting block has expired, a power supply connection plug (134) for providing electrical power to the heating element and the timing and indicating board, and a keying system (234, 236, 238) incorporated in the chamber (116) and on the fragrance-emitting blocks (110). The blocks are encoded or keyed to indicate that they possess particular predefined characteristics, such that only blocks having those characteristics may be inserted. The diffuser is constructed with a downwardly-projecting housing extension (132) for the power supply connection to allow the use of an adjacent electric power outlet when the diffuser is properly installed.

Abstract: A forced air convection oven having an open front and a door for closing the open front, a centrifugal air circulating blower on a horizontal axis located generally centrally on the rear wall of the cavity with heaters adjacent the rear wall for heating the air circulated by the blower. An air distributor cage unit is mounted for removal as a unit through the front opening in the housing and the top, bottom and opposing side panels of the cage have a multiplicity of air discharge openings therein for passing air into the cage for flow therethrough to the return outlet in the rear wall. A food tray support rack is mounted for rotation about a vertical axis in the cage and is removable through the opening in the front of the cage for cleaning.

Abstract: A microcomputer-based control device for microwave ovens includes a timer defining an operation period of a magnetron and incorporated in the microcomputer, an encoder generating electrical pulses, the number of which is in accordance with an amount of angular displacement of an operation knob, the encoder being independent of the microcomputer, first and second semiconductor switches for starting an operation of the magnetron in response to either any one or a plurality of a pulse train generated by the encoder, the semiconductor switches being incorporated in the microcomputer, and a counter for setting, at the timer, a cooking period in accordance with the numer of pulses of the pulse train generated by the encoder.

Abstract: The invention concerns a utensil for cooking food. There is a container provided with an opening for insertion and removal of the foodstuffs to be cooked. The container is mounted on a stand and may be used at an angle of about 90 degrees or about 45 degrees. A speed control to permit stirring of the ingredients is provided. Any suitable heating source may be used.

Abstract: A device that includes a heating sample carrier which has a carrying surface, an electrical heating system and a frame support for receiving a frame. The electrical heating system is formed of a disk of a refractory insulating material.

Abstract: A heatable turntable is provided for efficiently warming and serving food. A deck is rotatably mounted on a base. Electrical current is supplied from a power supply in the deck to thermal pads located in the deck via wires connected to sliding pole pieces attached to the base and deck. Individual thermostat is provided for each thermal pad to prevent overheating when a pad is unoccupied. Each thermal pad is located within a recess in the deck such that each pad extends out of the recess to permit air to flow between the deck and an object placed on the pad, whereby efficient heat exchange is promoted. Also, each thermal pad has a heating element comprising a resistance plate sandwiched between two mica insulation plates. The heating surface of each pad can be concave shaped towards this sandwich and has a lower lip which compresses the sandwich towards the heating surface. In addition, the sandwich is biased towards the concave heating surface by a screw actuated bracket.

Abstract: A multi-use type heating apparatus is disclosed having a heat-generating body as a heat source, receptacle-type heating chambers provided integrally therewith for internally accommodating objects to be heated, the heating chambers being arranged around the heat-generating body at a predetermined distance remote from the heat-generating body, a heat transmission medium to be filled in the heating chambers, together with any objects to be heated, and a working mechanism for setting the heat-radiating temperature of the heat-generating body.

Abstract: A vermiculite insulated tube furnace is heated by a helically-wound resistance wire positioned within a helical groove on the surface of a ceramic cylinder, that in turn is surroundingly disposed about a doubly slotted stainless steel cylindrical liner. For uniform heating, the pitch of the helix is of shorter length over the two end portions of the ceramic cylinder. The furnace is of large volume, provides uniform temperature, offers an extremely precise programmed heating capability, features very rapid cool-down, and has a modest electrical power requirement.

Abstract: The invention is an apparatus for removing a coating from a fiber optic cable. The apparatus includes a support member. A heating coil, having first and second ends, is mounted to the stand, with the first end of the coil adapted to receive the fiber optic cable within the interior thereof. A container is mounted within the coil, the container having first and second closed off ends in proximity to the first and second ends of the coil, respectively, the first end of the container having an aperture for receiving the fiber optic cable. A power controller is electrically coupled to the heating coil for controlling the temperature thereof. A vacuum system is inlcuded for removing fumes from within the container produced when a coating is pyrolized.

Abstract: A soldering apparatus of a reflow type contains a preheating chamber and a reflow chamber which are provided with a plurality of heaters for heating printed circuit boards with chips temporarily mounted thereon with solder pastes during conveyance by a conveyor. The heaters are mounted on the side walls of the chamber, extending along a direction of conveyance of the printed circuit boards. The chambers are also provided with a screening member respectively so as to prevent direct radiation of radiant heat from the heaters into the chambers and onto the printed circuit boards and to provide a uniform air flow so as to be blown uniformly onto the printed circuit boards.

Abstract: A humidifier includes a base defining a boiler cavity, a liquid supply being supported on the base and having a discharge opening communicating with the boiler cavity and adapted to maintain a given level of liquid therein. An evaporation unit is removably mounted on the base and includes an electrically energized heater projecting into the cavity and a magnetically operated switch. A float includes a magnet which activates or deactivates a switch. A vapor passage discharges the vapor from the cavity.

Abstract: A forced convection cooking apparatus having an enclosed cooking chamber within a housing and a resistance heater suspended in the upper portion thereof provides radiant and convection heating to cook food. The food is contained in a cooking tray which has a screen bottom to allow grease, oils and the like to drip through the cooking tray. A drip tray below the cooking tray catches liquids which drip through the cooking tray. A baffle is located in the cooking chamber near the back of the chamber. A fan draws air through a hole in the baffle and forces the air around the curved sides of the baffle toward the front of the cooking chamber.

Abstract: An electric furnace wherein a belt-like heating member in the shape of zigzag or wave is wound helically on the inner surface of a cylindrical heat insulating member and portions of the inner surface of the belt-like heating member are covered with portions of the heat insulating member, so that the heating member is held securely by the heat insulating member.

Abstract: A bathroom cabinet includes a main mirror that is kept defogged by directing heated air thereagainst. The amount of air and the temperature of that air is controlled according to the temperature and relative humidity in the room. A lighting assembly is also included in the cabinet.

Abstract: Positive temperature coefficienct thermistors are mounted in heat transfer relationship to a support member of a material that is pervious to light. The thermistors are positioned on the support member to provide a large unobstructed area through which light may pass. The self-limiting nature of the thermistors eliminates the need for a separate temperature responsive heater control switch. The heater is useable for heating liquid crystal displays, and allows back lighting of such displays by a light source positioned on the opposite side of the heater from the display.