With Means Whereby Material To Be Heated May Be Passed Continuously Through Heated Area (e.g., Conveyor) Patents (Class 219/388)
  • Patent number: 7381927
    Abstract: A horizontal carousel conveyor carries cone-shaped foods and other specialty-shaped foods through an oven, rotating the food on a heating station as it passes by heating elements and through the oven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Prince Castle Inc.
    Inventor: Frank Anthony Agnello
  • Publication number: 20080124062
    Abstract: The invention relates to a heating device for diesel fuel comprising at least one PTC heating element (8), at least two contact sheets (7) each comprising a front face (10) by means of which they contact the PTC heating element (8) electrically, wherein the PTC heating element (8) is provided between the front faces (10) of the two contact sheets (7); a plastic housing (2) enclosing an interior space through which the diesel fuel to be heated can flow and in which the PTC heating element (8) and the contact sheets (7) are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventors: Kai Wallhaeusser, Gerhard Thome, Willi Arnold
  • Patent number: 7371996
    Abstract: A roller-equipped annealing lehr for flat glass, having a roller conveyor inside a lehr housing, with heating units arranged in pairs above and below the roller conveyor, in rows situated one after another and extending transversely to the feed direction. Temperature regulators are provided with predetermined desired values and actual temperature values that are measured in a position-dependent fashion. In order to achieve a desired stable temperature distribution and to prevent stresses in the flat glass, a feedback loop arrangement for at least one pair of heating units situated at a particular position in the row, presets as a control variable the heating output required to predetermine the temperature distribution in the region of this position as a predetermined portion of a heating output, which is calculated based on at least one actual temperature value measured at a different position in the row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Schott AG
    Inventors: Clemens Kunisch, Armin Vogl, Andreas Morstein
  • Patent number: 7368683
    Abstract: A convection chamber of a cooking device includes a convection fan rotatably installed in a cooking chamber, a convection motor that rotates the convection fan, a convection cover provided in front of the convection fan and having a channel that collects air in the cooking chamber, sucks the air to the convection fan, and discharges the air from the convection fan to the cooking chamber, and a radiating fan provided between the convection fan and the convection motor and rotated by the convection motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Wan Soo Kim, Yang Kyeong Kim
  • Publication number: 20080099459
    Abstract: An infrared convection paint baking oven comprising; a top, a bottom and sidewalls extending substantially unbroken therebetween to define a tunnel having length, width and height, an interior, an exterior, an entrance and exit; said tunnel adapted to bake at least one article moved along the length of the tunnel from the entrance to the exit; said top and side walls equipped with air ducts that communicate with a at least one air pressure blower to form an air plenum in said interior of said tunnel; said paint baking oven further equipped with at least one exhaust to re-circulate heated air and vent moisture and volatiles from said tunnel; said exhaust in air communication with said pressure blower with air make up and a RTO; said re-circulated air flow at least partially divertible from said exhaust to said furnace to control temperature and VOC emissions; infrared light assemblies arranged in said tunnel interior on the top and side walls such that air from said plenum is circulated around said light assem
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Applicant: Plastech Engineered Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Glenn Williams
  • Patent number: 7365287
    Abstract: An oven for baking a batch of parts has a housing having side walls and a top wall defining a closed container with a closed top end and an open downwardly facing bottom end. Loading/unloading occurs at the bottom end onto a carriage raised to the top end where baking occurs. On each side is provided an array of heating elements below the top. A shield is located in front of the heating array so as to block direct radiation onto the parts to prevent over-heating as the carrying arrangement passes the heating array to be unloaded. The shield generates an upwardly flowing air stream to carry the heat to the top. The heating elements are mounted with their lower end in a connection box with a collar and insulated heat shield above the box to keep the electrical connections cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Inventor: Frederick G. Ellis
  • Publication number: 20080083726
    Abstract: Embodiments herein include a media conditioning module for being connected between a media source supplying sheets of media and a printing device. The media conditioning module is adapted to remove moisture from the sheets of media received from the media source before the sheets of media are supplied to the printing device. The media conditioning module comprises a heater and a cooler. The heater has manifolds positioned to supply heated air to both sides of the sheets of media as the sheets of media pass through the media conditioning module. The cooler is positioned to supply non-heated air to both sides of the sheets of media as the sheets of media pass through the media conditioning module. The heater is positioned with respect to the cooler such that the sheets of media pass by the heater before the sheets of media pass by the cooler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Publication date: April 10, 2008
    Inventors: James J. Spence, David R. Kretschmann, David M. Thompson
  • Patent number: 7335859
    Abstract: A combination toaster/caramelizer oven for treating food products comprising: a housing; at least one heating element; a removable platen; and at least one conveyor disposed opposite the platen for conveying the food products through the housing, wherein the platen is disposed between the heating element and the conveyor. Optionally, the caramelizer oven can further include at least one moisture injector that introduces moisture to the surface of the food product which is in contact with the platen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Lincoln Foodservice Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Roberto Nevarez
  • Patent number: 7323660
    Abstract: Modular sample processing apparatus kits that can provide a user with the flexibility to customize a disk-based assay in view of a variety of factors are disclosed. The sample processing apparatus kits of the present invention include one or more process modules that can be retained within openings in a frame. The frame and process modules of the sample processing apparatus kits are preferably adapted for use in sample processing systems that compress the apparatus. The process modules may contain different reagents to perform different tests on the same sample materials or a variety of sample materials. As a result, a single sample processing apparatus can be used to perform a variety of different tests and may include a quality control module capable of providing feedback to the user as to the accuracy of the processes run using the sample processing apparatus. Methods of using the sample processing apparatus that include deforming the process modules and frame are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: William Bedingham, Barry W. Robole
  • Patent number: 7307243
    Abstract: A continuous oven for heating a food product having an outer surface and an interior includes an enclosure with a first heating zone and a second heating zone. A conveyor is configured to convey the product from the first heating zone to the second heating zone. At least one surface-browning infrared emitter is adjacent the first heating zone of the conveyor and is configured to provide a first electromagnetic radiation profile to the product in the first heating zone that is adapted to evaporate surface moisture to produce a crust matrix on the outer surface of the product. At least one interior-heating infrared emitter is adjacent the second heating zone of the conveyor and is configured to provide a second electromagnetic radiation profile to the product in the second heating zone that is different from the first electromagnetic radiation profile. The second electromagnetic radiation profile is adapted to heat the interior of the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: North Carolina State University
    Inventors: Brian Farkas, Brian Lloyd, Kevin Keener
  • Patent number: 7297903
    Abstract: A new toaster technology is provided for toasting food items. The toaster includes an inlet for receiving food items, an outlet for discharging the foot items after they are toasted and a toasting chamber located between the inlet and the outlet. In the preferred embodiment, the toasting chamber provides a toasting path for the food item during which the food item will be passed along two conveys—one vertical and one horizontal. Also, along the toasting path, the food item will be toasted by a platen heating surface, an impingement heating element and an infra-red heating element or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: A.J. Antunes & Company
    Inventors: Scott P. March, Michael Sutin
  • Patent number: 7294812
    Abstract: An apparatus and methods are provided for heating and sensing the temperature of a chemical reaction chamber without direct physical contact between a heating device and the reaction chamber, or between a temperature sensor and the reaction chamber. A plurality of chemical reaction chambers can simultaneously or sequentially be heated independently and monitored separately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Applera Corporation
    Inventors: Janice G. Shigeura, legal representative, John Shigeura, deceased
  • Patent number: 7291811
    Abstract: An oven for heating moving thermoplastic blanks (preforms, intermediate containers), which includes conveying devices for supporting and moving the blanks sequentially while rotating each of them about its own axis. A heating device is arranged laterally to the conveying device for heating the moving blank bodies, and the conveying device includes at least two parallel conveying branches, proximate each other and having opposite conveying directions, the two branches being traveled along one after the other by the blanks. The heating device is arranged between the two conveying branches so as to heat simultaneously on both sides of the blanks moving in opposite directions respectively on the two branches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Sidel
    Inventors: Alain Evrard, Frédéric Lecomte, Nasser Takhedmit
  • Patent number: 7288742
    Abstract: According to a method and a device for heating a strip-shaped carrier in an oven, a carrier is passed through the oven in a direction of conveyance. The carrier is supported by a heatable plate, which together with the carrier is moved through the oven stepwise with a predetermined step size from a starting position to an end position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Assembleon N.V.
    Inventors: Wessel Joris Wesseling, Franciscus Johannes Sonnemans, Dionys Van De Ven
  • Patent number: 7285755
    Abstract: A vertically oriented roller oven have an oven housing forming an oven cavity, one or more food product inlet openings, an internal heating portion distinguishably separated by first and second series of centrally disposed vertically aligned and axially displaced rollers and an exit opening each in communication with the oven cavity. First and second backing plates are respectfully positioned opposite each of said first and second series of centrally disposed vertically aligned and axially displaced rollers to frictionally engage and capture a food product and causing the food product to descendingly traverse the internal portion of the oven cavity between the plurality of vertically aligned and axially displaced rollers and correspondingly positioned first and second backing plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: American Permanent Ware Corporation
    Inventors: Charles J. Kingdon, Gabriel Michael Beddingfield
  • Patent number: 7285759
    Abstract: A baking oven is provided with a baking oven housing with a baking chamber. The latter is divided into at least two baking zones each of them being provided with at least one own baking oven supply inlet for the feeding of dough pieces. At least one delivery outlet is used for the delivery of the dough pieces. A first one of the at least two baking zones is configured so that a plurality of dough pieces available and conveyed on the supply side as bulk material is being baked there. A second one of the at least two baking zones is configured so that a plurality of dough pieces which are available and conveyed as individual pieces are being baked there. More-over, baking oven is provided with a circulating air source and a means of conveyance for conveying the dough pieces from the supply inlet through the baking chamber to the delivery outlet. A baking system with such a baking oven is furthermore provided with an upstream means of conveyance for conveying dough pieces to the baking oven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Werner & Pfleiderer Lebensmitteltechnick GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Knost, Bernd Dannenhauer
  • Patent number: 7285754
    Abstract: A vertically oriented roller toaster oven with first and second heating zones dispose within its internal portion and positioned between a centrally disposed platen and one or more vertically aligned axially displaced rollers which one motivated via a continuously linked chain in communication with an electric motor. The uppermost roller pairs may be angularly displaced from those immediately below to provide for ease of entrance with respect to a food item to be toasted/cooked. One or more signaling means allows for automatic adjustment of time required for food item to traverse the internal portion of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: American Permanent Ware Corporation
    Inventors: Charles J. Kingdon, Gabriel Michael Beddingfield
  • Publication number: 20070235437
    Abstract: A paint oven including a conveyor conveying painted articles through the oven and a plurality of infrared temperature sensors directed toward and measuring the temperature of predetermined areas of the painted articles, and a control receiving a signal from the infrared temperature sensors and comparing the temperature to a predetermined standard. The disclosed embodiment further includes calibration targets opposite the infrared temperature sensors and independent temperature sensors measuring the temperature of the target for calibration of the infrared temperature sensors. The method of this invention further includes aligning the infrared temperature sensors with a coaxial light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Inventors: Joseph M. Klobucar, James L. Pakkala, Gregory M. Still, David L. DerMiner
  • Patent number: 7278350
    Abstract: A flexible composite with integral flights is provided and methods for making the same. The composite is made from, for example, silicone rubber, urethane rubber, polytetrafluoroethylene or other polymer. The composites are useful for making conveyor belts for use in high temperature food processing, and particularly for contact toasters. The conveyor belts are an improvement over the prior art in that they prevent slippage of the articles conveyed, may be manufactured at low cost, and are relatively easy to clean.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics
    Inventors: Frank M. Keese, Kevin C. Bauler, Gerard T. Buss, John A. Effenberger
  • Patent number: 7268323
    Abstract: To be provided are a heat treatment apparatus having blocking members which block gaps between the side walls of nozzle boxes provided with slit nozzles, whose size in the lengthwise direction is greater than the width of a sheet, and the side walls of a heat treatment chamber, and gas having a uniform velocity fluctuating no more than ±25% in the lengthwise direction of the slit nozzles is blown out of the slit nozzles to subject the sheet to heat treatment, resulting in little unevenness of temperature in the widthwise direction and reduced energy loss, and a heat treatment method using this heat treatment apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Tomobe, Hirotoshi Mizota, Hajime Okutsu, Tomonari Murakami, Daisuke Morimoto
  • Publication number: 20070194000
    Abstract: A device for loading and unloading an oven or baking chamber includes a movable loading table and a conveyor sheet. The conveyor sheet which forms the upper face of the loading table, runs around at least one reversing edge of the loading table and may be driven. Specifically, the conveyor sheet (also referred to as a belt) may be motor-driven. The device includes a movable cover which may be shifted into a retaining position, in which it prevents items lying on the conveyor sheet from falling off over the reversing edge of the loading table, The loading table has two parallel side pieces and the cover being located in the side pieces of the loading table.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Inventors: Ottmar Baumeister, Marco Brust
  • Patent number: 7220944
    Abstract: An improved, modular convection/impingement oven assembly for continuously cooking food. In certain embodiments, the assembly comprises at least one non-recirculating impingement oven unit and at least one additional oven unit, arranged as a series, in any sequence. A first oven has an elongated chamber, a conveyer system, hot-air impingement units, and an exhaust vent at the discharge end. Preferably, it has surface-treatment burners for browning, a brander for grill marks, and/or steam nozzles for introducing heat and moisture. Cooking vapors pass the entire length of the unit. Each subsequent oven may be similar to the first oven (often omitting the surface-treatment burners and brander) with its own vent. Each subsequent oven may cook by flame, air, or steam, in any combination. Each oven unit is independently controllable for cooking parameters and cooking methods. An air gap may be provided between each pair of oven units to decouple airflow between units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Inventors: R. Craig Miller, Richard W. Naess
  • Patent number: 7210606
    Abstract: A web conveyor is provided having a frame, a pair of conveyor rails, and at least one sag rail. The pair of conveyor rails is carried by the frame in laterally spaced-apart relation. The pair of conveyor rails is configured to support and convey respective edges of a thermoformable web of plastic material. The at least one sag rail includes a friction-reducing material provided along at least a portion of a top edge of the sag rail. The sag rail is provided between the conveyor rails and extends longitudinally along a web travel path. The sag rail is configured to support a web of material intermediate the conveyor rails. A web support apparatus having one or more of friction-reducing material, local, raised portions, and a temperature regulator is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Inventors: Jere F. Irwin, Dale L. Vantrease
  • Patent number: 7202447
    Abstract: A conveyor type oven (10) for processing food products (32) and a method of use that includes heating sections and/or zones, each of the heating sections/and or zones being individually temperature controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Inventors: Charles J. Kingdon, Christopher J. Adelmann, Abel Anthony Arellano, Joe Louis Gallardo
  • Patent number: 7193184
    Abstract: An oven for providing radiant and impingement heat to a food item. The oven includes a fan mechanism for drawing air around the radiant heat elements of the oven. The air is then delivered to an impingement tray located adjacent the food item. The air is forced through a series of apertures and onto the food item. At the same time the oven is also being heated by the radiant heat elements. This allows greater heat to be applied to specific locations on the food item. An external heat source is not required to heat the air as the air is heated by the existing radiant heat elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Inventor: Michael Manning
  • Patent number: 7176415
    Abstract: A heating method and apparatus for a band-shaped body transported in a constant conveying direction in a heating zone so as to heat the band-shaped body is provided. The method includes detecting whether a portion of the band-shaped body at which width and/or thickness changes is passing through the heating zone setting a first supplied heat quantity, and supplying heat with the first supplied quantity to the band-shaped body in the heating zone; and setting a second supplied heat quantity, and supplying heat with the second supplied quantity to the band-shaped body in the heating zone. The method also includes increasing or decreasing at least one of air flow rate or temperature of the heated air stream. The apparatus includes an air flow ratio changing unit which maintains a constant sum of introduced air stream flow rate and bypass air stream flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Kamitani, Kenji Hayashi
  • Patent number: 7170036
    Abstract: An apparatus for heating and cooling an article is provided. The apparatus comprises an enclosure having top, bottom, and side walls and an entrance and an exit. A first belt system comprising one or more belts extends from a loading position through a portion of the enclosure. The first belt system has a loading end and an unloading end. A second belt system comprising one or more belts extends from the unloading end of the first belt system to an unloading position. The second belt system has a loading end and an unloading end. The enclosure includes one or more heating sources positioned adjacent the first belt system for heating the first belt system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Radiant Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Carson T. Richert, Luis Alejandro Rey Garcia, Dienhung D. Phan, Selina De Rose-Juarez, Andrei Szilagyi
  • Patent number: 7144813
    Abstract: An apparatus for thermally processing a microelectronic workpiece is provided. The apparatus comprises a rotatable carousel assembly configured to support at least one workpiece. A driver is coupled to the carousel assembly and rotates the carousel assembly, moving the workpiece between a loading station, a heating station and a cooling station. The loading, heating and cooling stations are radially positioned and approximately equally spaced about a center axis of the carousel assembly. The heating station includes a heating element and an actuator for moving the heating element into thermal engagement with the workpiece in the heating station. The cooling station includes a cooling element and an actuator for moving the cooling element into thermal engagement with the workpiece in the cooling station. A process fluid distribution manifold for delivering process fluid to the workpieces at each station extends through a central opening in the carousel assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Semitool, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Zachary Wirth, Jeffry Alan Davis
  • Patent number: 7138609
    Abstract: Indoor use rotisserie ovens which have construction features and scale which make the cleaning process easier. Shown are indoor use rotisserie ovens which also may rotate cooking foods about either a horizontal or vertical axis, which makes their applications more versatile. Construction features include: a scale appropriate for cleaning in a typical kitchen sink, use of removable electrical components, and single oven wall construction, all to allow easy cabinet cleaning. Also shown is a locking tab manufacturing detail which creates an inexpensive, light weight, oven cavity, which is easy to clean and also permits oven cavity washing and/or immersion in water. This manufacturing detail also is easy to handle by the end-user without projecting sharp edges. Self lubricated spit assembly axles are shown as well to help deaden sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Inventors: Ronald M. Popeil, Alan Backus, Kathryn Popeil
  • Patent number: 7129446
    Abstract: A device is provided to heat the whole heated surface of a carried member carried intermittently with a temperature change over time maintained constant. The device controls the driving of a belt-conveyer so that a heater moves in a carrying direction at a carry time movement velocity that is slower than the carry velocity of a TAB tape if the TAB tape is in a carried state. On the other hand, the heater moves in an opposite carrying direction at a carry standby time movement velocity derived from the difference between the carry velocity and the carry time movement velocity if the TAB tape is in a carry standby state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Norio Imaoka
  • Patent number: 7119307
    Abstract: A photosensitive material processing device for processing a photosensitive material with a processing liquid while conveying the photosensitive material by a roller pair. A driving device for providing a rotation drive to the roller pair. A drive controlling device that gradually raises voltage of the electric power at the time of starting the rotation drive of the roller pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryoei Nozawa, Akinori Kimura, Shinichi Matsuda, Takayuki Iwamoto, So Konno, Toshihiro Suya, Hideto Yamamoto, Miyuki Endou
  • Patent number: 7102105
    Abstract: An electric oven including lower heaters arranged under a cooking chamber thereof. The electric oven includes an outer case defining the appearance of the electric oven, an inner case inwardly spaced apart from the outer case by a predetermined distance, and lower heaters arranged between bottom walls of the outer and inner cases. The inner case internally defines a cooking chamber, and a blowing fan is installed near the lower heaters to circulate air existing in the cooking chamber toward the lower heaters. With the electric oven configured as stated above, heat generated by the lower heaters is transferred to the cooking chamber in the form of conductive heat and convective heat, resulting in fast and efficient heat transfer and even cooking of food.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Keun Seuk Oh
  • Patent number: 7094993
    Abstract: An apparatus for heating and cooling an article is provided. The apparatus comprises an enclosure having top, bottom, and side walls and an entrance and an exit. A first belt system comprising one or more belts extends from a loading position through a portion of the enclosure. The first belt system has a loading end and an unloading end. A second belt system comprising one or more belts extends from the unloading end of the first belt system to an unloading position. The second belt system has a loading end and an unloading end. The enclosure includes one or more heating sources positioned adjacent the first belt system for heating the first belt system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Radiant Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Carson T. Richert, Luis Alejandro Rey Garcia, Dienhung D. Phan, Selina De Rose-Juarez, Andrei Szilagyi
  • Patent number: 7091452
    Abstract: A conveyor type oven (10) for processing food products (32) and a method of use that includes heating sections and/or zones, each of the heating sections/and or zones being individually temperature controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: American Permanent Ware Corporation
    Inventors: Charles J. Kingdon, Christopher J. Adelmann, Abel Anthony Arellano, Joe Louis Gallardo
  • Patent number: 7087864
    Abstract: A cooking device is provided which blows most of the air blown from a circulation fan in a heater room to a heater, such that the heating of air by the heater is facilitated and the volume of the rear side of a heater case is reduced to permit manufacture of the cooking device in a small size. The cooking device includes a heater case provided to form a heater room in an inner case, a circulation fan installed in the heater room, a heater installed outside of the circulation fan in the heater room, a motor mounted outside the heater case and driving the circulation fan, and a first sunken part formed such that a portion of the heater case, on which the motor is mounted, is sunken inward with respect to the heater room by a predetermined depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keun Seuk Oh, Hyang Ki Kim, Kyoung Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 7082260
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for bending and/or tempering glass substrate(s) are provided. The amount of near-IR radiation which reaches the glass to be bent and/or tempered is limited (e.g., via filtering or any other suitable technique). Thus, the IR radiation (used for heating the glass) which reaches the glass to be bent and/or tempered includes mostly mid-IR and/or far-IR radiation, and not much near-IR. In such a manner, coating(s) provided on the glass can be protected and kept at lower temperatures so as to be less likely to be damaged during the bending and/or tempering process. Heating efficiency can be improved. A ceramic (e.g., aluminosilicate) filter or baffle may be used in certain embodiments in order to reduce the amount of mid-IR and/or far-IR radiation reaching the glass to be tempered and/or bent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignees: Guardian Industries Corp., Centre Luxembourgeois de Recherches pour le Verre et la Ceramique S.A. (C.R.V.C.)
    Inventors: Anthony V. Longobardo, George Neuman, Daniel F. Prone, Andre Heyen
  • Patent number: 7068925
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a fully automated, fabrication compliant furnace with the advantages of the horizontal and most of the advantages of the vertical furnace. One embodiment of the present invention is that it implements a multi-degree motion robot arm to move wafers from a loading area to a WIP station where the wafers are then loaded into wafer boats on a rotating cantilever system or directly onto a specialized and reconfigurable paddle designed to hold wafers. The wafers may be loaded in the horizontal processing position as well as the vertical processing position. Multiple levels of the semi-toroidal horizontal processors allow for multiple batches of wafers to be loaded, processed, cooled and unloaded by the robot arm. The present invention reduces the footprint of the traditional horizontal or vertical furnaces, increases capacity and throughput, and allows for direct tube transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Diamond Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher J. Bayne
  • Patent number: 7067769
    Abstract: A vertical grilling component includes two grilling structures separated by a gap. Each grilling structure includes a heating component and a conveyor belt positioned around the heating components. The upper portion of one of the grilling structures is beveled approximately 0.8°. The grilling structures are slidable relative to the frame of the grilling component for cleaning, and the heating components are also removable from the grilling structures. The gap between the grilling structures is adjustable between two distances. The conveyor belts include a v-belt received in a groove of the pulleys to prevent lateral movement of the conveyor belt. The conveyor belts also include an edge seal around the outer edge of the conveyor belt. After grilling, seasoning is dispensed onto the grilled food item when detected by a sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Carrier Commercial Refrigeration Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Sands, Ronald J. Glavan, Henry Thomas Ewald, Ronald J. Dorsten, Curtis J. Scadden, Richard J. Lunden, Ad Verkuylen
  • Patent number: 7040519
    Abstract: A web conveyor is provided having a frame, a pair of conveyor rails, and at least one sag rail. The pair of conveyor rails is carried by the frame in laterally spaced-apart relation. The pair of conveyor rails is configured to support and convey respective edges of a thermoformable web of plastic material. The at least one sag rail includes a friction-reducing material provided along at least a portion of a top edge of the sag rail. The sag rail is provided between the conveyor rails and extends longitudinally along a web travel path. The sag rail is configured to support a web of material intermediate the conveyor rails. A web support apparatus having one or more of friction-reducing material, local, raised portions, and a temperature regulator is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Inventors: Jere F. Irwin, Dale L. Vantrease
  • Patent number: 7038172
    Abstract: A programmable control system for a cooking apparatus having a housing defining a cooking chamber with one or more food transport conveyors traveling there-through between opposing cooking elements. A food probe is provided for insertion into cooked food items to ascertain the internal cooked temperature and a control program to automatically call for the probing of temperature readings of food items on a predefined schedule, and to record the temperature readings. The control program also compensates for temperature degradation when the apparatus is under significant cooking loads. The control program also compensates for the malfunction in the cooking elements, wherein if one cooking element on one side of the conveyor path malfunctions, a corresponding heating element on the opposite side of the conveyor is deactivated and simultaneously the conveyor speed is slowed to compensate for the reduction in heating to maintain balanced cooking of the food.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Marshall Air Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert M. Stuck
  • Patent number: 7026582
    Abstract: A system and method for reflowing lead-free solder to interconnect a plurality of electronic components to a substrate is disclosed. The system includes an oven for preheating the substrate and the plurality of electronic components disposed thereon, and a supplemental heat source disposed in the oven for providing additional heat energy to reflow the solder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Lakhi N. Goenka, Peter J. Sinkunas, Larry N. Schmidt, Sherwin T. Moss
  • Patent number: 7026579
    Abstract: Food is heated in an oven using multiple planar, electrically-heated quartz heaters. A variable speed conveyor controls the time that the food is exposed to the infrared energy. A controllable power supply adjusts heat output from the heaters by controlling the duty cycle delivered to the planar quartz heaters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Q-Matic Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Constantin Burtea
  • Patent number: 7019264
    Abstract: This invention relates to a system and a method for the heat treatment of substrates, incorporating an annular heat-treatment section with a rotary table designed to accept substrate holders, at least two of which substrate holders are positioned one behind the other in heat-treatment zones that extend in a radial spoke pattern around the center of the rotary table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Unaxis Balzers Ltd.
    Inventors: Thomas Eisenhammer, Thomas Matt, Gebhard Stittmatter, Klaus Zapf
  • Patent number: 7014673
    Abstract: A filtering apparatus for a reflow oven includes a contaminated-gas inlet for receiving contaminated gas from a reflow oven; a filtering device configured to filter the received contaminated gas; a returned gas outlet for returning filtered gas to the reflow oven; a gas removal arrangement for allowing gas to escape from the apparatus; and a control arrangement for controlling the rate of gas flow through the gas removal arrangement such that in use the flow rate of contaminated gas flowing from a hotter region of the reflow oven to a cooler region of the reflow oven is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: BTU International, Inc.
    Inventor: Philip Arthur Mullins
  • Patent number: 7015436
    Abstract: An apparatus for the heat treatment of foodstuffs and feedstuffs, in particular for the production of bakery products, such as wafer products, has a continuously moving conveying device, a device for depositing the product on the conveying device, and a device for removing the heat-treated product from the conveying device. The conveying device is formed by an endless conveyor belt that can be circulated between two return rollers and which is formed by a ferromagnetic metal strip, in particular by a steel strip. A heating device is provided on one side of the conveyor belt and includes a group of induction heaters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Masterfoods Austria OHG
    Inventors: Rudolf Fila, Joseph Roeckel, Garry Dean Moppett, Stefan Trojer
  • Patent number: 7000433
    Abstract: A device for heating plates of glass (3) which are hardened or deformed, includes two ceramic heating plates (1) between which a plate of glass (3) is arranged. Compensation plates (20) are associated with the heating plates (1) at a distance therefrom, in addition to heaters (6) which are arranged close thereto. The heaters (6) are accommodated in housings (11) which are defined on one side of the heating plates (1). Holes (8) are provided in the heating plates (1). Gas is fed through the holes into the housing between the heating plates (1) and the compensating plates (2). The gas is heated by flowing past the compensating plates (20) and forms gas cushions (7) on both sides of the plate of glass (3) which hold the plate. The plate of glass (3) is heated in a homogenous manner by radiation and convection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Technopat AG
    Inventor: Peter Lisec
  • Patent number: 6996957
    Abstract: An induction device for heat-shrinking a heat-shrinking film onto a product comprising induction means for causing the heat-shrinking plastic layer of the heat-shrinking film to heat-shrink onto the product, and supply and control means for the induction means connected to the induction means, where the induction means comprises at least one induction ring within which the product passes while the heat-shrinking film heat-shrinks onto the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Minipack-Torre S.p.A.
    Inventor: Torre Francesco
  • Patent number: 6998578
    Abstract: A baking system for a plasma display panel which comprises a clean room 1 and a baking furnace having an upper passage 11 for conveying a plasma display panel glass substrate 5 during baking from an inlet 15 of the furnace 3, and a lower passage 13 for conveying the baked substrate 5 in the upper passage 11 towards an outlet of the furnace 3, both of the inlet and the outlet being provided at the same end of the furnace 3, characterized in that only the inlet 15 and the outlet 17 are connected to a clean room 1, while keeping a body thereof outside the clean room 1. Also, there is disclosed a layout method for such a baking system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignees: NGK Insulators, Ltd., Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Tsuji, Makoto Morita, Masanori Suzuki, Hihuo Noiri, Michiro Aoki, Takahiro Takeda
  • Patent number: 6998580
    Abstract: A light source comprising a plurality of flash lamps emits flashes thereby flash-heating a semiconductor wafer held by a thermal diffuser and a hot plate. The current distance of irradiation between the thermal diffuser and the hot plate holding the semiconductor wafer and the light source is so adjusted as to attain predetermined intensity of irradiation. The distance of irradiation between the thermal diffuser and the hot plate and the light source can be changed or corrected by vertically moving the thermal diffuser and the hot plate. Thus provided is a thermal processing apparatus using the flash lamps, capable of readily controlling the intensity of irradiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsufumi Kusuda, Yasuhiro Imaoka, Hiromi Murayama, Norio Yamamoto, Naoto Mori, Yoko Yoshihara
  • Patent number: RE39828
    Abstract: An improved convection/impingement oven for continuously cooking food. The oven has a wire link type belt which moves through an elongated cooking chamber. Hot air is blown on the upper surface of the food to be cooked. A separately controlled hot air source is blown on the lower surface of the food. Hot air impingement units are placed along the length of the oven and the cooking vapors are not recirculated but instead pass along the elongated cooking chamber and are exhausted at the end. Preferably a color development and sealing section has upper and lower burners which heat the food and the heat from these burners also pass the entire length of the cooking chamber before being exhausted. Also preferably steam or a water spray is used to regulate the humidity and this may be regulated in several different sections of the cooking chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Inventors: R. Craig Miller, Richard W. Naess