Combined With Additional Material Support Patents (Class 219/392)
  • Patent number: 6372048
    Abstract: A resistance heating element 33 for heating a wafer W is embedded within a ceramic heater 22 that forms a susceptor for a semiconductor wafer W to be processed, and power lines 35 from the resistance heating element 33 extend out of the processing chamber 20. A sheathing bellows 38 that houses the power lines 35 in an insulated state is interposed between the ceramic heater 22 and a base plate 24 of the processing chamber 20, and an end piece 39 of the sheathing bellows 38 is connected by screws 40 to the ceramic heater 22 to provide a space 50 therebetween. The screws 40 are such as to permit the thermal expansion of the sheathing bellows 38. This configuration makes it possible to make the temperature distribution in the surface of the semiconductor wafer uniform and thus improve the uniformity of film formation, and also prevent corrosion of components such as the power lines and terminals, and suppress the generation of particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Munehisa Futamura, Teruo Iwata
  • Publication number: 20020011479
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a bump-bonding heating apparatus, a bump bonding method and a bump forming apparatus which do not involve large-sized apparatus configuration and which are easy to handle, and a semiconductor wafer in which bumps are formed by using the bump bonding method. The bump-bonding heating apparatus has a wafer turning member, a turning unit and a wafer heating unit. The turning member is turned by the turning unit without turning the wafer heating unit, whereby a semiconductor wafer mounted on the turning member is turned. Like this, since the wafer heating unit is not turned, the apparatus configuration can be made compact. Since the turning member is turned directly by the turning unit, the turning angle of the semiconductor wafer can be implemented with higher precision as compared with the conventional gas floating type turning method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Publication date: January 31, 2002
    Inventors: Shoriki Narita, Makoto Imanishi, Takaharu Mae, Nobuhisa Watanabe, Shinji Kanayama
  • Patent number: 6342693
    Abstract: A pleated microwave oven liner comprising a plurality of liner pleats, is expandable in the preferred embodiment from initial dimensions of approximately 6 inches in height by 11 inches in width, to final dimensions as large as approximately 15 inches in height by 21 inches in width, by ⅛ inch increments. This microwave oven liner, by virtue of its resizability (scalability), can be used to protect a wide range of sizes of microwave oven from spills and spatters associated with the microwave cooking and heating process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Inventors: Rose Mary Smith, Elizabeth Hogan, David Hogan
  • Patent number: 6333491
    Abstract: Circuit chips, such as known good die (KGD) chips, are removed from an assembly including a plurality of circuit chips attached to at least one chip carrier, or substrate. The substrate is held within a top plate with the circuit chips positioned within successive chip cavities within a bottom plate. Each chip cavity includes a load surface separated by a cascade effect pitch with respect to adjacent chip cavities. A cascade effect shear force is sequentially applied to the circuit chips to remove them from the substrate. The chips may be heated to a temperature facilitating shear within a temperature range at which solder connections are solid, and the chips further heated following disassembly to a temperature at which the solder is liquid to facilitate reforming the solder for subsequent attachment of the chip into an electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christian Bergeron, Raymond Lord, Mario Racicot
  • Patent number: 6320163
    Abstract: Circuit chips, such as known good die (KGD) chips, are removed from an assembly including a plurality of circuit chips attached to at least one chip carrier, or substrate. The substrate is held within a top plate with the circuit chips positioned within successive chip cavities within a bottom plate. Each chip cavity includes a load surface separated by a cascade effect pitch with respect to adjacent chip cavities. A cascade effect shear force is sequentially applied to the circuit chips to remove them from the substrate. The chips may be heated to a temperature facilitating shear within a temperature range at which solder connections are solid, and the chips further heated following disassembly to a temperature at which the solder is liquid to facilitate reforming the solder for subsequent attachment of the chip into an electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christian Bergeron, Raymond Lord, Mario Racicot
  • Patent number: 6297477
    Abstract: An electric heating element (11) in which electrically conductive tape (23) is wound on a non-electrically conductive former (12) and the tape is completely covered by covers (30) of electrically non-conductive but heat conductive material secured to the former. Preferably the covers and former are of Mica or Micanite. The covers are secured to the former by channel sectioned strips (31) along opposite side edges and by fastening eyelets (26) extending through the covers and former intermediate the edges. For use in an upright toaster the tape is wound continuously round the former with each run thereof extending between the grooves in the opposite side edges of the former, the grooves in the upper portion being spaced from one another by 4.6 to 7 mm while the grooves in the lower portion of the former are spaced by a smaller distance in the range 3.6 to 5 mm. For use in a conveyor toaster the runs adjacent the sides of the conveyor are more closely spaced than those in the center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Dualit Limited
    Inventors: Leslie Alexander Gort-Barten, Brian Milton
  • Patent number: 6291802
    Abstract: A sample introduction system includes a drop chamber which can be sealed and outgassed and which includes a movable jaw selectively holding the sample in position above a conduit communicating with an open crucible for receiving a sample once the jaw has been moved to an open position releasing the sample. The jaw is actuated by a magnetic field which moves the jaw in an entirely enclosed system, thereby preventing the introduction of atmospheric contaminants during the operation of the sample dropping jaw from a closed, sample holding position to an open sample releasing position. By providing a magnetic actuator, such as a solenoid, for operation of the jaw, the sample chamber remains sealed during the sample dropping operation preventing contaminants from interfering with the analytical results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Leco Corporation
    Inventor: Gordon C. Ford
  • Patent number: 6265697
    Abstract: An oven includes a bowl-shaped body having an upper portion pivotally connected with a lid, an electric motor installed on an inner bottom of the bowl-shaped body and having a vertical output axle having upper end formed with a square head, a tray having a central portion formed with a protruded square member which has a square recess at a bottom configured to engage with the square head of the output axle of the electric motor, an annular ring-like member provided with a plurality of rollers and mounted under the tray for facilitating rotation of the tray, a skewer provided with a first gear fixedly mounted at one end thereof, and a second gear freely rotatably mounted at another end thereof, a first groove having a small distance from an inner side of the first gear and sized to engage with the U-shaped slot of the L-shaped lugs, and a second groove having a small distance from an inner side of the second gear and sized to engage with the U-shaped slot of the L-shaped lug, the skewer having a round portion
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Inventor: Su Yung Sen
  • Patent number: 6242715
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a hollow turbomachine blade made from a titanium alloy of the TA6V type includes a hot twisting step in which an element of the blade is twisted progressively at a temperature above 700° C. by a plurality of bars which are rotated about the twist axis and act on collars previously fixed to the element, the distribution and number of collars being determined according to the desired twist to be imparted and such as to obtain a linear twist development between each collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignees: Societe Nationale d'Etude et de Construction de Moteurs d'Aviation “Snecma”, Etablissements Robert Creuzet
    Inventors: Mathieu Philippe Albert Bichon, Bernard Armand René Costeplane, Alain Georges Henri Lorieux
  • Patent number: 6201217
    Abstract: A counter-top electric oven is provided that includes a number of features that prevent overheating of the components of the oven. These features include an actively cooled fan chamber, a hot gas vent, a cooling manifold that directs cooling air to cool the cooking enclosure and hot gas vented from the hot gas vent, and a base with thermally insulated supports for a metallic oven pan of the cooking enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Heartware Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Jung S. Moon, Rong Liu, Alan R. Kelley
  • Patent number: 6180923
    Abstract: The present invention of a spinning tray for oven mainly includes a tray body for placing food. The tray body having a hole at its center for inserting a sensor rod. A spring is disposed underneath the sensor rod, a positioning frame is placed outside the spring and is fixed underneath on the tray body. A lower board of the positioning frame is provided for the spring to be compressed against. A L-shaped stopping bar is extended from the bottom of the sensor rod. A spinning mechanism includes a positioning board, few stand poles are disposed vertically underneath on the tray body for screwing to the positioning board by screws. A main axle goes through the positioning board. The main axle is wrapped around by a spring and is sleeved with a gearing. The main axle engages with the gearing by the elasticity provided by the spring. The gearing is engaged to few gear sets and a spinning blade is activated by a gear wheel. The whole spinning mechanism is covered by a cover and is fixed on the positioning board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Inventor: Po-Han Yang
  • Patent number: 6166353
    Abstract: A free-standing warming appliance includes an outer enclosure and an inner liner which cooperate together to form a heating chamber. A warmer drawer forming a receptacle for precooked food stuffs is selectively inserted into and withdrawn out of the heating chamber. A heating element is secured to the inner liner within the heating chamber to warm the food stuffs within the warmer drawer receptacle. A control panel has an indicator light and infinite switch for controlling the heating element. The control panel is located within the enclosure and covered by a front panel of the warmer drawer so that access to the control components of the control panel is provided only when the warmer drawer is withdrawn from the heating chamber. Oven support members are secured to the outer enclosure to support a cooking appliance, such as a built-in oven, above the free-standing warming appliance. The cooking appliance rests directly on the oven support members of the warming appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: White Consolidated Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Fran.cedilla.ois Senneville, Serge Laprade, Gilbert Archambault, Stephane Labadens
  • Patent number: 6163014
    Abstract: Circuit chips, such as known good die (KGD) chips, are removed from an assembly including a plurality of circuit chips attached to at least one chip carrier, or substrate. The substrate is held within a top plate with the circuit chips positioned within successive chip cavities within a bottom plate. Each chip cavity includes a load surface separated by a cascade effect pitch with respect to adjacent chip cavities. A cascade effect shear force is sequentially applied to the circuit chips to remove them from the substrate. The chips may be heated to a temperature facilitating shear within a temperature range at which solder connections are solid, and the chips further heated following disassembly to a temperature at which the solder is liquid to facilitate reforming the solder for subsequent attachment of the chip into an electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christian Bergeron, Raymond Lord, Mario Racicot
  • Patent number: 6137097
    Abstract: A pleated microwave liner bag comprising a plurality of liner pleats, is expandable in the preferred embodiment from initial dimensions of approximately 6 inches in height by 11 inches in width, to final dimensions as large as approximately 15 inches in height by 21 inches in width, by 1/8 inch increments. This liner bag, by virtue of its resizability (scalability), can be used to protect a wide range of sizes of microwave oven from spills and spatters associated with the microwave cooking and heating process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Inventors: Rose Mary Smith, Elizabeth Hogan, David Hogan
  • Patent number: 6130411
    Abstract: The hitting distance performance of a golf ball is improved by heating the ball to an average temperature of between 30.degree. C. and 55.degree. C. during an active heating period of 30 minutes or less followed by a temperature equilibration period of 20 minutes or less. A golf ball heating appliance for carrying out the process has an upper and lower receptacle for receiving a plurality of golf balls and includes an electrical heating element capable of delivering at least 2 watts, and preferably, 4 watts of power per ball during the active heating period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Rocky Research
    Inventors: Uwe Rockenfeller, Paul Sarkisian
  • Patent number: 6111226
    Abstract: An electric oven includes a front door, upper and lower heating tubes mounted in the oven near a top and a bottom thereof, respectively, an oven rack fixed between the upper and the lower heating tubes, a grease drip tray removably fixed below the lower heating tubes for catching dropped grease drips, a frying pan fixed above the upper heating tubes, and a top lid that may be pivotally and upward turned open for access to the frying pan. The top lid is provided on an inner surface along outer edges thereof with a perpendicular and continuous flange, such that when the top lid is in a closed position, the flange tightly contacts with top edges of the frying pan to seal the same. The oven is further provided on two lateral inner wall surfaces with two sliding channels, so that the grease drip tray may be removed from its lower position in the oven to fix in and between the two sliding channels for catching grease drips dropped from the frying pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Inventor: Wen-Ching Lee
  • Patent number: 6087633
    Abstract: An electric oven with a baking frame for placing an object to be broiled or baked on it, includes a base, a net, a support frame vertically fitted in one side of the base and having several grooves respectively in two vertical sides, a position frame, a piercing member and a motor. The base has a large recess with four circumferential edges provided with an insert hole in two opposite edges. The position frame vertically fixed in the other side of the base has several pairs of hang holes in an upper portion and a slot formed under each pair of the hang holes corresponds to the grooves of the support frame. After the pointed end of the piercing memer piercing an object is inserted in a shaft hole of the motor, the piercing member is slowly rotated so as to have the object broiled evenly on the oven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Inventor: Ming-Tsung Lee
  • Patent number: 6087634
    Abstract: A browning grill is arranged for use in a high power density radiant oven. The oven includes a cooking enclosure having a ceiling and a floor, upper radiant energy sources located near the ceiling, and lower radiant energy sources located near the floor. The browning grill has a grilling surface and a debris collector. The grilling surface has a plurality of grill tines. The grilling surface is located between the upper and lower radiant energy sources, and the grilling surface establishes a cooking plane to the upper radiant energy sources. The debris collector catches food debris from food being grilled on the grilling surface. The debris collector is located between the grilling surface and the lower radiant energy sources, and the debris collector is arranged to permit heating of the cooking plane by the lower radiant energy sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Amana Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Edward R. Cook, J. Scott Petty
  • Patent number: 6054685
    Abstract: In a method for the arc-like shaping of an extruded profiled strand of plastic material at least a section of the strand is heated in a hot air chamber together with a support ledge disposed in spaced relationship from the profiled strand to a temperature permitting the bending of the profiled strand and the strand is then firmly engaged between a support ledge at the inner compression side and a support profile at the other, that is the tension side of the profile strand to form a package, which is then bent. Preferably, the temperature at the compression side of the profile strand is higher than the temperature at the tension side thereof to prevent the formation of waves in the profile strand walls. The profile strand may be surrounded by support profile members, which are heated together with the profile strand. The support profile members are held in engagement with profile strand by auxiliary support profiles, which are held together and which are flexible to permit bending of the whole package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Inventors: Theo Reinbold, Bernd Reinbold
  • Patent number: 6023049
    Abstract: An inserting structure of an oil-collecting plate for an electric oven in the present invention is provided with a plate-inserting groove located below several electric heating tubes, along and inward the lower portion of three inner walls of the roasting room of an electric oven. The plate-inserting groove is properly provided for three sides of an oil-collecting plate to be inserted in so as to make the oil-collecting plate form an oil-collecting scope bigger than the dripping scope formed by the inner walls of the roasting room and take the most effect of collecting oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Inventor: Sheng-I Huang
  • Patent number: 5968387
    Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a hotplate disposed above heating elements fixed to a frame, the hotplate including one or more openings for fat to pass through during cooking, and a container for collecting fat and juice during cooking disposed substantially in line with the opening(s) in the hotplate. The collecting container and the heating elements are in substantially the same plane substantially parallel to the hotplate. A free space between the plane and a base of the appliance accommodates a cooking container under the heating elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Seb S.A.
    Inventors: Didier Guerrier, Guy Houin
  • Patent number: 5951939
    Abstract: A method of heating a film prior to thermoforming by the following steps. A thermoplastic flexible film having a painted surface and a thermoplastic backing sheet is placed within a frame. The frame and film are placed within a heater. The heater has first and second radiating surfaces. The first and second radiating surfaces are parallel to the ground and the first radiating surface is above said second radiating surface. The first radiating surface is opposite the backing sheet and the second radiating surface is opposite said painted surface. The backing sheet is heated to a first temperature sufficient to cause the backing sheet to become pliable. The first temperature is a first difference above ambient temperature. The painted surface is heated to a second temperature. The second temperature is a second difference above ambient temperature and the first difference is between 2 to 20 times greater than the second difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Zinoviy Chernyak, Jeffery K. Christensen
  • Patent number: 5945094
    Abstract: This invention provides a disposable air freshener dispenser device which is adapted for engagement and support by a wall electrical outlet. The dispenser device consists of a cartridge which has a sealed content of liquid air freshener medium, and an absorbent matrix which can be exposed for wicking of air freshener into the atmosphere. An electrical-resistance type heater module is detachably secured and positioned proximate to the exposed absorbent matrix section for promotion of the wicking action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: John Martin, Mark E. Wefler
  • Patent number: 5927266
    Abstract: The present invention is a disposable device which is placed inside an oven to improve the cooking properties and contain splatter from food products. The interior surface of the cube is heat reflective material. Venturi holes are critically placed to circulate air flow and to improve the cooking characteristics and browning of food products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Pierre Maugard
    Inventor: Pierre Maugard
  • Patent number: 5910264
    Abstract: The invention relates to a household electric cooking apparatus, of the frying type, without oil bath, intended to cook frozen or fresh food products such as french fries, etc, without unpleasant smell, without smoke and in a dietetic way. It is comprised of a body which contains a metal housing (2). The cooking is performed by short wavelength infrared radiations. Inside said housing, a removable basket (12) made of perforated metal, rotating upon itself, is driven by an electric motor (13). Between the inner housing (2) and the resistors (11), is provided a removable reflector (14) to facilitate the cleaning of the frying unit. The apparatus is light, has reduced dimensions and cooks very rapidly food lproducts without the risks and disavantages related to the manipulation of boiling oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1999
    Inventor: Michel Henri Dauliach
  • Patent number: 5900173
    Abstract: A food warming apparatus includes a housing defining at least one warming cavity having a ceiling. A heater warms food products within the cavity. A grate is provided within the cavity spaced below the ceiling of the cavity. At least one food tray is provided for containing food products and is supportable on the grate beneath the ceiling of the cavity. A seal is operatively associated between the top of the tray and the ceiling of the cavity. The grate includes a biasing portion for biasing the tray upwardly toward the ceiling to assure operability of the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Prince Castle Inc.
    Inventor: Chester F. Robards, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5796082
    Abstract: A microwave oven includes a cooking chamber in which a plurality of removable horizontal partition plates are mounted to divide the cooking chamber into vertically adjacent compartments. A tray is rotatably mounted on each partition plate. A drive shaft carries vertically spaced drive elements, such as friction wheels or gears, which are engageable with respective trays. An electric motor drives the drive shaft to rotate the trays. The trays become disengaged from the drive elements in response to being removed from the cooking chamber. An additional driven tray is mounted on a floor of the cooking chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Je Myung Kim
  • Patent number: 5783803
    Abstract: A food warming apparatus includes a housing defining at least one warming cavity having a ceiling. A heater warms food products within the cavity. A grate is provided within the cavity spaced below the ceiling of the cavity. At least one food tray is provided for containing food products and is supportable on the grate beneath the ceiling of the cavity. A seal is operatively associated between the top of the tray and the ceiling of the cavity. The grate includes a biasing portion for biasing the tray upwardly toward the ceiling to assure operability of the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Inventor: Chester F. Robards, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5756964
    Abstract: A thermal processing apparatus for processing a wafer is disclosed. The thermal processing apparatus includes a thermal processing plate, a plurality of spacers, a plurality of locators, and a plurality of sensors. The temperature of the thermal processing plate is controlled within a predetermined range. The spacers are arranged over the thermal processing plate for supporting the wafer, thereby forming a gap between the wafer and the thermal processing plate. The locators, each of which is disposed over one of the spacers, are provided for locating the wafer. The sensors, each of which is disposed over one of the locators, are provided for detecting the position of the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Hsien Hsu, Wen Jye Chung
  • Patent number: 5528014
    Abstract: A toy oven has a heating compartment accessible through an aperture in a front wall of a housing of the oven. A door is provided which is manually movable to close off the aperture. IN one embodiment, the door is slidably mounted and in another embodiment it is pivotally mounted. A mechanical interlock engages the door to prevent it from opening if the electrical power switch is on. Another mechanical interlock prevents the door from opening when the heating compartment is at a high temperature. The oven is thus safe to use by children in normal play. A fan may be provided to cool the heating compartment when the power switch is turned off and is thereafter automatically turned off after a predetermined time or when the temperature in the heating compartment falls to a safe level. A timer may also be provided to automatically switch power off after a predetermined time of inactivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Inventors: Harvey Goldberg, David C. K. Kwan, Steven Lebensfeld
  • Patent number: 5415572
    Abstract: An adaptor (4) for adapting a domestic cooking apparatus (1) to supply power to a liquid heating vessel (5) having its own heating element is arranged to be received within a well (3) of the cooking apparatus (1). The heating vessel (5) is supported on the upper surface (12) of the adaptor (4). The adaptor has a first electrical connector (18) which releasably engages with the socket connector (20) in the well wall, which normally receives the heating element (2) of the cooking apparatus. A second electrical connector (22) electrically connected to the first connector means is arranged in the upper surface (12) for detachable engagement with the terminal pins (34,36,38) of the vessel (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Assignee: Strix Limited
    Inventor: Martin J. Shepherd
  • Patent number: 5414244
    Abstract: A heat treatment apparatus according to the present invention includes a process tube which heat rays are able to penetrate, a holding member for holding an object to be treated in the process tube, two temperature regulation plates arranged opposite and close to the object held by the holding member, for regulating an amount of heat rays reaching to the object, a heating unit for heating the object in the process tube, a cooling unit for cooling the object heated by the heating unit, a temperature sensor for sensing temperatures of the two temperature regulation plates, and a controller for controlling the heating unit based on the temperature profile acquired in advance and the temperatures detected by the temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1995
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Issei Imahashi
  • Patent number: 5272317
    Abstract: A cooking oven includes a cooking compartment with removable shelves. Each shelf includes a frame and a removable electrical resistance heater. The heater plugs into an electrical socket formed in a back wall of the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wook R. Ryu
  • Patent number: 4977307
    Abstract: An apparatus for heating a sample within a vacuum chamber according to the present invention includes a preliminary exhaust chamber connected with a vacuum chamber of an analyzer and the like through a gate valve. A sample stage is disposed within the vacuum chamber, and a sample holder is detachably disposed on this stage. The preliminary exhaust chamber is provided with a transfer device for transferring the sample holder between the preliminary exhaust chamber and the vacuum chamber to mount the sample holder on the stage and detach the sample holder from the stage. The sample holder is provided with a heater and a temperature-measuring element mounted thereon, the heater and temperature-measuring element being connected with the respective connectors mounted on the sample holder. A fixed connector is connected with the connectors when the sample holder is mounted on the stage by means of the transfer device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1990
    Assignee: Horiba, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Motoi, Naoki Yamamoto, Yukio Takano
  • Patent number: 4778968
    Abstract: A microwave oven liner apparatus (10) for use in the cavity (101) of a microwave oven (100) wherein the liner apparatus (10) includes a generally box-like receptacle member (13) having a closure panel (17) and further provided with vent openings (20) and absorbent element (30) wherein the liner apparatus (10) is employed to keep the interior cavity (101) of the microwave oven (100) clean.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1988
    Inventor: Matthew A. Torres
  • Patent number: 4695707
    Abstract: A heating oven for use in ageing semiconductors comprises a heating chamber 5 for receiving a number of trays 10 of semiconductors. Each tray 10 can be passed into the heating chamber 5 and ejected from the heating chamber 5, without disturbing the temperature environment of the remaining trays 10 in the heating chamber 5. This is achieved by the provision of closeable openings 13 on the wall 11 of the heating chamber 5 through which trays 10 may be passed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1987
    Assignee: Keneticon Limited
    Inventor: David N. Young
  • Patent number: 4677843
    Abstract: An oven for testing fluid samples to determine the effects of temperature and various chemical additives on the rheological, filtration and chemical properties of the sample under simulated circulating conditions comprises an environmental chamber having therein a plurality of motorized roller members which rotatably support a cylindrical enclosure containing a fluid sample. A heating element disposed beneath the rollers heats the chamber to a predetermined temperature which is maintained by a thermostat. An instrumentation and control panel disposed atop the chamber contains a digital thermometer display which eliminates the need to open the oven to check the temperature. A timer contained within the instrumentation and control panel may be preset to start and end the test automatically without having an operator in constant attendance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1987
    Assignee: OFI Testing Equipment Inc.
    Inventor: Royce E. Schroeder
  • Patent number: 4639577
    Abstract: In an electrical oven at least one corona generation electrode is provided to enhance heat and mass transfer. Food being cooked in the oven provides a second electrode which is normally supported on insulating support structure and provided with high potential through the use of a probe inserted into the food. A high voltage potential supply and constant current high voltage control are connected between the two electrodes. The corona generating electrode has a plurality of corona discharge generators with pointed or small diameter free ends fixed at their opposite ends to a common conductive base. The corona discharge generators are flexible and have current conducting capability and are connected to the conductive base so as to yield under pressure but to return to operative position upon imposition of corona producing potential. The corona discharge generators are preferably metallic foil, insulator sheet covered with foil or conductive fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1987
    Assignee: Harry Hill Associates
    Inventor: Eugene J. Sturdevant
  • Patent number: 4633052
    Abstract: A flame-resistant liquid absorbing paper is perforated to define small holes and is folded to form a box-like disposable liner bag having an open end and substantially the same dimensions as the heating and cooking chamber of a microwave oven. The liner bag is provided with fold lines for collapsing the bag to a flat condition for shipping and storage, and strips of pressure sensitive adhesive are carried by side walls of the liner bag for releasably attaching the bag to the microwave oven walls to maintain the open condition of the bag within the oven chamber. The small holes within the liner bag provide for release of vapor generated from a food item being heated or cooked within the bag and/or for air circulation within the oven. The liner bag may also be provided with an opening in the bottom wall for receiving a turntable or rotary platform within the oven chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1986
    Inventors: Jerry E. Beavers, Jim C. Layland
  • Patent number: 4629865
    Abstract: An electric oven including a broiler having a concentrator or reflector for providing more effective and efficient broiling. The broiling element is recessed into a downward facing trough of the aluminized steel concentrator. The broiling element has a plurality of parallel segments interconnected by curved end segments, and the shape of the trough is conforming. In operation, energy that would otherwise radiate to the cavity ceiling and side walls impinges the trough. A portion of the impinging energy is reflected downwards towards the food and another portion is absorbed by the concentrator causing it to heat and thereby become a source of thermal energy for the food.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1986
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: George Freedman, Robert F. Bowen, Kenneth W. Dudley
  • Patent number: 4590360
    Abstract: Apparatus in the form of at least one cooking chamber, e.g. a cooker or an oven for building into a kitchen unit, with the cooking chamber being delimited by a generally rectangular muffle (20) having an open front face. Heater elements (41) are disposed inside the muffle and/or outside the muffle in a contiguous chamber, and a thermally insulating material (50) is moulded over the side walls of the muffle together with the contiguous chamber if present. The thermally insulating material constitutes the core of a frame for the apparatus and forms part of a structure which provides at least a portion of the outside walls of the apparatus. Moulding the insulating material directly over the cooking chamber facilitates manufacture and reduces heat losses through heat-conducting bridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1986
    Assignee: Compagnie Europeenne pour l'Equipement Menager "Cepem"
    Inventors: Paul Maitenaz, Alain Gernez
  • Patent number: 4572944
    Abstract: An adjustable welding furnace includes a gimbal-mounted furnace housing within which a workpiece may be preheated and subsequently welded. A removable cover is mounted over an access opening in the housing for pivotal movement along either of two edges of the opening. A rotatable spit assembly, which may be mounted in any of several positions on the housing, suspends the workpiece within the housing for rotation independent of pivotal movement of the housing. A drawer-mounted heating assembly may be easily removed from the housing for servicing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1986
    Inventor: Thomas B. Ballard
  • Patent number: 4501954
    Abstract: A mechanical electrode is disclosed for use in an electrical circuit in a cooking device, such as, an oven. The mechanical electrode includes a plurality of electrically conductive needle elements supported on a flat base plate. Each needle has a sharply pointed tip for establishing current contact through an electrical field with a food supplied with a voltage normally sufficient to generate corona current from the tip to an aligned surface of the food for enhancing heat and mass transfer. A current-limiting resistive material electrically connects each one of the needle elements to the base plate which, in turn, is electrically coupled to a voltage supply for regulating the voltage supplied to the food to complete the electrical circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1985
    Assignee: Proctor-Silex, Inc.
    Inventor: Eugene J. Sturdevant
  • Patent number: 4476848
    Abstract: A countertop oven particularly well suited for preparing convenience foods, such as frozen dinners and hot sandwiches is provided. The oven includes at least one heating and serving tray with heat resistant handles, the tray sliding into slots in the oven side-walls with the handles on the outside so that the heating and serving tray may be removed from the oven and placed directly on a table for serving. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the oven includes two pairs of slots for receiving two heating and serving trays and includes three heating elements. This heating configuration permits cooking on the two trays in about sixty percent of the time compared to conventional countertop ovens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1984
    Inventor: Roger I. Protas
  • Patent number: 4456819
    Abstract: An adjustable welding furnace includes a gimbal-mounted furnace housing within which a workpiece may be preheated and subsequently welded. A removable cover is mounted over an access opening in the housing for pivotal movement along either of two edges of the opening. A rotatable spit assembly, which may be mounted in any of several positions on the housing, suspends the workpiece within the housing for rotation independent of pivotal movement of the housing. A drawer-mounted heating assembly may be easily removed from the housing for servicing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1984
    Inventor: Thomas B. Ballard
  • Patent number: 4434344
    Abstract: A self-storing meal rack for a microwave oven having an indexing mechanism for holding the rack in a lower or cooking or an upper storage position. The rack is rotated about a pivot between the cooking and storage position. Clearance is provided in the upper storage position so that the rack does not interfere with the polarization of excitation of the oven even though it is stored adjacent the upper wall of the oven cavity. In the lower or cooking position, the rack is spaced from the lower wall of the oven cavity a distance sufficient to permit food to be placed on the bottom wall of the oven cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1984
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Raymond L. Dills
  • Patent number: 4409452
    Abstract: A cooking appliance including both a resistive heating element and a high-frequency wave source such as a microwave generator in which a metal skewer is easily insertable through a front opening in a heating chamber and in which changes in dimensions in supporting members for the skewer are absorbed totally. A ceramic coupling member extends between a polygonally-shaped rotary shaft end and the metal skewer with a coupling hole in the coupling member being detachably insertable over the polygonally-shaped rotary shaft end. The skewer extends into a through-hole in the coupling member which has a shape similar to that of the skewer. A spring is provided to urge the coupling member outwardly into engagement with the rotary shaft end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1983
    Assignee: Hitachi Heating Appliances Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiji Oouchi, Isao Takoh, Hisayuki Serizawa
  • Patent number: 4307285
    Abstract: A toaster/oven comprises a housing and a cooking chamber defined within the housing by a cooking chamber bottom panel, first and second cooking chamber side panels, a cooking chamber top panel and a cooking chamber back panel (which may be removable), the cooking chamber thereby defining a front opening. A door is pivotally mounted to the housing for closing the front opening. Removable cooking chamber side liners are removably mounted to the cooking chamber side panels and define grooves for supporting at least one rack therebetween. Each cooking chamber side liner has an offset flange including an offset portion and a tip extending from the top edge thereof and bottom tabs extending perpendicularly from the bottom edge thereof. Each cooking chamber side panel defines slot openings cooperatively positioned for receiving the offset flange and bottom tabs of one of the cooking chamber side liners for removably mounting the cooking chamber side liner thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1981
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Harold A. DeRemer
  • Patent number: 4249067
    Abstract: An improved toy oven for baking foods quickly that includes a baking chamber with inner and outer parallel walls constructed so as to attain a predetermined temperature rapidly, utilizing a single radiant energy source. The electric bulb heats the surrounding air and establishes a convection current which flows through the baking chamber to heat the food. The toy oven further includes an input shelf and an output shelf that function to provide cooling for the baking pans used with the oven, and their contents. A baking shelf in the baking chamber is arranged to be horizontal and together with the input and output shelves, and input and output doors of said chamber, form a continuous horizontal track upon which a baking pan is placed and pushed into said baking chamber for baking and then onto said output shelf for cooling, prior to being removed from the oven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1981
    Inventor: Charles A. Cummings
  • Patent number: 4238668
    Abstract: An electrostatic oven or cooking apparatus having a heating structure defining a cavity and conventional thermostatically controlled heating element into which articles are placed is provided with an arrangement to generate an electrical field in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the cooking articles thereby improving the overall efficiency of the cooking process. The improved efficiency of the cooking process results in a reduction in the cooking time relative to conventional ovens. The electrical field generating apparatus in one arrangement includes an electrical field grid element maintained at a reference potential and apparatus for supporting the cooking articles upon being positioned within the heating structure cavity and maintaining the cooking articles at a DC potential with respect to the reference potential. The electrical field grid element and the cooking article support apparatus are spaced apart and adjustable relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1980
    Assignee: Sunbeam Corporation
    Inventor: H. William Mammen