With Plurality Of Separate Heating Units Patents (Class 219/395)
  • Patent number: 7888622
    Abstract: A heat-processing furnace comprises: a processing vessel for housing an object to be processed to thermally heat the object to be processed; a cylindrical heat insulating member surrounding the processing vessel; a helical heating resistor disposed along an inner circumferential surface of the heat insulating member; and support members axially disposed on the inner circumferential surface of the heat insulating member, for supporting the heating resistor at predetermined pitches. A plurality of terminal plates are disposed outside the heating resistor at suitable intervals therebetween and attached to the heating resistor, the terminal plates radially passing through the heat insulating member to be extended outside. A plurality of fixing plates are disposed outside the heating resistor at suitable intervals therebetween and attached to the heating resistor, the fixing plates being fixed in the heat insulating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Ken Nakao, Kenichi Yamaga, Makoto Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20110006053
    Abstract: Provided is an oven including loess layers. The oven includes: a main body portion having a cooking space therein; loess layers that are coated on inner walls of the main body portion and that comprise red clay and yellow mica, respectively; and heat generation rods that are disposed on at least one side of the cooking space so as to heat the cooking space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Inventor: Hee Sun KWAK
  • Patent number: 7844171
    Abstract: A rapid thermal processing apparatus comprises a processing chamber which subjects a semiconductor substrate to rapid thermal processing. A substrate support part is arranged in the processing chamber and supports the substrate. A lamp part optically irradiates the substrate supported by the substrate support part and heats the substrate. A thermo sensor is provided to measure a temperature of the substrate. A temperature computing part computes the temperature of the substrate based on an output signal of the thermo sensor. A control part controls an irradiation intensity of the lamp part according to the temperature computed by the temperature computing part. In this apparatus, the control part is provided to correct a control parameter of the irradiation intensity of the lamp part based on a measured reflectivity of a surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventor: Tomohiro Kubo
  • Patent number: 7838802
    Abstract: The present invention provides a radiation apparatus with capability of preventing heat convection, which comprises a blackbody furnace having a cavity therein and an air pressure adjusting unit. The air pressure adjusting unit coupled to the blackbody furnace for adjusting the air pressure of the open end of the cavity according to the temperature difference between the cavity and the outside environment. By means of the design of the present invention, it is capable of preventing heat convection between the cavity and the outside environment by utilizing the air pressure adjusting unit for controlling the air pressure status around the open end of cavity such that the blackbody furnace is stable for services of calibrations and tests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Bor-Jiunn Wen, Hsin-Yi Ko
  • Patent number: 7812287
    Abstract: A method for controlling a pyrolysis cleaning process in an oven includes the steps: a) heating an oven cavity of the oven by switching on a heat source; b) measuring, using an oxygen sensor, an oxygen concentration in the oven cavity or in an exhaust-air conduit configured to discharge fumes from the oven cavity; c) comparing, in an evaluation circuitry of an electrical control unit, the measured oxygen concentration to a predefined limit value stored in a memory; d) operating, if the measured oxygen concentration drops below the limit value, the oven for a predefined first time interval with the heat source switched off, a duration of the first time interval being stored in the memory; and e) repeating steps b) through d) after the first time interval has ended; or f) repeating steps a) through d) if the measured oxygen concentration is equal to or greater than the limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Miele & Cie. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Kruempelmann, Juergen Scharmann, Ulrich Sillmen
  • Patent number: 7798057
    Abstract: A cooking device comprises a cooking surface and a wall structure that extends away with respect to the cooking surface. Examples of the cooking device include a closure configured to be moved with respect to the wall structure from a first position to a second position. Access to the cooking surface is provided when the closure is oriented in the first position and the closure is configured to cooperate with the wall structure to define a cooking chamber when the closure is oriented in the second position. A handle can be attached to the closure, wherein the closure is configured to move from the second position to the first position by moving the handle away with respect to the wall structure. In addition or alternatively, the cooking device may include a rotisserie device with an arm configured to move from a retracted position to an extended position with respect to the wall structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas K. Ritterling
  • Publication number: 20100059497
    Abstract: Embodiments of a lamphead and apparatus utilizing same are provided herein. In some embodiments, a lamphead for use in thermal processing may include a monolithic member having a plurality of coolant passages and a plurality of lamp passages and reflector cavities, wherein each lamp passage is configured to accommodate a lamp and each reflector cavity is shaped to act as a reflector or to receive a replaceable reflector for the lamp, and wherein the plurality of coolant passages are disposed proximate to the plurality of lamp passages; and at least one heat transfer member extending from the monolithic member into each coolant passage. In some embodiments, the lamphead may be disposed in an apparatus comprising a process chamber having a substrate support, wherein the lamphead is positioned to provide energy to the substrate support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: JOSEPH M. RANISH, KHURSHED SORABJI, KEDARNATH SANGAM, ALEXANDER LERNER
  • Patent number: 7650833
    Abstract: A system for synchronization of a food preparation appliance and a holding station comprising a food preparation appliance for processing a food during a food preparation cycle and a holding station for maintaining food for a first predetermined period of time. The appliance and holding station communicate with each other. The appliance sends a signal to at least one holding when the food is transferred after the completion of the food processing cycle. A timer operatively coupled to the holding station. The timer countdown the elapsed time after the food has been prepared. Upon food transfer from appliance to the holding station, the remaining countdown is transferred from the appliance timer to the holding station timer. Holding station has a first countdown of the first elapsed time period and a second countdown of a time period less than the first elapsed time period by a predetermined time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Technology Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Pardoe, James T. Miller
  • Publication number: 20090289050
    Abstract: Embodiments of apparatus for thermally conditioning probe cards prior to use in a testing system are provided herein. In some embodiments, a probe card thermal conditioning system may include an enclosure configured to support a probe card and a heat transfer element disposed proximate a bottom of the enclosure for thermally conditioning the probe card prior to installation in a prober. The heat transfer element may be a heating and/or cooling element. A controller may be provided for controlling operation of the heat transfer element, optionally with temperature feedback. Multiple enclosures may be provided for independently conditioning multiple probe cards. The enclosure may be contained in a cart or may be part of shipping container for shipping a probe card. A fan may be provided for circulating air within the enclosure. The fan may facilitate providing a dry purge gas to prevent condensate from forming on the probe card.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: FORMFACTOR, INC.
    Inventor: DOUGLAS S. ONDRICEK
  • Publication number: 20090218332
    Abstract: A boilerless combination convection steamer oven and controls logic therefor is provided having a cooking cavity formed of a steam generating space with two or more reservoirs and a cooking space, wherein the steam generating space is separated from the cooking space by a removable steam lid, any number from none to all of the reservoirs may be filled depending on the selected cooking mode, and each reservoir of the steam generating space is heated by a separate heating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2009
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicant: UNIFIED BRANDS, INC.
    Inventors: Dipak J. Negandhi, Terry A. Owens, Bill Hemsath, George R. Gauthier
  • Publication number: 20090120926
    Abstract: An electric oven includes a rectangular body, a top heat tube and a bottom heat tube are located in the body of the oven. A rotatable heating member is located at a mediate portion of the body and has a rotatable heat tube which is driven by a motor and an operation lever. The rotatable heat tube is rotatable when operating the motor or the operation lever. Two limit switches are located in the body at a horizontal position and an upright position, the limit switches are activated by the operation lever when adjusting the rotatable heat tube. When the rotatable heat tube is located at the upright position, the limit switch at the upright position is activate to stop the motor and activate the rotatable heat tube, so that a large piece of food can be baked in the oven.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventor: Wen-Ching Lee
  • Patent number: 7514650
    Abstract: A furnace of controlled heating and treatment of material using infrared radiation. The furnace is capable of continuous infrared treating of material with consistent radiation being applied to the material, ease of access to the furnace for maintenance cleaning and repair, excellent control of radiant cooling of the material to be treated, and ease of maintenance of a volatile component condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Despatch Industries Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Hans L. Melgaard, Matt Weierke
  • Patent number: 7487716
    Abstract: A rotisserie oven is provided having a radiating heating system in combination with a convection heating system to prepare raw meat and poultry food product inside of a cooking chamber. A spit assembly carries the food product, and includes components that are detachable to assist in cleaning. The oven further includes a steam cleaning assembly that is integrated with the convection heating system that assists in grease removal from the components inside the cooking chamber. A humidity removal system regulates the moisture level inside of the cooking chamber during food preparation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Alto-Shaam, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip D. Swank, C. Philip Insisiengmay, David Farchione, Michael Lemke, B. Erich Rehm, Bill Hansen
  • Publication number: 20090008379
    Abstract: The disclosed invention relates to an oven for cooking foodstuffs such as pizza by infrared radiation. The oven includes heating elements formed of Fe—Cr—Al alloy wire in a sealed quartz tube heating elements. The heating elements may receive power continuously or in pulses to generate infrared radiation over selected time periods to cook a foodstuff.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: Redi-Kwick Corp.
    Inventor: Mats O. Ingemanson
  • Publication number: 20080299784
    Abstract: A thermal treatment apparatus and method for processing a wafer are provided. The thermal treatment apparatus includes a process chamber for thermally treating the wafer, a heating unit for heating the wafer in the process chamber, and a gas supply unit for supplying a gas and controlling a gas pressure differently by sections of the wafer. The heating unit is provided in at least one of the upper side and the lower side of the process chamber. The heating unit includes a plurality of heater blocks capable of controlling a temperature for sections of the wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Seung Woo JIN, Kyoung Bong Rouh
  • Publication number: 20080248657
    Abstract: Process and system for processing wafer-shaped objects, such as semiconductor wafers is disclosed. In accordance with the present disclosure, a multiple of two wafers are processed in a thermal processing chamber. The thermal processing chamber is in communication with at least one heating device for heating the wafers. The wafers are placed in the thermal processing chamber in a face-to-face configuration or in a back-to-back configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Zsolt Nenyei, Paul J. Timans, Wilfried Lerch, Juergen Niess, Manfred Falter, Patrick Schmid, Conor Patrick O'Carroll, Rudy Cardema, Igor Fidelman, Sing-Pin Tay, Yao Zhi Hu, Daniel J. Devine
  • Publication number: 20080128404
    Abstract: A cooking assembly for an oven includes a plurality of heat distribution plates. A radiant heating element is disposed adjacent each of the heat distribution plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventor: Steve B. Froelicher
  • Patent number: 7378617
    Abstract: A heating system for a cooking appliance includes a first upper heating element and a second upper heating element positioned within a cooking cavity defined by a cabinet of the cooking appliance. The cooking cavity is configured to support a food item therein during a cooking process. Each of the first upper heating element and the second upper heating element is positioned with respect to an upper portion of the food item. A lower heating element is positioned within the cooking cavity. The lower heating element is positioned with respect to a bottom portion of the food item. A controller is operatively coupled to the lower heating element and the first and second upper heating elements. The controller is configured to asynchronously energize the first upper heating element and the second upper heating element to heat the upper portion of the food item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Sherry Leigh Layne Brockman
  • Patent number: 7372000
    Abstract: A food cooking oven has a front door, a back wall opposite the front door, and two side walls connecting the front door to the back wall. The oven also has a rear divider parallel to and spaced apart from the back wall, the rear divider running between the side walls and having a support bracket at a lower edge. The rear divider has a fan inlet. Side brackets are located along each side wall of the oven, each side bracket spaced evenly from the side wall to allow controlled amounts of air to flow between each side wall and each adjacent bracket. A solid cooking surface is adapted to be supported by the support bracket on the lower edge of the rear divider and the side brackets. A lower heating element is positioned below the solid cooking surface and spaced evenly from the solid cooking surface. A fan is positioned between the rear divider and the back wall, the fan is adapted to draw air through the fan inlet in the rear divider and push the air onto the lower cooking element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Stockley Enterprises, LLC
    Inventor: Edward E. Stockley
  • Patent number: 7223944
    Abstract: An oven temperature control system for an oven cell having a top heating element with two separate heating conductors in a top portion of the oven cell, a bottom heating element with two separate heating conductors in a bottom portion of the oven cell, and a convection heating element and fan. A control separately controls the on and off operations of each of the heating elements and the convection fan based on a selected mode of cooking operation and a selected temperature for cooking. A plurality of temperature sensors are positioned at different locations in the oven cell and operatively connected to the control. The control determines the selected temperature for cooking to be maintained in the oven cell by averaging selected temperatures sensed by the plurality of temperature sensors in predetermined proportions based on the selected mode of cooking operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Inventors: Joey J. Kitabayashi, Robert A. Lewis
  • Patent number: 7220945
    Abstract: An oven includes a main body, a toast tray, a baking pan, a door, a control panel, a bottom base and a shaft. In using, just put toasts to be baked on the toast tray and then, put the toast tray in an upper chamber of the main body and turn a change-over switch on the control panel to a toast reading. For baking small-sized foods, put such foods on a baking pan, and then put the pan in a lower chamber and turn the changeover switch to an oven reading orderly. Or, for baking a big object such as a whole chicken, it can be forked by the shaft and mounted in the lower chamber. And, via engagement of a driving gear and a driven gear, the shaft is to be rotated while baking, able to keep the chicken baked evenly so as to obtain a delicious chicken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Inventor: Ching-Hsiang Wang
  • 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: 7102106
    Abstract: A kettle is described having a pair of heating elements each connected to a cable with a plug at its end. The two plugs can be inserted into two separate sockets of a wall plug so that each heating element separately receives power from the sockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Inventor: Edward Joseph Khoury
  • Patent number: 7094991
    Abstract: A device is disclosed for warming tortillas and other foods. The device operates with a standard electric alternating current ranging from 110 to 120 volts in the US and 220v–240v in other countries. This appliance is to be used in homes or in businesses for the purpose of warming either corn or flour tortillas in quantities ranging from one up to six at a time. The electric current provides energy to heater elements located within the unit and thus provide the heat necessary to warm the tortillas placed on a plurality of circular loading trays. The loading trays are specially designed to lock-in-place in the open and closed positions and are designed to work with a vertical pivot tube which allows the loading trays a pivot-swivel action for efficiency in the loading and unloading of tortillas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: IJN International, Inc.
    Inventors: Ivan J. Naranjo, Pedro M. Ojeda
  • Patent number: 7060943
    Abstract: A cooking apparatus having heaters and a cooking chamber defined in the cooking apparatus, the heaters are provided in the cooking chamber, and two or more buttons are provided representing different cooking temperatures. A temperature of the cooking chamber is set by pushing one of the two or more buttons. One of a plurality of cooking modes is selected depending on a kind of food, and each of the cooking temperatures is represented by one of the two or more buttons corresponds to each of the cooking modes. Therefore, setting various cooking temperatures depending on the kind of food is possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yun-Ic Hwang
  • Patent number: 7041940
    Abstract: A cooking platform includes at least one surface heating element having a first power consumption level and an oven located under the surface heating element. The oven includes a first heating element having a second power consumption level and a second heating element having a third power consumption level. The second heating element has at least two heating sub-elements. One of the two heating sub-elements is configured to be deenergized when a sum of the first, second, and third power consumption levels exceeds a power consumption limit of the cooking platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Stephen Michael Bakanowski, David Laurence Kinny, Lawrence Michael Portaro, Timothy Francis Powell, Mark Patrick Schoenegge, Joshua Stephen Wiseman, Charles Ray Smith, Cecilia Maria Blanchard
  • Patent number: 7038175
    Abstract: An oven assembly that includes a first oven cavity including a self-cleaning feature, a first pair of opposing walls, and a second pair of opposing walls, wherein the walls are coupled together to define a first volume within the first oven cavity, and a second oven cavity coupled to the first oven cavity, wherein the second oven cavity includes a first pair of opposing walls and a second pair of opposing walls coupled together to define a second volume within the second oven cavity, each of the first walls includes a slide rail coupled thereto, and a drawer frame slidably coupled to the slide rails and selectively sized to receive a drawer such that the drawer is removable from the second oven cavity and positionable within the first oven cavity to facilitate cleaning the drawer utilizing the self-clean feature of the first oven cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brian Scott Henninger, Paul Bryan Cadima
  • Patent number: 7036424
    Abstract: An electric baking oven includes an open mesh vertically oriented baking basket to hold food while the food is baked in air by a programmed combination of radiant and convective and conductive energy transfer. An electrical programming control controls the energy from vertically oriented toaster heating elements located juxtaposed to the large vertical faces of the basket and from at least one elongated heating member located below the vertical baking basket with the axis of the elongated heating member oriented nominally horizontal and parallel to the longer horizontal axis of the vertically oriented baking basket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Edgecraft Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel D. Friel, Sr.
  • Patent number: 7019265
    Abstract: A turntable (19) for an oven comprising a surface for heating a food item (27, 75) placed on the turntable (19), wherein the turntable (19) is provided with integral heating means (29). The turntable may be incorporated into an oven cavity (17, 67) of an oven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Ceramaspeed Limited
    Inventor: Gavin John Coleman
  • Patent number: 7012220
    Abstract: A cooking appliance employing rapid cook technology includes an electronic oven control system employing an alpha-numeric data entry and display arrangement. The cooking appliance includes a display which incorporates a series of vertically spaced information display zones, with each of the zones being capable of displaying both alpha and numeric data to a user of the appliance. Text and numeric data can be entered by the user through a ten-digit keypad provided on a control panel of the appliance. Each labeled numeric key (0–9) can be used to input a corresponding numeric data symbol, as well as additional text information. This arrangement advantageously makes purchasing and operating a sophisticated cooking appliance more appealing and less intimidating to a consumer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Maytag Corp.
    Inventors: Mark A. Boyer, Jill L. Means
  • 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: 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: 6984125
    Abstract: A reflow process is provided for multiple units which improves productivity. A reflow furnace is moved along a transport direction of a tape substrate and is fixed at a position matching the product pitch of a circuit substrate. Any of a plurality of heating blocks and cooling blocks are matched to the product pitches of the circuit substrate. By doing so, it is possible to continuously carry out the reflow process for a tape substrate on which circuit substrates having different product pitches are arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masakuni Shiozawa
  • Patent number: 6949720
    Abstract: A bottom electric heating element for an oven wherein the electric heating element is positioned in a recessed portion in the oven bottom and has at least one corrugated ribbon of conductive material partially embedded in an insulating base. A glass panel is positioned over the recessed portion and on a compressible heat resistant gasket. The glass panel is transparent or semi-transparent, high temperature resistant and high impact resistant. A frame extends around the glass panel and fastens it to the oven bottom while partially and resiliently compressing the gasket to support the glass panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Distintive Applicances, Inc.
    Inventors: Antonio Muńoz, Jesus Rios, Jr., Joey J. Kitabayashi
  • Patent number: 6917017
    Abstract: A counter-top cooker includes a base, a cooking chamber having a top end and a bottom end supported on the base, and a power head attached to the top end of the cooking chamber. The power head includes a heating element and a fan for directing airflow over the heating element and into the cooking chamber. The cooker also includes another heating element provided in the cooking chamber proximate the bottom end of the cooking chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Heartware Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Jung S. Moon, Rong Liu, Kitak Chae, Jongrok Kim
  • Patent number: 6841760
    Abstract: A cooking appliance includes an oven cavity, an electric heating system having a plurality of electric heat loads for heating the oven cavity, and a controller. The controller includes a memory module having stored therein at least first and second control algorithms for operating the electric heating system based upon an available current supply. If the cooking appliance is connected to a low current rated circuit, the controller will operate according to the first control algorithm and cycle activation of the plurality of heat loads in a manner not to overload the available current supply. Conversely, if the appliance is connected to a high current rated circuit, the control unit will operate according to the second control algorithm and enable activation of multiple heating loads simultaneously. Preferably, the appliance includes a switch or sensor for toggling between the first and second control algorithms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Z. Whipple, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20040251247
    Abstract: A cooking appliance includes an oven cavity, an electric heating system having a plurality of electric heat loads for heating the oven cavity, and a controller. The controller includes a memory module having stored therein at least first and second control algorithms for operating the electric heating system based upon an available current supply. If the cooking appliance is connected to a low current rated circuit, the controller will operate according to the first control algorithm and cycle activation of the plurality of heat loads in a manner not to overload the available current supply. Conversely, if the appliance is connected to a high current rated circuit, the control unit will operate according to the second control algorithm and enable activation of multiple heating loads simultaneously. Preferably, the appliance includes a switch or sensor for toggling between the first and second control algorithms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Applicant: Maytag Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Z. Whipple
  • Patent number: 6818869
    Abstract: A multiple panel cooking oven having individual controls for combined conductive and radiant heating. Each panel comprises an upper heating element for conductive heating and a lower heating element for radiant heating to obtain uniform baking within a zone between panels in the oven. A control panel having displays and keypads interfaces with a processor which provides control signals for adjusting the temperature of the heating elements of the panels. Cooking energy efficiency is increased through the use of radiative and conductive heat transfer, to reduce bake times by significantly increasing heat transfer to the food products. Independent cook zones allow preparation of multiple products simultaneously under different cooking conditions. The oven, in one embodiment may include a convection heating mode of operation. In an alternative embodiment no convection mode is provided and the sole source of heat is provided by the conductive/radiant panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Tiax LLC
    Inventors: Anthony Patti, Mimmo Elia, William E. Lyle, Darrell J. King
  • Patent number: 6768085
    Abstract: A temperature controlled system according to the present invention includes a housing with a compartment defined therein that includes a heating assembly with a generally ‘U’-shaped heating plate and corresponding heater. The heating plate is configured to evenly distribute heat to a medical item (e.g., a medical solution container, etc.) placed thereon, while a limit switch facilitates control of heater actuation in response to placement of a medical item on the heating plate. A controller facilitates entry of desired temperatures and controls the heating assembly based on a comparison of the desired temperature with a temperature of the medical item measured by a temperature sensor. The system housing may further include a storage compartment for receiving and retaining medical items prior to being heated within the heating compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Medical Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Durward I. Faries, Jr., Bruce R. Heymann, Calvin Blankenship, David Hendrix
  • Patent number: 6730882
    Abstract: A cooking appliance, such as a range, includes a cabinet within which is arranged an oven cavity that is adapted to be selectively closed by a pivotable door. A latching mechanism is provided to interconnect the door and the cabinet. The latching mechanism is movable between a locked position wherein the door is maintained closed and an unlocked position wherein the door can be pivoted to enable access to the oven cavity. The latching mechanism is operable in two distinct modes, i.e., a first mode wherein the latching mechanism is activated in conjunction with the operation of a self-clean cycle, and a second mode wherein the latching mechanism is operated independently of any other function of the cooking appliance. The second mode is particularly employed to prevent children from improperly utilizing the door as a stepping platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventor: Wade A. Atkinson
  • Patent number: 6727478
    Abstract: An oven includes an oven cavity, at least one heat source disposed in the cavity, and an oven controller operationally coupled to the heat source. The oven controller is configured to accept data regarding a number of racks and control the at least one heat source based upon the accepted data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jennifer Elizabeth Rael, Coleen Judith Muegge, Peta-Gaye Sonya Whitbourne, Charles Ray Smith, David Laurence Kinny
  • Patent number: 6692576
    Abstract: A wafer support system comprising a segmented susceptor having top and bottom sections and gas flow passages therethrough. A plurality of spacers projecting from a recess formed in the top section of the susceptor support a wafer in spaced relationship with respect to the recess. A sweep gas is introduced to the bottom section of the segmented susceptor and travels through the gas flow passages to exit in at least one circular array of outlets in the recess and underneath the spaced wafer. The sweep gas travels radially outward between the susceptor and wafer to prevent back-side contamination of the wafer. The gas is delivered through a hollow drive shaft and into a multi-armed susceptor support underneath the susceptor. The support arms conduct the sweep gas from the drive shaft to the gas passages in the segmented susceptor. The gas passages are arranged to heat the sweep gas prior to delivery underneath the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: ASM America, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Halpin, Mark R. Hawkins, Derrick W. Foster, Robert M. Vyne, John F. Wengert, Cornelius A. van der Jeugd, Loren R. Jacobs
  • Patent number: 6639187
    Abstract: A vertical toaster comprising a housing, heating elements, a food support and a drive. The heating elements are connected to the housing and comprise at least one calrod. The calrod comprises an electric wire surrounded by heat conductive electrical insulation and a metal cover. The food support is movably mounted to the housing for up and down motion. The drive is for moving the food support relative to the housing. The drive comprises a motor and a linkage between the motor and the food support for moving the food support both down and up such that food on the food support passes by the calrod. The calrod prevents an electrical shock to a user if the user accidentally contacts the calrod with an electrically conductive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: HP Intellectual Corp.
    Inventors: Robert W. Arel, Joseph Gelb, Jr., Charles Z. Krasznai, James A. Sandor
  • Patent number: 6607766
    Abstract: A cooked food staging device and method is provided. The cooked food staging device allows previously cooked food items, particularly sandwich fillings such as hamburger patties, fish fillets, biscuits, Canadian bacon, pork sausage, eggs, chicken patties, chicken fillets and nuggets, to be stored over extended periods of time at an elevated temperature without significant deleterious effects to the appearance, taste and texture of the food while avoiding risk of bacterial contamination. The food staging device is composed of a plurality of discrete compartments bounded by upper and lower heated compartment surfaces. Food can be stored within the compartments in trays having sidewalls of a height such that a gap is achieved between the top of the tray and the upper compartment heated surface to limit and control the evaporation of liquid from the food stored therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Restaurant Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry T. Ewald, Jimmie L. Coffey, Patricia A. Venetucci, Gerald A. Sus
  • Publication number: 20030071030
    Abstract: A heating device (1; 100; 200; 300; 400) for electrodiffuser (9; 409) comprises a housing shell (2, 4; 402, 404) including resistive means (R1, R2) which are heated when a current passes through them in order to heat, by heat exchange, said housing shell which is in contact with a porous element (83; 480) soaked with active ingredients, which are diffused when said porous element is heated. The resistive means comprise at least two resistances (R1, R2) connected in series by a connecting conductor element (7) having good characteristics of electricity and heat conduction to realise the electric connection of the resistive means (R1, R2) and, at the same time, to act also as a heating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventors: Franco Zobele, Andrea Pedrotti
  • Patent number: 6545251
    Abstract: A cooking oven comprises a cavity having a separating and insulating plate which can be inserted horizontally in the cavity in order to split it in two sub-cavities. Each sub-cavity has heating elements on its side walls. The oven sub-cavities can be singularly or separately and this increases flexibility in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Riccardo Allera, Giovanni Franzetti, Marco Maritan, Salvatore Sanna, Massimo Maroni, David Ward, Galli Rocco, Ermanno Buzzi, Massimiliano Comolli, Robert Meyer, Marco Poma
  • Patent number: 6541738
    Abstract: A portable food container with incorporated heaters including a container portion. The container portion includes a first cover member hingeably coupled with the back wall for covering the open upper end. The container portion includes a second cover member hingeably coupled with the back wall for covering the first cover member and the open upper end. The second cover member contains a thermos bottle therein. A pair of heating elements are disposed within the closed lower end of the container portion. Three insulated receptacles are removably positioned within the container portion including two hot food receptacles and one cold food receptacle. The hot food receptacles are each in contact with one of the heating elements. A control panel allows independent control of a duration and activation time of day for heating by each of the heating elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Inventor: Louis Casasola
  • Patent number: 6524100
    Abstract: A facility for the thermal treatment of workpieces has a processing or heating chamber and at least one transport device, extending essentially completely through the processing or heating chamber, with which the workpieces to be treated can be transported through the processing or heating chamber. At least two processing or heating levels are hereby located on top of one another in the processing or heating chamber, with each processing or heating level having at least one separate transport device. This type of facility can preferably be used as a soldering facility, particularly a reflow soldering facility, or as a facility for the hardening or drying of plastics or adhesives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: ERSA GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Kurtz, Bernd Schenker, Richard Kressmann
  • Patent number: 6506994
    Abstract: A heating chamber assembly for heating or maintaining the temperature of at least one wafer, employs thick film heater plates stacked at an appropriate distance to form a slot between each pair of adjacent heater plate surfaces. The heating chamber assembly may be employed adjacent one or more processing chambers to form a preheat station separate from the processing chambers, or may be incorporated in the load lock of one or more such processing chambers. The thick film heater plates are more efficient and have a better response time than conventional heat plates. A chamber surrounding the stack of heater plates is pressure sealable and nay include a purge gas inlet for supply purge gas thereto under pressure. A door to the chamber opens to allow wafers to be inserted or removed and forms a pressure seal upon closing. The slots in the stack are alignable with the door for loading and unloading of wafers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Yen-Kun Victor Wang, Mark Fodor, Chen-An Chen, Himanshu Pokharna, Son T. Nguyen, Kelly Fong, Inna Shmurun
  • Patent number: 6491757
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing a substrate comprises a susceptor for supporting the substrate, an upper heat source spaced above the susceptor, a lower heat source spaced below the susceptor, and a controller. The controller provides power to the heat sources at a selected ratio between the sources. The controller is configured to vary the ratio during a high temperature processing cycle of a substrate to thereby vary the ratio of the heat provided by the heat sources during the cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: ASM America, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Halpin, Mark R. Hawkins, Derrick W. Foster, Robert M. Vyne, John F. Wengert, Cornelius A. van der Jeugd, Loren R. Jacobs, Frank B. M. Van Bilsen, Matthew Goodman, Hartmann Glenn, Jason M. Layton