With Power Feed Structure Patents (Class 219/746)
  • Publication number: 20120241445
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cooking appliance employing microwaves. According to the present invention, a cooking appliance employing microwaves comprises: a microwave generator for generating and outputting microwaves, provided with an amplifier for performing frequency oscillation and amplification; and a feeder for outputting the outputted microwaves into a cavity. Accordingly, high power microwaves can be easily generated without a separate frequency oscillator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Sung Hun Shim, Jin Yul Hu, Hyun Wook Moon, Heung Sik Choi, Wan Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 8207479
    Abstract: An electromagnetic heater for heating an irregularly shaped object, including: a cavity within which an object is to be placed; at least one feed which feeds UHF or microwave energy into the cavity; and a controller that controls one or more characteristics of the cavity or energy to assure that the UHF or microwave energy is deposited uniformly in the object within ±30% over at least 80% of the volume of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Goji Limited
    Inventors: Eran Ben-Shmuel, Alexander Bilchinsky
  • Patent number: 8186076
    Abstract: A drying apparatus for honeycomb formed bodies includes: a drying chamber having a drying space to store undried honeycomb formed bodies; a microwave generator that generates microwaves; and a plurality of waveguides for introducing the microwaves into the drying chamber. On side surfaces of the drying chamber, provided is a plurality of microwave introduction ports for introducing the microwaves generated by the microwave generator into the drying space inside the drying chamber, the waveguides are disposed at the microwave introduction ports, and irradiation ports of the waveguides are provided directed to two or more different directions toward the drying space of the drying chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shuichi Takagi
  • Patent number: 8038936
    Abstract: A cooking device includes a cooking chamber; a first deodorization region along which air from the cooking chamber flows and in which a plasma discharge is generated for removing odor-producing materials generated in the cooking chamber from the air; and a bypass region along which air from the cooking chamber flows to bypass the first deodorization region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sung Hun Sim, Hyun Jung Kim
  • Patent number: 7886658
    Abstract: A speed cooking with improved gas flow by-pass mechanism for radiant cooking mode. A speed cooking oven with radiant mode is disclosed comprising a cooking cavity, a controller, thermal heating source, blower assembly, air directing means, a vent assembly and a single door gas by-pass system. Hot gas is circulated by the blower motor assembly into the oven cavity where the hot air is directed in a manner wherein a conflicting, colliding turbulent gas flow is directed at a food product providing for the rapid cooking of food products. Alternatively, a single movable door may be utilized that operates between an open position wherein gas flow exhausts from the top of the oven or in the closed position wherein gas is diverted through a conduit and back to the blower mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Turbochef Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David H. McFadden, David A. Bolton
  • Publication number: 20110031240
    Abstract: An electromagnetic heater for heating an irregularly shaped object, including: a cavity within which an object is to be placed; at least one feed which feeds UHF or microwave energy into the cavity; and a controller that controls one or more characteristics of the cavity or energy to assure that the UHF or microwave energy is deposited uniformly in the object within ±30% over at least 80% of the volume of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Inventors: Eran BEN-SHMUEL, Alexander Bilchinsky
  • Publication number: 20110017728
    Abstract: An electromagnetic heater for heating an irregularly shaped object, including: a cavity within which an object is to be placed; at least one feed which feeds UHF or microwave energy into the cavity; and a controller that controls one or more characteristics of the cavity or energy to assure that the UHF or microwave energy is deposited uniformly in the object within ±30% over at least 80% of the volume of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventors: Eran BEN-SHMUEL, Alexander Bilchinsky
  • Patent number: 7820951
    Abstract: An instrument for carrying out controlled microwave assisted chemical processes, and that is particularly useful for handling relatively small samples. The instrument includes a microwave-transparent reaction vessel with an open mouth, a pressure-resistant seal on the mouth of the vessel, and a needle, portions of which penetrate the seal with a first end of the needle and provide fluid communication into the vessel. A pressure transducer is at the opposite end of the needle and in fluid communication with the interior of the vessel through the needle. The instrument defines a pressure control flow path from a portion of the needle outside of the vessel to a fluid port, the flow path being in communication with the needle, the interior of the vessel and the transducer. A controllable pressure release valve for the flow path is associated with the port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: CEM Corporation
    Inventors: Edward Earl King, James Edward Thomas
  • Publication number: 20100219184
    Abstract: A radio frequency heater is disclosed including a vessel for containing material to be heated and a radio frequency radiating surface. The vessel has a wall defining a reservoir. The radio frequency radiating surface at least partially surrounds the reservoir. The radiating surface includes two or more circumferentially spaced petals that are electrically isolated from other petals. The petals are positioned to irradiate at least a portion of the reservoir, and are adapted for connection to a source of radio frequency alternating current. A generally conical tank or tank segment having a conically wound radio frequency applicator is also contemplated. Also, a method of heating an oil-water process stream is disclosed. In this method a radio frequency heater and an oil-water process stream are provided. The process stream is irradiated with the heater, thus heating the water phase of the process stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: HARRIS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Francis Eugene Parsche
  • Publication number: 20100176123
    Abstract: A microwave heating apparatus includes a microwave generation part (5) having a plurality of output parts, a heating chamber (4) to contain an object to be heated, a plurality of feeding parts (21a, 21b, 21c, 21d) supplying outputs of the plurality of output parts to the heating chamber, and a control part (6) controlling microwave radiation from the plurality of feeding parts to control an electromagnetic wave distribution in the heating chamber, in which a microwave is concentrated on the object to be heated put in the heating chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Inventors: Makoto Mihara, Tomotaka Nobue, Kenji Yasui, Yoshiharu Oomori
  • Publication number: 20090283518
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a high frequency heating apparatus for driving a magnetron such as a microwave oven, and has an object to provide a frequency modulating system capable of reducing power supply higher harmonic distortion of higher orders which are produced at phases in the vicinity of 0 degree and 180 degrees where an instantaneous voltage of a commercial power supply becomes the lowest voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2006
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruo Suenaga, Hideaki Moriya, Shinichi Sakai, Nobuo Shirokawa, Manabu Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 7528353
    Abstract: A microwave heating device for heating load(s) and including a cylinder-shaped cavity enclosed by a periphery wall, the cavity is provided with a microwave feeding device. The heating device may have a dielectric wall structure arranged inside the cavity between the periphery wall and the load(s). The microwave feeding device may be arranged to generate a microwave field being an arch surface hybrid mode having TE and TM type properties inside the cavity to heat the load(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Biotage AB
    Inventors: Per Olof G. Risman, Magnus Fagrell, Fredrik Stillesjö
  • Patent number: 7507939
    Abstract: Apparatus for cooking food products on both sides thereof, including a base member (2) associated to a bottom heating surface (3) adapted to support food products to be cooked, an upper member (4) associated to a top heating surface (5) and joined in an articulated manner to the base member (2) so that, when the upper member (4) is displaced towards the base member (2), the top heating surface (5) comes to lie opposite to the bottom heating surface (3) so as to enclose the food products therebetween. The upper member (4) is adapted to close in onto the base member (2) so as to form a cooking cavity (6) containing the heating surfaces (3, 5), wherein the cooking cavity (6) defines a radiation shield capable of retaining the microwaves inside the cooking cavity (6) itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Electrolux Professional SpA
    Inventor: Udo Baumann
  • Patent number: 7507938
    Abstract: A speed cooking oven (1) has a cooking cavity (2), and a microwave waveguide (20a) with slotted antenna (70) which efficiently emits electromagnetic energy (51a) to assist with the speed cooking of food product (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Turbochef Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: David McFadden
  • Patent number: 7498548
    Abstract: A heating apparatus for removing volatiles from a saturated adsorbent is provided. The heating apparatus can include a vessel including a first end and a second end. The vessel can be adapted to receive the saturated adsorbent. The heating apparatus can also include a channel in communication with the first end of the vessel and a radiation source that provides energy to heat the vessel. The heating apparatus can further comprise a lateral waveguide coupled to the radiation source and disposed within the channel to transmit the energy from the radiation source to the vessel to heat the saturated adsorbent disposed within the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Ranger Research, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen H. Opperman
  • Publication number: 20090045191
    Abstract: An electromagnetic heater for heating an irregularly shaped object, including: a cavity within which an object is to be placed; at least one feed which feeds UHF or microwave energy into the cavity; and a controller that controls one or more characteristics of the cavity or energy to assure that the UHF or microwave energy is deposited uniformly in the object within ±30% over at least 80% of the volume of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Inventors: Eran Ben-Shmuel, Alexander Bilchinsky
  • Patent number: 7470876
    Abstract: Heating and drying devices including generally rectangular waveguide applicators forming exposure chambers for uniformly heating materials. Material to be heated enters and exits a microwave exposure region of the chamber through entrance and exit ports at opposite ends of the chamber. Various techniques are used to achieve uniform or preferred heating effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Industrial Microwave Systems, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Esther Drozd, J. Michael Drozd
  • Patent number: 7432482
    Abstract: A microwave energy emitter (108) is positioned in a chamber within a material holding cavity of a containment vessel (106) that is transparent to microwave energy absorption that is further surrounded by a microwave reflective component to reflect the waves back into the vessel. The vessel (106) encloses a material that absorbs microwave energy through molecular vibration of its molecules. An inlet path (116) and outlet path (112) is provided for the material to flow in and out of the vessel upon predetermined conditions. Heated material can be condensed via a condenser (124) into a collection vessel (120). A controller (126) is provided to send control signals to switching device for controlling the material flow and receiving sensing signals for decision generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Inventor: Steven R. Sedlmayr
  • Patent number: 7388179
    Abstract: A microwave energy applicator radiating uniformly all around the applicator that maintains high efficiency Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (V.S.W.R.) for surrounding media of dielectric constants varying from about 1 to about 80. In a particular embodiment, the high efficiency V.S.W.R. is less than about 1.3:1. The applicator can include a circular polarizer connectable to a dielectric waveguide radiator. The radiator can be substantially solid and include a substantially circular outer cross-section that tapers to an end. In one embodiment, the radiator includes a conical void formed in a dielectric entry section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: The Ferrite Company, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Alton, Lester C. Nelson
  • Patent number: 7365291
    Abstract: A high voltage input apparatus for a magnetron, in which first protrusions formed on lead conductors are caught by insulators and an insulating case, a ground metal is bonded to the insulating case, and expanded portions formed on the insulators are caught by the insulating case and the ground metal, thereby firmly fixing the lead conductors and preventing the lead conductors from being undesirably separated from the insulators and the insulating case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Yong Soo Lee, Jong Soo Lee
  • Patent number: 7329847
    Abstract: A combination microwave and impingement heating cooking oven, wherein an upper blowing port blowing hot air in vertical direction and a lateral blowing port for blowing hot air in horizontal direction are provided in a cooking chamber, the upper blowing port is provided in the ceiling wall of the cooking chamber, the lateral blowing port is provided in one of the right and left inside walls thereof, and a suction port is provided in the bottom inside wall thereof in the form of collected perforations, air in the cooking chamber sucked from the suction port is fed to an upper duct and a lateral duct, heated by an upper heater and a lateral heater, respectively, and blown from the upper blowing port and the lateral blowing port, and the distribution of the perforations of the upper blowing port is made such that the distribution of the perforations at a position where the air blows toward air current from the lateral blowing port to a cooked object is made coarser than that at the other positions so that the ai
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Norikimi Tatsumu, Yuzi Andoh, Tetsuichi Arita, Masayuki Iwamoto, Shinya Ueda
  • Patent number: 7297909
    Abstract: Microwave radiation of frequency 0.1 to 20 GHz, is applied to the melt of viscosity in the range 104 to 101 Pa·s. The outside surface of heated space, where an outlet of the waveguide of microwave radiation is located, can be cooled. The microwave radiation in the melt may be reflected by the reflective metallic elements in the melt back to the place of radiation entry into the melt and shielded from the surroundings by a shielding metallic element. An outlet is provided of at least one waveguide from the source of the microwave radiation, in any direction to the outside surface of the melt, into the space with the melt of a given viscosity. At least one waveguide is led, for example, to the outside surface of the bottom of the channel of the forehearth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: BH-F (Engineering) Ltd.
    Inventors: Josef Smr{hacek over (c)}ek, Milan Hájek, Peter Vilk
  • Patent number: 7271373
    Abstract: A microwave oven having a cooking chamber, at least one heat outlet provided in a sidewall of the cooking chamber, at least one heat inlet provided in the center of the sidewall of the cooking chamber, and a convection assembly. The convection assembly is disposed on an external side of the sidewall of the cooking chamber, and includes a fan, a heating element, and at least one guide bracket which guides heat from the heating element through the at least one heat outlet and into the cooking chamber. According to this configuration, a microwave oven heats food more evenly and efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keun Seuk Oh, Sung Wook Cho
  • Patent number: 7230218
    Abstract: A microwave or radio frequency device including an applicator for receiving an object to be processed, and a plurality of generators supplying power to the applicator via propagation guides. According to the invention, three propagation guides propagating the microwaves or radio frequencies generated by three respective generators are mounted on three respective plates defining a three-dimensional rectangular axis system, and symmetrical relative to a ternary axis of symmetry of the axis system, whereby the generators supplying power to the applicator are mutually decoupled. The three propagation guides have a rectangular cross-section and are mounted on respective plates in such a way that the short sides of the rectangular cross-section of said guides are orthogonal in pairs, or are coaxial cables extending in a longitudinal propagation direction perpendicular to the plates with one exposed end thereof extending into the applicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: RIMM Technologies Corporation N.V.
    Inventor: Georges Roussy
  • Patent number: 7227109
    Abstract: The oven cavity (1) of a microwave oven includes an apertured launch wall (3) on the external side of which a launch box (5) is mounted so as to cover the aperture. Two three or four magnetrons supply microwave energy to the launch box (5), and hence into the oven cavity, via corresponding waveguides (10a, 10b, 10c) each in communication with a respective side of the launch box (5). In another aspect of the invention, a microwave oven cavity (1) includes an apertured launch wall (3), means for supplying microwave energy to the cavity (1) through the aperture and a match plate (26) mounted in the cavity so as to be spaced a small distance from the launch wall (3) and in registration with the aperture. The match plate and the launch wall (3), define a slot for coupling microwave energy into the cavity (1), and at least one hole (27) in the match plate (26), in use, enables microwave energy to be coupled to resonant modes in the centre of the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Microwave Ovens Limited
    Inventor: Kenneth Ian Eke
  • Patent number: 7208710
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating uniform heating of an microwave absorptive target. A circularly polarized waveguide mode is created that promotes uniform heating of the microwave absorptive target by rotating a propagated non-uniform field pattern around a central axis of a cylindrical cavity or waveguide. In the process of rotating the field pattern, hot and cold spots in the field pattern are averaged out over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Gregoire, Joseph Colburn
  • Patent number: 7199341
    Abstract: A high-frequency heating apparatus comprises a heating chamber, a high-frequency generator, a waveguide, an antenna, a motor for rotating the antenna, and a stage (6) provided above and near the antenna to partition the heating chamber and made of dielectric. A rotary base on which an object to be heated is mounted is provided on the stage. A first magnet is provided to the antenna. A second magnet is provided on the rotary base at a place corresponding to the first magnet on the rotary base. By utilizing the magnetic coupling between the first and second magnets, the rotary base is rotated in synchronism with the rotation of the antenna. While maintaining the advantages of conventional antenna high-frequency heating apparatuses, the heating efficiency by grill heating or oven heating is enhanced, and minute heating uniformness is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fuminori Kaneko, Hiroki Kitayama, Yoshikazu Yamamoto, Yuzi Andoh
  • Patent number: 7122772
    Abstract: In an even numbered polygonal microwave resonator wherein a high mode microwave mode is formed and in the resonator volume a homogeneous field distribution is established for the thermal processing of workpieces, a microwave in-coupling structure pair is provided along a joining edge of two wall segments alternately at opposite sides and the in-coupling structure pairs or in communication, via a rectangular microwave guide channel, with a microwave sources supplying microwaves to the in-coupling structure pairs so that the microwaves entering the resonator from each in-coupling structure are directed toward an opposite corner area of the resonator and are reflected from the opposite corner area back into the center area of the resonator in the form of separate beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH
    Inventors: Lambert Feher, Volker Nuss, Thomas Seitz
  • Patent number: 7119312
    Abstract: A microwave energy emitter (108) is positioned in a microwave transparent chamber (123) within a fluid holding vessel (106) of a microwave containment vessel (122). The fluid holding vessel (106) may be transparent to microwave energy and is further provided with a microwave reflective component outward, on, or beyond an exterior surface (121) of the wall of the fluid holding vessel (106). The microwave reflective component reflects microwaves back into the fluid holding vessel (106). The fluid holding vessel (106) encloses a material that absorbs microwave energy. An inlet path (116) and outlet path (112) is provided for material to flow in and out of the holding vessel upon predetermined conditions. Heated material can be condensed via a condenser (124) into a collection vessel (120). A controller (126) is provided to send control signals to a switching device (100) for controlling the material flow and receiving sensing signals for decision generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Inventor: Steven R. Sedlmayr
  • Patent number: 7091457
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating uniform heating of an microwave absorptive target. A microwave housing has a longitudinal axis and propagates a waveguide mode at an operating frequency. The target is located in an axial cross-sectional area relative to the longitudinal axis. First layer conductive strips are layered proximal to an inner wall of the microwave housing, substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and being separated from an adjacent first layer conductive strip by a respective first layer gap, the inner wall acting as a ground plane. Second layer conductive strips are layered proximal to the first layer of conductive strips, parallel to the longitudinal axis and being separated from an adjacent second layer conductive strip by a respective second layer gap. Each first layer gap is centered under a respective second layer conductive strip and each second layer gap is centered over a conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Gregoire, Daniel F. Sievenpiper, Weldon S. Williamson
  • Patent number: 7087872
    Abstract: An oven, is provided that includes multiple heat transfer means, including convection and microwave heat transfer means. The oven includes a cooking chamber, a blower and at least a shelf disposed within the cooking chamber. The shelf is designed to act as a food support as well as a conduit through which heated air passes into the cooking chamber. The microwave heating means comprises a microwave source and wave guide through which microwaves travel. The wave guide includes a plurality of openings through which microwaves can pass into said cooking chamber. In the preferred embodiment, the openings in the wave guide are positioned to correspond with the predetermined minima or maxima for the microwave wavelength propagating within the wave guide. An electric heating element may also be disposed within the cooking chamber to provide an alternative heating source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Enersyst Development Center, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Michael J. Dobie, John Robert Norris, Neal S. Cooper, Carlos Bacigalupe, Robert W. Foreman
  • Patent number: 7067779
    Abstract: A magnetron arrangement has a coaxial output terminating in a probe which launches energy from the magnetron along a rectangular waveguide. The coaxial output is arranged in an endfire configuration with respect to the waveguide, giving a compact arrangement compared to conventional output designs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: E2V Technologies (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Bernard R Mulcahy, Rodney Wale
  • Patent number: 7049566
    Abstract: A cooking device includes a first waveguide portion to make a microwave emitted into a heating chamber propagate radially in the directions almost parallel with the bottom face of the heating chamber and to guide the microwave propagated in the almost parallel directions into the heating chamber, and a second waveguide portion to make the microwave guided into the heating chamber by the first waveguide portion further propagate radially in directions almost parallel with the bottom face and to guide the propagated microwave into the heating chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kato, Seiji Kanbara
  • Patent number: 7030347
    Abstract: A microwave oven, which has a circular polarized wave stirrer for uniformly heating food, is disclosed. The microwave oven includes a magnetron generating electromagnetic waves, a waveguide guiding the electromagnetic waves generated from the magnetron to a cavity, and a stirrer formed to an outlet of the waveguide, receiving electromagnetic waves from the magnetron, and generating two polarized waves having different electric field directions and phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Won Hui Lee, Eung Su Kim
  • Patent number: 7022954
    Abstract: Heating a printing substance and/or toner, in an electrophotographic printer, with a standing microwave formed by at least one cavity resonator, with the printed matter being caused to move through the resonator gap. The power distribution of the microwave applied by the resonator is shaped and configured for specific application requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Knut Behnke, Frank-Michael Morgenweck, Domingo Rohde, Lars Seimetz, José Manuel Catalá-Civera
  • Patent number: 7012228
    Abstract: A microwave oven comprises a magnetron for delivering microwave power to a cavity of the oven, a rotatable phase modular (19) an electrical resistance heating element (12) and a rotatable fan (20) for forcing air over the resistance heating element (12) and though the cavity. The phase modulator (19) and the fan (20) are mounted on a common driveshaft (18). A matchplate (9) is mounted in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Microwave Ovens Limited
    Inventors: Kenneth Ian Eke, Graham Christopher Eke
  • Patent number: 7002125
    Abstract: A microwave oven is provided, which includes a main cabinet for enclosing and protecting various components, having air inlet holes, a base frame under the main cabinet having a box form with an opened top and a front part with a plurality of air outlet holes, a bottom plate on the base frame, an inner case in a space above one side part of the bottom plate, the inner case having a cooking chamber formed therein, at least one magnetron, a transformer for regulating a voltage provided to the magnetron, at least one waveguide, a fan in a rear of outside of the inner case, and a flow guide for guiding air passed through the magnetron toward air outlet holes, thereby cooling components effectively, reducing a volume, and cost of the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Dong Heon Lee
  • Patent number: 6982401
    Abstract: Microwave oven including a cavity for placing food therein, a magnetron for generating a microwave, a waveguide having at least two slots for guiding the microwave from the magnetron to an inside of the cavity, and a stirrer fan rotatably mounted on an inside of the cavity for varying an interfered state of the microwaves periodically, thereby heating the food more uniformly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jin Yul Hu, Kwong Yong Kim, Won Hui Lee, Eung Su Kim
  • Patent number: 6933482
    Abstract: Microwave heating apparatus comprising an elongated dielectric microwave applicator with an axial TM type mode, said dielectric applicator is provided with a load chamber for a load to be heated, said load chamber is located in a centered axial position inside the applicator. Two microwave feeding points are arranged at a lower end of the applicator for feeding microwave energy in the axial direction of the applicator so that significant cross-talk between the applied microwaves is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Personal Chemistry I Uppsala AB
    Inventors: Magnus Fagrell, Per Olov G. Risman
  • Patent number: 6917023
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for carrying out microwave assisted chemical reactions. The method includes the steps of placing reactants in a microwave-transparent vessel, placing the vessel and its contents into a microwave cavity, applying microwave radiation within the cavity and to the vessel and its contents while concurrently externally cooling the vessel conductively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: CEM Corporation
    Inventors: Brittany L. Hayes, Michael J. Collins
  • Patent number: 6909077
    Abstract: A microwave oven has an oven cavity in which a launch site for delivering microwave energy into the oven cavity is provided by a hole (6) in a wall (2) of the cavity and a match plate (10). In order to improve the distribution of microwave energy in the cavity, the oven also has a second wall (4) partially covered on its internal side by a second match plate (30) which acts as a second resonator. The second wall may include a hole which, with the second match plate, forms a second launch site for delivering microwave energy into the oven cavity, in which case the two holes are interconnected by a waveguide via which said microwave energy is supplied from at least one magnetron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Microwave Ovens Limited
    Inventors: Kenneth Ian Eke, Robert Schiffmann
  • Patent number: 6906297
    Abstract: Trays placed in an autoclave are coupled with microwaves from microwave generators and move back and forth as they are processed to ensure even heating. The generators are placed at the side of the autoclave so each generator connects to a wave guide in the autoclave with upwardly directed decoupling openings immediately below the tray to be heated. The distance between the decoupling opening and the tray is maintained at less than one-half wavelength. The foods on the tray are heated first from below and then the heat rises. When water in the lower food layers is heated, steam forms and must pass through the cooler upper layers to escape. As it does so, it loses heat to these layers, warming them and preventing scorching on the food's surface as well as any bursting of the trays' seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Tops Foods, N.V.
    Inventor: Rudy Tops
  • Patent number: 6900424
    Abstract: A microwave delivery system for a cooking appliance includes a toroidal waveguide, a launching zone and a waveguide cover. The launching zone includes opposing top, bottom and side walls that form a pathway for a microwave energy field to travel from a magnetron through the waveguide and into a cooking chamber. In accordance with one aspect of the overall invention, the bottom wall of the launching zone is aligned with a bottom surface of the waveguide to establish a direct conducting surface for the microwave energy field. The waveguide cover shields a hollow interior portion of the waveguide from cooking byproducts generated in the cooking chamber during a cooking process. The waveguide cover is preferably constituted by a metallic conductor having a finish that enhances the microwave energy field distribution in the cooking chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy J. Arntz, Dennis Michael Brandon Burns, Damien L. Esprit, Trieu Huynh, Sondra Denice Proffitt, Robert Z. Whipple, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6884979
    Abstract: A microwave oven and a method for heating a load which is placed therein. According to the invention a predetermined mode in the cavity of a microwave oven is fed by means of an associated feeding port which is arranged to feed essentially the intended mode only, the feeding of a mode other than the intended, predetermined mode being essentially prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Per Törngren, Ulf Nordh, Håkan Carlsson, Roland Ekinge
  • Patent number: 6875970
    Abstract: A safety apparatus for an output level-adjustable microwave oven includes a fuse disposed in a power supply line that connects a high power relay or a low power relay with a primary coil of a high voltage transformer of the microwave oven. Where a wrong operation occurs due to defects in the relays, such as a melting of any one of the relays, the fuse disposed in the power supply line connected to the primary coil of the high voltage transformer is cut off. Accordingly, a potential fire resulting from the wrong operation is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sun-Ki Kim
  • Patent number: 6864471
    Abstract: A plurality of slots are provided so as to be located between a thin plate flexible opening section screen member and a heating chamber wall surface 1 for allowing insertion of the opening section screen member. A gently-curved bulging surface exists in an area where the heating chamber wall surface 1 and the opening section screen member 5 are mated together. As a result, residual warpage which would otherwise remain when the opening section screen member is warped for attachment becomes invisible, thereby preventing occurrence of clearance, which would cause sparking or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Mitsumoto, Takahide Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 6861631
    Abstract: A microwave oven which has a simple structure, and steams food placed in a cooking cavity without having a separate steaming container. The microwave oven includes the cooking cavity provided in a cabinet, a magnetron provided outside the cooking cavity to irradiate microwaves into the cooking cavity, and a microwave inlet hole formed on a predetermined portion of the cooking cavity to irradiate the microwaves from the magnetron into the cooking cavity. A steaming plate is provided in the cooking cavity so as to partition the cooking cavity into upper and lower sections, and blocks the microwaves and allows water vapor to pass therethrough. The microwave inlet hole communicates with a bottom of the steaming plate provided in the cooking cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyung-Hee Hahm, Tae-Soo Kim, Young-Won Cho
  • Patent number: 6861632
    Abstract: A microwave oven includes a motor for a stirrer and a motor mounting unit. The motor is provided at an outer circumferential surface thereof with a first flange having a hole. The motor mounting unit is provided on an outer surface of a wave guide, and includes a seat, a mounting piece provided at an edge of the seat and having a hole, and a stopper. The stopper is upwardly projected from a first piece provided on the seat adjacent to the mounting piece, to delimit a mounted position of the motor. The motor mounting unit also includes a guide piece upwardly projected from a second piece provided at an edge of the seat. A slot is longitudinally formed along the guide piece. The motor has a second flange at a position opposite to the first flange to be fitted into and guided along the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Se Hun Lee
  • Patent number: 6852963
    Abstract: A wall-mounted type microwave oven includes an outer cabinet defining an outer appearance thereof, an inner cabinet disposed in the outer cabinet to define a flow path therebetween, a sensor disposed in the flow path to check conditions of air flowing in the flow path, and a terminal unit connected to the sensor to transmit electric power and control signals to the sensor. The flow path includes a fitting hole to hold the sensor and the terminal unit. A sensor holder receives the sensor and the terminal unit, and is detachably fitted in the fitting hole. Only an operation of separating the sensor holder from a guide duct is performed in the guide duct, and an operation of pulling the sensor and the terminal unit out of the sensor holder and detaching the sensor from the terminal unit is performed outside the guide duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang-Jin Jeong
  • Patent number: 6838649
    Abstract: Commercial microwave oven including a main cabinet for enclosing and protecting various components, having air inlet holes, a base frame under the main cabinet having a box form with an opened top and a front part with a plurality of air outlet holes, a bottom plate on the base frame, an inner case in a space above one side part of the bottom plate, the inner case having a cooking chamber formed therein, a magnetron on a lower part of an outside of the inner case, a transformer for regulating a voltage provided to the magnetron, a waveguide on an underside of the bottom plate, a fan in a rear of outside of the inner case, and a flow guide for guiding air passed through the magnetron toward air outlet holes, thereby cooling components effectively, reducing a volume, and cost of the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Dong Heon Lee