Abstract: A substance processing system includes a pressurizer configured to pressurize air and a processing chamber configured to process a substance. The system also includes a heat exchanger coupled between the pressurizer and the processing chamber. A nozzle is coupled to the processing chamber such that output from the nozzle comprises a substantially even pressure distribution.

Abstract: A dental device for shaping matrix bands. The device has a first arm pivotally connected to a second arm. A male head component having a curved, convex inner sidewall with a flattened surface centrally disposed thereon is connected to a bar portion of the first arm. A female head component having a curved, concave inner sidewall with a flattened surface centrally disposed thereon is connected to a bar portion of the second arm. When a handle portion of the first arm is pivoted towards a handle portion of the second arm, the first bar portion pivots toward the second bar portion. The male head component mates with the female head component such that the inner sidewall of the male head component interfaces with the inner sidewall of the female head component, and the flattened surface of the male head component interfaces with the flattened surface of the female head component.

Abstract: A multi-operation wafer baking system includes a chassis; a wafer loading device mounted on the chassis for laterally moving a wafer; a cruciform transportation device mounted on the chassis for receiving a wafer from the wafer loading device and including a base, an elevation platform, and a rotation platform mounted on the elevation platform and having four carrier arms for carrying wafers; an annular baking device mounted on the chassis to oppose the cruciform transportation device and including a central turn table, a plurality of wafer racks, and a plurality of baking tray assemblies functioning to receive wafers from corresponding wafer racks for performing a baking operation on the wafer; and an unloading device mounted on the chassis for receiving baked wafers. This system allows for baking wafers in a multi-operation manner to thereby improve throughput.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a honeycomb structure including a honeycomb unit includes forming a honeycomb molded body having a plurality of cells extending from a first end face to a second end face of the honeycomb molded body along a longitudinal direction of the honeycomb molded body and separated by a plurality of cell walls, placing the honeycomb molded body in a degreasing apparatus so that the first end face faces downward and the second end face faces upward, feeding introduced gas into the degreasing apparatus, degreasing the honeycomb molded body at a temperature of approximately 200° C. to approximately 400° C., and firing the degreased honeycomb molded body at a temperature of approximately 500° C. to approximately 900° C. to obtain the honeycomb unit.

Abstract: Automated apparatus for preparing pizza, and method of operating same. A customer selects a type of pizza, such as toppings or crust style. The apparatus slices and defrosts dough, applies cheese, slices and applies toppings, and cooks the pizza to order. The cooked pizza is packaged for delivery to the customer and may include a separate cutting apparatus. Proper temperature of hot and cold sections is maintained while ingredients are stored and as the pizza is cooked. The process is monitored and controlled by one or more processors.

Abstract: An apparatus for thermally debinding a cellular ceramic green body includes a duct preferably defined between a first housing and a second housing. A carrier assembly for the green body is adapted for arrangement within a channel such that the green body is positioned between a first portion of the channel and a second portion of the channel. The apparatus further includes a nozzle positioned to inject gases from the duct into a first portion of the channel and a recirculation fan positioned to draw gases out of a second portion of the channel and discharge the gases into the duct. Also described is a carrier assembly including a base support comprising a plurality of spaced stringer beams having spaces between adjacent ones; and a plurality of ring supports including openings, said ring supports mounted on, and bridging the spaces between, the stringer beams, the ring supports having a surface adapted to support the green body.

Abstract: A gas or electrically heated kiln furnace in which the hearth is stationary and an outer shell or wall with a door for access rotates around a stationary hearth. Loading and unloading is accomplished by rotating the outer shell to align the door with a position where a workpiece is to be inserted or removed. The kiln can be used as an up draft or down draft kiln, as a single chamber or a progressive chamber kiln. This kiln uses minimum floor space in that a circular shell is not rolled back but rotated about a hearth, around a vertical axis.

Abstract: A method pertaining to the baking of products (B) in a baking oven (1) in which the products are supported by at least one rotary oven trolley (17) comprises rotating the trolley through a number of revolutions in one direction (R1) during the baking process, and thereafter reversing the direction of rotation and continuing rotation of the trolley through several revolutions in the opposite direction (R2) before again reversing the direction of rotation of the trolley. The trolley (17) keeps the same axial position in both directions of rotation. An arrangement for carrying out the method includes a drive device (20-26) for alternating rotation of the oven trolley through an equal number of revolutions in both directions during the baking process.

Abstract: A rotary hearth furnace has a mixing rabble arrangement that includes a first rabble disposed upstream a flow of material on the hearth and a second rabble disposed downstream a flow of material on the hearth. The first and second rabbles are disposed at an acute angle with respect to a center of rotation of the hearth in a manner so that a plane defined by a plow of the first rabble intersects a plane defined by a plow of the second rabble adjacent the leading edge or training edge of the plow of the second rabble. The rabbles cooperate to produce a counter-rolling action in the material as the material is advanced into contact with the rabbles by movement of the hearth relative to the rabbles.

Abstract: In a furnace operated with hydrogen gas as a cooling gas under positive pressure for the hardening of metallic workpieces, with a housing (2) enclosing a heating chamber for accepting a batch of workpieces, this housing being connected to a vacuum pump and being openable by way of a bottom housing cover (3) Cooling gas is circulated through gas outlets and outlets opening into the heating chamber by the impeller of a motor-blower unit. A heating system is provided on the bottom section (78) of a batch table (8) supported on the housing cover (3) and rotable around a vertical axis (A). A grate formed of bars (34) is mounted above the heating system (37) for supporting the batch of workpieces, and insulating plates (43, 44) are installed underneath the heating system (37).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for heating or cooling a product which includes a plurality of tapered ducts in a cabinet above and below a turntable to form streams which are directed toward the product. Spent air is drawn through intake openings in return ducts in the cabinet. Temperature controlled gas is delivered at an angle through an array of openings adjacent opposite edges of an opening through which a product is loaded on the turntable in a loading zone to cause most of the heated air to be drawn to return duct openings and to maintain internal pressure in the baking zone in the cabinet to prevent ingress and egress of air through the loading opening. Orifices are formed in a circular array of rings such that the sum of the areas of orifices in each ring spaced from the axis about which the turntable rotates is substantially equal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for heating or cooling a product which includes a plurality of tapered ducts in cabinet above and below a turntable to form streams which are directed toward the product. Spent air is drawn through intake openings in return ducts in the cabinet. Temperature controlled gas is delivered at an angle through an array of openings adjacent opposite edges of an opening through which a product is loaded on the turntable in a loading zone to cause most of the heated air to be drawn to return duct openings and to maintain internal pressure in the baking zone in the cabinet to prevent ingress and egress of air through the loading opening. Orifices are formed in a circular array of rings such that the sum of the areas of orifices in each ring spaced from the axis about which the turntable rotates is substantially equal.

Abstract: An automated pizza oven comprising a massive oven enclosure with a fire brick liner about a baking chamber and a massive fire brick turntable disposed in the baking chamber an forming the bottom surface thereof. A variable speed drive motor is connected with and slowly rotates the turntable. A pair of doors are provided for the baking chamber and a fire chamber employes coal or other natural fuel in open communicaation with the baking chamber. A pair of temperature sensors and a drive motor speed sensor respond respectively to baking chamber temperature and turntable speed and are fed to a control means for the regulation of turntable speed as a function of baking chamber temperature.

Abstract: An improved method and plasma torch incinerator or reactor in which the incinerator uses a rotating, materials-receiving drum or chamber for receiving the hot plasma of a plasma torch. By properly constructing the inner surface of the rotatable drum and by varying the speed of rotation of the drum, waste materials can be effectively spread out over the inner surface of the drum to form a relatively thin layer of waste materials which has a large surface area which can be more quickly heated to the desired high temperatures provided by the plasma torch. Moreover, the spreading out of the waste materials can cause them to be recirculated and mixed by periodically reducing the speed of rotation of the drum. The plasma of the plasma torch is not directed toward a stationary part of the drum.

Abstract: The present invention is a compact pizza oven which includes a baking chamber and a means for heating air. A fan means is provided for impelling the heated air through a top and bottom orifice toward the pizza. The oven also includes an oven door for closing and opening the baking chamber and a turntable upon which the pizza is rotated about its center while it is baked.

Abstract: A radiantly heated, travelling hearth furnace having a supplementary feed means positioned intermediate the initial loading point and the final take-off point to increase the capacity of the furnace for treating objects fed thereto. When the objects are pellets of iron oxide and carbonaceous reductant the provision of supplementary feed means about half-way along the travel path of the hearth promotes uniformity of product by inhibition of reoxidation of reduced iron by exposure to a fossil-fuel-fired furnace atmosphere.

Abstract: A furnace for heat-treating light alloy ingots comprises a heating chamber, which is flown through by hot gases and communicates with a stock inlet and with a stock outlet and contains between said stock inlet and outlet a conveyor for intermittently conveying the ingots, which lie on said conveyor and extend transversely to its direction of conveyance. The intermittent conveyor is accommodated in a heating shaft and consists of at least two juxtaposed vertical conveyor sections, which convey in mutually opposite directions and are interconnected by transfer means. A partition which divides the furnace shaft is provided between that conveyor section which is adjacent to the stock inlet and the next following conveyor section.

Abstract: A rotating shelf barbecue oven for commercial establishments is shown. Meats being barbecued are located on shelves in an upper compartment while heat and smoke for barbecuing comes from a lower compartment. Flues in the side walls provide for flow of heat and smoke from the lower compartment to the upper compartments. A shaft extends through the upper and lower compartments and connects to the shelves for rotating the shelves and meats thereon during barbecuing. The compartments, including the flues and the shaft, are constructed to allow for steam cleaning of the upper compartment without the water getting into the lower compartment. Also cooking grease is prevented from dripping into the lower compartment.

Abstract: A baking oven heated by circulation of hot-air comprising a baking compartment with a turntable at the bottom thereof adapted for receiving a multiple rack cart which carries the material to be baked and which is rotated around a vertical axis. The turntable is provided with a drive gear therebelow coupled to a chain which in turn is coupled to a pinion on a vertical shaft extending outside the baking compartment and driven by a drive motor. A chain box surrounds the chain and includes a portion extending outside the baking compartment which is air-tight to prevent escape of vapor thereat from the baking compartment. The vertical shaft extends into the air-tight portion of the chain box via a seal.

Abstract: A baker's oven has an insulated casing arranged into two series of cylindrical compartments, coaxially one above the other, and separated by horizontal heat-insulating decks. A loading door is provided for each compartment, together with top and bottom heating elements. A vertical drive shaft passes coaxially through each series of compartments and a rotary support, for products to be baked, is mounted on the shaft in each compartment. In one or more of the compartments, a pair of vertically spaced rotary supports may be provided on the shaft and an intermediate heating element is provided below the upper of the two supports.

Abstract: An oven for heating foodstuffs, i.e. cooking pizza, has a heated enclosure substantially L-shape in plan to leave an exposed sector. A rotor is turned intermittently by power to carry pizzas from the exposed sector, through the heated enclosure and back to the exposed sector. In the heated enclosure the pizzas are baked by a stream of heated and reheated air circulated in a closed path.

Abstract: A small-size, low capacity oven for baking flat bread, also called Syrian Bread, comprising a circular, dome-shaped rotatable table. The table is rotated about a vertical axis at about 1 r.p.m. A dome-shaped cover overlies the table, thus defining a confined space, heated by electric or fuel heaters mounted all around the cover. A chimney for exhaust gases is provided at the center of the cover in an adjustable manner for controlling the escape of gases from the oven.

Abstract: A baker's oven has its casing divided by horizontal decks into a number of superimposed substantially cylindrical compartments, a loading doorway leading into each. A vertical drive shaft through the casing carries, in each compartment, a central substantially cylindrical insulated core from the lower part of which extends an annular rotating support for articles to be baked, each compartment being individually heated electrically. Each or any compartment may have an annular horizontal lid about the core, means being provided for lowering the lid onto bread tins on the support or lifting it clear above the tins.

Abstract: A gas-fired turntable oven for baking food such as pizza pies for fast food operations comprises a lower baking chamber and an upper holding chamber. Fresh pies are placed onto the turntable in the baking chamber and are baked to completion as they travel one revolution on the turntable. Partially baked pies having completed a predetermined fraction of a revolution on the turntable, may be removed from the baking chamber and kept warm in the holding chamber, to be later returned to the baking chamber and baked to completion while travelling the remaining fraction of a revolution on the turntable. This oven enables the cook to serve many pies in a short time during periods of peak demand.

Abstract: An apparatus for the sulfatizing roasting of a selenium-containing raw material, especially the anode slime from copper electrolysis, with sulfuric acid at a raised temperature, the apparatus comprising a furnace chamber having a feed pipe for feeding a slurry of a finely-divided, selenium-containing raw material and sulfuric acid into the furnace chamber, an outlet for withdrawing the roasted solid from the furnace chamber, an outlet for discharging the selenium bearing gases produced during the sulfating roasting, members for heating the slurry in the furnace chamber, and devices for transferring, as a layer, the slurry fed into the furnace chamber from the slurry feed point towards the outlet for solid, the members for transferring the slurry being one or more combinations of a tray which supports slurry and a scraper which scrapes the tray, at least some of the slurry-heating members being mounted in the tray in order to heat it.