Multi-line microwave heating system with optimized launcher configuration
First Claim
1. A microwave system for heating a plurality of articles, said system comprising:
- a conveyance system for transporting articles in a convey direction along first and second laterally spaced, substantially parallel convey lines;
a first upper group of spaced apart microwave launchers positioned above said first convey line and configured to direct microwave energy from a common source downwardly toward said articles in said first convey line; and
a second upper group of spaced apart microwave launchers positioned above said second convey line and configured to direct microwave energy from a common source downwardly toward said articles in said second convey line;
wherein said first and second upper groups of launchers are staggered relative to one another in said convey direction.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A microwave heating system configured to heat a plurality of articles and a process for using the same is provided. The heating system includes at least two laterally-spaced parallel convey lines and two or more groups of microwave launchers configured to heat articles transported along each convey line. The groups of microwave launchers can include pairs of oppositely disposed launchers that are spaced apart from one another along the axis of convey. When the system includes multiple convey lines, adjacent launcher groups are staggered relative to one another in the convey direction. Heating articles, such as foodstuffs or medical fluids or equipment in such a system, minimize undesirable interference between launchers of adjacent groups and provide a more uniform heating field.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A microwave system for heating a plurality of articles, said system comprising:
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a conveyance system for transporting articles in a convey direction along first and second laterally spaced, substantially parallel convey lines; a first upper group of spaced apart microwave launchers positioned above said first convey line and configured to direct microwave energy from a common source downwardly toward said articles in said first convey line; and a second upper group of spaced apart microwave launchers positioned above said second convey line and configured to direct microwave energy from a common source downwardly toward said articles in said second convey line; wherein said first and second upper groups of launchers are staggered relative to one another in said convey direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 24, 25)
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14. A process for heating a plurality of articles in a microwave heating system, said process comprising:
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(a) passing a plurality of articles through a microwave heating chamber in a convey direction along a first convey line; (b) passing another plurality of articles through said microwave heating chamber in said convey direction along a second convey line; (c) simultaneously with at least a portion of said passing of step (a), heating at least a portion of said plurality of articles with microwave energy generated from a first common microwave generator and discharged from a first upper group of spaced apart microwave launchers; and (d) simultaneously with at least a portion of said passing of step (b), heating at least a portion of said another plurality of articles using microwave energy generated from second common microwave generator and discharged from a second upper group of spaced apart microwave launchers, wherein said first and second upper groups of microwave launchers are staggered relative to one another in said convey direction. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27)
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Specification