Patent ID: 9440373
Filing Date: 2016-09-13
CPC Classification: B28B,B29C,F26B

Claim Text:
1. A method of manufacturing a ceramic article, comprising: extruding a wet ceramic material with an extruder apparatus; cutting the extruded wet ceramic material to form a ceramic article; placing the ceramic article onto a tray body, the tray assembly body associated with a microwave coupling cover configured to cover at least a portion of the ceramic article; conveying the ceramic article on the tray body along a conveyor travel axis; subjecting the ceramic article to microwave radiation through at least the microwave coupling cover, wherein the microwave coupling cover has a dielectric property such that a greater percentage of microwave energy is coupled into the ceramic article with the microwave coupling cover present than with the microwave coupling cover not present; removing the ceramic article from the tray body when the ceramic article is at a target dryness; and returning the tray body and microwave coupling cover to the extruder apparatus.