Patent ID: 6107614
Filing Date: 2000-08-22
Classification: F27B,F27D,H05B

Abstract:
A continuous microwave furnace having a plurality of furnace modules forming heating zones arranged sequentially behind one another for heating articles conveyed therethrough, said continuous microwave furnace comprising:A. a plurality of furnace modules positioned adjacent to one another to mutually define a heating area therealong, each of said furnace modules including:(1) a housing means defining a heating zone therewithin;(2) a housing casing secured to said housing means, each housing casing including a case wall having a circular cross-section;B. a plurality of microwave radiation sources each being attached to one of said housing casings adjacent one of said housing means and adapted to generate microwave radiation for transmitting into said housing means thereadjacent for heating therewithin, at least one of said microwave radiation sources being provided at said case wall;C. a metallic bottom sheet member mounted within said heating zone of said housing means and defining a plurality of hole means therein for enhancing microwave radiation within said heating zone, said case wall having one of said metallic bottom sheet members positioned thereadjacent, each of said metallic bottom sheet members of adjacently positioned furnace modules being coplanar with respect to one another; andD. a conveyor means extending sequentially entirely through said heating zones defined within said plurality of adjacently positioned furnace modules along the continuous microwave furnace for heating of articles transported therethrough, said transport means being positioned immediately above said metallic bottom sheet member and resting thereupon, said conveyor means including a transport belt oriented on a common plane with said metallic bottom sheet member mounted within said heating zones defined within each of said furnace modules, said conveyor means including a plurality of transport rollers defining a conveying plane common with said metallic bottom sheet members.