US 12,016,107 B2
Continuous mode conveyor cooking utilizing hot air jet impingement and microwave energy
Michael Jay Dobie, Double Oak, TX (US); Anthony Patti, Wakefield, MA (US); Robert Philip Brushaber, Austin, TX (US); Frank Thomas Zeller, Dripping Springs, TX (US); and Neal S. Cooper, N. Richland Hills, TX (US)
Assigned to TEXAS RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL, INC., Austin, TX (US); and US GOVERNMENT AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY, Natick, MA (US)
Filed by Texas Research International, Inc, Austin, TX (US)
Filed on Mar. 19, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/207,532.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/991,926, filed on Mar. 19, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0298137 A1, Sep. 23, 2021
Int. Cl. H05B 6/64 (2006.01); A21B 1/24 (2006.01); A23L 5/10 (2016.01); A47J 37/04 (2006.01); H05B 6/70 (2006.01); H05B 6/76 (2006.01); H05B 6/78 (2006.01)
CPC H05B 6/647 (2013.01) [A21B 1/245 (2013.01); A23L 5/15 (2016.08); A47J 37/045 (2013.01); H05B 6/707 (2013.01); H05B 6/76 (2013.01); H05B 6/763 (2013.01); H05B 6/782 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A continuous mode conveyor cooking appliance utilizing hot air jet impingement and microwave energy for cooking prepared foods, comprising:
a. one or more housings, each comprising a central microwave section, and a first end portion and a second end portion on either side of the microwave section;
b. a food insert entrance portion defined within the first end portion of each housing for inputting food, to be cooked, into each housing;
c. a food extraction exit portion defined within the second end portion of each housing for extracting food, that has been cooked, out from each housing;
d. three endless conveyor belts disposed within each housing and cooperating with each other for propelling the food, to be cooked, from the food insert entrance portion of each housing, through the central microwave section of each housing, to the food extraction exit portion of each housing;
e. wherein each first end portion and second end portion comprise upward and downward directed impingement air jet tubes for heating and upward and downward directed solid pins, all of the same length, the combination of which is configured to function as a microwave energy attenuation system to control microwave energy leakage from each first end portion and second end portion.