US3699899A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dough proofing apparatus
Assignee: DCA Food Industries Inc
•
Filing: 1970-07-01
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Granted: 1972-10-24
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Expires: 1990-07-01
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus including a conveyor for moving cut pieces of yeast-containing dough. The conveyor subjects the dough pieces to at least two microwave heating periods separated by a ''''rest'''' period. Alternatively, a similar heating sequence is achieved by appropriately programming a microwave energy source. Typically, the dough pieces are first heated for a period of 5 to 180 seconds to raise the dough temperature to between 90* F. and 120* F. Heating of the dough pieces is then stopped for 20-180 seconds to permit temperature equilibration. Thereafter, the dough pieces are heated again for a period not exceeding 3 minutes to a temperature between 100* F. and 130* F. During both heating intervals, the power density within the microwave cavity, as measured in terms of the heating of ''''conductivity water,'''' is in the range 0.128-12.4 watts/gm. Such a sequence allows the dough pieces to uniformly rise to an optimum volume in a relatively short time.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert F Schiffmann
- 👤 Ernest W Stein
- 👤 Harold B Kaufman Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 03:50
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B6/00; H05B6/64; H05B6/78; H05B6/782; A; A21; A21C; A21C13/00; A21C13/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 56
Claim 1
Independent Claim
171 words
Apparatus for proofing and maturing a yeast-leavened dough comprising high frequency cavity means, high frequency energy source means coupled to said cavity means, trap means situated in said cavity means for shielding said dough from high frequency energy when said dough is in said trap means, first control means for subjecting a dough piece in said cavity means to a high frequency field of an intensity and duration to elevate the temperature of said dough piece to a first level to initiate the substantial generation and expansion of gases therein and the partial proofing thereof, second control means for limiting the rate of rise of the average temperature of said dough piece for a rest period sufficient to permit temperature equilibration of said dough piece, and third control means for subjecting said dough piece in said cavity means to a high frequency field of an intensity and duration to elevate the temperature of said dough piece to a second level, higher than said first level, to substantially complete the proofing thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
171 words
Apparatus for proofing and maturing a yeast-leavened dough comprising high frequency cavity means, high frequency energy source means coupled to said cavity means, trap means situated in said cavity means for shielding said dough from high frequency energy when said dough is in said trap means, first control means for subjecting a dough piece in said cavity means to a high frequency field of an intensity and duration to elevate the temperature of said dough piece to a first level to initiate the substantial generation and expansion of gases therein and the partial proofing thereof, second control means for limiting the rate of rise of the average temperature of said dough piece for a rest period sufficient to permit temperature equilibration of said dough piece, and third control means for subjecting said dough piece in said cavity means to a high frequency field of an intensity and duration to elevate the temperature of said dough piece to a second level, higher than said first level, to substantially complete the proofing thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the intensity of the high frequency field to which a dough piece is subjected during said rest period is sufficiently low to limit the rate of rise of the average temperature of said dough piece to less than 30 percent of the rate of rise when said dough piece is subjected to the other high frequency fields.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said rest period has a duration sufficient to allow the maximum deviation of the temperature at any point in said dough piece from the average temperature of the dough piece to be less than 20 percent at the end of said rest period.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said first control means includes means for controlling a continuous rise in the average temperature of said dough piece for 5-180 seconds and to an average temperature between 90* F. and 120* F.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said second control means includes means for controlling said rest period to have a duration of 20-180 seconds.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said third control means includes means for controlling a continuous rise in the average temperature of said dough piece to a final temperature between 100* F. and 130* F. in a time period less than 180 seconds.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
101 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein the intensiTy of said high frequency field during said rest period is sufficiently low to limit the rate of rise of the average temperature of said dough piece to less than five percent of the rate of rise when said dough piece is subjected to the other high frequency fields, and said rest period has a duration sufficient to allow the maximum deviation of the temperature at any point in said dough piece from the average temperature of the dough piece to be less than five percent at the end of said rest period.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
85 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein said cavity means includes entry port means and exit port means, and a conveyor for moving dough pieces through said entry port means into said cavity means, through said cavity means, and out of said cavity means through said exit port means, said trap means including a trap situated in the central region of said cavity means for shielding said dough pieces from high frequency energy as said dough pieces are moved along said conveyor through said trap.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said trap includes inner and outer envelopes having water therebetween, said inner envelope being transparent to high frequency energy.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein the height of the opening in said trap through which said conveyor passes is less than half a wavelength of the high frequency energy within said cavity means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said trap includes a pair of mating metal sections for defining a tunnel through which said conveyor passes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein the height of said tunnel is less than a half wavelength of the high frequency energy in said cavity means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
130 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein said cavity means includes a single dough piece entry and exit port, and a conveyor movable in two directions through said cavity means such that dough pieces placed thereon are moved through said single port in one direction into said cavity means and through sad single port in the opposite direction out of said cavity means, said cavity means having a least two stations therein, said trap means defining a trap at one station in said cavity means for sharply reducing the high frequency heating of dough pieces in said trap within said cavity means, and means for controlling said conveyor to move dough pieces in and out of said cavity means and between said at least two stations within said cavity means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
180 words
Apparatus for proofing and maturing a yeast-leavened dough comprising high frequency cavity means, said cavity means includes a single dough piece entry and exit port, high frequency energy source means coupled to said cavity means for providing heat thereto, control means for sequentially subjecting a dough piece in said cavity means to successive heating intervals for proofing thereof, said control means including means for providing at least one rest period between successive heating intervals in order to permit temperature equilibration of said dough piece, said control means further includes a conveyor movable in two directions through said cavity means such that dough pieces placed thereon are moved through said single port in one direction into said cavity means and through said single port in the opposite direction out of said cavity means, means for controlling said conveyor to move dough pieces in and out of said cavity means, and means for interrupting the operation of said high frequency source means during a part of the time that dough pieces are within said cavity means to permit the temperature equilibration thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
180 words
Apparatus for proofing and maturing a yeast-leavened dough comprising high frequency cavity means, said cavity means includes a single dough piece entry and exit port, high frequency energy source means coupled to said cavity means for providing heat thereto, control means for sequentially subjecting a dough piece in said cavity means to successive heating intervals for proofing thereof, said control means including means for providing at least one rest period between successive heating intervals in order to permit temperature equilibration of said dough piece, said control means further includes a conveyor movable in two directions through said cavity means such that dough pieces placed thereon are moved through said single port in one direction into said cavity means and through said single port in the opposite direction out of said cavity means, means for controlling said conveyor to move dough pieces in and out of said cavity means, and means for interrupting the operation of said high frequency source means during a part of the time that dough pieces are within said cavity means to permit the temperature equilibration thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 14 further including means for placing successive trays of dough pieces on said conveyor prior to the conveying thereof into said cavity means and for removing successive trays of dough pieces from said conveyor following the conveying thereof out of said cavity means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
103 words
Apparatus for proofing and maturing a yeast-leavened dough comprising higH frequency cavity means, said cavity means including at least two stations, high frequency energy source means coupled to said cavity means for providing heat thereto, a trap situated in said cavity means for shielding said dough from high frequency energy when said dough is in said trap, and control means for sequentially subjecting a dough piece in said cavity means to successive heating intervals for proofing thereof, said control means including means for providing at least one rest period between successive heating intervals in order to permit temperature equilibration of said dough piece.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
103 words
Apparatus for proofing and maturing a yeast-leavened dough comprising higH frequency cavity means, said cavity means including at least two stations, high frequency energy source means coupled to said cavity means for providing heat thereto, a trap situated in said cavity means for shielding said dough from high frequency energy when said dough is in said trap, and control means for sequentially subjecting a dough piece in said cavity means to successive heating intervals for proofing thereof, said control means including means for providing at least one rest period between successive heating intervals in order to permit temperature equilibration of said dough piece.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 16 wherein said control means includes means for providing a power density within said cavity means, when said dough piece is subjected to a high frequency field, of a magnitude in the range 0.128-12.4 watts/gm as measured by the heating of conductivity water.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 16 wherein said control means includes means for providing a power density within said cavity means, when said dough piece is subjected to a high frequency field, of a magnitude in the range 0.293-1.55 watts/gm as measured by the heating of conductivity water.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
151 words
Apparatus for proofing and maturing a yeast-leavened dough comprising high frequency cavity means, said cavity means includes entry port means and exit port means, high frequency energy source means coupled to said cavity means for providing heat thereto, control means for sequentially subjecting a dough piece in said cavity means to successive heating intervals for proofing thereof, said control means including means for providing at least one rest period between successive heating intervals in order to permit temperature equilibration of said dough piece, said control means further includes a conveyor for moving dough pieces through said entry port means into said cavity means, through said cavity means, and out of said cavity means through said exit port means, and a trap situated in the central region of said cavity means for shielding said dough pieces from high frequency energy as said dough pieces are moved along said conveyor through said trap.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
151 words
Apparatus for proofing and maturing a yeast-leavened dough comprising high frequency cavity means, said cavity means includes entry port means and exit port means, high frequency energy source means coupled to said cavity means for providing heat thereto, control means for sequentially subjecting a dough piece in said cavity means to successive heating intervals for proofing thereof, said control means including means for providing at least one rest period between successive heating intervals in order to permit temperature equilibration of said dough piece, said control means further includes a conveyor for moving dough pieces through said entry port means into said cavity means, through said cavity means, and out of said cavity means through said exit port means, and a trap situated in the central region of said cavity means for shielding said dough pieces from high frequency energy as said dough pieces are moved along said conveyor through said trap.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 19 wherein said trap includes inner and outer envelopes having water therebetween, said inner envelope being transparent to high frequency energy.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 20 wherein the height of the opening in said trap through which said conveyor passes is less than half a wavelength of the high frequency energy within said cavity means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
101 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 21 wherein the intensity of said high frequency field during said rest period is sufficiently low to limit the rate of rise of the average temperature of said dough piece to less than 30 percent of the rate of rise when said dough piece is subjected to the other high frequency fields, and said rest period has a duration sufficient to allow the maximum deviation of the temperature at any point in said dough piece from the average temperature of the dough piece to be less than 20 percent at the end of said rest period.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 22 wherein said trap includes a pair of mating metal sections for defining a tunnel through which said conveyor passes.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 23 wherein the height of said tunnel is less than a half wavelength of the high frequency energy in said cavity means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
101 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 24 wherein the intensity of said high frequency field during said rest period is sufficiently low to limit the rate of rise of the average temperature of said dough piece to less than 30 percent of the rate of rise when said dough piece is subjected to the other high frequency fields, and said rest period has a duration sufficient to allow the maximum deviation of the temperature at any point in said dough piece from the average temperature of the dough piece to be less than 20 percent aT the end of said rest period.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
192 words
Apparatus for proofing and maturing a yeast-leavened dough comprising high frequency cavity means, said cavity means includes a single dough piece entry and exit port, high frequency energy source means coupled to said cavity means for providing heat thereto, a conveyor movable in two directions through said cavity means such that dough pieces placed thereon are moved through said single port in one direction into said cavity means and through said single port in the opposite direction out of said cavity means, said cavity means having at least two stations therein, means defining a trap at one station in said cavity means for sharply reducing the high frequency heating of dough pieces in said trap within said cavity means, means for controlling said conveyor to move dough pieces in and out of said cavity means and between said at least two stations within said cavity means, and control means for sequentially subjecting a dough piece in said cavity means to successive heating intervals for proofing thereof, said control means including means for providing at least one rest period between successive heating intervals in order to permit temperature equilibration of said dough piece.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
192 words
Apparatus for proofing and maturing a yeast-leavened dough comprising high frequency cavity means, said cavity means includes a single dough piece entry and exit port, high frequency energy source means coupled to said cavity means for providing heat thereto, a conveyor movable in two directions through said cavity means such that dough pieces placed thereon are moved through said single port in one direction into said cavity means and through said single port in the opposite direction out of said cavity means, said cavity means having at least two stations therein, means defining a trap at one station in said cavity means for sharply reducing the high frequency heating of dough pieces in said trap within said cavity means, means for controlling said conveyor to move dough pieces in and out of said cavity means and between said at least two stations within said cavity means, and control means for sequentially subjecting a dough piece in said cavity means to successive heating intervals for proofing thereof, said control means including means for providing at least one rest period between successive heating intervals in order to permit temperature equilibration of said dough piece.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
101 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 26 wherein the intensity of said high frequency field during said rest period is sufficiently low to limit the rate of rise of the average temperature of said dough piece to less than 30 percent of the rate of rise when said dough piece is subjected to the other high frequency fields, and said rest period has a duration sufficient to allow the maximum deviation of the temperature at any point in said dough piece from the average temperature of the dough piece to be less than 20 percent at the end of said rest period.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 26 further including means for placing successive trays of dough pieces on said conveyor prior to the conveying thereof into said cavity means and for removing successive trays of dough pieces from said conveyor following the conveying thereof out of said cavity means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
147 words
Apparatus for proofing and maturing a yeast-leavened dough comprising high frequency cavity means, high frequency energy source means coupled to said cavity means for providing heat thereto, said cavity means includes first and second high frequency cavities and said high frequency energy source means includes first and second energy source means coupled to said first and second cavities, and a conveyor for transporting dough pieces through said first cavity and then through said second cavity, and means for establishing a region substantially free of high frequency energy between said first and second cavities through which said conveyor moves said dough pieces, and control means for sequentially subjecting a dough piece in said cavity means to successive heating intervals for proofing thereof, said control means including means for providing at least one rest period between successive heating intervals in order to permit temperature equilibration of said dough piece.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
147 words
Apparatus for proofing and maturing a yeast-leavened dough comprising high frequency cavity means, high frequency energy source means coupled to said cavity means for providing heat thereto, said cavity means includes first and second high frequency cavities and said high frequency energy source means includes first and second energy source means coupled to said first and second cavities, and a conveyor for transporting dough pieces through said first cavity and then through said second cavity, and means for establishing a region substantially free of high frequency energy between said first and second cavities through which said conveyor moves said dough pieces, and control means for sequentially subjecting a dough piece in said cavity means to successive heating intervals for proofing thereof, said control means including means for providing at least one rest period between successive heating intervals in order to permit temperature equilibration of said dough piece.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 29 wherein the length of said first and second cavities and the length of said energy-free region are in proportions determined by the durations of the heating periods and the intermediate rest period of each dough piece.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
101 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 29 wherein the intensity of said high frequency field during said rest period is sufficiently low to limit the rate of rise of the average temperature of said dough piece to less than 30 percent of the rate of rise when said dough piece is subjected to the other high frequency fields, and said rest period has a duration sufficient to allow the maximum deviation of the temperature at any point in said dough piece from the average temperature of the dough piece to be less than 20 percent at the end of said rest period.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 16 wherein said energy source means operates in The microwave region and wherein said control means includes means for controlling the field density in said cavity means such that said dough piece is subjected to a power density in the range 0.089-9.7 watts/gm during said heating intervals.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 16 wherein said energy source means operates in the microwave region and wherein said control means including means for controlling the field density in said cavity means such that said dough piece is subjected to a power density in the range 0.202-1.08 watts/gm during said heating intervals.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
171 words
Apparatus for proofing and maturing yeast-leavened dough comprising microwave cavity means, microwave energy source means coupled to said microwave cavity means, trap means including a trap situated in said microwave cavity means for shielding said dough from microwave energy when said dough is in said trap, and control means for successively controlling the heating of a dough piece in said microwave cavity means by a microwave field of an intensity in the range 0.128-12.4 watts/gm as measured in conductivity water for a total time interval sufficient to elevate the temperature of said dough piece to the range 100*-130* F. for governing the substantial generation and expansion of gases in the dough piece and the proofing thereof, and for secondly limiting the heating of said dough piece by said microwave field during at least one rest period between successive heating intervals to allow the maximum deviation of the temperature at any point in said dough piece from the average temperature of the dough piece to be reduced to less than 20 percent.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
171 words
Apparatus for proofing and maturing yeast-leavened dough comprising microwave cavity means, microwave energy source means coupled to said microwave cavity means, trap means including a trap situated in said microwave cavity means for shielding said dough from microwave energy when said dough is in said trap, and control means for successively controlling the heating of a dough piece in said microwave cavity means by a microwave field of an intensity in the range 0.128-12.4 watts/gm as measured in conductivity water for a total time interval sufficient to elevate the temperature of said dough piece to the range 100*-130* F. for governing the substantial generation and expansion of gases in the dough piece and the proofing thereof, and for secondly limiting the heating of said dough piece by said microwave field during at least one rest period between successive heating intervals to allow the maximum deviation of the temperature at any point in said dough piece from the average temperature of the dough piece to be reduced to less than 20 percent.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
70 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 34 wherein the intensity of the microwave field to which a dough piece is subjected during said at least one rest period is sufficiently low to limit the rate of rise of the average temperature of said dough piece to less than 30 percent of the rate of rise when said dough piece is subjected to said microwave field having an intensity in said range.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 35 wherein said control means includes means for controlling a continuous rise in the average temperature of said dough piece for 5-180 seconds and the first of said at least one rest period has a duration of at least 20 seconds.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus for proofing and maturing a yeast-leavened dough in accordance with claim 35 wherein said microwave field has an intensity in the range 0.293-1.55 watts/gm as measured in conductivity water.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
94 words
Apparatus for proofing and maturing a yeast-leavened dough comprising microwave cavity means including entry port means and exit port means, microwave energy source means coupled to said microwave cavity means, conveyor means for moving dough pieces through said entry port means into said cavity means and out of said cavity means through said exit port means, and at least one trap situated in the central region of said cavity means for shielding dough pieces from microwave energy as said dough pieces are moved along by said conveyor means through said at least one trap.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
94 words
Apparatus for proofing and maturing a yeast-leavened dough comprising microwave cavity means including entry port means and exit port means, microwave energy source means coupled to said microwave cavity means, conveyor means for moving dough pieces through said entry port means into said cavity means and out of said cavity means through said exit port means, and at least one trap situated in the central region of said cavity means for shielding dough pieces from microwave energy as said dough pieces are moved along by said conveyor means through said at least one trap.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
89 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 38 wherein the intensity of the microwave field to which a dough piece is subjected while it is conveyed through said at least one trap is sufficiently low to limit the rate of rise of the average temperature of the dough piece to less than 30 percent of the rate of rise when the dough piece is subjected to a microwave field both before it enters said at least one trap and after it leaves said at least one trap within said cavity means.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 39 wherein said at least one trap includes inner and outer envelopes having water therebetween, said inner envelope being transparent to microwave energy and the height of the opening in said at least one trap through which said dough pieces are moved being less than half the wavelength of the microwave energy in said cavity means.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
37 words
ApparatuS in accordance with claim 40 wherein said microwave energy source means produces a power intensity in said cavity means exterior to said at least one trap in the range 0.293-1.55 watts/gm as measured in conductivity water.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 39 wherein said at least one trap includes a pair of mating metal sections for defining a tunnel through which said conveyor means passes, the height of said tunnel being less than half the wavelength of the microwave energy in said cavity means.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 42 wherein said microwave energy source means produces a power intensity in said cavity means exterior to said at least one trap in the range 0.293-1.55 watts/gm as measured in conductivity water.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
80 words
Apparatus for proofing and maturing yeast-leavened dough comprising microwave cavity means having entry/exit port means, microwave energy source means coupled to said microwave cavity means, conveyor means for moving dough pieces into and out of said cavity means through said entry/exit port means, said cavity means having at least two stations therein, and means defining a trap at one station in said cavity means for sharply reducing the heating of the dough pieces in said trap within said cavity means.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
80 words
Apparatus for proofing and maturing yeast-leavened dough comprising microwave cavity means having entry/exit port means, microwave energy source means coupled to said microwave cavity means, conveyor means for moving dough pieces into and out of said cavity means through said entry/exit port means, said cavity means having at least two stations therein, and means defining a trap at one station in said cavity means for sharply reducing the heating of the dough pieces in said trap within said cavity means.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
85 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 44 wherein said microwave energy source means produces a power intensity in said cavity means in the range 0.293-1.55 watts/gm as measured in conductivity water and the intensity of the microwave field in said trap is sufficiently low to limit the rate of rise of the average temperature of a dough piece to less than 30 percent of the rate of rise when the dough piece is subjected to a microwave field exterior to said trap within said cavity means.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
140 words
Apparatus for proofing and maturing yeast-leavened dough comprising first and second microwave cavities, microwave energy source means for producing a heating effect in each of said first and second microwave cavities in the range 0.293-1.55 watts/gm as measured in conductivity water, conveyor means for transporting dough pieces through said first and second cavities in sequence, and a means for establishing region substantially free of microwave energy between said first and second cavities through which said conveyor means moves said dough pieces after they exit said first cavity and before they enter said second cavity, said conveyor means moving said dough pieces through said region during a time period sufficient to allow the maximum deviation of the temperature at any point in a dough piece from the average temperature of the dough piece to be reduced to less than 20 percent.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
140 words
Apparatus for proofing and maturing yeast-leavened dough comprising first and second microwave cavities, microwave energy source means for producing a heating effect in each of said first and second microwave cavities in the range 0.293-1.55 watts/gm as measured in conductivity water, conveyor means for transporting dough pieces through said first and second cavities in sequence, and a means for establishing region substantially free of microwave energy between said first and second cavities through which said conveyor means moves said dough pieces after they exit said first cavity and before they enter said second cavity, said conveyor means moving said dough pieces through said region during a time period sufficient to allow the maximum deviation of the temperature at any point in a dough piece from the average temperature of the dough piece to be reduced to less than 20 percent.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-24 | 1976-04-24 | 1976-10-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-24 | 1980-04-24 | 1980-10-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-24 | 1984-04-24 | 1984-10-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |