US3916136A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Microwave cavity product transport system
Assignee: Gerling Moore Inc
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Filing: 1974-05-28
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Granted: 1975-10-28
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Expires: 1994-05-28
Abstract
Abstract A microwave applicator is described for treating a product which is continuously passed through a multi-mode microwave cavity. The applicator includes a roller transport system for conveying the product through the cavity. Each of the product rollers of the transport system is made from a quartz tube having end plugs in its opposite ends. The rollers are positioned between a pair of spaced apart, generally parallel support rails, and spherical bearing balls extend inwardly from opposed locations on the rails into associated axial cavities in the end plugs of each roller to provide a bearing for rotation of such roller. A flexible drive belt is connected exterior of the cavity with a motor and passes through a wall of such cavity into frictional engagement with the peripheral surface of each of the rollers to rotatably drive the same.
Inventors
- 👤 Eldon E Anderson
- 👤 Gene E Tallmadge
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 18:58
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B6/00; H05B6/64; H05B6/78
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
An applicator for treating a product with electromagnetic energy comprising: a cavity resonator capable of supporting electromagnetic energy within its interior; means for introducing electromagnetic energy into said cavity; and a product transport system within said cavity for supporting said product therein during passage thereof through said cavity for said treatment, said product transport system including a plurality of rollers and a mounting structure maintaining said rollers in an alignment defining a support surface along the path of travel of said product through said cavity, an end of each of said rollers having a cylindrical cavity extending axially therein, and said mounting structure including a support rail extending along the path of travel of said product adjacent said ends of said rollers, and bearing projections extending inwardly of said rail for rotatably mounting each of said rollers, each of said bearing projections including a spherical bearing ball extending within the cylindrical cavity of its associated roller end and engaging the inner cylindrical surface of said cavity.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
An applicator for treating a product with electromagnetic energy comprising: a cavity resonator capable of supporting electromagnetic energy within its interior; means for introducing electromagnetic energy into said cavity; and a product transport system within said cavity for supporting said product therein during passage thereof through said cavity for said treatment, said product transport system including a plurality of rollers and a mounting structure maintaining said rollers in an alignment defining a support surface along the path of travel of said product through said cavity, an end of each of said rollers having a cylindrical cavity extending axially therein, and said mounting structure including a support rail extending along the path of travel of said product adjacent said ends of said rollers, and bearing projections extending inwardly of said rail for rotatably mounting each of said rollers, each of said bearing projections including a spherical bearing ball extending within the cylindrical cavity of its associated roller end and engaging the inner cylindrical surface of said cavity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The applicator of claim 1 wherein each of said roller end cavities is provided with an end wall within the interior of its associated roller and the spherical bearing ball extends into said cavity to said end wall to thereby also act as a thrust bearing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The applicator of claim 2 wherein each of said rollers is a cylindrical tube having an end plug in its end within which said axial cavity is provided.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The applicator of claim 3 wherein each of said cavities is defined by a cup liner of a hard, low friction non-metallic material providing a bearing surface, and each of said spherical bearing balls is of a metal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
The applicator of claim 3 wherein the material of said end plugs has a different coefficient of thermal expansion than the material of said cylindrical tubes, and a resilient cushion sleeve is provided between each of said end plugs and its associated tube to accommodate any differential expansion between said tube and said end plug.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
91 words
The applicator of claim 1 wherein said product transport system further includes a source of motive power positioned exteriorly of said cavity resonator, a flexible drive belt connected with said power source and passing through a wall of said cavity resonator into driving engagement within the interior of said cavity resonator with said rollers to axially rotate the same for conveying product through said cavity resonator, and means at the point of passage of said drive belt through said cavity wall for preventing escape of electromagnetic energy from said cavity thereat.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
The applicator of claim 6 wherein said drive belt is an inelastic flat belt and frictionally engages the peripheral surface of each of said rollers at the location at which the same defines a portion of said support surface for said product to thereby drive all the support surface portions of said rollers at the same speed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
70 words
The applicator of claim 1 wherein said means for introducing electromagnetic energy into said cavity resonator includes a plurality of wave guide extensions projecting into the interior of said cavity resonator, each one of which projects obliquely into the interior of said cavity resonator for directing electromagnetic energy emanating therefrom angularly toward a cavity wall to generate with said energy a pluraltiy of standing wave modes within said cavity resonator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
80 words
The applicator of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of rollers includes a product bearing surface which is of a dielectric material transparent to the electromagnetic radiation supported within said cavity resonator to thereby present a minimum disturbance to the electromagnetic energy field in such cavity resonator at its location, whereby the presence of said rollers in said cavity resonator adjacent product passing therethrough has a minimum effect on the uniform treatment by said electromagnetic energy of said product.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The applicator of claim 9 wherein each of said tubes is of quartz.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2684881A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-10-27 | 1979-04-28 | 1979-10-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-27 | 1983-04-28 | 1983-10-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-27 | 1987-04-28 | 1987-10-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |