Importance

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Abstract

An apparatus to transfer heat to a product is disclosed. In one arrangement, the apparatus includes a cabinet which forms a product input port, a product output port and a product support means including a conveyor in the cabinet for transporting the product from the input port to the output port while heat is transferred to the product. Products can be accessed while on the conveyor, including putting products on the conveyor and taking products off the conveyor so that the length of time that a product is heated can be varied while maintaining a substantially constant conveyor speed. One arrangement includes a side loading door for putting products on the conveyor, taking them off of the conveyor and manipulating the products while on the conveyor so that the ordinary heating cycle is altered. The loading door includes a panel hingedly connected to the bottom edge of the opening, movable about an axis of rotation between a closed position and an open position internal to the cabinet. The loading door also includes a handle rigidly affixed to the hinged edge of the panel in such a way that the handle is substantially oppositely disposed about the axis of rotation from the panel so that the handle acts in combination with the panel as a lever for raising and lowering the panel. In one arrangement, the panel includes a tempered glass window. In another arrangement a plurality of loading doors provide preselected, identified positions along the conveyor for preselected heating times.

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First Claim