Convey line carrier for microwave heating

A carrier system used for transporting a plurality of articles through a microwave heating system, said system comprising:

• a pair of side members including a first side member and a second side member;
• a pair of end members including a first end member and a second end member, wherein said first and said second end members are configured to be coupled to and extend between opposite ends of said first and second side members;
• an upper support structure and a lower support structure for securing said articles in the carrier, wherein said upper and lower support structures are configured to extend between said first and second end members and to be vertically spaced from one another to thereby define a cargo volume for receiving said articles therebetween;
• and
• and at least one of (i) one or more pairs of vertical spacers configured to be selectively coupled to said first and second end members, wherein the vertical spacing between said upper and lower support structures can be changed by selective coupling of said vertical spacers to said first and second end members and (ii) one or more dividers configured to be selectively inserted into said cargo volume between said first and second end members in a direction generally parallel to each of the upper support structure and the lower support structure, wherein said cargo volume can be divided into a plurality of compartments by selective insertion of said dividers between said first and second end members.

A method for operating a microwave heating system, said method comprising:

• (a) placing a plurality of a first type of articles into a carrier, wherein said carrier comprises a frame, upper and lower support structures coupled to at least a portion of said frame, and at least one article spacing member, wherein said upper and lower support structures at least partially define a cargo volume therebetween in which said first type of articles are placed and at least a portion of said upper and lower support structures comprise an electrically conductive material to enhance microwave field uniformity within the cargo volume when the frame is exposed to microwave energy;
• (b) heating said first type of articles in said carrier in a microwave heating zone, wherein at least a portion of said heating of step (b) is performed using microwave energy, and wherein said first type of articles are submerged in a liquid medium during said heating of step (b);
• (c) unloading said first type of articles from said carrier;
• (d) reconfiguring said carrier to change the size and/or shape of said cargo volume;
• (e) placing a plurality of a second type of articles into said cargo volume of said carrier, wherein said second type of articles has a different size and/or shape than said first type of articles;
• and
• (f) heating said second type of articles in said carrier in said microwave heating zone, wherein at least a portion of said heating of step (f) is performed using microwave energy, and wherein said second type of articles are submerged in said liquid medium during said heating of step (f).

A microwave heating system for heating a plurality of articles, said microwave heating system comprising:

• at least one carrier configured to hold a plurality of said articles;
• a convey line for transporting said carrier in a direction of travel;
• a microwave generator for generating microwave energy;
• and
• at least one microwave launcher for directing at least a portion of said microwave energy toward said articles in said carrier being transported along said convey line,
• wherein said carrier comprises a plurality of spaced apart slats that extend in a direction substantially parallel to said direction of travel of said convey line and wherein said slats are formed of an electrically conductive material, said slats to enhance microwave field uniformity within a cargo volume defined by the frame when the frame is exposed to microwave energy.