Bi-rotational microwave oven turntable/rotisserie

In a microwave oven having an oven cavity, a turntable, and a rotisserie device disposed in said oven cavity and having a support portion and a spit portion carried by the support portion, the improvement comprising:

• first rotating means for rotating the support portion about a first axis;
• second rotating means for rotating the spit portion about a second axis concurrently with the rotation of the support portion about said first axis;
• and
• means for rotatably mounting said turntable to said support portion for revolution about said first axis while concurrently rotating said turntable about a third axis extending parallel to and spaced radially from said first axis.

The combination in a microwave oven of:

• a turntable for support of food articles which turns during a cooking operation for uniform distribution of microwave energy throughout the food;
• a rotatable spit for support of food articles which also turns during the cooking operation;
• and
• drive means for driving the turntable and causing the driven turntable to rotate said spit, said turntable revolving about a fixed drive axis, and rotating about an axis spaced from said fixed drive axis, said turntable having driving projections on its periphery which cooperate with driven means attached to the spit.

The combination in a microwave oven having means forming a cavity for cooking food of:

• a turntable within the cavity for rotational support of food articles undergoing cooking in the oven;
• drive means for rotating the turntable about a first axis and concurrently revolving the rotating turntable about a second parallel axis for facilitated distribution of microwave energy throughout food undergoing cooking in the oven;
• additional support means within said cavity for supporting food articles undergoing cooking in the oven;
• and
• additional drive means cooperating with said first named drive means for causing said additional support to have three different concurrent movements including rotation about said first axis, revolution about said second axis, and an additional movement.

The combination in a microwave oven having means forming a cavity for cooking food of:

• a turntable within the cavity for rotational support of food articles undergoing cooking in the oven;
• drive means for rotating the turntable about a first axis and concurrently revolving the rotating turntable about a second parallel axis for facilitated distribution of microwave energy throughout food undergoing cooking in the oven;
• and
• a rotatable spit, said drive means further including means for rotating the spit about a third axis during the cooking operation, said spit being further rotated about said second axis during turning of the turntable for rotational movement of food articles supported by said spit during a cooking operation in said oven for uniform heating of said food articles.