Coupled-waveguide microwave applicator for uniform processing

An apparatus for continuous processing of a product with microwave energy comprising:

• a conveyor for carrying the product through the apparatus;
• a first microwave waveguide processing section, having a center longitudinal axis, and juxtaposed such that the conveyor carries the product there through;
• a second microwave waveguide processing section, also having a center longitudinal axis, and also juxtaposed such that the conveyor carries the product there through, with the longitudinal axes of the first and second waveguide processing sections being offset in at least one direction, so that the product is exposed to a first microwave energy profile when traveling through the first section, and then exposed to a second microwave energy profile when traveling through the second section,
• wherein the first and section processing sections have an identical cross sectional shape;
• and
• wherein the amount of microwave energy applied to the respective processing sections is adjusted so that the total energy applied to the product traveling in the first processing section is a mirror of the energy applied to the second processing section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axes.