Terry Ward

US Patent:

63103249, Oct 30, 2001

Filed:

Sep 18, 2000

Appl. No.:

9/663609

Inventors:

Terry A. Ward - Richmond MI
Roger D. Gillespie - Memphis MI
Ronald A. Singer - Warren MI

Assignee:

Wartrom Machine Systems Incorporated - Clinton Twp. MI

International Classification:

A21B 100

US Classification:

219400

Abstract:

An apparatus for rapidly heating a plurality of parts to a desired temperature. The apparatus includes an oven within which is disposed a rotationally supported magazine for holding a plurality of parts to be heated. A plurality of heating elements and an air circulation system for circulating heated air are also disposed within the oven. A controller is operatively coupled to the magazine for controlling rotation of the magazine to enable parts to be loaded into, and unloaded from, the magazine through an input/output station. A user actuatable switch, such as a foot pedal operated switch, is operatively coupled to the controller to allow a user to send control signals to the controller during loading and unloading of parts to control rotation of the magazine such that the parts are presented at the input/output station for removal and/or loading. The air circulation system significantly reduces the time needed to heat the parts to a given temperature, thus reducing the operating cost of the oven.