Acp Ltd.

Robert McNamee

Thomas Miller

Edward R Cook

Robert A Schulte

Roger W Carlson

James A Goranson

A combination cooking appliance controls a radiant heating element provided in an oven cavity, both a blower and a convection heating element provided in an air plenum, and microwave energy sources to provide for numerous potential operating modes. The present invention is particularly concerned with the manner in which the various cooking components are configured and flexibly controlled to provide for short cook cycles in a variety of operational modes.

Cooking appliance including combination heating system

A cooking appliance includes an outer cabinet within which is provided an oven cavity which can be selectively accessed by movement of a door mounted through a door linkage system which enables the door to be shifted between opened and closed positions through either sliding or tilting movements. In particular, the door can be automatically or manually shifted between open and closed positions, through either the sliding or tilting motions. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the door can be automatically opened at the end of a process or cooking cycle, or manually opened.

Sliding and tilting door assembly

A cooking appliance includes a recirculating airflow which is directed through particularly configured air plenum and nozzle structure that synergistically combine to enhance an overall cooking efficiency and effectiveness. In particular, the configuration of the air plenum, as well as the sizing and distribution of oven cavity entry nozzles, provides for an enhanced flow of heated air to the food product, thereby resulting in short cooking times due to high heat transfer while also providing an even browning and crisping of the food item being cooked. In addition, the cooking appliance incorporates an exhaust system wherein cooling air and a percentage of the recirculating airflow are mixed prior to being exhausted from an angled exhaust mixing tube.

Air circuit for cooking appliance including combination heating system

A microwave cooking appliance includes first and second side mounted microwave systems, each including an associated antenna. Drive structure is provided to establish an oscillating operation for each of the antennae, wherein the angles through which the antennae rotate are configured to assure that the cooking appliance operates in favorable mode patterns. In accordance with the invention, the antenna preferably only oscillates through less than or equal to 180&#xb0; and, most preferably, approximately 150&#xb0;.

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Iowa City, IA, United States of America

Robert McNamee