Heating systems utilizing radio frequency (RF) energy and methods for using the same to rapidly and uniformly heat packaged articles moving through the system on one or more convey lines. These systems may be useful for a variety of processes, including the pasteurization or sterilization of packaged foodstuffs.

Heating systems utilizing radio frequency (RF) energy and methods for using the same to rapidly and uniformly heat packaged articles moving through the system on one or more convey lines. These systems may be useful for a variety of processes, including the pasteurization or sterilization of packaged foodstuffs.

Heating systems utilizing radio frequency (RF) energy and methods for using the same to rapidly and uniformly heat packaged articles moving through the system on one or more convey lines. These systems may be useful for a variety of processes, including the pasteurization or sterilization of packaged foodstuffs.

Heating systems utilizing radio frequency (RF) energy and methods for using the same to rapidly and uniformly heat packaged articles moving through the system on one or more convey lines. These systems may be useful for a variety of processes, including the pasteurization or sterilization of packaged foodstuffs.

Heating systems utilizing radio frequency (RF) energy and methods for using the same to rapidly and uniformly heat packaged articles moving through the system on one or more convey lines. These systems may be useful for a variety of processes, including the pasteurization or sterilization of packaged foodstuffs.

A high-frequency heating device that includes: a first conductor; a second conductor disposed with the first conductor through a space therebetween; a high-frequency power source that is connected to the first conductor and the second conductor and that applies a high-frequency voltage between the first conductor and the second conductor; and a connection path that electrically connects the first conductor and the second conductor to each other at a first connection position and a second connection position. The first connection position is different from a first power feeding position at which the first conductor and the high-frequency power source are connected to each other on the first conductor, and the second connection position is different from a second power feeding position at which the second conductor and the high-frequency power source are connected to each other on the second conductor.

A high-frequency heating device that includes: a first conductor; a second conductor disposed with the first conductor through a space therebetween; a high-frequency power source that is connected to the first conductor and the second conductor and that applies a high-frequency voltage between the first conductor and the second conductor; and a connection path that electrically connects the first conductor and the second conductor to each other at a first connection position and a second connection position. The first connection position is different from a first power feeding position at which the first conductor and the high-frequency power source are connected to each other on the first conductor, and the second connection position is different from a second power feeding position at which the second conductor and the high-frequency power source are connected to each other on the second conductor.

A method for preparing a paving material includes heating an aggregate comprising recycled asphalt pavement using an emitter generating electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength of from 2 microns to 1 millimeter. The method utilizes solid phase autoregenerative cohesion to prepare a material suitable for use as an aggregate in a hot mix asphalt pavement installation.

A method for preparing a paving material includes heating an aggregate comprising recycled asphalt pavement using an emitter generating electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength of from 2 microns to 1 millimeter. The method utilizes solid phase autoregenerative cohesion to prepare a material suitable for use as an aggregate in a hot mix asphalt pavement installation.

A solid-state heating apparatus may be incorporated into stand-alone appliances or other systems. The heating apparatus may include an impedance matching network coupled between an electrode and a radio-frequency (RF) source. The impedance matching network may be a variable impedance matching network that can be adjusted during the heating operation. The impedance matching network may include planar inductors formed from patterned conductive layers disposed either side of a substrate.