SHIELDING SYSTEM FOR PROTECTING SELECT PORTIONS OF A FOOD PRODUCT DURING PROCESSING IN A CONVEYORIZED MICROWAVE OVEN

A conveyorized microwave oven incorporates a shielding system mounted within an oven cavity of the microwave oven. The shielding system is provide d to prevent select portions of a food item traveling through the microwave oven from overheating relative to the remainder of the food item. The present inventio n is particularly adapted for use in connection with the tempering, cooking or thawing of parallelepiped or rectangular-shaped food items and includes a frame structure fixedly mounted within and traversing substantially the entire length of the oven cavity, with the frame structure having a generally rectangular cross-sectio n defined by both microwave impermeable portions and microwave transmissive portions on each side.