A transfer and coating apparatus transfers a component from a conveyor to a coating station for application of a coating. The transfer apparatus includes a mast that can move about orthogonal axes in a horizontal plane and a mast having a carriage that can move vertically. The carriage includes a hook that swings about a horizontal axis relative to the mast for movement of the component in the horizontal direction. A sway bar extends between the hook and component to inhibit movement about a horizontal axis. The component is delivered to an upper compartment of a coating apparatus where it can be lowered in to a lower compartment containing coating material. Excess coating material is removed by an array of nozzles in the upper compartment as the component is raised from the coating material.

A transfer and coating apparatus transfers a component from a conveyor to a coating station for application of a coating. The transfer apparatus includes a mast that can move about orthogonal axes in a horizontal plane and a mast having a carriage that can move vertically. The carriage includes a hook that swings about a horizontal axis relative to the mast for movement of the component in the horizontal direction. A sway bar extends between the hook and component to inhibit movement about a horizontal axis. The component is delivered to an upper compartment of a coating apparatus where it can be lowered in to a lower compartment containing coating material. Excess coating material is removed by an array of nozzles in the upper compartment as the component is raised from the coating material.

A fluidized-bed coating method includes: immersing at least part of a workpiece in a powder coating material contained in a fluidized-bed vessel while air is introduced from a bottom of the fluidized-bed vessel at an average air flow rate of 5 mm/min or higher and 20 mm/min or lower per unit area of the bottom so that a floating ratio of the powder coating material is 5% or higher and 20% or lower, the workpiece having a temperature higher than or equal to a softening temperature of the powder coating material and lower than or equal to a melting temperature of the powder coating material; taking the workpiece out of the powder coating material; and heating the powder coating material attached to the workpiece.

A fluidized-bed coating method includes: immersing at least part of a workpiece in a powder coating material contained in a fluidized-bed vessel while air is introduced from a bottom of the fluidized-bed vessel at an average air flow rate of 5 mm/min or higher and 20 mm/min or lower per unit area of the bottom so that a floating ratio of the powder coating material is 5% or higher and 20% or lower, the workpiece having a temperature higher than or equal to a softening temperature of the powder coating material and lower than or equal to a melting temperature of the powder coating material; taking the workpiece out of the powder coating material; and heating the powder coating material attached to the workpiece.

The present disclosure relates to a method, including providing one or more lyophilised microspheres in a mixing vessel at a first temperature and generating a fluidized bed of the one or more lyophilised microspheres in the mixing vessel, under conditions effective to encapsulate the one or more lyophilised microspheres with a coating formulation. In an example, the fluidized bed has a fluidization rate of between about 1 cubic meters per hour (m.sup.3/h) and about 30 m.sup.3/h. In another example, the fluidized bed has an environmental humidity of between about 10% and about 20%. In still another example, the coating formulation is applied at a spray rate of between about 1.5 grams per minute (g/min) and about 10 g/min. In yet another example, the coating formulation is applied at an atomizing rate of between about 0.5 bar and about 1.5 bar. In a further example, the fluidized bed is in a Wurster configuration, a top spray configuration, or a combination thereof. The present disclosure also relates to a system, including one or more lyophilised microspheres, a mixing vessel configured for holding the one or more lyophilised microspheres, a mixer for generating a fluidized bed of the one or more lyophilised microspheres in the mixing vessel at a location, and at least one spray nozzle configured to introduce a shell formulation into the mixing vessel at the location.

The present disclosure relates to a method, including providing one or more lyophilised microspheres in a mixing vessel at a first temperature and generating a fluidized bed of the one or more lyophilised microspheres in the mixing vessel, under conditions effective to encapsulate the one or more lyophilised microspheres with a coating formulation. In an example, the fluidized bed has a fluidization rate of between about 1 cubic meters per hour (m.sup.3/h) and about 30 m.sup.3/h. In another example, the fluidized bed has an environmental humidity of between about 10% and about 20%. In still another example, the coating formulation is applied at a spray rate of between about 1.5 grams per minute (g/min) and about 10 g/min. In yet another example, the coating formulation is applied at an atomizing rate of between about 0.5 bar and about 1.5 bar. In a further example, the fluidized bed is in a Wurster configuration, a top spray configuration, or a combination thereof. The present disclosure also relates to a system, including one or more lyophilised microspheres, a mixing vessel configured for holding the one or more lyophilised microspheres, a mixer for generating a fluidized bed of the one or more lyophilised microspheres in the mixing vessel at a location, and at least one spray nozzle configured to introduce a shell formulation into the mixing vessel at the location.

A reactor for coating particles includes a rotatable reactor assembly including a drum configured to hold a plurality of particles to be coated, an inlet tube, and an outlet tube, a stationary gas inlet line coupled to the inlet tube by a rotary inlet seal, a stationary gas outlet line coupled to the outlet tube by a rotary outlet seal, and a motor to rotate the rotatable reactor assembly.

A reactor for coating particles includes a rotatable reactor assembly includes a reactor drum configured to hold a plurality of particles to be coated, an inlet tube, and an outlet tube. The drum includes a cylindrical tube, and an inlet-side endplate secured to cover an inlet-side opening of the cylindrical tube and/or an outlet-side endplate secured to cover an outlet-side opening of the cylindrical tube. A stationary gas inlet line is coupled to the inlet tube by a rotary inlet seal, a stationary gas outlet line is coupled to the outlet tube by a rotary outlet seal, and a motor rotates the rotatable reactor assembly. The inlet tube is releasably mechanically secured to the inlet-side endplate and the outlet tube is releasably mechanically secured to the outlet-side endplate.

A reactor for coating particles includes a rotatable reactor assembly includes a reactor drum configured to hold a plurality of particles to be coated, an inlet tube, and an outlet tube. The drum includes a cylindrical tube, and an inlet-side endplate secured to cover an inlet-side opening of the cylindrical tube and/or an outlet-side endplate secured to cover an outlet-side opening of the cylindrical tube. A stationary gas inlet line is coupled to the inlet tube by a rotary inlet seal, a stationary gas outlet line is coupled to the outlet tube by a rotary outlet seal, and a motor rotates the rotatable reactor assembly. The inlet tube is releasably mechanically secured to the inlet-side endplate and the outlet tube is releasably mechanically secured to the outlet-side endplate.

The invention relates to an articulated vehicle including a plurality of vehicles or vehicle parts connected to one another in an articulated manner, a passage arranged between adjacent ones of the vehicles or the vehicle parts, the passage having an inner lining and an outer lining laterally spaced from the inner lining so as to define an empty cavity therebetween, one front wall on each side of the passage between the two adjacent vehicles or vehicle parts, the inner lining and the outer lining being arranged at the front walls of the two adjacent vehicles or vehicle parts while forming the empty cavity therebetween, a noise-absorbing noise insulation layer applied to a free surface on each of the front walls in the empty cavity between the inner and outer lining, wherein each of the noise-absorbing noise insulation layer extends into the empty cavity and terminates at a surface facing opposite to the each of the front walls respectively.