An apparatus for coating a donor surface that is movable relative to the apparatus with a layer of metallic particles or particles having a metal-like appearance and reflectivity, the particles adhering more strongly to the surface than to one another. The apparatus comprises an application device to apply to the donor surface a fluid stream within which the particles are suspended, a housing surrounds the application device forming an interior plenum for confining the fluid stream, the housing prevents egress of particles from a sealing gap defined between the rim of the housing and the surface to be coated, and a suction source connected to the housing to extract from the plenum excess fluid and particles. In operation, the suction source extracts substantially all particles that are not in direct contact with the donor surface, leaving substantially a single particle layer adhering to the donor surface upon exiting the apparatus.

Disclosed are methods and systems for continuously coating food pieces. The methods include a steps of directing and uncoated food stream through an enrober to apply a first coating to at least a portion of a surface of each food piece to form a coated stream and continuously redirecting a portion of the coated stream back through the enrober along with the stream of uncoated food pieces to apply at least one additional coating to the portion of the coated stream.

A fluid bed granulation process of a predetermined substance comprises the steps of: forming, through a fluidification, air flow of predetermined flow rate, a fluid bed of granules of said substance to be granulated fed to it in the form of seeds,feeding said fluid bed with a continuous flow of a growth substance (or liquid).

A fluid bed granulation process of a predetermined substance comprises the steps of: forming, through a fluidification, air flow of predetermined flow rate, a fluid bed of granules of said substance to be granulated fed to it in the form of seeds,feeding said fluid bed with a continuous flow of a growth substance (or liquid).

A multi-tiered precision powder coating batch system configured to enable simultaneous preparation of a first and second batch of powder coatings. The multi-tiered precision powder coating batch system including a plurality of storage bins configured to store a corresponding plurality of raw materials for preparation of batches of powder coatings, each of the storage bins including an automated dispenser configured to dispense a desired quantity of raw material within the storage bins into a corresponding first raw material container located on a first tier, and a second raw material container located on a second tier, and a robotic arm configured to sequence a transfer of the raw material contents of the first tier raw material containers into a first tier mixing container for preparation of a first batch of a powder coating, and to sequence a transfer of the raw material contents of the second tier raw material containers into a second tier mixing container for a simultaneous preparation of a second batch of a powder coating.

A multi-tiered precision powder coating batch system configured to enable simultaneous preparation of a first and second batch of powder coatings. The multi-tiered precision powder coating batch system including a plurality of storage bins configured to store a corresponding plurality of raw materials for preparation of batches of powder coatings, each of the storage bins including an automated dispenser configured to dispense a desired quantity of raw material within the storage bins into a corresponding first raw material container located on a first tier, and a second raw material container located on a second tier, and a robotic arm configured to sequence a transfer of the raw material contents of the first tier raw material containers into a first tier mixing container for preparation of a first batch of a powder coating, and to sequence a transfer of the raw material contents of the second tier raw material containers into a second tier mixing container for a simultaneous preparation of a second batch of a powder coating.

Powder fluidizing apparatus includes a unitary pressure vessel having a powder compartment and a transfer compartment, a lid on a first open end of the powder compartment and a base on a second end of the unitary pressure vessel, the second end sealing an open end of the transfer compartment. A plate separates the powder compartment from the transfer compartment, the plate being located between the lid and the base. A coupling collar secures a sieve disk packet in an opening in the plate. A tube extends from the transfer compartment to the powder compartment, the tube extending to a location near the lid of the unitary pressure vessel. When the transfer compartment is pressurized with a carrier gas, pressure in the transfer compartment and pressure in the powder compartment are equalized by the tube. The unitary pressure vessel is configured to contain the carrier gas in both the powder compartment and the transfer compartment and simultaneously perform as a reservoir for holding a quantity of powder in the powder compartment;

Powder fluidizing apparatus includes a unitary pressure vessel having a powder compartment and a transfer compartment, a lid on a first open end of the powder compartment and a base on a second end of the unitary pressure vessel, the second end sealing an open end of the transfer compartment. A plate separates the powder compartment from the transfer compartment, the plate being located between the lid and the base. A coupling collar secures a sieve disk packet in an opening in the plate. A tube extends from the transfer compartment to the powder compartment, the tube extending to a location near the lid of the unitary pressure vessel. When the transfer compartment is pressurized with a carrier gas, pressure in the transfer compartment and pressure in the powder compartment are equalized by the tube. The unitary pressure vessel is configured to contain the carrier gas in both the powder compartment and the transfer compartment and simultaneously perform as a reservoir for holding a quantity of powder in the powder compartment;

A method and apparatus for applying or dropping granules onto the asphalt coated surface of a moving sheet in shingle manufacturing is disclosed. The method includes sharing each drop between two or more blend rolls with a subsequent blend roll or rolls applying a partial drop directly on top of partial drops already applied by a first blend roll or rolls. High production speeds can be accommodated since each roll can be operated at slower rotation rates and with slower acceleration and deceleration requirements than would be required if the full granule drop were applied during the same time interval with a single blend roll.

A method and apparatus for applying or dropping granules onto the asphalt coated surface of a moving sheet in shingle manufacturing is disclosed. The method includes sharing each drop between two or more blend rolls with a subsequent blend roll or rolls applying a partial drop directly on top of partial drops already applied by a first blend roll or rolls. High production speeds can be accommodated since each roll can be operated at slower rotation rates and with slower acceleration and deceleration requirements than would be required if the full granule drop were applied during the same time interval with a single blend roll.