A coating apparatus and method allow for precise control of the application of a coating material on a substrate and provides a data recording system which is useful for certifying a coating job and assessing when and where any abnormalities occur.

A topical high resolution image of edible ink and having a resolution of at least 100 dots per inch is applied to a top major surface of a length of food (14) in the form of a thin fruit based paste or confection slurry by a digital imaging printer (130). The length of food (14) is at a temperature of at least about 75° C. at the time of application. During application, the food (14) is supported upon a moveable platform (136) mounted by parallelogram links (138) and which is moved parallel to the digital imaging printer (130) according to a condition of the top major surface upon which the topical high resolution image is applied and detected by detecting provisions (144).

Provided is a powder supply device for a secondary battery which can always supply a fixed amount of powder with high accuracy without being influenced by a state of the powder. In addition, provided is an apparatus for manufacturing an electrode body, which includes the powder supply device and can efficiently manufacture an electrode body. The powder supply device includes a rotor which makes powder fall into an opening, and a mesh body which covers the lower end of the opening. Uneven portions or projecting portions are formed on the outer circumferential surface of the rotor. The rotor is rotatably supported in a storing portion. The gap is formed between the outer circumferential surface of the rotor and the inner surface of the storing portion so that they are spaced apart. The mesh body is arranged away from the outer circumferential surface of the rotor.

Provided is a powder supply device for a secondary battery which can always supply a fixed amount of powder with high accuracy without being influenced by a state of the powder. In addition, provided is an apparatus for manufacturing an electrode body, which includes the powder supply device and can efficiently manufacture an electrode body. The powder supply device includes a rotor which makes powder fall into an opening, and a mesh body which covers the lower end of the opening. Uneven portions or projecting portions are formed on the outer circumferential surface of the rotor. The rotor is rotatably supported in a storing portion. The gap is formed between the outer circumferential surface of the rotor and the inner surface of the storing portion so that they are spaced apart. The mesh body is arranged away from the outer circumferential surface of the rotor.

A machining system includes an application device that applies a photocurable resin to surfaces of a plurality of linear objects provided in a workpiece; a curing device that brings the linear objects, to which the photocurable resin has been applied by the application device, into close contact with each other in radial directions and that radiates light onto the photocurable resin, which has been applied to the linear objects brought into close contact, thus curing the photocurable resin; and a machining device that machines the workpiece, in which the plurality of linear objects have been bound together through the curing of the photocurable resin performed by the curing device.

A machining system includes an application device that applies a photocurable resin to surfaces of a plurality of linear objects provided in a workpiece; a curing device that brings the linear objects, to which the photocurable resin has been applied by the application device, into close contact with each other in radial directions and that radiates light onto the photocurable resin, which has been applied to the linear objects brought into close contact, thus curing the photocurable resin; and a machining device that machines the workpiece, in which the plurality of linear objects have been bound together through the curing of the photocurable resin performed by the curing device.

Methods, wires, and apparatus for use in cutting (e.g., slicing) hard, brittle materials is provided. The wire can be a super-abrasive wire that includes a wire core and super-abrasive particles bonded to the wire core via a metal bonding layer. This wire, or another type of wire, can be used to slice workpieces useful for producing wafers. The workpieces can be aligned within a holder to produce wafers using the device and methods presently provided. The holder rotates about its central axis, which translates to workpieces moving in orbit around this axis. A single abrasive wire, or multiple turns of wire stretched tightly between wire guides, is then contacted with the rotating holder to slice the workpieces.

Methods, wires, and apparatus for use in cutting (e.g., slicing) hard, brittle materials is provided. The wire can be a super-abrasive wire that includes a wire core and super-abrasive particles bonded to the wire core via a metal bonding layer. This wire, or another type of wire, can be used to slice workpieces useful for producing wafers. The workpieces can be aligned within a holder to produce wafers using the device and methods presently provided. The holder rotates about its central axis, which translates to workpieces moving in orbit around this axis. A single abrasive wire, or multiple turns of wire stretched tightly between wire guides, is then contacted with the rotating holder to slice the workpieces.

A problem is to provide a method and a device for producing a conductive polymer conductor according to which a conductive polymer cm be easily adhered to a base material with high accuracy. A solution is a production device 10 equipped with a heating means 11 for heating a base material 22, a raw material application means 12 for applying, to the base material 22, a raw material solution containing a monomer of the conductive polymer, and a producing solution application means 13 for applying, to the base material 22, a producing solution containing an oxidizing agent for promoting polymerization of the monomer, a dopant for developing electrical conductivity in the conductive polymer, and a viscosity improver for improving viscosity. The raw material solution is applied thereto after heating the base material 22 or while heating the base material 22, and then the producing solution is applied thereto.

A problem is to provide a method and a device for producing a conductive polymer conductor according to which a conductive polymer cm be easily adhered to a base material with high accuracy. A solution is a production device 10 equipped with a heating means 11 for heating a base material 22, a raw material application means 12 for applying, to the base material 22, a raw material solution containing a monomer of the conductive polymer, and a producing solution application means 13 for applying, to the base material 22, a producing solution containing an oxidizing agent for promoting polymerization of the monomer, a dopant for developing electrical conductivity in the conductive polymer, and a viscosity improver for improving viscosity. The raw material solution is applied thereto after heating the base material 22 or while heating the base material 22, and then the producing solution is applied thereto.