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 coating method that improves uniformity of coatings that settle on more complex objects, like porous substrates, or substrates with hollows or curvy forms, and a device for implementing the method. The coating device includes a deposition chamber, and a loading structure configured to load an object into a position in the deposition chamber and unload the object from the deposition chamber. The coating device includes an atomization element in a bottom part of the deposition chamber, the atomization element creating into the deposition chamber an aerosol volume that includes a floating aerosol region in the top part of the deposition chamber. The loading structure is configured to load the object into a position in the floating aerosol region in the deposition chamber.

A coating method that improves uniformity of coatings that settle on more complex objects, like porous substrates, or substrates with hollows or curvy forms, and a device for implementing the method. The coating device includes a deposition chamber, and a loading structure configured to load an object into a position in the deposition chamber and unload the object from the deposition chamber. The coating device includes an atomization element in a bottom part of the deposition chamber, the atomization element creating into the deposition chamber an aerosol volume that includes a floating aerosol region in the top part of the deposition chamber. The loading structure is configured to load the object into a position in the floating aerosol region in the deposition chamber.

Arrangements are provided for assembling multiple substrates for coating within a fluidized bed coater so as to deposit a coating of uniform thickness across the entire exterior surface thereof. One embodiment includes a method for coating orthopedic implants having convex and concave surfaces with pyrocarbon by pyrolytic decomposition of a hydrocarbon.

Disclosed is a microcapsule including a core having an oxidizable active (OA), the outer part of said core being in a solid form, and a water insoluble coating obtained from an encapsulating agent (EA), with the coating surrounding said core. In particular, the EA can be water soluble or organic solvent soluble, in particular in ethanol. The microcapsule can also include an EA in which the water solubility is pH-dependent. Also, the core does not contain a metal oxide, and the coating does not include a disintegrant, such as sodium starch glycolate. Also disclosed is a process for preparing the microcapsules.

Disclosed is a microcapsule including a core having an oxidizable active (OA), the outer part of said core being in a solid form, and a water insoluble coating obtained from an encapsulating agent (EA), with the coating surrounding said core. In particular, the EA can be water soluble or organic solvent soluble, in particular in ethanol. The microcapsule can also include an EA in which the water solubility is pH-dependent. Also, the core does not contain a metal oxide, and the coating does not include a disintegrant, such as sodium starch glycolate. Also disclosed is a process for preparing the microcapsules.

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.

Segregation of silicon granules in the fluidized bed production of polycrystalline silicon is achieved by successively transferring granular polycrystalline silicon through a plurality of vessels designed for funnel flow of granular material. The transfers may occur prior to introduction of feed particles into the reactor, or the enlarged granules from the reactor may be thus transferred to improve product size uniformity.

Segregation of silicon granules in the fluidized bed production of polycrystalline silicon is achieved by successively transferring granular polycrystalline silicon through a plurality of vessels designed for funnel flow of granular material. The transfers may occur prior to introduction of feed particles into the reactor, or the enlarged granules from the reactor may be thus transferred to improve product size uniformity.