A spray system for applying an amount of a liquid to a material that is a function of the unit weight of the material as the material is moving via a conveyor system, the spray system includes a spray nozzle oriented to discharge liquid on the material being conveyed. A weight measurement system includes a first sensor and a second sensor. A programmable logic controller (PLC) configured to determine a total volume of material conveyed per a unit of time and determine a weight of the material being conveyed per the unit of time using a bulk density of the material being conveyed. A spray configured to vary a cycle of actuation of the spray nozzle between the closed and open positions to discharge a desired amount of the liquid based on the weight per unit time of the material being conveyed.

Novel apparatus and methods for coating surgical needles in batch processes are disclosed. The apparatus and methods are particularly useful for applying uniform silicone lubricious coatings to surgical needles in bulk quantities using a novel separation and spray coating system and method

A drum coater for applying a surface layer on bulk-like materials includes a rotatably mounted drum for accommodating bulk-like materials, inlet and outlet openings, at least one spray nozzle for applying the surface material, a drying device for a drum interior, at least first and second radially-offset mixing tools in the drum, the first mixing tool protruding into the drum interior. The at least one second mixing tool has at least one mixing surface such that the first mixing tool is at least partially arranged on the drum inner surface and the at least one second mixing tool has at least one opening on the at least one mixing surface. A mixing tool to be used in a drum coater to gently blend and/or homogenize bulk-like materials has a first mixing surface angled relative to a second mixing surface, at least one mixing surface having at least one opening.

Methods and apparatus for electrostatic dispensing fluid onto food products are disclosed. An electrostatic dispense system includes a material supply, a voltage block, and a power supply to electrostatically charge a coating material. The electrostatic dispense system further includes a dispense assembly, a conveyor through or by which a food product is configured to be conveyed, and a support that supports at least one liquid outlet of the dispense assembly. The dispense assembly dispenses the electrostatically charged coating material from the at least one liquid outlet onto the food product. The voltage block provides electrical isolation, and includes a pump that pumps the electrostatically charged coating material to the dispense assembly.

A spray device and a method for spraying a material blank with an adhesive includes a control device; a scanning device, using which a blank feature that characterizes the material blank to be sprayed is recordable, and a corresponding blank-feature data set is providable to the control device. The spray device further includes a conveyor belt using which the material blank to be sprayed is movable along a conveying direction of the conveyor belt through a spray region of the spray device; spray nozzles directed into the spray region, using which the adhesive is sprayable onto the material blank by moving the material blank through the spray region. The spray nozzles are controllable by the control device based on the blank-feature data set. An adhesive layer formed based on the blank feature is generatable on the material blank.

Apparatus and methods for coating particulates to suppress dust and/or modify the behavior of the particulate, spray the coating onto the particulate as it moves along inclined surfaces within the coater apparatus. The coating is sprayed generally as a mist and the particulates remain free-flowing throughout the apparatus and when discharged therefrom. Apparatus using a single spray step and subsequent transfer coating steps to effect particulate-to-particulate transfer of coating achieve at least about 75% coating of the particulate. Embodiments of the apparatus with dual spray steps and without the subsequent transfer coating steps are capable of achieving at least 85% coating of particulates with a single pass through the apparatus.

A particulate material coating device, comprising a vertical central column, a supply conduit for supplying the device with particulate material to be coated and a discharge conduit for discharging coated particulate material, a conveying ramp connected to the central column and a plurality of sprayers for spraying a coating agent. The supply means is arranged at the top of the device and the discharge conduit is arranged at the base of the device. The conveying ramp comprises a plurality of ramp sections arranged one above the other so as to define, between two successive sections, a drop zone for the particulate material to fall between each of the successive sections. The device aims to ensure that the particulate material is transported without areas of accumulation as well as a homogeneous coating.

A belt conveyor including a conveyor belt that has hollow injectors for injecting a process fluid into a conveyed layer of bulk products and a method for injecting a process fluid into a layer of bulk products conveyed on a conveyor belt.

A rotary atomizer is disclosed for the even distribution of a treatment fluid within a treatment chamber. The treatment fluid is delivered onto a rotating disk atomizer through multiple outlet ports. Fluid passages provide each outlet port with an even flow of treatment fluid at generally the same time and rate. This even and simultaneous flow of treatment fluid results in a more even distribution of treatment fluid on the seed that flows through the treatment chamber throughout the treatment cycle.

A rotary atomizer is disclosed for the even distribution of a treatment fluid within a treatment chamber. The treatment fluid is delivered onto a rotating disk atomizer through multiple outlet ports. Fluid passages provide each outlet port with an even flow of treatment fluid at generally the same time and rate. This even and simultaneous flow of treatment fluid results in a more even distribution of treatment fluid on the seed that flows through the treatment chamber throughout the treatment cycle.