In a lumber factory, an automated laminated veneer lumber (LVL) process supported by a lumber production line employing a cross-cutting and rip-sawing stage, a dip-coating stage, a spray-coating stage, a print-marking stage, and a stacking, packaging and wrapping stage. At the dip-coating stage, cross-cut and rip-sawed LVL product is automatically transported and submerged through a dipping reservoir containing clean fire inhibiting chemical (CFIC) liquid, and then wet-stacked and set aside to dry. Once dried, the dip-coated LVL products are returned to the production line and sprayed coated with a moisture, fire and UV protective coating at the spray-coating stage, and then passed through a drying tunnel for quick drying of the spray-coating to produce Class-A fire-protected LVL products. The Class-A fire-protected LVL products are stacked, packaged and wrapped at the stacking, packaging and wrapping stage into a package of Class-A fire-protected LVL products, ready for shipping.

The present invention relates to a coating apparatus for an elongate workpiece and a method of operating the coating apparatus. The coating apparatus generally includes a first tray and a second tray with coating tubes interconnected to the trays. The coating apparatus is operable to automatically adjust the coating tubes to a predetermined volume of fluid. In one embodiment, the coating apparatus can fill a first coating tube interconnected to the first tray with a first fluid while the elongate workpiece is being dipped into a second fluid within a second coating tube interconnected to the second tray. Optionally, the coating apparatus includes a control system operable to activate a pump to fill the coating tubes with the predetermined volume of fluid. The control system can receive data from a sensor operable to determine a position of an upper surface of the fluid in a tray or a coating tube.

The present invention relates to a coating apparatus for an elongate workpiece and a method of operating the coating apparatus. The coating apparatus generally includes a first tray and a second tray with coating tubes interconnected to the trays. The coating apparatus is operable to automatically adjust the coating tubes to a predetermined volume of fluid. In one embodiment, the coating apparatus can fill a first coating tube interconnected to the first tray with a first fluid while the elongate workpiece is being dipped into a second fluid within a second coating tube interconnected to the second tray. Optionally, the coating apparatus includes a control system operable to activate a pump to fill the coating tubes with the predetermined volume of fluid. The control system can receive data from a sensor operable to determine a position of an upper surface of the fluid in a tray or a coating tube.

An apparatus for coating a food product with a batter, comprises a frame having a conveyor belt mounted on a rotatably driveable belt support member. The coating apparatus comprises a batter pump for pumping batter from a batter container towards an upper applicator positioned over the conveyor belt to form a stream of batter flow from the applicator means to the conveyor belt to provide batter to an upper surface of the food product. The front roller is positioned at the food product entry section to provide a layer of batter on the conveyor belt at the entry section by a thrust on the batter towards the entry section by the front roller and/or the conveyor belt. The coating apparatus comprises a batter overflow device positioned at the entry section and is mounted between the transport run and the return run of the conveyor belt.

A method for producing rare-earth magnets is provided in which, when a slurry 2 having a rare-earth-compound powder dispersed therein is applied to sintered magnet bodies 1 and dried to apply the powder thereto, the magnet bodies 1 are accommodated and conveyed in holding pockets 42 of a conveyance drum 4 which rotates in a state of being partially immersed in the slurry 2, and, as a result, the magnet bodies 1 are immersed in the slurry 2, withdrawn from the slurry 2, and dried to apply the powder to the sintered magnet bodies 1. According to this production method, the powder can be uniformly and efficiently applied, wastage of the rare-earth compound can be effectively suppressed, and a reduction in the surface area of equipment for performing an application step can also be achieved.

A method for producing rare-earth magnets is provided in which, when a slurry 2 having a rare-earth-compound powder dispersed therein is applied to sintered magnet bodies 1 and dried to apply the powder thereto, the magnet bodies 1 are accommodated and conveyed in holding pockets 42 of a conveyance drum 4 which rotates in a state of being partially immersed in the slurry 2, and, as a result, the magnet bodies 1 are immersed in the slurry 2, withdrawn from the slurry 2, and dried to apply the powder to the sintered magnet bodies 1. According to this production method, the powder can be uniformly and efficiently applied, wastage of the rare-earth compound can be effectively suppressed, and a reduction in the surface area of equipment for performing an application step can also be achieved.

When a slurry in which a rare-earth-compound powder is dispersed is applied to sintered magnet bodies 1 and dried to apply the powder thereto, the sintered magnet bodies 1 are conveyed by a conveyer 2 and made to pass through the slurry 4 to apply the slurry to the sintered magnet bodies 1. Furthermore, a plurality of push-up members 51, which pass through insertion holes 22 provided in a conveyor belt 21, and protrude above the conveyor belt, are used to temporarily push up the sintered magnet bodies 1, and temporarily separate the conveyor belt 21 and the sintered magnet bodies 1. As a result, the slurry can be efficiently applied, even mass production can be suitably dealt with, and the slurry can be uniformly and reliably applied to the entire surface of each of the sintered magnet bodies.

When a slurry in which a rare-earth-compound powder is dispersed is applied to sintered magnet bodies 1 and dried to apply the powder thereto, the sintered magnet bodies 1 are conveyed by a conveyer 2 and made to pass through the slurry 4 to apply the slurry to the sintered magnet bodies 1. Furthermore, a plurality of push-up members 51, which pass through insertion holes 22 provided in a conveyor belt 21, and protrude above the conveyor belt, are used to temporarily push up the sintered magnet bodies 1, and temporarily separate the conveyor belt 21 and the sintered magnet bodies 1. As a result, the slurry can be efficiently applied, even mass production can be suitably dealt with, and the slurry can be uniformly and reliably applied to the entire surface of each of the sintered magnet bodies.

An apparatus for coating an object or component includes at least one dispenser for dispensing a falling flow of material and an actuator for projecting the component through the falling flow of material. A landing may also be provided for receiving the coated projectile, the landing adapted for providing a second coating to the coated projectile. Related methods are also disclosed.

An apparatus for coating an object or component includes at least one dispenser for dispensing a falling flow of material and an actuator for projecting the component through the falling flow of material. A landing may also be provided for receiving the coated projectile, the landing adapted for providing a second coating to the coated projectile. Related methods are also disclosed.