Tube coaters and methods of using same

A coater for applying a coating to the exterior surface of at least a tube or rod of a first diameter, the coater including:

• a coating reservoir including:
• a first end with a first aperture including a second diameter that is larger than a first diameter of a tube or rod;
• a second end with a second aperture including a third diameter that is larger than the first diameter of the tube or rod;
• at least one port;
• at least one void extending between the first and second ends and about the first and second apertures, the at least one void in communication with the first aperture, the second aperture and the at least one port;
• and
• coating delivery material positioned within the at least one void, wherein the coating delivery material is permeable by a coating,
• wherein the first aperture, the second aperture and the coating delivery material define a coating passageway through the coating reservoir, and wherein an engagement portion of the coating delivery material defines the narrowest portion of the coating passageway;
• at least one support mechanism operably coupled to the coating reservoir;
• and
• at least one drive mechanism configured to translate at least one of the coater and the tube or rod with respect to the other to apply the coating to the exterior surface of the tube or rod when the tube or rod extends through the coating passageway in a coating direction extending at least generally from the second aperture to the first aperture of the coating reservoir,
• wherein at least one of the coating delivery material and the at least one support mechanism is configured to support the tube or rod such that when the tube or rod extends through the passageway a portion of the exterior surface of the tube or rod is in contact with the engagement portion of the coating delivery material and not in contact with at least the second aperture of the coating reservoir.

A method of applying a coating to the exterior surface of an elongate member, the method including:

• obtaining a coating mechanism comprising a coating reservoir and at least one support mechanism operably coupled to the coating reservoir, the coating reservoir including:
• a first end with a first aperture;
• a second end with a second aperture;
• at least one void extending between the first and second ends and about the first and second apertures;
• at least one port in communication with the at least one void;
• and
• coating delivery material positioned within the at least one void,
• wherein the first aperture, the second aperture and the coating delivery material define a coating passageway through the coating reservoir, and wherein an engagement portion of the coating delivery material defines the narrowest portion of the coating passageway;
• obtaining an elongate member;
• and
• positioning at least one of the elongate member and the coating mechanism such that the elongate member extends through the coating passageway.