# US 2019/0217331 A1 · Multi-pan coating assembly for particulate material > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0217331 A1 - Document ID: US20190217331A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/874,546 - Filed: 2018-01-18 - Published: 2019-07-18 - Earliest claimed: 2018-01-18 - Assignees: Freund-Vector Corporation - Applicants: Freund-Vector Corporation - Inventors: Nicholas Decker - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190217331A1 ## CPC - B05C 19/06: Storage, supply or control of the application of particulate material; Recovery of excess particulate material - A23G 3/26: Apparatus for coating by tumbling {with a liquid or powder, spraying device-associated, drum, rotating pan} - A23P 20/18: by spray-coating, fluidised-bed coating or coating by casting (combined with breading A23P20/12) - B05B 13/0257: {in a moving container, e.g. a rotatable foraminous drum} - B05B 16/90: {comprising conveying means for moving objects or other work to be sprayed in and out of the booth, e.g. through the booth} - B05C 1/08: using a roller {or other rotating member which contacts the work along a generating line} - B05C: APPARATUS FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL (spraying apparatus, atomising apparatus, nozzles B05B; plant for applying liquids or other fluent materials to objects by electrostatic spraying B05B5/08) - A23G: COCOA; COCOA PRODUCTS, e.g. CHOCOLATE; SUBSTITUTES FOR COCOA OR COCOA PRODUCTS; CONFECTIONERY; CHEWING GUM; ICE-CREAM; PREPARATION THEREOF - A23P: SHAPING OR WORKING OF FOODSTUFFS, NOT FULLY COVERED BY A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS - B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D) ## Abstract A spray coating machine and process accommodates coating pans of various sizes and simplifies cleaning after particulate material in the pan is coated. A selected pan is supported on a trolley carried by a wheeled cart. After the cart is positioned adjacent the coating machine, the trolley and pan are extended into the machine, and then the pan lifted for support by a rotatable drive shaft and castors. The trolley is then removed from the machine, and the door is closed so that the coating process can commence. When coating is complete, the door is opened, and the trolley extended into the machine under the pan and raised for removal of the castors. Then, the trolley and pan are withdrawn from the machine. The trolley does not need cleaning after spraying, since the trolley is outside the machine during spraying of the coating solution. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of positioning a tablet coating pan into a tablet coating enclosure for rotation therein, comprising: positioning a coating pan onto a trolley of a cart assembly; then positioning the cart assembly adjacent the enclosure; then moving the trolley along the cart and through an opening in the enclosure until the pan is positioned within the enclosure; then coupling the pan to a rotatable drive of the enclosure; supporting the pan on rollers within the enclosure; then removing the trolley from the enclosure before rotation of the pan. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the pan is selected from a plurality of different coating pans. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising raising and lowering the pan onto the rollers while the pan is on the trolley. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the pan is coupled to the rotatable drive by a male and female connection. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising installing the rollers in the enclosure after the pan is positioned inside the enclosure. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising indexing the cart assembly with the enclosure. ### Claim 7 A tablet coating assembly, comprising: an enclosure having an opening, rollers, and a powered drive shaft; a cart adapted to move between a position spaced from the enclosure opening and a position adjacent the enclosure opening; a trolley on the cart and movable between retracted and extended positions along the cart; a first tablet coating pan removably mounted on the trolley; whereby when the cart is adjacent the enclosure opening, the trolley with the pan thereon is movable to the extended position so as to mount the pan within the enclosure on the rollers and coupled to the drive shaft such that the pan is rotatable within the enclosure after the trolley is moved to the retracted position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The tablet coating assembly of claim 7 wherein the rollers are removably mounted in the enclosure after the pan is moved into the enclosure. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The tablet coating assembly of claim 7 wherein the pan is movable between raised and lowered positions on the trolley. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The tablet coating assembly of claim 7 wherein the trolley includes a jack for raising and lowering the pan. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The tablet coating assembly of claim 7 wherein the pan and the drive shaft are coupled by a male and female connection. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The tablet coating assembly of claim 7 wherein the pan has a plate on one end to self center the pan onto the drive shaft. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The tablet coating assembly of claim 7 further comprising a second pan interchangeable with the first pan. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) The tablet coating assembly of claim 7 further comprising mating member on the cart and on the enclosure to index the adjacent position of the cart to the enclosure. ### Claim 15 A coating assembly for particulate material, comprising: a first cylindrical drum to contain particulate material to be coated; an enclosure for housing and rotating the drum during coating of the particulate material; a trolley to support the drum without rotatability and to move the drum to and from the enclosure before and after coating of the particulate material; the trolley having wheels for rolling into and out of the enclosure. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The coating assembly of claim 15 further comprising a wheeled cart upon which the trolley is supported for retracted and extended movement along the cart. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The coating assembly of claim 15 wherein the trolley includes means to raise and lower the drum. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The coating assembly of claim 15 wherein the enclosure includes removable casters to support the drum and a drive shaft drivingly connectable to the drum to rotate the drum about its longitudinal axis. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The coating assembly of claim 15 wherein the drum includes a tapered member on one end to automatically align the drum for rotation. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The coating assembly of claim 15 further comprising a second cylindrical drum exchangeable with the first cylindrical drum on the trolley.