Apparatus for spray-coating product onto an article

Apparatus for spray-coating a measured amount of liquid product onto an article comrising, a container adapted to be filled and emptied with a measured amount of product, a fill and empty port at the bottom of the container, a supply of product, a spray line having a spray nozzle, a first pneumatic valve for opening and closing communication between said product supply and said fill and empty port, a second pneumatic valve for opening and closing communication between said spray line and said fill and empty port, an air port at the top of the container, a float check valve at the air port responding to a predetermined product level in the container to close the air port when the product level reaches said predetermined level, a venturi eductor having a pressure port connected to the air port, an inlet port connected to an air supply, and an outlet port connected to a pneumatic eductor control valve, a third pneumatic valve between the air supply and said eductor inlet port selectively opening and closing communication between the air supply and eductor inlet port, said eductor control valve selectively opening and closing said outlet to atmosphere to cause respectively negative and positive pressure conditions at said pressure port and within the container, whereby said container may be filled during a negative pressure condition and emptied during a positive pressure condition, and means for rinsing the container and spray line with a mixture of air and water when the apparatus is not being used.