Coating apparatus for boards

A coating apparatus for boards or rectangular workpieces that are to be coated with a coating composition, the apparatus comprising:

• first transport means for transporting the boards to be coated;
• aligning means that so align the boards to be coated that, after alignment, their side edges are arranged approximately parallel to the direction of transport of the board, wherein the aligning means comprise two straightening members that are arranged laterally approximately parallel to the direction of transport of the boards, which straightening members can be moved towards or away from one another substantially perpendicular direction of transport;
• and
• a curtain coating device in which are provided second transport means that transport the boards coming from the first transport means under a curtain pouring head provided in the curtain coating device, which curtain pouring head is so arranged that the falling pouring curtain strikes the board along a line of impact extending transversely to the direction of transport of the board and thus coats that board,
• wherein the speed with which the first transport means transports the boards is significantly different from the speed with which the second transport means transports the boards under the curtain pouring head, and
• wherein the aligning means are designed such and are so arranged that, as they align the boards, they transfer them from the first transport means to the second transport means, and
• wherein the straightening members are connected to transfer means, each of which defines an inclined plane that extends between a first transport plane that is defined by the first transport means and a second transport plane that is defined by the second transport means and extends substantially parallel to and above the first transport plane, and the transfer means lift the boards from the first transport means and transfer them via the inclined plane to the second transport means.