Apparatus for coating of objects using a porous resilient matrix

An apparatus for applying a coating to an object comprising:

• a first reciprocating member including a drive mechanism, a coating feed system and a porous resilient pad;
• a second reciprocating member in opposing relationship to the first reciprocating member wherein the second reciprocating member includes a drive mechanism, a coating feed system and a porous resilient pad;
• a coating supply system operatively connected to the first reciprocating member and the second reciprocating member, the coating supply system including a reservoir and a delivery system for containing and supplying the coating to said coating feed systems;
• an object handling system for placing the object in a position between said reciprocating members for coating, holding the object in said position during coating and removing the object after coating;
• a frame mounted to said first reciprocating member and said second reciprocating member for motion toward and away from each other;
• a control system operatively connected to the object handling system, the first reciprocating member and the second reciprocating member wherein the control system controls a movement sequence of said first reciprocating member drive mechanism, said second reciprocating member drive mechanism, said object handling system and said coating supply system;
• said movement sequence comprising an initial rest position wherein there is a space between said reciprocating members, a coating loading position wherein said reciprocating members are in physical contact so that said resilient pads have a degree of compression with each other for loading the coating, an intermediate rest position wherein there is a space between said reciprocating members, a coating delivery position wherein said reciprocating members are in physical contact with each other and the object in said position for coating so that said resilient pads have a degree of compression with each other and the object thereby applying the coating to the object, said degree of compression of said resilient pads in said coating loading position being greater than said degree of compression of said resilient pads in said coating delivery position, said movement sequence being completed by a return to said initial rest position;
• and
• said object handling system including means for placing the object in said position for coating between said reciprocating members when said reciprocating members are in said intermediate rest position, holding the object in said position for coating when said reciprocating members are in said coating delivery position and removing the object when said reciprocating members are in said initial rest position.