Continuous feed tablet coating system

Abstract

A system for coating tablets and other small articles is provided, comprising a housing, a drum or other pan within said housing for retaining a bed of coatable articles, and a coating dispenser for dispensing coating from a source onto the bed. The dispenser includes an extendible support member and opposing spray assemblies in end to end linear relation overhead of the pan. The spray assemblies include an elongate nozzle support, an array of spray nozzles mounted to the nozzle support for connection to a source of pressurized coating fluid and optionally to a source of compressed air, and an arm at an end of the nozzle support connecting the nozzle support to the extendible support member. The support member is extendible in length to permit retraction of at least one of the assemblies independently of the other assembly.

1 . A system for coating bulk articles comprising:
 a housing having opposed first and second ends;   a pan within said housing for retaining a bed of coatable articles; and   a coating dispenser for dispensing coating from a source onto said bed, said dispenser comprising an extendible support member and opposing spray assemblies in end to end linear relation overhead of said pan, each of said spray assemblies comprising an elongate nozzle support, an array of spray nozzles mounted to the nozzle support for connection to a source of pressurized coating fluid and optionally to a source of compressed air, and an arm at an end of said nozzle support connecting the nozzle support to the extendible support member to be supported thereby, wherein said extendible support member is extendible in length to permit retraction of at least one of said assemblies away from said pan independently of the other of said assemblies.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the extendible member comprises two extendible segments to extend both respective ends thereof in opposing directions for retracting both of said spray assemblies away from said pan in opposing directions from each other. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  further comprising a mount for mounting the extendible support member to the housing, said mount extending from the extendible support member intermediate the ends thereof, said extendible segments being located on opposing ends of said mount for extending the respective ends of the extendible support member on opposing sides of the mount. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said extendible segments comprise telescoping sections of said extendible support member. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein said telescoping sections are located on respective ends of said extendible support member. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said arms are extendible in length to vary the elevation of the spray assemblies above the pan. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said assemblies are mounted to respective ones of said aims for rotation about the elongate axes thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  further comprising a drive for rotating said spray assemblies about their elongate axis for dispensing said fluid within an angularly adjustable pattern within the drum. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said spray assemblies are releasably engaged together for rotation as a unit. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said pan comprises a drum and said spray assemblies are configured for positioning within the interior of said drum to dispense said fluid on a bed of articles located in the base of said drum, said extendible support member being external to said drum and respective ones of said arms being located at opposing ends of said drum. 
     
     
         11 . A coating dispenser for dispensing coating from a source onto a bed of articles within a pan, said dispenser comprising an extendible support member and opposing spray assemblies in end to end linear relation overhead of said pan, each of said spray assemblies comprising an elongate nozzle support, an array of spray nozzles mounted to the nozzle support for connection with a source of pressurized coating fluid and optionally with a source of compressed air, and an arm at an end of said nozzle support connecting the nozzle support to the extendible support member to be supported thereby, wherein said extendible member is extendible in length to permit retraction of at least one of said assemblies away from said pan independently of the other of said assemblies. 
     
     
         12 . The dispenser of  claim 11 , wherein the extendible member comprises two extendible segments to extend both respective ends thereof in opposing directions for retracting both of said assemblies away from said pan in opposing directions from each other. 
     
     
         13 . The dispenser of  claim 12 , wherein said extendible segments comprise telescoping section of said extendible member. 
     
     
         14 . The dispenser of  claim 13 , wherein said telescoping sections are located on respective ends of said extendible support member. 
     
     
         15 . The dispenser of  claim 11 , wherein said arms are extendible in length to vary the elevation of the assemblies above the pan. 
     
     
         16 . The dispenser of  claim 11 , wherein said assemblies are mounted to respective ones of said arms for rotation about the elongate axes thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The dispenser of  claim 16  further comprising a drive for rotating said assemblies about their elongate axis for dispensing said fluid within an angularly adjustable pattern within the drum. 
     
     
         18 . The dispenser of  claim 17 , wherein said assemblies are releasably engaged together for rotation as a unit. 
     
     
         19 . The dispenser of  claim 11 , wherein said pan comprises a drum and said assemblies are configured for positioning within the interior of said drum to dispense said fluid on a bed of articles located in the base of said drum, wherein said extendible support member is configured for mounting externally to said drum and said arms are configured for positioning at opposing ends of said drum.