Abstract: An apparatus and method for controllably applying a liquid substance to the surfaces of a plurality of discrete fruit moving along a path at a selected rate of speed and in accordance with the quantity of fruit on said path, the application of liquid substance to the fruit being by more than one nozzle movable transversely over the path at a selected rate of speed. The apparatus includes sensors for determining the speed of advancement of the fruit, that is the speed of the conveyor, a plurality of fingers engageable by the fruit to determine, by absence of engagement of fruit, the quantity of fruit moving along the path, and a control system for regulating the amount of liquid discharged from the nozzles and to correlate the amount of liquid discharged to the speed of advancement of the fruit and the quantity of fruit being advanced. In the method, an optimum effective volume of liquid substance is applied at selected pressures to the sensed quantity of fruit on the path.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for drying articles, such as fruit, which are treated with an aqueous coating such as a wax composition to preserve and to enhance the appearance of the article. The drying apparatus comprises a plurality of housing sections, each providing substantially closed chambers through which a conveyor means carries and advances articles to be dried at a selected rate of speed. The conveyor and a strata of articles carried thereon form a perforate zone in each housing section. Drying air is directed downwardly into a side passageway means at one side of each chamber to pass into a plenum chamber below the conveyor means and to then flow upwardly and substantially uniformly through the conveyor means and strata of articles thereon. Drying air is drawn from an upper chamber above the conveyor means by a blower which directs the drying air into side passageway means downwardly and into the plenum chamber of the next adjacent downstream housing section.

Abstract: A composition for simultaneously controlling molds and fungi, which cause decay of fruit, and inhibiting sporulation of said molds and fungi on said fruit, said composition containing 2-(4-thiazolyl) benzimidazole and an alkali metal salt of ortho-phenyl phenol tetrahydrate, the weight ratio in said composition of 2-(4-thiazolyl) benzimidazole to the alkali metal salt of ortho-phenyl phenol tetrahydrate (expressed as ortho-phenyl phenol) being 1:0.5-15.