Abstract: A fiber bundle workpiece is coated with a particulate material during passage about a plurality of pulleys arranged to establish a serpentine travel path portion through a coating zone. The pulleys have arcuate grooves extending thereabout, which cause the fiber bundle to twist axially, and the fibers of the bundle move with respect to one another as the fiber bundle moves along the serpentine path. These two actions increase coating efficiency and the penetration of particulate material into the fiber bundle. The travel path portion will preferably lie in a horizontal plane, and the coating unit will normally constitute an electrostatic fluidized bed of particulate material. After exiting the coating zone, the fiber bundle may pass through an oven to partially melt the particulate material, and thereby cause the particles to adhesively attach to the fiber bundle.

Abstract: The apparatus, system and method utilize sequential sprays of wet, low-temperature steam, and dry, high-temperature steam to clean the exterior of laminated objects as well as to effect volatilization of liquid contaminates trapped between lamina thereof. Water is injected into the conduit through which the low-temperature steam is delivered, so as to produce a desirable concentration of droplets therein. A conveyor moves the laminated objects along a horizontal path through zones in which they are sprayed by the low temperature and high temperature steam, and then through a zone in which they are electrostatically coated with powder.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for coating surfaces of workpieces employs an electrostatic fluidized bed unit for producing a cloud of charged particles, for deposition upon the workpiece, and a second fluidized bed for agitating the particulate material and for facilitating feeding thereof to the electrostatic coating bed, the second bed being disposed beneath the first bed, and being in powder flow communication with it.

Abstract: Electrostatic fluidized bed coating apparatus consists of an horizontal porous plate and a contiguous, vertical porous plate. Charged particles exiting the bed formed on the horizontal plate fall past the outer surface of the vertical plate, and are electrostatically recharged by ionized air issuing through it, thereby effectively extending the operative vertical length of the bed and substantially increasing coating efficiency.

Abstract: The apparatus, system and method utilize sequential sprays of wet, low-temperature steam, and dry, high-temperature steam to clean the exterior of laminated objects as well as to effect volatilization of liquid contaminates trapped between lamina thereof. Water is injected into the conduit through which the low-temperature steam is delivered, so as to produce a desirable concentration of droplets therein. A conveyor moves the laminated objects along a horizontal path through zones in which they are sprayed by the low temperature and high temperature steam, and then through a zone in which they are electrostatically coated with powder.