Abstract: An apparatus for applying a thin film of a liquid coating medium onto a curved surface of an article includes a receptacle for the article, a rotatably drivable turntable on which the receptacle is held and a nonrotatable process pot surrounding the receptacle and the turntable. A spray ring surrounds the surface to be coated and is retained at the open end of the process pot. It defines a central inflow opening. Several annular gaps are defined and the receptacle is provided with a suction cone. A laminar flow is aimed at the spray ring at the top of the process pot and the bottom of the process pot is joined to a suction flow.

Abstract: A substrate which has been subjected to heat processing in any of hot plate units is transferred to a normal cooling unit by a transfer device and subjected to cooling processing to some extent, and then transferred to a high accuracy cooling unit and subjected to cooling processing with high accuracy, and thereafter transferred to any of coating units or a developing units. Thereby, the substrate can be subjected to the cooling processing with high accuracy and thereafter to coating processing with no increase in apparatus cost and with no decrease in throughput.

Abstract: A method for applying a pattern onto a support for a sign utilizes a foil comprising a pattern layer and a carrier layer with an adhesive layer uniting them. The pattern is cut out in the pattern layer of the foil by using a controlled cutting device, after which the foil is placed on a laminating table in an application device. A traverse is passed in controlled manner over the foil placed on the laminating table, and a self-adhesive transfer film supplied from a roll over and around a rotatably journalled press roll of a press device, is applied under pressure on the foil. The carrier layer and spill of the pattern layer are removed and the pattern parts remaining are brought into contact with the support, with the adhesive layer of the pattern parts now exposed. The press roll is then again passed over the transfer film, pattern parts and support so that the pattern parts are transferred permanently to the support, after which the transfer film is removed from the support.