Abstract: An application system for forming protective coatings over perishable items, including: a bed including a plurality of rollers, wherein each of the rollers is configured to rotate at a predetermined rotational rate, thereby causing the perishable items on the bed to rotate; one or more sprayers over a first portion of the bed; one or more blowers over a second portion of the bed; a mixing system configured to prepare a mixture including a coating agent in a solvent; and a liquid delivery system connected inline between the mixing system and the one or more sprayers.

Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a mixing system that includes a heating assembly configured to heat liquid, and a mixing assembly including a tank defining a cavity and configured to retain liquid, an inlet in fluidic communication with the cavity and configured to receive liquid from the heating assembly, a mixing impeller assembly configured to mix contents of the cavity, an actuator configured to actuate the mixing impeller assembly to mix contents of the cavity, and an outlet in fluidic communication with the cavity and having a valve configured to selectively prevent and permit egress of contents of the cavity.

Abstract: A fluid dispensing system is described herein. In some embodiments, the fluid dispensing system includes a CDA cone constructed as a unitary body; a motor comprising a sealed housing resistant to liquid ingress, the motor configured to rotate the CDA cone around a central longitudinal axis of the CDA cone; and a reducer tube configured to deliver a fluid solution to the CDA cone.

Abstract: A method of treating a perishable item with a coating is described. In one embodiment, the method includes identifying operational parameters associated with a drying tunnel, identifying a desired coating requirement, determining optimal drying tunnel parameters based on the operational parameters and the desired coating requirements, and operating the drying tunnel based on the optimal drying tunnel parameters.

Abstract: Described herein are industrial application systems for treating (e.g., forming protective coatings on) produce, agricultural products, or other items. An exemplary application system can include a bed comprising a plurality of rollers, one or more sprayers over a first portion of the bed, one or more blowers over a second portion of the bed, a mixing system configured to prepare a mixture comprising a coating agent in a solvent, and a liquid delivery system connected inline between the mixing system and the one or more sprayers. Items placed on the bed can have the mixture applied to their surfaces via the one or more sprayers, after which the one or more blowers can at least partially remove the solvent from the surfaces of the perishable items, thereby causing the protective coatings to be formed over the perishable items.