Abstract: A collapsible protective hood connectable to a source of air is suitable for use in clean rooms, for biological, nuclear, or hazardous material protection, and the like. The hood is generally made of a minimum number of panels which are electronically seam fused together without the use of any adhesive. The hood can optionally contain sleeves, optionally be of a long length, and optionally have a long interior flap. The inflatable collar, when inflated, generally supports the weight of the hood on the user's shoulders and preferably contains a plurality of air-breathing holes which provide air to the user. In another embodiment, the collar extends to above the user's head wherein air holes are provided and the slight pressure within the hood maintains it in an inflatable shape. The protective hood is made out of flexible non-woven material or woven material generally in the form of a laminate and can be readily collapsed in generally a flat shape for storage or transportation purposes.

Abstract: Articles such as fruit on a conveyor are spray coated with liquid wax from a transverse row of sequentially pulsed spray nozzles controlled by microcomputer signals to solenoid nozzle valves. The computer is programmed to receive inputs from operator controlled panel switches which can be set to select the number of nozzles in the row; an excursion time during which all nozzles in a row spray and a pulse time during which one nozzle sprays. The computer limits the nozzle pulse time to dwell time equal to the quotient of the number of nozzles and the pulse time. The nozzles are automatically cleaned out by compressed air if the supply of fruit to the conveyor is interrupted for a predetermined period of time.