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: Described herein are conveyor systems and application units which can be used to transport and simultaneously treat, or to facilitate treatment and inspection of produce, agricultural products, or other items. The conveyor systems and application units can be configured to allow products to be simultaneously rotated as they are moved along a packing line, which can facilitate the uniform application of spray coatings and/or allow the products to be uniformly blow dried while they are moved. Exemplary conveyor systems and application units can include a bed formed of a plurality of rollers and a rotation inducing device that causes the rollers to rotate while they are laterally transported, thereby causing the products lying on top of the bed to rotate during transport.

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: 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.

Abstract: Described herein are conveyor systems and application units which can be used to transport and simultaneously treat, or to facilitate treatment and inspection of produce, agricultural products, or other items. The conveyor systems and application units can be configured to allow products to be simultaneously rotated as they are moved along a packing line, which can facilitate the uniform application of spray coatings and/or allow the products to be uniformly blow dried while they are moved. Exemplary conveyor systems and application units can include a bed formed of a plurality of rollers and a rotation inducing device that causes the rollers to rotate while they are laterally transported, thereby causing the products lying on top of the bed to rotate during transport.