Abstract: A method of continuously producing a continuous paint coat of substantially constant, pre-determined thickness, and displaying a plural colour, familial, non-modular pattern, on a surface of a moving substrate, comprising the steps of depositing at least two discontinuous, randomly patchy, differently coloured, component paint deposits, at a predetermined, constant, long term deposition rate for each component deposit in terms of the volume of paint per unit area of the surface, within a single stationary target area of the surface, or within stationary target areas of the surface respectively associated with the component deposits and at least partly aligned in the direction of movement of the substrate, and thereafter spreading and smoothing the component paint deposits carried by the substrate from the target area or areas, to form the continuous coat.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing a striped coating on a continuously moving strip are provided, in which the apparatus has a smoothing device including a doctor roll forming a nip with the strip. A stationary partition means is provided, which divides the nip into nip lengths, and upstream of the smoothing device is a means to deposit coating materials on the strip for delivery into the respective nip lengths at predetermined rates. The deposit means maintains a bead of coating material in each nip length and a stripe of coating material is formed on the strip from coating material escaping the respective nip length as the strip passes through the nip.

Abstract: In a melt deposition painting station, a solid body of paint is fed onto an endless belt conveyor, incorporating a substantially planar belt flight, a head pulley, and turn round means adjacent to the contact point of the paint block and the moving steel strip and consisting of a stationary guide and an idler pulley. The turn round means is so constructed that the direction of the belt movement after the turn is at least parallel to that of the continuously moving strip and preferably at an angle away from it. The head pulley is preferably coated with a high friction material such as natural rubber. The planar belt flight is adapted to support one or more blocks of substantially solvent-free paint composition, which becomes bonded to the pliable, durable heat-resistant material of the belt. The belt causes continuous movement of the paint block towards one end of the flight to affect melting of some portion of a solid body of paint composition onto a moving strip.