System including applicator for spraying liquids

Claim 2

A processing system comprising: a. conveyor means for conveying the bottom crusts of unbaked pie shells past an applicator station; b. each of said crusts having at its periphery an annular upwardly facing surface adapted to engage and be crimped to a top crust at a station downstream of said applicator station; c. an applicator at said applicator station; d. means for causing said applicator to automatically deposit an atomized spray of water on said surface in synchronism with movement of said conveyor past said applicator station.

Claim 3

A system according to claim 1 wherein said applicator is constructed and arranged to deposit said spray in an annular pattern that matches said surface.

Claim 4

An applicator for depositing fluid in a predetermined pattern comprising: a. a housing having on one surface a peripheral flange of the shape of said predetermined pattern defining a recess in said one surface, and having a central aperture connecting said one surface to the opposite surface; b. a spray disc having a shape corresponding to said recess and fitting therein with one surface in abutment with said one surface on said housing; c. a plurality of groove means between said one surface of said disc and said one surface of said housing extending from a region adjacent to said central aperture in said housing to the peripheral edge of said disc which abuts said flange; d. a plurality of nozzle means between said peripheral edge of said disc and said flange, each of said nozzle means connecting with respective ones of said groove means whereby pressurized fluid injected into said central aperture travels in said groove means and exits in a spray through said nozzle means in a pattern that matches the shape of the peripheral edge of said disc.

Claim 5

An applicator for depositing fluid in a predetermined pattern comprising: a. a housing having on one surface a peripheral flange of the shape of said predetermined pattern defining a recess in said one surface, and having a central aperture connecting said one surface to the opposite surface; b. a spray disc having a shape corresponding to said recess and fitting therein with one surface in abutment with said one surface on said housing; c. a plurality of groove means between said one surface of said disc and said one surface of said housing extending from a region adjacent to said central aperture in said housing to the peripheral edge of said disc which abuts said flange; d. a plurality of nozzle means between said peripheral edge of said disc and said flange, each of said nozzle means connecting with respective ones of said groove means whereby pressurized fluid injected into said central aperture travels in said groove means and exits in a spray through said nozzle means in a pattern that matches the shape of the peripheral edge of said disc.

Claim 6

The applicator of claim 3 wherein said groove means are in the form of grooves in said one surface of said disc, and wherein said nozzle means are in the peripheral edge of said disc.

Claim 7

The applicator of claim 4 wherein said recess in said housing is circular and said spray pattern is annular.

Claim 8

The applicator of claim 5 wherein said nozzle means is in the form of transverse slots in said peripheral edges of said disc.

Claim 9

The applicator of claim 6 wherein said transverse slots are X-shaped to form a restriction that acts as a nozzle.

Claim 10

The applicator of claim 7 wherein a fluid mixing chamber is mounted on said opposite surface of said housing and is connected to said central aperture.

Claim 11

The applicator of claim 8 wherein said mixing chamber is connected to an air supply and a liquid supply.

Claim 12

The applicator of claim 8 including selectively operable control valves respectively connecting air and liquid supplies to said mixing chamber for selectively controlling the spray.