Patent ID: 7856995

Claim:
An apparatus for applying a solution to a product, the apparatus comprising: a conveyor belt comprising a plurality of transverse protruding panels in part forming a plurality of pockets configured to continuously receive the product at a loading position and move the product along a length of the conveyor belt to an unloading position where the product is unloaded from the pockets, each of the pockets having at least one opening configured to drain the solution from the pocket; and a spray chamber comprising: at least one nozzle positioned along the length of the conveyor belt and configured to discharge the solution downwardly into each of the pockets during a movement of the pocket between the loading and unloading positions, and at least one of a close fitting sidewall or a close fitting bottom panel configured and positioned along the length of the conveyor belt so as to substantially inhibit drainage of the solution from the at least one opening of each pocket over a first length of travel of the pocket between the loading and unloading positions and so as to not substantially inhibit drainage of the solution from the at least one opening of each pocket over second and third lengths of travel of the pocket between the loading and unloading positions, wherein the first length of travel is disposed between the second and third lengths of travel, wherein each of the pockets is substantially drained of the solution during the second and third lengths of travel and collects the solution discharged by the nozzle during the first length of travel so that the pocket becomes substantially filled with the solution thereby coating the products carried in the pocket.