Patent ID: 6884293

Claim:
Apparatus comprising a diptank for applying photoreceptor coating solution to photoreceptor devices that are dipped therein and a reservoir tank containing a reservoir of photoreceptor coating solution, the diptank forming a photoreceptor coating solution overflow return that flows from the diptank to the reservoir by means of a conduit and a self-adjusting return line, the self-adjusting return line comprising a tubing that includes an upper tubing portion, a flexible-length central tubing portion and a lower tubing portion, the upper tubing portion coupled to the conduit, the flexible-length central tubing portion arranged to extend and compress in its length, the lower tubing portion supported by an attached buoy that floats on a surface of the reservoir of photoreceptor coating solution, the lower tubing portion defining an outlet for discharging the photoreceptor coating solution overflow return into the reservoir of photoreceptor coating solution, wherein the buoy contains an integral hole, channel or opening through which the lower tubing portion is inserted and secured such that the flexible-length central tubing portion is positioned above the surface and the outlet is positioned at a substantially fixed vertical distance below the surface so that the photoreceptor coating solution overflow return is discharged in a downwards direction into the reservoir at a fixed vertical distance or level below the surface of the reservoir, wherein the flexible-length central tubing portion comprises a plurality of interconnected individal tubing sections, each individual tubing section being arranged to extend and compress.