US Patent 7252048 Coating device with integrated cleaning device

For a coating device for coating, for example, lenticular or granular items, comprising a drum rotatably mounted about a horizontal axis for accommodation of the items during a coating process, a loading device for filling the items into the drum, a closeable opening in the drum for admission of the uncoated items into the same and for allowing discharge of the coated items from the same, and a spraying device disposed within the drum for coating said items, concurrent execution of the operational phases of unloading and cleaning said device is enabled by providing an unloading device beneath the drum for removing the coated items, and between the unloading device and the drum there is provided a reciprocatory screening element which can be moved back and forth between a first position screening off said unloading device and a second position opening said unloading device.