Patent ID: 8096264

Claim:
Apparatus for coating articles with a coating material comprising a source of the coating material, at least one source of electrical charge, an atomizer adapted for atomizing the coating material, the coating material source coupled to the atomizer to supply coating material thereto, at least one source of electrical charge coupled to the atomizer to charge the coating material as it is atomized, a repelling electrode positioned adjacent the atomizer, at least one source of electrical charge coupled to the repelling electrode to supply electrical charge thereto, the repelling electrode including a feature which increases an electric field gradient adjacent the feature to enhance the repulsive force between the feature and the charged atomized coating material particles, the repelling electrode comprises a repelling ring adjacent and surrounding a region of the atomizer from which charged atomized coating material particles are dispensed, the repelling ring formed from a flat strip of electrically non-insulative material having first and second edges, the first edge spaced closer to the region of the atomizer from which charged atomized coating material particles are dispensed than the second edge, the feature comprising a plurality of bicycle sprocket tooth-shaped or sawtooth-shaped teeth extending around the perimeter of the repelling ring and formed in the first edge.