Patent ID: 7534297

Claim:
A system for coating a plurality of items, the system comprising: a tank unit to prepare the plurality of items for painting; a painting unit to paint the plurality of items; a drying unit to dry the plurality of items; and an item conveyer to convey the plurality of items through the system as a flow of single items, the item conveyer including: a plurality of item carriers to detachably secure ones of the plurality of items, each item carrier comprising: a plate to cover a portion of the tank unit, the plate having a pair of tabs disposed on opposing sides of the plate; a receptacle to secure a respective item of the plurality of items; and an insulator to electrically isolate the item from the tank unit, wherein the plurality of item carriers cover the tank unit to reduce evaporation; and a transfer rail assembly having a series of slots, respective ones of the slots being configured to engage corresponding ones of the tabs.