Patent ID: 7223307

Claim:
A coater for preparing coated retroreflective particles, comprising: a disc having a periphery and a major surface; a motor engaging the disc so as to be able to spin the disc; a restrictor mounted adjacent to the disc so as to provide a gap for the egress of coated particles, wherein the restrictor has a portion having a frusto-conical shape so that the height of the space between the disc and the restrictor diminishes with radial distance from the center of the disc and further wherein the restrictor includes a flange portion extending from the frustro-conical shape substantially parallel to the major surface of the disc; a first dispenser for dispensing a mixture of sand particles and polymeric resin, the first dispenser disposed above the disc; a second dispenser for dispensing glass beads, the second dispenser disposed above the disc; wherein the surface of the disc comprises a material with a high coefficient of friction relative to the particles; and further wherein wherein the material with a high coefficient of friction is polymeric foam.