Patent ID: 8906467

Claim:
A method for electrostatically coating a target substrate, which method comprises: a) flowing an electrically isolated wet coating composition comprising a waterborne coalescable polymeric binder through a first fluid conduit in controlled fluid communication with and into an electrostatic coating applicator comprising an electrostatically-charged rotating atomizer; b) depositing coating composition onto the rotating atomizer so that electrostatically-charged coating composition droplets are slung onto the target substrate and form a coating thereon; c) flowing an electrically isolated aqueous cleaning liquid through a second fluid conduit in controlled fluid communication with and into the applicator before deposition of the coating composition onto the rotating atomizer is halted or interrupted; and d) depositing the aqueous cleaning liquid onto the atomizer before or within a short time after a halt or interruption in coating composition deposition onto the atomizer so that a coalesced polymeric binder film does not accumulate on the atomizer.