Coating material dispensing apparatus and method

1. A coating material atomizing and dispensing apparatus comprising an atomizer including a bulkhead having a first diameter, an electrode assembly including a base and a plurality of electrodes, each electrode extending from the base to a tip, the base having a second diameter larger than the first diameter and configured to be coupled to a supporting assembly, one of the base and the bulkhead including a first surface facing the other of the base and the bulkhead and providing a groove, the groove including a first portion extending axially of the atomizer and a second portion extending circumferentially of the apparatus, and the other of the base and the bulkhead including a protrusion on a surface thereof facing the first surface, insertion of the protrusion into the first portion and subsequent relative rotation of the bulkhead and base to move the protrusion into the second portion assembling the assembly and the atomizer to permit the atomizer to be disassembled from the base of the assembly, wherein the disassembled atomizer has a maximum diameter smaller than the second diameter to permit entry of the atomizer through an opening smaller than the atomizer-electrode assembly can pass through.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bulkhead includes the protrusion and the electrode assembly base includes the surface providing the groove.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electrode assembly base comprises a ring-shaped support providing the first surface, with the electrodes extending generally in a common direction from a second surface thereof.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a source of coating material to be atomized and dispensed, and a conduit for coupling the source of coating material to the atomizer.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a source of high magnitude potential and a conductor for coupling the source of high magnitude potential to the electrodes.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a device for supporting the assembly when the assembly is disassembled from the atomizer.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the device includes an interior into which at least a portion of the assembly including the electrodes projects when the assembly is disassembled from the atomizer, the interior including at least one outlet for dispensing an agent for removing coating material from the at least a portion of the assembly that projects into the interior onto the at least a portion of the assembly that projects into the interior.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the device includes a mechanism actuable to attach the assembly to the device to minimize the likelihood of accidental dislodgement of the assembly from the device when the assembly is disassembled from the atomizer.

9. A coating material atomizing and dispensing system comprising a supporting assembly, an atomizer including a bulkhead having a first diameter, an electrode assembly including a base and a plurality of electrodes, each electrode extending from the base to a tip, the base having a second diameter larger than the first diameter and configured to be coupled to the supporting assembly, one of the base and the bulkhead including a first surface facing the other of the electrode assembly and the bulkhead and providing a groove, the groove including a first portion extending axially of the atomizer and a second portion extending circumferentially of the atomizer, and the other of the base and the bulkhead including a protrusion on a surface thereof facing the first surface, insertion of the protrusion into the first portion and subsequent relative rotation of the bulkhead and base to move the protrusion into the second portion assembling the electrode assembly and the atomizer to permit the atomizer to be disassembled from the base, wherein the disassembled atomizer has a maximum diameter smaller than the second diameter to permit entry of the atomizer through an opening smaller than the atomizer-electrode assembly can pass through, the supporting assembly for supporting the electrode assembly when the electrode assembly is disassembled from the atomizer.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the supporting assembly includes an interior into which at least a portion of the electrode assembly projects when the electrode assembly is disassembled from the atomizer, the interior including at least one outlet for dispensing an agent for removing coating material from the at least a portion of the electrode assembly that projects into the interior onto the at least a portion of the electrode assembly that projects into the interior.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the supporting assembly includes a mechanism actuable to attach the electrode assembly to the supporting assembly to minimize the likelihood of accidental dislodgement of the electrode assembly from the supporting assembly when the electrode assembly is disassembled from the atomizer.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the bulkhead of the atomizer includes the protrusion and the base of the electrode assembly includes the first surface providing the groove.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the electrode assembly base comprises a ring-shaped support providing the first surface, with the electrodes extending generally in a common direction from a second surface thereof.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 further including a source of coating material to be atomized and dispensed, and a conduit for coupling the source of coating material to the atomizer.

15. The apparatus of claim 9 further including a source of high magnitude potential and a conductor for coupling the source of high magnitude potential to the electrodes.