An apparatus is provided for coating a continuously advancing article. The
apparatus includes a housing defining a spray chamber having an inlet end
and an outlet end. Walls in the spray chamber form an inlet buffer zone
adjacent the inlet end, an outlet buffer zone adjacent the outlet end and
a spraying zone between the inlet and outlet buffer zones. A conveyor
transports articles to be coated through the spray chamber. A plurality of
spray guns are mounted on the housing to substantially surround an article
on the conveyor transported through the spraying zone. The spray guns are
adapted for spraying an ultraviolet curable coating composition. The spray
guns are mounted substantially entirely outside the spraying zone, with
only nozzle portions of the spray guns located inside the spraying zone.
