Voltage block

In combination, a coating material source, a coating dispensing device, a high magnitude electrostatic potential source, a voltage block comprising first and second reservoirs, a switching device including an inlet port, an outlet port, a first reservoir port and a second reservoir port, the switching device mounted for movement between a first position and a second position in a third reservoir, the third reservoir including an electrically non-conductive fluid medium in which at least a portion of the switching device is immersed, a conduit for coupling the coating material source and the inlet port, a conduit for coupling the first reservoir and first reservoir port, a conduit coupling the second reservoir and second reservoir port, and a conduit coupling the outlet port and the coating dispensing device.

A method of coating an article comprising providing first and second reservoirs, providing a switching device, providing on the switching device an inlet port, an outlet port, a first reservoir port and a second reservoir port, providing a third reservoir including an electrically non-conductive fluid medium, mounting the switching device in the third reservoir for movement between a first position and a second position, and at least partially immersing the switching device in the electrically non-conductive fluid medium in the third reservoir.