A system for coating tablets and other small articles is provided, comprising a housing, a drum or other pan within said housing for retaining a bed of coatable articles, and a coating dispenser for dispensing coating from a source onto the bed. The dispenser includes an extendible support member and opposing spray assemblies in end to end linear relation overhead of the pan. The spray assemblies include an elongate nozzle support, an array of spray nozzles mounted to the nozzle support for connection to a source of pressurized coating fluid and optionally to a source of compressed air, and an arm at an end of the nozzle support connecting the nozzle support to the extendible support member. The support member is extendible in length to permit retraction of at least one of the assemblies independently of the other assembly.