Abstract: Apparatus for feeding flock fibers comprising an upwardly open flock-receiving hopper. The hopper has a bottom discharge passage under which is mounted metering apparatus providing a plurality of discharge openings of controllably variable size. An upper impeller having a plurality of downwardly angled blades is rotatably driven within the hopper passage to urge the flock fibers to fall downwardly through the discharge openings into a cylindrical pump chamber. A lower impeller is rotatably driven within the pump chamber to sweep falling flock fibers into a pump throat in communication with a venturi flow tube through which a supply of air is passed. The air flowing through the venturi flow tube creates suction to draw the fibers within the throat into the venturi flow tube for entrainment with the air stream.

Abstract: An electrostatic flocking system having a supply hopper for controllably entraining flock fibers within a propelling air stream, and for feeding the entrained fibers to an electrostatic flocking gun. The fibers and propelling air pass through the gun and into a nozzle at the front of the gun having an elongated forwardly open chamber. An elongated electrode is carried within the nozzle chamber and is coupled to a suitable electric power source for electrostatically charging the fibers and for directing them forwardly over the entire length of the chamber toward the surface of an article being coated.

Abstract: An electrostatic flocking system having a hopper for gravitationally feeding flock fibers at a controlled rate to a pickup chamber in an air flow pump. The flow pump has a venturi inlet connector with a multi-branched outlet for delivering accelerated air into the pickup chamber. The pickup chamber has an arcuately recessed bottom wall to cause air from the inlet connector to swirl within the chamber to entrain the flock fibers and to carry them out of the flow pump via an outlet connector to an applicator gun. Conveniently, the flow pump has an auxiliary air inlet port opening into the pickup chamber to allow additional flock-entraining air to be pulled into the chamber by the air swirling therein. The applicator gun has a non-conductive outlet nozzle for reception into the front of the applicator gun, with a plurality of electrodes extending forwardly from the nozzle for electrostatically charging flock fibers passing therethrough.