Abstract: Electrostatic charging performance may be improved by determining a satiation charging current for objects/products passing through a charging system and then applying the determined satiation charging current the objects/products. Charging performance may be improved in either or both of discontinuous product train applications or continuous web applications.

Abstract: Electrostatic charging performance may be improved by determining a satiation charging current for objects/products passing through a charging system and then applying the determined satiation charging current the objects/products. Charging performance may be improved in either or both of discontinuous product train applications or continuous web applications.

Abstract: The disclosure describes the use of electrostatics to in-mold labeling wherein a label is secured to a mandrel with an axis-defining body, a first end, a distal end, a set of ionizing electrodes disposed about the body, near the distal end, and in a plane perpendicular to the axis. When the mandrel is positioned in a mold cavity, the label is released and a varying voltage applied to the electrodes to form a substantially uniform and ring-like source of ionizing current. The ionizing current progressively pins the label against the die as the mandrel is withdrawn from the die until substantially the entire label is pinned. The ionizing current may then be ended and the mandrel removed so that an article may then be formed into the label.

Abstract: Simultaneous neutralization and monitoring of charge on a moving dielectric material is achieved with ionizing devices that supply ions in proximity to the material to thereby substantially neutralize charge on the material, and with circuitry that senses the ion currents flowing from the ionizing devices to the material. A controller can be utilized to control the ionizing devices and/or calculate various parameters (such as charge densities on the web, efficiency, etc.) based on the sensed ion currents.

Abstract: An ionizing bar assembly having a plastic housing with two individual ionizing electrode modules disposed on opposite sides. The ionizing electrode modules each include a plurality of printed circuit boards having signal traces thereon with ionizing electrodes or pins extending therefrom. The printed circuit boards are electrically coupled together by conductive rods or tubing positioned adjacent to the traces on the boards and soldered at various positions along the traces. The ionizing electrode modules are placed at opposing angles and are offset laterally from each other in such a way that the ionizing electrodes or pins extending from one module are located between the ionizing electrodes or pins extending from the opposite module, with the tips of each aligned along a common central linear axis.

Abstract: The total of the ion current leaving electrodes of one polarity and the ion current flowing to those electrodes, is measured as the current in the ground return path of the corresponding generator. For a brand-new ionizer, the value of that total ion current for electrodes of each polarity under normal operating conditions will substantially be the maximum ion current the positive and negative electrodes are capable of generating. The changes in the current in the ground return path reflect changes in the ionizing efficiency of the electrodes caused among other factors, by contamination. The values of the currents may be scaled up or down to the arbitrary unit. Using this scaling allows to have a signal that is normalized regardless of the length of the ionizer and number of the ionizing electrodes.

Abstract: The total of the ion current leaving electrodes of one polarity and the ion current flowing to those electrodes, is measured as the current in the ground return path of the corresponding generator. For a brand-new ionizer, the value of that total ion current for electrodes of each polarity under normal operating conditions will substantially be the maximum ion current the positive and negative electrodes are capable of generating. The changes in the current in the ground return path reflect changes in the ionizing efficiency of the electrodes caused among other factors, by contamination. The values of the currents may be scaled up or down to the arbitrary unit. Using this scaling allows to have a signal that is normalized regardless of the length of the ionizer and number of the ionizing electrodes.

Abstract: Ionizing method and apparatus includes a pair of inverters to supply ionizing voltages to ionizing electrodes only during alternate halves of a duty cycle in which one inverter is actuated to operate at high oscillating frequency while the other inverter is inactive, and thereafter in an alternate half of the duty cycle in which the one inverter is inactive and the other inverter is actuated to operate at high oscillating frequency. Each inverter includes a return current path that combines in a common return path in which return currents may be monitored for selective control of one or both of the inverters. Small step-up transformers and other components operating at high oscillation frequency promote confined packaging of high voltage generators for convenient mounting adjacent a pair of ionizing electrodes to reduce lengths of heavily-insulated high-voltage cables between generators and electrodes.

Abstract: An apparatus for simultaneous electrical discharge treatment and adhesive application to a polymer component. The apparatus includes a jig having an electrically conductive region and a dispenser having an electrically grounded dispensing tip with a dispenser orifice which functions as an electrode as it is moved across an upper surface of the polymer component in close proximity thereto. During such movement, the tip coacts with the jig which underlies the component and to which high voltage is applied to create an electrical discharge which is directed onto the component and makes the surface thereof susceptible to bonding with adhesive applied to the component from the tip virtually simultaneously with the discharge.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating the surfaces of formed plastic articles including a plurality of bare metal discharge electrodes connected to a high frequency AC power supply, a counterelectrode disposed in spaced relation to the discharge electrodes for defining a treatment zone therebetween, and an insulation layer mounted in spaced relation to the counterelectrode such that a discreet air space exists between the insulation and counterelectrode for moderating the electrical discharge between the discharge electrodes and counterelectrode and enabling greater control and uniformity in the electrical discharge between the electrodes and counterelectrodes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the contact angle of a droplet of test liquid on a substrate surface. The apparatus includes a test article support plate, a pipette for depositing a droplet of test liquid onto a substrate surface of the test article, and a lamp for projecting an image of the deposited droplet onto a projection screen with a base line of the image positioned on a horizontal axis line of the screen. The screen further has a protractor scale calibrated to read twice the normal angular value, and a rotatable reference line which upon positioning through a contact point of the droplet with the substrate surface and an apex point of the droplet farthest removed from the substrate surface directly indicates the value of the contact angle of the on the protractor scale.

Abstract: A method and apparatus adapted for the rapid, accurate and repeatable determination of contact angles of liquid droplets applied to curved substrate surfaces. The apparatus includes a support upon which an article may be mounted with the curved substrate surface facing downwardly, a pipette having a discharge end below the downwardly facing curved surface and operable for transferring a predetermined relatively small droplet of a test liquid onto the downwardly facing curved surface, and a contact angle measuring device which includes a lamp for directing a light beam across the suspended droplet such that an image thereof is projected onto a screen from which the contact angle is measurable.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring corona current in high voltage A.C. ionizers uses an electrical sensor adjacently spaced from at least one of the discharge electrodes and coupled to electronic circuitry for separating capacitive current from the corona current. In one mode, the capacitive current component is measured directly by a first sensor adjacently spaced from one discharge electrode whose corona current flow to such electrode is either obstructed or squelched entirely while a second sensor monitors total current. The signals from the two sensors are electrically subtracted when applied to opposing inputs of a differential amplifier to provide an output signal proportional to just corona current. In a second mode, a measure of corona current is again provided by electrically subtracting from a total current signal input to a differential amplifier a signal equal to the capacitive current component.

Abstract: A balancing system for electrical A.C. air ionizers having at least one discharge electrode adjacently spaced from a proximity ground and connected to the high side of an A.C. high voltage power source includes (a) a capacitor interposed between each electrode and the high voltage source to maintain a bias on each of the electrodes by blocking the D.C. current component across the circuit capacitance between the discharge electrodes and ground, and (b) a by-pass resistor across the circuit capacitance for providing a path to ground to bleed off excess bias so that equal positive and negative ion densities are generated during corona flow, the by-pass resistor having a resistance value which is determined by the parameters of the system's corona characterisitics (including corona onset voltage and average current flow) that will provide a required equilibrium bias for producing the correct ratios of positive and negative ion currents as will balance the ion densities.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining ion flow imbalance. High-magnitude positive and negative potential sources, each having a high-magnitude potential output terminal, are provided. Two electrodes are adapted for positioning adjacent the location of ions, the electrodes having areas for exposure to the ions. A supply of operating potential is provided for the high-magnitude potential sources. The operating potential supply is switched to supply operating potential alternately between the high-magnitude potential sources. Neutral terminals are provided on each of the high-magnitude potential sources and the current flows from the neutral terminals of the high-magnitude potential sources to reference potential are sensed to determine the current flows to the electrodes.

Abstract: In combination with electrical ionizing devices (A.C. static neutralizers or D.C. charging systems) in which discharge electrodes, such as emitter points, are connected to a high voltage power supply and in adjacently spaced disposition behind a grounded foraminous grille, wiper means, such as brushes, for cleaning accumulations of particulate material electrostatically adhered to the electrodes themselves. The brushes are preferrably mounted upon the grille and have bristles passing through slots therein to enable the operator before ionization is instituted to sweep the brushes from an out-of-the-way position relative to the emerging ion flow across the electrodes to effect the cleaning and then clear of said electrodes.

Abstract: An instrument for non-contact measurement of electrostatic fields and related parameters, such as electrostatic potential, voltage and charge density of a charged object, includes a sensor for sensing the electrostatic field produced by the object and for producing an electrical signal, a display for producing a visual readout related to the electrical signal and a range scaling circuit for coupling the sensor to the display. The range scaling circuit is coupled to logic which switches the range scaling circuit and the display back and forth between two ranges, one for relatively higher strength field measurements and one for relatively lower strength field measurements. Because the distance at which the instrument is held from the charged object to achieve an accurate reading depends upon the strength of the field, the range scaling circuit is also coupled to circuitry which indicates the appropriate distance from the charged object at which the instrument must be held to provide an accurate measurement.

Abstract: Ionizing gas gun for ultra-clean static neutralization comprises a plastic nozzle enclosing positive and negative ion discharge electrodes and means for blowing a gas, such as air or nitrogen therethrough. A trigger actuates both the release of gas and application of positive and negative high voltage to the respective discharge electrodes, including delay circuitry for suspending discontinuance of the positive high voltage to its electrode for a momentary period subsequent to discontinuance of the negative high voltage when the gas is cut off in compensation of a slight preponderance of negative ion emission otherwise effected at cut-off. Venturi ports at the nozzle tip draw air over the discharge electrodes for admixing with higher mobility nitrogen ions when nitrogen rather than air is employed as the blowing medium. A changeable filter insures cleanliness, including monitoring means to indicate clogged or ruptured filter conditions or improper installation.

Abstract: A panoramic electrostatic field sensor includes a central monitoring electrode for detecting an electrostatic field oriented about a 360.degree. arc peripheral thereto. An apertured housing is concentrically arranged about the monitoring electrode, the housing having circumferentially spaced windows through which the central electrode can "see" any electrostatic field radially disposed with respect to the sensor. A cylindrical shielding cap is rotated in the annular space between the monitoring electrode and the housing, the cap incorporating at least one slot to expose the monitoring electrode periodically to any fields viewed through the housing windows. Electronic means for measuring the voltage in response to the field detected is adapted to activate a static neutralizer for emission of positive and negative ions into the field or to actuate a variety of peripheral indicating or triggering devices which provide signals, alarms or readout functions.