Abstract: An electrostatic field is created across a layer of material which has been placed on a surface with an adhesive layer therebetween to force the layer of material toward the surface, compressing the adhesive therebetween. To carry out this process, various forms of apparatus are disclosed which provide a substantially consistent electrostatic field across a film of material and a coating of adhesive to a surface to which the material is to be secured.

Abstract: A charging device includes a piled cloth contact which is formed of pliable material, has an electric resistance chosen to be 10.sup.8 .OMEGA..multidot.cm and contacts a photosensitive layer of a photosensitive drum. An electrode is connected to the contact and has a lower electric resistance than that of the contact. A D.C. power source and A.C. power source supply D.C. and A.C. voltages on the electrode to charge the photosensitive layer.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for charging a dielectric layer electrostatically to a predetermined potential. An AC electrode is arranged at a distance from the dielectric layer and connected to one output of an AC voltage generator. The AC voltage generator has the other output connected to an output of a DC voltage generator. Between the AC electrode and the dielectric layer there is a DC electrode which is connected to the other output of the AC voltage generator. The dielectric layer rests on a counter-electrode which is connected to the other output of the DC voltage generator and is at ground potential. Each of the electrodes can comprise one or a plurality of mutually insulated single electrodes.

Abstract: A device for discharging an electrostatic field in a dry cleaning washer positions a source of radioactive material from which electrons flow in a fluid path in said washer, a grounded receiving antenna is arranged in spaced relation to said radioactive material.

Abstract: A transfer corona current is always maintained substantially constant independently of the surface potential of a photosensitive medium and environmental conditions, to thereby prevent the amount of charge on the back side of a transfer medium from fluctuating in accordance with said surface potential and environmental conditions. In addition, a separation corona current is maintained substantially constant to thereby further improve the stability of electrostatic separation. The transfer corona current is below a critical current value whereat the corona charge passes through the transfer medium, and the separation corona imparts to the back side of the transfer medium an amount of charge substantially equal to the amount of charge provided by the transfer corona.

Abstract: A process of imposing an electrical charge on an electrically insulating surface of a moving web wherein a brush electrode contacts the surface. The brush is made up of extremely soft and flexible fiber filaments comprising carbon mounted on a metallic brace which also serves as an electrical contact to supply the brush with d.c. potential whereby the electrically insulating surface is charged to nearly the potential applied to the brush.In order to improve charge uniformity the brush is oscillated in a direction transverse to the direction of web movement.

Abstract: A method of stacking metal sheet materials which is characterized by interposing between each adjacent metal sheet material an interleaf comprising paper with plastic coated on only one side.

Abstract: A system and method using an integral sandwich structure including an insulative layer-photoconductive layer-conductive layer. A removable electrode member is positioned above and connected to the insulative layer by a thin liquid layer having a dipole moment greater than zero, a conductivity sufficient to maintain the electric potential of the surface of the insulative layer at the potential of the electrode member, a surface tension equal to or smaller than the critical surface tension of the insulative layer. Upon removal of the electrode member the liquid evaporates in a time period less than the dark dielectric time constant of the photoconductive insulative layer. A d.c. voltage is applied between the conductive layer and the removable electrode during which time a radiation image is applied to the photoconductive layer to cause an electrical charge image to be produced at the outer surface of the insulative layer.

Abstract: Ion treatment of objects, such as edibles, is enhanced.

Abstract: In a process for the formation of an electrostatic image on a photoconductive element comprising a photoconductive zinc oxide-binder layer and an insulating top layer, the top layer is first positively charged and then is negatively charged until the element is saturated with negative charge, after which the top layer is imagewise exposed to light.

Abstract: A corona wire, either directly or through an auxiliary element, engages the spiral thread of a screw-like stub member mounted on the housing of a corona charging apparatus to provide a simple, low cost and easily assembled corona wire adjuster. The stub member is mounted on the housing such that it may be rotationally driven much like a screw, but, unlike a screw, will not move into or out of the housing as it is rotated. Rotation of the stub member causes the corona wire to move in a direction parallel to the stub member axis in response to the thread engagement and thereby change its position relative to a photoconductor surface.

Abstract: A charge roller unit for an electrophotographic copier which has a construction that results in a substantially constant charge being imparted to a photoconductive surface independently of ambient temperatures. The constant charge is achieved through the provision of an underlying metallic support having a curvilinear surface such that the overlying conductive rubber material has a variable thickness.

Abstract: A corona discharge device for electrographic apparatus which makes use of a drum-shaped photosensitive screen. The device is provided with a corona electric field establishing electrode extending in parallel with a corona discharge wire and supplied with an electric potential which is intermediate the electric potential of a field electrode and the electric potential of the corona discharge wire.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a method of securing a sheet or a poster to a base, wherein the sheet or poster is brought into contact with at least one plastics material sheet and caused to adhere to said base by dampening said base or by wiping said base on the poster side with a means suitable for producing an electrostatic charge.In one particular application two plastics material sheets joined together along one edge and folded along said edge so as to be superposed one on the other are utilized, said sheet or poster being placed between or on said superposed sheets, said superposed sheets being caused to adhere to one another by being wiped with means suitable for producing an electrostatic charge.

Abstract: A dielectric tape of FEP (polyfluoroethylenepropylene) Teflon is electrostatically charged to a high level charge density using a motor driven capstan on which the tape is moved at a controlled velocity past a sponge assembly charged by a high DC voltage. The sponge assembly is wetted with a dielectric fluid mixture of methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol and acetone. By endosmosis, a bead of fluid forms between the sponge and the FEP Teflon tape causing the fluid to be evenly distributed on the tape. An air blower directed onto the surface of the tape drys the tape as it passes by.

Abstract: An improved electrographic recording apparatus and method. An electrographic recording medium has a charge retaining front surface on which charge is distributed in a pattern representing a desired image to be recorded, and a field permeable conductive layer. While charge is being deposited on the charge retaining surface of the electrographic medium, a field is established and maintained behind the rear surface of the medium, said field penetrating the conductive layer and having a field strength on the charged side of the medium that opposes a field that causes charge to be deposited on the charge retaining surface of the medium. In another aspect of this invention, the recording apparatus has a toner application station that is located apart from the charge depositing means, and a second field, having the same polarity as the first field, is established and maintained behind the rear surface of the electrographic medium at the toner station.

Abstract: A method of transferring images from one surface to another, which, instead of using a steady field uses a corona to build up a charge on a roller which transfers the charge to the surface where transfer is required. The device comprises a pair of rollers which are urged toward each other, one of the rollers having an insulator surface, the other roller forming an electrode, the charge being applied to the insulator surface on the one roller by means of a corona generating device spaced from the insulator surface and remote from the electrode roller.

Abstract: A transfer apparatus is provided of the type in which a toner image formed on a photosensitive member is transferred onto a transfer or copy sheet. The apparatus is used in a copying machine of a so-called delivery type in which the sheet is conveyed using a sheet gripper. During the transfer of a toner image, the appartus applies a corona discharge to the rear side of the sheet which is of the opposite polarity from that of the toner image. The apparatus comprises a diaphragm member for restricting an opening of a transfer charger and disposed between the transfer charger and the photosensitive member, the diaphragm member being movable away from the photosensitive member as the sheet gripper passes between the transfer charger and the photosensitive member.

Abstract: A method for rendering glass nonfogging (to condensation fog) by sandwiching the glass between two electrodes such that the glass functions as the dielectric of a capacitor, a large alternating current (AC) voltage is applied across the electrodes for a selected time period causing the glass to absorb a charge, and the electrodes are removed. The glass absorbs a charge from the electrodes rendering it nonfogging. The glass surface is undamaged by application of the AC voltage, and normal optical properties are unaffected. This method can be applied to optical surfaces such as lenses, auto windshields, mirrors, etc., wherever condensation fog on glass is a problem.

Abstract: In a process for the transfer printing of charge images the carrier of a primary charge image is covered with an insulating film the backside of which is electrically charged by means of a corona discharge under concentrated gaseous nitrogen, and the film now carrying the secondary charge image is subsequently removed from the carrier of the primary charge image.

Abstract: An electrostatic sprayer for spraying water-based paints has two or more electrodes mounted on an insulating holder and disposed in the path of the spray between the object to be coated and the outlet of the sprayer. The electrodes are at varying distances from the sprayer outlet and are connected to different potentials.

Abstract: An electrophotographic machine of the transfer type in which tetrafluoroethylene-coated carrier beads transport toner particles to a development zone by virute of the triboelectric attraction between positive toner and negative tetrafluoroethylene. At the development zone, the carrier beads are crushed together and occasionally a piece of tetrafluoroethylene is worn off of the surface of the beads and carried along on the surface of the photoconductor. These tetrafluoroethylene-wear products are subjected to high level preclean corona current to reverse the triboelectric negative polarity thereof. In that manner, a positive wear product is made to act as though it was toner and is therefore carried out of the machine on copy paper. In a similar manner, paper dust and other contaminants on the photoconductor surface are subjected to a high level preclean corona current to receive a positive charge for being carried out of the machine on the copy paper.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus and an electrostatographic reproducing machine wherein a cleaning element is arranged to remove residual material from an imaging surface. The cleaning element is subjected to corona emissions from a one or more corona generators and is arranged to engage both the imaging surface and the corona devices to clean them both. In an alternative embodiment the corona emission device is utilized as a flicking element to help remove the residual material from the cleaning element.

Abstract: A corona charging device comprising an elongated wire electrode and a shield partially surrounding the electrode, the shield being formed of a plurality of conducting segments insulated from each other and biased to a plurality of different potentials relative to the wire. The distribution of charge from the corona device onto an adjacent surface may be controlled by changing the biasing arrangement on the shield segments.

Abstract: A corona generating device including a coronode in the form of a wire supported between insulating end block assemblies. Each assembly is constructed of mating half-sections which jointly define a substantially closed and insulated cavity lined with a conductive insert. The insert on the high voltage side of the coronode serves to couple electrically the high voltage terminal to the coronode via a first conductive bead carried by the coronode. The coronode is held taut by means of a loaded compression spring carried within the insert on the half-section removed from the high voltage supply, the spring bearing against the conductive insert on one end and against a second conductive bean carried by the other end of the coronode.

Abstract: Apparatus for charging and forwarding a group of filaments to a web formation zone wherein an attenuator forwards the group of filaments along a path into impingement with a target electrode positioned downstream from the attenuator and in the filament path, a charging electrode being positioned to cooperate with the target electrode to form a filament-charging electric field at the location where the filament group impinges and is being spread by the target electrode. The filaments are advanced in such a manner that the filaments are in a bundle configuration prior to contact with the target electrode and are free to spread from the bundle configuration to a fan configuration as they pass through and are charged by the electric field. The apparatus is provided with a plurality of attenuators and associated charging electrodes positioned on opposite sides of the target electrode in a staggered relationship to spread filament bundles into fan configurations and forward the filaments to the web formation zone.

Abstract: Apparatus for vibrating a corotron wire to prevent contamination including piezoelectric means to vibrate the wire. Also disclosed is an activation arrangement for the wire vibrating means including a striker plate movable with a rotating portion of the machine to periodically vibrate the wire. Additional specific configurations for vibrating means are disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of forming a latent electrostatic image on a segment of an electrostatographic photosensitive device which comprises a grounded conductive substrate having a layer of photoconductive material on its surface which is in turn overcoated with an insulating organic resin. The method comprises:A. applying an initial electrostatic charge of one polarity to the surface of the photosensitive device,B. advancing the segment of the photosensitive device toward a corona emitting grid which is wider than the segment selected,C. activating the grid when the trailing edge of the segment reaches the lead edge of the grid to thereby apply an electronic field of either alternating current or direct current of polarity opposite that of the polarity of the initial charge,D. exposing the segment to imagewise activating radiation in the full frame flash exposure mode while continuing to apply the electronic field thereto;E.

Abstract: A corona discharge device including a corona discharge electrode in contact or closely spaced from a conductive shield electrode, the discharge electrode comprising a conductive wire coated with a relatively thick dielectric material so as to prevent the flow of conduction current therethrough. When the electrode is spaced from the shield, it is supported along its length on a dielectric surface and when it is in contact with the shield, the shield itself may provide the lengthwise support for the wire, or the support may alternatively be provided by a dielectric substrate on which the shield is carried. The delivery of charge to the photoconductive surface is accomplished by means of electric field separation of charges produced by the discharge electrode. These charges are produced by an alternating voltage applied to the discharge electrode. The flow of charge to the surface to be charged is regulated by means of a d.c. voltage bias applied to the shield electrode.

Abstract: A circuit for concurrently producing regulated high-voltage a.c. current and automatically varying d.c. current on one output line, where all adjustment and regulation is accomplished in low-voltage circuits, power supply being particularly useful as the power source for copier and duplicator corotrons. The basic wave shape is a rectangular wave which is amplified and regulated for application as the a.c. input to a corotron. The corotron itself is used as the rectifier for the d.c. bias current, and while the nominal d.c. bias is fixed by adjusting the duty cycle of the rectangular wave to a fixed value, the actual d.c. bias current will vary in accordance with atmospheric conditions and paper thickness, which is desirable for the proper operation of copier and duplicator corotrons. The adjusted duty cycle of the rectangular wave determines the nominal d.c. bias current.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing positive enlarged copies from positive or negative microfilm, in which the photoconductive element can be charged either negatively or positively so that one developing liquid containing particles of only one polarity can be used to create positive copies regardless of whether the original microfilm is positive or negative. The apparatus includes a reusable photoconductive web having an aluminum backing, a perforated development electrode, and a transfer station for transferring the developed image to paper.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a homopolar electret from a foil of a non-polar polymer, preferably TEFLON-FEP or PFA. The polymer foil is formed into an electret by heating it above the transition temperature and below the melting temperature of the polymer under the influence of an electrostatic field of a magnitude such that a homopolar charge is injected into the foil which is greater than the desired value, and the foil then being cooled to room temperature. However, before the transition temperature is reached during cooling, the electrostatic field is switched off so that the charge surplus is thereby removed.If the foil is disposed between two electrodes, a better result can be obtained by providing the foil with a vacuum-deposited metal layer in contact with the positive electrode during the formation.The charging time lies between 0.02 secs. and 1 min. and is preferably smaller than 5 secs.

Abstract: A power supply circuit for generating true sine wave signals by regulating the average value of the signal, whereby the RMS value of the signal is regulated accordingly. By monitoring the circuit through the load, represented by a monitored voltage value, a feedback network is coupled to a variable resistor in conjunction with other circuitry to maintain a constant voltage ratio to the power transformer assuring a properly shaped wave at a larger or smaller variation.

Abstract: A circuit for concurrently producing regulated high voltage a.c. current and bias d.c. current on one output line, where all regulation is accomplished in low voltge circuits, power supply being particularly useful as the power source for copier and duplicator corotrons. The basic wave shape is a rectangular wave which is amplified and regulated for application as the a.c. input to a corotron. The corotron itself is used as the rectifier for the d.c. bias current, with this current being variable in either the positive or negative direction by varying the symmetry of the a.c. rectangular wave. Since the part of the wave which has the shorter duration must have the higher amplitude, and current in the corotron increases with voltage, a feedback loop which controls the rectangular wave duty cycle will regulate the d.c. bias current as well.

Abstract: A method for flocking a wire garment hanger in which electrostatically-charged fibrous flock particles are applied to an adhesive film on a portion of the hanger and the hanger is immediately heated to set the adhesive while the fibers remain radially oriented on the wire. The invention also contemplates blowing air sequentially on various portions of the surface of a bed of flock to cause the fibers to become suspended in air above the bed, through which suspension the hangers are passed.

Abstract: A feedback control system for use in an electrostatographic apparatus capable of, by successive approximation, approaching a value of charge on an electrostatographic imaging surface which is in correct proportion to a reference voltage thereby to result in near zero circuit error. A predictor circuit samples, during a sample period, the reference voltage, the charge on the imaging surface and the output of a first, conventional feedback loop to produce a corrected reference voltage value for the loop. During the sample period, this corrected reference is stored in first memory while a second memory receives a constant input reference for feeding to the loop. At sample end, the constant input reference is disconnected from the second memory and the contents of the first memory are fed to the second memory thereby providing the corrected reference voltage to the loop.

Abstract: Method for charging and forwarding a group of filaments to a web formation zone wherein an attenuator forwards the group of filaments along a path into impingement with a target electrode positioned downstream from the attenuator and in the filament path, a charging electrode being positioned to cooperate with the target electrode to form a filament-charging electric field at the location where the filament group impinges and is being spread by the target electrode. The filaments are advanced in such a manner that the filaments are in a bundle configuration prior to contact with the target electrode and are free to spread from the bundle configuration to a fan configuration as they pass through and are charged by the electric field.