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(11) | EP 0 919 288 A3 |
(12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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(54) | Electrostatic dispensing apparatus and method |
(57) An electrostatic dispensing system (10) for dispensing flowable material (12) on
a moving substrate. The electrostatic dispensing system preferably includes a dispensing
nozzle (16) supported in spaced, non-contacting relationship on one side of the moving
substrate (14) and an electrostatic field generator (26) supported in spaced, non-contacting
relationship on the opposite side of the moving substrate (14). The electrostatic
field generator (26) is operable to generate an electrostatic field through the moving
substrate (14), which itself is substantially non-conductive, for attracting flowable
material (12) from the dispensing nozzle (16) in a series of spaced, continuous streams
or beads (24) which intersect a surface of the moving substrate (14) facing the nozzle
(16). The beads of flowable material (12) are deposited on the surface of the moving
substrate (14) in a series of uniform, continuous beads (24) which are formed generally
parallel to a direction of travel of the moving substrate (14). Methods of electrostatically
dispensing flowable material on a moving substrate are also disclosed. |