# US 4,395,317 A · Wetting tension treating apparatus and method

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- Number: US 4,395,317 A
- Document ID: US4395317A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/339,403
- Filed: 1982-01-15
- Granted: 1983-07-26
- Earliest claimed: 1982-01-15
- Inventors: Darwin L. Whiteside
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4395317A

## CPC

- B41M 1/305: {using mechanical, physical or chemical means, e.g. corona discharge, etching or organic solvents, to improve ink retention}
- H01T 19/00: Devices providing for corona discharge (for charging electrographic elements G03G15/02)
- B41M: PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING, (correction of typographical errors B41J; processes for applying transfer pictures or the like B44C1/16; fluid media for correction of typographical errors by coating C09D10/00; printing textiles D06P)
- H01T: SPARK GAPS; OVERVOLTAGE ARRESTERS USING SPARK GAPS; SPARKING PLUGS; CORONA DEVICES; GENERATING IONS TO BE INTRODUCED INTO NON-ENCLOSED GASES (overvoltage protection circuits H02H)

## Abstract

A method and apparatus for the treatment of thin sheeting by subjecting said sheeting to a corona discharge. Two elongated electrodes are provided in a fixed spatial relationship. The first electrode is coated with a dielectric material and electrically grounded. The second electrode is machined to include a plurality of intersecting furrows which define a plurality of mesa structures, each having at least one acute angle corner. An electrical potential is applied to the second electrode and the sheeting material is then transported between the two electrodes. The mesa structures machined into the surface of the second electrode serve to enhance the amount of corona created by a given amount of electrical potential.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for the treatment of thin sheeting by subjecting said sheeting to a corona discharge, said apparatus comprising:
A first elongated electrode;
A second elongated electrode;
means supporting said first and second elongated electrodes in a relationship defining a gap therebetween; and
means for passing said sheeting through said gap,
said first elongated electrode including an exterior surface disposed near said second elongated electrode, said exterior surface including a plurality of intersecting furrows defining a plurality of mesa structures each having at least one acute angle corner.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said second elongated electrode comprises a cylindrical roller electrode.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said cylindrical roller electrode includes a dielectric coating.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said cylindrical roller electrode is electrically grounded.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said first elongated electrode includes an exterior surface comprising a concave arcuate surface substantially parallel to the surface of said cylindrical roller electrode.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of intersecting furrows comprise a first plurality of parallel straight line furrows and a second plurality of parallel straight line furrows each of said second plurality of parallel straight line furrows intersecting said first plurality at an acute angle.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of intersecting furrows comprise a plurality of intersecting circular grooves.

### Claim 8

A method of treating thin sheeting by subjecting said sheeting to a corona discharge comprising the steps of:
providing an electrically grounded cylindrical electrode;
coating said cylindrical electrode with a dielectric material;
providing an elongated electrode positioned near said cylindrical electrode;
machining the exterior surface of said second electrode with a plurality of intersecting furrows whereby a plurality of mesa structures is defined;
coupling said elongated electrode to an electrical potential; and
transporting said sheeting between said cylindrical electrode and said elongated electrode.