Electrostatic flocking apparatus

An electrostatic flocking apparatus comprising:

• a flocking chamber;
• flock support means disposed at the bottom of said flocking chamber for supporting flock within said flocking chamber,
• said flock support means comprising a box, a perforated board or mesh screen defining an upper surface of the box for supporting flock, and vibratory or rocking means operatively connected to said box for vibrating or rocking said box to separate mass or masses of flock supported on the upper surface of said box into discrete fibers;
• an air blow producing means for forcing a stream of air upwardly through said upper surface of said box that blows the discrete fibers supported on said upper surface upwardly in said flocking chamber;
• filter means disposed at an upper portion of said flocking chamber for allowing the stream of air to discharge therethrough and for preventing the fibers blown by the stream of air to discharge therethrough;
• a first electrode disposed between the upper surface of said box and said filter means;
• a second electrode disposed between said first electrode and the upper surface of said box;
• a third electrode disposed between said second electrode and the upper surface of said box for polarizing the discrete fibers as they are blown upwardly in said flocking chamber by the stream of air;
• three power source means electrically connected to said first, second and third electrodes, respectively for impressing respective voltages on said electrodes,
• the power source means of at least one of said first and said second electrodes including a polarity changeover means for changing the polarity of the voltage of the electrode to which said power source means including the polarity changeover means is electrically connected;
• and
• workpiece support means within said flocking chamber for supporting a workpiece to be flocked between said first and said second electrodes.