Universal electrode for corona discharge surface treating

Corona discharge apparatus, comprising:

• (a) at least one generally cylindrical electrode mounted for rotation about a central axis thereof,
• (b) a pivotable fixed electrode assembly comprising:
• (i) first electrode means configured for corona discharge treatment of non-conductive materials and second electrode means configured for corona discharge treatment of conductive materials;
• (ii) common support means for the first and second electrode means, the common support means having a pivot point disposed parallel to and spaced apart from the central axis of the generally cylindrical electrode, the common support means being pivotable about the pivot point for selectably positioning a selected one of the first and second electrodes in corona discharge treatment relation to the generally cylindrical electrode;
• (c) means for relatively positioning the generally cylindrical electrode and the selected one of the first and second electrode means to define a gap between the generally cylindrical electrode and the selected one of the first and second electrode means for the passage of materials to be treated between the generally cylindrical electrode and the selected one of the first and second electrode means, and
• (d) power supply means connected to the generally cylindrical electrode and the selected one of the first and second electrode means for applying a high voltage electric field across the gap.

A corona discharge surface treating system for treating conductive and non-conductive materials, comprising:

• one or more universal electrodes each having a first electrode with an operating face used for treating non-conductive material and a second electrode having an operating face used for treating conductive material;
• a common support means for said one of more universal electrodes having a pivot point and being pivotable so as to respectively match the operating faces of the first and second electrodes with the non-conductive and conductive type materials being treated;
• a rotating electrode having an outer face upon which is placed one of said non-conductive and conductive materials which is to be treated, said rotating electrode mounted for rotation about an axis which is disposed parallel to and spaced apart from said axis of said support member, said rotating electrode located relative to said operating face of said one or more universal electrodes so as to provide a predetermined gap between the operating face of the one or more electrodes and the rotating electrode and through which gap the material to be treated is moved;
• and
• power supply means providing a high voltage field across said treatment gap.