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US 5,627,376 AGranted
Wire corona charging apparatus
AssigneeSamsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
InventorsRajan A. Jaisinghani, Tim G. Christensen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved wire corona charging apparatus and processes for treating webs and films, to improve surface wettability characteristics and other surface properties, and to create permanently charged electrets. Corona produced by wires results in more evenly distributed ion flux under a high level of control, than possible with commonly used bar chargers. Wire chargers are not used in applications that involve webs and films of large width, since at these widths wires can slacken and break, resulting in possible electric shorting that can be a safety hazard in most non-batch processes. The embodiments disclosed overcome these reliability and safety issues.
Claims27
A wire corona charging apparatus, comprising:
- an electrically conductive wire exhibiting a length;
- a frame formed by a first plate of a non-electrically conducting material, said frame having a channel extending along one surface over a distance accommodating disposition of said wire within said channel;
- means for resiliently supporting said wire within said channel while maintaining said wire under an axial tensile force and spaced-apart from interior surfaces of said channel, while applying an electrical current to said wire;
- a shield of an electrically insulating material positioned in juxtaposition to said frame to slide along said distance and adjustably enclose part, but less than all, of said length within said channel;
- means for converting a source of electrical energy into said electrical current;
- and
- switching means interposed within an electrical circuit controlling application of said electrical current to said supporting means, biased by said tensile force into a first mode of enabling conduction of said electrical energy to said converting means, for interrupting said application of said electrical current to said supporting means upon breakage of said wire.
4 more elements
A wire corona charging apparatus, comprising:
- an electrically conductive wire exhibiting a length;
- a frame formed by a first plate of a non-electrically conducting material, said frame having a channel extending along one surface over a distance accommodating disposition of said wire within said channel;
- said frame bearing a pair of oppositely facing, spaced parallel grooves within and extending along said channel;
- a shield of an electrically insulating material positioned within said grooves to slide along said distance and adjustably enclosing part, but less than all, of said length within said channel;
- means for resiliently supporting said wire within said channel while maintaining said wire under an axial tensile force and maintaining said wire spaced-apart from interior surfaces of said channel, while applying an electrical current to said wire;
- means for converting a source of electrical energy into said electrical current;
- and
- switching means interposed within an electrical circuit controlling application of said electrical current to said supporting means, biased by said tensile force into a first mode of enabling conduction of said electrical energy to said converting means and biased by a second and lesser force into a second mode of interrupting said conduction of said electrical energy to said converting means, for interrupting said application of said electrical current to said supporting means upon breakage of said wire.
5 more elements
A wire corona charging apparatus, comprising:
- an electrically conductive wire exhibiting a length;
- a frame formed by a first plate of a non-electrically conducting material, said frame having a channel extending along one surface over a distance accommodating disposition of said wire within said channel;
- a shield of an electrically insulating material adjustably positioned upon said frame and enclosing part, but less than all, of said length within said channel;
- means for resiliently supporting said wire within said channel while maintaining said wire under an axial tensile force and spaced-apart from interior surfaces of said channel, while applying an electrical current to said wire;
- a plurality of additional said electrically conductive wires;
- said supporting means holding said electrically conductive wire and said plurality of additional electrically conducting wires within said channel, under said tensile force, spaced-apart and parallel over said distance between said supporting means and said switching means;
- means for converting a source of electrical energy into said electrical current;
- and
- switching means interposed within an electrical circuit controlling application of said electrical current to said supporting means, biased by said tensile force into a first mode of enabling conduction of said electrical energy to said converting means and biased by a second and lesser force into a second mode of interrupting said conduction of said electrical energy to said converting means, for interrupting said application of said electrical current to said supporting means upon breakage of said wire.
6 more elements
A corona wire charging apparatus, comprising:
- an electrically conductive wire exhibiting a length;
- a frame formed by a first plate of a non-electrically conducting material, said frame having a channel extending along one surface over a distance accommodating disposition of said wire within said channel;
- said frame bearing a pair of oppositely facing, spaced-apart parallel grooves within and extending along said channel;
- and
- a shield of an electrically insulating material positioned within said grooves to slide along said distance while adjustably enclosing part, but less than all, of said length within said channel;
- means for resiliently supporting said wire within said channel while maintaining, said wire under an axial tensile force and spaced-apart from interior surfaces of said channel, while applying an electrical current to said wire;
- a plurality of additional said electrically conductive wires;
- said supporting means holding said electrically conductive wire and said plurality of additional electrically conducting wires within said channel, under said tensile force, spaced-apart and parallel over said distance between said supporting means and said switching means;
- a plurality of additional said electrically conductive wires;
- said supporting means holding said electrically conductive wire and said plurality of additional electrically conducting wires within said channel, under said tensile force, spaced-apart and parallel over said distance between said supporting means and said switching means, while applying the electrical current to said plurality of additional said electrically conductive wires;
- means for converting a source of electrical energy into said electrical current;
- and switching means interposed within an electrical circuit controlling application of said electrical current to said supporting means, biased by said tensile force into a first mode of enabling conduction of said electrical energy to said converting means and biased by a second and lesser force into a second mode of interrupting said conduction of said electrical energy to said converting means, for interrupting said application of said electrical current to said supporting means upon breakage of said wire.
9 more elements
A wire corona charging apparatus comprising:
- an electrically conductive wire exhibiting a length;
- a frame formed by a first plate of a non-electrically conducting material, said frame having a channel extending along one surface over a distance accommodating disposition of said wire within said channel;
- means for resiliently supporting said wire within said channel while maintaining said wire under an axial tensile force and spaced-apart from interior surfaces of said channel, while applying an electrical current to said wire;
- a shield of an electrically insulating material positioned in juxtaposition to said frame to slide along said distance and adjustably enclose part, but less than all, of said length within said channel;
- switching means interposed within an electrical circuit controlling application of said electrical current to said supporting means, biased by said tensile force into a first mode of enabling conduction of said electrical energy to said converting means, for interrupting said application of said electrical current to said supporting means upon breakage of said wire;
- said supporting means being positioned at a first end of said channel and said switching means being positioned at a second end of said channel and separated by said distance from said supporting means;
- and
- said wire being strung under said tensile force, between said supporting means and said switching means.
5 more elements
A wire corona charging apparatus, comprising:
- an electrically conductive wire exhibiting a length;
- a frame formed by a first plate of a non-electrically conducting material, said frame having a channel extending along one surface over a distance accommodating disposition of said wire within said channel;
- a pair of shields of an electrically insulating material adjustably positioned spaced-apart upon opposite ends of said frame and enclosing different parts, but not all, of said length within said channel;
- means for resiliently supporting said wire within said channel while maintaining said wire under an axial tensile force and spaced-apart from interior surfaces of said channel, while applying an electrical current to said wire;
- means for converting a source of electrical energy into said electrical current;
- and
- switching means interposed within an electrical circuit controlling application of said electrical current to said supporting means, biased by said tensile force into a first mode of enabling conduction of said electrical energy to said converting means and biased by a second and lesser force into a second mode of interrupting said conduction of said electrical energy to said converting means, for interrupting said application of said electrical current to said supporting means upon breakage of said wire.
4 more elements
A wire corona charging apparatus, comprising:
- an electrically conductive wire exhibiting a length;
- a frame formed by a first plate of a non-electrically conducting material, said frame having a channel extending along one surface over a distance accommodating disposition of said wire within said channel;
- opposite ends of said frame bearing pairs of oppositely facing, spaced-apart grooves within and extending along said channel;
- and
- a pair of shields of electrically insulating material positioned within said grooves at different said opposite ends of said frame, to slide along said distance and enclose parts, but not all, of said length within said channel;
- means for resiliently supporting said wire within said channel while maintaining said wire under an axial tensile force and spaced-apart from interior surfaces of said channel, while applying an electrical current to said wire;
- means for converting a source of electrical energy into said electrical current;
- and
- switching means interposed within an electrical circuit controlling application of said electrical current to said supporting means, biased by said tensile force into a first mode of enabling conduction of said electrical energy to said converting means and biased by a second and lesser force into a second mode of interrupting said conduction of said electrical energy to said converting means, for interrupting said application of said electrical current to said supporting means upon breakage of said wire.
6 more elements
A wire corona charging apparatus, comprising:
- an electrically conductive wire exhibiting a length;
- a frame formed by a first plate of a non-electrically conducting material, said frame having a channel extending along one surface over a distance accommodating disposition of said wire within said channel;
- said frame being perforated by a plurality of ducts extending between a second surface of said frame and said channel to conduct fluid into said channel, each of said ducts opening into a different discrete orifice positioned within an array along a line within said channel disposed beneath said wire;
- means for resiliently supporting said wire within said channel while maintaining said wire under an axial tensile force and spaced-apart from interior surfaces of said channel, while applying an electrical current to said wire;
- means for converting a source of electrical energy into said electrical current;
- and
- switching means interposed within an electrical circuit controlling application of said electrical current to said supporting means, biased by said tensile force into a first mode of enabling conduction of said electrical energy to said converting means and biased by a second and lesser force into a second mode of interrupting said conduction of said electrical energy to said converting means, for interrupting said application of said electrical current to said supporting means upon breakage of said wire;
- means for introducing into said ducts for expulsion under pressure into said channel via each said orifice, a fluid consisting essentially of atmospheric air and water vapor.
5 more elements
A wire corona charging apparatus, comprising:
- an electrically conductive wire exhibiting a length;
- a frame formed by a first plate of a non-electrically conducting material, said frame having a channel extending along one surface over a distance accommodating disposition of said wire within said channel;
- said frame being perforated by a plurality of ducts extending between a second surface of said frame and said channel to conduct fluid into said channel, each of said ducts opening into a different discrete orifice positioned within an array along a line within said channel disposed beneath said wire;
- means for resiliently supporting said wire within said channel while maintaining said wire under an axial tensile force and spaced-apart from interior surfaces of said channel, while applying an electrical current to said wire;
- means for converting a source of electrical energy into said electrical current;
- and
- switching means interposed within an electrical circuit controlling application of said electrical current to said supporting means, biased by said tensile force into a first mode of enabling conduction of said electrical energy to said converting means and biased by a second and lesser force into a second mode of interrupting said conduction of said electrical energy to said converting means, for interrupting said application of said electrical current to said supporting means upon breakage of said wire;
- means for introducing into said ducts for expulsion under pressure into said channel via each said orifice, a fluid consisting essentially of atmospheric air and water vapor, with said fluid exhibiting a relative humidity within a range extending from about forty percent to about fifty-five percent.
5 more elements
A wire corona charging apparatus, comprising:
- an electrically conductive wire exhibiting a length;
- a frame formed by a first plate of a non-electrically conducting material, said frame having a channel extending along one surface over a distance accommodating disposition of said wire within said channel;
- said frame being perforated by a plurality of ducts extending between a second surface of said frame and said channel to conduct fluid into said channel, each of said ducts opening into a different discrete orifice positioned within an array along a line within said channel disposed beneath said wire;
- means for resiliently supporting said wire within said channel while maintaining said wire under an axial tensile force and spaced-apart from interior surfaces of said channel, while applying an electrical current to said wire;
- means for converting a source of electrical energy into said electrical current and
- switching means interposed within an electrical circuit controlling application of said electrical current to said supporting means, biased by said tensile force into a first mode of enabling conduction of said electrical energy to said converting means and biased by a second and lesser force into a second mode of interrupting said conduction of said electrical energy to said converting means, for interrupting said application of said electrical current to said supporting means upon breakage of said wire;
- means for introducing into said ducts for expulsion under pressure into said channel via each said orifice, a fluid consisting essentially of atmospheric air and water vapor, with said fluid exhibiting a relative humidity within a range extending from about forty percent to about sixty-five percent.
4 more elements
A wire corona charging apparatus, comprising:
- an electrically conductive wire exhibiting a length;
- a frame formed by a first plate of a non-electrically conducting material, said frame having a channel extending along one surface over a distance accommodating disposition of said wire within said channel;
- said frame being perforated by a plurality of ducts extending between a second surface of said frame and said channel to conduct fluid into said channel, each of said ducts opening into a different discrete orifice positioned within an array along a line within said channel disposed beneath said wire;
- means for resiliently supporting said wire within said channel while maintaining said wire under an axial tensile force and spaced-apart from interior surfaces of said channel, while applying an electrical current to said wire;
- means for converting a source of electrical energy into said electrical current;
- and
- switching means interposed within an electrical circuit controlling application of said electrical current to said supporting means, biased by said tensile force into a first mode of enabling conduction of said electrical energy to said converting means and biased by a second and lesser force into a second mode of interrupting said conduction of said electrical energy to said converting means, for interrupting said application of said electrical current to said supporting means upon breakage of said wire;
- means for introducing into said ducts for expulsion under pressure into said channel via each said orifice, a fluid consisting essentially of atmospheric air and water vapor, with said fluid exhibiting a relative humidity of less than ninety percent.
5 more elements
A process for treating material, comprising:
- maintaining an electrically conductive wire exhibiting a length suspended within a channel formed along one surface of a non-electrically conducting material over a distance accommodating disposition of said wire within said channel, while said wire is subject to an axially applied tensile force;
- positioning a counter roller maintained at an electrical reference potential, spaced-apart from said wire with an axis of said counter roller aligned parallel to said length;
- generating an electrical corona discharge emanating from said channel and toward said counter roller by applying an electrical potential different in value from said reference potential, to said length of said wire;
- applying said tensile force to bias an electrical switch forming an electrical circuit controlling application of said electrical potential to said length of said wire into a first mode of enabling said application of said electrical potential to said length of wire;
- applying a second and lesser force to bias said electrical switch into a second mode of interrupting said application of said electrical potential to said length of wire upon breakage of said wire;
- expelling under pressure through a plurality of discrete ducts terminating in orifices spaced-apart along said channel and oriented toward said wire, a fluid comprised of atmospheric air and water vapor, with said fluid exhibiting a relative humidity within a range extending from about forty percent to about ninety percent;
- and
- continuously drawing material reacting to said corona discharge, between said wire and said counter roller with the material passing through said corona discharge.
5 more elements
A process for treating material, comprising:
- maintaining an electrically conductive wire exhibiting a length suspended within a channel formed along one surface of a non-electrically conducting material over a distance accommodating disposition of said wire within said channel, while said wire is subject to an axially applied tensile force;
- positioning a counter roller maintained at an electrical reference potential, spaced-apart from said wire with an axis of said counter roller aligned parallel to said length;
- enclosing part, but not all, of said length of said channel, by adjusting positioning a shield of an electrically insulating material disposed between said wire and said counter roller, relative to one end of said channels;
- generating an electrical corona discharge emanating from said channel and toward said counter roller by applying an electrical potential different in value from said reference potential, to said length of said wire;
- applying said tensile force to bias an electrical switch forming an electrical circuit controlling application of said electrical potential to said length of said wire into a first mode of enabling said application of said electrical potential to said length of said wire;
- applying a second and lesser force to bias said electrical switch into a second mode of interrupting said application of said electrical potential to said length of wire upon breakage of said wire;
- and
- continuously drawing material reacting to said corona discharge, between said wire and said counter roller with the material passing through said corona discharge.
5 more elements
A process for treating material, comprising:
- maintaining an electrically conductive wire exhibiting a length suspended within a channel formed along one surface of a non-electrically conducting material over a distance accommodating disposition of said wire within said channel;
- positioning a counter roller maintained at an electrical reference potential, spaced-apart from said wire with an axis of said counter roller aligned parallel to said length;
- generating an electrical corona discharge emanating from said channel and toward said counter roller by applying an electrical potential different in value from said reference potential, to said length of said wire;
- expelling under pressure through a plurality of discrete ducts terminating in orifices spaced-apart along said channel and oriented toward said wire, a fluid comprised of atmospheric air and water vapor, with said fluid exhibiting a relative humidity within a range extending from about forty percent to about ninety percent;
- and
- continuously drawing material reacting to said corona discharge, between said wire and said counter roller with the material passing through said corona discharge.
3 more elements
A wire corona charging apparatus, comprising:
- an electrically conductive wire exhibiting a length;
- a frame formed by a first plate of a non-electrically conducting material, said frame having a channel extending along one surface over a distance accommodating disposition of said wire within said channel;
- means for resiliently supporting said wire within said channel while maintaining said wire spaced-apart from interior surfaces of said channel, while applying an electrical current to said wire;
- said frame being performed by a plurality of ducts extending between a second surface of said frame and said channel to conduct fluid into said channel, each of said ducts opening into different discrete orifice positioned within an array along a line within said channel disposed beneath said wire;
- and
- mean for introducing into said ducts for expulsion under pressure into said channel via each said orifice, a fluid consisting essentially of atmospheric air and water vapor, with said fluid exhibiting a relative humidity within a range extending from about forty percent to about ninety percent.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.