Electrostatic dispensing apparatus and method

Abstract

An electrostatic dispensing system for dispensing flowable liquid material onto a moving substrate. The electrostatic dispensing system includes multiple liquid dispensers that are aligned along a common axis and supported in spaced, non-contacting relationship on one side of the moving substrate. Each of the liquid dispensers includes a valve to control the flow of fluid through the dispenser. An electrostatic field generator is supported in spaced, non-contacting relationship on the opposite side of the moving substrate to generate an electrostatic field through the moving substrate. The electrostatic field operates to attract flowable liquid material from dispensing outlets associated with the multiple liquid dispensers as a series of spaced, continuous streams or beads which intersect a surface of the moving substrate facing the liquid dispensers. The beads of flowable material are deposited on the surface of the moving substrate in a series of uniform, continuous beads which are formed generally parallel to a direction of travel of the moving substrate. Methods of electrostatically dispensing flowable material onto a moving substrate are also disclosed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.