In general, according to one embodiment, a film coating apparatus includes a discharge section configured to discharge a film formation material; a voltage application section configured to apply a voltage to the film formation material, and to set the film formation material at a high potential relative to a film formation object which is subjected to film formation; a mask disposed at a position overlapping a non-coating portion of the film formation object along a direction from the discharge section toward the non-coating portion; and a potential adjusting module configured to make a potential of the mask equal to a potential of the film formation object.

The present invention relates to a method and device for increasing the quantity of electric charges in a chemical solution of an electrostatic sprayer. The method uses a liquid storage cavity of the electrostatic sprayer and an electrostatic module for generating static electricity. The liquid storage cavity is divided into a charging cavity and a chemical solution supply cavity. The charging cavity is isolated from the chemical solution supply cavity. An electrostatic output electrode of the electrostatic module applies static electricity to a chemical solution in the charging cavity in a static state so that the chemical solution carries a high content of electric charges. After the chemical solution carried with a high content of electric charges is sprayed out, the chemical solution in the chemical solution supply cavity is supplied into the charging cavity, so that the sprayed chemical solution is allowed to carry a high content of electric charges by charging static electricity to a small amount of the chemical solution in a stepped manner. In the method and device for increasing the quantity of electric charges in a chemical is solution of an electrostatic sprayer provided by the present invention, without changing the capacity, the quantity of electric charges in a part of the chemical solution in the liquid storage cavity is increased, the quantity of electric charges in the sprayed chemical solution is thus increased, and the absorption effect of the chemical solution is improved.

An electrodischarge apparatus has a nozzle that includes a discharge chamber that has an inlet for receiving a liquid and an outlet. The apparatus has a first electrode extending into the discharge chamber that is electrically connected to one or more high-voltage capacitors. A second electrode is proximate to the first electrode to define a gap between the first and second electrodes. A switch causes the one or more capacitors to discharge across the gap between the electrodes to create a plasma bubble which expands to form a shockwave that escapes from the nozzle ahead of the plasma bubble.

An electrodischarge apparatus has a nozzle that includes a discharge chamber that has an inlet for receiving a liquid and an outlet. The apparatus has a first electrode extending into the discharge chamber that is electrically connected to one or more high-voltage capacitors. A second electrode is proximate to the first electrode to define a gap between the first and second electrodes. A switch causes the one or more capacitors to discharge across the gap between the electrodes to create a plasma bubble which expands to form a shockwave that escapes from the nozzle ahead of the plasma bubble.

This manual gun (2) for applying a coating product comprises a high voltage unit (42), designed for electrostatically charge the coating product at a voltage/flow rate characteristic when it is supplied with electric power, and adjustment means (16), for selecting, from among several pre-adjusted voltage/current characteristics, the voltage/current characteristic according to which the product is electrostatically charged. This gun also comprises a control member (10), which is maneuverable between an inactive configuration, where it opposes the application of the coating product and wherein the high voltage unit (42) is not supplied with electric power, and an active configuration, wherein it does not oppose the application of the coating product and wherein the high voltage unit is supplied with electric power. The adjustment means (16) comprise control buttons, giving the possibility of manually adjusting the flow rate of coating product applied by the gun when the control member (10) is in an active configuration and of selecting the voltage/current characteristic when the control member is in an inactive configuration.

A rotary atomizing head (4) is mounted on a front end side of an air motor (3). A shaping air ring (9) with air spout holes (10, 11) formed therein is provided on the rear side of the rotary atomizing head (4). The shaping air ring (9) is formed of a conductive material and is connected to ground. External electrode units (13) are provided in the periphery of the rotary atomizing head (4). A film cover (17) made of an insulating material is provided to cover an outer peripheral side of the air motor (3). A semi conductive member (21) is replaceably mounted to an adaptor (16) provided on an outer peripheral side of the shaping air ring (9). A rear end part (21B) of the semi conductive member (21) is made in contact with a front end part (19D) of the film cover (17). A front end part (21C) of the semi conductive member (21) is made in contact with the shaping air ring (9).

A rotary atomizing head (4) is mounted on a front end side of an air motor (3). A shaping air ring (9) with air spout holes (10, 11) formed therein is provided on the rear side of the rotary atomizing head (4). The shaping air ring (9) is formed of a conductive material and is connected to ground. External electrode units (13) are provided in the periphery of the rotary atomizing head (4). A film cover (17) made of an insulating material is provided to cover an outer peripheral side of the air motor (3). A semi conductive member (21) is replaceably mounted to an adaptor (16) provided on an outer peripheral side of the shaping air ring (9). A rear end part (21B) of the semi conductive member (21) is made in contact with a front end part (19D) of the film cover (17). A front end part (21C) of the semi conductive member (21) is made in contact with the shaping air ring (9).

An electrostatic atomizer (100) includes: a spray electrode (1); a reference electrode (2); a current control section (24) for controlling a value of a current flowing through the reference electrode (2); and a voltage application section (22) for applying a voltage across the spray electrode (1) and the reference electrode (2), based on the value of the current controlled by the current control section (24), the reference electrode (2) having a tip whose shape has a specific curvature radius.

A method for simultaneous additive manufacturing and thickness-limited, electrospray deposition may include forming an electrically conductive target via additive manufacturing and exposing the electrically conductive target to an incident spray comprising a thermo-responsive polymer solution, in the presence of an electric field. The electrically conductive target may have a surface temperature, the thermo-responsive polymer solution may have a solution temperature, and the thermo-responsive polymer solution may include a non-conductive polymer. The method may further include allowing the solution temperature to deviate toward the surface temperature to a deposited temperature at which the non-conductive polymer is immobile. The method may further include allowing the non-conductive polymer to accumulate on the electrically conductive target to form a layer, having a thickness sufficient to repulse the incident spray.

A cartridge for an electrostatic spraying device according to the present invention is a cartridge for an electrostatic spraying device, the cartridge comprises a storage bag having a storage section in which a liquid composition is stored, the storage section is surrounded by a joint portion formed by joining a pair of laminates, each of the laminates comprises an innermost layer on the joint portion side, an outermost layer on a side opposite to the innermost layer, and a barrier layer between the innermost layer and the outermost layer, and the liquid composition comprises 50 mass % or more of a volatile liquid agent selected from alcohols and ketones.