Methods and apparatus for electrostatic dispensing fluid onto food products are disclosed. An electrostatic dispense system includes a material supply, a voltage block, and a power supply to electrostatically charge a coating material. The electrostatic dispense system further includes a dispense assembly, a conveyor through or by which a food product is configured to be conveyed, and a support that supports at least one liquid outlet of the dispense assembly. The dispense assembly dispenses the electrostatically charged coating material from the at least one liquid outlet onto the food product. The voltage block provides electrical isolation, and includes a pump that pumps the electrostatically charged coating material to the dispense assembly.

The present disclosure involves a powder particle deposition system for use with an additive manufacturing system, for moving powder particles without physical contact, to recreate a powder bed. The system uses a powder particle container forming a first electrode. A second electrode is spaced apart from the powder particle container and arranged non-parallel to the powder particle container. A signal source applies an electrical signal across the first and second electrodes to create an electric field between the electrodes which varies in strength, such that the electric field is stronger at one side of the powder particle container. This causes the powder particles to move out from the powder container, toward the second electrode, and then to be repelled by the second electrode and to fall onto the powder bed.

The invention is directed to a process for forming a particle film on a substrate. Preferably, a series of corona guns, staggered to optimize film thickness uniformity, are oriented on both sides of a slowly translating grounded substrate (copper or aluminum for the anode or cathode, respectively). The substrate is preferably slightly heated to induce binder flow, and passed through a set of hot rollers that further induce melting and improve film uniformity. The sheeting is collected on a roll or can be combined in-situ and rolled into a single-cell battery. The invention is also directed to products formed by the processes of the invention and, in particular, batteries.

Disclosed are a coating apparatus and a coating method. The coating apparatus includes a chamber, a support located in an interior space of the chamber and configured to support a substrate which is to be coated, an ejection nozzle configured to eject a coating material toward the support, and an electric field forming unit configured to form an electric field in a movement path of the coating material to provide kinetic energy for the coating material.

An apparatus is provided for generating water droplets. The apparatus includes: a condensation rod for condensing water vapor in air surrounding the condensation rod on the condensation rod; a cooling device being in contact with the condensation rod for cooling the condensation rod; a discharge electrode group including a first electrode and a second electrode cooperating with each other, the first electrode and the second electrode being disposed laterally, and the first electrode and the second electrode are respectively disposed on both sides of the condensation rod; and a high voltage power supply for applying a high voltage to the discharge electrode group to generate a high voltage corona between the first electrode and the second electrode; where the discharge electrode group applies the high voltage corona to the condensation rod, so that condensed water on the condensation rod is excited by the high voltage corona to form atomized water droplets.

An electrostatic device that includes: an air flow regulator system including a pressure regulator and an air flow regulator; a liquid flow regulating system including a set of restrictors; an electrostatic system including an electrostatic emission antenna and an insulating hood of the electrostatic emission antenna; an air-liquid nozzle that is separated from the electrostatic emission antenna; a tank; a positive displacement pump and a low-wetting electrostatic application method.

A device for the powder coating of objects includes a main body on which an electrode arrangement designed for producing a powder cloud is arranged and on which a metering device is arranged above the electrode arrangement and is designed for the controlled discharge of an amount of a powder onto the electrode arrangement. A powder coating installation is equipped with at least one such device for powder coating.

The invention is directed to a process for forming a particle film on a substrate. Preferably, a series of corona guns, staggered to optimize film thickness uniformity, are oriented on both sides of a slowly translating grounded substrate (copper or aluminum for the anode or cathode, respectively). The substrate is preferably slightly heated to induce binder flow, and passed through a set of hot rollers that further induce melting and improve film uniformity. The sheeting is collected on a roll or can be combined in-situ and rolled into a single-cell battery. The invention is also directed to products formed by the processes of the invention and, in particular, batteries.

A system for forming a particle layer on a substrate may include at least one sprayer and at least two masks configured to selectively mask a substrate in a first region and second region of the substrate. The at least one sprayer may be configured to spray particles at the substrate, where the at least two masks maintain the first region and second region substantially free of the deposited material. A heater may be employed to heat the substrate as the particles are sprayed by the at least one sprayer onto the substrate.

A method for making functionally gradient coatings by 3D printing based on electrostatic spinning and electrostatic spraying is disclosed, which uses a hybrid 3D printing system based on electrostatic spinning and electrostatic spraying including: a first injection pump, a second injection pump, a first nozzle, a second nozzle, a high voltage power supply, a core rod collector, a controller, a motor and a speed-adjusting unit. The first injection pump, the first nozzle, the high voltage power supply, the core rod collector and the controller constitute an electrostatic spinning subsystem. The second injection pump, the second nozzle, the high voltage power supply, the core rod collector and the controller constitute an electrostatic spraying subsystem. The electrostatic spinning subsystem is controlled by the controller to generate a first material coating, and the electrostatic spraying subsystem is controlled by the controller to generate a second material coating. The method can make multiple layers of functional gradient coatings according to individual needs.