Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
An electrostatic coating blade for applying a coating of a liquid onto an object, the blade comprising at least one liquid conducting channel extending to an associated channel outlet, means present in and at each outlet for applying an electrostatic potential to liquid present at the outlet(s), a surface composed of a non-conductive material located in front of the channel outlet(s) and a discharge edge forming an end of the
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
70 words
An electrostatic coating blade for applying a coating of a liquid onto an object, the blade comprising at least one liquid conducting channel extending to an associated channel outlet, means present in and at each outlet for applying an electrostatic potential to liquid present at the outlet(s), a surface composed of a non-conductive material located in front of the channel outlet(s) and a discharge edge forming an end of the
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A blade as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distance between the channel outlet(s) and the discharge edge is in the range of from 1 to 3 mm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A blade as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distance between the channel outlet(s) and the discharge edge is approximately 2.5 mm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A blade as claimed in claim 1, which includes a conduit extending along the length of the blade and wherein the or each channel extends between the conduit and said channel outlet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
63 words
A blade as claimed in claim 1, wherein the blade is composed of first and second halves, the said channel(s) extending between the two halves and the said first half being composed of an insulating material and terminating in the said discharge edge and also extending beyond the second half to provide said non-conductive surface between the channel outlet(s) and the discharge edge.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A blade as claimed in claim 5, wherein the said second half is composed of an insulating material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A blade as claimed in claim 5, wherein the said second half is composed of a conductive material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A blade as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first half has an outer coating of a conductive material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
A blade as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for applying an electrostatic potential to liquid present at the outlet(s) is a metal strip located in the or each channel in the vicinity of the outlet thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
A blade as claimed in claims 1, wherein the blade is composed of two conductive halves between which the channel(s) extend and a strip of insulating material extends in front of the channel outlet(s), the said non-conductive surface and the said discharge edge being formed on the said insulating strip.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
A blade as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insulating surface is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of a polycarbonate, a ceramics material, a polymethylmethacrylate and an epoxy resin.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of applying a coating of a liquid onto an object using an electrostatic coating blade to which the liquid is fed, the blade comprising one or more channels each extending to a channel outlet and a surface made of non-conductive material located in front of the channel outlet(s) and terminating in a discharge edge, the discharge edge being located 0.5 to 4 mm from the channel outlet(s), wherein the method comprises supplying liquid to the channel outlet(s), applying an electrostatic potential to liquid in and at the channel outlet(s) and establishing an electrostatic field between the liquid at the channel outlet(s) and the object to be coated, thereby causing a stream of reducing thickness to be drawn towards the discharge edge and further causing liquid to be discharged from the discharge edge onto the object.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of applying a coating of a liquid onto an object using an electrostatic coating blade to which the liquid is fed, the blade comprising one or more channels each extending to a channel outlet and a surface made of non-conductive material located in front of the channel outlet(s) and terminating in a discharge edge, the discharge edge being located 0.5 to 4 mm from the channel outlet(s), wherein the method comprises supplying liquid to the channel outlet(s), applying an electrostatic potential to liquid in and at the channel outlet(s) and establishing an electrostatic field between the liquid at the channel outlet(s) and the object to be coated, thereby causing a stream of reducing thickness to be drawn towards the discharge edge and further causing liquid to be discharged from the discharge edge onto the object.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein liquid collects as a bead at the liquid outlet(s).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
92 words
An electrostatic coating blade for applying a coating of a liquid onto an object, the blade comprising at least one liquid conducting slot extending to a slot outlet, means present in and at the slot outlet for applying an electrostatic potential to liquid present at the outlet, a surface composed of non-conductive material located in front of the slot outlet and a discharge edge forming an end of the surface, wherein there is a distance between the slot outlet and the discharge edge in the range of from 1.0 to 4 mm.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
92 words
An electrostatic coating blade for applying a coating of a liquid onto an object, the blade comprising at least one liquid conducting slot extending to a slot outlet, means present in and at the slot outlet for applying an electrostatic potential to liquid present at the outlet, a surface composed of non-conductive material located in front of the slot outlet and a discharge edge forming an end of the surface, wherein there is a distance between the slot outlet and the discharge edge in the range of from 1.0 to 4 mm.