Patent attributes
A electrostatic powder feeder includes a body having a cavity. The cavity is shaped and sized to hold a supply of powder particles and is defined by a cavity wall. A diverter is disposed in the cavity and positioned away from the cavity wall so as to create a powder flow space between the diverter and cavity wall. The feeder includes an electrode and a powder landing surface connected to a power supply. The electrode is positioned remotely from the powder landing surface at a distance at which it can act upon powder resting upon the powder landing surface. An aperture through which powder particles may fall is disposed in or proximate to the powder landing surface. An insulator is positioned between the electrode and the powder landing surface. The power supply produces an alternating electric potential that creates an alternating electric field between the electrode and powder landing surface that causes powder particles to oscillate and eventually fall through the aperture. In an alternative embodiment, the powder landing surface is on a diaphragm connected to the body and disposed below the powder flow space. The diaphragm is sized and shaped to hold a quantity of powder falling from the powder flow space. The diaphragm includes an aperture. A vibration actuator is affixed to the diaphragm, which provides a vibratory force to the powder particles.
