The generator uses a Teflon pulley at the lower end of the machine, attached to an electric motor. A rubber belt passes over the pulley. As the pulley turns, the pulley acquires a negative charge while the inside surface of the belt near the pulley acquires an equal amount of positive charge. The outside surface of the belt acquires an equal amount of negative charge by induction. The Teflon pulley retains the negative charges that it acquires.
Positive charges stay on the inside surface of the belt and travel upwards as the belt moves.
At the top, it runs over an aluminum pulley that conducts the positive charges and retains them. Free electrons from the metallic pulley flow on to the belt and are carried down to the the lower plastic pulley. As the belt keeps running, more charges are deposited on both pulleys. The positive charges are transferred to the collector dome and the negative charges are drained into the ground. The belt plays an important role in transporting negative charges from the upper comb to the lower comb and positive charges from the lower comb to the upper comb.