Patent ID: 6920030

Claim:
An apparatus for draining concentrated static electrical charges built-up on a traveling web of dielectric material comprising: discharge means comprising at least one monolithic metal foil member, said metal foil member including a plurality of spaced apart needle point projections extending from said metal foil member, each needle point projection located adjacent another needle point projection in a linear array whereby said discharge means is connected to ground potential and each needle projection of said plurality of needle point projections is mounted in close proximity to the surface and in cross-direction to the direction of travel of said web of dielectric material; an isolator member composed of an insulating material and including isolator member assembly means; a clamp member comprised of an insulating material and including clamp member assembly means; said metal foil member further including a planar portion having metal member assembly means arranged thereon, whereby said metal member planar portion is adapted to be captured and retained between said isolator member and said clamp member with said isolator assembly means, metal member assembly means and said clamp member assembly means cooperating to engage and retain said metal member between said isolator and said clamp with said linear array of needle point projections extending from said assembly thereby forming a discharge assembly; and responsive to said concentrated static electrical fields said needle point projections cause ionization of the gasses surrounding said discharge means thereby draining the static electrical charges to said ground potential through said discharge means.