Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Manuel C Blanco

John A Gorczyca

Steven J Mandrachia

Richard D Rodrigo

Various aspects of the disclosure provides for an ionized air blower that can be used to neutralize static charge on a target surface or provide a charge on the target surface. The ionized air blower may comprise a fan configured to generate airflow toward a target surface, an ionizer configured to produce positive ions and negative ions in the airflow, and control circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to control one or both of a speed of the airflow from the blower and ionization of the airflow. The ionization is performed by a selected one of ion imbalanced mode or ion balanced mode of the blower.

Method and apparatus for an ionized air blower

An ionization system includes a power supply and an ionizer. In a first operating state, properties of an output are set to fixed non-zero baseline levels, and in a second operating state, are set to neutralizing levels. The fixed baseline level is different than the neutralizing level for at least one of the properties. A downstream charge sensor measures an object charge. A controller switches the power supply between the first and second states during a sequence of alternating first and second time periods, during the first time period only, senses a current flow to the ionizer, during the second time period only, receives measured charge data from the sensor, during the second time period only, adjusts the neutralizing levels based on the charge data, and during the first or second time period, calculates an upstream object charge based on sensed current flow or determines a relative ionizer condition.

Active ionization control with closed loop feedback and interleaved sampling

A method for optimizing performance of a static neutralizing power supply coupled to a controller and configured to provide an output to at least one ionizer includes, (a) during a first time period, sensing a current flow to the at least one ionizer, and (b) comparing, in the controller, an expected current flow to the sensed current flow. A difference between the expected and sensed current flows is proportional to a charge on an object to be neutralized proximate the at least one ionizer. The method further includes (c) adjusting, by the controller and based on the comparison, one or more properties of the output to the at least one ionizer to neutralize the charge on the object during a second time period following the first time period, and (d) periodically repeating steps (a)-(c) for successive first and second time periods.

Active ionization control with interleaved sampling and neutralization

A bipolar ionization apparatus includes a positive high voltage power supply having an output with at least one positive ion emitting electrode connected thereto and configured to generate positive ions. A negative high voltage power supply has an output with at least one negative ion emitting electrode connected thereto and is configured to generate negative ions. A controller for an ionizer outputs a positive high voltage ionization waveform and a negative high voltage ionization waveform. The controller simultaneously adjusts an amplitude and a duty cycle of each of the waveforms.

Multiple-axis control apparatus for ionization systems

A method of determining a relative condition of an ionizer in an ionization system includes placing the ionization system in a calibration mode, stepping the ionization system through one or more of a range of adjustments, collecting calibration data at each step and storing the calibration data in a memory, placing the ionization system in an operating mode, collecting real-time data regarding an output of the ionization system, comparing the real-time data to the calibration data and determining difference values therebetween, and using the difference values to determine the relative condition of the ionizer.

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Hillsborough, NJ, United States of America

Manuel C Blanco