An electrostatic sheet stapler using positive and negative corona charging

An electrostatic sheet stapler (ESS) that can paste a sheet material on a target by electrostatic force has been developed as an adherence and removal method for future sheet devices. The stapler was composed of two couples of needle to grid electrodes as positive and negative corona chargers with an insulator support dividing the two corona chargers. The proposed sheet material has two adherence areas where the surface can be charged up and a functional area where a thin and flexible functional device is placed; typically devices from printable electronics technology. The sheet device is adhered onto the target electrostatically; therefore, the force can be easily controlled, which provides a possible mechanization process for the adherence and removal of sheet devices without an adhesive material. Here we describe the theoretical concept of the ESS and measure the withstanding weight using a test model ESS. The time variation and distribution of the surface potential on the charged sheet and the adherence force are also reported.