Device for the neutralisation of electrostatic charges on packaging material surfaces

A device for the neutralisation of electrostatic charges, for use in packaging machinery, where the polymer sheets used have a high surface resistance, so that considerable electrostatic charges have to be eliminated. The device comprises an ionisation electrode 6 supplied with a high voltage and having discharge points 14. The earthed counter-electrode 7 is embodied as a metal wire which has a diameter of 1 to 3 mm, and is arranged in the immediate vicinity of the web of packaging material 1 parallel to and on one side of the row of discharge points 14. The distance between the counter-electrode and the discharge points is 5-7 mm, the distance between the counter-electrode and the web of packaging material is 1-2 mm and the distance between the discharge points and the web of packaging material is 4-5 mm. The ionisation electrode comprises several windings of wire over an insulating sleeve on a high voltage metal bar, the ends of the windings extending to form the discharge points.