Research on Handling of Leaf Using Static Electricity

Gold leaf is traditional craft in Japan. Manufacturing process of gold leaf is mostly done by hand. The aging craftsmen who produce gold leaf and the lack of their successors are serious problems. Therefore, we focus on the automation of the process “Hakuutushi”. It is the process of transferring only a sheet of gold leaf from between the stacks of gold leaves and carbon papers. This work requires a lot of concentration and delicacy. The key to automation is the handling technology for lifting and releasing the leaf. We found the electrostatic adsorption method using thread for it. We investigated the cause about why thread can adsorb leaf. It was found that the thread is charged by the transfer of electric charge through water on the surface of the threads. We also suggest the optimal shape of thread for handing the leaf.