grounded conductive core the rolls form a nip which attenuates the filaments continuously through the electrostatic charging zone and propels them downwardly into the electrostatic force field toward a collecting surface which preferably is a moving nonconductive belt for collecting filaments in the form of a nonwoven web and carrying the web continuously out of the electrostatic force field a high voltage capacitor located underneath the collecting belt slightly separated from the belt and dominating the entire width of the collecting area on the collecting belt provides an electrostatic force field between the nip rolls and the collecting belt the drawing is a schematic illustration of apparatus used in practicing the invention the embodiment chosen for purposes of illustration includes as major components thereof a melt spinning spinneret 10 for extruding filaments 12 an electrostatic charging means generally designated 14 a pair of contiguous electrically grounded counter rotating rolls 16 18 a moving collecting surface 20 and a high voltage capacitor 22 located underneath the collecting surface 20 the electrostatic charging means 14 consists of electrode 3 and a target bar 4 that is grounded through connector 7 electrode 3 consists of a row of needles only one shown with their points spaced from and aimed at target bar 4 the needles 3 are connected to voltage generator 5 which is grounded through connector 6 suitable charging equipment is described in more detail in disabato and owens pat no 3 163 753 the rolls 16 18 have elastomeric coverings 16a 18a and conductive cores 16b 18b grounded through conductors 15 and 17 respectively a suitable covering 16a 18a consists of a chlorosulfonated polyethylene such as.