Abstract: An apparatus (10) useful for processing photosensitive media (16), such as photosensitive strips or sheets, in a corrosive environment has a transport mechanism (50) that includes first and second rollers (12, 14) each having a sleeve portion (26, 36) with bushings (28, 38) and intermeshing gears (30, 40) arranged thereon. The sleeve portions (26, 36), gears (30, 40) and bushings (28, 38) each comprise a ceramic material that resist wear, abrasion and corrosion when exposed to the corrosive environment.

Abstract: A method for making ink jet print head base elements which includes the steps of making a sacrificial mold of the ink jet print head, binder coagulation casting a ferroelectric, piezoelectric ceramic slurry into the sacrificial mold to form a green ceramic base element, and sintering the green ceramic base element while in the sacrificial mold to thereby burn off the sacrificial mold and yield a sintered, net shape, molded ink jet print head. complex shapes to thereby reduce the numbers of complex manufacturing steps. A three dimensional jet printing process can be used to form the sacrificial molds. Once the sacrificial mold has been made, a ferroelectric material (and preferably a piezoelectric material) is prepared using a binder coagulation process. The slurry of the ferroelectric material, preferably lead zirconium titinate (PbZrTiO.sub.3 hereinafter referred to as PZT) is poured into the mold. Once the ferroelectric material is poured into the mold, a chemical initiator is added.

Abstract: A modulator for modulating an incident beam of light having a wavelength .lambda. including a base having a surface; an electrode formed over the surface of the base; a plurality of equally spaced apart deformable elements arranged over the electrode and being disposed parallel to each other and secured at opposite ends of each spaced apart deformable element and suspended above the base and having at least two spaced apart conductive and reflective portions and a central reflective portion electrically insulated from the two spaced apart conductive and reflective portions and disposed therebetween; a reflective layer disposed over the base between the spaced apart deformable elements; and applying a potential between the electrode and the spaced apart conductive and reflective portions so that the spaced apart conductive and reflective portions are movable between first and second positions which are substantially .lambda./4 apart.

Abstract: An electrostatographic apparatus for providing images on a receiver, including an electrostatographic element movable along a path, having a substrate, an alloyed zirconia ceramic layer formed over the substrate and having an image receiving surface; and the image receiving surface of the alloyed zirconia ceramic layer being adapted to become electrically conductive when illuminated by a light source. The image receiving surface is illuminated with light in the pattern corresponding to an image so that the image receiving surface has electrically conductive and nonconductive portions which taken together represent the image. The image receiving surface is charged such that charge remains on the nonconductive portions of the image receiving surface. Toner particles are provided which adhere to the image receiving surface in the electrically conductive portions defining a developed image.

Abstract: An improved materials feeder equipment includes highly efficient, durable, and wear and abrasion resistant sliding contact elements. In particular, the equipment has a feeder box and a ware plate arranged for sliding contact, each having high precision tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (TZP) ceramic or, alternatively, zirconia-alumina composite.

Abstract: An integrated micro-ceramic chemical plant having a unitary ceramic body formed from multiple ceramic layers in the green state which are sintered together includes a reaction chamber and a first passage for providing communication with the reaction chamber so that two or more fluids may be delivered to such reaction chamber for reaction, and the unitary ceramic body defining a catalytic bed in the reaction chamber, such catalytic bed being formed of micro-porous ceramic impregnated with at least one catalyst for promoting the reaction in the reaction chamber to produce reaction products; and the unitary ceramic body defining a filtration channel connected to the reaction chamber including filters disposed in such filtration channel for separating the reaction products so as to retrieve desired reaction products.

Abstract: A magnetically driven apparatus useful, for instance, for conveying webs, utilizes magnetically coupled first and second rotatable elements and means for rotating one of the rotatable elements which causes the simultaneous synchronous rotation of the other rotatable element. Both first and second rotatable elements include a magnetic core, and a media bearing surface comprising a mixture of a polymeric matrix and a hard, inorganic particulate material wear and abrasion resistant layer surrounding the magnetic core. The means for rotating one of the rotatable elements includes a ferromagnetic stator member integrally associated with one of said first and second rotatable elements. The ferromagnetic stator member has a plurality of spatially separated pole teeth, wherein each of the pole teeth has an operably connected coil arranged for producing rotation of one of said first and second rotatable elements once the coil is energized.

Abstract: A hybrid, micro-electromagnetic light shutter includes a silicon body having a top surface with an arcuate groove formed on the top surface. A recess and a light aperture are formed in the top surface of the silicon body proximate to the arcuate groove. A shutter assemblage generally comprising metallic elements is provided with a rotatable shutter blade fixedly attached to a means for rotating. The means for rotating has a micro-magnetic element that interacts magnetically with an electromagnet for producing rotational movement. The shutter assemblage is arranged in the recess of the silicon body so that the means for rotating can be supported during rotation by the arcuate groove and be activated for rotational movement by the electromagnet.

Abstract: A modulator for modulating an incident beam of light includes a substrate having a cavity formed therein and a plurality of spaced-apart deformable elements formed in the cavity. The deformable elements each has a base layer, a poled magnetic layer formed in the base layer and a first light reflection layer deposited on the magnetic layer for reflecting an incident beam of light. Between adjacent deformable elements on the base of the cavity is arranged a second light reflection layer. A conductive element formed in the substrate electro-magnetically energizes the deformable elements to deflect in the cavity. Incident light passing through each one of the first light reflection layers is caused to destructively interfere with light reflected from the second light reflection layers thereby causing modulation of the incident light.

Abstract: The present invention is ceramic article of stabilized zirconia wherein the stabilized zirconia has a molar ratio of rare earth oxide:zirconia of from 1:99 to 15:85, at a weight percent of from about 97 to 75. The ceramic article includes smectite clay from about 3 to 25 weight percent wherein the article is a mass of sintered particles having a continuous tetragonal phase having dispersed therein monoclinic phase particles having size of less than 100 nm.

Abstract: A method of making an article of manufacture comprising a hybrid silicon-based micro-electromagnetic light shutter includes providing a silicon body having a top surface with an arcuate groove formed on the top surface. A recess and a light aperture are formed in the top surface of the silicon body proximate to the arcuate groove. A shutter assemblage generally comprising metallic elements is provided with a rotatable shutter blade fixedly attached to a means for rotating. The means for rotating has a micro-magnetic element that interacts magnetically with an electromagnet for producing rotational movement. The shutter assemblage is arranged in the recess of the silicon body so that the means for rotating can be supported during rotation by the arcuate groove and be activated for rotational movement by the electromagnet.

Abstract: A method of forming a piezoelectric element which includes piezoelectric material having a variable functionally gradient d-coefficient including coating a block having a uniform concentration of piezoelectric material with a predetermined porosity by applying a first layer having piezoelectric material with a same or different chemical composition than the block onto a surface of the block and having a different porosity than the predetermined porosity which is selected so as to provide a different morphological structure than the block; applying a subsequent layer of piezoelectric material on the first layer with the same or different chemical composition of piezoelectric material than the block and having a different porosity than the previously deposited layer so as to provide a different morphological structure than the block or the previously applied layer(s); applying heat to the block and the applied layer to dry the applied layer; and then applying heat to sinter the piezoelectric block and applied l

Abstract: A modulator (10) for modulating an incident beam of light includes a substrate (14) having a cavity (32) formed therein and a plurality of spaced-apart deformable elements (12) formed in the cavity (32). The deformable elements (12) each has a base layer (16), a poled magnetic layer (18) formed in the base layer (16) and a first light reflection layer (20) deposited on the magnetic layer (18) for reflecting an incident beam of light. Between adjacent deformable elements on the base (12) of the cavity (32) is arranged a second light reflection layer (36). A conductive element (22, 24) formed in the substrate (14) electro-magnetically energizes the deformable elements (12) to deflect in the cavity (32). Incident light passing through each one of the first light reflection layers (20) is caused to destructively interfere with light reflected from the second light reflection layers (36) thereby causing modulation of the incident light.

Abstract: An integrated micro-ceramic chemical plant having a unitary ceramic body formed from multiple ceramic layers in the green state which are sintered together including the unitary ceramic body defining a mixing chamber and passage means for providing communication with the mixing chamber so that two or more fluids may be delivered to such mixing chamber for mixing or reacting chemicals in the fluids; and the unitary ceramic body including means for delivering the mixed chemicals to exit from the unitary ceramic body.

Abstract: A fuser for fixing particulate imaging material to a receiver sheet, including a fuser roller and a pressure roller in contact with the fuser roller which engage each other at a fixing nip, wherein pressure is used in fixing the particulate imaging material to the receiver sheet; a supply of offset preventing oil with such offset preventing oil being adapted to react with the zirconia ceramic or its composites to prevent offset of the particulate imaging material; a metering roller in contact with the supply of offset preventing oil for wicking such offset preventing oil onto the surface of the metering roller. The method further includes a donor roller in contact with the metering roller and the fuser roller for receiving offset preventing oil from the metering roller and applying it to the surface of the fuser roller; and one of the rollers forming the fixing nip having a surface formed from zirconia ceramic or its composites which has a hardness greater than 12 GPa and toughness greater than 6 MPa.sqroot.

Abstract: A method of making a light modulator (10) for modulating an incident beam of light includes a substrate (14) having a cavity (32)formed therein and a plurality of spaced-apart deformable elements (12) formed in the cavity (32). The deformable elements (12) each has a base layer (16), a poled magnetic layer (18) formed in the base layer (16) and a first light reflection layer (20)deposited on the magnetic layer (18) for reflecting an incident beam of light. Between adjacent deformable elements on the base (12) of the cavity (32) is arranged a second light reflection layer (36). A conductive element (22, 24) formed in the substrate (14) electro-magnetically energizes the deformable elements (12) to deflect in the cavity (32). Incident light passing through each one of the first light reflection layers (20) is caused to destructively interfere with light reflected from the second light reflection layers (36) thereby causing modulation of the incident light.

Abstract: A wear resistant transport web (12) having a flexible base layer (76), and a first bonding layer (84) at least partially surrounding and bonded to the base layer (76). The wear resistant transport web (12) further comprises a first layer (86) comprising a corrosion resistant material, wherein said corrosion resistant material is electroplated nickel or electroless nickel, at least partially surrounds and is bonded to the first bonding layer (84) of the transport web (12). In addition, the wear resistant transport web (120 has a second bonding layer (88) is provided that at least partially surrounds and is bonded to the first layer (86). A second layer (90), comprising a wear and abrasion resistant material, wherein said wear and abrasion resistant materials is selected from the group consisting of: polyurethane; acrylic; silicon dioxide; alumina; chromium oxide; zirconium oxide; composites of zirconia-alumina; or a mixture thereof.

Abstract: An integrated micro-ceramic chemical plant having a unitary ceramic body formed from multiple ceramic layers in the "green" state which are sintered together including the unitary ceramic body defining a catalytic reaction chamber position and a first and second passages for providing communication with the catalytic reaction chamber position so that two or more fluids may be delivered to such reaction chamber position for reaction. The integrated micro-ceramic chemical plant further includes a unitary ceramic body defining a receiving chamber which includes the catalytic reaction chamber position, a movable member insertable into the receiving chamber and defining a plurality of catalytic reaction chambers. The movable member moves to the catalytic reaction chamber position where one of the catalytic reaction chambers is in communication with the first and second passages to cause the catalytic reaction of the fluids to produce reaction products.

Abstract: Image processing equipment (10) having an image processor housing (20) and a transport roller assemblage (100) for transporting a web (116) of donor dye material (44) arranged in the housing. The transport roller assemblage (100) has at least one of either the first and second rollers (112, 114) comprising a composite mixture of polymer and inorganic particulate materials (172). Alternatively, a hard coating (182, 184) is applied on a polymeric roller comprising primarily hard inorganic particles.

Abstract: An integrated micro-ceramic chemical plant having a unitary ceramic body formed from multiple ceramic layers in the "green" state which are sintered together includes the unitary ceramic body defining a reaction chamber and a first passage for providing communication with the catalytic reaction chamber so that two or more fluids may be delivered to such reaction chamber for reaction; the unitary ceramic body defining a receiving chamber connected to the reaction chamber. The integrated micro-ceramic chemical plant further includes a movable member insertable into the receiving chamber and having a plurality of micro- filters for separating the reaction products so as to retrieve desired reaction products; and the movable member is moved to a position where one of the micro filters is in communication with the reaction chamber for separating the reaction products.