Abstract: A reusable photoreceptor assembly has a gear assembly removable from a photoreceptor. A square leaf spring or ring is used to secure and remove the gear assembly to and from the photoreceptor, thereby avoiding damage to both the gear assembly and photoreceptor during the removal of the gear assembly. The undamaged gear assembly and photoreceptor may then be reused.

Abstract: There is disclosed a coating method involving a dispensing apparatus defining a particulate material exit opening including: (a) rotating a first applicator and an adjacent second applicator against a substrate, wherein the first applicator and the second applicator define a gap region therebetween; and (b) introducing particulate material into the gap region from the particulate material exit opening positioned at the gap region and moving a portion of the particulate material across the gap region to the substrate, wherein the rotation of the first applicator and the second applicator rubs the particulate material against the substrate.

Abstract: A hollow cylinder supporting end flange including a disk shaped member having a circular periphery and a coil spring having a major plane substantially parallel to the major plane of the disk shaped member, an exposed arcuate outer periphery having a diameter larger than the inside diameter of the hollow cylinder, an outer exposed end and an inner end, the inner end comprising a section secured to the end flange and the exposed arcuate outer periphery of the coil spring being adjacent the circular periphery of the disk shaped member for engagement with a hollow cylindrical member upon insertion of the coil spring into the hollow cylindrical member.

Abstract: There is disclosed a dip coating method comprising: (a) shaping the widths of a plurality of hollow, flexible, endless substrates into an elongated shape and arranging the plurality of the elongated substrates into a configuration for dipping into a coating solution of a single coating vessel prior to (c); (b) dipping the plurality of the substrates having the elongated shape into a coating solution disposed in the coating vessel; and (c) raising the plurality of the substrates having the elongated shape from the coating solution, thereby resulting in coated substrates.

Abstract: A hub for supporting a tube is provided. The hub includes an expandable body adapted to be mounted at least partially in the tube and a resilient urging member. The urging member has at least a portion of the urging member internal to the body to expand the body so that a portion of the body contacts the tube.

Abstract: There is disclosed a dip coating method for fabricating a photosensitive member employing a substrate which defines a top non-imaging portion, a middle imaging portion, and a bottom non-imaging portion, wherein the method comprises: (a) immersing the bottom non-imaging portion, the middle imaging portion, and optionally a part of the top non-imaging portion of the substrate in a coating solution; (b) raising the middle imaging portion out of the coating solution; and (c) raising the bottom non-imaging portion out of the coating solution at a take-up speed which is decreasing from the take-up speed of the substrate at the junction between the middle imaging portion and the bottom non-imaging portion, thereby reducing the size of any bead on the bottom non-imaging portion.

Abstract: There is disclosed a substrate reclaim method comprising directing laser energy at a coating covering a part of an outer surface of a substrate, wherein the outer surface has a shiny finish, thereby removing with the laser energy all of the coating on the outer surface and etching with the laser energy a portion of the outer surface to change the etched outer surface portion from a shiny finish to a matte finish.

Abstract: Process for coating flexible belt seams including providing a flexible belt having an outwardly facing surface and a welded seam, forming a smooth liquid coating comprising a hardenable film forming polymer on the welded seam, the coating being substantially free of fugitive solvent, and hardening the coating to form a smooth solid coating on the seam.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for heating a portion of an article comprised of nickel, formed by electrodeposition, and possessing an internal stress sufficient to shrink the outer cross-sectional dimension upon application of heat, thereby shrinking the outer cross-sectional dimension of the heated portion. The method may be used to couple the article to other members such as end flanges without the use of an adhesive.

Abstract: An electrostatographic imaging member assembly comprising a hollow electrostatographic imaging drum having a first end and a second end, at least one coating on the drum extending from the first end of the drum to the second end of the drum, the coating having an outer electrostatographic imaging surface, drum supporting hubs mounted on the first end of the drum and the second end of the drum, the drum supporting hubs comprising a disk shaped member comprising a disk shaped segment having an exposed annular landing strip surface parallel to and flush with the electrostatographic imaging surface, the annular landing strip surface having a width of at least about 3 millimeters and having an imaginary axis coextensive with an imaginary axis of the drum. The electrostatographic imaging member assembly may be utilized in electrostatographic imaging apparatus in which the hubs support electrostatographic imaging apparatus subassembly components.

Abstract: There is disclosed a chuck assembly for engaging the inner surface of a hollow substrate comprising: (a) a fluid impermeable elastic membrane including a substrate engaging portion, wherein the inner surface of the membrane defines an interior space; and (b) a plurality of radially movable members at least partially disposed in the interior space, wherein the membrane is dimensioned to provide a radially inward force on the members, wherein the members in a radially expanded position push the substrate engaging portion of the membrane against the substrate inner surface, and wherein the peripheral dimension of the elastic membrane decreases when the members are in a radially contracted position.

Abstract: A laser ablation apparatus includes a nozzle, disposed through a housing, wherein the nozzle has: (i) a nozzle housing comprised of a bottom surface; (ii) a first orifice defined by the bottom surface; (iii) a second orifice defined by the bottom surface; (iv) a first passageway defined by the nozzle housing in communication with the first orifice; and (v) a second passageway defined by the nozzle housing in communication with the second orifice, wherein the portion of the second passageway adjacent the second orifice forms an angle .theta..sub.3 with the portion of the first passageway adjacent the first orifice, wherein the angle .theta..sub.3 is effective for directing a first fluid stream through the second orifice at the surface of the enclosed substrate portion to facilitate removal of the coating in the form of coating debris during or subsequent to exposure of the coating of an enclosed substrate portion to high energy radiation.

Abstract: A film coating apparatus and feed system therefor which comprise:(a) a feeder for dispensing a particulate material at a substantially uniform rate;(b) a jet mill which receives the particulate material from the feeder, wherein the jet mill processes the particulate material by breaking up particle agglomerations and by dispersing substantially uniformly the particulate material into a carrier fluid to result in a processed particulate material;(c) a substrate coating assembly comprising a rotatable applicator; and(d) a tubing having a material receiving end to receive the processed particulate material from the jet mill and a material feeding end to dispense the processed particulate material to the substrate coating assembly, wherein the feeding end is adjacent the surface of the applicator.

Abstract: There is disclosed a substrate holding apparatus comprising: (a) a member comprised of a top surface, a bottom surface, a center region and a plurality of segments disposed around and integral with the center region, the segments being defined by a plurality of slits in the member, wherein the segments bend and overlap when subjected to a compressive force, thereby decreasing the width of the member, and wherein the extent of bending and overlapping of the segments spontaneously decreases when the compressive force lessens, thereby increasing the width of the member; and (b) compressive force mechanism operatively associated with the member for controlling the amount of compressive force on the member.

Abstract: Apparatus and processes for supporting hollow cylinders including a cantilevered arm having a supported end and an unsupported free end and a plurality of rotatable wheels arranged concentrically around the outer periphery of and supported by the arm, the wheels being adapted to receive and support the interior of at least one hollow cylinder. This apparatus may be employed in a process for treating at least one hollow cylinder.

Abstract: There is disclosed a photoreceptor assembly comprising: (a) a substrate coated with layered material including a photoconductive material, wherein imaginary lines define the substrate into a center section disposed between a first end section and a second end section, and wherein the first end section defines an end edge and a surface hole; and (b) a flange member engaged with the first end section of the substrate, wherein the flange member is comprised of a projection which fits into the surface hole of the first end section, and wherein there is absent any adhesive between the engaging surfaces of the substrate and the flange member.

Abstract: Apparatus and process are disclosed for fabricating an endless metal belt comprising a center region between a first end region and a second end region, wherein a portion of the first end region is at least 1.5 times thicker than the center region, thereby resulting in a thickened end portion.

Abstract: A system for loading a plurality of cylindrical members, initially oriented to longitudinally extend in a first direction, into a processing module adapted to receive the plurality of cylindrical members longitudinally extending in a second direction, is disclosed. The system is particularly adapted for use in a rotary atomization manufacturing system for manufacturing photoreceptors from the cylindrical member in the form of substrate members. The system includes a first support structure for receiving and retaining removably thereon the plurality of cylindrical members oriented to longitudinally extend in the first direction. The system transfers the plurality of cylindrical members, longitudinally extending in the first direction, to the first support structure. The system includes a second support structure for receiving and retaining removably thereon the plurality of cylindrical members oriented to longitudinally extend in the second direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning cylindrical surfaces includes a plurality of cleaning stations. Each cleaning station is designed to receive a substrate and includes a plurality of nozzles. The inlet end of each nozzle is connected to a source of liquid Carbon Dioxide, and the outlet end of each nozzle is connected to one end of a respective Carbon Dioxide expansion chamber. Liquid Carbon dioxide leaving each nozzle is converted to solid Carbon Dioxide in the corresponding expansion chamber. The other end of each Carbon Dioxide expansion chamber is coupled to a respective funnel which is, in turn, connected to a dispersing saddle. The dispersing saddles disperse the stream of solid Carbon Dioxide particles leaving each funnel and direct these particles to the substrate surface. The dispersing saddles are placed such that the entire circumference of the substrate surface is enveloped within the various streams of solid Carbon Dioxide particles.

Abstract: A system for for removing a band of coating material from a first end of a coated cylinder having a second opposite end including ablating the band of coating material with a laser beam and directing an annular curtain of compressed fluid against the band in a direction away from the second opposite end to create an air curtain along the outer surface of the cylinder in a direction from the second opposite end toward the band and the first end.