Abstract: A system for loading a sleeve-like substrate into a processing module is disclosed. The system engages and retains a sleeve-like substrate by utilizing a first load head of a robot. The first load head typically engages and removes the sleeve-like substrate from a conveyor. The first load head transfer the sleeve-like substrate to a processing station module within the system. A second load head of the robot removes the sleeve-like substrate from the processing station module and transfers the module to a movable support structure. The robot provides movement of first or second load heads from a first position to a second position to orient the sleeve-like member in alignment with the support structure. The support structure inserts the sleeve-like substrate into the processing chamber for further processing. The system is particularly adapted for use in a rotary atomization manufacturing system in which a photoreceptor is manufactured by processing the sleeve-like substrate.

Abstract: A process for treating a coated substrate to reduce the thickness of the coating involves directing a laser beam at a predetermined surface portion of the substrate to remove part of the coating. The process can be used to treat a coated photoreceptor to precisely reduce the thickness of the coating in a predetermined region.

Abstract: A process for treating a predetermined portion of a coating on a photoreceptor to remove at least part of the coating involves directing a source of high energy irradiation at the coating in the presence of at least one fluid medium to remove at least part of the coating from the predetermined portion of the coating. The source of high energy irradiation is preferably a laser beam, ultrasonic energy, or a source of high intensity heat. The at least one fluid medium is preferably at least one gas jet, liquid jet or a liquid solvent.

Abstract: An endless belt is disclosed comprising: (a) an electrodeposited metal layer having a first end region and a second end region; and (b) an electrically conductive stiffening member integrated with the first end region. There is also disclosed a process comprising: (a) positioning a first electrically conductive stiffening member in a first end region of a mandrel; (b) depositing a layer of metal over the mandrel and over the first stiffening member to form an article comprised of a first end region, and thereby integrating the first stiffening member with the first end region of the article; and (c) removing the article and the integral first stiffening member from the mandrel.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for internally holding an at least partially hollow substrate having at least one open end. The apparatus includes a member defining a fluid passageway, a normally inflated porous material mounted on the member in communication with the fluid passageway of the member, and a mechanism, in communication with the member, for deflating the porous material, the deflating mechanism being de-energized in response to the porous material being disposed into the opening in the substrate for enabling the porous material to return to being normally inflated to hold the substrate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for drying or curing rigid cylindrical and flexible belt substrates includes: a curing chamber defining a central axis; a support structure selectively receivable within the curing chamber and including a support for at least one substrate along the central axis which rotates the at least one substrate about the central axis; a curing mechanism surrounding the at least one substrate within the curing chamber for expelling temperature controlled low velocity air toward the at least one substrate as the at least one substrate rotates about the central axis without axial movement relative to the curing chamber; and inductive coils surrounding at least a portion of the at least one substrate within the curing chamber for indirectly heating the at least one substrate. Preferably, the at least one substrate is dried/cured by combination of indirect RF induction heating at the same time or prior to low velocity air impingement.

Abstract: A dip coat process material handling system and method for coating multiple layers of material on a plurality of workpieces, in particular for producing a multi-layer optical photoconductive drum, wherein a plurality of pipes are suspended from a carrier pallet which transports the workpieces through a dip coat cell housing various dip coating stations. The system includes a load/unload station, vertical and horizontal transport systems for transporting the carrier pallet having workpieces loaded thereon to the various dip coating stations, a drying/cooling booth, and a return conveyor system. The invention allows complete dip coat processing to be completed in an in-line configuration while the workpieces are attached to the carrier pallet, thereby eliminating load/unload steps at each dip coating station to provide efficient and flexible processing of materials.

Abstract: A mandrel for transporting hollow cylinders including an elongated arm having a first end and a second end, an expandable disk supported at the first end and means supported at the second end to expand the expandable disk, the mandrel arm comprising an elongated body having an imaginary axis and at least three fins extending substantially radially from the arm, each of the fins having an alignment shoulder adjacent the first end adapted to receive an end of a hollow cylinder and to coaxially align the cylinder with the elongated arm. This mandrel is used in a process for coating hollow cylinders.

Abstract: A mandrel for transporting a hollow cylinder including an elongated arm having an imaginary axis, an expandable disk shaped member having at least one hole and a circular outermost edge, the disk shaped member being mounted on and coaxially aligned with one end of the arm and including an elastomeric polymer material having a durometer of between about 25 and about 35 and a maximum continuous use temperature rating of at least about 230.degree. C., and means mounted on the mandrel to apply compressive pressure to the disk shaped member to increase the length of the circumference of the circular outermost edge. This mandrel is used in a process for coating hollow cylinders.

Abstract: A process for forming a photosensitive imaging member comprising: (a) providing a substrate; (b) forming in successive layers on the substrate, an optional intermediate layer, and one or more photosensitive layers; and (c) rotating a conditioning wheel to roughen the exterior surface of the substrate or one of the layers prior to depositing the next successive layer thereon to provide at least one surface having a roughness sufficient to substantially suppress the formation of a pattern of light and dark interference fringes upon exposure of the photosensitive imaging member.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for preparing a multilayered cylindrical article which comprises introducing into a cylindrical mold a composition comprising a liquid, uncured resin material and a magnetically attractable filler material, spinning the mold about its axis, applying a magnetic field to the composition within the mold, thereby attracting the magnetically attractable filler material in the direction dictated by the magnetic field and causing the magnetically attractable filler material and the liquid uncured resin material to separate into layers, and subsequently curing the uncured resin to form a cylindrical article having at least two layers. Subsequent to formation, the multilayered cylindrical article can be coated with additional layers. Further, additional layers can be added to either the inside or outside surface of the cylinder by introducing the additional layer material into the mold and spin casting to form a layer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning photoreceptor substrates where at least one substrate is rotated in a bath of moving dry ice particles. The dry ice particles contact the outer surface of the substrate, melt locally upon contact and refreeze to capture particulate contaminants on the outer surface of the dry ice particles. An inert gas counter current to the flow of moving dry ice particles is supplied to enhance cleaning efficiency and assist in removing carbon dioxide, contaminants and small dry ice particles.

Abstract: A flexible belt having an outwardly facing surface, a welded seam having irregular protrusion on the outwardly facing surface and a thin flexible strip laminated and covering the welded seam and protrusions. This belt may be fabricated by providing a flexible belt having an outwardly facing surface and a welded seam having irregular protrusion on the outwardly facing surface and laminating a thin flexible strip to the welded seam. This belt may be used in an electrostatographic imaging process.

Abstract: A cleaning process involving expanding carbon dioxide from an orifice into a thermally insulated chamber to form small carbon dioxide particles, retaining the small carbon dioxide particles in the insulating chamber until the small carbon dioxide particles agglomerate into large snowflakes, entraining the large snowflakes in a high velocity vortex of inert gas to accelerate the large snowflakes and directing a stream of the inert gas and accelerated large snowflakes against the surface of a substrate to be cleaned. This process may be carried out with apparatus including means to direct a stream of small carbon dioxide snow particles into an expansion chamber, means to agglomerate the small carbon dioxide particles into large carbon dioxide snowflakes in the expansion chamber, and means to accelerate the large snowflakes with a high velocity inert gas stream.

Abstract: A packaged belt including a single, flexible electrophotographic belt covered with a flexible protective sheet supported by at least three rollers including a hollow first roller having a longitudinal slot parallel to the axis of the first roller which imparts to the first roller a "C" shaped cross section, a lip extending from at least one long edge of the slot, a second roller parallel to and enclosed within the first roller, the second roller having an outside diameter smaller than the inside diameter of the first roller and an outside diameter larger than the maximum size of the opening between the lip and the opposite edge of the slot, a third roller adjacent to and parallel to the exterior of the first roller, the belt covered with the protective sheet having at least a partially flattened region with opposite sides of the belt adjacent each other to form a first loop at one end and a second loop at the other end, the first loop extending around the second roller and the second loop extending around the

Abstract: An apparatus for processing cylindrical and belt-like substrates includes: a support structure for supporting a planetary array of substrates about a central horizontal axis of the support structure, each substrate defining an offset horizontal axis radially spaced from and parallel to the central horizontal axis of the support structure; an array of processing modules each having a processing chamber for receiving the support structure therein for processing the substrates, each chamber defining a central horizontal axis parallel to the central horizontal axis of the support structure and parallel to the central horizontal axis of an adjacent processing chamber; and a transport vehicle for transporting the support structure in a first direction parallel to the central horizontal axis for insertion into and withdrawal from any one of the processing chambers, in a second direction perpendicular to the central horizontal axis for movement among adjacent processing chambers, and in a third direction perpendicula

Abstract: An apparatus for processing cylindrical and belt-like substrates includes: a support structure having two opposing faces and defining a central horizontal axis, each face of the support structure supporting a planetary array of substrates about the central horizontal axis to define two opposing planetary arrays of substrates, each substrate in each planetary array defining an offset horizontal axis radially spaced from and parallel to the central horizontal axis of the support structure; an array of processing modules each housing a processing chamber for receiving therein the opposing planetary arrays of substrates, each chamber defining a central horizontal axis aligned with the central horizontal axis of the support structure when the support structure is received within the chamber, and each chamber including an opening between opposing chamber sections, the opening being in a plane parallel to the central horizontal axis of the chamber; and a transport vehicle for transporting the support structure to ea

Abstract: Processes and apparatus for fabricating belts are disclosed comprising conveying a first mandrel to a wrapping station, supplying the leading edge of a web from a web supply roll to the first mandrel at the wrapping station, retaining the leading edge of the web on the first mandrel by means of a partial vacuum, wrapping the web around the first mandrel by rotating the first mandrel for about one revolution, severing the web at the wrapping station to form a trailing edge which overlaps the leading edge of the web to form a first belt having a seam, substantially simultaneously conveying the first mandrel to a welding station and conveying a second mandrel to the wrapping station, and substantially simultaneously wrapping the second mandrel with fresh web material from the web supply roll and welding the seam on the first belt on the first mandrel to form a unitary belt. These welded belts may be automatically removed from the mandrels at a belt discharge station.