Abstract: Multilayered web stock is directed toward a curved surface and at least one layer of the web stock is heated to a temperature above a glass transition temperature of the at least one layer of the web stock. The heating can occur just before or upon engaging the curved surface. The temperature of the at least one layer remains above the glass transition temperature while engaging the curved surface, allowing reshaping and/or realignment of the at least one layer relative to other layers of the web stock according to conformance to the curved surface. The web stock is cooled before it disengages from the curved surface. The heating can be done with a high power infrared lamp focused into a line across the web stock, and the cooling can be done with a cooled fluid jet. Additionally, a preheater can be employed, and a supplemental cooler can be used.

Abstract: An imaging member having a charge transport layer is provided. The charge transport layer includes a plurality of charge transport layers coated from solutions of similar or different compositions or concentrations, wherein the upper or additional transport layer(s) comprise a lower concentration of charge transport compound than the first (bottom) charge transport layer. The charge transport compound included in the first (bottom) charge transport layer may either be the same or different from that included in the additional charge transport layers. The charge transport compound in one or more of the layers is dissolved or molecularly dispersed in an electrically inactive polymer material to form a solid solution. In such a construction, the resulting charge transport layer exhibits enhanced cracking suppression, improves wear resistance, provides excellent imaging member electrical performance, and delivers improved print quality.

Abstract: An imaging member having a charge transport layer with multiple regions is provided. The charge transport layer includes a plurality of charge transport layers coated from solutions of similar or different compositions or concentrations, wherein at least the top or uppermost transport layer comprises a lower concentration of charge transport compound than the first (bottom) charge transport layer. The charge transport compound included in the first (bottom) charge transport layer may either be of the same or different compounds from that included in the top or additional charge transport layer(s). The charge transport compound present in each layer may be dissolved or molecularly dispersed in an electrically inactive polymer material to form a solid solution. In such a construction, the resulting charge transport layer exhibits enhanced cracking suppression, improves wear resistance, provides excellent imaging member electrical performance, and delivers improved print quality.

Abstract: A process for providing an improved imaging member belt having a welded seam which exhibits greater resistance to dynamic fatigue induced seam cracking and delamination. An apparatus for achieving stress relaxation and eliminating protrusions in the seam region is also disclosed.

Abstract: A seamless flexible electrostatographic imaging member belt fabrication method comprising providing a flexible substrate support sheet, producing first desired features on a first portion of the substrate support sheet, including removing material from the substrate support sheet with first emissions, producing second desired features on a second portion of the substrate support sheet complementary to the first desired features, including removing material from the substrate support sheet with second emissions, overlapping the first and second desired features, bonding the first desired pattern with the second desired pattern to produce a seamed belt and applying at least one coating the substrate support sheet.

Abstract: A seamless flexible electrostatographic imaging member belt fabrication method comprising providing a flexible substrate support sheet, such as with a rectangular shape, placing a template on the support sheet, producing first desired features on a first portion of the substrate support sheet, including removing material from the substrate support sheet with first emissions, producing second desired features on a second portion of the substrate support sheet complementary to the first desired features, including removing material from the substrate support sheet with second emissions, overlapping the first and second desired features, bonding the first desired pattern with the second desired pattern to produce a seamed substrate support belt having substantially no added seam thickness and applying at least one coating over the substrate support belt.

Abstract: A pattern fabrication apparatus includes a beam path for a beam to selectively bombard a target, a beam source producing the beam, a beam spreader that spreads the beam, a mask inducing a pattern on the beam, and a lens that can focus the beam onto the target. The apparatus can be used to manufacture seamless flexible electrostatographic imaging members by providing a flexible substrate support sheet, such as having a rectangular shape, producing first desired features on the support sheet, including removing material from the support sheet with first emissions, producing second desired features on the support sheet complementary to the first desired features, including removing material with second emissions, overlapping the first and second desired features, bonding the features to produce a seamed belt having substantially no added seam thickness, and applying at least one coating over the seamed belt.

Abstract: A process including providing at least a flexible substrate layer having a first major surface on one side and a second major surface on a second side opposite the first major surface, the first major surface being an exposed surface, applying a coating of an anticurl backing layer dispersion on the first major surface of the substrate layer, the dispersion comprising a volatile carrier liquid, a film forming polymer dissolved in the volatile carrier liquid, solid organic particles dispersed in the volatile carrier liquid, and an organic additive dissolved in the volatile carrier liquid, the organic additive represented by the structural formula: wherein m is a number from 1 to 99, n is a number from 1 to 99, p is an integer between 1 and 10, f is an integer between 1 and 8, and I is an integer between 10 and 500, and drying the coating to remove the volatile carrier and form a dried anticurl backing layer.

Abstract: A process for post treatment of an ultrasonically welded seamed flexible imaging member belt including

Abstract: A process for post treatment of an imaging member belt including providing a support member having a smooth flat surface, providing a flexible belt having a welded seam, supporting the inner surface of the seam on the smooth flat surface, contacting the seam with a heated surface, heating the seam region with the heated surface to raise the temperature in the seam region to a temperature of from about 2° C. to 20° C. above the Tg of the thermoplastic polymer material, and compressing the seam with the heated surface with sufficient compression pressure to smooth out the seam.

Abstract: An electrostatographic imaging member includinga supporting substrate having an electrically conductive outer surface andat least one layer having an exposed imaging surface, the layer including a continuous matrix comprising a film forming polymer and a surface energy lowering liquid polysiloxane represented by the formula: ##STR1## wherein x and y are independently selected integers between about 5 and about 500,n is a number between 0 and 10, andR.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of: ##STR2## wherein z is number between about 1 and about 30,R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are independently selected from alkylene groups containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, andR.sub.4 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group containing 1 to 3 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A process for treating a seamed flexible electrostatographic imaging belt including providing an imaging belt having two parallel edges, the belt comprising at least one layer comprising a thermoplastic polymer matrix and a seam extending from one edge of the belt to the other, the seam having an imaginary centerline, providing an elongated support member having at arcuate supporting surface and mass, the arcuate surface having at least a substantially semicircular cross section having a radius of curvature of between about 9.5 millimeters and about 50 millimeters, supporting the seam on the arcuate surface with the region of the belt adjacent each side of the seam conforming to the arcuate supporting surface of the support member, precisely traversing the length of the seam from one edge of the belt to the other with thermal energy radiation having a narrow Gaussian wavelength distribution of between about 10.4 micrometers and about 11.

Abstract: An imaging member including: (a) a substrate layer; (b) an imaging layer; and (c) an abrasion resistant layer selected from the group consisting of an overcoating layer and an anti-curl layer, wherein the abrasion resistant layer includes a branched polycarbonate.

Abstract: A process for treating a seamed flexible electrostatographic imaging belt including providing an imaging belt including at least one layer including a thermoplastic polymer matrix and a seam extending from one edge of the belt to the other, providing an elongated support member having a arcuate supporting surface and mass, the arcuate surface having at least a substantially semicircular cross section having a radius of curvature of between about 9.

Abstract: A process for treating a seamed flexible electrostatographic imaging belt including providing an imaging belt including at least one imaging layer including a thermoplastic polymer matrix and a seam extending from one edge of the belt to the other, the seam having a region on the belt adjacent each side of the seam and also having an exposed surface on each side of the belt, supporting the belt with at least one vacuum holding device spaced from the seam while maintaining the seam and region of the belt adjacent each side of the seam in an arcuate shape having at least a substantially semicircular cross section having a radius of curvature of between about 9.

Abstract: A flexible electrostatographic imaging belt having two parallel sides and a non imaging seam region extending substantially from one of the sides to the other side, the non-imaging seam region having a leading edge, a trailing edge and a seam within the non imaging seam region, the leading and trailing edges being perpendicular to the two parallel sides of the imaging belt, the belt comprising a substrate layer, a reflective electrically conductive layer, at least one imaging layer, an imaging region extending around the belt from adjacent the leading edge of the seam region to adjacent the trailing edge, the imaging region adapted to reflect monochromatic infrared radiation and a permanent localized solid attribute at a predetermined location in the non imaging seam region, the attribute adapted to reduce by at least about 50 percent direct reflection by the seam itself of a beam of monochromatic infrared radiation originally directed at the attribute.

Abstract: An electrophotographic printing machine that has a photoconductive belt with a skewed seam thereon. The position of the skewed seam is detected by a pair of seam detection devices. The seam detection devices are spaced from one another and adapted to transmit a pair of signals with the signals having a time interval therebetween. These signals are inputted to a detection circuit and, if the time interval between signals is within a preselected tolerance, the detection circuit generates a seam indication signal. In this way, scratches on the photoconductive surface may be discriminated from the seam.

Abstract: An electrostatographic imaging member including an anti-curl layer, a supporting substrate having an electrically conductive layer, at least one imaging layer, an optional ground strip layer and an optional overcoating layer, the anti-curl layer including a film forming polymer binder selected from the group consisting ofa polymer represented by the following structural formula: ##STR1## wherein m is an integer between about 100 and about 800 and X is selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom, a linear substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and a substituted or unsubstituted cyclohexyl ring, anda polymer represented by the following structural formula: ##STR2## wherein p is an integer between about 100 and about 800 and X is selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom, a linear substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and a substituted or unsubstituted cyclohexyl ring, andblends of these polymers,a copolyester adhesion promo

Abstract: An electrostatographic imaging member comprisinga supporting substrate having an electrically conductive layer,at least one imaging layer,an anti-curl layer,an optional ground strip layer andan optional overcoating layer,the anti-curl layer includinga film forming polycarbonate binder,an optional adhesion promoter,a siloxane represented by the formula: ##STR1## wherein x and y are independently selected integers between about 5 and about 500,n is a number between 0 and 10, ##STR2## wherein z is number between about 1 and about 30,R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are independently selected from alkylene groupscontaining from 1 to 10 carbon atoms,R.sub.4 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group containing 1 to 3 carbon atoms, andoptional dispersed particles selected from the group consisting of inorganic particles, organic particles, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A method of treating a preformed flexible imaging belt including providing a rigid cylindrical support drum having a precisely predetermined outer circumference, a first end and a second end, providing a preformed flexible electrostatographic imaging belt, circumferentially expanding the belt with a flowing fluid under pressure until the circumference of the inner surface of the belt adjacent the first end of the drum is stretched to a new dimension of at least about 0.1 percent greater than the outer circumference of the rigid support drum while maintaining the belt below the elastic limit of the belt to smooth out physical defects, sliding the belt onto the drum from the first end toward the second end until substantially all of the belt encircles the outer surface of the drum, terminating the flow of the flowing fluid to allow the belt to contract onto the outer surface of the support drum, heating the belt to a treatment temperature of between about the glass transition temperature and about 10.degree. C.