Abstract: There is disclosed a method for parting an electroformed article from a mandrel including: (a) solidifying a liquid that is disposed between a parting device and the article, thereby joining the parting device to the article via the solidified liquid; and (b) moving the parting device in a direction of separation of the article from the mandrel while the parting device is joined to the article via the solidified liquid to assist in separation of the article from the mandrel.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a blotter roll for uniformly conditioning liquid images consisting of toner particles and carrier liquid. The method includes electroforming a semi-rigid resilient and perforated metallic substrate for preventing undesirable impressions of substrate outlines and footprints on an image being conditioned. The resilient metallic substrate is electroformed so as to be seamless and to have a cylindrical hollow interior, and first and second open ends.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for separating an electroformed article from a mandrel wherein the article is more attracted to a magnetic force than the mandrel comprising employing the magnetic force on the article in separating the article and the mandrel.

Abstract: An electroforming process and apparatus for forming an electroform with a roughened surface. An electroform with a roughened surface is formed by plating a reusable mandrel with a roughened surface. The reusable mandrel surface is roughened using a sandblasting device. The surface of the reusable mandrel is coated with a dual catalyzed non-self regulating crack free chromium deposit and a surface preparation to maintain the roughened surface. An alternate embodiment of the reusable mandrel utilizes a stainless steel mandrel without the chromium deposit on the surface. The roughened electroform surface enables toner distribution and sealing of the toner distribution module.

Abstract: A flexible belt is disclosed which includes a major segment and at least one narrow minor segment, the narrow minor segment extending from one end of the belt to the opposite end and being more extendible than the major segment when subjected to an externally applied tension. This belt may be a component of a composite cylindrical device including a rigid drum substrate supporting the flexible belt in a stretched condition. The composite cylindrical device may be fabricated by providing a preformed rigid cylindrical support drum having a predetermined outer circumference, a first end and a second end, providing a flexible belt having an outer surface and an inner surface circumference of at least about 0.

Abstract: The enclosed an electrostatographic printing apparatus including: (a) an imaging member capable of retaining a latent image, wherein the imaging member includes an imaging layer on a substrate comprised of a magnetic material with a magnetic permeability of at least 1.001; (b) charging apparatus for charging the surface of the imaging member, thereby resulting in a charged surface; (c) exposure apparatus for exposing a portion of the charged surface to radiation, thereby substantially discharging the exposed portion, wherein the substantially discharged, exposed portion corresponds to the image area of the latent image; and (d) a single component development apparatus for depositing toner particles on the substantially discharged, exposed portion of the imaging member.

Abstract: An electroforming process and apparatus for forming an electroform with a roughened surface. The present invention roughens the surface of the mandrel using a sandblasting device in the center region of the mandrel allowing the two end regions to remain smooth. The intersection of the roughened center region and each of the two end regions form a step. This step on either side of the roughened center region facilitates sealing while the roughened center region enables toner distribution. The electroform created using the step roughened mandrel surface is separated from the mandrel without destroying the mandrel. The step roughened mandrel can then be reused to create another electroform with a roughened surface.

Abstract: There is disclosed a coating method for a substrate having an end region comprising: (a) rubbing a nonwetting material across the end region to adhere the nonwetting material to the end region; and (b) contacting a portion of the substrate including the end region with a coating composition, whereby the coating composition adheres to the substrate surface free of the nonwetting material and the nonwetting material minimizes adherence of the coating composition to the end region.

Abstract: An electroforming process and apparatus for creating a nickel or like substrate encapsulated by another material to prevent wear to the nickel substrate. The encapsulation of the nickel substrate requires encapsulation of the inner and outer diameter of the nickel substrate. The encapsulating material must adhere to the nickel substrate. Encapsulation of the nickel substrate prevents exposure of the nickel and thus avoids the hazardous nickel dust particles that can occur when the nickel is exposed.

Abstract: There is disclosed an electrostatographic imaging member comprising: (a) a substrate; (b) a charge blocking layer comprised of nickel hydroxide and nickel oxide, wherein the nickel hydroxide content is at least about 10% based on the number of the nickel hydroxide and the nickel oxide molecules; and (c) a least one imaging layer.

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: In a honing system for producing a light-scattering surface on a photoreceptor substrate for use in xerographic printers, a constant concentration maintenance device is employed to drain an appropriate amount of liquid from a honing slurry to match the amount of liquid added during rinsing of the photoreceptor substrate. The constant concentration maintenance device is mechanically effected by vibrations in the mixing apparatus of the honing system, facilitating separation of the liquid an solid parts of the slurry. Delay between honing and rinsing is eliminated through use of the same honing booth for both operations.

Abstract: An electrostatographic imaging member assembly including a hollow electrostatographic imaging drum having a first end and a second end, at least one coating on the drum extending to at least the first end of the drum, the coating having an outer electrostatographic imaging surface and a first drum supporting end cap mounted on the first end of the drum, the first drum supporting end cap including a disk shaped member having an annular skirt encircling an exterior surface of the first end of the cylindrical substrate, the annular skirt having an imaginary axis coextensive with an imaginary axis of the drum. This electrostatographic imaging member assembly may be fabricated by sliding the skirt of the end cap over the end of the drum with or without presoftening of the coating. The electrostatographic imaging member assembly may be utilized in electrostatographic imaging apparatus in which the end caps support electrostatographic imaging apparatus subassembly components.

Abstract: A flexible belt assembly is prepared by positioning an edge of a belt-shaped substrate in proximity to a metal filled gasket within a groove of a support flange. An electromagnetic force is applied to the gasket to soften the metal to cause conforming of the shape of the gasket to the edge and to the groove. The flexible belt assembly is disassembled by applying a magnetic force to loosen the conforming compression fit.

Abstract: An electrostatographic imaging structure is provided having at least one distinct outer layer including a rotary drum having an outer peripheral surface, a retainer either separate from or a part of the drum or a hold down mechanism, and a photosensitive member held down to the peripheral surface of the drum by the retainer or hold down mechanism.

Abstract: An electroforming/electrodeposition process and apparatus includes a first electrode, a second electrode spaced from the first electrode, a channel defined by the first and second electrodes and at least one electrically nonconductive or poorly conductive shield disposed adjacent at least one electrode. The shield(s) define(s) a region of the channel wherein the surface of a mandrel placed in that region experiences substantially uniform current density. The apparatus may contain additional electroforming/electrodeposition and/or other steps and may be arranged in a carousel apparatus with one or more mandrels to permit continuous operation of the apparatus.

Abstract: There is disclosed an electrostatographic imaging member comprising: (a) a supporting substrate including an electrically conductive surface; (b) a nickel containing layer comprised of nickel, oxygen, and sulfur, wherein the nickel containing layer is the sole charge blocking layer; and (c) at least one electrostatographic imaging layer.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for fabricating a photoconductive member comprising: depositing a photoconductive material and a charge transport material on a substrate, sequentially in any order, or simultaneously, wherein the photoconductive material, the charge transport material, or both, are electrophoretically deposited onto the substrate from a liquid composition.

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: A method of fabricating a cylindrical device comprising having at least one distinct outer layer comprising providing a preformed rigid cylindrical support drum having a predetermined outer circumference, a first end and a second end, providing a flexible belt having an inner circumference at least about 0.05 percent smaller than the outer circumference of the support drum, circumferentially expanding the belt with a flowing fluid under pressure until the circumference of the inner surface of the belt adjacent the first end is stretched to a new dimension at least about 0.