Abstract: In the winding of webs of plastic films on cores, defects in the web caused by hard streaks in the wound roll are avoided or reduced by a new method of control. In this method, measurements are made of elastic properties of the web and of the average widthwise thickness distribution of the web. From these values, from measured properties of the core, and from selected initial winding conditions, including web tension, edge thickness and web oscillation, a predicted value of the combined imperfection severity function is determined. This value is compared with a pre-established tolerance; if it is outside the tolerance, winding conditions are adjusted to minimize the predicted web defects.

Abstract: The present invention relates to laser-induced thermal dye transfer using heat-transferable dyes, bleachable and heat-transferable near-infrared absorbing sensitizers, acid-photogenerating compounds, and optional near-ultraviolet absorbing sensitizers. The combination of the near-infrared absorbing sensitizer and acid-photogenerating compounds effects transfer of the heat-transferable dyes and bleaching of the near-infrared absorbing sensitizer to eliminate unwanted visible light absorption. The acid-photogenerating compound may be present in either the dye-donor or dye-receiver element. If the acid-photogenerator is in the dye-donor, bleaching will occur upon initial exposure of the dye-donor to near-infrared or near-ultraviolet radiation. If present in the dye-receiver element, bleaching will occur upon subsequent exposure of the dye receiver to near-infrared or near-ultraviolet radiation.

Abstract: A protective and decorative polymeric sheet material for bonding to substrates by thermoforming comprises a flexible carrier film, a paint layer on one surface of the carrier film containing a colorant or light reflective flakes or both; and a transparent topcoat overlying the paint layer. At least a portion of the transparent topcoat is a rubbery cushioning layer formed of a non-crosslinked, or lightly crosslinked polymeric composition of low Tg.The sheet material has an unextended state and is heat softenable to a plastic state in which it is extendable to an extended state at least 50% greater in area than the unextended state. The paint and topcoat layers have substantially uniform quality and appearance in both the unextended and extended states. In a preferred embodiment, the thickness of the transparent topcoat is at least 0.1 millimeter. The thick topcoat provides improved retention of gloss and distinctness of image when the sheet material is stretched.

Abstract: In a curtain coating apparatus for the coating of photographic film and paper webs and the like, the line of impingement of the curtain on the moving web is controlled by providing a pressure controlled zone on one side of the flowing curtain. Small changes in the static air pressure in the zone cause the position of the curtain to move without disturbing the quality of the curtain. Wetted side walls of the pressure controlled zone can serve as edge guides for the curtain.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a photoelectrographic element having a conductive layer in electrical contact with an acid photogenerating layer which is free of photopolymerizable materials and contains an electrically insulating binder and a nonionic sulfonic acid photogenerator. A method of forming images with this element is also disclosed.

Abstract: Toner fusing members coated with melamine-cured polyester-amide compositions are obtained wherein the polyester-amide component is a copolymer of one or more organic dicarboxylic acids with 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)hexafluoropropane and an aminoalkyl-terminated organopolysiloxane.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuously liquefying a gelled photographic material for coating on a substrate is disclosed. The material is advanced throughout the liquefaction apparatus and on to the substrate coating system as a substantially undisrupted mass. The technique is particularly useful for liquefying small amounts of material at a time, because system hold-up volume and waste is minimized.

Abstract: An apparatus for degassing a continuously flowing liquid stream comprising an air-tight housing, in which is mounted for rotation a centrifuge bowl of circular cross-section and having an inner surface for spreading centrifugally impelled liquid to be degassed and an annular peripheral trough for retaining centrifugally impelled degassed liquid. The liquid stream is fed into the bowl and the degassed liquid is withdrawn through a tube extending from an exit line outside the housing to an open end of elongate cross-section which is positioned within the trough of the bowl and is immersible in the degassed liquid. The apparatus further provides for measuring the pressure of the exiting degassed liquid, the pressure measurement being used to regulate the flow of liquid into the bowl so as to maintain a substantially constant level of liquid therein.

Abstract: For monitoring the working of a workpiece (W) with pulsed radiation of an excimer laser the workpiece surface is periodically illuminated with visible light (B) synchronously with at least some of the laser pulses. A mirror arrangement (S) separates visible light from ultraviolet laser light so that an image corresponding to the working operation can be picked up with a video camera (VK).

Abstract: A new film cassette assembly comprises a thrust type cassette and a roll of a photographic film having particular properties. One such property is a low coefficient of friction between the emulsion side and back side of the film. In preferred embodiments the film has a stiffness sufficient to avoid buckling of the film when the film spool is rotated in the unwinding direction and is very thin. Most preferably, it is formed from a hydrophilic copolyester having the desired stiffness.

Abstract: Photographic emulsions, particularly those produced by a silver halide reaction, are concentrated and, optionally, washed in a 2-stage ultrafiltration system. The system includes a spiral wound ultrafiltration module and a plate and frame ultrafiltration module. Serial use of these two ultrafiltration systems permits the viscosity of the resulting emulsion to be increased, at commercial scale production levels, to a level suitable for curtain coating photographic substrates.

Abstract: In the hopper coating of liquid compositions on moving webs, as in the coating of photographic layers on film supports, the trapping of solid particles or bubbles in the hopper slots causes line defects or streaks in the coated layers. These defects are avoided or reduced by determining the conditions under which the composition can be flowed through one or through a plurality of adjacent slots of the coating hopper at slot Reynolds numbers less than about 10 and flowing the composition through such slot or slots under said conditions.

Abstract: An adhesive-coated thermoplastic film is stretched and bonded to a three-dimensional substrate by vacuum thermoforming at a lower than normal temperature, at which the film has an elastic modulus of at least 10.sup.9 dynes/cm.sup.2, followed by moderate heat treatment of the resulting laminated article. The procedure is especially useful in avoiding air entrapment and peel-back in the thermoforming of a paint-coated film on exterior body panels for automobiles.

Abstract: Novel 1,4-bis aryl-azo derivatives of 2,3-naphthalenediol in which the aryl groups are substituted with alkoxy and with sulfonamide or fluorosulfonyl groups. These compounds are useful as neutral density pigments in electrophotographic developers and have good light stability.

Abstract: Bis aryl-azo compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is lower alkyl and R.sup.2 is fluoro or amino. The compounds are useful as neutral density pigments in electrophotographic developers and have good light stability.

Abstract: Alkyldimethylbenzylammonium salts are employed as charge control agents for fusible dry electrophotographic toners.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of low levels of quaternary ammonium salt surfactants as charge control agents for an electrostatic toner contained in dry electrographic developer compositions. Particularly useful such charge control agents are those which contain at least one amido group having 10 or more carbon atoms attached to the ammonium cation and an anion selected from a halide ion or an organosulfur-containing anion.

Abstract: Electrographic carrier particles with improved conductivity and stability are prepared from magnetic stainless steel particles of at least 9 weight percent chromium content. The particles are passivated by reaction with nitric acid. This forms a chromium-rich, stable film on the particle surfaces. Before passivation the particles may also be treated, e.g., with hydrofluoric acid, to remove surface silicon. The passivated particles, preferably after thinly coating with a resin, e.g., poly(vinylidene fluoride), are mixed with toner powder for electrographic dry development.

Abstract: A negatively charged liquid electrographic developer comprising an electrically insulating carrier liquid such as a paraffinic hydrocarbon fraction, having stably dispersed therein (a) a halogenated polymer, such as chlorinated polyethylene, and having dissolved therein (b) a copolymer of a quaternary ammonium salt monomer and a solubilizing monomer and (c) a copolymer of a polar monomer and a solubilizing monomer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrographic developing composition containing finely divided carrier particles and finely divided toner particles having incorporated therein a fusible, crosslinked binder polymer. An improved electrographic developing process using such toner particles is also disclosed.