Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for capturing coating debris during laser ablation of a photoreceptor comprising: (a) enclosing a predetermined length of a coated substrate in a housing to result in an enclosed coated substrate portion, wherein there exists a gap between the enclosed substrate portion and the housing in communication with air outside the housing; (b) directing high energy radiation at the coating of the enclosed substrate portion; (c) directing a first fluid stream against the coating of the enclosed substrate portion to remove at least part of the coating in the form of coating debris during or subsequent to (b), whereby the first fluid stream may move a portion of the coating debris outside the housing in the absence of (d); (d) directing a second fluid stream against the first fluid stream in a direction effective for keeping the coating debris inside the housing, thereby minimizing movement of the coating debris into the air outside the housing; and (e) exhausting the coating debris.

Abstract: A low surface energy material comprising a volume grafted elastomer which is a substantially uniform integral interpenetrating network of a hybrid composition of a fluoroelastomer and a polyorganosiloxane, said volume graft having been formed by dehydrofluorination of said fluoroelastomer by a nucleophilic dehydrofluorinating agent, followed by a hydrosilation reaction, addition of a hydrogen functionally terminated polyorganosiloxane and a hydrosilation reaction catalyst.

Abstract: An apparatus for depositing metal which provides a brushless electrical current continuity between a member, such as an electroforming mandrel or an electroplating rack, and a current source, comprising: (a) an electrode; (b) a member, spaced apart from the electrode, wherein the member defines a space that is partially or fully filled with a first conductive liquid in electrical contact with the member; (c) a second conductive liquid electrically isolated from the electrode; and (d) connecting means for electrically connecting the first conductive liquid and the second conductive liquid.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for depositing metal on a mandrel which provides a brushless electrical current continuity between the mandrel and a current source, comprising: (a) a metal deposition vessel; (b) an electrode disposed in the vessel; (c) a mandrel disposed in the vessel, spaced apart from the electrode; (d) an electrically conductive liquid disposed in the vessel; (e) an electrolytic solution disposed in the tank; (f) a layer of a substantially electrically nonconductive material disposed between the electrolytic solution and the conductive liquid; and (g) connecting means for electrically connecting the mandrel and the conductive liquid, coupled to the mandrel.

Abstract: There is disclosed an electrostatographic imaging member comprising: (a) a supporting substrate including an electrically conductive surface; (b) at least one electrostatographic imaging layer; and (c) an electrically conductive grounding layer adjacent to the at least one imaging layer and in electrical contact with the electrically conductive surface, wherein the grounding layer is comprised of alkyl acrylamidoglycolate alkyl ether polymer.

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: A method and apparatus are disclosed for capturing coating debris during laser ablation of a photoreceptor comprising: (a) enclosing a predetermined length of a coated substrate in a housing to result in an enclosed coated substrate portion, wherein there exists a gap between the enclosed substrate portion and the housing in communication with air outside the housing; (b) directing high energy radiation at the coating of the enclosed substrate portion; (c) directing a first fluid stream against the coating of the enclosed substrate portion to remove at least part of the coating in the form of coating debris during or subsequent to (b), whereby the first fluid stream may move a portion of the coating debris outside the housing in the absence of (d); (d) directing an annularly-shaped second fluid stream against the first fluid stream in a direction effective for keeping the coating debris inside the housing, thereby minimizing movement of the coating debris into the air outside the housing; and (e) exhausting t

Abstract: An intermediate toner transfer component is disclosed comprising a substrate and a coating comprised of integral, interpenetrating networks of haloelastomer, titanium oxide, and optionally polyorganosiloxane.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the removal of layered material from a photoreceptor comprising an electrically conductive substrate, wherein the method comprises: employing a magnetic field to expand or shrink the width of at least a portion of the substrate, whereby a portion of the layered material over the expanded or shrunken portion of the substrate becomes loosened from the photoreceptor.

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 universal substrate holding apparatus is disclosed comprising:(a) a first core member having a top end and a bottom end;(b) a first inflatable tube disposed around the first core member;(c) a first passageway defined by the first core member in communication with the interior surface of the first tube;(d) a second core member having a top end and a bottom end, a portion of the second core member having a larger outer cross-sectional dimension than the first core member, wherein the top end of the first member is associated with the bottom end of the second member;(e) a second inflatable tube disposed around the second core member, a portion of the second tube having a larger outer cross-sectional dimension than the first tube, and whereby the second tube is disposed in tandem with the first tube; and(f) a second passageway defined by the second core member in communication with the interior surface of the second tube.

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: There is disclosed a shutter assembly including: (a) a surface defining a surface opening; (b) a housing associated with the surface which defines a passageway in communication with the surface opening, wherein the housing surface defining the passageway includes a housing hole; and (c) a resilient material defining an end surface, which is disposed in the passageway and covers the housing hole, wherein the size of the end surface permits the application of an external force against the end surface to compress the resilient material to uncover the housing hole, and whereby the resilient material spontaneously expands to cover the housing hole when the external force ends.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus for storing a supply of marking particles therein, including: (a) a container defining a chamber for storing the marking particles therein and a discharge opening in communication with the chamber for the discharge of the marking particles; (b) a flange member coupled to the container, wherein the flange member includes a flange wall that defines a flange opening in communication with the chamber for loading of the marking particles into the chamber; (c) an agitator mounting member fixedly positioned adjacent the flange opening, wherein the mounting member includes an agitator end coupling portion which is spaced from the flange wall defining the flange opening; and (d) an agitator disposed within the chamber, wherein the agitator has an end coupled to the agitator end coupling portion, whereby the agitator end is spaced from the flange wall defining the flange opening.

Abstract: There is disclosed a substrate coating method comprising: (a) enclosing a portion of a substrate in a sleeve member to define a gap between the outer surface of the substrate and the inner surface of the sleeve member; (b) positioning below the surface of a coating solution a portion of the sleeve member and a portion of the substrate and filling a portion of the gap with the coating solution, whereby a part of the sleeve member outer surface, a part of the sleeve member inner surface, and a part of the substrate outer surface contact the coating solution; and (c) withdrawing the coating solution from the gap and leaving a portion of the coating solution adhering to the outer surface of the substrate.

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 fuser member comprised of a substrate, thereover a silicone rubber containing a filler component therein, and wherein said filler component is reacted with a silicone hydride release oil.

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 at least partially hollow electroforming mandrel containing therein means for adjustably altering the diameter of the mandrel. The mandrel assists in creating a parting gap between the mandrel and the electroformed article, thereby facilitating separation of the two components.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for separating a mandrel having a tapered end portion from an article formed thereon comprising: (a) providing the mandrel having an opening in the tapered end portion; (b) plugging at least a substantial portion of the opening with a member which presents a deposition surface for the formation of the article; (c) forming the article having a tapered end portion on the mandrel, including on the deposition surface of the member; and (d) pushing the member against the inside surface of the tapered end portion of the article to move the article away from the mandrel, thereby forming a gap between the article and the mandrel.