Abstract: Disclosed is a process for preparing a polymer solution having a reduced unreacted unsaturated monomer content, comprising radically polymerizing at least one unsaturated monomer in a solvent in the presence of a radical polymerization initiator, the at least one unsaturated monomer having a lower boiling point than that of the solvent, wherein the weight ratio of the total amount of the unsaturated monomers to the solvent is from 1/9 to 7/3, the polymerization is carried out until the conversion of the unsaturated monomer having the lowest conversion of all the other unsaturated monomers whose boiling point is lower than that of the solvent reaches at least 85%, and, after completion of the polymerization, the reaction mixture is rectified to remove the unreacted unsaturated monomer or monomers.

Abstract: An electrostatic developer comprising a mixture of (1) toner components containing image-forming particles, (2) positively charged particles, (3) negatively charged particles, and (4) a lubricant.

Abstract: A device and method for reducing noise and/or vibration in an image forming apparatus. In a preferred form, an insert is disposed inside of a photosensitive drum, and the insert is an elastic member having, in a relaxed state, an outer diameter larger than an inner diameter of the inner surface of the photosensitive member. The elastic drum is configured such that when it is elongated in a longitudinal direction, the outer diameter of the elastic member may be elastically reduced to a diameter equal to or less than the inner diameter of the photosensitive drum, and after insertion, the overall diameter of the insert can be increased such that the outer surface of the insert comes into contact with an inner surface of the drum. Alternately, the insert is compressed to allow insertion, and once inserted, projections on the insert hold the insert against the inner surface of the drum.

Abstract: An ink replacement reservoir, refill container and refill method are provided. The replacement reservoir is reusable, and is used as an initial replacement for a previous single-use only reservoir. Once the initial replacement has been effected, subsequent replenishment of the reusable reservoir is accomplished utilizing a refill container or bottle. Since the refill container or bottle need not interface or fit within the confines of the image forming apparatus, it can be of a simple inexpensive design. To minimize the possibility of leakage or scattering of toner, the refill container preferably mates with the reusable replacement reservoir so that the refill container is opened only when mating with the reservoir and so that the refill container must be closed in order to disengage the refill container from the reservoir.

Abstract: A device and method for reducing noise and/or vibration in an image forming apparatus. In a preferred form, an insert is disposed inside of a photosensitive drum, and the insert is a hollow tubular member including an elastic member having, in a relaxed state, an outer diameter larger than an inner diameter of the said inner surface of the photosensitive drum. The elastic member is configured such that when it is elongated in a longitudinal direction, the outer diameter of the elastic member may be elastically reduced to a diameter equal to or less than the inner diameter of the photosensitive drum, and after insertion, the overall diameter of the insert can be increased such that the outer surface of the insert comes into contact with an inner surface of the drum. As such, the insert can be anchored to the interior of the drum without using adhesive and can be easily removed for recycling purposes.

Abstract: A photosensitive drum is provided with an insert by injecting a rapidly curing material directly into the drum such that when the material cures, a noise/vibration reducing insert is provided. The insert material can be injected by a reciprocating nozzle during the manufacture/assembly of the drum. By injecting the insert material into the drum when the drum is being manufactured/assembled, it is not necessary to separately design the insert or to procure tooling to separately manufacture the insert. In addition, the insert will closely conform to the interior of the drum since the insert is molded inside of the drum. In addition, modifications to the insert (e.g., to vary the mass or size of the insert) are readily achievable without tooling modifications.

Abstract: Electrophotographic photosensitive bodies which comprise a photosensitive layer on a conductive support, and which contain a wax having an ester group in their outermost layer, exhibit excellent durability and improved wear and printing resistance, without sacrificing their photosensitizability properties, such as chargeability and sensitivity, or ease and quality of application.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recycling and recovering potentially explosive solvents includes providing a contaminated solvent to a distillation tank, vaporizing the solvent in the distillation tank, thereby producing solvent vapor, condensing the solvent vapor, and adding a free radical scavenger substance to the distillation tank during the heating step. The vapor is then condensed and collected in a clean solvent tank where additional free radical scavenger substance is added to the clean solvent tank. Preferably, contaminated solvent is introduced into the solvent recovery system by providing contaminated solvent into contaminated solvent tank which is connected to the distillation tank, and an oxygen displacer substance is provided to the contaminated solvent tank and the clean solvent tank so as to minimize the amount of free oxygen in the tanks.

Abstract: A device for separating layers of laminate trim includes a pair of nip rollers defining a feed path for a laminate, at least two winders and a drive system for the winders. The winders are preferably arranged on an upstream side of the nip rollers. The device can be provided at the output of a lamination machine to receive longitudinal trim portions cut from a laminate being formed by the lamination machine, so as to provide continuous delamination of trim exiting the lamination machine. In the case of a three (or multiple) layer laminate, the device can include a third winder (or additional winders) for collecting a middle layer of the laminate.

Abstract: A device and method for reducing noise and/or vibration in an image forming apparatus. In a preferred form, an insert is disposed inside of a photosensitive drum, and the insert is a hollow tubular member including first and second members having surfaces oblique with respect to a longitudinal axis of the photosensitive drum, wherein the surfaces each face each other. The first and second members are moved relative to each other in order to change the overall diameter of the insert, such that upon insertion, the overall diameter can be made smaller than the inner diameter of the drum, and after insertion, the overall diameter of the insert can be increased such that the outer surface of the insert comes into contact with an inner surface of the drum. As such, the insert can be anchored to the interior of the drum without using adhesive and can be easily removed for recycling purposes.

Abstract: A device and method for reducing noise and/or vibration in an image forming apparatus. In a preferred form, an insert is disposed inside of a photosensitive drum, and the insert is a hollow tubular member having at least one slot extending through the tubular member so that the tubular member is resilient in a radial direction. The slot can be, for example, helical, so that the insert is a helical coil, with an outer diameter of the helical coil (in an uncompressed state) larger than an inner diameter of the photosensitive drum. The insert is radially compressed when it is inserted into the drum, so that the tendency of the insert to expand holds the insert in place within the drum. The insert reduces noise and vibration which can occur during operation of the photosensitive drum, and can also provide a supportive effect for the drum since the insert is urged in a radially outward direction against the inner surface of the drum.

Abstract: Direct dye thermal transfer printing, sublimation dye printing and thermal wax printing may be effected by impinging the energy modulated zero order beam of a laser print energy source on an image forming substance such as a direct dye thermal transfer printing medium, a sublimation dye printing medium, and a thermal wax printing medium. Printing may also be effected by a method involving providing an original electronic color data set, which contains pixels which contain intensity information in the time domain optionally increasing the optical resolution of the data set, dividing one or more of the pixels in the time domain, to obtain a data set containing one or more time-sliced pixels, and printing the data set containing one or more time-sliced pixels.

Abstract: Charge generation layers and charge transport layers which are prepared by coating a substrate with a coating solution prepared by mixing:(A) a binder;(B) a charge generation material or a charge transport material; and(C) an organosilanc of the formula:R.sub.x Si(OR').sub.4-xwherein:R is ##STR1## R' is H- or C.sub.1-4 -alkyl; and x is an integer of 1 to 3,in a suitable solvent, exhibit enhanced adhesion to the substrate, and organic photoconductive imaging receptors which contain such a charge generation layer and/or charge transport layer exhibit improved lifetimes.

Abstract: An electrostatic developer comprising a mixture of (1) a toner component containing image-forming particles, and (2) particles obtained by subjecting inorganic oxide or organic particles to a hydrophobic treatment with a dimethyl cyclopolysiloxane.

Abstract: A storage device or drive such as a disk or tape drive including a nonvolatile erasable semiconductor memory which stores parameters which control the operation of the storage device. Through a user interface on a host computer, the user is capable of changing the parameters which are used to control the storage device, allowing the user to configure the operation of the storage device in any manner desired. The parameters which are changeable within the storage device relate to responses to the detection of errors within the storage device, data encryption algorithms, the stopping of a disk from spinning, the caching of the storage device, and data compression algorithms. The storage drive also has the capability to perform a stand-alone formatting operation. After formatting a storage medium with the assistance of the host computer, the formatted medium is read by the drive and stored in the nonvolatile memory of the storage drive.

Abstract: A solid state laser, comprising (a) a resonator, (b) at least one laser diode array for side pumping said resonator, and (c) at least one fan-out-covering optical system, between said resonator and said at least one laser diode array, does not suffer from thermal problems and provides a high quality beam. The solid state laser may be air cooled.

Abstract: A method and system for improving the transfer performance of a jukebox containing multiple media, either single-sided or double-sided, which, although independent, act as a single contiguous drive or volume. By caching writes in one embodiment and caching reads and writes in another embodiment, performance increases by preventing unnecessary disc swapping between the drive or drives of the jukebox. In operation, writes to the media currently in the drive are written through to the media and writes to all other media are cached while the cache does not have a predetermined utilization. When the cache has the predetermined utilization, a different media is placed in the drive and any cached or pending writes for the newly inserted media are sent to the newly inserted media and any corresponding cache entries are cleared.

Abstract: An improved grounding plate or contact assembly is provided for a photosensitive drum of an image forming apparatus such as a printer or photocopier. The arrangement ensures contact between the grounding plate/contact assembly and a contact area disposed on an interior surface of the drum regardless of the rotational orientation of the grounding plate/contact assembly with respect to the drum. In a preferred form of the invention, the grounding plate includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced contact members and is mounted upon a flange which is inserted into the end of the drum. Since the circumferential spacing of the contact members is less than a length of a laser scribed contact area on the interior surface of the drum, contact between the laser scribed area or patch and one of the contact members is ensured despite variations in the rotational or angular position of the flange with respect to the drum.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for connecting a computer to one or more peripheral devices includes providing an adapter module connectable directly or by means of standard cabling to a peripheral device. The adapter module includes a plurality of electrical connectors configured to operate in accordance with predetermined interface protocols. A conversion means provided in the module in the form of an ASIC chip performs protocol conversions. By providing three or more connectors on the adapter module, several devices can be connected to a computer having a single port.

Abstract: A storage device or drive such as a disk or tape drive including a nonvolatile erasable semiconductor memory which stores parameters which control the operation of the storage device. Through a user interface on a host computer, the user is capable of changing the parameters which are used to control the storage device, allowing the user to configure the operation of the storage device in any manner desired. The parameters which are changeable within the storage device relate to responses to the detection of errors within the storage device, data encryption algorithms, the stopping of a disk from spinning, the caching of the storage device, and data compression algorithms. The storage drive also has the capability to perform a stand-alone formatting operation. After formatting a storage medium with the assistance of the host computer, the formatted medium is read by the drive and stored in the nonvolatile memory of the storage drive.