Abstract: A power supply for transmitting voltage to a device, including a web having a piezoelectric exterior layer for generating a voltage on the surface thereof in response to being deformed. The web is entrained about a roller arrangement to deform the piezoelectric exterior layer. Commutation brushes transfers the voltage generated on the surface of the piezoelectric exterior layer to the device. The roller arrangement in combination with the placement of commutation brushes and neutralization brushes are used to adjust the voltage to the device.

Abstract: A sheet handling system has an endless transporting and supporting belt for transporting sheet along a path. The belt includes a ferroelectric material layer for generating an electrostatic force on the surface thereof to retain the sheet.

Abstract: A multi-color printer using a stretch toner release development system to provide either partial or full color copies with minimal degradation of developed toner patterns by subsequent over-development with additional colors and minimal back contamination of developer materials. Multiple scanning beams, each modulated in accordance with distinct color image signals, are scanned across the printer's photoreceptor at relatively widely separated points, there being a buffer provided to control timing of the different color image signals to assure registration of the color images with one another. Each color image is developed prior to scanning of the photoreceptor by the next succeeding beam. After developing of the last color image, the composite color image is transferred to a copy sheet. Development is accomplished by stretching the surface of a toner carrying member and thereby reducing the net force of adhesion of toner to the surface of the toner carrying member.

Abstract: A development system which uses a donor roll structure including a piezoelectric layer or film for liberating toner particles from its surface. The donor roll is provided with a plurality of electrodes spaced about a circumference of the roll. An electrical bias is used to apply a voltage to electrodes as they pass through a developer nip or zone intermediate the donor roll and an imaging member containing latent electrostatic images. The voltage is applied to each electrode and another continuous electrode which together sandwich the piezoelectric layer therebetween such that a voltage is applied across a portion of the piezoelectric layer in the nip thereby causing acoustic excitation of the portion of the layer only in the nip.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for producing an image on the image receiving member. The method and apparatus employ a photoconductive member that is charged by the deposition of charged marking particles on an outer surface thereof. Subsequently, selective regions of the photoconductor are selectively exposed to light patterns to cause the photoconductor to exhibit a photoresponse, thereby collapsing the internal electric field in the exposed regions but not in the unexposed regions. When a field neutralizing bias and acoustic energy are applied in a transfer region, toner in the unexposed regions is transferred to an intermediate member or any substrate interposed between the photoconductive surface and the biasing electrode.

Abstract: A piezo-active charge retentive member, such as a photoreceptor, has a grounded electrode layer separating a photoreceptive layer and a piezo-active layer. External vibration sources become unnecessary since supplying an A.C. voltage across the piezo-active layer to the grounded electrode layer causes the piezo-active layer, and thus the entire photoreceptor, to vibrate. Vibration of the photoreceptor enhances the transfer of development powder from the photoreceptor to the transfer material, such as a sheet of paper. Vibration of the photoreceptor also improves the development of images and assists the cleaning of residual development powder from the photoreceptor surface.

Abstract: A power supply for transmitting voltage to a device, comprising: a web including a piezoelectric exterior layer for generating a voltage on the surface thereof in response to being deformed; and means for transferring the voltage on the surface of said piezoelectric exterior layer to the device is disclosed.

Abstract: An imaging device having a non-rigid member with a charge retentive surface moving along an endless path, an imaging system for creating a latent image on the charge retentive surface, a developer for imagewise developing the latent image with toner, a transfer system for electrostatically transferring the developed toner image to a copy sheet, and a resonator for enhancing toner release from the charge retentive surface, producing relatively high frequency vibratory energy and having a portion thereof adapted for contact across the flexible belt member, generally transverse to the direction of movement thereof, the resonator includes a horn member for applying the high frequency vibratory energy to the non-rigid member, having a platform portion, a horn portion, and a contacting portion and extending across the non-rigid member.

Abstract: A device for coupling and damping a flexible planar imaging member having an interior surface with an insulative support layer moving along an endless path in a movement direction, includes a first electrode member, disposed adjacent to the interior surface of the flexible planar imaging member, for providing sufficient electrostatic force to electrostatically attract the flexible planar imaging member into engagement with the first electrode member.

Abstract: Ultrasonic fusing is performed sequentially by generating heat in an external fusing member (i.e. fuser roll surface) by ultrasonic absorption and then contacting unfused toner images with the heated member as they pass through a fusing nip comprising the heated member and a pressure roll. The externally heated roll member is fabricated from a material having a high loss tangent (tan delta) and is therefore capable of dissipating a large percentage of heat energy generated therein. Loss tangent is defined as the ratio of a material's viscous modulus to its elastic modulus. Heat generation in the viscoelastic member is created through acoustic distortions in viscoelastic member. Thus, the acoustic waves absorbed by the viscoelastic material forming the outer layer of the fuser roll are converted to heat energy. The heat generated in the roll member is transferred to the toner through intimate contact therewith.

Abstract: A resonator suitable for generating vibratory energy is arranged in line contact with the back side of charge retentive member bearing an image on a surface thereof, in an electrophotographic device, to uniformly apply vibratory energy to the charge retentive member. The resonator includes a vacuum producing element, a vibrating member, and a seal arrangement. When the vibratory energy is to be applied to the charge retentive surface, a vacuum is applied by the vacuum producing element at the point of contact with the charge retentive surfaces resonator, to draw the surface into intimate engagement with the vibrating member,and seal arrangement. The invention has application to a transfer station of enhancing electrostatic transfer for toner from the charge retentive surface to a copy sheet, and to a cleaning station, where mechanical vibration of the surface will improve the release of residual toner remaining after transfer.