Abstract: Imageable seamed intermediate transfer belts having a large seam surface area, and marking machines that use such imageable seamed intermediate transfer belts. The seamed intermediate transfer belt having an inner surface and an outer surface having predefine surface properties for the purpose of imaging. A belt is formed from a semiconductive substrate having a first end and a second end that are mated to form a seam. An adhesive is disposed over the joint whereupon joint can be burnished or overcoated with a material that substantially imitate predefined surface properties of the belt.

Abstract: A transfer member having a polyimide substrate with polyaniline and two different carbon black electrically conductive fillers dispersed therein for use in electrostatographic apparatuses.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a transfuse member, an intermediate transfer member and a transfer member assembly having a transfer member that electrostatically transfers a toner image from the intermediate transfer member to the transfuse member. The transfer member includes at least one temperature control device that maintains the transfer member within a predefined range. A controller assembly may be connected to the at least one temperature control device for extending the electrical life of the transfer member assembly by maintaining the transfer member at a substantially constant resistivity.

Abstract: A process for fabricating an endless flexible seamed belt, substantially equivalent in performance to a seamless belt, includes forming the belt by joining two ends of a substrate material. Each end of the substrate has mutually mating elements in interlocking relationship. The surfaces of the mutually mating elements have a gap therebetween into which bonding material is applied such that there is no substantial thickness differential between the seam and the portions of the belt adjacent the seam. The bonding material is then cured by any known means and post-cured to improve the stability of the bonding material and to achieve an effectively electrically invisible seam for an electrostatographic imaging system operating at high temperatures.

Abstract: Flexible belts, and electrophotographic machines that use such flexible belts, that having embedded sensor fibers that run across the belt's width. Such sensor fibers enable sensors located along the side of the belt to sense belt position and/or motion.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus for producing an endless flexible seamed belt using a punch and die is disclosed. The punch and die have patterned edges in the form of a puzzle cut pattern with extremely small nodes and kerfs. The cutting tolerances of the patterned edges make it necessary to fix the punch with respect to the die so that there is no misalignment of the punch and die between cutting operations. This is accomplished by resiliently fixing the punch to the die, rather than having the punch attached to the force generating assembly as in normal punch and die assemblies. Belt material is positioned between a stock gap between the punch and die and the force generating assembly is activated to provide the cutting force. Once the belt material is cut, the cutting force is removed and the force generating assembly returns to its retracted position. There are two cutting edges on the punch and die so that a first end of one belt and a second end of another belt are formed in a single cutting operation.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus for producing an endless flexible seamed belt using templates is disclosed. A first form of the template is a mask template with a template aperture in the form of a puzzle cut pattern to be used in combination with an excimer laser. The template is placed between the excimer laser source and the belt material to be cut. As the excimer laser traverses the width of the belt, the laser forms a puzzle cut pattern on the belt. A second form of the template is a punch and die having patterned edges in the form of a puzzle cut pattern with extremely small nodes and kerfs. The cutting tolerances of the patterned edges make it necessary to fix the punch with respect to the die so that there is no misalignment of the punch and die between cutting operations. This is accomplished by resiliently fixing the punch to the die, rather than having the punch attached to the force generating assembly as in normal punch and die assemblies.

Abstract: Seamed belts having puzzle-cut seam with edges that are themselves puzzle-cut: puzzle-cut on puzzle-cut seamed belts. Such belts beneficially may take the form of imageable seam intermediate transfer belts such as those used in marking machines. Belts are formed from a substrate having a puzzle-cut first end and a puzzle-cut second end that interlock to form a seam. That first end includes puzzle-cut tabs that have puzzle-cut edges and the second end includes puzzle-cut tabs that also have puzzle-cut edges. The first end and the second end interlock such that the puzzle tabs and the puzzle-cut edges mate to form the seam. Beneficially an adhesive is disposed over the seam. If the seamed belt is an imageable seam intermediate transfer belt the substrate is beneficially semiconductive.

Abstract: A fuser belt that is used in an electrostatographic printing machine. The fuser belt has a thickness ranging from about 3 to about 20 mils and has a substrate layer and a toner release layer. The substrate layer is composed of a base material and a first thermally conductive additive, wherein the base material is composed of fibers or a polymeric film. The toner release layer is composed of an elastomeric material and a second thermally conductive additive.

Abstract: Imageable seamed intermediate transfer belts having a large seam surface area, and marking machines that use such imageable seam intermediate transfer belts. A belt is formed from an electrically semiconductive substrate having a first end and a second end that are mated to form a seam. The first end includes a first tongue and the second end includes a second tongue that form a rabbeted joint such that the outer surface of the belt is substantially smooth across the seam. An adhesive is disposed over the rabbeted joint. The tongues may include mechanical locking features, such a protrusion and a channel, or an interlocking puzzle-cut feature that mate. The mechanical locking features may be continuous along the seam.

Abstract: Puzzle-cut imageable seam intermediate transfer belts having a large seam surface area, and marking machines that use such imageable seam intermediate transfer belts. A belt is formed from a semiconductive substrate having a puzzle-cut first end and a puzzle-cut second end that are mated to form a seam. The first end includes a first tongue and the second end includes a second tongue that form a rabbeted joint such that the outer surface of the belt is substantially smooth across the seam. An adhesive is disposed over the rabbeted joint. The tongues may include mechanical locking features, such a protrusion and a channel, that mate. The mechanical locking features may be continuous along the seam.

Abstract: A transfix member with a substrate, an optional adhesive intermediate layer, and thereover an outer haloelastomer having pendant hydrocarbon chains covalently bonded to a backbone of the haloelastomer, and a heating member associated with the substrate.

Abstract: A transfix member with a substrate, an optional conformable intermediate layer, and thereover an outer coating with a mica-type layered silicate and silicone elastomer, where the silicone elastomer and the mica-type layered silicate form a delaminated nanocomposite, and a heating member associated with the substrate.

Abstract: A system for manufacturing large quantities of seamed belts for printing systems with controlled imageable seams, which belts require a defined circumference and width, from suitable belt material in a large roll thereof, by feeding a continuous web of that belt material from the roll in (or cut to) a width that is at least as wide as the defined circumference of the finished seamed belt into a seam cutting station, where the opposing side edges of the continuous web of belt material are cut as they move through the seam cutting station into opposing seam-forming mating edge patterns, preferably mating puzzle-cut patterns cut by small movement laser beams on each side of the moving web.

Abstract: A three-layer transfer member having a rigid substrate, a conformable intermediate layer and an outer thin fluoropolymer layer wherein the fluoropolymer layer can be tetrafluoroethylene, perfluoroalkoxy, fluorine ethylene propene monomers, polymers thereof, and mixtures thereof, and an image apparatus including the same.

Abstract: Seamed belts, particularly puzzle-cut imageable seam intermediate transfer belts, that have large seam surface areas and puzzle-cut tabs that are resistant to lifting away from the seam. Belts include a substrate having a puzzle-cut first end and a puzzle-cut second end that are interlocked together to form a seam having a kerf. The first end includes a first step and the second end includes a second step. When the ends are interlocked the first step and the second step form a channel. An adhesive is disposed in the channel. The resulting channel beneficially continuously extends along the puzzle-cut seam. When the belt is an imageable seam intermediate transfer belt the substrate takes the form of a semiconductive substrate. Such imageable seam intermediate transfer belts find use in electrophotographic marking machines.

Abstract: A process for providing a seamed flexible polyimide component by providing a poly(amic acid) at the seam between interlocking mutually mating seam elements, and curing the seam, thereby converting the poly(amic acid) into a polyimide adhesive at the seam.

Abstract: A flexible electrostatographic imaging member belt comprises two ends with matching puzzle-cut patterns of fingers arranged to be joined. The belt is fabricated by a method comprising the steps of: first, joining the two belt ends to form a juncture; second, applying an adhesive strip to the juncture; third, applying a compressing force to the adhesive strip; fourth, heating the adhesive strip for a heating period; fifth, cooling the adhesive strip for a cooling period; thus forming a puzzle-cut seam; and, sixth, determining when the puzzle-cut seam is satisfactory. When it is determined the puzzle-cut seam is not satisfactory, the heating and cooling steps are repeated. When it is determined the puzzle-cut seam is satisfactory, the compressing force is removed. In one embodiment, the method determines when the puzzle-cut seam is satisfactory based on the total time heat is applied to the adhesive strip.

Abstract: A member for use is a copying device includes at least a substrate and thereon a surface layer comprised of a nitrile-silicone rubber or elastomer. The nitrile-silicone rubber or elastomer provides superior resistance to swelling from solvents such as hydrocarbons found in many developer compositions. The member may have any form, including a belt, plate or drum configuration. The member may be used in the copying device as a fuser member, a pressure member, a transfer member or a transfix member.

Abstract: A system for manufacturing large quantities of seamed belts for printing systems with controlled imageable seams, which belts require a defined circumference and width, from suitable belt material in a large roll thereof, by feeding a continuous web of that belt material from the roll in (or cut to) a width that is at least as wide as the defined circumference of the finished seamed belt into a seam cutting station, where the opposing side edges of the continuous web of belt material are cut as they move through the seam cutting station into opposing seam-forming mating edge patterns, preferably mating puzzle-cut patterns cut by small movement laser beams on each side of the moving web.