Abstract: There is disclosed a belt assembly including: (a) an endless belt capable of repeated cycling over rollers having a first side edge and a second side edge and defining a center region between two side regions, wherein a low friction composition comprised of a fluoropolymer covers a portion of the length of the first side edge; and (b) a belt guide apparatus which contacts the first side edge during cycling of the belt to position the belt on the rollers, wherein the low friction composition reduces the wear of the belt at the first side edge.

Abstract: An image drying and fixing apparatus for affixing an image to a copy substrate, wherein a drying oven defining a copy substrate inlet and outlet is provided with a conveyor for advancing the copy substrate through the drying oven, and an image impacting system disposed along the path of travel of the copy substrate for pressing the image onto the copy substrate in image configuration. The image impacting system includes a pair of cooperating roll members forming a nip through which the copy substrate having the image thereon passes, with the image impacting system being selectively positionable along the path of travel of the copy substrate for optimizing the process of affixing the image to the copy substrate. The image drying and fixing apparatus may also include a radiant heating device situated within the drying oven, positioned for radiating thermal energy in the direction of the copy substrate immediately prior to passage of the copy substrate through the copy substrate output.

Abstract: A spots cleaning blade for use in a cleaning apparatus in an imaging apparatus for cleaning agglomerate particles from an imaging surface, the spots cleaning blade comprising a polyether urethane and having a high hardness and low coefficient of friction.

Abstract: An endless flexible seamed belt formed by joining two ends of material from which the belt is fabricated each end of which has a plurality of mutually mating elements in a puzzle cut pattern which are in interlocking relationship to prevent separation of the ends and which form a seam when joined mechanically to enable the flexible belt to essentially function as an endless belt having a substantially uniform thickness, said seam having voids between mutually mating elements at least partially filled with a seam strength enhancing material which is chemically and physically compatible with the material from which the belt is fabricated and which substance applied as a strip or on a strip over the seam and is bound to said belt material, said bond having been formed by the application of heat and/or pressure to a strip of said compatible placed material on at least one side of the seam at least substantially covering the seam.

Abstract: An endless flexible seamed belt formed by joining two ends of the material from which the belt is fabricated, the belt having at least one overlapping butting joint to form the endless belt, each end of the belt material having top and bottom overlapping mating portions of the same length and wherein both the top and bottom overlapping portions are about one-half the thickness of the belt material, the mating portions being joined to provide a lapping joint and two butting joints and wherein rigid high strength fibers are present between mating portions of at least one joint, the seamed belt having been formed by the application of heat to said mating portions when the fibers are present in at least one joint.

Abstract: A polyurethane elastomer obtained by the reaction of a polytetramethylene ether glycol having the formula HO[(CH.sub.2).sub.4 O].sub.n H where n is from 10 to 60, preferably 55 to 60, and from about 20 to about 95 parts preferably 22 to 26 parts, by weight per 100 parts by weight of said glycol of a diisocyanate selected from the group consisting of diphenylmethane diisocyanates, toluene diisocyanates, naphthalene diisocyanates and blends thereof and a sufficient amount of cross linking agents to provide a crosslinked elastomer, said cross linking agents comprising a mixture of from about 75% to 60% by weight of a diol having the formula HO(R.sub.1) OH where R.sub.1 is a straight or branched chain alkyl group having from 2 to 12 carbon atoms and from about 25% to 40% by weight of a triol having the formula R'--C--[(OH).sub.a (CH.sub.2 OH).sub.b ] where R' is H, CH.sub.3 or C.sub.2 H.sub.5, a is 0 or 1, b is 2 or 3 and a+b=3.

Abstract: An endless flexible seamed belt formed by joining two ends of the material from which the belt is fabricated is provided, the belt having at least one overlapping, butting, interlocking joint to form the endless belt, each end of the at least one overlapping butting, joint, contains a pair of interlocking members having a male projection and a female receptacle geometrically oriented so that the female receptacle on the first end receives the male projection on the second end and the male projection on the first end is received by the female receptacle on the second end to form a joint between the first and second ends, at least one receptacle being formed within and having a substantial depth in a portion of the belt material at the belt ends, at least one projection and receptacle pair being sized and shaped to form at least one pair of mutually mating elements in a combination overlapping, butting and interlocking joint to form the endless belt.

Abstract: An endless flexible seamed belt with a mechanically invisible seam and substantially equivalent in performance to a seamless belt is formed by joining two ends of material from which the belt is fabricated each end of which has a plurality of mutually mating elements in a puzzle cut pattern which are in interlocking relationship in at least one plane and which when joined mechanically enable the flexible belt to essentially function as an endless belt having a substantially uniform thickness.

Abstract: A non-contacting electrostatic measurement apparatus including a vibratory element and an electrode, affixed to the vibratory element, suitable for sensing a capacitive coupling relationship with an electrostatic field to produce a signal indicative of the magnitude of the electrostatic field. The signal is transmitted to signal processing circuitry via conductive fibers so as to impose little mechanical loading on the vibrating electrode. The electrode may be either unshielded, for an electrically floating electrostatic voltmeter, or shielded, for an electrostatic voltmeter employing electrically grounded components.

Abstract: An endless flexible seamed belt formed by joining two ends of material from which the belt is fabricated each end of which has a plurality of mutually mating elements in a puzzle cut pattern the opposite surfaces of which are in interlocking relationship to prevent separation of the ends and which form a seam when joined mechanically to enable the seamed flexible belt to essentially function as an endless belt having a substantially uniform thickness, said seam having voids between the surfaces of mutually mating elements, the opposite surfaces of the puzzle cut pattern being bound by an adhesive which has been cured by exposure to ultraviolet radiation and joined together to enable the seamed flexible belt to essentially function as an endless belt.

Abstract: A sheet registration device including a hub having an axis of rotation and a plurality of resilient plastic blades arranged in radial planes passing through said axis and extending in the direction of said axis beyond one end of the hub towards sheet-engaging tips lying in a common plane normal to said axis said blade being made of a polyurethane elastomer obtained by the reaction of a polytetramethylene ether glycol having the formula HO[(CH.sub.2).sub.4 O].sub.n H where n is from 8 to 41, preferably 39 to 41, and from about 20 to about 95 parts preferably 22 to 26 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of said glycol of a diisocyanate selected from the group consisting of diphenylmethane diisocyanates, toluene diisocyanates, naphthalene diisocyanates and blends thereof and a sufficient amount of cross linking agents to provide a crosslinked elastomer, said cross linking agents comprising a mixture of from about 75% to 60% by weight of a diol having the formula: HO(R.sub.1) OH where R.sub.

Abstract: A method of making an electrically conductive polyurethane elastomer that is substantially free of bubbles and foreign particles comprising:forming a prepolymer of a polylol and an isocyanate, forming a liquid mixture of an ionic conductive additive, an amount of cross linking agent and chain extenders sufficient to provide a crosslinked elastomer;filtering the liquid mixture of additive, crosslinking agents and chain extenders to remove foreign particles;preheating the liquid mixture to a temperature above the decomposition temperature of the additive, crosslinking agents and chain extenders in a degassing oven to degass to less than 5 mm of mercury to break any bubbles in the mixture and remove moisture;to a vacuum reactor mixer having two input ports add the prepolymer, the preheated degassed liquid mixture and mix under vacuum of less than 5 mm of mercury of a period of time to provide a uniform mixture:removing the mixture from the vacuum reactor mixer and form into the desired shape,cure the formed shap

Abstract: A roller for increasing the rate of permeability of liquid carrier from an image formed from a liquid developer comprised of toner particles and liquid carrier. Perforations formed through the skin covering of the blotter roller provide high quality transfer of an image having maximum toner particles and minimal liquid carrier to a final copy sheet, at an increased process speed.

Abstract: A seamless intermediate transfer member has a reinforcing member in an endless configuration, a filler material such as a polymer and electrical property regulating material to regulate the electrical properties such as surface and bulk resistivity, dielectric constant and charge dissipation. The seamless intermediate transfer member also has good mechanical properties. The reinforcing member can be prepared by any suitable method such as by weaving. Filler material and electrical regulating material can be applied on, around or embedded into the reinforcing member. The member can be employed in an electrostatographic imaging system with more than one toner imaging station. The member can pick up a separate image from each individual imaging station and transfer the combined image to a suitable substrate.

Abstract: A seamless intermediate transfer member has a reinforcing member in an endless configuration, a filler material such as a polymer and electrical property regulating material to regulate the electrical properties such as surface and bulk resistivity, dielectric constant and charge dissipation. The seamless intermediate transfer member also has good mechanical properties. The reinforcing member can be prepared by any suitable method such as by weaving. Filler material and electrical regulating material can be applied on, around or embedded into the reinforcing member. The member can be employed in an electrostatographic imaging system with more than one toner imaging station. The member can pick up a separate image from each individual imaging station and transfer the combined image to a suitable substrate.

Abstract: An electrically conductive polyurethane elastomer obtained by the reaction of a polytetramethylene ether glycol having the formula HO[(CH.sub.2).sub.4 O].sub.x H where x is from 8 to 41 and from about 20 to about 95 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of said glycol of at least one diisocyanate, a sufficient amount of chain extender and cross linking agents to provide a crosslinked elastomer and an amount of an asymmetric ionic quarternary ammonium salt having the formula: ##STR1## where R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are C.sub.n H.sub.2n+1 and 1.ltoreq.n.ltoreq.25 sufficient to provide a D.C. volume resistivity of from about 10.sup.7 to about 10.sup.11 ohm cm. In a preferred embodiment the asymmetric ionic quarternary ammonium salt is hexadecyl ethyl dimethyl ammonium ethyl sulfate.

Abstract: An electrically conductive polyurethane elastomer obtained by the reaction of a polytetramethylene ether glycol having the formula HO[(CH.sub.2).sub.4 O].sub.x H where x is from 8 to 41 and from about 20 to about 95 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the glycol of at least one diisocyanate, a sufficient amount of cross linking agents and chain extenders to provide a crosslinked elastomer and an amount of an asymmetric ionic quarternary ammonium salt having the formula: ##STR1## where R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 are C.sub.n H.sub.2n+1 and 1.ltoreq.n.ltoreq.25 sufficient to provide a resistivity of from about 10.sup.7 to about 10.sup.11 ohm cm. In a preferred embodiment the asymmetric ionic quarternary ammonium salt is (3-lauramidopropyl) trimethylammonium sulfate.

Abstract: An electrically conductive polyurethane elastomer obtained by the reaction of a polytetramethylene ether glycol having the formula HO[(CH.sub.2).sub.4 O].sub.x H where x is from 8 to 41 and from about 20 to about 95 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of said glycol of at least one diisocyanate, a sufficient amount of chain extender and cross linking agents to provide a crosslinked elastomer and an amount of an asymmetric ionic quarternary ammonium salt having the formula: ##STR1## where R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are C.sub.n H.sub.2n+1 and 1.ltoreq.n.ltoreq.25 sufficient to provide a D.C. volume resistivity of from about 10.sup.7 to about 10.sup.11 ohm cm. In a preferred embodiment the asymmetric ionic quarternary ammonium salt is hexadecyl ethyl dimethyl ammonium ethyl sulfate.

Abstract: An electrically conductive polyurethane elastomer obtained by the reaction of a polytetramethylene ether glycol having the formula HO[(CH.sub.2).sub.4 O].sub.x H where x is from 8 to 41 and from about 20 to about 95 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the glycol of at least one diisocyanate, a sufficient amount of cross linking agents and chain extenders to provide a crosslinked elastomer and an amount of an asymmetric ionic quarternary ammonium salt having the formula: ##STR1## Where R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 are C.sub.n H.sub.2n+1 and 1.ltoreq.n.ltoreq.25 sufficient to provide a resistivity of from about 10.sup.7 to about 10.sup.11 ohm cm. In a preferred embodiment the asymmetric ionic quarternary ammonium salt is (3-lauramidopropyl) trimethylammonium sulfate.

Abstract: A disk stacker for inverting and stacking sheets has a stacking tray and registration member and a paddle wheel wiper having semicircular blades made of a polyurethane elastomer obtained by the reaction of a polytetramethylene ether glycol having the formula HO[(CH.sub.2).sub.4 O].sub.n H where n is from 10 to 60, preferably 55 to 60, and from about 20 to about 95 parts preferably 22 to 26 parts, by weight per 100 parts by weight of said glycol of a diisocyanate selected from the group consisting of diphenylmethane diisocyanates, toluene diisocyanates, naphthalene diisocyanates and blends thereof and a sufficient amount of cross linking agents to provide a crosslinked elastomer, said cross linking agents comprising a mixture of from about 75% to 60% by weight of a diol having the formula HO(R.sub.1)OH where R.sub.1 is a straight or branched chain alkyl group having from 2 to 12 carbon atoms and from about 25% to 40% by weight of a triol having the formula: R'--C--[(OH).sub.a (CH.sub.2 OH).sub.