Abstract: The apparatus of claim 30, further comprising a container having said brush and said cleaning element dispersed and an apparatus brush cleans the inside surface of a cylindrical photoreceptor substrate such as used in xerography. The substrate can be in a cleaning solution and brushes can also be located both inside and outside the substrate. There is relative motion, e.g., rotation, translation, a combination of both, etc., between the brushes and the substrate. A photoreceptor coating is directly applied after the cleaning without intervening processing steps.

Abstract: A “drelt” photoreceptor particularly for use in high speed production color printers employing a lightweight porous machinable mandrel made of a foam material as a means of mounting a flexible belt photoreceptor on a rigid and lightweight cylindrical base. This porous foam—like cylinder is provided with means to temporarily decrease its circumference in order to mount the flexible belt on it. The foam material can be any material that can be formed into a foam type solid structure and then machined to certain precision. Examples of such foam material include a metal foam, a polymer foam, a ceramic foam or a carbon foam.

Abstract: A material handling system for dip coating at least a first drum having a first predetermined length in a first coating cycle and a second drum of a second different predetermined length in a different coating cycle including a carrier device for carrying at least one drum, a coating bath container for depositing a layer of coating material onto at least one drum, a mechanism for raising and lowering the coating bath container between at least a first position and a second position higher than the first position, and a transport device for vertically transporting the carrier device a first predetermined distance from a home position for the first drum and a second predetermined different distance from the home position for the second drum, the first predetermined distance from a home position for the first drum and the second predetermined different distance from the home position for the second drum being sufficient to at least partially insert the first drum and second drum, respectively, into the coating b

Abstract: Apparatus and process for fabricating an electrostatographic imaging member assembly including providing a hollow electrostatographic drum having a first end and a second end, the first end having a surface selected from the group consisting of an uncoated surface, a surface coated with only a first component of a multiple component adhesive, a surface coated with only a second component for the multiple component adhesive, the second component containing a fluorescent tracer which fluoresces when irradiated with activating radiation, and a surface coated with a mixture of the first component and the second component containing the fluorescent tracer, directing activating radiation at the surface of the first end, detecting the amount of fluorescence emitted from the surface of the first end, and generating a signal which is substantially proportional to the intensity of fluorescence emitted from the surface of the first end, the signal ranging through at least three levels of strength, the first level repres

Abstract: An apparatus for centering and holding a substrate including: (a) a substrate holding assembly defining a centerline; and (b) a substrate centering assembly including an alignment member, wherein the alignment member is disposed concentric with the centerline and has an inclined surface that is inclined in a direction such that upon sliding contact of the substrate with the inclined surface, the substrate moves toward the centerline.

Abstract: A coating method using an endless, hollow substrate in the shape of a belt or cylinder having an outer surface, an inner surface, a first end, and an open second end, including: (a) depositing via dip coating a first coating solution over the outer surface of the substrate and simultaneously over the inner surface by permitting the first coating solution to flow through the second end to be deposited on the inner surface, thereby depositing a first layer over the outer surface and the inner surface; and (b) depositing via dip coating a second coating solution over the first layer on the outer surface of the substrate and simultaneously over the first layer on the inner surface by permitting the second coating solution to flow through the second end to be deposited on the first layer on the inner surface, thereby depositing a second layer over the outer surface and the inner surface, wherein the first layer and the second layer are deposited over all of the outer surface and the inner surface of a predetermine

Abstract: A device for supporting a hollow substrate having two open ends in an aligned orientation, wherein one end of the substrate is engageable with a chuck assembly, including: (a) a base for contacting the other end of the substrate; (b) a post coupled to the base, wherein a section of the post is positioned within the substrate, thereby defining a substrate disposed post section; and (c) a spring apparatus coupled to the substrate disposed post section, wherein the spring apparatus is disposed within the substrate and contacts the substrate interior surface, wherein the spring apparatus is compressed by the substrate during misalignment of the substrate with the device and the compressed spring apparatus springs back to push the substrate to the aligned orientation with the device.

Abstract: There is disclosed a chuck assembly for engaging the inner surface of a hollow substrate comprising: (a) a housing having an open end and defining a passageway in communication with the open end; (b) a partially hollow elastic boot defining an entry hole and an inner surface wherein the boot when stretched decreases in cross-sectional dimension, and wherein the boot engages the housing, whereby the hollow portion of the boot is in communication with the passageway; and (c) a movable, boot stretching member disposed in the passageway and adapted to engage the inner surface of the boot, wherein movement of the member in a direction to stretch the boot decreases the cross-sectional dimension of the boot, thereby permitting insertion of the boot into the substrate, and wherein movement of the member in the opposite direction increases the cross-sectional dimension of the boot, thereby permitting engagement of the boot against the inner surface of the substrate.

Abstract: This invention discloses a method of holding and transporting a hollow flexible belt throughout a coating process. The method includes placing an expandable insert into the hollow portion of a seamless flexible belt, and expanding the insert until it forms a chucking device with a protrusion on at least one end. A mechanical handling device is then attached to the protrusion, and will be used to move the chuck and the belt through the dipping process, as materials needed to produce a photosensitive device are deposited onto the surface of the belt, allowing it to be transformed into an organic photoreceptor. The chucking device and flexible belt are then removed from the mechanical handling device, the belt is cut to the desired width, and the chuck is removed from the inside of the photoreceptor.

Abstract: A chuck assembly defining a longitudinal axis for internally holding a hollow substrate is disclosed including: (a) a stationary top pressing member; (b) a bottom pressing member movable along the longitudinal axis; (c) an elastic bag defining an opening, a top region, a side wall, and a bottom region, wherein the bag is stretchable along the longitudinal axis and a portion of the top region adjacent the side wall is immobilized against the stationary top pressing member during the stretching of the bag and a portion of the bottom region is coupled to the bottom pressing member; and (d) a width changing apparatus movable along the longitudinal axis, wherein the width changing apparatus is operatively coupled to the bottom pressing member.

Abstract: There is disclosed a carrier system for carrying a substrate batch including:(a) a heat treated, integral pallet having a pallet thickness, a top surface, and a bottom surface, wherein the pallet defines a plurality of passageways extending completely through the pallet thickness to form a first plurality of openings on the top surface and the bottom surface, wherein the pallet also defines a plurality of chambers extending through at least a portion of the pallet thickness to form a second plurality of openings on the bottom surface; and(b) a plurality of chuck assemblies partially disposed in the plurality of the chambers and adapted to engage the substrate batch, wherein the pallet has sufficient structural rigidity such that while the carrier system is carrying the substrate batch, even when the carrier system is subjected to an elevated temperature, there is absent any appreciable bending and twisting of the pallet.

Abstract: A method of holding and transporting a hollow flexible belt throughout a coating process. The method includes placing an expandable insert into the hollow portion of a seamless flexible belt, and expanding the insert until it forms a chucking device with a protrusion on at least one end. A mechanical handling device is then attached to the protrusion, and will be used to move the chuck and the belt through the dipping process, as materials needed to produce a photosensitive device are deposited onto the surface of the belt, allowing it to be transformed into an organic photoreceptor. The chucking device and flexible belt are then removed from the mechanical handling device, the belt is cut to the desired width, and the chuck is removed from the inside of the photoreceptor.

Abstract: A hollow cylindrical electrostatographic imaging member supporting end flange including a disk shaped member, a supporting hub extending axially from the disk shaped member and a metal disk coaxially secured to the hub, the disk comprising a plurality of rectangular tabs extending radially from the disk in a direction away from an imaginary axis of the hub for engagement with the hollow cylindrical electrostatographic imaging member upon insertion of the hub and disk shaped member into one end of the hollow cylindrical electrostatographic imaging member. When this end flange is inserted into one end of the hollow cylindrical electrostatographic imaging member, the plurality of rectangular tabs extending radially from the disk engage the inner surface of the hollow cylindrical electrostatographic imaging member.

Abstract: There is disclosed a chuck assembly defining a longitudinal axis for internally holding a hollow substrate having an open first end and a second end including: (a) an alignment shoulder positioned along the longitudinal axis; (b) an end portion, positioned along the longitudinal axis, that is adapted to be inserted into the substrate through the open first end and comprised of a polymeric member, wherein the polymeric member has a changeable width including a smaller width to permit insertion of the polymeric member into the substrate and a larger width to contact the polymeric member with the substrate inner surface, and the polymeric member is moveable along the longitudinal axis; and (c) a width changing apparatus operatively coupled to the polymeric member, wherein the polymeric member, which is in contact with the substrate inner surface, pulls the substrate a distance along the longitudinal axis towards the alignment shoulder when the polymeric member moves towards the alignment shoulder.

Abstract: There is disclosed a dip coating apparatus including: (a) a single coating vessel capable of containing a batch of substrates vertically positioned in the vessel, wherein there is absent vessel walls defining a separate compartment for each of the substrates; (b) a coating solution disposed in the vessel, wherein the solution is comprised of materials employed in a photosensitive member and including a solvent that gives off a solvent vapor; and (c) a solvent vapor uniformity control apparatus which minimizes any difference in solvent vapor concentration encountered by the batch of the substrates in the air adjacent the solution surface, thereby improving coating uniformity of the substrates.

Abstract: A method is disclosed including rubbing an edge region of an applicator across a surface of a substrate at a sufficient pressure and at a sufficient speed relative to the substrate surface, wherein the edge region of the applicator comprises an aramid material, to deposit a portion of the aramid material from the applicator to the substrate in an adherent coating on the substrate surface, wherein the method is accomplished in the absence of a solvent.

Abstract: A dip coating apparatus is disclosed including: (a) a single coating vessel capable of containing a batch of substrates vertically positioned in the vessel, wherein there is absent vessel walls defining a separate compartment for each of the substrates; (b) a coating solution disposed in the vessel, wherein the solution is comprised of materials employed in a photosensitive member and including a solvent that gives off a solvent vapor; and (c) a solution displacement apparatus positioned in the vessel to reduce the volume of solution required for dip coating the substrates.

Abstract: A chuck assembly for engaging the inner surface of a hollow substrate including: (a) a body defining a hole, wherein the hole is positioned to be in communication with the air inside the substrate; and (b) a gas pressure regulating apparatus coupled to the hole for regulating the gas pressure inside the substrate.

Abstract: A reservoir for dipping a non-cylindrical flexible belt into a coating fluid so that an electrophotographic layer can be deposited onto its outer surface during a manufacturing process includes a non-cylindrical tank with an inlet located at one end. A coating fluid enters the bottom of the tank and moves past a flow divider located inside or just above the inlet. This divides the entering fluid into two substantially equal portions, so that the level of coating fluid inside of the tank rises uniformly. The coating fluid passes first through a porous membrane, and then through a perforated plate, both of which will reduce the velocity of the coating fluid, to ensure that the fluid has laminar flow characteristics once it reaches the top of the reservoir. Finally, the coating fluid passes through an annular shaped flow director which ensures that the layer which is deposited onto the outer surface of the flexible belt has a uniform thickness.

Abstract: An electrostatographic imaging member assembly including a hollow cylindrical electrostatographic imaging member, the member including a substrate, an exterior imaging surface, an interior back surface, a first end and a second end, a rigid cylindrical core support member located within the interior of and coaxially aligned with the cylindrical electrostatographic imaging member, the cylindrical core support member extending from at least the first end to the second end of the imaging member and having an outer surface spaced from the interior back surface of the hollow cylindrical photoreceptor and at least one preformed resilient compressible sleeve under compression between the back surface of the imaging member and outer surface of the cylindrical core support, the compression being sufficient to render the electrostatographic imaging member substantially rigid and substantially free from distortion under electrostatographic image cycling conditions.