Abstract: A photoreceptor aluminum alloy substrate is prepared with specific roughness characteristics and an oxide layer for use in multi-layered electrophotographic photoreceptor. A photoreceptor substrate, or drum, is placed in a lathe and turned using a polycrystalline tool to achieve specific roughness characteristics. A oxide layer is then allowed to form on the roughened photoreceptor substrate. The roughened surface of the photoreceptor aluminum alloy substrate in conjunction with the oxide layer on the roughed surface reduces variances in surface energy across the photoreceptor substrate, and eliminates, or greatly reduces, a number of Tiger Stripe and Tiger Tail defects that may occur in an undercoat layer subsequently applied to the roughened photoreceptor substrate. The approach eliminates the need for wet honing and thereby significantly reduces the complexity and cost of fabricating a multi-layered electrophotographic photoreceptor.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides photoreceptors and methods for fabricating photoreceptors. Photoreceptor device surfaces and fabrication methods have been designed to suppress a “plywood effect.” One method includes providing a substrate, rotating the substrate, lathing the substrate with a cutting tool and a cutting fluid by at least one pass, cleaning the substrate to remove the cutting fluid, and depositing onto the substrate at least one layer.

Abstract: A process including: (a) creating an electrolytic cell composed of a metal surface as a first electrode, a second electrode, and an electrolytic solution, wherein the metal surface has a plurality of metal fibers connected to the metal surface; and (b) treating electrochemically the metal surface with externally supplied power to the electrolytic cell to sever a number of the metal fibers from the metal surface to result in severed metal fiber fragments unconnected with the metal surface.

Abstract: A process including: creating a galvanic cell composed of a substrate as an anode, a cathode, and an electrolytic solution, wherein the substrate includes a metal surface having a plurality of metal fibers connected to the metal surface, wherein the cathode is selected to be more noble than the metal surface resulting in the anode being the working electrode, wherein the galvanic cell spontaneously electrochemically treats the metal surface in the absence of power externally supplied to the galvanic cell; and allowing the spontaneous electrochemical treatment of the metal surface to continue for a time sufficient to sever a number of the metal fibers from the metal surface to result in severed metal fiber fragments unconnected with the metal surface.

Abstract: A method of electroforming a non-ferromagnetic substrate for use in an electrostatographic imaging member includes electroforming a non-ferromagnetic substrate of nickel and one of phosphorus, tin and copper. The substrate can be cylindrical shaped and have a substantially constant inner diameter and outer diameter along a length of the substrate. The substrates can be used in various electrostatographic imaging members including electrographic and electrophotographic imaging members. The methods of this invention can provide seamless imaging members such as photoreceptors that can be used in apparatus that include magnetic developer systems, without adversely interacting with magnetic brushes and magnetic toners.

Abstract: A mandrel comprising a surface effective for electroforming an article thereon, wherein a portion of the mandrel has a contoured surface effective for facilitating axial movement away from the mandrel of the article formed thereon when the article experiences circumferential motion relative to the mandrel.

Abstract: A method for producing a photoreceptor having a substrate subjected to a surface finishing treatment to result in a finished substrate surface, wherein the method includes:(a) analyzing the finished substrate surface by performing a first surface energy reading, a first ellipsometry reading, a first x-ray diffraction reading, and a first profilometry reading;(b) removing electrochemically via an alternating voltage or alternating current a portion of the finished substrate surface, thereby resulting in a cleaned substrate surface;(c) analyzing the cleaned substrate surface by performing a second surface energy reading, a second ellipsometry reading, a second x-ray diffraction reading, and a second profilometry reading, wherein the removing step (b) is accomplished to the extent that the second surface energy reading and the second ellipsometry reading are measurably changed from the first surface energy reading and the first ellipsometry reading, but the second x-ray diffraction reading and the second profilo

Abstract: There is disclosed a chuck apparatus for holding and shaping a hollow, flexible, endless substrate during dip coating comprising: (a) a hollow, flexible bladder adapted to be disposed within the substrate; and (b) a first spindle and a second spindle which are partially disposed within the bladder, the second spindle being movable to press the bladder against the substrate and to shape the bladder and the substrate into an elongated shape.

Abstract: A method of separating an electroformed metal substrate from a mandrel includes establishing a parting gap between the electroformed metal substrate and the mandrel, attaching the electroformed metal substrate at a parabolic end of the mandrel to a parting fixture, and introducing a fluid through the parting fixture into an opening of the mandrel to effect separation of the electroformed metal substrate from the mandrel. The parting fixture includes a parabolically shaped outer cup with a fluid inlet tube extending through the bottom thereof. The parting fixture also preferably includes an inner cup for containing the fluid introduced through the fluid inlet tube and a vacuum device to effect attachment of the electroformed metal substrate to the parting fixture.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for parting an electroformed article from a mandrel including: (a) solidifying a liquid that is disposed between a parting device and the article, thereby joining the parting device to the article via the solidified liquid; and (b) moving the parting device in a direction of separation of the article from the mandrel while the parting device is joined to the article via the solidified liquid to assist in separation of the article from the mandrel.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for separating an electroformed article from a mandrel wherein the article is more attracted to a magnetic force than the mandrel comprising employing the magnetic force on the article in separating the article and the mandrel.

Abstract: An electroforming process and apparatus for forming an electroform with a roughened surface. An electroform with a roughened surface is formed by plating a reusable mandrel with a roughened surface. The reusable mandrel surface is roughened using a sandblasting device. The surface of the reusable mandrel is coated with a dual catalyzed non-self regulating crack free chromium deposit and a surface preparation to maintain the roughened surface. An alternate embodiment of the reusable mandrel utilizes a stainless steel mandrel without the chromium deposit on the surface. The roughened electroform surface enables toner distribution and sealing of the toner distribution module.

Abstract: An electroforming process and apparatus for forming an electroform with a roughened surface. The present invention roughens the surface of the mandrel using a sandblasting device in the center region of the mandrel allowing the two end regions to remain smooth. The intersection of the roughened center region and each of the two end regions form a step. This step on either side of the roughened center region facilitates sealing while the roughened center region enables toner distribution. The electroform created using the step roughened mandrel surface is separated from the mandrel without destroying the mandrel. The step roughened mandrel can then be reused to create another electroform with a roughened surface.

Abstract: There is disclosed a coating method for a substrate having an end region comprising: (a) rubbing a nonwetting material across the end region to adhere the nonwetting material to the end region; and (b) contacting a portion of the substrate including the end region with a coating composition, whereby the coating composition adheres to the substrate surface free of the nonwetting material and the nonwetting material minimizes adherence of the coating composition to the end region.

Abstract: There is disclosed a dip coating method comprising: (a) shaping the widths of a plurality of hollow, flexible, endless substrates into an elongated shape and arranging the plurality of the elongated substrates into a configuration for dipping into a coating solution of a single coating vessel prior to (c); (b) dipping the plurality of the substrates having the elongated shape into a coating solution disposed in the coating vessel; and (c) raising the plurality of the substrates having the elongated shape from the coating solution, thereby resulting in coated substrates.

Abstract: There is disclosed an electrostatographic imaging member comprising: (a) a supporting substrate including an electrically conductive surface; (b) a nickel containing layer comprised of nickel, oxygen, and sulfur, wherein the nickel containing layer is the sole charge blocking layer; and (c) at least one electrostatographic imaging layer.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for heating a portion of an article comprised of nickel, formed by electrodeposition, and possessing an internal stress sufficient to shrink the outer cross-sectional dimension upon application of heat, thereby shrinking the outer cross-sectional dimension of the heated portion. The method may be used to couple the article to other members such as end flanges without the use of an adhesive.

Abstract: An electroforming process and apparatus for bowing the imaging surface to provide "steering" for moving the electroformed imaging surfaces over rollers or like devices. One embodiment of the present invention is to bow or crown the electroformed imaging surface by using a bimetallic mandrel. The outer material of the mandrel has a greater coefficient of expansion than the inner material. Thus, when the mandrel is heated the outer material expands more than the inner material creating the bowed or crown effect. The electroform takes on the bowed shape during plating and maintains that shape when removed from the mandrel. Another embodiment of the present invention involves mechanically or hydraulically bowing the mandrel and then plating the electroform on the bowed surface. This electroform also maintains the bowed shape when removed from the mandrel.

Abstract: Apparatus and process are disclosed for fabricating an endless metal belt comprising a center region between a first end region and a second end region, wherein a portion of the first end region is at least 1.5 times thicker than the center region, thereby resulting in a thickened end portion.

Abstract: A process for treating a predetermined portion of a coating on a photoreceptor to remove at least part of the coating involves directing a source of high energy irradiation at the coating in the presence of at least one fluid medium to remove at least part of the coating from the predetermined portion of the coating. The source of high energy irradiation is preferably a laser beam, ultrasonic energy, or a source of high intensity heat. The at least one fluid medium is preferably at least one gas jet, liquid jet or a liquid solvent.