Abstract: A method of producing an image on a final image receptor from image data in a multiple pass electrophotographic system is provided. The method comprises the steps of applying transfer assist material to an intermediate transfer member and providing at least one development unit comprising a photoreceptive element and charged toner particles. During each complete processing cycle of an intermediate transfer member, a toned image is created and transferred to the intermediate transfer member by application of a bias. In multiple processing cycles of the intermediate transfer member, the transfer assist material and the at least one toned image thereby form a composite image layer on the intermediate transfer member. The method further comprises contacting the composite image layer with a final image receptor while applying a bias that is sufficiently strong to transfer at least a portion of the composite image layer to the final image receptor.

Abstract: A method of producing a composite image on a final image receptor from image data in a single pass electrophotographic system is provided. The method includes steps for applying liquid transfer assist material comprising charged particles of transfer assist material to at least a portion of an element of the electrophotographic system, along with charged toner particles, in order to provide a composite image layer on a final image receptor in a single pass of a photoreceptive element through transfer of the composite image layer from another element in the system.

Abstract: Dry electrographic toner particles are provided that comprise at least one visual enhancement additive encapsulated within an amphipathic copolymer. The amphipathic copolymer comprises one or more S portions and one or more D portions. Methods of making and methods of using these toner particles are also provided.

Abstract: A method of producing an image on a final image receptor in a single pass electrophotographic system is provided. The method comprises the steps of providing at least one toner development unit comprising a photoreceptive element and charged toner particles, and creating a toned image on the photoreceptive element that is transferred to an intermediate transfer member. The method further comprises providing a transfer assist material development unit for applying a transfer assist material to at least a portion of the toned image to form a complete image layer on the intermediate transfer member, wherein the complete image layer is formed in a single pass of the intermediate transfer member. The method also comprises contacting the complete image layer with a final image receptor while applying a bias that is sufficiently strong to transfer at least a portion of the complete image layer to the final image receptor.

Abstract: A method of producing a composite image on a final image receptor from image data in a multiple pass electrophotographic system is provided. The method includes steps for applying liquid transfer assist material comprising charged particles of transfer assist material to at least a portion of an element of the electrophotographic system, along with charged toner particles, in order to provide a composite image layer on a final image receptor through transfer of the composite image layer from another element in the system.

Abstract: An electrosurgical medical device for creating thermal welds in engaged tissue that provides general grasping and dissecting functionality. In an exemplary embodiment, at least one jaw of the instrument defines a tissue engagement plane carrying electrosurgical energy delivery means. The jaw assembly, in one mode of operation, can be used for general grasping and dissecting purposes wherein the jaws close in a non-parallel manner so that the distalmost jaw tip only engage tissue with little movement of the actuator lever in the handle of the instrument. In another mode of operation, the jaw assembly closes close in a parallel manner under very high compression to enable tissue welding.

Abstract: A liquid ink for developing electrophotography images comprises: a) a carrier liquid having a Kauri-Butanol number less than 30; b) a grafted co-polymer comprising a (co)polymeric steric stabilizer covalently bonded to a thermoplastic (co)polymeric core that is insoluble in the carrier liquid, wherein the grafted co-polymer is derived from at least a polymerizable organic compound having at least one acid group or at least one acid group; c) a dispersant having, respectively, at least an amine group or at least one acid group to form an acid-base copolymer-dispersant system or a base-acid copolymer-dispersant system, wherein the mole ratio of the amine group to the acid group is between 0.3 and 1.5 in the base-acid copolymer-dispersant system and the mole ratio of the acid group to the base group in the acid-base copolymer dispersant system is between 0.3 and 1.

Abstract: An apparatus for assisting in the removal or waste or excess ink and a method for disposal of ink from electrophotographic printers comprises providing electrophotographic ink from a source, combining the ink with an absorbable material in a container to form a solid within the container, and closing the container so that the container with the solid inside may be disposed of without ink flowing from the container.

Abstract: A liquid electrophotographic imaging apparatus contains at least one drying sheet for removing excess carrier liquid from an intermediate transfer member or an intermediate image on the intermediate transfer member. The drying sheet comprises a flexible substrate having a first surface and second surface, at least one carrier liquid absorptive layer on the first surface of the flexible substrate, and the first surface facing the intermediate transfer member or image.

Abstract: Improved organophotoreceptor have an electrically conductive substrate, a charge generation layer comprising a charge generation compound and optionally a charge transport compound, and an overcoat layer comprising an electron transport compound wherein the charge generation layer is between the overcoat layer and the electrically conductive substrate. The organophotoreceptor can optionally comprise a charge transport layer and/or other desired layers. The organophotoreceptors are useful in electrophotographic imaging apparatuses and corresponding processes.

Abstract: The invention provides liquid toner compositions in which the polymeric binder is chemically grown in the form of copolymeric binder particles dispersed in a liquid carrier. The polymeric binder includes one amphipathic copolymer comprising one or more S material portions and one or more D material portions, wherein the components of the composition comprise sufficient proton donor and proton acceptor functionality to provide a three dimensional gel of controlled rigidity which can be reversibly reduced to a fluid state by application of energy. The toners as described herein surprisingly provide compositions that are particularly suitable for electrophotographic processes wherein the transfer of the image from the surface of a photoconductor to an intermediate transfer material or directly to a print medium is carried out without film formation on the photoconductor.

Abstract: A method of drying carrier liquid from a toner image on a photoreceptor or from a photoreceptor after transfer to a final substrate comprises providing an electrophotographic apparatus comprising at least a) a photoreceptor, b) a continuous absorbent drying sheet having a beginning and an end, the beginning attached to a take-up roll or spool and the end attached to a supply roll or spool, the intermediate portion thereof coiled around the supply spool with at least a portion of the sheet contacting the photoreceptor. The process includes providing a toned image on the photoreceptor; contacting the continuous absorbent drying sheet to the toned image on the photoreceptor, or to the photoreceptor itself after the image is transferred away, creating a used portion of the continuous absorbent drying sheet; and simultaneously disbursing fresh length of the continuous absorbent drying sheet and taking-up the used portion of the continuous drying sheet.

Abstract: Positive liquid electrographic toner compositions are provided comprising a liquid carrier having a Kauri-Butanol number less than about 30 mL and a plurality of positively charged toner particles dispersed in the liquid carrier. The toner particles comprise a polymeric binder comprising at least one amphipathic graft copolymer comprising one or more S material portions and one or more D material portions. The toner composition additionally comprises a charge control adjuvant that is an acid or a base. These compositions have surprising bulk conductivity and charge per mass properties, particularly as the toner particles are depleted from the toner composition during printing operations.

Abstract: A system for printing a liquid toner is provided comprising a liquid electrographic toner composition comprising a liquid carrier having a Kauri-Butanol number less than about 30 mL and a plurality of charged toner particles dispersed in the liquid carrier, wherein the toner particles comprise a polymeric binder. The system also comprises a charge control adjuvant having limited solubility in the liquid carrier. The charge control adjuvant preferably is present in the liquid carrier in an amount in excess of the solubility of the adjuvant in the liquid carrier. Alternatively, the charge control adjuvant may be dispersed in a matrix having limited solubility in the liquid carrier or encapsulated within a matrix to form microcapsules having limited solubility in the liquid carrier. The charge control adjuvant in any of the above forms may be provided in a number of formats for release into the toner composition as needed.

Abstract: Negative liquid electrographic toner compositions are provided comprising a liquid carrier having a Kauri-Butanol number less than about 30 mL and a plurality of negatively charged toner particles dispersed in the liquid carrier. The toner particles comprise a polymeric binder comprising at least one amphipathic graft copolymer comprising one or more S material portions and one or more D material portions. The toner composition additionally comprises a charge control adjuvant that is an acid or a base. These compositions have surprising bulk conductivity and charge per mass properties, particularly as the toner particles are depleted from the toner composition during printing operations.

Abstract: A condenser (10) with a return header tank (14) has a receiver tank (22) physically attached along side a return header tank (14). The bottom of receiver tank (22) is closed by an end cap (42) that is attached during the single, high temperature braze process that forms the entire condenser. The desiccant cartridge assembly (24) of the invention has components of a material and design that allow it to be installed within tank (22) before the end cap (42) is attached during the braze process, with no subsequent steps.

Abstract: An extruded thin sheet foam is disclosed prepared from a polyolefin resin in which the blowing agent comprises a blend of from about 1 to 25% by weight of carbon dioxide and the balance of C3 to C4 VOCs. Thin foam sheets produced with the blowing agent age about twice as fast as foams prepared with VOCs, are remarkably stable, and can be produced at high throughputs.

Abstract: Each blow-off valve includes a valve body with a first movable wall defining a portion of the liquid fluid passage therein and a second movable wall defining a portion of the suction fluid passage therein. An actuator interconnects the movable walls for simultaneously moving the walls and opening the fluid passages in response to the electrical leakage-warning signal. In the species of FIGS. 2 and 3, the movable walls are integrally united with the valve body and include frangible sections that are fractured by an explosive squib to separate the movable walls from the body to simultaneously open the liquid and suction fluid passages. In the species of FIG. 5, the movable walls are separate valve elements disposed in a circular bore that opens the passages to the ambient surroundings. The actuator includes a spring, for biasing each of the valve elements out of its respective bore, and a holding device that weakens in response to the electrical leakage-warning signal.

Abstract: A program product, system and method for speech recognition, the program product comprising machine-readable program code for causing, when executed, a machine to perform the following method: detecting at least one speech element in an utterance of acoustic data which meets a criteria for potentially being reduced; presenting at least a portion of the utterance of acoustic data to a user with a prompt to determine if the speech element is reduced; and if the user verifies that a speech element in the utterance is reduced, training an acoustic model for a reduced form of the speech element using data related to the utterance.

Abstract: An RF treatment apparatus includes a catheter with a catheter lumen. A removable needle electrode is positioned in the catheter lumen in a fixed relationship to the catheter. The needle electrode includes a needle lumen and a needle electrode distal end. A removable introducer is slidably positioned in the needle lumen. The introducer includes an introducer distal end. A first sensor is positioned on a surface of the needle electrode or the insulator. An RF power source is coupled to the needle electrode and a return electrode. An insulator sleeve is slidably positioned around the electrode and includes a second sensor. Resources are associated with the electrodes, sensors as well as the RF power source for maintaining a selected power at the electrode independent of changes in current or voltage.