Abstract: This invention discloses a polyimide fuser belt incorporating synthetic graphite or expanded synthetic graphite as a filler. The resulting fuser belt has increased thermal diffusivity without sacrificing mechanical strength. Fuser belts made with synthetic or expanded synthetic graphite enable electrophotographic printers to exhibit superior fuse temperatures and better print speeds across a range of different media types.

Abstract: An endless electrophotographic member, such as a developer roller, which indicates an improved resistance to nip banding. The improvement to nip banding may be provided by the use of an organic salt within a roller surface region. The roller may provide, at a nip location, a resistive surface layer having an electrical resistance that avoids the development of nip banding and relatively dark regions on printed media.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a process for making a seamless tube from a liquid. A mandrel may be provided having a longitudinal axis, an outer surface and a length. A liquid material may be applied to the outer surface of the mandrel by one or more doctor blades, spaced apart from the mandrel outer surface and inclined at an angle ? with respect to the mandrel longitudinal axis, which may be moved along the longitudinal axis of the mandrel while rotating the mandrel around its longitudinal axis. One or a plurality of fingers may overly the mandrel and be positioned upstream of the one or more of blades, relative to the direction of movement of the blades along the longitudinal axis of the mandrel. The liquid material may then be converted to form a seamless tube.

Abstract: An endless electrophotographic member, such as a developer roller, which indicates an improved resistance to nip banding. The improvement to nip banding may be provided by the use of an organic salt within a roller surface region. The roller may provide, at a nip location, a resistive surface layer having an electrical resistance that avoids the development of nip banding and relatively dark regions on printed media.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a process for making a seamless tube from a liquid. A mandrel may be provided having a longitudinal axis, an outer surface and a length. A liquid material may be applied to the outer surface of the mandrel by one or more doctor blades, spaced apart from the mandrel outer surface and inclined at an angle ? with respect to the mandrel longitudinal axis, which may be moved along the longitudinal axis of the mandrel while rotating the mandrel around its longitudinal axis. One or a plurality of fingers may overly the mandrel and be positioned upstream of the one or more of blades, relative to the direction of movement of the blades along the longitudinal axis of the mandrel. The liquid material may then be converted to form a seamless tube.

Abstract: An image forming device comprising two components capable of relative movement and a lubricant disposed between such components. The lubricant may include a carrier medium capable of reducing friction between the components including boron nitride.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for ink-jet printing including an intermediate transfer medium, a transfer medium, and an ink-jet print head to jet ink toward the intermediate transfer medium, to transfer an ink image from the intermediate transfer medium to media with an optimum image transfer and optical density. The optimum image transfer and optical density is accomplished by generating uniform pressure across a nip generated by the intermediate transfer medium and the transfer medium, and control of a release coating thickness resident on the intermediate transfer medium and a time delay between a jetting of ink toward the intermediate transfer medium and transfer of jetted ink resident on a surface of the intermediate transfer medium to the media.

Abstract: A coating apparatus for applying a coating liquid to a printing substrate. The coating apparatus has a rotatable first roll and a rotatable second roll, each having a surface energy. The second roll is positioned adjacent to the first roll and defines with the first roll a first nip through which the printing substrate passes A metering device is provided for applying a substantially uniform layer of coating liquid onto the second roll. The second roll in turn transfers the coating liquid to the printing substrate. The surface energy of the second roll is greater than the surface energy of the coating liquid. In one embodiment, the metering device includes a rotatable third roll and a doctor blade contacting the third roll, each having a surface energy. The surface energy of at least a portion of either or both the third roll and doctor blade is less than the surface energy of the coating liquid.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for ink-jet printing including an intermediate transfer medium, a transfer medium, and an ink-jet print head to jet ink toward the intermediate transfer medium, to transfer an ink image from the intermediate transfer medium to media with an optimum image transfer and optical density. The optimum image transfer and optical density is accomplished by generating uniform pressure across a nip generated by the intermediate transfer medium and the transfer medium, and control of a release coating thickness resident on the intermediate transfer medium and a time delay between a jetting of ink toward the intermediate transfer medium and transfer of jetted ink resident on a surface of the intermediate transfer medium to the media.

Abstract: A layered intermediate used in inkjet printing contains a release coat formed on a transfer medium in an area where an image has not been printed. The release coat is formed of polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) or a PVP copolymer and at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of glycol solvents and diol solvents. A viscous coating of PVP or the PVP copolymer is formed on the transfer medium in an area where an image has been printed. A release layer formed from components in the release coat and components in the ink is formed on the viscous coating. A first ink layer is formed on the release layer of flocculated ink. A second ink layer is formed on the first ink layer, of ink that is substantially not flocculated.

Abstract: A coating apparatus for applying a coating liquid to a printing substrate. The coating apparatus has a rotatable first roll and a rotatable second roll, each having a surface energy. The second roll is positioned adjacent to the first roll and defines with the first roll a first nip through which the printing substrate passes A metering device is provided for applying a substantially uniform layer of coating liquid onto the second roll. The second roll in turn transfers the coating liquid to the printing substrate. The surface energy of the second roll is greater than the surface energy of the coating liquid. In one embodiment, the metering device includes a rotatable third roll and a doctor blade contacting the third roll, each having a surface energy. The surface energy of at least a portion of either or both the third roll and doctor blade is less than the surface energy of the coating liquid.

Abstract: A method of printing uses an inkjet print head to print an ink containing about 0.01 to about 15 wt. % of a wetting agent onto an intermediate transfer surface to form an image on the intermediate transfer surface. The method transfers the image from the intermediate transfer surface to a final medium while the ink is partially wet. The wetting agent may be a 1,2 alkyldiol having 4-10 carbon atoms or a diether alcohol having 6-14 carbon atoms. 1,2 hexanediol and hexylcarbitol, respectively, are particularly suitable wetting agents. If 1,2 hexanediol is used as the wetting agent, the ink may contain about 1.0 to about 5.0 wt. % hexanediol. If hexylcarbitol is used as the wetting agent, the ink may contain about 0.1 to about 2.5 wt. % of hexylcarbitol. The intermediate transfer surface may be coated with a coating solution. In this case, the ink should have a surface energy different from that of the coating solution by no more than about about 10 dynes/cm.

Abstract: A method of printing uses a liquid applicator to apply a coating solution ontaining polyvinyl pyrrolidone or a polyvinyl pyrrolidone copolymer to an intermediate transfer medium. An image is printed onto the intermediate transfer medium using an ink jet printing device. The coating solution contains an organic solvent, which is preferably a glycol solvent or a diol solvent. Suitable solvents include trimethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, propylene glycol, di propylene glycol, tri propylene glycol, 1,2 butane diol, 2 pyrrolidone, gamma butyrolactone and glycerol. The coating solution is applied in an amount of 0.01 to 10 mg/cm2. The coating solution may contain 0.01 to 20 wt. % of polyvinyl pyrrolidone or a polyvinyl pyrrolidone copolymer, 5-95 wt. % of an organic solvent and 5-95 wt. % water. More preferably, the coating solution contains 0.01 to 15 wt. % of polyvinyl pyrrolidone or a polyvinyl pyrrolidone copolymer, 5-95 wt. % of an organic solvent and 5-95 wt. % water.

Abstract: A semiconductor developer roller having a conductive shaft and an outer member of caprolactone-ester-based polyurethane loaded with ferric chloride. The members have low environmental sensitivity and good electrical stability.

Abstract: An electrophotographic developer roller with a highly resistive layer over a conductive core is made by mixing polyurethane and ferric chloride. After curing, the roller is soaked in hydrogen peroxide to oxidize the outer surface. The oxidized surface layer is electrically resistive. An excellent developer roller is achieved at low production cost.

Abstract: An electrophotographic developer roller is made by casting urethane prepolymer mixed with a polybutadiene, a trifunctional curative, ferric chloride powder, and an antioxidant. After curing, the roller is baked, which oxidizes the outer surface. The oxidized surface layer is electrically resistive, which is desirable in a developer roller. An excellent developer roller is achieved at low production cost. The antioxidant provides stable electrical characteristics over extended time periods.

Abstract: An electrophotographic developer roller is made by casting urethane prepolymer mixed with a butadiene, a trifunctional curative and ferric chloride powder. After curing, the roller is baked, which oxidizes the outer surface. The oxidized surface layer is electrically resistive, which is desirable in a developer roller. An excellent developer roller is achieved at low production cost.