Abstract: Belt material is wrapped around a small diameter mandrel. Instead of cutting the belt to length, the material is then continued to be wrapped around the mandrel, forming a belt material overlap, and held under tension. An ultrasonic welding horn is then traversed across the width of the belt overlap. As this horn is traversed across the overlapped joint, the horn not only joins the belt material wrapped around the mandrel but, as the trailing edge is held under tension, the horn also separates or severs the trailing edge of the material from the welded seam.

Abstract: A method is disclosed that involves providing a sheet of thermoplastic belt material having a first end with a first radius of curvature, providing a mandrel having a second radius of curvature that is no more than 12% larger or smaller than the first radius of curvature, wrapping the sheet of thermoplastic belt material on the mandrel to form a material overlap region, and welding the material overlap region to form a seamed belt. In one embodiment, instead of cutting the belt to length, the material is then continued to be wrapped around the mandrel, forming a belt material overlap, and held under tension. As the ultrasonic welding horn is traversed across the width of the belt overlap, the horn not only joins the belt material wrapped around the mandrel but, as the trailing edge is held under tension, the horn also separates or severs the trailing edge of the material from the welded seam. A seamed belt is also disclosed.

Abstract: Post treatment of an ultrasonically welded seamed flexible imaging member belt includes providing a flexible belt having an outer surface, an inner surface, parallel edges and a welded seam extending from one parallel edge to the other parallel edge, the belt seam including a seam region comprising an overlap of two oppositely miter cut edges, and two adjacent splashing formed around the seam; contacting the seam with abrasive and a super finishing tool; and super finishing the seam to remove at least the splashing on the outer surface of the belt.

Abstract: A weldable intermediate transfer belt having a substrate with a homogeneous composition of polyaniline in an amount of from about 2 to about 25 percent by weight of total solids, and a thermoplastic polyimide in an amount of from about 75 to about 98 percent by weight of total solids, and the polyaniline has a particle size of from about 0.5 to about 5.0 microns, and an apparatus for forming images on a recording medium and incorporating the intermediate transfer belt.

Abstract: A method of welding together the ends of a web segment of a thermally weldable material, such as for a xerographic photoreceptor or intermediate transfer belt, to form an endless loop belt with a welded seam, by compressing the web segment ends in a welding area with a weld-splash confining laser-light transmissive glass plate, and applying sufficient laser-light energy through that glass plate to thermally weld the web ends together into a smoothly welded seam. The side of the belt opposite from the glass plate may be held by a pneumatic holding system. The side of the glass plate pressing against the web ends may have a slightly convex parabolic shape.

Abstract: Multilayered web stock is directed toward a curved surface and at least one layer of the web stock is heated to a temperature above a glass transition temperature of the at least one layer of the web stock. The heating can occur just before or upon engaging the curved surface. The temperature of the at least one layer remains above the glass transition temperature while engaging the curved surface, allowing reshaping and/or realignment of the at least one layer relative to other layers of the web stock according to conformance to the curved surface. The web stock is cooled before it disengages from the curved surface. The heating can be done with a high power infrared lamp focused into a line across the web stock, and the cooling can be done with a cooled fluid jet. Additionally, a preheater can be employed, and a supplemental cooler can be used.

Abstract: A welded intermediate transfer belt and process for making the same having a substrate made primarily of at least one polyimide polymer. The weld may be ultrasonically or otherwise welded and may have favorable properties such as relatively thin seam thickness and small weld steps. The weld may be overlapped or miter cut.

Abstract: A weldable intermediate transfer belt having a substrate with a homogeneous composition of polyaniline in an amount of from about 2 to about 25 percent by weight of total solids, and a thermoplastic polyimide in an amount of from about 75 to about 98 percent by weight of total solids, and the polyaniline has a particle size of from about 0.5 to about 5.0 microns, and an apparatus for forming images on a recording medium and incorporating the intermediate transfer belt.

Abstract: Packaging apparatus is provided for packaging a flexible photoconductive belt loop to prevent light from shocking the flexible photoconductive belt loop during shipping and during loading into an image reproduction machine. The packaging apparatus includes (a) a cut sheet of light occluding and protective flexible member for wrapping over the flexible photoconductive belt loop. The cut sheet has a length L2 including a first end, a second end, and (iv) at least one loop tacking aperture formed through a second end portion thereof. The packaging apparatus also includes a first adhesive tape member applied over the second end portion, through the at least one loop tacking aperture, and onto a first end portion. The packaging apparatus further includes a plurality of packaging cores, and a second adhesive tape member applied over the second end and over a portion of the main body portion.

Abstract: A packaging machine and method are provided for wrapping, folding and taping a flexible photoconductive belt loop to prevent light from shocking such photoconductive belt loop during shipping and during loading into a machine.

Abstract: A method of forming a flexible belt including: providing a flexible member; providing a work surface; forming the flexible member in a loop shape including an overlap region; positioning the overlap region of the flexible member in pressure contact with the work surface such that the photosensitive surface and the work surface is on the outside of the loop shape; positioning a welding tool on an inside surface of the loop shape of the flexible member opposite the overlap region; and ultrasonically welding the flexible member at one or more locations.

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: A process for treating a seamed flexible electrostatographic imaging belt including providing an imaging belt including at least one layer including a thermoplastic polymer matrix and a seam extending from one edge of the belt to the other, providing an elongated support member having a arcuate supporting surface and mass, the arcuate surface having at least a substantially semicircular cross section having a radius of curvature of between about 9.

Abstract: A flange holding apparatus composed of: (a) a head for engaging a flange; (b) a collar surrounding the head, wherein the collar extends along a portion of the length of the head, wherein the head and the collar define a gap therebetween and the head can move between a centered position and an eccentric position relative to the collar; and (c) a resilient member disposed in the gap, wherein movement of the head from the centered position to the eccentric position compresses a portion of the resilient member, whereby the compressed portion of the resilient member urges the head to return to the centered position.

Abstract: A dip coat process material handling system and method for coating multiple layers of material on a plurality of workpieces, in particular for producing a multi-layer optical photoconductive drum, wherein a plurality of pipes are suspended from a carrier pallet which transports the workpieces through a dip coat cell housing various dip coating stations. The system includes a load/unload station, vertical and horizontal transport systems for transporting the carrier pallet having workpieces loaded thereon to the various dip coating stations, a drying/cooling booth, and a return conveyor system. The invention allows complete dip coat processing to be completed in an in-line configuration while the workpieces are attached to the carrier pallet, thereby eliminating load/unload steps at each dip coating station to provide efficient and flexible processing of materials.