Abstract: A process including providing a member having an exposed outer metal surface and propelling irregularly shaped solid carbon dioxide granules against the exposed outer metal surface with sufficient force to alter the texture of the outer metal surface to a predetermined surface roughness.

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: There is disclosed a chuck assembly for internally holding a hollow substrate having an open end including: (a) a body including an end section having a width narrower than that of the inner width of the substrate to permit insertion of the end section through the substrate open end into the substrate interior; and (b) a compressible spring coiled around a portion of the end section, wherein prior to compression the spring has an outer width larger than that of the inner width of the substrate, wherein upon insertion of the end section of the body into the substrate the spring is compressed by contact with the substrate inner surface resulting in the chuck assembly holding the substrate by the force generated against the substrate inner surface by the spring in opposition to the compression.

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: 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 at least partially hollow electroforming mandrel containing therein means for adjustably altering the diameter of the mandrel. The mandrel assists in creating a parting gap between the mandrel and the electroformed article, thereby facilitating separation of the two components.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for separating a mandrel having a tapered end portion from an article formed thereon comprising: (a) providing the mandrel having an opening in the tapered end portion; (b) plugging at least a substantial portion of the opening with a member which presents a deposition surface for the formation of the article; (c) forming the article having a tapered end portion on the mandrel, including on the deposition surface of the member; and (d) pushing the member against the inside surface of the tapered end portion of the article to move the article away from the mandrel, thereby forming a gap between the article and the mandrel.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for parting an electrodeposited article comprised of a first surface region and a second surface region from a mandrel, wherein the method comprises: (a) positioning the article and the mandrel in a metal deposition solution; (b) forming a plurality of metal dendrites on the second surface region wherein the first surface region is free of metal dendrites; and (c) separating the article and the mandrel.

Abstract: Environmentally compatible solvents are used in a method for removing coating layers from an electrostatographic imaging member substrate. The solvents include a solution containing at least one member selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, dimethyl malonate and diethyl malonate. The solution is used in a method for removing coating layers from at least part of a substrate, which involves contacting a solution having at least one member selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, dimethyl malonate and diethyl malonate, on at least part of a substrate containing an coating layer until the coating layer is effectively removed from said at least part of the substrate. The environmentally compatible solvents may be used to reclaim pigments in photoconductive coating layers and substrates of defective imaging members during the manufacturing process, or after the operational life of electrostatographic imaging members has expired.

Abstract: A mandrel for transporting hollow cylinders including an elongated arm having a first end and a second end, an expandable disk supported at the first end and means supported at the second end to expand the expandable disk, the mandrel arm comprising an elongated body having an imaginary axis and at least three fins extending substantially radially from the arm, each of the fins having an alignment shoulder adjacent the first end adapted to receive an end of a hollow cylinder and to coaxially align the cylinder with the elongated arm. This mandrel is used in a process for coating hollow cylinders.

Abstract: A mandrel for transporting a hollow cylinder including an elongated arm, a dish shaped disk adjacent one end of the elongated arm, the dish shaped disk having a flexible lip flared inclined away from the elongated arm, the flared flexible lip having a circular outermost edge, and a reciprocable presser means adapted to partially flatten at least a portion of the flexible lip adjacent to and including the outermost edge of the lip toward the elongated arm to increase the length of the circumference of the circular outermost edge of the lip. This mandrel is used in a process for coating hollow cylinders.

Abstract: A mandrel including an elongated arm having a first end and a second end, a reciprocatable shaft coaxially aligned with and extending through the arm, a first end of the shaft extending beyond the first end of the arm and a second end of the shaft extending beyond the second end of the arm, a presser means mounted at the first end of the shaft, an expandable disk shaped member coaxially aligned with and slidably mounted on the shaft between the presser means and the first end of the arm, a compression means mounted on the second end of the shaft, and a resilient helical spring coaxially aligned with and slidably mounted on the shaft between the presser means and the compression means, the compression means adopted to apply compression pressure to the disk shaped member and to the helical spring. This mandrel is used in a process for coating hollow cylinders.

Abstract: A mandrel for transporting a hollow cylinder including an elongated arm having an imaginary axis, an expandable disk shaped member having at least one hole and a circular outermost edge, the disk shaped member being mounted on and coaxially aligned with one end of the arm and including an elastomeric polymer material having a durometer of between about 25 and about 35 and a maximum continuous use temperature rating of at least about 230.degree. C., and means mounted on the mandrel to apply compressive pressure to the disk shaped member to increase the length of the circumference of the circular outermost edge. This mandrel is used in a process for coating hollow cylinders.

Abstract: A method for separating an electroformed article from a mandrel comprising: (a) masking a portion of a mandrel with a mask comprising an electrically nonconductive outer surface; (b) electroforming an article on the mandrel wherein the electroforming material is deposited on the mandrel surface but fails to adhere to the nonconductive outer surface of the mask, whereby the end of the electroformed article is adjacent to the mask; and (c) removing the article from the mandrel by either: (i) pushing the mask against the end of the article to effect movement of the article in the direction of separation; or (ii) removing the mandrel while keeping the mask stationary, whereby the end of the article pushes against the mask during withdrawal of the mandrel.

Abstract: Disclosed is a shotting apparatus which comprises a chamber for containing a molten material and a plate with a plurality of orifices through which the molten material can pass to form droplets, wherein the molten material in the chamber first contacts the top surface of the plate and wherein the bottom surface of the plate contains protrusions through which the orifices extend, the length of each protrusion being at least 50 percent of the total length of the orifice passing through the protrusion, wherein the apparatus is of a material selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide and an alloy comprising nickel in an amount of from about 50 to about 70 percent by weight, molybdenum in an amount of from about 11 to about 22 percent by weight, chromium in an amount of from about 11 to about 22 percent by weight, iron in an amount of from 0 to about 10 percent by weight, tungsten in an amount of from 0 to about 10 percent by weight, manganese in an amount of from 0 to about 1 percent weight, and silico