Abstract: The presently disclosed embodiments relate in general to electrophotographic imaging members, such as layered photoreceptor structures, and processes for making and using the same. More particularly, the embodiments pertain to the incorporation of a liquid compound having a high boiling point into the charge transport layer such that an anticurl back coating is no longer needed for reduction or elimination of photoreceptor upward curling.

Abstract: The presently disclosed embodiments relate in general to electrophotographic imaging members, such as layered photoreceptor structures, and processes for making and using the same. More particularly, the embodiments pertain to the incorporation of a liquid compound having a high boiling point into the charge transport layer such that an anticurl back coating is no longer needed for reduction or elimination of photoreceptor upward curling.

Abstract: This is a specifically configured roller used in a belt transport system that minimizes ripples or wrinkles in the belt. Based upon a roller having a cylindrical configuration and a one inch diameter, the roller has a concave shape having a 0.005 to 0.1 inch smaller diameter in the center compared to the end portion diameters.

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: 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: 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: There is provided an apparatus for producing a cross-sectional angular surface along a substrate, such as a flexible electrostatographic imaging member belt, comprising a cutting blade that is angled at an angle of less than 90° relative to a plane of an associated substrate to be cut. An apparatus may include a support body, and a blade support member connected to the blade support body. The blade support member comprises a cutting blade having a blade edge. The cutting blade may be positioned, in some embodiments, at an angle of less than 45°, and in other embodiments from about 5° to about 15° relative to a plane of an associated substrate to be cut. The cutting assembly may be used to form a sloping surface on each of first and second marginal end regions of a substrate, such as a flexible electrostatographic imaging member belt, wherein the second sloping surface is substantially parallel with the first new sloping surface.

Abstract: There is provided a process for producing a seamed, flexible electrostatographic imaging member belt comprising providing a flexible, substantially rectangular, electrostatographic imaging sheet having a first major exterior surface opposite and parallel to a second major exterior surface and a first marginal end region of said sheet opposite and parallel with a second marginal end region; shaping said first marginal end region at an angle to form a first new sloping surface between the first major exterior surface and the second major exterior surface, shaping said second marginal end region at an angle to form a second new sloping surface between the first major exterior surface and the second major exterior surface, wherein the second new sloping surface is substantially parallel with the first new sloping surface; forming the sheet into a loop and overlapping said first new sloping surface with said second new sloping surface to form a mated region; and, joining said first new sloping surface to said seco

Abstract: Flexible imaging belts having a seam comprising puzzle-cut edges joined by heat-treating a carbon-black filled polyimide.

Abstract: A seamless flexible electrophotographic imaging member comprising a flexible substrate strip material having an unmelted photodecomposed seam of carbon-black loaded polyimide polymer.

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 metal welding horn having tripartite ceramic coating on its welding horn tip.

Abstract: Illustrated herein is a process for producing a stress relief electrostatographic imaging member web stock comprising: providing a multilayered imaging member web stock including at least one layer to be treated, the at least one layer to be treated having a coefficient of thermal expansion significantly differing from a coefficient of thermal expansion of another layer; passing the multilayered web stock over and making contact with a circular treatment tube having an outer concave arcuate circumferential surface that spontaneously creates a transverse web stock stretching force to offset the ripple causing transversal compression force in the at least one layer to be treated; heating at least one layer to be treated above the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the at least one layer to be treated to thereby create a heated portion of the at least one layer to be treated, a portion of the web stock in proximity to the heated portion of the at least one layer to be treated thereby becoming a heated portion

Abstract: In ultrasonic welding of a seam, such as for creation of an imaging belt, an ultrasonic welding horn is applied to an overlap area. The welding horn has a contact surface within a certain set of dimensions comparable to the overlap area. The welding horn defines a conical main body that tapers to the dimensions of the contact area through a short length.

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 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 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: A stress/strain relief process for a flexible, multilayered web stock includes providing a multilayered web stock including at least one layer to be treated, the at least one layer to be treated having a coefficient of thermal expansion significantly differing from a coefficient of thermal expansion of another layer; passing the multilayered web stock over and in contact with a first wrinkle-reducing roller that spontaneously creates transverse tension stress in the at least one layer to be treated; heating at least the at least one layer to be treated above a glass transition temperature Tg of the at least one layer to be treated to thereby create a heated portion of the at least one layer to be treated, a portion of the web stock in proximity to the heated portion of the at least one layer to be treated thereby becoming a heated portion of the web stock; inducing curvature in the heated portion of the web stock; and cooling the heated portion of the web stock at said curvature.

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: 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.