Abstract: An electrostatographic imaging member having a substrate support material which eliminates the need for an anticurl backing layer, a substrate support layer and a charge transport layer having a thermal contraction coefficient difference in the range of from −2×10−5/° C. to about +2×10−5/° C. a substrate support material having a Glass Transition Temperature (Tg) of at least 100° C., wherein the substrate support material is not susceptible to attack from the charge transport layer coating solution solvent and wherein the substrate support material is represented by the two structural formulas below: wherein m, n, and q represent the degree of polymerization having a number from 10 to 300; and x, y, and z are integers; with x and y from 2 to 10 and z from 1 to 10. An electrostatographic imaging member containing this substrate support layer.

Abstract: A belt seam treatment apparatus includes a support element with a smooth surface that supports the seam region of the belt and a heat and pressure source that heats a treatment strip and the belt seam region and that forces the treatment strip against the belt seam region. The support element can be a tube over which the belt hangs and can include a vacuum belt hold system that secures the seam region against the tube during treatment. The heat and pressure source can be a heated pressure bar engaging the entire seam region or a heated pressure wheel traversing the seam region of the entire belt width.

Abstract: A flexible imaging member seam treatment method comprising bonding a thermoplastic polymer film to the seam of the flexible imaging member after placing the film on the seam. The film is bonded by heating the film above a glass transition temperature of at least one of a thermoplastic polymer from which the film is made and a polymer from which an imaging layer of the flexible imaging member is made. The film can be formed on a flexible, removable substrate. Treatment according to embodiments significantly improves seam region physical properties, greatly reducing cracking and delamination resulting from bending stresses induced by traversal of rollers.

Abstract: A belt seam treatment apparatus includes a support element with a smooth surface that supports the seam region of the belt, a heat source that heats a treatment strip and the belt seam region, and a pressure applicator that forces the treatment strip against the belt seam region. The support element can be a tube over which the belt hangs and can include a vacuum belt hold system that secures the seam region against the tube during treatment. The heat source can be an infrared laser or an infrared lamp. Optics form a heat spot or a heat line on the strip and seam region, and a pressure wheel traverses the seam region after heating to compress the strip and seam and bond a thermoplastic polymer of the strip to the seam region of the belt.

Abstract: A flexible imaging belt seam treatment article comprising a high-temperature-resistant flexible substrate that supports a thermoplastic polymer film. The film is deposited on the flexible substrate by dissolution of a film-forming thermoplastic polymer in a carrier solvent, applying the resulting solution to the flexible substrate, and eliminating the carrier solvent. The article can then be used to treat a seam of a flexible imaging belt by placing it on the seam, heating the strip and seam, and applying pressure to the strip and seam.

Abstract: A process for providing an improved imaging member belt having a welded seam which exhibits greater resistance to dynamic fatigue induced seam cracking and delamination. An apparatus for achieving stress relaxation and eliminating protrusions in the seam region is also disclosed.

Abstract: A seamed or seamless intermediate transfer member comprising a layer having an oxidized charge transport molecule, a charge transport molecule, or mixtures thereof, wherein in the seamed embodiment, the seam adhesive may also include an oxidized charge transport molecule, a charge transport molecule, or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A method including: (a) dispensing an electrically conductive liquid into a contact member permeable to the liquid; (b) rubbing the contact member and a surface against each other, at a contact length greater than a tangential contact length, to release the liquid from the contact member to wet the surface with the electrically conductive liquid in a layer ranging in thickness from about 1 to about 100 micrometers; and (c) electrifying the liquid at any time effective for imparting an electrical charge to the surface.

Abstract: An electrostatographic imaging member having a substrate support material which eliminates the need for an anticurl backing layer, a substrate support layer and a charge transport layer having a thermal contraction coefficient difference in the range of from −2×10−5/° C. to about +2×10−5/° C. a substrate support material having a Glass Transition Temperature (Tg) of at least 100° C.

Abstract: A method including: (a) dispensing an electrically conductive liquid into a contact member permeable to the liquid; (b) rubbing the contact member and a surface against each other, at a contact length greater than a tangential contact length, to release the liquid from the contact member to wet the surface with the electrically conductive liquid in a layer ranging in thickness from about 1 to about 100 micrometers; and (c) electrifying the liquid at any time effective for imparting an electrical charge to the surface.

Abstract: A method of treating a flexible multi-layer member exhibiting a glass transition temperature and including a surface layer, the method composed of: moving the member through a member path including: a contact zone defined by contact of the member with an arcuate surface including a curved contact zone region; a pre-contact member path before the contact zone; and a post-contact member path after the contact zone; heating sequentially each portion of the surface layer such that each of the heated surface layer portions has a temperature above the glass transition temperature while in the curved contact zone region; and cooling sequentially each of the heated surface layer portions while in the contact zone such that the temperature of each of the heated surface layer portions falls to below the glass transition temperature prior to each of the heated surface layer portions exiting the curved contact zone region, thereby defining a cooling region, wherein the heating is accomplished in a heating region encompas

Abstract: A process for preparing an imaging member includes applying an organic layer to an imaging member substrate, treating the organic layer and/or a backside of the substrate with a corona discharge effluent, and applying an overcoating layer to the organic layer and/or an anticurl backing layer to the backside of the substrate.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus for producing an endless flexible seamed belt using templates is disclosed. A first form of the template is a mask template with a template aperture in the form of a puzzle cut pattern to be used in combination with an excimer laser. The template is placed between the excimer laser source and the belt material to be cut. As the excimer laser traverses the width of the belt, the laser forms a puzzle cut pattern on the belt. A second form of the template is a punch and die having patterned edges in the form of a puzzle cut pattern with extremely small nodes and kerfs. The cutting tolerances of the patterned edges make it necessary to fix the punch with respect to the die so that there is no misalignment of the punch and die between cutting operations. This is accomplished by resiliently fixing the punch to the die, rather than having the punch attached to the force generating assembly as in normal punch and die assemblies.

Abstract: A seamless flexible electrostatographic imaging member belt fabrication method comprising providing a flexible substrate support sheet, producing first desired features on a first portion of the substrate support sheet, including removing material from the substrate support sheet with first emissions, producing second desired features on a second portion of the substrate support sheet complementary to the first desired features, including removing material from the substrate support sheet with second emissions, overlapping the first and second desired features, bonding the first desired pattern with the second desired pattern to produce a seamed belt and applying at least one coating the substrate support sheet.

Abstract: A seamless flexible electrostatographic imaging member belt fabrication method comprising providing a flexible substrate support sheet, such as with a rectangular shape, placing a template on the support sheet, producing first desired features on a first portion of the substrate support sheet, including removing material from the substrate support sheet with first emissions, producing second desired features on a second portion of the substrate support sheet complementary to the first desired features, including removing material from the substrate support sheet with second emissions, overlapping the first and second desired features, bonding the first desired pattern with the second desired pattern to produce a seamed substrate support belt having substantially no added seam thickness and applying at least one coating over the substrate support belt.

Abstract: A pattern fabrication apparatus includes a beam path for a beam to selectively bombard a target, a beam source producing the beam, a beam spreader that spreads the beam, a mask inducing a pattern on the beam, and a lens that can focus the beam onto the target. The apparatus can be used to manufacture seamless flexible electrostatographic imaging members by providing a flexible substrate support sheet, such as having a rectangular shape, producing first desired features on the support sheet, including removing material from the support sheet with first emissions, producing second desired features on the support sheet complementary to the first desired features, including removing material with second emissions, overlapping the first and second desired features, bonding the features to produce a seamed belt having substantially no added seam thickness, and applying at least one coating over the seamed belt.

Abstract: A process including providing at least a flexible substrate layer having a first major surface on one side and a second major surface on a second side opposite the first major surface, the first major surface being an exposed surface, applying a coating of an anticurl backing layer dispersion on the first major surface of the substrate layer, the dispersion comprising a volatile carrier liquid, a film forming polymer dissolved in the volatile carrier liquid, solid organic particles dispersed in the volatile carrier liquid, and an organic additive dissolved in the volatile carrier liquid, the organic additive represented by the structural formula: wherein m is a number from 1 to 99, n is a number from 1 to 99, p is an integer between 1 and 10, f is an integer between 1 and 8, and I is an integer between 10 and 500, and drying the coating to remove the volatile carrier and form a dried anticurl backing layer.

Abstract: A flexible electrostatographic imaging member belt comprises two ends with matching puzzle-cut patterns of fingers arranged to be joined. The belt is fabricated by a method comprising the steps of: first, joining the two belt ends to form a juncture; second, applying an adhesive strip to the juncture; third, applying a compressing force to the adhesive strip; fourth, heating the adhesive strip for a heating period; fifth, cooling the adhesive strip for a cooling period; thus forming a puzzle-cut seam; and, sixth, determining when the puzzle-cut seam is satisfactory. When it is determined the puzzle-cut seam is not satisfactory, the heating and cooling steps are repeated. When it is determined the puzzle-cut seam is satisfactory, the compressing force is removed. In one embodiment, the method determines when the puzzle-cut seam is satisfactory based on the total time heat is applied to the adhesive strip.

Abstract: An unsaturated carbonate adhesive for use in bonding seams of endless flexible seamed belts, sheets or films, and preferably for use with puzzle cut seams.

Abstract: A welded seam of an imaging belt comprises a surface roughness. To reduce the surface roughness, the welded seam is treated by compressing a portion of the belt comprising the welded seam and adjacent belt portions and, while compressing, heating the welded seam to a heating temperature near but less than the glass transition temperature of the imaging layer of the belt, then cooling the welded seam to a cooling temperature. The compressing continues while the heating and cooling steps are repeated until the surface roughness is determined to be satisfactory. The process then ceases.