Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing cylindrical and belt-like substrates includes a carousel rotatable to any one of a plurality of planetary stations surrounding the carousel, the carousel having a support structure defining a central horizontal axis and at least one support arm mounted on the support structure for supporting a substrate thereon along a horizontal axis parallel to and radially offset from the central horizontal axis. The support structure reciprocates relative to any one of the plurality of stations to insert the substrate into and withdraw the substrate from any one of the plurality of stations, and the at least one support arm is rotatable about its offset horizontal axis to rotate the substrate thereon.

Abstract: Distortion-free method of mounting an end piece member on a thin-walled hollow tube member, particularly in the assembly of photoreceptor drums and the like, includes the steps of supporting an expandable end piece member within the chamber of an air centering device with its central axis aligned vertically; applying a layer of flowable adhesive to the interior surface of an open end of the hollow tube member; freely suspending the tube member above the end piece member with the open end remaining free of radial distortion and directed toward the end piece member; centering the tube member, by means of the air centering device, to concentrically align the tube member with the end piece member; inserting the end piece member into the tube member; deformingly expanding the end piece member until the layer of flowable adhesive is sufficiently compressed between an outer peripheral edge of the end piece member and the interior surface of the tube member, so as to absorb any dimensional discrepancies therebetween;

Abstract: A method and apparatus for securing a drum blank for machining includes inserting a cylindrical mandrel within a bore of a drum blank, introducing a liquid support material into a space between the outer diameter of the mandrel and the inner diameter of the drum blank, and solidifying the support material. Once the support material is solidified, the drum blank is securely held to the mandrel. Machining operations can be performed by mounting the assembly in a lathe. After machining is completed, the support material may be treated so that the mandrel can be removed from the drum blank. The mandrel may then be recycled.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing cylindrical and belt-like substrates includes a carousel rotatable to any one of a plurality of planetary stations surrounding the carousel, the carousel having a support structure defining a central horizontal axis and at least one support arm mounted on the support structure for supporting a substrate thereon along a horizonal axis parallel to and radially offset from the central horizontal axis. The support structure reciprocates relative to any one of the plurality of stations to insert the substrate into and withdraw the substrate from any one of the plurality of stations, and the at least one support arm is rotatable about its offset horizontal axis to rotate the substrate thereon.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coating cylindrical and belt-like photoreceptor substrates includes a coating chamber for receiving a planetary array of substrates surrounding a central horizontal axis. An applicator is located within the coating chamber along the central horizontal axis for directing a spray radially outward toward the substrates which rotate about their own axes during the coating operation.