Abstract: A noise-free silencer assembly is provided that is suitable for reducing self-vibration noises and screeching noises between a cleaning blade and the imaging member of an electrostatographic reproduction machine. The noise-free silencer assembly comprises a C-shaped cross-section elongate member having (a) a longitudinal axis, a wall defining an interior cavity for containing at least a partially compressed high density polymeric open cell foam, (b) a slot formed in the wall extending generally longitudinally and at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the C-shaped cross-section member, and (c) a hinge recess also formed in the wall extending generally longitudinally, for reducing self-vibration noises and screeching noises between a cleaning blade and an imaging member of an electrostatographic reproduction machine.

Abstract: An assembling device insures that the proper interference fit is obtained between a flange device and a hollow cylindrical member into which the flange device is inserted. During the insertion of the flange, the hollow cylindrical member is held in place so that it does not move. A displacement sensor monitors the assembly stroke or the distance the flange is inserted and a force sensor is used to measure the assembly force. Threshold values of the displacement and assembly force are set for each flange device and hollow cylindrical member. The flange device displacement and assembly force are communicated to an assembly indicator. A force and/or displacement value above or below the predetermined threshold value will trigger a signal which alerts an operator to improper assembly of the flange device to the hollow cylindrical member.

Abstract: This invention discloses an apparatus for holding and transporting a hollow flexible belt throughout a coating process. The apparatus includes a spring and shaft assembly which is placed into the hollow portion of a seamless flexible belt. The spring portion of the assembly until it is transformed into a belt carrying chucking device. The chucking device is then attached to a mechanical handling device, and the the belt is transported through the dipping and coating process. This allows the belt to be transformed into an organic photoreceptor. The chucking device and flexible belt are then removed from the mechanical handling device, and the chuck is removed from the inside of the photoreceptor.

Abstract: A process for dip coating drums comprising providing a drum having an outer surface to be coated, an upper end and a lower end, providing at least one coating vessel having a bottom, an open top and a cylindrically shaped vertical interior wall having a diameter greater than the diameter of the drum, flowing liquid coating material from the bottom of the vessel to the top of the vessel, immersing the drum in the flowing liquid coating material while maintaining the axis of the drum in a vertical orientation, maintaining the outer surface of the drum in a concentric relationship with the vertical interior wall of the cylindrical coating vessel while the drum is immersed in the coating material, the outer surface of the drum being radially spaced from the vertical interior wall of the cylindrical coating vessel, maintaining laminar flow motion of the coating material as it passes between the outer surface of the drum and the vertical interior wall of the vessel, maintaining the radial spacing between the outer

Abstract: Apparatus for dip coating comprising a drum having an outer surface to be coated, an upper end and a lower end, at least one coating vessel having a bottom, an open top and a cylindrically shaped vertical interior wall having a diameter greater than the diameter of the drum, an inlet at the bottom of the vessel, the inlet adapted to feed flowing coating fluid into the vessel, a mandrel adapted to maintain the outer surface of the drum in a concentric relationship with the vertical interior wall of the cylindrical coating vessel while the drum is immersed in the flowing coating material, the outer surface of the drum being radially spaced from the vertical interior wall of the cylindrical coating vessel, and at least one flow regulating member adapted to maintain laminar flow motion of the coating material as the fluid passes between the outer surface of the drum and the vertical inner wall of the vessel.

Abstract: This invention discloses a method of holding and transporting a hollow flexible belt throughout a coating process. The method includes placing a spring and shaft assembly into the hollow portion of a seamless flexible belt, and expanding the spring portion of the assembly until it is transformed into a belt carrying chucking device. The chucking device is then attached to a mechanical handling device, and the the belt is transported through the dipping and coating process. This allows the belt to be transformed into an organic photoreceptor. The chucking device and flexible belt are then removed from the mechanical handling device, and the chuck is removed from the inside of the photoreceptor.

Abstract: An electroforming process and apparatus for bowing the imaging surface to provide "steering" for moving the electroformed imaging surfaces over rollers or like devices. One embodiment of the present invention is to bow or crown the electroformed imaging surface by using a bimetallic mandrel. The outer material of the mandrel has a greater coefficient of expansion than the inner material. Thus, when the mandrel is heated the outer material expands more than the inner material creating the bowed or crown effect. The electroform takes on the bowed shape during plating and maintains that shape when removed from the mandrel. Another embodiment of the present invention involves mechanically or hydraulically bowing the mandrel and then plating the electroform on the bowed surface. This electroform also maintains the bowed shape when removed from the mandrel.

Abstract: A dryer with zone temperature controls for drying thick polymer-solvent layers on a substrate. The dryer is formed with several heating elements located in an air duct. The cool air is heated a specific amount as it passes each heating element. The heated air is then applied to the polymer-solvent solution on the substrate in a continuous fashion so that the polymer-solvent solution slowly heats up as it passes through the drying apparatus. The preferred design is to ensure a zone residence time of less than 10 seconds and a web heating rate of 10.degree. F./second or less. Most preferred design is a zone residence time less than 5 seconds and a heating rate less that 5.degree. F./second. The dryer is designed to have a continuous temperature gradient, especially in the critical later stages of drying when the solvent content of the film is less than 20%.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for electrostatically spray coating substrates with layers of material having uniform thicknesses is provided. A substrate to be coated is electrically grounded and an electrically charged, atomized spray of coating material is directed toward the substrate from a nozzle. The nozzle is traversed along a length of the substrate, which can also be rotated, to coat substantially the entire surface of the substrate. In order to compensate for thickness variations in the applied coating, the speed of traversal of the nozzle is varied. In a preferred embodiment, where photoreceptor drums are produced by spraying a photoreceptor material onto a cylindrical substrate, the speed of traversal of the nozzle is reduced as it approaches at least one end of the cylindrical substrate.