Electrostatographic imaging member process

Details Electrostatographic imaging member process Electrostatographic imaging member process

2000-10-20

2002-04-16

Chapman, Mark (Department: 1753)

Radiation imagery chemistry: process, composition, or product th

Electric or magnetic imagery, e.g., xerography,...

Radiation-sensitive composition or product

C430S058050, C430S069000, C430S127000, C430S930000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06372396

ABSTRACT:

CROSS REFERENCE TO COPENDING APPLICATIONS
Attention is directed to commonly assigned copendinq application: (D/A0890) filed concurrently herewith, entitled “ELECTROSTATOGRAPHIC IMAGING MEMBER” which discloses 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 anti-curl 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, a film forming polymer dissolved in the volatile carrier liquid, solid organic particles dispersed in the volatile carrier liquid, and an organic additive, such as a fluorinated acrylate copolymer, dissolved in the volatile carrier liquid; and drying the coating to remove the volatile carrier and form a dried anti-curl backing layer. An electrostatographic imaging member containing the resulting anti-curl backing layer is also described.
The disclosures of the above mentioned copending application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The appropriate components and processes of these patents may be selected for the articles and processes of the present invention in embodiments thereof.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The present invention relates to an imaging member fabrication process and, more specifically, to a process for fabricating anticurl backing layers for flexible electrostatographic imaging members.
Electrostatographic flexible imaging members are well known in the art. Typical electrostatographic flexible imaging members include, for example, photosensitive members (photoreceptors) commonly utilized in electrophotographic (xerographic) processes and electroreceptors such as ionographic imaging members for electrographic imaging systems. The flexible electrostatographic imaging members may be seamless or seamed belts. Typical electrophotographic imaging member belts comprise a charge transport layer and a charge generating layer on one side of a supporting substrate layer and an anticurl backing layer coated on the opposite side of the substrate layer. A typical electrographic imaging member belt comprises a dielectric imaging layer on one side of a supporting substrate and an anticurl backing layer on the opposite side of the substrate.
Electrophotographic flexible imaging members may comprise a photoconductive layer comprising a single layer or composite layers. One type of composite photoconductive layer used in electrophotography is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,265,990 which describes a photosensitive member having at least two electrically operative layers. One layer comprises a photoconductive layer which is capable of photogenerating holes and injecting the photogenerated holes into a contiguous charge transport layer. Generally, where the two electrically operative layers are supported on a conductive layer with the photoconductive layer sandwiched between the contiguous charge transport layer and the conductive layer, the outer surface of the charge transport layer is normally charged with a uniform charge of a negative polarity and the supporting electrode is utilized as an anode. Obviously, the supporting electrode may still function as an anode when the charge transport layer is sandwiched between the supporting electrode and the photoconductive layer. The charge transport layer in this latter embodiment must be capable of supporting the injection of photogenerated electrons from the photoconductive layer and transporting the electrons through the charge transport layer. Photosensitive members having at least two electrically operative layers, as disclosed above, provide excellent electrostatic latent images when charged with a uniform negative electrostatic charge, exposed to a light image and thereafter developed with finely divided electroscopic marking particles. The resulting toner image is usually transferred to a suitable receiving member such as paper.
As more advanced, higher speed electrophotographic copiers, duplicators and printers were developed, degradation of image quality was encountered during extended cycling. Moreover, complex, highly sophisticated duplicating and printing systems operating at very high speeds have placed stringent requirements including narrow operating limits on photoreceptors. For electrophotographic imaging members having a belt configuration, the numerous layers found in modern photoconductive imaging members must be highly flexible, adhere well to adjacent layers, and exhibit predictable electrical characteristics within narrow operating limits to provide excellent toner images over many thousands of cycles. One type of multilayered photoreceptor that has been employed as a belt in electrophotographic imaging systems comprises a substrate, a conductive layer, a blocking layer, an adhesive layer, a charge generating layer, a charge transport layer, and a conductive ground strip layer adjacent to one edge of the imaging layers. This photoreceptor belt may also comprise additional layers such as an anticurl backing layer to achieve the desired belt flatness. An optional overcoating layer over the charge transport layer may be used for wear and chemical protection.
In a machine service environment, a flexible imaging member belt, mounted on a belt supporting module, is generally exposed to repetitive electrophotographic image cycling which subjects the exposed anticurl backing layer to abrasion due to mechanical fatigue and interaction with the belt drives and other support rollers as well as sliding contact with backer bars. This repetitive cycling leads to a gradual deterioration in the physical/mechanical integrity of the exposed anticurl backing layer. When the anticurl layer is worn the thickness thereof is reduced and the anticurl backing layer experiences a loss of ability to counteract the tendency of imaging members to curl upwardly thereby leading, to belt curl. Moreover, uneven wear of the anticurl backing layer has been found to cause early development of belt ripples which are ultimately manifested as copy printout defects. Thus, the anticurl backing layer wear resulting from mechanical contact interaction during dynamic imaging operations is a serious problem that shortens the service life of the belt and adversely affects image quality.
When a production web stock of several thousand feet of coated multilayered photoreceptor is rolled up, the charge transport layer and the anticurl layer are in intimate contact. The high surface contact friction of the charge transport layer against the anticurl layer causes dimples and creases to develop in the internal layers of the photoreceptor. Since these physically induced defects manifest themselves as print defects in xerographic copies, the unacceptable segments of this photoreceptor web stock are discarded thereby decreasing production yield. Although attempts have been made to overcome these problems, the solution of one problem often leads to the generation of additional problems.
Flexible photoreceptor belts are fabricated from sheets cut from an electrophotographic imaging member web stock. The cut sheets are generally rectangular in shape. All edges may be of the same length or one pair of parallel edges may be longer than the other pair of parallel edges. The sheet is formed into a belt by joining the overlapping opposite marginal end regions of the sheet. A seam is typically produced in the overlapping opposite marginal end regions at the point of joining. Joining may be effected by any suitable means such as welding (including ultrasonic processes), gluing, taping, pressure/heat fusing, and the like. However, ultrasonic seam welding is generally the preferred method of joining because it is rapid, clean (no application of solvents) and produces a thin and narrow seam. The ultrasonic seam welding process involves a mechanical pounding action of a welding horn which generate a suffi

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Electrostatographic imaging member process does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Electrostatographic imaging member process, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Electrostatographic imaging member process will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2921739