Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture – Methods – Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
Reexamination Certificate
2001-04-11
2003-06-10
Crispino, Richard (Department: 1734)
Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture
Methods
Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
C156S289000, C156S304100, C156S304200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06576078
ABSTRACT:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Attention is directed to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/493,445 (D/97525D), filed Jan. 28, 2000, entitled “Process and Apparatus for Producing an Endless Seamed Belt;” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/470,931 (D/99689) filed Dec. 22, 1999, entitled, “Continuous Process for Manufacturing Imageable Seamed Belts for Printers;” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/088,011, (D/97683), filed May 28, 1998, entitled, “Unsaturated Carbonate Adhesives for Component Seams;” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/615,444 (D/99598), filed Jul. 13, 2000, entitled, “Polyimide Adhesive For Polyimide Component Interlocking Seams;” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/615,426 (D/99598Q), filed Jul. 13, 2000, entitled, “Process For Seaming Interlocking Seams Of Polyimide Component Using Polyimide Adhesive”; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/660,248 (D/99610), filed Sep. 13, 2000, entitled, “Imageable Seamed Belts Having Fluoropolymer Adhesive Between Interlocking Seaming Members;” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/660,249 (D/99610Q), filed Sep. 13, 2000, entitled, “Imageable Seamed Belts Having Fluoropolymer Overcoat;” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/833,930 filed Apr. 11, 2001, entitled, “Imageable Seamed Belts Having Hot Melt Processable, Thermosetting Resin and Conductive Carbon Filler Adhesive Between Interlocking Seaming Members;” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/833,965, filed Apr. 11, 2001, entitled, “Conductive Carbon Filled Polyvinyl Butyral Adhesive;” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/833,488, filed Apr. 11, 2001, entitled, “Dual Curing Process for Producing A Puzzle Cut Seam;” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/833,546 filed Apr. 11, 2001, entitled “Imageable Seamed Belts Having Polyamide Adhesive Between Interlocking Seaming Members; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/833,507 filed Apr. 11, 2001, entitled “Polyamide and Conductive Filler Adhesive.” The disclosures of each of these references are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a process for producing belts useful in electrostatographic, including digital apparatuses. In specific embodiments, the present invention is directed to a process for preparing seamed belts, and more specifically, to endless flexible seamed belts wherein an image can be transferred at the seam of the belt with little or no print defects caused by the seam. In embodiments, the present invention relates to a process for producing xerographic component imageable seamed belts comprising an adhesive formed between mutually mating elements of a seam. The present invention further provides, in embodiments, a process wherein virtually no flashing of excess adhesive from thermal compressive or hot melt adhesive bonding of the seam members occurs. The present invention further provides, in embodiments, a process wherein residual adhesive over the seam is of a controlled geometry, resulting in a tapered mound or bump. The present invention further provides, in embodiments, a process wherein any residual adhesive bump formed after bonding of the seam, can be easily removed by a finishing process to a height equivalent to the surrounding belt.
In a typical electrostatographic reproducing apparatus such as an electrophotographic imaging system using a photosensitive member, a light image of an original to be copied is recorded in the form of an electrostatic latent image upon a photosensitive member and the latent image is subsequently rendered visible by the application of a developer mixture. One type of developer used in such printing machines is a liquid developer comprising a liquid carrier having toner particles dispersed therein. Generally, the toner is made up of resin and a suitable colorant such as a dye or pigment. Conventional charge director compounds may also be present. The liquid developer material is brought into contact with the electrostatic latent image and the colored toner particles are deposited thereon in image configuration.
In a more typical electrostatographic reproducing apparatus, the developer consists of polymeric coated magnetic carrier beads and thermoplastic toner particles of opposite tribo polarity with respect to the carrier beads. This is a dry xerographic process.
The developed toner image recorded on the imaging member is transferred to an image receiving substrate such as paper via a transfer member. The toner particles may be transferred by heat and/or pressure to a transfer member, or more commonly, the toner image particles may be electrostatically transferred to the transfer member by means of an electrical potential between the imaging member and the transfer member. After the toner has been transferred to the transfer member, it is then transferred to the image receiving substrate, for example by contacting the substrate with the toner image on the transfer member electrostatically under heat and/or pressure.
Transfer members enable high throughput at modest process speeds. In four-color photocopier or printer systems, the transfer member also improves registration of the final color toner image. In such systems, the four component colors of cyan, yellow, magenta and black may be synchronously developed onto one or more imaging members and transferred in registration onto a transfer member at a transfer station.
In electrostatographic printing and photocopy machines in which the toner image is transferred from the transfer member to the image receiving substrate, it is desired that the transfer of the toner particles from the transfer member to the image receiving substrate be substantially 100 percent. Less than complete transfer to the image receiving substrate results in image degradation and low resolution. Complete transfer is particularly desirable when the imaging process involves generating full color images since undesirable color deterioration in the final colors can occur when the color images are not completely transferred from the transfer member.
Thus, it is desirable that the transfer member surface has excellent release characteristics with respect to the toner particles. Conventional materials known in the art for use as transfer members often possess the strength, conformability and electrical conductivity necessary for use as transfer members, but can suffer from poor toner release characteristics, especially with respect to higher gloss image receiving substrates.
Polyimide substrate transfer members are suitable for high performance applications because of their outstanding mechanical strength and thermal stability, in addition to their good resistance to a wide range of chemicals. However, the high cost of manufacturing unseamed polyimide belts has led to the introduction of a seamed belt. Even polyimides with the best mechanical and chemical properties often exhibit poor adhesion at the seam even when commercially available primers and adhesives are used.
In the electrostatic transfer applications, use of a seamed transfer polyimide member results in insufficient transfer in that the developed image occurring on the seam is not adequately transferred. This incomplete transfer is partially the result of the difference in seam height to the rest of the belt. A “bump” is formed at the seam, thereby hindering transfer and mechanical performance. The development of puzzle cut seams has increased the quality of transfer somewhat, by decreasing the seam height, thereby allowing smooth cycling.
Currently, the process for seaming involves placing a strip of release layer/adhesive cut slightly wider than the puzzle cut seam over the seaming members. The adhesive is then compression molded into the puzzle cut seam at an elevated temperature. This compression molding, while filling the seam, leaves undesirable flashing of excess adhesive at both edges of the release liner that is difficult to remove during the seam finishing process. The flashing causes extra time to be spent trying to remove the excess adhesive. This results in increased labor manufacturing costs, and he
Mosher Ralph A.
Prest, Jr. William M.
Tarnawskyj Ihor W.
Torpey Matthew J.
Watson Jodie L.
Bade Annette L.
Chan Sing P
Crispino Richard
Xerox Corporation
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