Flexible electrographic imaging member
First Claim
1. A flexible electrographic imaging member comprising:
- (a) a flexible dielectric imaging layer having a uniform thickness of between about 10 micrometers and about 50 micrometers and comprising a thermoplastic film forming polymer wherein said dielectric imaging layer is free of photoconductive material, and(b) a flexible supporting substrate having an electrically conductive surface, said substrate comprising a single substrate layer having a uniform thickness and between about 25 micrometers and about 200 micrometers and comprising a thermoplastic film forming polymer wherein said dielectric imaging layer and said single substrate layer have thermal coefficients of contraction that are substantially the same.
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Abstract
An electrographic imaging member including:
(a) a flexible dielectric imaging layer having a uniform thickness of between about 10 micrometers and about 50 micrometers and including a thermoplastic film forming polymer, and
(b) a flexible supporting substrate having an electrically conductive surface, the substrate including:
(1) a single substrate layer having a uniform thickness of between about 25 micrometers and about 200 micrometers and including a thermoplastic film forming polymer or
(2) dual layers comprising an inner substrate layer and an outer substrate layer, the inner substrate layer having a uniform thickness of between about 25 micrometers and about 200 micrometers and including a thermoplastic film forming polymer and the outer substrate layer having a uniform thickness of between about 10 micrometers and about 50 micrometers and including a thermoplastic film forming polymer,
wherein the linear tension force measured in any direction along the plane of the dielectric imaging layer is substantially the same as the linear tension force measured along the plane of the outer substrate layer in the same direction as the direction selected for measuring the linear tension force in the dielectric imaging layer to impart a flat shape to the electrographic imaging member. A method of using this member in an electrographic imaging process is also disclosed.
37 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A flexible electrographic imaging member comprising:
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(a) a flexible dielectric imaging layer having a uniform thickness of between about 10 micrometers and about 50 micrometers and comprising a thermoplastic film forming polymer wherein said dielectric imaging layer is free of photoconductive material, and (b) a flexible supporting substrate having an electrically conductive surface, said substrate comprising a single substrate layer having a uniform thickness and between about 25 micrometers and about 200 micrometers and comprising a thermoplastic film forming polymer wherein said dielectric imaging layer and said single substrate layer have thermal coefficients of contraction that are substantially the same. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A flexible electrographic imaging member comprising:
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(a) a flexible dielectric imaging layer having a uniform thickness of between about 10 micrometers and about 50 micrometers and comprising a thermoplastic film forming polymer, and (b) a flexible supporting substrate having an electrically conductive surface, said substrate comprising dual layers comprising an inner substrate layer and an outer substrate layer, said inner substrate layer having a uniform thickness of between about 25 micrometers and about 200 micrometers and comprising a thermoplastic film forming polymer and said outer substrate layer having a uniform thickness of between about 10 micrometers and about 50 micrometers and comprising a thermoplastic film forming polymer, wherein said dielectric imaging layer has a linear tension force (Ft.sbsb.1) measured along a plane of said dielectric imaging layer and said outer substrate layer has a linear tension force (Ft.sbsb.2) measured along a plane of said outer substrate layer in a direction which is the same as for determining said linear tension force (Ft.sbsb.1), Ft.sbsb.1 minus Ft.sbsb.2 being less than about ±
20 percent with respect to Ft.sbsb.1wherein said Ft.sbsb.1 is;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">=(A.sub.1)(M.sub.1)[Δ
t.sub.1 (ε
.sub.1 -ε
.sub.S)]and said Ft.sbsb.2 is;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">=(A.sub.2)(M.sub.2)[Δ
t.sub.2 (ε
.sub.2 -ε
.sub.S)]wherein; A1 is cross section of said dielectric imaging layer, A2 is cross section of said outer substrate layer, M1 is Young'"'"'s Modulus of said dielectric imaging layer, M2 is Young'"'"'s Modulus of said outer substrate layer, Δ
t1 is highest processing temperature of said dielectric imaging layer minus ambient temperature,Δ
t2 is highest processing temperature of said outer substrate layer minus ambient temperature,ε
1 is thermal coefficient of contraction of said dielectric imaging layer,ε
S is thermal coefficient of contraction of said inner substrate layer, andε
2 is thermal coefficient of contraction of said outer substrate layer. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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- 11. An electrographic imaging process comprising providing a flexible electrographic imaging member comprising a flexible dielectric imaging layer having a uniform thickness of between about 10 micrometers and about 50 micrometers and comprising a thermoplastic film forming polymer, and a flexible supporting substrate having an electrically conductive surface, said substrate comprising a single substrate layer having a uniform thickness of between about 25 micrometers and about 200 micrometers and comprising a thermoplastic film forming polymer wherein said dielectric imaging layer and said single substrate layer have thermal coefficients of contraction that are substantially the same.
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17. An electrographic imaging process comprising providing a flexible electrographic imaging member comprising dual layers comprising an inner substrate layer and an outer substrate layer, wherein said inner substrate layer has a uniform thickness of between about 25 micrometers and about 200 micrometers and said outer substrate layer has a uniform thickness of between about 10 micrometers and about 50 micrometers and comprising a thermoplastic film forming polymer, wherein said dielectric imaging layer has a linear tension force (Ft.sbsb.1) measured along a plane of said dielectric imaging layer and said outer substrate layer has a linear tension force (Ft.sbsb.2) measured along a plane of said outer substrate layer in a direction which is the same as said direction for determining said linear tension force (Ft.sbsb.1), Ft.sbsb.1 minus Ft.sbsb.2 is less than about ±
- 20 percent with respect to Ft.sbsb.1,
wherein said Ft.sbsb.1 is;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">=(A.sub.1)(M.sub.1)[Δ
t.sub.1 (ε
.sub.1 -ε
.sub.2)]and said Ft.sbsb.2 is;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">=(A.sub.2)(M.sub.2)[Δ
t.sub.2 (ε
.sub.2 -ε
.sub.S)]wherein; A1 is cross section of said dielectric imaging layer, A2 is cross section of said outer substrate layer, M1 is Young'"'"'s Modulus of said dielectric imaging layer, M2 is Young'"'"'s Modulus of said outer substrate layer, Δ
t1 is highest processing temperature of said dielectric imaging layer minus ambient temperature,Δ
t2 is highest processing temperature of said outer substrate layer minus ambient temperature,ε
1 is thermal coefficient of contraction of said dielectric imaging layer,ε
S is thermal coefficient of contraction of said inner substrate layer, andε
2 is thermal coefficient of contraction of said outer substrate layer,forming an electrostatic latent image on said imaging member, forming a toner image on said imaging member in conformance with said electrostatic latent image and transferring said toner image to a receiving member. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
- 20 percent with respect to Ft.sbsb.1,
Specification