US5324608A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Photoconductor drum, having a non-conductive layer, with an area of electrical contact and method of manufacturing the same
Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Imaging Corp
•
Filing: 1992-11-23
•
Granted: 1994-06-28
•
Expires: 2012-11-23
Abstract
Abstract Forming an area of good electrical contact on a photoconductor drum, having a non-conductive layer, by means of a laser beam leads to a reduction in the loss rate in the manufacturing process. The area of electrical contact is introduced without the use of caustic or corrosive chemicals and without the production of waste products, such as metal powder or spend chemicals. The drums produced by the process are free of scratches which arise from other methods, free of chemical residues in the area of electrical contact, and have an area of electrical contact which is even and smooth.
Inventors
- 👤 Frederick W. Gerriets
- 👤 John E. LaRegina
- 👤 Timothy E. Groff
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 11:27
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G5/00; G03G5/10; G03G5/102; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S430/00; Y10S430/146
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
49 words
A method for manufacturing a photoconductor drum having an anodized layer, with an area of electrical contact, comprising: (i) etching a portion of a surface of a metal drum, having an anodized layer, with a laser beam to substantially remove the anodized layer from said portion of said surface.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
49 words
A method for manufacturing a photoconductor drum having an anodized layer, with an area of electrical contact, comprising: (i) etching a portion of a surface of a metal drum, having an anodized layer, with a laser beam to substantially remove the anodized layer from said portion of said surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said portion of said surface has a surface area of at least 1 mm 2 .
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said laser etching results in the removal of 50 to 100 μm of the metal beneath the anodized layer which is removed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said etching is carried out with a laser power of 10 to 200 Watts.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said etching is carried out by exposing the surface for a time of 0.01 to 0.2 sec per mm 2 of surface etched.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said metal is aluminum.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
70 words
In a method for manufacturing a conductive photoconductor drum having an anodized layer, comprising coating at least a portion of the outside surface of a metal drum, having an anodized layer, with a photoconductor and removing the anodized layer from a portion of the surface of the metal drum, to form an area of electrical contact, the improvement being said removing being carried out by means of a laser beam.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
70 words
In a method for manufacturing a conductive photoconductor drum having an anodized layer, comprising coating at least a portion of the outside surface of a metal drum, having an anodized layer, with a photoconductor and removing the anodized layer from a portion of the surface of the metal drum, to form an area of electrical contact, the improvement being said removing being carried out by means of a laser beam.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 7, wherein said portion of said surface from which said anodized layer is removed has a surface area of at least 1 mm 2 .
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 7, wherein said laser etching results in the removal of 50 to 100 μm of the metal beneath the anodized layer which is removed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 7, wherein said metal is aluminum.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 7, wherein said etching is carried out with a laser power of 10 to 200 Watts.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 7, herein said etching is carried out by exposing the surface for a time of 0.01 to 0.2 sec per mm 2 of surface etched.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
A photoconductor drum, having an anodized layer, produced by a process, comprising: (i) etching a portion of a surface of a metal drum, having an anodized layer, with a laser beam to substantially remove the anodized layer from said portion of said surface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
A photoconductor drum, having an anodized layer, produced by a process, comprising: (i) etching a portion of a surface of a metal drum, having an anodized layer, with a laser beam to substantially remove the anodized layer from said portion of said surface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The drum of claim 13, wherein said portion of said surface has a surface area of at least 1 mm 2 .
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The drum of claim 13, wherein said laser etching results in the removal of 50 to 100 μm of the metal beneath the non-conductive layer which is removed.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The drum of claim 13, further comprising coating said non-conductive metal drum with a photoconductor layer before said etching.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The drum of claim 13, wherein said etching is carried out with a laser power of 10 to 200 Watts.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The drum of claim 13, wherein said etching is carried out by exposing the surface for a time of 0.01 to 0.2 sec per mm 2 of surface etched.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
10 words
The drum of claim 13, wherein said metal is aluminum.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3037861A
Cited
US3232755A
Cited
US3287120A
Cited
US3341326A
Cited
US3271144A
Cited
US3573906A
Cited
US3725058A
Cited
US3850630A
Cited
US3839034A
Cited
US4054094A
Cited
US3837851A
Cited
US3911444A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-06-27 | 1997-12-27 | 1998-06-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-06-27 | 2001-12-27 | 2002-06-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-06-27 | 2005-12-27 | 2006-06-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |