Reduction of seam mark from an endless seamed organophotoreceptor belt

An electrophotographic imaging process comprising:

• providing an organophotoreceptor belt on an imaging apparatus, the organophotoreceptor belt having a photoconductive element on an electrically conductive substrate and a seam, the organophotoreceptor belt moving with respect to a developer roll;
• providing an imaging apparatus comprising the developer roll and a squeegee roller;
• mounting the organophotoreceptor belt on the imaging apparatus;
• applying a first voltage to the photoconductive element;
• applying a second voltage to the developer roll;
• applying a third voltage to the developer roll when the seam is at a distance less than 10% of the circumference of the organophotoreceptor belt from the developer roll,
• subsequently applying a second voltage to the developer roll;
• applying a fourth voltage to the electrically conductive substrate;
• applying a fifth voltage to the squeegee roller;
• moving the organophotoreceptor belt;
• after the application of the first voltage, the second voltage, the third voltage, the fourth voltage and the fifth voltage, imagewise exposing the surface of the organophotoreceptor belt to radiation to reduce voltage in selected areas and thereby form a pattern of high voltage and low voltage areas on the surface;
• contacting the surface with a liquid ink comprising colorant particles in an organic liquid to create toned image image;
• and
• transferring the toned image to a receiving medium;
• wherein the third voltage is equal or less than the fourth voltage when the first and third voltages are positive.

An electrophotographic imaging process comprising:

• providing an organophotoreceptor belt on an imaging apparatus, the photoreceptor belt having a photoconductive element on an electrically conductive substrate and a seam, wherein the organophotoreceptor belt moves with respect to a developer roll, a developer bias voltage being maintained between the developer roll and the organophotoreceptor belt;
• providing an imaging apparatus comprising a the developer roll;
• applying a first voltage to the photoconductive element;
• moving the organophotoreceptor belt;
• exposing the surface of the organophotoreceptor belt to radiation to reduce voltage in selected areas and thereby form a pattern of high voltage and low voltage areas on the surface;
• then contacting the surface with a liquid ink comprising colorant particles in an organic liquid to create a toned image;
• and
• transferring the toned image;
• wherein the developer bias voltage is lowered when the developer roll is near the seam to a value which is not greater than the voltage of the seam if a positively charged ink is being used.

A method for reducing the effects of seams in images produced in an electrophotographic imaging process comprising:

• providing an organophotoreceptor belt with a seam on an imaging apparatus, the photoreceptor belt having a photoconductive element on an electrically conductive substrate and a seam, the organophotoconductor belt moving with respect to a developer roll;
• providing an imaging apparatus comprising a the developer roll;
• applying a first voltage to the photoconductive element;
• applying a second voltage to the developer roll;
• applying a third voltage to the developer roll when the seam is at a distance less than 10% of the circumference of the organophotoreceptor belt from the developer roll;
• applying a fourth voltage to the electrically conductive substrate;
• moving the organophotoreceptor belt;
• after four voltages have been applied to the electrically conductive substrate, imagewise exposing the surface of the organophotoreceptor belt to radiation to reduce voltage in selected areas and thereby form a pattern of high voltage and low voltage areas on the surface;
• then contacting the surface with a liquid ink comprising colorant particles in an organic liquid to create a toned image;
• and
• transferring the toned image to a receiving medium;
• wherein the third voltage is equal or less than the fourth voltage when the first and second voltages are positive.

An electrophotographic imaging process comprising:

• providing an organophotoreceptor belt on an imaging apparatus, the photoreceptor belt having a photoconductive element on an electrically conductive substrate and a seam on the photoreceptor belt, the photoreceptor belt moving with respect to a developer roll;
• providing an imaging apparatus comprising the developer roll;
• applying a first voltage to the photoconductive element;
• applying a second voltage to the developer roll as the developer voltage;
• applying a third voltage to the developer roll when the seam is at a distance less than 10% of the circumference of the organophotoreceptor belt from the developer roll;
• applying a fourth voltage to the electrically conductive substrate;
• moving the organophotoreceptor belt;
• after the first voltage, second voltage, third voltage and fourth voltage have been applied to the electrically conductive substrate, imagewise exposing the surface of the organophotoreceptor belt to radiation to reduce voltage in selected areas and thereby form a pattern of high voltage and low voltage areas on the surface;
• then contacting the surface with a liquid ink comprising colorant particles in an organic liquid to create a toned image;
• and
• transferring the toned image to a receiving medium;
• wherein the third voltage is equal to or greater than the fourth voltage when the first and second voltages are negative.

An electrophotographic imaging process comprising:

• providing an organophotoreceptor belt on an imaging apparatus, the organophotoreceptor belt having a photoconductive element on an electrically conductive substrate and a seam, the organophotoreceptor belt moving with respect to a developer roll;
• providing an imaging apparatus comprising the developer roll and a squeegee roller;
• mounting the organophotoreceptor belt on the imaging apparatus;
• applying a first voltage to the photoconductive element;
• applying a second voltage to the developer roll;
• applying a third voltage to the developer roll when the seam is at a distance less than 10% of the circumference of the organophotoreceptor belt from the developer roll,
• subsequently applying a second voltage to the developer roll;
• applying a fourth voltage to the electrically conductive substrate;
• applying a fifth voltage to the squeegee roller;
• moving the organophotoreceptor belt;
• after the application of the first voltage, the second voltage, the third voltage, the fourth voltage and the fifth voltage, imagewise exposing the surface of the organophotoreceptor belt to radiation to reduce voltage in selected areas and thereby form a pattern of high voltage and low voltage areas on the surface;
• contacting the surface with a liquid ink comprising colorant particles in an organic liquid to create toned image image;
• and
• transferring the toned image to a receiving medium;
• wherein the third voltage is equal or greater than the fourth voltage when the first and second voltages are negative.

An electrophotographic imaging process comprising:

• providing an organophotoreceptor belt on an imaging apparatus, the photoreceptor belt having a photoconductive element on an electrically conductive substrate and a seam;
• providing an imaging apparatus comprising a developer roll;
• applying a first voltage to the photoconductive element;
• applying a second voltage to the developer roll when the seam is at a distance less than 10% of the circumference of the organophotoreceptor belt from the developer roll, otherwise a third voltage;
• applying a fourth voltage to the electrically conductive substrate;
• moving the organophotoreceptor belt;
• after four voltages have been applied to the electrically conductive substrate, imagewise exposing the surface of the organophotoreceptor belt to radiation to reduce voltage in selected areas and thereby form a pattern of high voltage and low voltage areas on the surface;
• then contacting the surface with a liquid ink comprising colorant particles in an organic liquid to create a toned image;
• and
• transferring the toned image to a receiving medium;
• wherein the second voltage is equal or less than the fourth voltage when the first and third voltage are positive and wherein the second voltage is not greater than the first voltage if the first voltage is positive, and
• the squeegee roller has a resistivity lower than 1×1010 ohm/square and, moving the seam with respect to the developer roll, so that when the seam has moved to a distance less than 10% of the circumference of the organophotoreceptor belt from the developer roll, the fifth voltage on the squeegee roller is changed to a sixth voltage;
• wherein the sixth voltage is equal or less than the fourth voltage when the first and third voltage are positive.

An electrophotographic imaging process comprising:

• providing an organophotoreceptor belt on an imaging apparatus, the photoreceptor belt having a photoconductive element on an electrically conductive substrate and a seam;
• providing an imaging apparatus comprising a developer roll;
• applying a first voltage to the photoconductive element;
• applying a second voltage to the developer roll when the seam is at a distance less than 10% of the circumference of the organophotoreceptor belt from the developer roll, otherwise a third voltage;
• applying a fourth voltage to the electrically conductive substrate;
• moving the organophotoreceptor belt;
• after four voltages have been applied to the electrically conductive substrate, imagewise exposing the surface of the organophotoreceptor belt to radiation to reduce voltage in selected areas and thereby form a pattern of high voltage and low voltage areas on the surface;
• then contacting the surface with a liquid ink comprising colorant particles in an organic liquid to create a toned image;
• and
• transferring the toned image to a receiving medium;
• wherein the second voltage is equal or less than the fourth voltage when the first and third voltage are positive and wherein the second voltage is not greater than the first voltage if the first voltage is positive, and
• the squeegee roller has a resistivity lower than 1×1010 ohm/square and, moving the seam with respect to the developer roll, so that when the seam has moved to a distance less than 10% of the circumference of the organophotoreceptor belt from the developer roll, the fifth voltage on the squeegee roller is changed to a sixth voltage;
• wherein the sixth voltage is equal or greater than the fourth voltage when the first and third voltage are negative.