# US 8,543,031 B2 · Intermediate transfer member reconditioning > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,543,031 B2 - Document ID: US8543031B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/958,517 - Filed: 2010-12-02 - Published: 2012-06-07 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2010-12-02 - Assignees: Xerox Corporation - Applicants: Dante M. Pietrantoni; Yuhua Tong; Jin Wu; Frank Mezzatesta; Jeremy J. Bean; Heiko Rommelmann; Jonathan H. Herko - Inventors: Dante M. Pietrantoni; Yuhua Tong; Jin Wu; Frank Mezzatesta; Jeremy J. Bean; Heiko Rommelmann; Jonathan H. Herko - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8543031B2 ## CPC - G03G 15/161: {with means for handling the intermediate support, e.g. heating, cleaning, coating with a transfer agent} - G03G 15/162: {details of the the intermediate support, e.g. chemical composition} - Y10T 29/49545: Repairing or servicing - Y10T 29/49726: Removing material - Y10T 29/49746: by applying fluent material, e.g., coating, casting - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract There is disclosed a method for reconditioning an intermediate transfer member and the reconditioned intermediate transfer member. The method comprises stripping off an outer layer of the intermediate transfer member. A mixture of a polymer, conductive particles and a solvent is coated over the outer surface of a seamless intermediate transfer member. The mixture is heated to form a layer on the outer surface of the intermediate transfer belt. An apparatus for reconditioning an intermediate transfer member is also described. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for reconditioning an intermediate transfer member comprising: stripping off an outer surface of the intermediate transfer member with an alcohol; coating a mixture of polymer, conductive particles and a solvent over the outer surface of a seamless intermediate transfer member; and heating the mixture to form a surface layer on the outer surface of the intermediate transfer belt. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the alcohol is selected from methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, isopropanol, 1-butanol, 2-butanol and the like and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of tetrahydrofuran, alcohols, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, N,N′-dimethylformamide, N,N′-dimethylacetamide, N-methylpyrrolidone and methylene chloride. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the conductive particles are selected from the group consisting of carbon black, graphite, acetylene black, fluorinated carbon black, metal oxides, doped metal oxides polyaniline, polythiophenes, polyacetylene, poly(p-phenylene vinylene), poly(p-phenylene sulfide), pyrroles, polyindole, polypyrene, polycarbazole, polyazulene, polyazepine, poly(fluorine), polynaphthalene and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of fluorinated polymer, polycarbonate, polyester, polysulfone, polyethersulfone, polyphenylsulfone, polyamide, polyphenylsulfide, phenoxy resin, polyimide, polyamideimide, polyetherimide and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the surface layer comprises a thickness of from about 10 microns to about 150 microns. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the surface layer comprises a surface resistivity of from about 109 ohms/square to about 1013 ohms/square. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the reconditioned intermediate transfer member comprises a volume resistivity of from about 109 ohm-cm to about 1013 ohm-cm. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the seamless intermediate transfer belt comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyimides, polyamides, polyamideimides, polyetherimides, polycarbonates, polysulfones, polyethersulfones, polyphenylsulfones, polyesters, polyphenylsulfides and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the coating comprises flow coating. ### Claim 11 An apparatus for reconditioning an intermediate transfer member comprising: a drive mechanism for rotating and tensioning an intermediate transfer belt; a flow coating dispensing member for applying to the intermediate transfer belt an overcoat solution wherein the flow coating dispensing member is movable both parallel and perpendicular to a direction of rotation of the intermediate transfer belt. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the drive mechanism comprises a drive roller. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the dispensing member is selected from the group consisting of a slot die and a brush. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the drive mechanism rotates the intermediate transfer belt at a rotational speed of from about 10 rpm to about 1500 rpm. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the flow coating solution comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of fluorinated polymer, polycarbonate, polyester, polysulfone, polyethersulfone, polyphenylsulfone, polyamide, polyphenylene sulfide, phenoxy resin, polyimide, polyamideimide and polyetherimide, conductive particles and a solvent. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a doctor blade to smooth the flow coating solution. ### Claim 17 A method for reconditioning an intermediate transfer member comprising: stripping off an outer layer of the intermediate transfer member with isopropanol; flow coating a mixture of a polymer, conductive particles and a solvent over an outer surface of a seamless intermediate transfer member; and heating the mixture to form a surface layer on the outer surface of the intermediate transfer belt wherein the surface layer comprises a thickness of from about 10 microns to about 150 microns and a surface resistivity of from about 109 ohms/square to about 1013 ohms/square. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of fluorinated polymer, polycarbonate, polyester, polysulfone, polyethersulfone, polyphenylsulfone, polyamide, polyphenylsulfide, phenoxy resin, polyimide, polyamideimide, polyetherimide and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein the surface layer comprises from about 0.1 parts by weight to about 50 parts by weight of conductive particles. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein the conductive particles comprise carbon black.