Flexible belt supported on rigid drum for electrophotographic imaging
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A method of fabricating a cylindrical device comprising having at least one distinct outer layer comprising providing a preformed rigid cylindrical support drum having a predetermined outer circumference, a first end and a second end, providing a flexible belt having an inner circumference at least about 0.05 percent smaller than the outer circumference of the support drum, circumferentially expanding the belt with a flowing fluid under pressure until the circumference of the inner surface of the belt adjacent the first end is stretched to a new dimension at least about 0.1 percent greater than the outer circumference of the support drum while maintaining an elongation strain less than the elastic limit of the belt, sliding the belt onto the support drum from the first end toward the second end of the support drum until substantially all of the belt encircles the outer surface of the support drum and terminating the flow of the flowing liquid to allow the belt to contract onto the outer surface of the support drum. The fluid may either be a gas or a liquid. The cylindrical device fabricated by this process is preferably an electrostatographic imaging member. This electrostatographic imaging member may be utilized in an electrostatographic imaging process.