Cleaning web

Claim 2

A cleaning device for cleaning residual toner particles from a photoconductive surface wherein drive means is provided for moving said cleaning device along an endless path past said photoconductive surface in frictional engagement therewith to remove said residual toner particles therefrom, said device comprising: an elongated cleaning web having a leading end and a trailing end; tow means at said leading end of said web for pulling said web along said endless path and having a catenary curve configuration to reduce longitudinal wrinkling of said cleaning web as said web is moved past said photoconductive surface; means on said tow means for attaching said web to the drive means.

Claim 3

A cleaning device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said trailing end of said cleaning web is not attachable to the drive means so that said cleaning web is pulled tight in a longitudinal direction without lateral wrinkling as it is moved along said endless path past said photoconductive surface.

Claim 4

A cleaning device for cleaning residual toner particles from a photoconductive surface wherein drive means is provided for moving said cleaning device along an endless path past said photoconductive surface in frictional engagement therewith to clean said residual toner particles therefrom, said device comprising: an elongated cleaning web having a leading end and a trailing end; and a strap, having the shape of a catenary curve, attached to said leading end of said cleaning web, for coupling said cleaning web to said drive means to move said web along said endless path past said photoconductive surface without longitudinal wrinkling.

Claim 5

A cleaning device for cleaning residual toner particles from a photoconductive surface wherein drive means is provided for moving said cleaning device along an endless path past said photoconductive surface in frictional engagement therewith to clean said residual toner particles therefrom, said device comprising: an elongated cleaning web having a leading end and a trailing end; and a strap, having the shape of a catenary curve, attached to said leading end of said cleaning web, for coupling said cleaning web to said drive means to move said web along said endless path past said photoconductive surface without longitudinal wrinkling.

Claim 6

A cleaning device, as claimed in claim 3, further including: fastening means on said strap for attaching said strap to the drive means.

Claim 7

A cleaning device for cleaning residual toner particles from a photoconductive surface, said device comprising: an elongated cleaning web having a leading end and a trailing end; web-moving means for moving said elongated web in an endless path past said photoconductive surface to clean residual toner particles therefrom; and a tow strap, having the shape of a catenary curve, attached to said leading end of said elongated web and connected to said moving means for towing said web past said photoconductive surface without wrinkling.

Claim 8

A cleaning device for cleaning residual toner particles from a photoconductive surface, said device comprising: an elongated cleaning web having a leading end and a trailing end; web-moving means for moving said elongated web in an endless path past said photoconductive surface to clean residual toner particles therefrom; and a tow strap, having the shape of a catenary curve, attached to said leading end of said elongated web and connected to said moving means for towing said web past said photoconductive surface without wrinkling.

Claim 9

A cleaning device, as claimed in claim 5, wherein: said web-moving means includes a pair of spaced endless belts to which said tow strap is connected.

Claim 10

A cleaning device, as claimed in claim 6, wherein said web is dimensioned so that said trailing end thereof overlaps said tow strap to prevent damage to said photoconductive surface.

Claim 11

A cleaning device, as claimed in claim 6, further including: snap means on said strap for attaching said strap to each of said endless belts, said trailing end of said web overlapping said tow strap.

Claim 12

A cleaning device, as claimed in claim 7, wherein: said trailing end is not attached to said endless belts so that said cleaning web is pulled tight in a longitudinal direction so that it is moved through said endless path without lateral wrinkling.

Claim 13

In an electrophotographic apparatus including a flexible endless photoconductive member movable through an endless path in series past a charging station for placing an electrostatic charge on said photoconductive member, an exposure station for exposing said charged photoconductive member to a pattern of radiation to form an electrostatic image on said photoconductive member, past a developing station to tone said electrostatic image on said photoconductive member, past a transfer station to transfer the toned image from said photoconductive member to a receiver, and past a cleaning station to remove residual toner particles from said photoconductive member, said cleaning station including a cleaning web having a leading end and a trailing end and being attached to a pair of spaced endless belts for moving said cleaning web along an endless path past said photoconductive member in frictional engagement therewith and in the opposite direction to the movement of said photoconductive member, and means for cleaning said cleaning web so that it may be used over and over again, said improvement comprising: tow means at said leading end of said cleaning web having the configuration of a catenary curVe; and means on said leading end for attaching said web to said spaced endless belts, said catenary curve configuration tending to prevent longitudinal wrinkling of said cleaning web as it is pulled through said endless path.

Claim 14

In an electrophotographic apparatus including a flexible endless photoconductive member movable through an endless path in series past a charging station for placing an electrostatic charge on said photoconductive member, an exposure station for exposing said charged photoconductive member to a pattern of radiation to form an electrostatic image on said photoconductive member, past a developing station to tone said electrostatic image on said photoconductive member, past a transfer station to transfer the toned image from said photoconductive member to a receiver, and past a cleaning station to remove residual toner particles from said photoconductive member, said cleaning station including a cleaning web having a leading end and a trailing end and being attached to a pair of spaced endless belts for moving said cleaning web along an endless path past said photoconductive member in frictional engagement therewith and in the opposite direction to the movement of said photoconductive member, and means for cleaning said cleaning web so that it may be used over and over again, said improvement comprising: tow means at said leading end of said cleaning web having the configuration of a catenary curVe; and means on said leading end for attaching said web to said spaced endless belts, said catenary curve configuration tending to prevent longitudinal wrinkling of said cleaning web as it is pulled through said endless path.