Wiper blade cleaner for xerographic machines

Claim 2

As a means for cleaning a repetitively movable xerographic surface in preparation for imaging thereon, the combination of: at least one scraping blade having a wiping edge adapted to bear against said xerographic surface, said scraping blade being of sufficient length to bridge substantially the entire imaging width of said xerographic surface; means supporting said scraping blade with said blade wiping edge in operative contact with said xerographic surface so that during movement of said xerographic surface, said scraping blade wiping edge rides on said xerographic surface to clean said surface; means adapted when actuated to slowly oscillate said scraping blade longitudinally and thereby move said scraping blade back and forth across said xerographic surface; and control means responsive to movement of said xerographic surface to actuate said scraping blade oscillating means whereby the contacting surface portions between said scraping blade wiping edge and said xerographic surface are continually shifted during movement of said xerographic surface to improve wear on said scraping blade wiping edge and cleaning and removing of leftover material from said xerographic surface by said scraping blade.

Claim 3

The cleaning means according to claim 1 in which said blade support means includes spring means for biasing said blade wiping edge into pressure contact with said xerographic surface.

Claim 4

The cleaning means according to claim 1 in which said blade supporting means includes a reciprocable blade carriage; said blade oscillating means including a rotatable cam-type driver, and link means operatively connecting said cam driver with said carriage whereby rotation of said cam driver reciprocates said carriage together with said blade.

Claim 5

As a means for cleaning a repetitively movable xerographic surface in preparation for imaging thereon, the combination of: at least one blade-like element having a wiping edge adapted to bear against said xerographic surface, said blade being of sufficient length to bridge substantially the entire imaging width of said xerographic surface; means including a reciprocable blade carriage supporting said blade with said blade wiping edge in operative contact with said xerographic surface so that during movement of said xerographic surface, said blade wiping edge rides on said xerographic surface to clean said surface; means adapted when actuated to slowly oscillate said blade longitudinally and thereby move said blade back and forth across said xerographic surface, said blade oscillating means including a rotatable cam-type driver and link means operatively connecting said cam driver with said carriage whereby rotation of said cam driver reciprocates said carriage together with said blade; said blade being supported by said carriage so that the wiping edge thereof projects outwardly therefrom; said blade supporting means inclUding a carriage support shaft spaced opposite said xerographic surface and extending in a direction generally transverse to the direction of movement of said xerographic surface, said carriage being mounted on said shaft for reciprocating movement therealong by said driver and for swinging movement about the axis of said shaft; spring means tending to rotate said carriage in a predetermined direction about said shaft to hold the projecting wiping edge of said blade in contact with said xerographic surface; and control means responsive to movement of said xerographic surface to actuate said blade oscillating means whereby the contacting surface portions between said blade wiping edge and said xerographic surface are continually shifted during movement of said xerographic surface to improve wear on said blade wiping edge and cleaning of said xerographic surface by said blade.

Claim 6

As a means for cleaning a repetitively movable xerographic surface in preparation for imaging thereon, the combination of: at least one blade-like element having a wiping edge adapted to bear against said xerographic surface, said blade being of sufficient length to bridge substantially the entire imaging width of said xerographic surface; means including a reciprocable blade carriage supporting said blade with said blade wiping edge in operative contact with said xerographic surface so that during movement of said xerographic surface, said blade wiping edge rides on said xerographic surface to clean said surface; means adapted when actuated to slowly oscillate said blade longitudinally and thereby move said blade back and forth across said xerographic surface, said blade oscillating means including a rotatable cam-type driver and link means operatively connecting said cam driver with said carriage whereby rotation of said cam driver reciprocates said carriage together with said blade; said blade being supported by said carriage so that the wiping edge thereof projects outwardly therefrom; said blade supporting means inclUding a carriage support shaft spaced opposite said xerographic surface and extending in a direction generally transverse to the direction of movement of said xerographic surface, said carriage being mounted on said shaft for reciprocating movement therealong by said driver and for swinging movement about the axis of said shaft; spring means tending to rotate said carriage in a predetermined direction about said shaft to hold the projecting wiping edge of said blade in contact with said xerographic surface; and control means responsive to movement of said xerographic surface to actuate said blade oscillating means whereby the contacting surface portions between said blade wiping edge and said xerographic surface are continually shifted during movement of said xerographic surface to improve wear on said blade wiping edge and cleaning of said xerographic surface by said blade.

Claim 7

In a wiper blade apparatus for removing leftover toner from a recycling photoconductive surface in preparation for reuse thereof, the improvement comprising: means for supporting said blade with the wiping edge thereof projecting toward said photoconductive surface in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of said photoconductive surface, means biasing said blade wiping edge into contact with said photoconductive surface whereby said blade wiping edge works against the direction of movement of said photoconductive surface to chisel foreign material from said photoconductive surface and clean said photoconductive surface for reuse thereof; and means adapted to oscillate said wiper blade back and forth across said photoconductive surface during cyclic operation of said surface whereby to reduce localized wear on the wiping edge of said wiper blade and enhance cleaning of said photoconductive surface by said blade.

Claim 8

In a wiper blade apparatus for removing leftover toner from a recycling photoconductive surface in preparation for reuse thereof, the improvement comprising: means for supporting said blade with the wiping edge thereof projecting toward said photoconductive surface in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of said photoconductive surface, means biasing said blade wiping edge into contact with said photoconductive surface whereby said blade wiping edge works against the direction of movement of said photoconductive surface to chisel foreign material from said photoconductive surface and clean said photoconductive surface for reuse thereof; and means adapted to oscillate said wiper blade back and forth across said photoconductive surface during cyclic operation of said surface whereby to reduce localized wear on the wiping edge of said wiper blade and enhance cleaning of said photoconductive surface by said blade.