US3848992A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Developer blade cleaning
Assignee: Xerox Corp
•
Filing: 1973-05-03
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Granted: 1974-11-19
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Expires: 1993-05-03
Abstract
Abstract An electrostatographic cleaning system for cleaning dry toner from a photoreceptor surface without lubrication other than the toner itself, comprising a sharp-edged elastomer cleaning tip held in chiseling engagement against the photoreceptor, which tip is integrally mounted on a main blade portion of a much more rigid but thin material, such as thin steel shimstock, which extends out to closely adjacent the cleaning edge of the tip to fully support it and render the blade substantially rigid except perpendicular the photoreceptor surface. This main blade portion is cantilever mounted generally parallel to, and into the direction of movement of the photoreceptor surface. The blade is mounted by the main portion rather than to the elastomer material.
Inventors
- 👤 R Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:20
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G21/00; G03G21/0005; G03G21/0011; G03G21/0023; G03G21/0017; G03G21/0029
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
208 words
A photoreceptor blade cleaning system for cleaning dry developer material from a moving photoreceptor surface in electrophotographic apparatus comprising: a cleaning blade having a main portion of thin planar material with a mounting edge and an opposing free edge substantially spaced from said mounting edge, said cleaning blade further having a cleaning tip portion comprising a body of elastomer material mounted to said free edge of said main portion, extending over only said free edge and substantially spaced from said mounting edge, said main portion being resiliently flexible only perpendicular said planar dimensions thereof, and being cantilever mounted by blade mounting means at said mounting edge of only said main portion, extending generally parallel to said photoreceptor surface for substantial resilience only in a direction toward or away from said photoreceptor surface, said blade being mounted to project toward the direction of motion of said photoreceptor surface when in cleaning engagement therewith to provide a chiseling cleaning engagement of said cleaning tip against said surface, and means for pressing said tip portion of said blade into substantially uniform cleaning engagement with said photoreceptor surface, said main portion of said blade being sufficiently stiff to prevent blade tuck-under from high frictional forces between said tip and said photoreceptor surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
208 words
A photoreceptor blade cleaning system for cleaning dry developer material from a moving photoreceptor surface in electrophotographic apparatus comprising: a cleaning blade having a main portion of thin planar material with a mounting edge and an opposing free edge substantially spaced from said mounting edge, said cleaning blade further having a cleaning tip portion comprising a body of elastomer material mounted to said free edge of said main portion, extending over only said free edge and substantially spaced from said mounting edge, said main portion being resiliently flexible only perpendicular said planar dimensions thereof, and being cantilever mounted by blade mounting means at said mounting edge of only said main portion, extending generally parallel to said photoreceptor surface for substantial resilience only in a direction toward or away from said photoreceptor surface, said blade being mounted to project toward the direction of motion of said photoreceptor surface when in cleaning engagement therewith to provide a chiseling cleaning engagement of said cleaning tip against said surface, and means for pressing said tip portion of said blade into substantially uniform cleaning engagement with said photoreceptor surface, said main portion of said blade being sufficiently stiff to prevent blade tuck-under from high frictional forces between said tip and said photoreceptor surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The cleaning system of claim 1 wherein said tip portion is an elastomer body substantially thicker than said main portion of said blade.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
THe cleaning system of claim 2 wherein said main portion of said blade is steel and said tip portion is an elastomer material in the range of 50-80 Shore A durometer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The cleaning system of claim 1 wherein said tip portion has a sharp tip corner cleaning edge which engages the photoreceptor surface and said main portion of said blade extends to closely adjacent said tip corner and reinforces said tip portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The cleaning system of claim 4 wherein said main portion of said blade extends to within approximately 0.03 inches of said tip corner.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The cleaning system of claim 4 in which said elastomer cleaning blade tip is cut-off substantially perpendicularly to and closely adjacent to said free edge of said main portion of said blade to form said sharp tip corner edge.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The cleaning system of claim 3 wherein said main portion of said blade is approximately 0.004 inches thick.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The cleaning system of claim 1 wherein said free edge of said main portion of said blade at said cleaning up position is deformed into an orientation substantially parallel said photoreceptor surface by said cleaning engagement of said cleaning tip with said photoreceptor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The cleaning system of claim 1 wherein said means for pressing said tip portion of said blade further includes means for engaging only one side of said blade at one minor area substantially spaced from said mounting edge.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The cleaning system of claim 1 wherein said cleaning blade provides an electrically conductive path from said tip portion to said blade mounting means for controlling electrical charges directly at said tip portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The cleaning system of claim 10 wherein said main portion of said blade is electrically grounded and provides a path to ground from said tip portion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The cleaning system of claim 10 wherein said tip portion is at least partially electrically conductive.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-18 | 1978-05-20 | 1978-11-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-18 | 1982-05-20 | 1982-11-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-18 | 1986-05-20 | 1986-11-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |