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US3947108A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Cleaning system

Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1974-05-20
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Granted: 1976-03-30
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Expires: 1994-05-20
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Abstract

Abstract An improved cleaning apparatus and process are provided including a cleaning means for removing toner particles and other particulate contaminants. A contaminant removal means is provided positioned between the cleaning means and the means for charging an electrostatic imaging member. The contaminant removal means which comprises a scrubber member is adapted to remove film-like contaminants which would otherwise cause deletions in the resulting copy sheet.

Inventors

  • 👤 Raghulinga R. Thettu
  • 👤 Donald J. Quant

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 15:01
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G21/00; G03G21/0005

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 145 words
In a reproducing apparatus including a moving photoconductive imaging surface, means for forming an electrostatic image on said surface, means for developing said image with toner particles to render it visible, means for transferring said developed image to a sheet of final support material, and blade cleaning means for cleaning said photoconductive imaging surface to remove substantially all of the residual toner particles therefrom, the improvement wherein, said apparatus further includes; means following said blade cleaning means for substantially continuously engaging said imaging surface while it is moving for removing from said imaging surface film-like contaminants which can cause deletions in said image, said contaminant removing means comprising a scrubbing pad of fibers which scrub said surface to dislocate and remove said films, said pad being biased against said surface with a normal force of from about 1 to about 4 pounds per square inch.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 145 words
In a reproducing apparatus including a moving photoconductive imaging surface, means for forming an electrostatic image on said surface, means for developing said image with toner particles to render it visible, means for transferring said developed image to a sheet of final support material, and blade cleaning means for cleaning said photoconductive imaging surface to remove substantially all of the residual toner particles therefrom, the improvement wherein, said apparatus further includes; means following said blade cleaning means for substantially continuously engaging said imaging surface while it is moving for removing from said imaging surface film-like contaminants which can cause deletions in said image, said contaminant removing means comprising a scrubbing pad of fibers which scrub said surface to dislocate and remove said films, said pad being biased against said surface with a normal force of from about 1 to about 4 pounds per square inch.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 21 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said pad does not move in the direction of movement of said photoconductive surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 12 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said fibers comprise a brush.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 23 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said fibers are selected from a group consisting of Teflon, nylon, rayon, acrylic, polyester, and cotton.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 15 words
An apparatus as in claim 4, wherein said fibers comprise a wad of cotton fibers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 18 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said pad is biased against said surface in a cantilever fashion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 129 words
In a reproducing process including the steps of forming an electrostatic image on a moving photoconductive imaging surface; developing said electrostatic image with toner particles to render it visible; transferring said developed image to a sheet of final support material; and cleaning said imaging surface by biasing a resilient blade against said surface to remove substantially all residual toner particles therefrom the improvement wherein: following said cleaning step, said process further includes the step of removing from said imaging surface film-like contaminants which can cause deletions in said image, said film removing step including the step of biasing substantially continuously while said imaging surface is moving a scrubbing pad of fibers against said surface with a normal force of from about 1 to about 4 pounds per square inch.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 129 words
In a reproducing process including the steps of forming an electrostatic image on a moving photoconductive imaging surface; developing said electrostatic image with toner particles to render it visible; transferring said developed image to a sheet of final support material; and cleaning said imaging surface by biasing a resilient blade against said surface to remove substantially all residual toner particles therefrom the improvement wherein: following said cleaning step, said process further includes the step of removing from said imaging surface film-like contaminants which can cause deletions in said image, said film removing step including the step of biasing substantially continuously while said imaging surface is moving a scrubbing pad of fibers against said surface with a normal force of from about 1 to about 4 pounds per square inch.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 34 words
A process as in claim 7, wherein said forming step comprises charging said photoconductive surface; and exposing an original document to provide an optical image thereof and projecting the image upon said photoconductive surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 20 words
A process as in claim 8, wherein said pad does not move in the direction of movement of said surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 23 words
A process as in claim 7, wherein said fibers are selected from the group consisting of Teflon, nylon, rayon, acrylic, polyester, and cotton.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 15 words
A process as in claim 10, wherein said fibers comprise a wad of cotton fibers.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2889758A Cited
US3411932A Cited
US3552850A Cited
US3770429A Cited
US3724020A Cited
US3776632A Cited
US3781107A Cited
US3807853A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1979-03-30 1979-09-29 1980-03-30 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1983-03-30 1983-09-29 1984-03-30 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1987-03-30 1987-09-29 1988-03-30 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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