# US 11,307,526 B2 · Print agent application assembly cleaning tools

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 11,307,526 B2
- Document ID: US11307526B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/495,321
- Filed: 2017-04-06
- Published: 2021-10-21
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2017-04-06
- Assignees: HP Indigo B.V.
- Applicants: HP Indigo B.V.
- Inventors: David Sabo; Barak Rosenstein; Ilan Ben-Basat; Roman Katz
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11307526B2

## CPC

- B08B 1/165: {Scrapers}
- G03G 21/0017: {Details relating to the internal structure or chemical composition of the blades}
- G03G 15/10: using a liquid developer
- G03G 21/0011: {using a blade; Details of cleaning blades, e.g. blade shape, layer forming}
- G03G 21/0088: {removing liquid developer}
- B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
- G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY

## Abstract

A print agent application assembly cleaning tool is disclosed. The print agent application assembly cleaning tool may include a handle and a flexible blade. The flexible blade may be inserted into a gap between a pair of electrodes of a print agent application assembly. The blade may protrude from a distal end of the handle in a lengthwise direction. The blade may have a width that varies to define a curved profile. The width may reduce and subsequently increase along a length of the blade so as to define a recess in an edge of the blade.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A print agent application assembly cleaning tool comprising:
a handle; and
a flexible blade configured to be inserted into a gap between a pair of electrodes of a print agent application assembly, the blade protruding from a distal end of the handle in a lengthwise direction,
wherein the blade has a width that varies to define a curved profile and that reduces and subsequently increases along a length of the blade so as to define a recess in an edge of the blade; and
wherein the recess is configured to collect unwanted matter from the pair of electrodes.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The print agent application assembly cleaning tool of claim 1, wherein the width reduces and subsequently increases along the length of the blade so as to define a recess in both edges of the blade.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The print agent application assembly cleaning tool of claim 1, wherein the width of the blade varies to define the curved profile in which a local radius of curvature is greater than or equal to approximately 0.5 mm.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The print agent application assembly cleaning tool of claim 1, wherein the blade extends inside and substantially along the length of the handle.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The print agent application assembly cleaning tool of claim 4, wherein the blade is held in place between two opposing parts of the handle.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The print agent application assembly cleaning tool of claim 1, wherein the minimum width of the blade occurs closer to a distal end of the blade than the handle.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The print agent application assembly cleaning tool of claim 1, wherein the handle comprises at least one magnet to selectively attach the cleaning tool to a surface.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The print agent application assembly cleaning tool of claim 7, wherein the blade extends inside the handle and the at least one magnet passes through an aperture in the blade.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The print agent application assembly cleaning tool of claim 1, wherein the blade is made from Polyoxymethylene.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The print agent application assembly cleaning tool of claim 1, wherein the blade is approximately 0.5 mm thick.

### Claim 11

A method comprising:
inserting a flexible blade of a cleaning tool into a gap between a pair of electrodes of a print agent application assembly;
moving the blade along the gap;
collecting unwanted matter in a curved recess formed in an edge of the blade; and
extracting the cleaning tool from the gap.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11 comprising:
removing the print agent application assembly from a print apparatus; and
mounting the print agent application assembly in the print apparatus.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11 comprising:
removing a developer roller from the print agent application assembly to expose the pair of electrodes; and
mounting a developer roller to the print agent application assembly.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, comprising:
attaching the cleaning tool to a surface by virtue of at least one magnet.

### Claim 15

An assembly comprising:
a print agent application assembly comprising a pair of electrodes with a gap therebetween for supplying print agent to a developer roller; and
a cleaning tool comprising a handle and a flexible blade for insertion into the gap to remove print agent from the gap, wherein the handle comprises at least one magnet to selectively attach the cleaning tool to a surface.