Automatic mechanism for cleaning corona wires

Abstract

A mechanism for automatically cleaning the surface of a corona wire within a corona charger is described, wherein the a cleaning assembly includes a cleaning pad mounted within a pad holder, the cleaning pad wrapped around a substantial portion of a circumference of the corona wire for wiping the surface of the corona wire. The cleaning mechanism also includes means for holding the cleaning assembly within the corona charger in association with the corona wire, means, associated with the holding means, for moving the holding means linearly along the length of the corona wire, and means for automatically selectively activating the moving means to move the holding means such that the cleaning assembly is moved to clean the corona wire. In one embodiment, the cleaning assembly includes at least one finishing stone mounted to a stone holder, wherein the finishing stone engages the surface of the corona wire.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.