System for Reducing Metering Blade Wear in a Drum Maintenance Unit

A phase change ink imaging device comprising:

• an intermediate imaging surface configured to move in a process direction;
• at least one printhead configured to emit melted phase change ink onto the intermediate imaging surface;
• and
• a drum maintenance unit including:
• a reservoir including a supply of release agent;
• an applicator configured to receive release agent from the reservoir and to apply the release agent to the intermediate imaging surface;
• and
• a metering blade positioned to meter the release agent on the intermediate imaging surface applied by the applicator, the metering blade having a longitudinal axis extending in a cross-process direction transverse to the process direction;
• and
• a driver operably coupled to the metering blade and configured to translate the metering blade between a first position and a second position along the longitudinal axis.

A customer replaceable unit (CRU) comprising:

• a reservoir including a supply of release agent;
• an applicator configured to receive release agent from the reservoir and to apply the release agent onto a surface moving in a process direction;
• and
• a metering blade positioned to meter the release agent on the surface applied by the applicator, the metering blade having a longitudinal axis extending in a cross-process direction transverse to the process direction;
• and
• a driver operably coupled to the metering blade and configured to translate the metering blade between a first position and a second position along the longitudinal axis.