# US 2014/0153987 A1 · Cleaning blades having excellent cleaning performance and durability, cleaning units, electrophotographic imaging apparatuses and electrophotographic cartridges employing the same

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- Number: US 2014/0153987 A1
- Document ID: US20140153987A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/944,253
- Filed: 2013-07-17
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30
- Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Soon-cheol JEONG; Cha-young BAE
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140153987A1

## CPC

- G03G 21/0011: {using a blade; Details of cleaning blades, e.g. blade shape, layer forming}
- G03G 21/0017: {Details relating to the internal structure or chemical composition of the blades}
- G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY

## Abstract

A cleaning blade to remove a residual toner present on a surface of an electrophotographic photoreceptor, the cleaning blade having an excellent cleaning performance in a low temperature environment having a temperature range of about −5° C. to about 20° C., and having an excellent abrasion resistance and an excellent durability in a high temperature environment having a temperature range of about 20° C. and up. A cleaning unit, an electrophotographic imaging apparatus, and an electrophotographic cartridge may include the cleaning blade.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A cleaning blade to remove a residual toner present on a surface of an electrophotographic photoreceptor,
wherein a value of the shear modulus of the cleaning blade over the change in a temperature range of about −5° C. to about 23° C. and a value of the shear modulus of the cleaning blade at a temperature of −5° C. obtained from a dynamic viscoelasticity measurement measured as a function of temperature in a temperature range of about −80° C. to about 50° C. under conditions of a frequency of 10 Hz, a heating rate of 2.0° C./min, and an initial strain rate of 0.03% satisfy the following conditions:
0.292≦ΔG*(MPa)/ΔT(° C.)≦0.490,
24.7≦G*(MPa)@−5° C.≦32.4, and
wherein ΔG*(MPa)/ΔT(° C.) is a rate of the change in the shear modulus value G* (unit: MPa) over the change in a temperature range ΔT(° C.) of about −5° C. to about 23° C., and G*(MPa) @ −5° C. (unit: MPa) is the shear modulus value at the temperature of −5° C.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The cleaning blade of claim 1, wherein a value of the shear modulus of the cleaning blade at a temperature of 23° C. further satisfies the following condition:
9.3≦G*(MPa)@23° C.≦14.6, and
wherein G*(MPa) @ 23° C. is the shear modulus value (unit: MPa) at the temperature of 23° C.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The cleaning blade of claim 1, wherein the cleaning blade comprises a polyurethane.

### Claim 4

A cleaning unit to remove a residual toner present on a surface of an electrophotographic photoreceptor, the unit comprising:
a cleaning blade; and
a supporting member to support the cleaning blade by attaching to at least one part of the cleaning blade;
wherein the cleaning blade removes the residual toner present on the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor,
wherein a value of the shear modulus of the cleaning blade over the change in a temperature range of about −5° C. to about 23° C. and a value of the shear modulus of the cleaning blade at a temperature of −5° C. obtained from a dynamic viscoelasticity measurement measured as a function of temperature in a temperature range of about −80° C. to about 50° C. under conditions of a frequency of 10 Hz, a heating rate of 2.0° C./min, and an initial strain rate of 0.03% satisfy the following conditions:
0.292≦ΔG*(MPa)/ΔT(° C.)≦0.490,
24.7≦G*(MPa)@−5° C.≦32.4, and
wherein ΔG*(MPa)/ΔT(° C.) is a rate of the change in the shear modulus value G* (unit: MPa) over the change in a temperature range ΔT(° C.) of about −5° C. to about 23° C., and G*(MPa) @ −5° C. (unit: MPa) is the shear modulus value at the temperature of −5° C.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The cleaning unit of claim 4, wherein a value of the shear modulus of the cleaning blade at a temperature of 23° C. further satisfies the following condition:
9.3≦G*(MPa)@23° C.≦14.6, and
wherein G*(MPa) @ 23° C. is the shear modulus value (unit: MPa) at the temperature of 23° C.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The cleaning unit of claim 4, wherein the cleaning blade comprises a polyurethane.

### Claim 7

An electrophotographic cartridge comprising:
an electrophotographic photoreceptor; and
a cleaning unit to remove a residual toner present on a surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor after a visible image formed thereon having been transferred onto an image-receiving member,
wherein the electrophotographic cartridge supports the electrophotographic photoreceptor and the cleaning unit and is attachable to and detachable from an electrophotographic imaging apparatus,
wherein the cleaning unit comprises:
a cleaning blade; and
a supporting member to support the cleaning blade by attaching to at least one part of the cleaning blade,
wherein the cleaning blade removes the residual toner present on the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor,
wherein a value of the shear modulus of the cleaning blade over the change in a temperature range of about −5° C. to about 23° C. and a value of the shear modulus of the cleaning blade at a temperature of −5° C. obtained from a dynamic viscoelasticity measurement measured as a function of temperature in a temperature range of about −80° C. to about 50° C. under conditions of a frequency of 10 Hz, a heating rate of 2.0° C./min, and an initial strain rate of 0.03%; satisfy the following conditions:
0.292≦ΔG*(MPa)/ΔT(° C.)≦0.490,
24.7≦G*(MPa)@−5° C.≦32.4, and
wherein ΔG*(MPa)/ΔT(° C.) is a rate of the change in the shear modulus value G* (unit: MPa) over the change in a temperature range ΔT(° C.) of about −5° C. to about 23° C., and G*(MPa) @ −5° C. (unit: MPa) is the shear modulus value at the temperature of −5° C.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The electrophotographic cartridge of claim 7, wherein a value of the shear modulus of the cleaning blade at a temperature of 23° C. further satisfies the following condition:
9.3≦G*(MPa)@23° C.≦14.6, and
wherein G*(MPa) @ 23° C. is the shear modulus value (unit: MPa) at the temperature of 23° C.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The electrophotographic cartridge of claim 7, wherein the cleaning blade comprises a polyurethane.