System and apparatus for toner charging using charge/metering blade having an adjustable nip
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorMichael F. Zona
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A developer apparatus including a housing defining a chamber storing a supply of toner, and a developer roll disposed in the chamber, the developer roll configured to rotate about a longitudinal access to transport toner on a surface of the developer roll to a development zone. The developer apparatus also includes a charge/metering blade having a curved section configured to contact the surface of the developer roll so as to form an adjustable contact nip. The charge/metering blade also includes an overhang configured to control an amount of toner to enter the adjustable contact nip formed by the at least one curved section of the charge/metering blade.
Claims20
A developer apparatus, comprising:
- a housing defining a chamber storing a supply of toner therein;
- a developer roll disposed in the chamber, the developer roll configured to rotate about a longitudinal access to transport toner on a surface of the developer roll to a development zone;
- and
- a charge/metering blade having at least one curved section configured to contact the surface of the developer roll, the at least one curved section forming an adjustable contact nip therebetween, wherein the at least one curved section is configured to frictionally charge toner on the surface of the developer roll.
A printing system, comprising:
- a developer apparatus, including:
- a housing defining a chamber storing a supply of toner therein,
- a developer roll disposed in the chamber, the developer roll configured to rotate about a longitudinal access to transport toner on a surface of the developer roll to a development zone, and
- a charge/metering blade having at least one curved section configured to contact the surface of the developer roll, the at least one curved section forming an adjustable contact nip therebetween, wherein the at least one curved section is configured to frictionally charge toner on the surface of the developer roll;
- a photoreceptor in contact with the developer roll, the photoreceptor configured to rotate about a longitudinal access and receive toner on a surface of the photoreceptor from the developer roll in the development zone;
- a charging member in proximity to the photoreceptor, the charging member configured to generate a predetermined electrical charge on the photoreceptor;
- and
- a transfer belt in contact with the photoreceptor, the transfer belt configured to receive an image formed on the photoreceptor of toner and transfer the image to an output media.
A charge/metering blade operatively associated with a developer apparatus, comprising:
- a rigid holder operatively coupled to an interior of a housing of the developer apparatus;
- and
- a curved section forming an adjustable contact nip around a portion of a developer roll located within the interior of the housing, the curved section configured to frictionally charge toner on the surface of the developer roll.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.