Doctor blade assembly and alignment method

A toner printer cartridge comprising:

• a toner hopper;
• and,
• a doctor blade assembly for alignment in the toner hopper, the doctor blade assembly comprising:
• a holder portion comprising:
• a first elongated positioning portion having a first mounting end and a second mounting end;
• a second elongated positioning portion substantially perpendicular to the first elongated positioning portion;
• a pair of recessed openings formed in the first mounting end and the second mounting end, respectively;
• a pair of alignment elements each having an alignment through hole and each configured to fit in and correspond to each respective recessed opening;
• a blade portion attached along the first elongated positioning portion between the pair of recessed openings;
• and,
• a pair of fastener members each configured for insertion through the alignment through hole of the alignment elements and through the recessed openings,
• wherein the doctor blade assembly does not require use of a spacing element or a fixture element to align or to adjust a desired alignment position of the doctor blade assembly in the toner hopper of the toner printer cartridge.

A method for aligning a doctor blade assembly in a toner hopper of a toner printer cartridge, the method comprising the steps of:

• cutting a pair of recessed openings through a first mounting end and a second mounting end of a holder portion of a doctor blade assembly, and obtaining a pair of removable cut-out portions corresponding to the pair of recessed openings;
• forming a predetermined alignment through hole in each of the cut-out portions, and obtaining an alignment element;
• positioning the doctor blade assembly in a toner hopper of a toner printer cartridge, wherein the toner hopper has a pair of positioning pins at each end;
• aligning the respective alignment through holes, the recessed openings, and the positioning pins along a substantially straight alignment pathway;
• and,
• inserting a pair of fastener members through the respective alignment through holes and the recessed openings to set the doctor blade assembly in a desired alignment position.