US 2015/0030356 A1 · CHARGE BLADE HAVING MULTIPLE CONTACT POINT METERING

Abstract

A charge blade meters and applies an electrical charge to toner while the toner is on a development roll. The end portion of the charge blade comprises a first curved surface and a second curved surface touching the development roll. The first curved surface has a smaller radius and is a longer distance from the middle portion of the charge blade relative to the second curved surface. The first curved surface produces a first amount of charge in the toner on the development roll, and the second curved surface increases and makes more uniform the charge within the toner on the development roll. Also, the smaller radius of the first curved surface controls the amount of toner positioned on the development roll and the larger radius of the second curved surface does not affect the amount of toner metered by the first, smaller radius curved surface.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A charge blade comprising:

a middle portion;
and
an end portion distal to said middle portion,
said end portion touching a marking material feeder,
said charge blade metering and applying an electrical charge to marking material on said marking material feeder,
said end portion comprising:
a first curved surface touching said marking material feeder;
a second curved surface touching said marking material feeder;
and
a third curved surface touching said marking material feeder,
said second curved surface being positioned, on said charge blade, between said first curved surface and said middle portion of said charge blade,
said third curved surface being positioned, on said charge blade, between said second curved surface and said middle portion of said charge blade,
said first curved surface having a smaller radius relative to a larger radius of said second curved surface, and
said second curved surface having a smaller radius relative to a larger radius of said third curved surface.

11 more elements

A marking material delivery apparatus comprising:

a marking material feeder, said marking material feeder supplying marking material to a transfer device;
a supply device adjacent said marking material feeder, said supply device supplying said marking material to said marking material feeder;
and
a charge blade contacting said marking material feeder;
said charge blade having a middle portion and an end portion,
said end portion of said charge blade touching said marking material feeder,
said charge blade metering and applying an electrical charge to said marking material through said end portion while said marking material is on said marking material feeder,
said end portion of said charge blade comprising a first curved surface touching said marking material feeder, a second curved surface touching said marking material feeder, and a third curved surface touching said marking material feeder,
said second curved surface being positioned, on said charge blade, between said first curved surface and said middle portion of said charge blade,
said third curved surface being positioned, on said charge blade, between said second curved surface and said middle portion of said charge blade,
said first curved surface having a smaller radius relative to a larger radius of said second curved surface, and
said second curved surface having a smaller radius relative to a larger radius of said third curved surface.

9 more elements

A printing apparatus comprising:

a media feeder;
a transfer device adjacent said media feeder, said transfer device receiving print media from said media feeder, and said transfer device transferring marking material to said print media;
a marking material feeder adjacent said transfer device, said marking material feeder supplying said marking material to said transfer device;
a supply device adjacent said marking material feeder, said supply device supplying said marking material to said marking material feeder;
and
a charge blade contacting said marking material feeder;
said charge blade having a middle portion and an end portion,
said end portion of said charge blade touching said marking material feeder,
said charge blade metering and applying an electrical charge to said marking material through said end portion while said marking material is on said marking material feeder,
said end portion of said charge blade comprising a first curved surface touching said marking material feeder, a second curved surface touching said marking material feeder, and a third curved surface touching said marking material feeder,
said second curved surface being positioned, on said charge blade, between said first curved surface and said middle portion of said charge blade,
said third curved surface being positioned, on said charge blade, between said second curved surface and said middle portion of said charge blade,
said first curved surface having a smaller radius relative to a larger radius of said second curved surface, and
said second curved surface having a smaller radius relative to a larger radius of said third curved surface.

11 more elements

A printing apparatus comprising:

a sheet feeder;
a photoreceptor adjacent said sheet feeder, said photoreceptor receiving print media from said sheet feeder, and said photoreceptor transferring toner to said print media;
a development roll adjacent said photoreceptor, said development roll supplying said toner to said photoreceptor;
a supply roll adjacent said development roll, said supply roll supplying said toner to said development roll;
and
a charge blade contacting said development roll;
said charge blade having a middle portion and an end portion,
said end portion of said charge blade touching said development roll,
said charge blade metering and applying an electrical charge to said toner through said end portion while said toner is on said development roll,
said end portion of said charge blade comprising a first curved surface touching said development roll, a second curved surface touching said development roll, and a third curved surface touching said development roll,
said second curved surface being positioned, on said charge blade, between said first curved surface and said middle portion of said charge blade, and
said third curved surface being positioned, on said charge blade, between said second curved surface and said middle portion of said charge blade,
said first curved surface having a smaller radius relative to a larger radius of said second curved surface, and
said second curved surface having a smaller radius relative to a larger radius of said third curved surface.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Charge blade having multiple contact point metering

Life of this patent

Charge blade having multiple contact point metering

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24