Cleaning apparatus for a xerographic reproduction machine

Abstract

An improved cleaning apparatus for cleaning a photoreceptor in a xerographic reproduction machine includes a rotatably mounted circular cleaning brush and a flicker member within a housing. A portion of the flicker member is in contact with the brush to produce a primary flicking of the brush bristles as the brush rotates out of contact with this portion. Formed in this portion of the flicker member is an aperture in the form of a slot to produce a secondary flicking of the brush bristles as the brush rotates over this portion. The flicker member is contoured so that the angle between the tangents to the flicker member and brush roll surface at the point of initial contact is very small, approximately 5.degree., but gradually increases to a maximum of approximately 45.degree. before the brush rotates out of contact with the flicker member. A vacuum chamber behind the flicker member communicates with a prenip region adjacent the periphery of the brush through a vacuum aperture formed in a portion of the flicker member not in contact with the brush. This causes a major portion of the air drawn from the exterior of the housing to be drawn through the brush into the prenip region and through the slot and vacuum aperture. An air inlet is formed in the housing adjacent to where the brush rotates out of contact with the flicker member to permit air to be drawn through the housing in the general direction of rotation of the brush.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.