# US 4,398,820 A · Cleaning system

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- Number: US 4,398,820 A
- Document ID: US4398820A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/264,485
- Filed: 1981-05-18
- Granted: 1983-08-16
- Earliest claimed: 1981-05-18
- Assignees: Xerox Corporation
- Inventors: Bruce E. Thayer
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4398820A

## CPC

- G03G 21/0058: {using a roller or a polygonal rotating cleaning member; Details thereof, e.g. surface structure (G03G21/0064 takes precedence)}
- G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY

## Abstract

A cleaning apparatus used in an electrophotographic printing machine for removing residual toner particles from a photoconductive member. The cleaning apparatus includes an electrically conductive roller in resilient engagement with the photoconductive member to define an extended cleaning region. A voltage source electrically biases the roller to attract the toner particles thereto in the extended cleaning region.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An electrophotographic printing machine of the type having residual toner particles adhering to a photoconductive member, wherein the improvement includes:
electrically conductive means, in resilient engagement with the photoconductive member to define an extended cleaning region therebetween, for transporting the toner particles away from the photoconductive member; and
means for electrically biasing said transporting means to attract the toner particles from the photoconductive member to said transporting means in the extended cleaning region.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A printing machine according to claim 1, wherein said transporting means includes a roller.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A printing machine according to claim 2, wherein the photoconductive member is a flexible belt.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

A printing machine according to claim 2, wherein the photoconductive member is a substantially rigid drum.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3, 4)

A printing machine according to claims 3 or 4, wherein said roller has a tangential velocity opposite in direction to the tangential velocity of the photoconductive member.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A printing machine according to claim 5, wherein the magnitude of the tangential velocity of said roller ranges from being about equal to the magnitude of the tangential velocity of the photoconductive member to about twice the magnitude of the tangential velocity of the photoconductive member.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3, 4)

A printing machine according to claims 3 or 4, wherein said biasing means includes a voltage source coupled to said roller.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

A printing machine according to claim 7, wherein said voltage source electrically biases said roller to a voltage ranging from about 100 volts to about 200 volts.

### Claim 9 (depends on 3, 4)

A printing machine according to claims 3 or 4, further including means for scraping the toner particles from said roller.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

A printing machine according to claim 9, wherein said scraping includes a blade having an edge thereof contacting said roller.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

A printing machine according to claim 10, further including means for collecting the toner particles scraped from said roller and advancing the removed toner particles to a location remote from said roller.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

A printing machine according to claim 11, wherein said collecting and advancing means includes:
a housing defining a chamber having said roller and said blade mounted therein for collecting the toner particles removed from said roller; and
a flexible auger for advancing the toner particles from the chamber of said housing to the location remote therefrom.

### Claim 13 (depends on 3)

A printing machine according to claim 3, wherein said roller is substantially rigid.

### Claim 14 (depends on 3)

A printing machine according to claim 3, wherein said roller is made preferably from aluminum.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

A printing machine according to claim 14, wherein said aluminum roller includes an insulating layer on the exterior circumferential surface thereof.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

A printing machine according to claim 13, wherein said roller is made preferably from steel.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

A printing machine according to claim 13, wherein said roller is resilient.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

A printing machine according to claim 17, wherein said resilient roller includes:
an elastomeric roller; and
a metal sleeve having said elastomeric roller disposed interiorly thereof.