Method and apparatus for cleaning and renewing an electrostatographic imaging surface
AssigneeEastman Kodak Company
InventorsWayne W. Ku, Dean R. Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A combination cleaning and surface renewing apparatus includes a cleaning member for removing residual particles from the image-bearing surface of electrostatographic reproduction apparatus. The combination apparatus also includes a first abrading member mounted downstream of the cleaning member for removing at least an atomic layer of material forming the image-bearing surface. The first abrading member is impregnated with abrasive aluminum oxide particles. The combination apparatus also includes a second abrading member mounted downstream of the first abrading member for polishing and renewing the abraded image-bearing surface. The second abrading member includes particles of colorless toner particles chemically bonded therein.
Claims12
A combination apparatus for cleaning and renewing an imaging surface of a moving image-bearing member of an electrostatographic reproduction machine, the combination apparatus comprising:
- (a) first means including a cleaning member for removing residual particles from an imaging surface;
- (b) second means located downstream of said cleaning member relative to movement of the image bearing member, said second means including a first abrading member having a first abrasive means thereon for abrading such imaging surface so s to wear off a layer of material that forms part of such imaging surface;
- and
- (c) third means located downstream of said second means, said third means including a second abrading member having second abrasive means thereon for polishing and renewing such abraded imaging surface so as to substantially erase and eliminate printable scratches therefrom.
The combination apparatus of claim wherein said first abrading member of said second means is electrically biased to a polarity relatively the same as a biasing polarity for said cleaning member of said first means.
A combination method for cleaning and renewing the imaging surface of a moving image-bearing member of an electrostatographic reproduction machine, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) engaging the imaging surface with a cleaning member for removing residual particles from the imaging surface;
- (b) engaging the cleaned imaging surface with a first abrading member having first abrasive means thereon for wearing off least an atomic layer of material forming the imaging surface;
- and
- (c) engaging the abraded imaging surface with a second abrading member having a surface roughness less than that of said first abrading member for polishing and renewing the abraded imaging surface by erasing and substantially eliminating printable scratches from such surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.