Cleaning blade system for photocopy machine
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorRonald E. Godlove
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A compact multi-blade cleaning system for a photoreceptor device, such as a belt or a drum used in the electrostatographic printing process includes a block of thermoplastic material. The block has a plurality of parallel cuts extending partially therethrough so as to form a plurality of cleaning blades. Each of these has a cleaning edge, adapted for contact with a surface of the photoreceptor device and an opposed securing edge. An uncut portion of the block forms a connecting member for connecting the plurality of cleaning blades at their securing edges so that they move in unison. A mechanism is provided for advancing the plurality of cleaning blades, one by one, into contact with the photoreceptor device.
Claims20
A cleaning system for a photoreceptor device, comprising:
- a plurality of cleaning blades, each having a cleaning edge for contact with a surface of a photoreceptor device;
- a connecting means, which comprises an endless loop, for connecting said plurality of cleaning blades so that they move in unison;
- and,
- a mechanism for advancing said plurality of cleaning blades into contact with said photoreceptor device, wherein only a single blade contacts said photoreceptor device at any given time, wherein said mechanism comprises a pair of rotatable shafts which selectively propel said endless loop.
A compact multi-blade cleaning system for a photoreceptor device, comprising:
- a plurality of cleaning blades, each having a cleaning edge, for contact with a surface of a photoreceptor device, and an opposed securing edge;
- a connecting means for connecting said plurality of cleaning blades at their securing edges so that they move in unison, wherein said connecting means forms said plurality of cleaning blades into an endless loop;
- and,
- a mechanism for advancing said plurality of cleaning blades, one by one, into contact with said photoreceptor device, wherein a cleaning blade which has its cleaning edge in contact with said photoreceptor device is oriented substantially normal to adjacent cleaning blades.
A compact multi-blade cleaning system for a photoreceptor device, comprising:
- a block of a thermoplastic material which has a plurality of parallel cuts extending partially through the block so as to form a plurality of parallel cleaning blades, each having a cleaning edge, for contact with a surface of a photoreceptor device, and an opposed securing edge;
- a connecting means, formed by an uncut portion of said block, for connecting said plurality of cleaning blades at their securing edges so that they move in unison;
- and,
- a mechanism for advancing said plurality of cleaning blades, one by one, into contact with said photoreceptor device, wherein only a single cleaning edge contacts said photoreceptor device at any given time.
A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a moving photoreceptor surface having particles thereon, comprising:
- a plurality of cleaning blades, each having a first cleaning edge for contact with the photoreceptor surface;
- an endless loop to which said plurality of cleaning blades are secured;
- and,
- an indexing means for indexing said plurality of cleaning blades, one at a time, into frictional contact with the photoreceptor surface, wherein a first cleaning blade, which is in contact with the photoreceptor surface, is oriented substantially normal to adjacent cleaning blades.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.