Cleaning commutator brushes for an electroded donor roll

Abstract

A self-cleaning commutator brush structure for use with electroded donor members. The donor member is provided with embedded electrodes to which an electrical bias is supplied for creating toner clouding in the development zone of a toner imaging system. Electrical power is supplied to the electrodes via a pair of commutator brushes which contact the electrodes. A pair of bumps positioned at different locations on one of the surfaces of the donor member impede movement of the brushes. Each time the donor member is moved through a complete cycle of movement each brush is caused to be flicked by the bump to thereby liberate toner therefrom. The flicking action and consequent toner liberation serve to keep the interface between the brushes and the electrodes clean which prevents electrical resistance buildup therebetween.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.