Composite cleaner seal for electrophotographic machines

A cleaning seal having a first end and a second end in a cleaning station which contacts a photoconductive member thereby sealing the cleaning station, comprising:

• a first cleaning seal portion at the first end of the cleaning seal supplying sufficient force to support toner removed by the cleaning station;
• a second cleaning seal portion which contacts the photoconductive member, the second cleaning seal portion being made of a softer material than the first cleaning seal portion, wherein the second cleaning seal portion extends 1-5 mm from the second end of the cleaning seal.

A method of sealing a cleaning station of an electrophotographic machine having a photoconductive member, comprising:

• locating a cleaning seal having a first end and a second end with a cleaning seal tip, which is relatively softer than the cleaning seal, in a sealing relationship between the cleaning housing and the photoconductive member, wherein the first end of the cleaning seal is attached to the cleaning housing and the cleaning seal tip extends 1-5 mm from the second end of the cleaning seal;
• contacting the photoconductive member with the cleaning seal tip, wherein fewer scratches result on the photoconductive member than when the relatively soft cleaning seal tip is absent.