Method for installing and removing slack from a web of cleaning material in an electrophotographic machine

An improvement in a method for installing a web of cleaning material in a web cleaning assembly in an electrophotographic apparatus wherein the web cleaning assembly comprises:

• a frame;
• a supply roller rotatably mounted in the frame, the supply roller being adapted to have a web of cleaning material wound thereon;
• a take-up roller rotatably mounted in the frame, the take-up roller being adapted to receive the web of cleaning material from the supply roller after the cleaning material has been used to clean at least one surface in the electrophotographic apparatus;
• a take-up gear having a set of gear teeth drivingly connected to the take-up roller for rotating the take-up roller;
• and, a motor for driving the take-up gear, the method comprising:
• removing a take-up roller at least partially filled with used web cleaning material;
• replacing the at least partially filled take-up roller with a replacement take-up roller;
• removing a depleted supply roller of web cleaning material;
• replacing the depleted supply roller of web cleaning materials with a replacement roll of web cleaning material;
• and, positioning the web cleaning material in its operational path in the electrophotographic apparatus, the improvement comprising:
• a) positioning a clutch mechanism on the take-up gear adapted to disengage the take-up gear from the motor to permit rotation of the take-up gear separately from the motor;
• and,
• b) rotating the take-up gear separately from the motor to take up slack in the web of cleaning material.

A method for installing a web of cleaning material in a web cleaning assembly in an electrophotographic apparatus wherein the web cleaning assembly comprises:

• a frame;
• a supply roller rotatably mounted in the frame, the supply roller being adapted to have a web of cleaning material wound thereon;
• a take-up roller rotatably mounted in the frame, the take-up roller being adapted to receive the web of cleaning material from the supply roller after the cleaning material has been used to clean at least one surface in the electrophotographic apparatus;
• a take-up gear having a set of gear teeth drivingly connected to the take up gear for rotating the take-up roller;
• and, a motor for driving the take-up roller, the method comprising:
• a) replacing a take-up roller at least partially filled with used web cleaning material with an empty take-up roller;
• b) replacing a spent supply roller of web cleaning material with a replacement roller of web cleaning material;
• c) positioning the web material in its operational path in the electrophotographic apparatus;
• d) positioning a clutch mechanism on the take-up gear adapted to disengage the take-up gear from the motor to permit rotation of the take-up gear separately from the motor;
• and,
• e) rotating the take-up gear separately from the motor to take up slack in the web of cleaning material.