# US 7,048,369 B2 · Electrostatic grounding for drum maintenance unit

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- Number: US 7,048,369 B2
- Document ID: US7048369B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 10/707,574
- Filed: 2003-12-22
- Published: 2005-06-23
- Granted: 2006-05-23
- Earliest claimed: 2003-12-22
- Assignees: Xerox Corporation
- Inventors: Gerard H. Rousseau; Ernest I. Esplin; Kelly Kessler
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7048369B2

## CPC

- G03G 21/0058: {using a roller or a polygonal rotating cleaning member; Details thereof, e.g. surface structure (G03G21/0064 takes precedence)}
- G03G 21/0094: {fatigue treatment of the photoconductor}
- G03G 21/10: Collecting or recycling waste developer
- G03G 2221/0005: Cleaning of residual toner
- G03G 2221/0084: Liquid
- G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY

## Abstract

A drum maintenance unit (drum maintenance unit) to reduce build up of electrostatic charge within a printer device. The drum maintenance unit may have a static shield positioned to reduce the build up of an electrostatic charge and to act as a physical barrier by preventing discarded oil from becoming airborne and returning to the oiling roller unfiltered. The static shield may also be utilized to retain and house the filtration system of the drum maintenance unit thus reducing part count and manufacturing time.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A drum maintenance unit, comprising:
a casing;
an oiling roller housed within the casing;
a metering blade housed within the casing and spaced from the oiling roller; and
a shield disposed between the oiling roller and the metering blade, wherein the shield comprises a conductive material.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The drum maintenance unit according to claim 1, wherein the shield reduces electrostatic field build up when the drum maintenance unit is installed in a media device.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The drum maintenance unit according to claim 1, wherein the shield comprises a physical barrier between the oiling roller and metering blade.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The drum maintenance unit according to claim 1, wherein the oiling roller has a longitudinal length and the shield extends at least the longitudinal length of the oiling roller.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The drum maintenance unit according to claim 1, wherein the shield is in contact with the oiling roller.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The drum maintenance unit according to claim 1, wherein the shield is electrically grounded.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The drum maintenance unit according to claim 1, wherein the shield is electrically grounded to a media device when the drum maintenance unit is installed in the media device.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The drum maintenance unit according to claim 1, wherein the shield partially encases the oiling roller.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The drum maintenance unit according to claim 1, wherein the shield generally has an L shape.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The drum maintenance unit according to claim 1, wherein an end of the shield is bent toward the oiling roller.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The drum maintenance unit according to claim 1, further comprising a filter.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The drum maintenance unit according to claim 11, wherein the shield comprises a filter portion that retains the filter.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The drum maintenance unit according to claim 12, wherein the casing comprises a reservoir that houses the filter and a lower portion of the shield.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The drum maintenance unit according to claim 1, further comprising a release agent retained on the oiling roller.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The drum maintenance unit according to claim 11, wherein tabs are provided on the shield to retain the filter.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The drum maintenance unit according to claim 1, wherein an upper portion of the shield is in contact with the oiling roller.

### Claim 17

A method for reducing ink transfer to an oiling roller in a drum maintenance unit, comprising:
providing a static shield between the oiling roller and a metering blade.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method for reducing ink transfer according to claim 17, further comprising electrically grounding the shield.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The method for reducing ink transfer according to claim 17, further comprising contacting the oiling roller with the shield to reduce an electrostatic charge on the oiling roller.

### Claim 20

A drum maintenance unit, comprising:
a casing;
an oiling roller housed within the casing;
a metering blade housed within the casing and spaced from the oiling roller; and
a static shield disposed between the oiling roller and the metering blade.