Reinforced cleaning member, and process cartridge and image forming apparatus using same
AssigneeRicoh Company, Ltd.
InventorTakeo Suda
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cleaning member for cleaning an image carrier. The cleaning member includes a support plate having a planar face portion configured to be fixed to an object in a position adjacent to the image carrier, a plurality of reinforcement features configured to reinforce a strength of the support plate, at least one of the reinforcement features arranged on the planar face portion, and a blade connecting portion arranged on the planar face portion. The cleaning member further includes an elastic blade member connected to the blade connecting portion of the support plate such that the elastic blade extends toward the image carrier when the support plate is fixed to the object. The image cleaner may be positioned within an image forming apparatus or an image developing cartridge.
Claims29
A cleaning member for cleaning an image carrier, comprising:
- a support plate comprising:
- a planar face portion configured to be fixed to an object in a position adjacent to said image carrier,
- a fold portion forming a plane that extends at an angle to said planar face portion,
- a reinforcement feature configured to reinforce a strength of said support plate, said reinforcement feature being integral with and arranged on said planar face portion, and
- a blade connecting portion coupled to said planar face portion;
- and
- an elastic blade member connected to said blade connecting portion of said support plate such that said elastic blade extends toward said image carrier when said support plate is fixed to said object.
A cleaning member for cleaning an image carrier comprising:
- a support plate comprising:
- a planar face portion configured to be fixed to an object in a position adjacent to said image carrier,
- a plurality of reinforcement features configured to reinforce a strength of said support plate, at least one of said reinforcement features being integral with and arranged on said planar face portion, and
- a blade connecting portion arranged on said planar face portion;
- and
- an elastic blade member connected to said blade connecting portion of said support plate such that said elastic blade extends toward said image carrier when said support plate is fixed to said object, wherein at least one of said reinforcement features is positioned on said planar face to extend in an axial direction of said image carrier when said support plate is fixed to said object.
A cleaning member for cleaning an image carrier, comprising:
- a support plate comprising:
- a planar face portion configured to be fixed to an object in a position adjacent to said image carrier,
- a plurality of reinforcement features configured to reinforce a strength of said support plate, at least one of said reinforcement features arranged on said planar face portion, and
- a blade connecting portion arranged on said planar face portion;
- and
- an elastic blade member connected to said blade connecting portion of said support plate such that said elastic blade extends toward said image carrier when said support plate is fixed to said object, wherein the cross section second moment of the support plate containing the reinforcement member is 50 mm4 or more.
A cleaning member for cleaning an image carrier, comprising:
- a support plate comprising:
- means for fixing the support plate to an object in a position adjacent to said image carrier, and
- a fold portion forming a plane that extends at an angle to a plane of said support plate,
- means integral with and arranged on said plane of the support plate, for reinforcing a strength of said support plate;
- an elastic blade member configured to clean said image carrier when said support plate is fixed to said object;
- and
- means for connecting said elastic blade to said support plate.
A cleaning member for cleaning an image carrier, comprising:
- a support plate comprising:
- means for fixing the support plate to an object in a position adjacent to said image carrier, and
- means arranged on a plane of the support plate, for reinforcing a strength of said support plate;
- an elastic blade member configured to clean said image carrier when said support plate is fixed to said object;
- means for connecting said elastic blade to said support plate;
- and
- means for aligning said support plate on said object.
An image forming apparatus comprising:
- an image carrier;
- an interior wall;
- and
- a cleaning member mounted to said interior wall and configured to clean said image carrier, said cleaning member comprising:
- a support plate comprising:
- a planar face portion configured to be fixed to said interior wall in a position adjacent to said image carrier,
- a fold portion forming a plane that extends at an angle to said planar face portion,
- reinforcement feature configured to reinforce a strength of said support plate, said reinforcement feature being integral with and arranged on said planar face portion, and
- a blade connecting portion coupled to said planar face portion;
- and
- an elastic blade member connected to said blade connecting portion of said support plate such that said elastic blade extends toward said image carrier when said support plate is fixed to said interior wall.
An image processing cartridge, comprising:
- an image carrier;
- an interior wall;
- and
- a cleaning member mounted to said interior wall and configured to clean said image carrier, said cleaning member comprising:
- a support plate comprising:
- a planar face portion configured to be fixed to said interior wall in a position adjacent to said image carrier,
- a fold portion forming a plane that extends at an angle to said planar face portion,
- reinforcement feature configured to reinforce a strength of said support plate, said reinforcement feature being integral with and arranged on said planar face portion, and
- a blade connecting portion coupled to said planar face portion;
- and
- an elastic blade member connected to said blade connecting portion of said support plate such that said elastic blade extends toward said image carrier when said support plate is fixed to said interior wall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.