CA1071692A - Electrophotographic cleaning apparatus - Google Patents
Electrophotographic cleaning apparatusInfo
- Publication number
- CA1071692A CA1071692A CA214,921A CA214921A CA1071692A CA 1071692 A CA1071692 A CA 1071692A CA 214921 A CA214921 A CA 214921A CA 1071692 A CA1071692 A CA 1071692A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- cleaning
- toner
- elastomeric
- photoconductive
- cleaning member
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G21/00—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
- G03G21/0005—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge for removing solid developer or debris from the electrographic recording medium
- G03G21/0041—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge for removing solid developer or debris from the electrographic recording medium using a band; Details of cleaning bands, e.g. band winding
Abstract
Abstract of the Disclosure A cleaning apparatus for removing residual toner from a photoconductive surface is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a cleaning member having a special elastomeric surface which is brought into rolling contact with the photoconductive surface at a point after the toner image has been transferred from the photoconductive surface. Residual toner is thereby removed by the elastomeric surface. The cleaning member can have various shapes, including rollers, webs, or belts.
Suitable elastomeric surfaces have a particular com-bination of thickness and hardness characteristics. Preferably, these surfaces are at least 60 mils thick and have a Shore A
hardness below about 25 durometer. Additionally, it is preferred to use elastomers which have surface free energies below about 35 dynes per centimeter.
Means to remove residual toner from the cleaning member and to accumulate it are also described. Accumulating systems include hot rollers, adhesive rollers, and cleaning liquid applicators.
Suitable elastomeric surfaces have a particular com-bination of thickness and hardness characteristics. Preferably, these surfaces are at least 60 mils thick and have a Shore A
hardness below about 25 durometer. Additionally, it is preferred to use elastomers which have surface free energies below about 35 dynes per centimeter.
Means to remove residual toner from the cleaning member and to accumulate it are also described. Accumulating systems include hot rollers, adhesive rollers, and cleaning liquid applicators.
Description
107~69Z
The invention is in the field of electrophotograPhic copier cleaning systems for removing residual toner from the surface o~ a photoconductive element.
In many electrophotographic processes, a conductive backing having a photoconductive insulating layer thereon is electrostatically imaged by first uniformly charging its surface, and subsequently exposing the charged surface to a pattern of activating electromagnetic radiation such as light.
The radiation pattern selectively dissipates electrostatic charges in illuminated areas on the photoconductive surface, which results in a latent electrostatic image in non-illuminated areas. This latent electrostatic image is subsequently developed to form a visible image by depositing developer materials thereon by a variety of development techniques, the most common of which is cascade development in which solid developer is cascaded across the latent image. Solid developer materials are customarily two component systems containing finely divided pigmented particles commonly called "toner,"
and relatively coarser, larger beads commonly called "carrier beads." The developed toner image is transierred to a final substrate medium,such as plain paper, by electrostatic transfer, ~2-~ .
- ,, , , . . , . ~ , . . .
: . .: , . . . ... . . .
107 3L69~h pressure contact, or otherwise. Once transferred, the toner image is fused or fixed to the final substrate medium by heat, solvent vapor, a fixative coating etc.
After the developed toner image has been transferred from the photoconductor to the final substrate medium, there is inevitably a residual toner image which remains on the photoconductor. It is desirable, and most often necessarv, to remove such residual toner images from the photoconductive surface prior to forming another electrostatic image thereon.
Various techniques for "cleaning," i.e.,removing these residual toner images, have been proposed. Techniques including brushing the photoconductive surface with soft cotton or fur brushes, cascade cleaning with a granular material, solvent cleaning, vacuum suction, are generally known. See R. M.
Schaffert, Electrophoto~raehy, The Focal Press, New York, 1965, pp. 40-41. Additionally, these and other techniques are described extensively in the patent literature.
Typical brush cleaning systems are described in issued patents, for example, as being formed from a rotating cylinder having brush bristles on its outer periphery and a flicking member to flick the bristles just before they come into contact with the residual toner on the photoconductive surface. See Carlson, U. S. 2,357,809. The brush bristles are formed from fiber materials including synthetic and natural fibers and furs such as those from beaver, fur and New Zealand sheared or dyed rabbit fur. See Turner et al., U. S. 2,751,616. More recently, brushes having pile tufts - ' .. , . -.: , . , " -.
- .; , . .
~o~ z formed from glass fibers of very fine diameter have been proposed. See Solarek, U. S. 3,610,693 and 3,692,402.
Brush cleaning has also been combined with other techniques: examples include combining a cleaning brush with an air knife, a simultaneous electrical bias of negative polarity or of polarity opposite to that on the toner particles, or concurrent illumination with a fluorescent lamp. See Hudson, U. S. 3,278,972; Fisher et al., U. S. 3,572,923;
Walkup et al., U. S. 2,572,271, and Clarke et al., U. S.
The invention is in the field of electrophotograPhic copier cleaning systems for removing residual toner from the surface o~ a photoconductive element.
In many electrophotographic processes, a conductive backing having a photoconductive insulating layer thereon is electrostatically imaged by first uniformly charging its surface, and subsequently exposing the charged surface to a pattern of activating electromagnetic radiation such as light.
The radiation pattern selectively dissipates electrostatic charges in illuminated areas on the photoconductive surface, which results in a latent electrostatic image in non-illuminated areas. This latent electrostatic image is subsequently developed to form a visible image by depositing developer materials thereon by a variety of development techniques, the most common of which is cascade development in which solid developer is cascaded across the latent image. Solid developer materials are customarily two component systems containing finely divided pigmented particles commonly called "toner,"
and relatively coarser, larger beads commonly called "carrier beads." The developed toner image is transierred to a final substrate medium,such as plain paper, by electrostatic transfer, ~2-~ .
- ,, , , . . , . ~ , . . .
: . .: , . . . ... . . .
107 3L69~h pressure contact, or otherwise. Once transferred, the toner image is fused or fixed to the final substrate medium by heat, solvent vapor, a fixative coating etc.
After the developed toner image has been transferred from the photoconductor to the final substrate medium, there is inevitably a residual toner image which remains on the photoconductor. It is desirable, and most often necessarv, to remove such residual toner images from the photoconductive surface prior to forming another electrostatic image thereon.
Various techniques for "cleaning," i.e.,removing these residual toner images, have been proposed. Techniques including brushing the photoconductive surface with soft cotton or fur brushes, cascade cleaning with a granular material, solvent cleaning, vacuum suction, are generally known. See R. M.
Schaffert, Electrophoto~raehy, The Focal Press, New York, 1965, pp. 40-41. Additionally, these and other techniques are described extensively in the patent literature.
Typical brush cleaning systems are described in issued patents, for example, as being formed from a rotating cylinder having brush bristles on its outer periphery and a flicking member to flick the bristles just before they come into contact with the residual toner on the photoconductive surface. See Carlson, U. S. 2,357,809. The brush bristles are formed from fiber materials including synthetic and natural fibers and furs such as those from beaver, fur and New Zealand sheared or dyed rabbit fur. See Turner et al., U. S. 2,751,616. More recently, brushes having pile tufts - ' .. , . -.: , . , " -.
- .; , . .
~o~ z formed from glass fibers of very fine diameter have been proposed. See Solarek, U. S. 3,610,693 and 3,692,402.
Brush cleaning has also been combined with other techniques: examples include combining a cleaning brush with an air knife, a simultaneous electrical bias of negative polarity or of polarity opposite to that on the toner particles, or concurrent illumination with a fluorescent lamp. See Hudson, U. S. 3,278,972; Fisher et al., U. S. 3,572,923;
Walkup et al., U. S. 2,572,271, and Clarke et al., U. S.
2,615,813, respectively. Additionally, rotating brush cleaners have been used to apply electrically insulating magnetic cleaning materials or cleaning liquids to aid in removing residual toner from the photoconductive surface. See Yang, U. S. 3,580,673 and Mizuguchi et al., U. S. 3,598,487, respectively. A further different type of cleaning system related to brush cleaning involves wiping the photoconductive surface w;th an electrically non-conductive element to mechanicallyremove toner particles while simultaneously applying an electrical bias of opposite polarity to that on the toner particles followed by use of a brush cleaner. See Fisher et al., U. S. 3,655,373.
Despite the extensive description of brush cleaning in the patent and general literature, and in spite of its common usage in electrophotographic copiers, it is not without problems. It does, for example, have a tendency to generate toner dust in copy machines. Also, it is usually a relatively noisy operation and brush cleaners require relatively large ':
9z amounts of space, Additionally, it tends to cause wear of the photoconductor.
Various other cleaning systems are described in the patent literature. Thus, cleaning tapes or webs made from suitable fibrous materials such as paper, cheese cloth, flannel, or cotton fibers are described. See DiFrancesco et al., U. S. 3,598,488; Dimond et al. 9 U. S. 3,615,397 and 3,6249858;
Schnall et al., U. S. 3,625,605; and, Hartwig et al., U. S.
Despite the extensive description of brush cleaning in the patent and general literature, and in spite of its common usage in electrophotographic copiers, it is not without problems. It does, for example, have a tendency to generate toner dust in copy machines. Also, it is usually a relatively noisy operation and brush cleaners require relatively large ':
9z amounts of space, Additionally, it tends to cause wear of the photoconductor.
Various other cleaning systems are described in the patent literature. Thus, cleaning tapes or webs made from suitable fibrous materials such as paper, cheese cloth, flannel, or cotton fibers are described. See DiFrancesco et al., U. S. 3,598,488; Dimond et al. 9 U. S. 3,615,397 and 3,6249858;
Schnall et al., U. S. 3,625,605; and, Hartwig et al., U. S.
3,672,764. Lubricated blade cleaners (Ro~yka et al., U. S.
3,552,850); pumicing cleaning compositions of cerium o~ide and zinc stearate particles (Makino et al., U. S. 3,607,160);
use of two-component developer material systems (Caldwell, U. S. 3,640,707); and, application of cleaning liquids from sponge-like members (Abreu et al., U. S. 3,654,654 and Riley, U. S. 3,656,200) are disclosed as well.
Despite large amounts of research conducted to find su;table cleaning systems for removing residual toner images from photoconductive surfaces, there is still a areat need for new systems which overcome the remaining problems of those systems heretofore proposed.
, ': ' . . .' ' , . ,' . . . . . .
~7~69;~
The invention comprises an e7ectrophotographic cleaning apparatus for removing residual toner and other particulate matter from the surface of a photoconductive surface. In a broad embodiment, the cleaning apparatus comprises a cleaning member having an elastomeric surface at least 0.25 mils thick and a Shore A hardness of below about 85 durometer.
In more preferred embodiments, thicker, softer, elastomers are used, and it is also preferred to use elastomers having surface free energies below about 35 dynes per centimeter.
Elastomeric cleaning members can take the form of rollers, webs, belts, etc., which are positioned so that these elastomeric surfaces come into rolling contact with the photo-conductive surface to be cleaned. Such contact causes residual toner on the photoconductor to be picked up and transported away by the elastomeric surface.
Various systems to accumulate the residual toner removed can be used in combination with the elastomeric cleaning members. Typical are heated rollers, adhesive rollers, and liquid cleaner applicators.
Elastomeric cleaning systems as described herein have significant advantages over previously known cleanin~
systems. They are, for example, much quieter and can be designed to be much more compact. In addition, it can be ~1)7~;92 appreciated that much less free toner dust is generated with the systems described herein than is customarily generated by prior art systems such as brush cleaners since toner is always captive on a surface during the entire operation.
FIG. 1 illustrates schematically an electrophotographic cleaning apparatus including elastomeric cleaning bel~s used in combination with a hot roller accumulating s~ystem;
FIG. 2 illustrates schematically an electrophotographic cleaning apparatus using an elastomeric cleaning web in com-bination with a liquid accumulating system;
FIG. 3 illustrates schematically an electrophotographic cleaning apparatus wherein an elastomeric cleaning roller is used in combination with an adhesive accumulating system;
FIG. 4 illustrates schematically an electrophotographic cleaning apparatus wherein a combination elastomeric transfer and cleaning belt is used.
Referring now to the FIGS. in more detail, FIG. 1 illustrates schematically a belt cleaning system according to this invention. A photoconductive drum 10 has a conductive substrate 11, such as aluminum, coated on its outer periphery with a thin, photoconductive, insulating layer 12, such as vitreous selenium or any of the other well known photoconductors.
The drum is illustrated as being rotated in a clockwise direction.
, . ~
, . . .
~ 69 ~
The elastomeric cleaning apparatus compr;ses two cleaning belts 14 and 16, each of which is formed from a relatively thin substrate 18 coated with an elastomeric material 20 such as G.E. RTV 118. Substrate 18 can be formed From any material which has the requisite strength and stands up to the temperatures encountered. Polyester fiber substrates or substrates of silicone rubbers are examples.
Elastomeric clean;ng belts 14 and 16 are trained over positioning rollers 22. Additionally, spring biased belt tensioning rollers 24 are provided for the purpose of increasing or decreasing the tension of cleaning belts 14 and 16 to thereby control the pressure at the point of contact between drum 10 and belts 14 and 16. Tensioning rollers 24 also serve the auxiliary purpose of separating the components. In general, this contact pressure should be light and will depend upon other parameters in the apparatus.
Cleaning belts 14 and 16 can be driven by a motor (not shown) or simply by rotation of photoconductive drum 10.
In general, it is desirable to drive cleaning belts 14 and 16 in the same direction as photoconductive drum 10, and at approximately the same linear velocity. This enables belts 14 and 16 to contact drum 10 in a rolling manner as distinguished from rubbing or frictional contact often required with brush-type cleaners.
Belts 14 and 16 have surfaces formed from elastomers.
In order to insure that efficient removal of residual toner is achieved, the elastomeric surfaces are chosen to have certain important properties. Two important design criteria for these , ' 1~7~6~;~
surfaces are thickness and hardness. The exact thickness and hardness will depend on many factors, including the number o~
contacts between the elastomeric surface and the photoconductive surface and ~he pressure of contact. In general, ~hicker, softer elastomers provide more efficient cleaning, partlcularly with larger particles. Therefore, these elastomeric surfaces should be at least about 0.25 mils thick, and are preferably above about 60 mils in thickness. Upper thicknesses are established only by practical considerations such as strength. Additionally, the elastomers should be relatively soft, having hardnesses on the Shore A scale below about 85 durometers and pre~erably below about 25 durometers. Lower limits on hardness are also established by practical considerations such as structural integrity. It is also preferred, although not required, to use elastomers having surface free energy below about 35 dynes per centimeter to facilitate release of removed residual toner from ~he elastomeric surface. This increase~ the e~ficiency o~ accumulator systems, particularly hot accumulator systems and also increases the range of liquids which will not wet ~he elastomeric surface which is useful in liquid accumula~ors.
Suitable elastomers include, but are not limited to, silicone elastomers, fluorosilicone elastomers, polyurethanes~
and various rubbers. Some specific examples include Dow Corning 3140, Dow Corning 184, Emerson Cummings Eccosil 4450, G.E.
RTV 602, G.E. RTV 615, G.E. RTV 118, G.E. RTV 108, G.E. RTV 112, G.E. RTV 3112, Glo~e Neoprenes-(S-20N,S-50N,S-75-N), Globe Urethanes MP 600 and MP 850, Globe Butyl(S-50-B), Globe Buna N
(S-50-H) and Globe GRS (R-45). A particularly effective .
. :
~7~L69Z
elastomer has been found to be G.E's. RTV 118 silicone elastomer, which cleans efficiently with a low number of contacts.
The elastomeric surface of belts 14 and 16 is forced ~ ~lbS; )~:~D ~
f-~ into contact with photoconductive drum 10 by ~e~e ~ollers 22. As rolling contact occurs, residual toner and other particulate matter is removed from the surface of the photo-conductive drum 10. It can be appreciated that it is desirable to remove toner particles from the surface of belts 14 and 16 to prevent it from being redeposited on the photoconductive drum 10. For this purpose, an accumulator such as metal drum 30 can be used; many metals are suitable including stainless steel, copper and aluminum. Drum 30 is heated to an elevated temperature by radiant heater 32 positioned inside drum 30 to a temperature sufficient to soften residual toner removed from the photoconductive drum 10. As drum 30 contacts belts 14 and 16, residua1 toner is heated to its softening point and transfers from the surface of belts 14 and 16 to accumulating drum 30.
Accumulated toner on drum 30 is removed by scraper 34 and deposited in recepticle 36.
FIG. 2 illustrates an a1ternative embodiment wherein elastomeric cleaning web 40 is wound around supply spool 42 and takeup spool 44 in such a manner that the web 40 is retractable.
A tensioning roller 46 is used to adjust the pressure at the point of contact on photoconductive drum 10. Residual toner is transferred from the surface of the photoconductive drum 10 to the web 40 and is subsequently removed by a liquid accumulator system. The liquid accumulator system includes a liquid applicator 48, which can be a sponge roller wetted with cleaning liquid. Suitable cleaning liquids are non-solvents for the ~07~6~Z
toner and elastomer. One suitable cleaning liquid can be formed from water~, isopropa~nol and a nonionic surfactant such ' as IGEPAL CO 530~o aid in wetting ~he toner particles. Those skilled in the art will know many others. Finally, scraper 50 removes accumulated toner from web 40 and deposits it into recepticle 52, FIG. 3 illustrates a second alternative embodiment wherein a rctP~e~4~e-cleaning roller 60 having a suitable elastomeric surfa~e 62 coated over metal substrate 64 is used to remove residual toner from photoconductive drum 10. The accumulator system illustrated comprises a perforated metal roller 66 wh~ch can be coated on its outer periphery with liquid adhesive 68 to provide an adhesive roller accumulator.
Liquid adhesive 68 can be dispensed in controlled amounts from tank 70 by faucet 72. Toner particles attracted by adhesive 68 eventually settle into the center of the perforated metal roller 66. When necessary~ the perforated metal roller can be taken out and replaced.
In FIG. 4, a combination transfer and cleaning belt system is illustrated. Photoconductive drum 10 is shown without the imaging, developing and cleaning elements normally associated with electrophotographic copiers. Elastomeric belt 80 is trained to pass in an endless loop around rollers 82, 84, 86 and 88.
The belt can be driven, for example, by motor 90 which drives roller 88 in a clockwise direction. Roller 84 can be adjusted by tensioning spring 92 to take up any slack created in belt 80 caused by any dimensional changes due to var;ations ;n temperature thereof during, prior or subsequent to the copying process. Roller 82 is preferably constructed of hard rubber - : ~
~7~:i92 which is electrically leaky so that any background electric charges built up on belt 80, such as triboelectric charges built up between rollers and the belt, will dissipate naturally before the belt contacts photoconductive drum 10.
Transfer at Tl, i.e., from the surface of photoconductive insulating drum 10 to the transfer belt 80, is controlled by transfer roller 94 which is positioned at the back side of transfer belt 80 so that lt can be moved in and out by adjusting tensioning spring 96. Thus, contact roller 94 moYes belt 80 into or out of contact with the photoconductive drum 10 at Tl, and also regulates the pressure at Tl. Transfer of a toner image from a photoconductive insulating surface, such as that on drum 10, to elastomeric belt 80 is well known and has been described in such patents as Byrne, U. S. 3,591,276.
Paper 98 is fed from paper roll 100 and brought into contact with the transferred toner image on belt 80 at T2.
Guide roller 102 directs the paper to pressure transfer assembly 104 consisting of large, interlocked rollers 106 and 108 and small roller 110 which rests on the larger rollers.
Roller 86 is a heated roller that serves to heat the toner image by supplying heat to belt 80 which in turn heats the toner image. Roller 86 can be constructed of a good heat conductor, such as aluminum, and can be heated by a resistance heater at its core.
After transfer at T2, paper 98 remains in contact with belt 80 for a time sufficient to provide cooling of the belt.
Paper 98 is then directed by guide roller 112 away from the transfer-fusing apparatus.
10~;92 In the cleaning mode, transfer belt 80 operates in much the same way as described above for the transfer mode.
In the cleaning mode, however, the electrophotographic devel-opment equipment as well as the charging and imaging equipmen~
are placed in an off state. Therefore, as photoconductive drum 10 comes in contact with elastomeric belt 80, any residual toner on the surface bf drum 10 is transferred to elastomeric belt 80 and subsequently transferred to paper 98. Of course, any of the other accumulator systems described above can be used in place of the paper accumulating system illustrated in FIG. 4.
A typical cleaning system as described herein was fabricated and tested as follows. The apparatus consisted of two cleaning rollers having an outside diameter of 1 1/8 inches and having a 62 mil silicone elastomer coating formed from G.E's. RTV 118 silicone elastomer. These cleaning rollers were placed in contact with a 5-inch photoconductive selenium drum which was run at a speed of 10 inches per second. A copper ~ accumulator drum having an outside diameter of 1 1/2 inches and heated with resistance tape so that its surface was main-tained at a temperature of 120~C. was used. Approximately one pound per lineal inch of pressure was applied to each cleaning roller and the rolls were driven by the photoconductive drum.
Xerox 2400 toner was used in a cascade developer. Line copy was used as an original and toner images of ~he line copy were repeatedly formed on the drum and cleaned. This test was severe since the toner Image formed was not transferred to a .. . . . . . .
.. . ........ . . .
.: , . .: . . .
~716~;~
copy medium before cleaning. Essentially all of the toner image was removed by this cleaning system from the photoconductive surface, transferred to the accumulator drum, and scraped from the surface of the accumulator drum by a scraper.
L6~2 SUPPLEMEN'rARY DISCLOSURE
In Fig. 5, a combination toner transfer and cleaning belt is illustrated. Some elements of this system are similar to ones illustrated in Fig~ 4, and like numerals refer to like elements. The system illus-trated is used to clean residual toner from a photoconductive sur~ace and also to clean simultaneously the surface of a transfer belt.
In the embodiment shown, tray 120 contains sheet paper 122 which is fed to the nip at T2 by two sets of drive rollers, 124 and 126. The T2 nip is formed between belt roller 128 and segmented, hollow, metal drum 130, which contains accumulator roller 132 therein. When paper sheets 122 are fed through the nip at T2 in the copying mode, accumulator roller 132 is positioned within drum 130 in a recessed position so that it does not interfere with paper transport. When the system is placed in a cleaning mode, sheets 122 are not fed to the nip at T2, and segmentéd drum 130 is locked into a stationary position with its segmented portion opposite to roller 128. Accumulator roller 132 is moved forward by cam 134, which can be operated by a solenoid, so that the surface of accumulating roller 132 contacts elastomeric belt 80. As elastomeric belt 80 moves, it drives roller 132 and residual toner, paper dust, etc., on the surface of belt 80, and transferred to roller 132 where it accumulates.
The surface of accumulator roller 132 can be formed from a wide variety of materials, but generally it is preferred to use hard materials of limited thermal conductivity which do not contain plasticizers or other materials which can be back-transferred to belt 80 and subsequently to photoconductive drum 10. E~amples of suitable materials include cardboard, phenolic resins~ and many other polymeric resins. After belt 80 has been cleaned, cam 13~ is moved out of po~ition and spring 136 pull~ accumulating roller 132 back into its recessed position within drum 130.
, . . . . .
.. , : ~
1~71t~92 The cleaning cycle of th~ system illustrated in Fig. 5 is as follows. After a prescribed number of copies have been made, the system is placed in the cleaning cycle mode. In this mode, the charging and exposlng stations normally associated with pho~oconductive drum 10 are placed in an off condition whereas discharge lamp 140 is actuated. Lamp 140 uniformly illuminates the photoconductor with sufficient intensity to discharge the electrostatic image retaining toner particles on the photo-conductive surface. A fluorescent tube located close to the drum surface is sufficient.
Cascade developer 14~ is left in an operating condition and a potential of about 250 volts is applied to development electrode 144.
Cascade developer 142 is a typical cascade development system well known to those skilled in the art. As developer 142 is run, most residual toner-on the surface of drum lO is removed. This type of drum cleaning has become known to the art as "development" cleaning. There is, however, a small amount left which may be thought of as a monolayer of toner. This monolayer can be removed by elastomeric belt 80.
The monolayer of toner on belt 80 is heated and tackified prior to entrance into the nip at T2 by radiant heater 138. Accumulator roller 132, which has been moved into contacting relationship with elastomeric belt 80 by cam 134, preferentially attracts the tacky toner as well as paper dust and other contaminants on belt ~0. After the cleaning cycle, accumulating roller 132 is moved into its recessed position within drum 130 which is unlocked for resumption of the copying mode. As can be seen, the above cleaning cycle achieves two purposes: first, residual toner is removed from the surface of photoconductive drum 10; and secondly, the surface of elastomeric belt 80 is thoroughly cleaned. It i8 important to clean elastomeric belt 80 becau~e in the norrnal ~ransEer of toner images to ~ ~' ?
_ _ _ _ _ .
~07~;9~
paper9 there is some back-transfer o paper dust and other contaminants to the belt, and because the edges of belt 80, which do not come into contact with paper, tend to build up toner and other residual matter.
In Fig. 6, a system similar to the one in Fig. 5 is illustrated except that the cleaning accumulator system has been changed. Like numerals refer to like elements. Drum 148 need not be segmented. In the system illustrated in Fig. 6, a hot cleaning accumulator roller 150 is placed so that it can be moved into position with elas~omeric belt 80 during the cleaning mode. Roller 150 can be fabricated from many materials, and it is preferred to use those which are good conductors of heat such as metals. Xeat can be supplied by any heating means, and one suitable example would be to place induction heaters 152 within roller 150. The temperature at the outer surface of roller 150 should be fairly high, such as above 120C, to insure that residual toner, paper dust, etc. on the surface of elastomeric belt 80 are transferred to hot roller 150. The advantage of the hot accumulator is that it tends to develop its own tackified layer of toner on its outer surface, thereby eliminating the need to feed toner onto belt 80 in order to provide the necessary aid in ` transferring paper dust, etc. to the accumulating system. Additionally, the degree of synchronization and mechanical complexity involved with accumu- ~
lator systems such as those illustrated in Fig. 5 are eliminated. Since ~ ;
the toner tends to spread evenly on the surface of hot accumulator roller 150, more even cleaning also can be achieved, and chipping of solidified materials on the surface of the roller is eliminated.
. .
~.. , . ~ I . .... .
.
3,552,850); pumicing cleaning compositions of cerium o~ide and zinc stearate particles (Makino et al., U. S. 3,607,160);
use of two-component developer material systems (Caldwell, U. S. 3,640,707); and, application of cleaning liquids from sponge-like members (Abreu et al., U. S. 3,654,654 and Riley, U. S. 3,656,200) are disclosed as well.
Despite large amounts of research conducted to find su;table cleaning systems for removing residual toner images from photoconductive surfaces, there is still a areat need for new systems which overcome the remaining problems of those systems heretofore proposed.
, ': ' . . .' ' , . ,' . . . . . .
~7~69;~
The invention comprises an e7ectrophotographic cleaning apparatus for removing residual toner and other particulate matter from the surface of a photoconductive surface. In a broad embodiment, the cleaning apparatus comprises a cleaning member having an elastomeric surface at least 0.25 mils thick and a Shore A hardness of below about 85 durometer.
In more preferred embodiments, thicker, softer, elastomers are used, and it is also preferred to use elastomers having surface free energies below about 35 dynes per centimeter.
Elastomeric cleaning members can take the form of rollers, webs, belts, etc., which are positioned so that these elastomeric surfaces come into rolling contact with the photo-conductive surface to be cleaned. Such contact causes residual toner on the photoconductor to be picked up and transported away by the elastomeric surface.
Various systems to accumulate the residual toner removed can be used in combination with the elastomeric cleaning members. Typical are heated rollers, adhesive rollers, and liquid cleaner applicators.
Elastomeric cleaning systems as described herein have significant advantages over previously known cleanin~
systems. They are, for example, much quieter and can be designed to be much more compact. In addition, it can be ~1)7~;92 appreciated that much less free toner dust is generated with the systems described herein than is customarily generated by prior art systems such as brush cleaners since toner is always captive on a surface during the entire operation.
FIG. 1 illustrates schematically an electrophotographic cleaning apparatus including elastomeric cleaning bel~s used in combination with a hot roller accumulating s~ystem;
FIG. 2 illustrates schematically an electrophotographic cleaning apparatus using an elastomeric cleaning web in com-bination with a liquid accumulating system;
FIG. 3 illustrates schematically an electrophotographic cleaning apparatus wherein an elastomeric cleaning roller is used in combination with an adhesive accumulating system;
FIG. 4 illustrates schematically an electrophotographic cleaning apparatus wherein a combination elastomeric transfer and cleaning belt is used.
Referring now to the FIGS. in more detail, FIG. 1 illustrates schematically a belt cleaning system according to this invention. A photoconductive drum 10 has a conductive substrate 11, such as aluminum, coated on its outer periphery with a thin, photoconductive, insulating layer 12, such as vitreous selenium or any of the other well known photoconductors.
The drum is illustrated as being rotated in a clockwise direction.
, . ~
, . . .
~ 69 ~
The elastomeric cleaning apparatus compr;ses two cleaning belts 14 and 16, each of which is formed from a relatively thin substrate 18 coated with an elastomeric material 20 such as G.E. RTV 118. Substrate 18 can be formed From any material which has the requisite strength and stands up to the temperatures encountered. Polyester fiber substrates or substrates of silicone rubbers are examples.
Elastomeric clean;ng belts 14 and 16 are trained over positioning rollers 22. Additionally, spring biased belt tensioning rollers 24 are provided for the purpose of increasing or decreasing the tension of cleaning belts 14 and 16 to thereby control the pressure at the point of contact between drum 10 and belts 14 and 16. Tensioning rollers 24 also serve the auxiliary purpose of separating the components. In general, this contact pressure should be light and will depend upon other parameters in the apparatus.
Cleaning belts 14 and 16 can be driven by a motor (not shown) or simply by rotation of photoconductive drum 10.
In general, it is desirable to drive cleaning belts 14 and 16 in the same direction as photoconductive drum 10, and at approximately the same linear velocity. This enables belts 14 and 16 to contact drum 10 in a rolling manner as distinguished from rubbing or frictional contact often required with brush-type cleaners.
Belts 14 and 16 have surfaces formed from elastomers.
In order to insure that efficient removal of residual toner is achieved, the elastomeric surfaces are chosen to have certain important properties. Two important design criteria for these , ' 1~7~6~;~
surfaces are thickness and hardness. The exact thickness and hardness will depend on many factors, including the number o~
contacts between the elastomeric surface and the photoconductive surface and ~he pressure of contact. In general, ~hicker, softer elastomers provide more efficient cleaning, partlcularly with larger particles. Therefore, these elastomeric surfaces should be at least about 0.25 mils thick, and are preferably above about 60 mils in thickness. Upper thicknesses are established only by practical considerations such as strength. Additionally, the elastomers should be relatively soft, having hardnesses on the Shore A scale below about 85 durometers and pre~erably below about 25 durometers. Lower limits on hardness are also established by practical considerations such as structural integrity. It is also preferred, although not required, to use elastomers having surface free energy below about 35 dynes per centimeter to facilitate release of removed residual toner from ~he elastomeric surface. This increase~ the e~ficiency o~ accumulator systems, particularly hot accumulator systems and also increases the range of liquids which will not wet ~he elastomeric surface which is useful in liquid accumula~ors.
Suitable elastomers include, but are not limited to, silicone elastomers, fluorosilicone elastomers, polyurethanes~
and various rubbers. Some specific examples include Dow Corning 3140, Dow Corning 184, Emerson Cummings Eccosil 4450, G.E.
RTV 602, G.E. RTV 615, G.E. RTV 118, G.E. RTV 108, G.E. RTV 112, G.E. RTV 3112, Glo~e Neoprenes-(S-20N,S-50N,S-75-N), Globe Urethanes MP 600 and MP 850, Globe Butyl(S-50-B), Globe Buna N
(S-50-H) and Globe GRS (R-45). A particularly effective .
. :
~7~L69Z
elastomer has been found to be G.E's. RTV 118 silicone elastomer, which cleans efficiently with a low number of contacts.
The elastomeric surface of belts 14 and 16 is forced ~ ~lbS; )~:~D ~
f-~ into contact with photoconductive drum 10 by ~e~e ~ollers 22. As rolling contact occurs, residual toner and other particulate matter is removed from the surface of the photo-conductive drum 10. It can be appreciated that it is desirable to remove toner particles from the surface of belts 14 and 16 to prevent it from being redeposited on the photoconductive drum 10. For this purpose, an accumulator such as metal drum 30 can be used; many metals are suitable including stainless steel, copper and aluminum. Drum 30 is heated to an elevated temperature by radiant heater 32 positioned inside drum 30 to a temperature sufficient to soften residual toner removed from the photoconductive drum 10. As drum 30 contacts belts 14 and 16, residua1 toner is heated to its softening point and transfers from the surface of belts 14 and 16 to accumulating drum 30.
Accumulated toner on drum 30 is removed by scraper 34 and deposited in recepticle 36.
FIG. 2 illustrates an a1ternative embodiment wherein elastomeric cleaning web 40 is wound around supply spool 42 and takeup spool 44 in such a manner that the web 40 is retractable.
A tensioning roller 46 is used to adjust the pressure at the point of contact on photoconductive drum 10. Residual toner is transferred from the surface of the photoconductive drum 10 to the web 40 and is subsequently removed by a liquid accumulator system. The liquid accumulator system includes a liquid applicator 48, which can be a sponge roller wetted with cleaning liquid. Suitable cleaning liquids are non-solvents for the ~07~6~Z
toner and elastomer. One suitable cleaning liquid can be formed from water~, isopropa~nol and a nonionic surfactant such ' as IGEPAL CO 530~o aid in wetting ~he toner particles. Those skilled in the art will know many others. Finally, scraper 50 removes accumulated toner from web 40 and deposits it into recepticle 52, FIG. 3 illustrates a second alternative embodiment wherein a rctP~e~4~e-cleaning roller 60 having a suitable elastomeric surfa~e 62 coated over metal substrate 64 is used to remove residual toner from photoconductive drum 10. The accumulator system illustrated comprises a perforated metal roller 66 wh~ch can be coated on its outer periphery with liquid adhesive 68 to provide an adhesive roller accumulator.
Liquid adhesive 68 can be dispensed in controlled amounts from tank 70 by faucet 72. Toner particles attracted by adhesive 68 eventually settle into the center of the perforated metal roller 66. When necessary~ the perforated metal roller can be taken out and replaced.
In FIG. 4, a combination transfer and cleaning belt system is illustrated. Photoconductive drum 10 is shown without the imaging, developing and cleaning elements normally associated with electrophotographic copiers. Elastomeric belt 80 is trained to pass in an endless loop around rollers 82, 84, 86 and 88.
The belt can be driven, for example, by motor 90 which drives roller 88 in a clockwise direction. Roller 84 can be adjusted by tensioning spring 92 to take up any slack created in belt 80 caused by any dimensional changes due to var;ations ;n temperature thereof during, prior or subsequent to the copying process. Roller 82 is preferably constructed of hard rubber - : ~
~7~:i92 which is electrically leaky so that any background electric charges built up on belt 80, such as triboelectric charges built up between rollers and the belt, will dissipate naturally before the belt contacts photoconductive drum 10.
Transfer at Tl, i.e., from the surface of photoconductive insulating drum 10 to the transfer belt 80, is controlled by transfer roller 94 which is positioned at the back side of transfer belt 80 so that lt can be moved in and out by adjusting tensioning spring 96. Thus, contact roller 94 moYes belt 80 into or out of contact with the photoconductive drum 10 at Tl, and also regulates the pressure at Tl. Transfer of a toner image from a photoconductive insulating surface, such as that on drum 10, to elastomeric belt 80 is well known and has been described in such patents as Byrne, U. S. 3,591,276.
Paper 98 is fed from paper roll 100 and brought into contact with the transferred toner image on belt 80 at T2.
Guide roller 102 directs the paper to pressure transfer assembly 104 consisting of large, interlocked rollers 106 and 108 and small roller 110 which rests on the larger rollers.
Roller 86 is a heated roller that serves to heat the toner image by supplying heat to belt 80 which in turn heats the toner image. Roller 86 can be constructed of a good heat conductor, such as aluminum, and can be heated by a resistance heater at its core.
After transfer at T2, paper 98 remains in contact with belt 80 for a time sufficient to provide cooling of the belt.
Paper 98 is then directed by guide roller 112 away from the transfer-fusing apparatus.
10~;92 In the cleaning mode, transfer belt 80 operates in much the same way as described above for the transfer mode.
In the cleaning mode, however, the electrophotographic devel-opment equipment as well as the charging and imaging equipmen~
are placed in an off state. Therefore, as photoconductive drum 10 comes in contact with elastomeric belt 80, any residual toner on the surface bf drum 10 is transferred to elastomeric belt 80 and subsequently transferred to paper 98. Of course, any of the other accumulator systems described above can be used in place of the paper accumulating system illustrated in FIG. 4.
A typical cleaning system as described herein was fabricated and tested as follows. The apparatus consisted of two cleaning rollers having an outside diameter of 1 1/8 inches and having a 62 mil silicone elastomer coating formed from G.E's. RTV 118 silicone elastomer. These cleaning rollers were placed in contact with a 5-inch photoconductive selenium drum which was run at a speed of 10 inches per second. A copper ~ accumulator drum having an outside diameter of 1 1/2 inches and heated with resistance tape so that its surface was main-tained at a temperature of 120~C. was used. Approximately one pound per lineal inch of pressure was applied to each cleaning roller and the rolls were driven by the photoconductive drum.
Xerox 2400 toner was used in a cascade developer. Line copy was used as an original and toner images of ~he line copy were repeatedly formed on the drum and cleaned. This test was severe since the toner Image formed was not transferred to a .. . . . . . .
.. . ........ . . .
.: , . .: . . .
~716~;~
copy medium before cleaning. Essentially all of the toner image was removed by this cleaning system from the photoconductive surface, transferred to the accumulator drum, and scraped from the surface of the accumulator drum by a scraper.
L6~2 SUPPLEMEN'rARY DISCLOSURE
In Fig. 5, a combination toner transfer and cleaning belt is illustrated. Some elements of this system are similar to ones illustrated in Fig~ 4, and like numerals refer to like elements. The system illus-trated is used to clean residual toner from a photoconductive sur~ace and also to clean simultaneously the surface of a transfer belt.
In the embodiment shown, tray 120 contains sheet paper 122 which is fed to the nip at T2 by two sets of drive rollers, 124 and 126. The T2 nip is formed between belt roller 128 and segmented, hollow, metal drum 130, which contains accumulator roller 132 therein. When paper sheets 122 are fed through the nip at T2 in the copying mode, accumulator roller 132 is positioned within drum 130 in a recessed position so that it does not interfere with paper transport. When the system is placed in a cleaning mode, sheets 122 are not fed to the nip at T2, and segmentéd drum 130 is locked into a stationary position with its segmented portion opposite to roller 128. Accumulator roller 132 is moved forward by cam 134, which can be operated by a solenoid, so that the surface of accumulating roller 132 contacts elastomeric belt 80. As elastomeric belt 80 moves, it drives roller 132 and residual toner, paper dust, etc., on the surface of belt 80, and transferred to roller 132 where it accumulates.
The surface of accumulator roller 132 can be formed from a wide variety of materials, but generally it is preferred to use hard materials of limited thermal conductivity which do not contain plasticizers or other materials which can be back-transferred to belt 80 and subsequently to photoconductive drum 10. E~amples of suitable materials include cardboard, phenolic resins~ and many other polymeric resins. After belt 80 has been cleaned, cam 13~ is moved out of po~ition and spring 136 pull~ accumulating roller 132 back into its recessed position within drum 130.
, . . . . .
.. , : ~
1~71t~92 The cleaning cycle of th~ system illustrated in Fig. 5 is as follows. After a prescribed number of copies have been made, the system is placed in the cleaning cycle mode. In this mode, the charging and exposlng stations normally associated with pho~oconductive drum 10 are placed in an off condition whereas discharge lamp 140 is actuated. Lamp 140 uniformly illuminates the photoconductor with sufficient intensity to discharge the electrostatic image retaining toner particles on the photo-conductive surface. A fluorescent tube located close to the drum surface is sufficient.
Cascade developer 14~ is left in an operating condition and a potential of about 250 volts is applied to development electrode 144.
Cascade developer 142 is a typical cascade development system well known to those skilled in the art. As developer 142 is run, most residual toner-on the surface of drum lO is removed. This type of drum cleaning has become known to the art as "development" cleaning. There is, however, a small amount left which may be thought of as a monolayer of toner. This monolayer can be removed by elastomeric belt 80.
The monolayer of toner on belt 80 is heated and tackified prior to entrance into the nip at T2 by radiant heater 138. Accumulator roller 132, which has been moved into contacting relationship with elastomeric belt 80 by cam 134, preferentially attracts the tacky toner as well as paper dust and other contaminants on belt ~0. After the cleaning cycle, accumulating roller 132 is moved into its recessed position within drum 130 which is unlocked for resumption of the copying mode. As can be seen, the above cleaning cycle achieves two purposes: first, residual toner is removed from the surface of photoconductive drum 10; and secondly, the surface of elastomeric belt 80 is thoroughly cleaned. It i8 important to clean elastomeric belt 80 becau~e in the norrnal ~ransEer of toner images to ~ ~' ?
_ _ _ _ _ .
~07~;9~
paper9 there is some back-transfer o paper dust and other contaminants to the belt, and because the edges of belt 80, which do not come into contact with paper, tend to build up toner and other residual matter.
In Fig. 6, a system similar to the one in Fig. 5 is illustrated except that the cleaning accumulator system has been changed. Like numerals refer to like elements. Drum 148 need not be segmented. In the system illustrated in Fig. 6, a hot cleaning accumulator roller 150 is placed so that it can be moved into position with elas~omeric belt 80 during the cleaning mode. Roller 150 can be fabricated from many materials, and it is preferred to use those which are good conductors of heat such as metals. Xeat can be supplied by any heating means, and one suitable example would be to place induction heaters 152 within roller 150. The temperature at the outer surface of roller 150 should be fairly high, such as above 120C, to insure that residual toner, paper dust, etc. on the surface of elastomeric belt 80 are transferred to hot roller 150. The advantage of the hot accumulator is that it tends to develop its own tackified layer of toner on its outer surface, thereby eliminating the need to feed toner onto belt 80 in order to provide the necessary aid in ` transferring paper dust, etc. to the accumulating system. Additionally, the degree of synchronization and mechanical complexity involved with accumu- ~
lator systems such as those illustrated in Fig. 5 are eliminated. Since ~ ;
the toner tends to spread evenly on the surface of hot accumulator roller 150, more even cleaning also can be achieved, and chipping of solidified materials on the surface of the roller is eliminated.
. .
~.. , . ~ I . .... .
.
Claims (27)
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. An electrophotographic cleaning apparatus for removing residual toner from the surface of a toner-bearing member, comprising a cleaning member having at least a surface layer thereof formed from an elastomeric material and driven in the same direction and with substantially the same linear velocity as said toner-bearing member to thereby enable the elastomeric surface to come into rolling contact with the surface of said toner-bearing member, said elastomeric surface layer being at least 0.25 mils thick and having a Shore A hardness of below about 85 durometers.
2. An electrophotographic cleaning apparatus for removing residual toner from the surface of a toner-bearing member, comprising in combination:
a cleaning member having at least a surface layer thereof formed from an elastomeric material, said layer being at least 0.25 mils thick and having a Shore A hardness of below about 85 durometers, said cleaning member being positioned and driven in the same direction and with substantially the same linear velocity as the toner-bearing member to thereby enable its elastomeric surface to come into rolling contact with the surface of said toner-bearing member whereby residual toner is removed from said member by said elastomeric surface; and means to accumulate residual toner removed from said toner-bearing member.
a cleaning member having at least a surface layer thereof formed from an elastomeric material, said layer being at least 0.25 mils thick and having a Shore A hardness of below about 85 durometers, said cleaning member being positioned and driven in the same direction and with substantially the same linear velocity as the toner-bearing member to thereby enable its elastomeric surface to come into rolling contact with the surface of said toner-bearing member whereby residual toner is removed from said member by said elastomeric surface; and means to accumulate residual toner removed from said toner-bearing member.
3. An apparatus of claim 2 wherein said elastomeric surface layer is formed from an elastomer having a surface free energy of below about 35 dynes per centimeter.
4. An apparatus of claim 3 wherein said elastomeric surface layer is formed from a silicone elastomer.
5. An apparatus of claim 4 wherein said elastomeric surface layer has a thickness of greater than 60 mils.
6. An apparatus of claim 5 wherein said elastomeric surface layer has a Shore A hardness of below about 25 durometers.
7. An apparatus of claim 6 wherein said cleaning member comprises a roller.
8. An apparatus of claim 6 wherein said cleaning member comprises a web.
9. An apparatus of claim 6 wherein said cleaning member comprises a belt.
10. An apparatus of claim 9 wherein said means to accumulate includes:
a rotatable cylinder having an outer periphery in contact with said cleaning member;
means to heat the outer periphery of said cylinder to a temperature at which accumulated toner on the surface of said cleaning member is tackified whereby toner on said member can be heated and transferred to the outer periphery of said rotatable cylinder to accumulate.
a rotatable cylinder having an outer periphery in contact with said cleaning member;
means to heat the outer periphery of said cylinder to a temperature at which accumulated toner on the surface of said cleaning member is tackified whereby toner on said member can be heated and transferred to the outer periphery of said rotatable cylinder to accumulate.
11. An apparatus of claim 6 wherein said means to accumulate includes:
means to apply a cleaning liquid to said cleaning member to thereby aid in removing toner from said member; and means to mechanically remove toner from said cleaning member.
means to apply a cleaning liquid to said cleaning member to thereby aid in removing toner from said member; and means to mechanically remove toner from said cleaning member.
12. An apparatus of claim 11 wherein said means to mechanically remove toner comprises a scraper.
13. An apparatus of claim 6 wherein said means to accumulate comprises an adhesive member for removing residual toner from said cleaning member.
14. An apparatus of claim 13 wherein said adhesive member comprises a rotatable cylinder having an adhesive outer periphery.
15. An apparatus of claim 14 wherein said rotatable cylinder com-prises a perforated metal cylinder.
16. An electrophotographic cleaning apparatus for removing residual toner from the surface of a photoconductive insulating member comprising means to contact said surface with an elastomeric member which is at least 60 mils thick and which has a Shore A hardness below about 25 durometers and a surface free energy below about 35 dynes per centimeter said elastomeric member having being positioned and driven in the same direction and with substantially the same linear velocity as said photoconductive insulating member to thereby enable said elastomeric member to come into rolling contact with the surface of said photo-conductive insulating member.
17. An apparatus of claim 16 wherein said means comprises means to contact said photoconductive insulating surface in at least two locations.
18. An apparatus of claim 17 wherein said elastomeric member comprises a silicone elastomer.
19. An apparatus of claim 18 wherein said means to contact comprises rollers.
20. An apparatus of claim 18 wherein said means to contact comprises a web.
21. An apparatus of claim 18 wherein said means to contact comprises a belt.
22. A method for cleaning residual toner from the surface of a toner bearing member comprising driving a cleaning member in the same direction and with substantially the same linear velocity as said toner-bearing member and bringing the surface of said cleaning member into rolling contact with said toner-bearing member, said cleaning member having at least a surface layer thereof formed from an elastomeric material; said layer being at least 0.25 mils thick and having a Shore A hardness of below about 85 durometers.
23. A method for cleaning the surface of a photoconductive in-sulating surface comprising driving a cleaning member in the same direction and with substantially the same linear velocity as said photoconductive in-sulating surface and bringing the surface of said cleaning member into rolling contact with said photoconductive surface, said cleaning member having at least a surface layer thereof formed from an elastomeric material, said layer being at least 60 mils thick and having a Shore A hardness of below about 25 durometers.
24. A method of claim 23 wherein said elastomeric surface layer comprises a silicone elastomer.
25. In an electrophotographic process, including the steps of uniformly electrostatically charging a photoconductive surface, exposing said photoconductive surface to an image pattern of radiation to discharge said surface in exposed areas thereby forming an electrostatic latent image, developing said electrostatic latent image by contacting it with electro-scopic developer containing toner particles which deposit thereon to form a toner image, transferring said toner image to a receptor surface, and cleaning residual toner from said photoconductive surface:
the improvement of cleaning said photoconductive surface by using both developer cleaning and subsequently contacting the developer-cleaned photoconductive surface with a cleaning member having at least a surface layer thereof formed from an elastomeric material, said layer being at least 0.25 mils thick and having a Shore A hardness of below about 85 durometers, said cleaning member being brought into rolling contact with said photoconductive surface.
the improvement of cleaning said photoconductive surface by using both developer cleaning and subsequently contacting the developer-cleaned photoconductive surface with a cleaning member having at least a surface layer thereof formed from an elastomeric material, said layer being at least 0.25 mils thick and having a Shore A hardness of below about 85 durometers, said cleaning member being brought into rolling contact with said photoconductive surface.
26. An improvement of claim 25, wherein said cleaning member com-prises an elastomeric belt.
27. An improvement of claim 26, wherein said elastomeric belt is also used in transferring the toner image from said photoconductive surface to said receptor surface.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US42947273A | 1973-12-28 | 1973-12-28 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1071692A true CA1071692A (en) | 1980-02-12 |
Family
ID=23703405
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA214,921A Expired CA1071692A (en) | 1973-12-28 | 1974-11-29 | Electrophotographic cleaning apparatus |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS50107935A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1071692A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2461690C2 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2256455B1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB1454950A (en) |
Families Citing this family (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPS52127240A (en) * | 1976-04-17 | 1977-10-25 | Kip Kk | Toner remover for electrographic printer |
| US4439035A (en) * | 1978-11-09 | 1984-03-27 | Savin Corporation | Copier cleaning system incorporating resilient noncellular sealing roller |
| JPS58142367A (en) * | 1982-02-17 | 1983-08-24 | Konishiroku Photo Ind Co Ltd | Roll cleaner |
| US4588279A (en) * | 1982-10-27 | 1986-05-13 | Konishiroku Photo Industry Co., Ltd. | Cleaning roller intermediate transfer member |
-
1974
- 1974-11-29 CA CA214,921A patent/CA1071692A/en not_active Expired
- 1974-12-04 GB GB5237674A patent/GB1454950A/en not_active Expired
- 1974-12-23 FR FR7442545A patent/FR2256455B1/fr not_active Expired
- 1974-12-27 DE DE19742461690 patent/DE2461690C2/en not_active Expired
- 1974-12-27 JP JP14908774A patent/JPS50107935A/ja active Pending
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| DE2461690A1 (en) | 1975-07-10 |
| FR2256455A1 (en) | 1975-07-25 |
| GB1454950A (en) | 1976-11-10 |
| DE2461690C2 (en) | 1985-10-17 |
| FR2256455B1 (en) | 1978-09-29 |
| JPS50107935A (en) | 1975-08-25 |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |