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
  • G03G21/0011—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 blade; Details of cleaning blades, e.g. blade shape, layer forming
  • G03G21/0029—Details relating to the blade support
• • 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
  • G03G21/0011—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 blade; Details of cleaning blades, e.g. blade shape, layer forming
• • 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
  • G03G21/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements
  • G03G21/18—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements using a processing cartridge, whereby the process cartridge comprises at least two image processing means in a single unit
  • G03G21/1803—Arrangements or disposition of the complete process cartridge or parts thereof
  • G03G21/1814—Details of parts of process cartridge, e.g. for charging, transfer, cleaning, developing

Definitions

• the present disclosure relates generally to electrophotographic imaging devices such as a printer or multifunction device having printing capability, and in particular, to a cleaner unit assembly used for cleaning a photoconductive drum.
• Image forming devices such as copiers, laser printers, facsimile machines, and the like, include a photoconductive drum having a rigid cylindrical surface that is coated along a defined length of its outer surface.
• the surface of the photoconductive drum is charged to a uniform electrical potential and then selectively exposed to light in a pattern corresponding to an original image. Those areas of the photoconductive surface exposed to light are electrically discharged thereby forming a latent electrostatic image on the photoconductive surface.
• a charged developer material such as toner, is brought into contact with the photoconductive drum's surface by a developer roller such that the charged toner attaches to the discharged areas of the photoconductive surface.
• photoconductive drum is then transferred onto a recording medium, such as a media sheet or a transfer belt for subsequent transfer to a media sheet.
• a recording medium such as a media sheet or a transfer belt for subsequent transfer to a media sheet.
• the photoconductive surface may be optionally discharged and cleaned by a cleaner blade.
• the cleaner blade may be positioned in proximity to the photoconductive drum such that its edge contacts the photoconductive surface to wipe off residual toner therefrom.
• Toner acts as a lubricant which prevents friction at the cleaner blade edge from getting too high. If there is no lubrication at the cleaner blade edge, the frictional forces acting on the cleaner blade may cause the cleaner blade to flip.
• the cleaner blade may extend well across the entire length of the
• the photoconductive drum including an imaging region at a central portion and the non-imaging regions at end portions thereof. Since the non-imaging end regions of the photoconductive drum typically receive little or no toner, the end sections of the cleaner blade are more prone to low lubrication. In addition, the end sections of the cleaner blade lack stiffness relative to central portions thereof and end seals that prevent leaks at the ends of the cleaner blade press against the back side of the cleaner blade which increases the frictional force at the cleaner blade ends. As a result, cleaner blade flip typically starts at the cleaner blade ends and progresses across the full length of the cleaner blade.
• Some approaches to solving cleaner blade flip problems include minimizing the length of the blade, applying lubricants to the cleaning blade itself or the photoconductive drum surface, modifying blade end sealing designs, and reducing forces applied at the ends of the cleaner blade by modifying blade support bracket designs.
• These methods may have drawbacks in terms of cost and reliability. For example, minimizing blade width requires tight tolerances of the cleaner unit assembly which may still result in at least some level of blade end lubrication problems.
• lubricants are typically not reliable as they are removed over the course of operation and can be subject to assembly variation when applied by human operators. End sealing design modifications, on the other hand, can act to reduce blade end forces but come at the cost of a compromise to sealing performance.
• a device for cleaning a photoconductive member in an image forming device includes a blade extending across the photoconductive member and having an edge that contacts a surface of the photoconductive member to remove toner therefrom.
• the device also includes an elongated seal disposed adjacent the blade and extending across a length of the blade such that an opening for receiving removed toner is formed between the elongated seal and the blade.
• the elongated seal includes at least one tab projecting at each longitudinal end thereof that extends between the blade and the photoconductive member so as to prevent a longitudinal end section of the edge of the blade from contacting the surface of the photoconductive member. In this way, the end sections of the blade's edge are not subject to heightened frictional forces such that occurrences of blade flips are reduced or substantially eliminated.
• an imaging unit includes a photoconductive member having respective end portions and a cleaner blade extending across the
• a lower seal is disposed adjacent the cleaner blade and extends across the length of the cleaner blade such that an opening for capturing removed toner is formed between the cleaner blade and the lower seal.
• the lower seal includes first and second tabs projecting at opposite ends thereof and extending between the cleaner blade and the photoconductive member such that longitudinal end sections of the cleaner blade are prevented by the first and second tabs from contacting the surface of the photoconductive member at the respective end portions thereof.
• an imaging unit in another example embodiment, includes a photoconductive member having respective end portions.
• a cleaner blade extends across the photoconductive member and has an edge that contacts a surface of the photoconductive member to remove toner therefrom.
• a lower seal is disposed adjacent the cleaner blade and extends across the length of the cleaner blade such that an opening for capturing removed toner is formed between the cleaner blade and the lower seal.
• At least two tabs are disposed between the cleaner blade and the photoconductive drum at opposed ends of the cleaner blade. The at least two tabs prevent longitudinal end sections of the edge of the cleaner blade from contacting the surface of the photoconductive member at the respective end portions thereof.
• FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example imaging system utilizing the imaging unit of the present disclosure
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an imaging unit and toner cartridge of Fig. 1 in accordance with an example embodiment
• FIG. 3 is a simplified sectional view of a portion of the imaging unit of Fig. 2 according to an example embodiment;
• Fig. 4 illustrates a cleaning unit assembly of the imaging unit of Fig. 3 according to an example embodiment
• FIG. 5 illustrates a fragmented view of the lower seal in Fig. 4 taken along line
• FIG. 6 illustrates a lower seal of the cleaning unit assembly in Fig. 4;
• Fig. 7 is a simplified sectional view of a portion of the imaging unit of Fig. 2 according to another example embodiment;
• FIG. 8 illustrates a fragmented view of a lower seal according to another example embodiment taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, in conjunction with a
• FIG. 9 illustrates a fragmented view of a lower seal according to another example embodiment taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, in conjunction with a
• photoconductive drum a charge roller and an end seal
• FIG. 10 illustrates a fragmented view of another example embodiment of a lower seal for the cleaning unit assembly of Fig. 4 taken along line 8-8 therein, in conjunction with a photoconductive drum, a cleaner blade and an end seal;
• Figs. 1 lA-11C illustrate other example embodiments of the lower seal in Fig.
• Fig. 12 illustrates another example embodiment of the lower seal in Fig. 4.
• connection means “connected,” “coupled,” and “mounted,” and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect connections, couplings, and mountings.
• connection and “coupled” and variations thereof are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.
• imaging system 20 may include an imaging apparatus 22 and a computer 24. Imaging apparatus 22 communicates with computer 24 via a communications link 26.
• communications link is used to generally refer to any structure that facilitates electronic communication between multiple components, and may operate using wired or wireless technology and may include communications over the Internet.
• imaging apparatus 22 is shown as a multifunction machine that includes a controller 28, a print engine 30, a laser scan unit (LSU) 31 , an imaging unit 32, a developer unit 34, a toner cartridge 35 , a user interface 36, a media feed system 38 and media input tray 39, and a scanner system 40.
• Imaging apparatus 22 may communicate with computer 24 via a standard communication protocol, such as for example, universal serial bus (USB), Ethernet or IEEE 802.xx.
• a multifunction machine is also sometimes referred to in the art as an all-in-one (AIO) unit.
• AIO all-in-one
• imaging apparatus 22 may be, for example, an electrophotographic
• printer/copier including an integrated scanner system 40 or a standalone scanner system 40.
• Controller 28 includes a processor unit and associated memory 29, and may be implemented as one or more Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs).
• Memory 29 may be any volatile and/or non-volatile memory such as, for example, random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), flash memory and/or non- volatile RAM
• controller 28 may be in the form of a separate electronic memory (e.g., RAM, ROM, and/or NVRAM), a hard drive, a CD or DVD drive, or any memory device convenient for use with controller 28.
• Controller 28 may be, for example, a combined printer and scanner controller.
• controller 28 communicates with print engine 30 via a communications link 50.
• Controller 28 communicates with imaging unit 32 and processing circuitry 44 thereon via a communications link 51.
• Controller 28 communicates with toner cartridge 35 and processing circuitry 45 therein via a communications link 52.
• Controller 28 communicates with media feed system 38 via a communications link 53.
• Controller 28 communicates with scanner system 40 via a communications link 54.
• User interface 36 is communicatively coupled to controller 28 via a communications link 55.
• Processing circuit 44, 45 may provide authentication functions, safety and operational interlocks, operating parameters and usage information related to imaging unit 32 and toner cartridge 35, respectively.
• Controller 28 serves to process print data and to operate print engine 30 during printing, as well as to operate scanner system 40 and process data obtained via scanner system 40.
• Computer 24, which may be optional, may be, for example, a personal computer, electronic tablet, smartphone or other hand-held electronic device, including memory 60, such as volatile and/or non-volatile memory, an input device 62, such as a keyboard or keypad, and a display monitor 64.
• Computer 24 further includes a processor, input/output (I/O) interfaces, and may include at least one mass data storage device, such as a hard drive, a CD-ROM and/or a DVD unit (not shown).
• Computer 24 includes in its memory a software program including program instructions that function as an imaging driver 66, e.g., printer/scanner driver software, for imaging apparatus 22.
• Imaging driver 66 is in communication with controller 28 of imaging apparatus 22 via communications link 26.
• Imaging driver 66 facilitates communication between imaging apparatus 22 and computer 24.
• One aspect of imaging driver 66 may be, for example, to provide formatted print data to imaging apparatus 22, and more particularly, to print engine 30, to print an image.
• Another aspect of imaging driver 66 may be, for example, to facilitate collection of scanned data.
• Imaging driver 66 may be located in controller 28 of imaging apparatus 22 so as to accommodate printing and scanning functionality when operating in the standalone mode.
• Print engine 30 may include laser scan unit (LSU) 31 , imaging unit 32, and a fuser 37, all mounted within imaging apparatus 22.
• the imaging unit 32 further includes a cleaner unit 33 housing a waste toner removal system and a photoconductive drum and developer unit 34 which is removably mounted within print engine 30 of imaging apparatus 32.
• the cleaner unit 33 and developer unit 34 are assembled together and installed onto a frame of the imaging unit 32.
• the toner cartridge 35 is then installed on or in proximity with the frame in a mating relation with the developer unit 34.
• Laser scan unit 31 creates a latent image on the photoconductive drum in the cleaner unit 33.
• the developer unit 34 has a toner sump containing toner which is transferred to the latent image on the photoconductive drum to create a toned image.
• the toned image is subsequently transferred to a media sheet received in the imaging unit 32 from media input tray 39 for printing.
• Toner remnants are removed from the photoconductive drum by the waste toner removal system.
• the toner image is bonded to the media sheet in the fuser 37 and then sent to an output location or to one or more finishing options such as a duplex er, a stapler or hole punch.
• Fig. 2 an example embodiment of imaging unit 32 is shown.
• Imaging unit 32 includes developer unit 34, cleaner unit 33 and a frame 200. Developer unit 34 and cleaner unit 33 are assembled onto or otherwise secured to frame 200. The imaging unit 32 without toner cartridge 35 is initially slidably received into imaging apparatus 22. The toner cartridge 35 is then slidingly inserted along frame 200 until it is operatively coupled to developer unit 34. This arrangement allows toner cartridge 35 to be separately removed and reinserted easily when replacing an empty toner cartridge or during media jam removal. The developer unit 34, cleaning unit 33 and frame 200 may also be readily slidingly removed and reinserted as a single unit when required. However, this would normally occur with less frequency than the removal and reinsertion of toner cartridge 35.
• the toner cartridge 35 removably mates with the developer unit
• FIG. 3 illustrates a simplified sectional view of at least a portion of imaging unit 32 according to an example embodiment.
• imaging unit 32 includes a charge roller 301, developer roller 303, and photoconductive drum 305.
• the charge roller 301 forms a nip 307 with the photoconductive drum 305 and charges the surface thereof to a specified voltage.
• a laser beam from the LSU 31 strikes the surface of the photoconductive drum 305 and discharges those areas it illuminates to form a latent image.
• the developer roller 303 which also forms a nip 309 with the photoconductive drum 305, transfers toner particles from a toner reservoir or sump (not shown) to areas of the photoconductive drum 305 surface discharged by the laser beam to form a toner image.
• the toner image on the photoconductive drum 305 may then be transferred to a media sheet that is moved to be in contact with the surface of the photoconductive drum 305.
• a transfer belt (not shown) may be used to collect the toner image from the photoconductive drum 305 at a first transfer area and convey the toner image to a media sheet at a second transfer area.
• Cleaner unit 33 of imaging unit 32 may include a cleaning assembly 320 for removing residual toner that remains on the photoconductive drum 305 after the transfer of the toner image to the media sheet or transfer belt.
• Cleaning assembly 320 may be positioned to contact the surface of the photoconductive drum 305 to remove residual toner therefrom.
• cleaning assembly 320 may include a cleaner blade
• the cleaner blade 400 generally extends from a first end portion 305A to a second end portion 305B of the photoconductive drum 305 and has front surface 400A, a back surface 400B, a bottom surface 400C and a cleaning edge 400D that abuts against the surface of the photoconductive drum 305.
• the ends of the cleaner blade 400 may be offset from the first end portion 305 A and the second end portion 305B of the photoconductive drum 305, such as by about 10 mm.
• the cleaner blade 400 may be made from any suitable resilient material, such as urethane or polyurethane.
• the cleaner blade 400 may be held in place by a bracket (not shown) mounted to the housing of the imaging unit 32, or by any means known in the art.
• Lower seal 402 may extend across the length of the photoconductive drum 305 and may be disposed adjacent the cleaning edge 400D such that a rectangular opening 410 is formed between the lower seal 402 and the cleaner blade 400 for capturing residual toner removed from the surface of the
• the opening 410 may lead into a waste toner reservoir (not shown) in cleaner unit 33 for storing the waste toner.
• the end seals 404 may be disposed proximate the respective end portions 305A and 305B of the
• respective longitudinal end sections 401 of the cleaning edge 400D are more susceptible to blade flips because of lack of lubrication and increased friction due to additional forces introduced by the ends seals 404 that may cause the end sections 401 of the cleaning edge 400D to catch onto the rotating photoconductive drum 305 and follow same, thereby flipping the blade end sections 401.
• the blade flip may then progress across the full length of the cleaner blade 400 until the cleaner blade 400 is fully flipped.
• blade flips may be mitigated by at least partially eliminating friction between the cleaner blade 400 and the photoconductive drum 305 at their respective ends.
• a thin strip, flap or tab 500 may be disposed between the cleaner blade 400 and the photoconductive drum 305 at each of their respective ends to prevent the end sections 401 of the cleaning edge 400D from contacting the surface of the
• Each of the tabs 500 may be about 4 mm to about 5 mm wide and may nominally cover at least about 3 mm of the cleaning edge 400D end sections 401.
• Tabs 500 may be made of any relatively firm low friction material, such as Mylar. In this way, substantially no friction is created at the end sections 401 of cleaning edge 400D since there is no relative motion between the cleaning edge 400D end sections 401 and the tabs 500 such that likelihood for a blade flip to occur may be decreased.
• Fig. 5 illustrates the lower seal 402 relative to the photoconductive drum 305, end seals 404, and charge roller 301 as viewed facing the front surface 400A of the cleaner blade 400 in Fig. 4.
• the end seals 404 overlap with at least portions of the widths of the tabs 500 and the cleaner blade 400.
• inside edges 512 of the tabs 500, relative to a central portion of the photoconductive drum 305 may be positioned slightly outside inner edges 514 of the end seals 404 relative to the longitudinal center of the photoconductive drum 305.
• the arrangement may enable the pressure of the end seals 404 against the cleaner blade 400 to reduce the tendency for leaks at the holes or gaps formed where the cleaning edge 400D goes over the tabs 500 and to restrict toner leak at the inside edges 512 of the tabs 500.
• the inside edges 512 of the tabs 500 may be offset by about 1.3 mm from the inner edges 514 of the end seals 404.
• the inside edges 512 of the tabs 500 may substantially align with the inner edges 514 of the end seals 404.
• the inside edges 512 may be positioned inside the inner edges 514 of the end seals 404 relative to the longitudinal center of the photoconductive drum 305.
• the inside edges 512 of the tabs 500 may create relatively deep scratches or form wear rings on the surface coating of the photoconductive drum 305 that may extend around its entire circumference. If the charge roller 301 contacts the wear rings, a short circuit may occur. To prevent a short circuit from occurring, the inside edges 512 of the tabs 500 may be positioned outside the surface of the photoconductive drum 305 that contacts and is charged by the charge roller 301. As shown in Fig. 5, the inside edges 512 of the tabs 500 are spaced apart from the ends of the charge roller by a distance D. [0048] Fig. 6 shows the tabs 500 in Fig.
• tabs 500 extend from elongated section 502 at longitudinal ends thereof. The tabs 500 project from the lower seal 402 and extend between the cleaner blade 400 and the photoconductive drum 305.
• the tabs 500 may be separate strips or tabs that are coupled and/or attached to the ends of the lower seal 402 and/or end seals 404.
• tabs 500 may be integrally formed as a unitary piece with the end seals 404.
• tabs 500A may be disposed below lower seal 402 and arranged to prevent contact between end sections 401 of the cleaning edge 400D and the surface of the photoconductive drum 305 proximate the end portions thereof.
• End seals 404 may contact at least portions of tabs 500 A between the cleaning edge 400D and the lower seal 402 to prevent toner escape around the ends of the photoconductive drum 305.
• tabs 500 may have a different form or shape.
• Fig. 8 illustrates tabs 500 extending from lower seal 402 and including an inner edge 512 that is angled.
• Inner edge 512 may form an obtuse angle a with a trailing edge 402A of lower seal 402.
• angle a is not orthogonal with trailing edge 402 A and may be greater than about 90 degrees and less than about 140 degrees.
• Inner edge 512 may also be seen as forming a non-zero angle with a direction of rotation 306 of the photoconductive drum 305.
• inner edge 512 of tab 500 may appear wholly inside the inner edge of end seal 404. Alternatively, it is understood that at least a portion of inner edge 512 may be located under end seal 404.
• the angled inner edge 512 also advantageously allows for a wider distribution of wear along photoconductive drum 305 due to contact with lower seal 402 and tabs 500.
• the example embodiment of Fig. 8 illustrates inner edge 512 being
• inner edge 512 may have a nonlinear shape, such as a curved contour.
• Fig. 9 illustrates another example embodiment in which inner edge 512 of tabs 500 is curved.
• Fig. 9 further illustrates that inner edge 512 of tabs 500 may be located substantially entirely under end seal 402.
• tabs 500 may have a different form or shape.
• Fig. 10 shows another example embodiment of tabs 500 for the cleaning unit assembly of Fig. 4 taken along line 8-8 therein.
• lower seal 402 may include each tab 500 A having an upper inside edge section 512A that is substantially perpendicular to the cleaning edge 400D (as well as the edge 500B of tab 500A), and an angled inside edge section 512B that is sloped from the lower end of upper inside edge section 512A towards edge 500C of tab 500A.
• the upper inside edge section 512A may be located along photoconductor drum 305 substantially downstream from the cleaning edge 400D while the angled inside edge section 512B may be located along photoconductor drum 305
• the angled inside edge section 512B may be sloped in a direction that encourages toner near the end of the photoconductive drum 305 to move towards the cleaning edge 400D.
• angled inside edge sections 512B at opposed ends of the lower seal 402 may be sloped in opposite directions.
• the angled inside edge section 512B may direct toner that escapes the cleaning edge 400D in the area of end seal 404, such as toner particles within the vicinity of ending 520 of tab 500A, towards the cleaning edge 400D contacting photoconductive drum 305 as the photoconductive drum 305 rotates, and prevent toner rings from forming at the ends of the photoconductive drum 305 as a result.
• angled inside edge section 512B may form an angle ⁇ with the lower seal 402 that is less than 90°, such as between about 35° and about 65°.
• tab 500A may include features that may direct toner to the photoconductive drum 305, such as toner particles that pass directly underneath the bottom surface of the tab 500 A facing and abutting against the surface of the photoconductive drum 305, towards a cleaning region where they may be redirected by the angled inside edge section 512B towards the cleaning edge 400D for removal from the surface of the photoconductive drum 305, as shown in Figs. 11 A-l 1C.
• the bottom surface of tab 500A adjacent photoconductive drum 305 includes a plurality of ridges or scores 540 that capture toner near the end of the lower seal 402 and dislodge the captured toner at areas of the photoconductive drum 305 adjacent the angled inside edge section 512B or upper inside edge section 512 A. Toner particles dislodged at the angled inside edge section 512B may be directed towards the cleaning edge 400D by the angled inside edge section 512B via the rotation of photoconductive drum 305.
• toner particles dislodged at the upper inside edge section 512A may be deposited downstream from the cleaning edge 400D and thus may have to rotate around the circumference of the photoconductive drum 305 before being removed by cleaning edge 400D. It is also understood that toner particles may not necessarily return to the cleaning edge 400D after one revolution of the photoconductive drum 305 and instead may be moved incrementally towards cleaning edge 400D with each subsequent rotation of the
• photoconductive drum 305
• tab 500 A may include one or more cutout sections or slots extending through tab 500A that may create passageways for escaped toner to move back into the cleaning region.
• each tab 500A may include a first slot 551 and a second slot 553.
• First and second slots 551 and 553 may be sloped in a direction substantially parallel to the angled inside edge section 512B.
• An upper segment of the first slot 551 may overlap with a lower segment of an adjacent second slot 553 while an upper segment of the second slot 553 may overlap with a lower segment of angled inside edge section 512B.
• Toner particles that are moved to the upper segment of the first slot 551 upon rotation of the photoconductive drum 305 may be picked up by the surface of the
• photoconductive drum 305 and then later enter the lower segment of the second slot 553 after at least one revolution of the photoconductive drum 305.
• the toner particles that subsequently enter the lower segment of the second slot 553 may then move to an upper segment of the second slot 553, subsequently engage with the lower segment of angled inside edge section 512B and thereby move towards the cleaning edge 400D for removal. It is understood that such toner movement from slot 551 to cleaning edge 400D via slot 553 and angled inside edge section 512B may occur incrementally during a number of revolutions of photoconductive drum 305.
• Fig. 1 IB illustrates two slots 551 , 553, it is understood that tab 500 A may include more than two slots.
• each tab 500 A may include slits 560 extending through the tab
• slits 560 are formed without creating waste material, such as punched chads, during a punching process. Slits 560 may have similar lengths, angular positioning and functional purpose as those of the first and second slots 551 and 553 in Fig. 1 IB. It is understood that tab 500 A may include more than two slits.
• tabs 500 and 500 A may be of other various geometrical shapes or profiles and may be of different lengths and/or dimensions or angular orientations as would occur to those skilled in the art.
• Fig. 12 shows tab 500A having a contoured inside edge section 512C.
• the angled inside edge section 512B, contoured inside edge section 512C, scores 540, slots 551 and 553, and slits 560 may be implemented for the tabs 500 individually or in various combinations.
• cleaner assembly as described above can be utilized to remove residual waste toner from a photoconductive drum of an imaging device irrespective of the particular architecture selected for the toner cartridge, developer unit and
• the cleaner assembly may be used in a removable imaging unit, such as imaging unit 32, as well as a removable toner cartridge unit that includes a charge roll and photoconductive drum.

Landscapes

• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Computer Vision & Pattern Recognition (AREA)
• Cleaning In Electrography (AREA)

Priority Applications (3)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=49223370

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Cited By (3)

Citations (4)

Family Cites Families (5)

• 2013
  • 2013-03-22 EP EP13764584.2A patent/EP2828712B1/en active Active
  • 2013-03-22 WO PCT/US2013/033521 patent/WO2013142799A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2013-03-22 CN CN201380015280.7A patent/CN104204963B/zh active Active
• 2015
  • 2015-07-07 HK HK15106456.7A patent/HK1206113A1/zh unknown

Patent Citations (4)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events