Low friction doctor blade
DC CAFC
First Claim
1. A retainer for positioning a doctor blade against a developer roller within an image forming apparatus, said retainer comprising:
- a. a front retention member positioned adjacent to a front side of the doctor blade;
b. a top retention member positioned on a top edge of the doctor blade; and
c. a biasing member to bias the doctor blade against the developer roller;
wherein the doctor blade is moveably contained within the retainer and rotation of the developer roller biases the doctor blade against said front retention member to maintain the orientation of the doctor blade and allow the doctor blade to track the developer roller.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device within an image forming apparatus for positioning a doctor blade against a developer roller and preventing toner leakage. The device includes a developer housing for containing the developer roller and the doctor blade. A biasing member is positioned adjacent to the doctor blade for forcing the doctor blade against the developer roller for controlling the mass flow and charge level of the toner. The doctor blade is supported by retention stops on a front edge and a pair of supports on the back edge. Toner is prevented from leaking through the device by a flap seal positioned along the doctor blade back side and a seal positioned between each end of doctor blade end and developer housing. The invention provides for the doctor blade to be freely positioned between the retention stops, developer housing, and seals providing for the doctor blade to contact the developer roller in a consistent manner.
30 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A retainer for positioning a doctor blade against a developer roller within an image forming apparatus, said retainer comprising:
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a. a front retention member positioned adjacent to a front side of the doctor blade; b. a top retention member positioned on a top edge of the doctor blade; and c. a biasing member to bias the doctor blade against the developer roller;
wherein the doctor blade is moveably contained within the retainer and rotation of the developer roller biases the doctor blade against said front retention member to maintain the orientation of the doctor blade and allow the doctor blade to track the developer roller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A retainer for positioning a doctor blade within an image forming apparatus, said retainer comprising:
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a. a housing extending along each end of the doctor blade; b. a pair of retention members connected to said housing and positioned in proximity to each end of the doctor blade, each of said retention members having a retention post positioned adjacent to a front edge of the doctor blade; and c. at least one support positioned adjacent to a back edge of the doctor blade;
wherein the doctor blade is freely contained between said housing, retention members, and at least one support to freely maintain contact with a developer roller. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A device for transferring toner to a developer roller and preventing toner leakage within an image forming apparatus comprising:
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a. a developer housing; b. a doctor blade positioned within the developer housing, said doctor blade having lateral edges and longitudinal edges with a first lateral edge being positioned to contact the developer roller for controlling the toner amount transferred from a toner reservoir to the developer roller; c. retention members positioned along front and back sides of said doctor blade for positioning said doctor blade; d. a biasing member contacting a second lateral edge of said doctor blade for forcing said first lateral edge doctor blade against the developer roller; and e. a flap seal positioned along said doctor blade back side for preventing toner leakage from said toner reservoir; f. wherein said doctor blade is freely positioned between said retention members and said developer housing providing for said doctor blade first lateral edge to contact the developer roller. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification
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- Resources
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Current AssigneeLexmark International Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
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Original AssigneeLexmark International Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
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InventorsPalumbo, Franklin Joseph, Newman, Benjamin Keith, Buchanan, John Andrew
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Primary Examiner(s)Chen, Sophia S.
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Application NumberUS09/401,150Time in Patent Office272 DaysField of Search399/284, 399/274, 399/126, 399/350, 399/351, 399/102, 399/103, 399/105, 118/261US Class Current399/284CPC Class CodesG03G 15/0812 characterised by the develo...G03G 15/0865 Arrangements for supplying ...G03G 2215/066 Toner cartridge or other at...
