Dynamic end-seal for toner development unit
DC CAFC
First Claim
1. A sealing member for an image forming apparatus including a frame member, a developer roll and a blade member, structured so as to prevent leakage of toner in the image forming apparatus, said sealing member being made from a flexible, low modulus material and comprising:
- a rotary seal portion for sealing a space formed between the frame member and the developer roll, said rotary seal portion incorporating ridges set at an angle across its face adjacent to the surface of said developer rolls, said ridges being from about 0.05 to about 0.5 millimeters in height and running at an angle to the developer roll process direction so as to push toner away from the edge of said developer roll as said developer roll rotates;
a blade seal portion for sealing a space formed between the frame member and the blade member; and
a means for biasing said sealing member toward the surface of said rotary member and said blade member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An article used to seal the interface between the developer roll, doctor blade and developer housing in a laser printer toner cartridge is described. The sealing member described in the present application performs static sealing between the components while the cartridge is idle and performs dynamic sealing while the toner cartridge is used for printing, keeping the sealing surfaces free from toner by actively pushing the toner back into the developer sump. The seal has a rotary seal portion which seals between the frame of the cartridge and the developer roll, and a blade seal portion which seals between the frame of the cartridge and the doctor blade. The rotary seal portion is biased toward the surface of the developer roll and incorporates, on its face adjacent to the developer roll, ridges which act to push the toner away from the edge of the developer roll in use. The blade seal portion is biased toward the doctor blade.
103 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A sealing member for an image forming apparatus including a frame member, a developer roll and a blade member, structured so as to prevent leakage of toner in the image forming apparatus, said sealing member being made from a flexible, low modulus material and comprising:
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a rotary seal portion for sealing a space formed between the frame member and the developer roll, said rotary seal portion incorporating ridges set at an angle across its face adjacent to the surface of said developer rolls, said ridges being from about 0.05 to about 0.5 millimeters in height and running at an angle to the developer roll process direction so as to push toner away from the edge of said developer roll as said developer roll rotates;
a blade seal portion for sealing a space formed between the frame member and the blade member; and
a means for biasing said sealing member toward the surface of said rotary member and said blade member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, said process cartridge comprising:
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a frame member;
a developer roll mounted on said frame member;
said developer roll constituting process means;
a blade member elastically contracting said rotary member; and
a sealing member to prevent leakage of toner from the cartridge, said sealing member being made from a flexible, low modulus material, said sealing member comprising;
a rotary seal portion for sealing a space formed between the frame member and the developer roll, said rotary seal portion incorporating ridges set at an angle across its face adjacent to the surface of said developer roll, said ridges being from about 0.05 to about 0.5 millimeters in height and running at an angle to the developer roll process direction so as to push toner away from the edge of said developer roll in use;
a blade seal portion for sealing a space formed between the frame member and the blade member, and a means for biasing said sealing member toward the surface of said rotary member and said blade member. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, said process cartridge comprising:
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a frame member;
a developer roll mounted on said frame member;
said developer roll constituting process means;
a blade member elastically contracting said rotary member; and
a sealing member to prevent leakage of toner from the cartridge, said sealing member being made from a flexible, low modulus material, said sealing member comprising;
a rotary seal portion for sealing a space formed between the frame member and the developer roll, said rotary seal portion incorporating ridges set at an angle across its face adjacent to the surface of said developer roll, said ridges running at an angle of about 10°
to the developer roll process direction so as to push toner away from the edge of said developer roll in use;
a blade seal portion for sealing a space formed between the frame member and the blade member, and a means for biasing said sealing member toward the surface of said rotary member and said blade member.
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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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InventorsHale, Jason Paul, Newman, Benjamin Keith, Gayne, Jarrett Clark, Buchanan, John Andrew, Stickler, Tom E
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Primary Examiner(s)NGO, HOANG X
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Application NumberUS09/833,888Publication NumberTime in Patent Office593 DaysField of Search399/102, 399/103, 399/105, 399/111US Class Current399/103CPC Class CodesG03G 15/0817 characterised by the latera...G03G 2221/1648 using seals, e.g. to preven...G03G 2221/183 Process cartridge
