Abstract: An apparatus for a central augering system within a cleaning system. This central auger system provides several advantages including: 1) reduction in size of the overall cleaner; 2) prevention of bridging in the cleaner housing due to the close proximity of the auger to the detoning roll the toner falls directly into the auger; and 3) the second detoning roll which sees only a small amount of toner is lubricated by the toner in the auger.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for moving a cleaning brush, periodically or continuously, to avoid flat spots or voids in the cleaning brush fibers when the printing machine is in standby or off. Periodic movement of the cleaning brush or slow rotation of the cleaning brush when the machine is in a non-operational mode prevent brush "set" from occurring thus, preventing motion quality errors in the printing operation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method that uses a toner valve to seal the interface between a cleaner housing and waste container. The toner valve incorporates a two piece valve of which the larger, called the main valve, is housed in the cleaner housing, and the smaller, called the lid, is housed in the top of the waste container. When the waste container is inserted onto the cleaner housing, the main valve of the cleaner housing is coupled to the lid of the waste container. A handle extending from a shaft in the main valve enables movement of the complete toner valve. The coupling of the two piece toner valve enables the toner valve to work as a single unit when the handle is rotated, opening the waste container and the cleaner housing and providing a totally sealed open path for the toner to fall from the cleaner housing to the waste container. Further rotation of the two piece toner valve closes both the cleaner housing and the waste container.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed that includes an electrostatic brush cleaner that optimizes the brush interference with the imaging surface and the detoning roll for increased detoning efficiency. The brush-to-detoning roll interference is always kept greater than the brush-to-imaging surface interference for increased detoning efficiency.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer located under the photoreceptor belt provides vibrational energy to the surface to separate toner particles from the surface. The transducer is positioned such that it is located directly opposite the cleaning nip of the brush cleaner. The transducer reduces the adhesion of the toner to the photoreceptor surface, thereby allowing the brush to operate at reduced interference and voltage. The reduced interference and voltage results in toner being collected only at the very tips of the brush fibers thus, allowing more effective detoning of the brush.

Abstract: An apparatus for efficient detoning of a cleaner brush by rotating the brush and the moving detoning surface in the "with" mode direction through the detoning nip. The "with" mode of detoning prevents compression of the fibers through the detoning nip which shields the toner from detoning electric field in the detoning nip. The "with" mode opens up the initially compressed fibers such that detoning occurs through the detoning nip where maximum detoning can occur.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring the performance of a cleaner brush used to clean a photoreceptive surface. The apparatus and method include developing a toner patch of known first length on the imaging surface and then removing that toner patch from the imaging surface using a cleaner brush that accumulates a toner patch of a second length on the surface of the brush. The comparison of the toner patch on the imaging surface versus the toner patch on the brush surface monitor the cleaning efficiency of the cleaner brush.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for preventing nonuniform accumulation of toner collected in a waste container of particles cleaned from a surface. The apparatus and method for disturbing the particles to provide uniform accumulation of toner in the waste container are driven by the same cam shaft, cam or solenoid used by the cleaner brushes for engaging and retracting the cleaner brushes from the surface. The waste container or cleaner subsystem is either thumped, moved back and forth, internally agitated or in some way disturbed to enable uniform toner distribution inside the waste container and better utilization of the storage capacity of the waste container.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning the imaging surface of an electrophotographic machine that includes a biased conductive foam roll. The biased conductive foam roll removes toner from the photoreceptor. The biased foam roll provides the electrostatic cleaning advantages of an electrostatic brush cleaner without the problem of toner accumulation in the brush. The cell structure of the foam roll limits toner accumulation to close to the cleaning surface to enable simple detoning of the foam roll cleaner by a biased detoning roll or air flow.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cleaning particles from a moving imaging surface. Backers are retracted from the photoreceptor to release cleaning contact between the brushes and the moving imaging surface during development of image-on-image in the multi-pass cycle. After transfer of the image, the backers move into contact with one side of the photoreceptor causing the moving imaging surface, on the other side of the photoreceptor, to contact the cleaner brushes. The brushes clean the moving imaging surface of the photoreceptor. The brushes are released from contact with the moving imaging surface when the backers are retracted, allowing the image on image multi-pass process to begin again. The brushes engage and disengage the photoreceptor in the interdocument zone (i.e. non-imaging region) of the moving surface.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for achieving a non-uniform load on the detoning roll to prolong the life of the detoning roll by preventing premature wear of the detoning roll ends. The uniform load on the scraper blade is prevented from wearing the detoning edges before the middle due to unequal toner distribution in the present invention. This results in a higher frictional force on the edges of the detoning roll than in the center. To prevent wearing of these edges, the ends of either the scraper blade or the scraper blade holder are angled away from the detoning roll enabling a desirable working load to be achieved at the center where sufficient toner can lubricate the blade edge without overloading the blade ends where toner collection is generally minimal. The present invention increases the scraper blade life and reduces detone roll wear without reducing cleaning performance.

Abstract: A dual polarity commutated roll attracts toner and debris particles loosened into a particle cloud from the photoreceptor surface by an acoustical horn. The particles are attracted to and adhere to the commutated roll, whether right or wrong sign (i.e. positive or negative), and are removed from the roll, as the roll rotates, by a scraper blade. The particles are collected in a waste container as the particles are removed from the roll surface by the scraper blade. Residual particles that are not attracted to the commutated roll, are removed from the photoreceptor surface by a spots blade. The cleaning system does not contact the photoreceptor, thus, increasing cleaner and photoreceptor life.

Abstract: An electroforming process and apparatus for bowing the imaging surface to provide "steering" for moving the electroformed imaging surfaces over rollers or like devices. One embodiment of the present invention is to bow or crown the electroformed imaging surface by using a bimetallic mandrel. The outer material of the mandrel has a greater coefficient of expansion than the inner material. Thus, when the mandrel is heated the outer material expands more than the inner material creating the bowed or crown effect. The electroform takes on the bowed shape during plating and maintains that shape when removed from the mandrel. Another embodiment of the present invention involves mechanically or hydraulically bowing the mandrel and then plating the electroform on the bowed surface. This electroform also maintains the bowed shape when removed from the mandrel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjusting the preclean corona current used in a printer or digital copier such that the preclean corona current is optimized for the dominant color entering the cleaner.

Abstract: An apparatus and method using eccentrics, driven by a two-level gear, to sequentially retract and engage the brushes in the non-imaging region of the photoreceptor surface. The first brush, in the direction of motion of the photoreceptor, is brought into contact with the surface, in the non-imaging region, at the beginning of the cleaning cycle, using eccentrics. As the surface moves, the first brush in contact with the surface cleans residual toner from the imaging area, while the second brush is sequentially brought into contact with the surface in the non-imaging region. After the cleaning cycle is complete, the first brush coupled to an eccentric gear is retracted from the surface, in the non-imaging region. As the surface continues to move, the second brush also coupled to an eccentric gear, now in the non-imaging region, is retracted from the surface. Then, development of the image on image begins.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus that comprises a brush cleaner to remove particles from the imaging surface. The particles are removed from the brush cleaner using a detoning roll. The particles are loosened and separated from the detoning roll using a scraper blade. These loosened and separated particles, from the detoning device, are carried to a waste container by an air stream alone rather than using an augering system.

Abstract: A flexible cleaner brush belt increases brush belt life by flexing away from the photoreceptor when not in use. The flexible belt is lifted away from contact with the photoreceptor and placed back into contact with the photoreceptor by a camming device. A camming device attached to linkages, increase the diameter of the flexible brush belt to lift the brush belt away from contact with the imaging surface. The camming device urges the belt brush back into contact with the imaging surface by decreasing the diameter of the brush belt. This movement of the brush belt increases the brush belt life and does not cause print quality defects, excessive toner clouding, or loss of machine productivity.

Abstract: A cleaning system for increasing the packing density of a cleaner sump that uses magnetic toner, by filling unused sump space. The cleaning system uses a magnetic force to attract the magnetic waste toner to the sump area not filled by gravity assistance alone. The magnetic force is created by a magnet. The magnet can be either internal to the sump or external thereto.

Abstract: A method and apparatus involving the stopping and starting of the development of images, using hybrid development, to insure proper charging of the donor toner layer. A second (e.g. magnetic brush) roll is used to place toner on the donor roll or remove toner from the donor roll depending upon whether the development of images is stopped or started.

Abstract: An apparatus in which a photoreceptor cleaning blade is mounted to an extension of the coupler link of a four bar linkage. A torsion spring is positioned at the pivot of the crank link to create the torque on the crank link. A weight or solenoid can also be used to create the torque on the crank link. This torque supplies the force to the mounted cleaning blade. The instantaneous center of rotation is a virtual pivot point which is located on the photoreceptor tangent plane. The linkage reaction forces and the blade friction load all pass through the virtual pivot point leaving the blade load a function of the torque on the crank link.