Abstract: In order to prevent built up crusts on the flicker assembly from being detrimentally dislodged due to the cleaning fibers impacting the flicker bar assembly, there is provided a soft contact portion flicker bar assembly for mounting in a machine to contact and flick the cleaning fibers moving along a fiber path. The soft contact portion flicker bar assembly includes (a) a base portion for mounting to a frame portion of the machine; (b) a body portion including a distal, first end, and an opposite, second end connected to the base portion; and (c) a tip portion connected to the first, distal end for contacting and interfering with cleaning fibers moving along the fiber path. The tip portion is made of a material having a Shore A durometer hardness of less than 85 for reducing a jarring effect of impact forces between such tip portion and the moving cleaning fibers, thereby preventing detrimental dislodging of built up crusts of particles from any part of the flicker bar assembly.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system for cleaning marking material from a surface portion of a movable photoconductive member. The system includes a first rotatable brush, a blade and a second rotatable brush arranged in sequential order along the movable photoconductive member. The first rotatable brush is for removing a first amount of marking material from the surface portion of the movable photoconductive member as the surface portion of the movable photoconductive member moves past said first rotatable electrostatic brush. The blade, in engaging contact with the movable photoconductive member, is for removing a second amount of marking material from the surface portion of the movable photoconductive member. The second rotatable brush, positioned in interference contact with the movable photoconductive member, is for removing substantially all residual marking material that was not removed by the first rotatable brush and the blade.

Abstract: A method for operating a cleaning device having a preclean charging device for improved cleaning latitude on an imageable surface, including: moving imageable surface in a process direction through a cleaning zone, selecting a portion of the imageable surface moving through the cleaning zone; providing an initial pre-clean current to the selected portion of the imageable surface; and during the moving step, changing, the preclean current to the selected portion of the imageable surface.

Abstract: Methods for texturing the surface of photoreceptors are provided.

Abstract: In order to prevent built up crusts on the flicker assembly from being detrimentally dislodged due to the cleaning fibers impacting the flicker bar assembly, there is provided a soft contact portion flicker bar assembly for mounting in a machine to contact and flick the cleaning fibers moving along a fiber path. The soft contact portion flicker bar assembly includes (a) a base portion for mounting to a frame portion of the machine; (b) a body portion including a distal, first end, and an opposite, second end connected to the base portion; and (c) a tip portion connected to the first, distal end for contacting and interfering with cleaning fibers moving along the fiber path. The tip portion is made of a material having a Shore A durometer hardness of less than 85 for reducing a jarring effect of impact forces between such tip portion and the moving cleaning fibers, thereby preventing detrimental dislodging of built up crusts of particles from any part of the flicker bar assembly.

Abstract: A cleaning system for cleaning an imaging surface moving in a process direction, including: an abrading brush for uniformly abrading the imaging surface to remove laterally conductive deposits that lead to lateral charge migration therefrom, the abrading brush includes a core defining a core length and having fibers extending outwardly therefrom, the fibers include abrasive particles attached thereto.

Abstract: Embodiments herein comprise a charging station adjacent a photoreceptor. The charging station is adapted to charge the document zone of the photoreceptor with a first negative voltage and to charge the inter-document zone of the photoreceptor with a second negative voltage that is more negative than the first negative voltage. The second more negative voltage reduces the amount of positive charges trapped within layers of the inter-document zone of the photoreceptor. Thus, when the charging station increases the size of the document zone from a smaller size associated with a smaller printing medium to a larger size associated with a larger printing medium, by reducing the positive charges from being trapped within layers of the inter-document zone of the photoreceptor, ghosting is reduced on the larger printing medium.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system for cleaning marking material from a surface portion of a movable photoconductive member. The system includes a first rotatable brush, a blade and a second rotatable brush arranged in sequential order along the movable photoconductive member. The first rotatable brush is for removing a first amount of marking material from the surface portion of the movable photoconductive member as the surface portion of the movable photoconductive member moves past said first rotatable electrostatic brush. The blade, in engaging contact with the movable photoconductive member, is for removing a second amount of marking material from the surface portion of the movable photoconductive member. The second rotatable brush, positioned in interference contact with the movable photoconductive member, is for removing substantially all residual marking material that was not removed by the first rotatable brush and the blade.

Abstract: A surface-treating apparatus has a dual-purpose surface-treating blade assembly that includes a blade holder for holding and loading a blade member, and a one-piece blade member having a first edge mounted to the blade holder and a second edge for contacting and treating a surface. The one-piece blade member has a mid-portion for applying a first edge-loading force to lightly contact and remove random spots from a central imaging region of the surface, a first end portion, and a second end portion. The dual-purpose blade assembly also includes a first shim device and a second shim device assembled respectively to the first end portion and to the second end portion of the blade member for stiffening such end portions and increasing a magnitude of each of a second and a third different edge-loading forces at such end portions relative to the first edge-loading force.

Abstract: A cleaning system including: a cleaning device for cleaning laterally conductive deposits from the imaging surface; an AC bias member, adjacent to the imaging surface and positioned downstream from the cleaning device; and a power supply for biasing the AC bias member to generate corona that contacts the imaging surface to degrade laterally conductive deposits that lead to lateral charge migration on the imaging surface.

Abstract: A method for removing a residue, such as lateral charge migration (LCM) film, from an imaging member includes contacting at least a portion of the imaging member with a wash liquid capable of removing the residue. The wash liquid containing the residue is then removed, for example, by applying an absorbent material such as a toner, to the contacted portion of the imaging member.

Abstract: Methods for texturing the surface of photoreceptors are provided.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus having a spots cleaning blade to remove residual agglomerations of particles from the imaging surface. The spots cleaning blade is made from a material that has a low coefficient of friction, low resilience and higher hardness than a standard spots blade. These properties enable the spots cleaning blade to provide a continuous slidable contact with the imaging surface to remove residual particles therefrom. Additionally, an electrically conductive surface can be added to the front or back surface of the blade to cause toner particles to be repelled from and cloud near the blade where they can be removed by a vacuum device or the like. The conductive surface may be direct negative, direct positive or A-C potential to provide the necessary repelling force.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing electrostatic charge of particles in a waste container. In one embodiment the waste container is coated with a liquid having a viscosity sufficient to prevent tribocharging between the waste container and the waster toner particles, and to collect toner particles deposited from the cyclone separator into the waste container. Another embodiment describes the use of a flange extending into the waste container to prevent tribocharging that can cause explosions in the waste toner bottle.

Abstract: A process for avoiding or minimizing comet formation which comprises dispersing in a magnetic toner comprised of resin particles, a first magnetite, carbon black, charge additive, and wax, a second soft magnetite; and wherein the toner contains a silica surface additive.

Abstract: A process for avoiding, reducing, or minimizing comet formation which comprises adding to the surface of a magnetic toner comprised of resin particles, magnetite, carbon black, optional charge additive, and wax, a surface additive mixture of silica, and magnetite.

Abstract: A toner comprised of resin particles, magnetite, carbon black, rhodamine charge additive, wax, and a surface mixture of silica, strontium titanate and polyvinylidene fluoride.

Abstract: A toner comprised of resin particles, magnetite, carbon black, rhodamine charge additive, wax, and a surface mixture of aluminum oxide, strontium titanate and polyvinylidene fluoride.

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.