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: 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.