Abstract: A rotating cleaning brush positioned to clean toner and debris from the back of an imaging belt. Additionally, a plurality of cleaning brushes assembled to clean the back of the imaging belt wherein charging a first and a second brush to approximately equal potential but opposite polarity provides superior discharge of static and other electrical charges from the back of the imaging belt.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling velocity variations in a belt wrapped about at least a first driven roller and a support structure, including a drive for driving the first driven roller so as to provide torque to the belt; and a dampener, in contact with the belt, for minimizing variations of the velocity of the belt, the dampener including a power supply for applying an electrical bias to generate a drag force on the belt.

Abstract: A rotary, multi-bladed cleaner provides increased life expectancy, up to 15-25 times the life of a single blade cleaner. Such a cleaner has been found to be highly reliable due to its ability to frequently change brush surfaces and by provision of a redundant system that enables multiple blades to contact the surface to be cleaned at once. The blade cleaner has a paddle-wheel type cross-sectional shape with a plurality of radially extending blades spaced around the periphery thereof. The blades are spaced to be closely adjacent one another such that one and preferably two or more blades contact the residual image at one time. The rotary blade cleaner is preferably rotated at a slow rotation rate with the blades being in contact for only a limited time before being displaced by the next blade(s). Such a rotary cleaner is particularly suited for cleaning residual toners and inks from a photoreceptive surface.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for removing particles from a moving surface includes a movable blade holder having at least one geometrically formed slot. A removable blade matably fits into each geometrically formed slot. Each of the removable blades has at least one cleaning edge, which is in frictional contact with the moving surface during a cleaning operation. An individual blade may be removed from the blade holder by an operator to replace a used cleaning edge with an unused cleaning edge.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing electrostatically charged particles from a surface such as the backside of an image bearing belt of the type found in an electrostatographic printing apparatus or a drive roller supporting an image bearing belt. The apparatus includes an electrically biased cleaning blade, a supporting device, and a housing for storing the particles removed from the surface by the cleaning blade.

Abstract: A relatively hard cleaning blade for use in a cleaning apparatus in an imaging apparatus for cleaning residual toner particles, including dry and liquid ink toners and carriers, from an imaging surface, the cleaning blade having a material having a hardness of from about 86 to about 120 Shore A.

Abstract: A method for monitoring filming levels on a photoreceptor surface of a printing machine includes the use of an enhanced toner area coverage sensor to measure level of filming of substantially the entire photoreceptor surface, the sensor being located at a point downstream from a cleaning station of the printing machine. When the measurement indicates that the filming is unacceptably high on a portion of the photoreceptor surface, corrective action is implemented, for example filming removal. The sensor is preferably mounted in a manner such that it may be moved over substantially the entire surface of the photoreceptor. Also, an electrostatic voltmeter is preferably mounted along with the sensor in order to monitor the charging of the photoreceptor surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing electrostatically charged particles from a surface such as the backside of an image bearing belt of the type found in an electrostatographic printing apparatus or a drive roller supporting an image bearing belt. The apparatus includes an electrically biased brush having a substrate and a multiplicity of conductive fibers extending outwardly to contact the surface to be cleaned, a supporting device, and a cleaning device for removing collected particles from the brush. The supporting device for the brush rotates, thereby moving the brush and causing clean fibers to contact the surface to be cleaned.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing electrostatically charged particles from a surface such as the backside of an image bearing belt of the type found in an electrostatographic printing apparatus or a drive roller supporting an image bearing belt. The apparatus includes an electrically biased foam pad having a conductive substrate and conductive foam material extending outwardly therefrom to contact the surface to be cleaned, a supporting device, and a cleaning device for removing collected particles from the foam pad. The supporting device for the foam pad rotates, thereby causing clean foam material to contact the surface to be cleaned.

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: An apparatus for efficient cleaning of the imaging surface. The primary cleaner is a rotating collection roll located directly opposite from and on the other side of the imaging surface from the ultrasonic cleaning assist device. The ultrasonic energy is used to remove the toner from the imaging surface enabling attraction toward the biased collection roll. The ultrasonic energy decreases the amount of residual toner remaining after transfer. The residual toner that is not cleaned from the surface by the collection roll is removed from the surface by the rotating biased conductive brush, which is the secondary cleaner. The collection roll is contactless in that it does not come into contact with the photoreceptor. In another embodiment of the invention, the primary cleaner and the secondary cleaner are collection rolls with ultrasonic cleaning assist devices directly under each collection roll. The entire cleaning system is contactless.

Abstract: A printing machine and apparatus are disclosed that include an ultrasonically assisted cleaning blade to remove toner particles from an imaging surface. An ultrasonic transducer is attached to the cleaning blade to provide vibrational energy to the cleaning blade. The ultrasonic transducer concentrates vibrational energy at the blade tip for enhanced cleaning. A further element of the present invention is the addition of bias to create a strong electrostatic repulsion between the toner particles and the blade tip causing the toner to explode away from the cleaning edge, and to therefore enhance cleaning.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for separating and recovering separately toner particles of one matchable characteristic different color toner contained in a mixture of a plurality of such different color toners. The apparatus and method include a holder for holding a quantity of the mixture of a plurality of such different color toners, and a selected particular type of carrier beads characteristically matching, and being more likely to charge, attract and triboelectrically bind with, toner particles of a matching color toner in the mixture of the different color toners than with toner particles of any other color toner therein.

Abstract: A preconditioning process and dual electrostatic brush cleaning apparatus for reducing adhesion of toner particles on the photoreceptor surface such that cleaning of the photoreceptor is enhanced. Preconditioning of the brush and/or the photoreceptor in the cleaning apparatus allows for cleaning of dual polarity toners, CAD toners and DAD toners. The preconditioning of the brush does not need replenishing once the print operation begins due to the electrostatics that maintain a constant predetermined level of toner in the brush.

Abstract: A spots cleaning blade for use in a cleaning apparatus in an imaging apparatus for cleaning agglomerate particles from an imaging surface, the spots cleaning blade comprising a polyether urethane and having a high hardness and low coefficient of friction.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cleaning charged triboelectric negative toner residual particles from the photoreceptor surface. A positive bias is applied to two electrostatic brushes in the dual cleaning system or to a single electrostatic brush. The rotational speed of the single positive brush is increased, over that of the individual brushes in a dual brush cleaner, to clean charged triboelectric negative toner particles.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for eliminating the accumulation of triboelectric negative toner that occurs between the cleaning edge of the cleaning blade and the photoreceptor surface. After image transfer, the residual toner particles on the photoreceptor surface are then charged to a uniform polarity using either a preclean corotron or a biased conductive blade. A UCA is used to dislodge the residual toner particles away from the photoreceptor surface. The polarity of the particles is opposite to that of the collection roll positioned to attract the toner particles levitated by the UCA onto the collection roll.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for increasing brush life and reducing emissions by removing accumulated toner using detoning cycles. A further embodiment of the disclosure is a method for periodic brush-reversing detoning cycle occurring during a standby condition.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus and color printing machine having an ultrasonic cleaner and a cleaning blade is disclosed for removing residual toner, toner additive films, spots and comets off the imaging surface. The toner additives used during development leave more than one layer of toner additive films on the surface. An ultrasonic cleaner that has a tip velocity ranging from about 1500 mm/sec to about 3000 mm/sec is used in combination with a blade that has sufficient hardness to remove the thick toner additive films without damaging the surface. The build up of toner additive films cause copy defects. The vibrational motion of the ultrasonic cleaner reduces friction between the blade and the surface and enables the dislodgment of toner additive films, spots, comets and residual toner off the surface.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cleaning triboelectric negative toner particles from the photoreceptor surface without the need of a preclean corotron. To remove the residual particles, a first cleaning brush, in the direction of motion of the photoreceptor, is negatively biased to remove the positive (+) toner and charge the toner particles negative. Then, the second brush, in the direction of motion of the photoreceptor, is positively biased to remove the residual negative toner particles from the surface as the second brush contacts the surface.