Patent ID: 7539438
Filing Date: 2009-05-26
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for sealing a cleaning blade in a printing device, comprising: a sealing member body having at least three edges defining a generally C-shaped opening in the body, and an indentation in the body that is separated from and located below the generally C-shaped opening and which is generally parallel to a bottom edge of the generally C-shaped opening, the bottom edge of the generally C-shaped opening slanting into the generally C-shaped opening and terminating into a protrusion extending into the generally C-shaped opening, a lower edge of the generally C-shaped opening and the indentation forming a first tab that extends from the sealing member body, and a top edge of the generally C-shaped opening and a lead edge of the sealing member body forming a second tab that extends from the sealing member body, the first tab having a length that is approximately equal to a length of the second tab, the second tab having a first double-sided adhesive surface positioned on a surface of the second tab located above the generally C-shaped opening to enable the sealing member body to be affixed to a support member, and the sealing member body having a second double-sided adhesive surface positioned on a surface of the sealing member body that does not cover a surface of the first tab to enable the sealing member body and the support member affixed to the sealing body member to be mounted to a printer component surface and to position a portion of the second double-sided adhesive surface into contact with a rotating photoreceptor to enable the portion of the second double-sided adhesive surface to slide against the rotating photoreceptor; and a cleaning blade having an end edge, a top edge, and a bottom edge, the top edge of the cleaning blade contacts and aligns with the top edge of the generally C-shaped opening in the sealing member body, the end edge of the cleaning blade contacts and aligns with an edge of the generally C-shaped opening that joins the top edge and the bottom edges of the generally C-shaped opening, and the bottom edge of the cleaning blade being proximate the bottom edge of the generally C-shaped opening in the sealing member body, the indentation enabling a portion of the sealing member body between the bottom edge of the generally C-shaped opening and the indentation to move in a direction that urges the protrusion on the bottom edge of the generally C-shaped opening to contact the bottom edge of the cleaning blade.