Patent ID: 6115566
Filing Date: 2000-09-05
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
A toner seal for sealing between a roller and a housing, the toner seal comprising:a brush formed by a plurality of adjacent, linear, flexible fibers, all the fibers being substantially equal in thickness and length, and arranged to extend in substantially the same direction, wherein the brush forms a barrier against toner particles;a flexible support for supporting the fibers, wherein the support is fixed to one of the housing and the roller, wherein the support layer is made from a foam material which has flexibility and elasticity and wherein the support layer has a first adhesive layer on one surface and a second adhesive layer on the other surface, wherein the fibers are implanted in the first adhesive layer by electrostatic flocking, and wherein the fibers are inclined relative to the support layer at an angle of at least about 5 degrees and at most about 70 degrees, and wherein the fibers contact the other of the roller and the housing to form the seal, wherein the roller is a rotating drum which rotates in a predetermined direction, and wherein the fibers are inclined toward the predetermined direction.