Patent ID: 6330418
Filing Date: 2001-12-11
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
In an electrophotographic printing machine in which a charged photoconductive element is used as a printing medium, said photoconductive element having an electrostatic latent image exposed thereon and including means to transfer said latent image to paper by engaging said paper to said photoconductive element, a mechanism for enhancing the contact between said paper and said photoconductive element comprising:a wiper assembly mounted on the printing machine extending transverse to the direction of paper movement, said assembly comprising a plurality of blade segments mounted on a common pivot rod for pivotal motion with said pivot rod into engagement with said paper to force said paper against said blade segments, wherein each of said blade segments is independently mounted to the pivot rod through a torsion spring for limited rotational motion relative to said pivot rod;a first drive connected to said pivot rod to rotate the rod about its longitudinal axis and thereby move said blade segments into engagement with the paper;a stop mechanism operatively associated with at least one of said blade segments to selectively engage the blade segment to restrain motion of the blade on the pivot rod in opposition to the torsion spring and thereby preventing engagement of the selected blade segment with the paper; anda second drive connected to said stop mechanism to move said stop mechanism into engagement with the selected blade segment.