Patent ID: 6083433
Filing Date: 2000-07-04
Classification: B29C,G03G

Abstract:
A process for producing a cleaning blade for scraping off remaining toner on a peripheral surface of an image forming body, wherein said image forming body will be free of contamination because of nonusage of a mold release agent in producing said cleaning blade, said cleaning blade including a plate member made of a thermoplastic elastomer and a support member, said process comprising the steps of:providing a mold having an inner surface, said inner surface defining a surface of said plate member;making at least part of said inner surface uneven with a roughness of 50 to 500 .mu.m, wherein said at least part of said inner surface excludes a portion of the inner surface which defines a portion of the plate member surface which is brought into direct contact with said peripheral surface of said image forming body;disposing said support member in said mold so that part of said support member partially occupies said mold;introducing a molten thermoplastic elastomer into said mold while keeping air confined between said at least part of said inner surface which is uneven and said molten thermoplastic elastomer;cooling and solidifying said molten thermoplastic elastomer to thereby form said cleaning blade with said support member integrally bonded to said plate member, said plate member having an unevenness on at least part of a surface thereof excluding said portion brought into direct contact with said peripheral surface of said image forming body, and taking said cleaning blade out of said mold with minimized deflection of the cleaning blade.