Abstract:
A sealing member for an image forming device as well as an apparatus and method of locating components within a printing device. The image forming device may include laser printers, ink-jet printers, copiers, faxes, all-in-one devices or multifunctional devices.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to sealing members for use in image forming device. The invention also relates to an apparatus and method of positioning a plate relative to a housing in an imaging forming device. The image forming device may include an electrophotographic device, ink printer, copier, fax, all-in-one device or multi-functional device.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     An image forming device, such as an electrophotographic device, ink printer, copier, fax, all-in-one device or multi-functional device may use developing agent such as toner or ink, which may be disposed on media to form an image. The developing agent, such as toner, may be fixed to the media using an image fixing apparatus, which may apply heat and/or pressure to the toner. The image fixing apparatus may also include a nip through which the media may be passed. The nip may be formed by a heater opposing a pressure roller. A belt or film may be included in the fixing device, in proximity to the heater to aid the transport of media through the fixing device nip.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     In one exemplary embodiment the present invention is directed at a sealing member positioned between components in an image forming device. For example, sealing between moving and stationary components in a printer, such as a moving roller relative to a plate and housing in an image forming device. The sealing member may also be used in a toner cartridge. The sealing member may therefore comprise a first seal portion for sealing a roller and a second seal portion for sealing a space between a plate and a housing. In another exemplary embodiment the present invention is directed at an apparatus and method of positioning a plate relative to a housing. For example, positioning a gear plate to a housing in an image forming device. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0004]     A brief description of the exemplary drawings is as follows:  
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary sealing member according to the present invention;  
         [0006]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the exemplary sealing member and gear plate of  FIG. 1 ; and  
         [0007]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the exemplary seal and gear plate of  FIG. 1  engaged with an exemplary housing.  
         [0008]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the exemplary housing. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary plate  10  which includes an exemplary boss  12  that may engage, e.g., with a partial hole with an open side on an exemplary housing. The plate  10  may be a gear plate which supports other gears associated with printing. Although the plate  10  is therefore illustrated in  FIG. 1  as a relatively flat configuration, it should be appreciated that the plate herein may include any sort of structure that may incorporate, e.g., a boss or other features for engaging with other components within the image forming device. The image forming device may include an electrophotographic device, ink printer, copier, fax, all-in-one device or multi-functional device.  
         [0010]     The plate  10  may receive and locate an exemplary multifunctional seal  14 . The plate  10  may further include a hole  16  for receiving a screw (not shown) for attachment to the exemplary housing  40  (see  FIG. 4 ). A locating hole  18  (e.g. a rectangular opening) may be provided to interface with a protrusion (e.g. a round pin not shown) on housing  40  which may control rotational position of the plate  10  relative to the housing  40 . However, within the context of the present invention, the geometry of the protrusion and opening may vary. X and Y plane location of the plate  10  may be controlled by the engagement of boss  12  in the C-shaped opening  42  (see  FIG. 4 ) in housing  40 . X and Y plane location may of course be developed by engagement of other types of protrusions other than a boss in other types of openings other than a C-shaped opening. The X and Y plane location are illustrated in  FIG. 1  with respect to the illustrated and non-limiting example of the present invention.  
         [0011]     An anti-rotation feature  20  may be located adjacent boss  12  for receiving seal  14 . A boss  21  is also illustrated. Seal  14  thus may slide onto a shaft  30  (see  FIG. 3 ) such as a toner adder roller shaft. The seal  14  may therefore effectively seal to the shaft and may also provide a gasketing surface between the plate  10  and housing  40 .  
         [0012]     An exemplary engagement of seal  14  to plate  10  is shown in sectional view in  FIG. 2 . This view provides additional detail of the lip seal portion  22  which may engage the roller shaft while the cantilevered gasket seal  24  portion may engage the plate  10 . The seal may include a relatively thicker lip seal portion  22  and relatively thinner wall section  24  in the lower tubular body which may allow for some misalignment between the seal  14  and roller shaft. The flexible seal  14  may also add to the ability of the C-shaped hole  42  ( FIG. 4 ) to locate the gear plate  10 . Also illustrated in  FIG. 2  in sectional view is the anti-rotation boss  20  for the seal  14 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view of the exemplary gear plate  10  and seal  14  installed to housing  40  and engaging shaft  30  of roller  50 . As can be seen, the seal  14  may include a cantilevered gasket portion indicated at  34 .  FIG. 3  therefore illustrates engagement of the lip seal portion  32  with the shaft  30  and cantilevered gasket portions  34  with housing  40 . The opposite end of the roller shaft  30  may engage a sintered bronze or conductive plastic bearing and then also seal to the housing. Such seal may be a lip seal.  
         [0014]     The gear plate  10  may comprise a material which may act as a bearing surface for the toner adder shaft  30 . The material may include, but is not limited to, sintered metal (bronze, stainless steel) and carbon or graphite filled plastics (such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyetherether ketone, polyimide and fluorocarbons). The material may also comprise a glass filled nylon, e.g., a 30% glass filled nylon-6,6 with 15% of a fluropolymer additives, e.g., polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Accordingly, all of these materials may contain additives which may improve wear resistance, lubricity, hardness and load deflection.  
         [0015]     The multifunctional seal of the present invention may comprise a flexible, relative low modulus rubber or plastic material including (e.g. flex modulus less than about 150,000 psi including all values and ranges between 1.0-150,000 psi). This may include any thermoplastic or thermoset elastomer. It may include polyurethanes, thermoplastic olefins, diene based elastomers, styrene-butadiene elastomers, and/or polyester based elastomers. It may also include natural rubber and thermoplastic elastomers which may have been vulcanized (cross-linked). More preferably, the seal may comprise a Santoprene™ from Advanced Elastomer Systems.  
         [0016]     For purposes of example only, various embodiments of the invention have been shown and described above. However, it will be apparent that changes and modifications in the arrangement and construction of the parts thereof may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.