Abstract:
An apparatus includes a xerographic cleaning blade, an actuator member operatively connected to the cleaning blade and movable over a first stroke from a first actuator position to a second actuator position, and a damper operatively connected to the actuator member. As the actuator member moves over the first stroke the cleaning blade moves from a first blade position to a second blade position. The damper allows substantially uninhibited actuation of the actuator member over a first portion of the first stroke. The damper damps actuation of the actuator member over a second portion of the first stroke.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     The presently disclosed embodiments are directed to a cleaning blade control apparatus and method as could be used in a number of devices such as, for example, xerographic printing devices.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     The basic principles of electrostatographic printing with dry marking material (hereinafter generally referred to as “xerography,” “xerographic printing,” and/or the like) are well known: an electrostatic latent image is created on a charge-retentive surface, such as a photoreceptor or other charge receptor, and the latent image is developed by exposing it to a supply of toner particles, which are attracted as needed to appropriately-charged areas of the latent image. The toner particles are then transferred in image-wise fashion from the charge receptor to a print sheet, and the print sheet is subsequently heated to permanently fuse the toner particles thereto and form a durable image. Following the transfer of the image from the charge receptor to the print sheet, residual toner particles and/or other debris left on the charge receptor are typically removed by a blade, a brush, a mesh/web, a vacuum, and/or one or more other suitable “cleaning” or “spot removal” devices. The removed debris is typically accumulated in a hopper and then directed, typically by an auger, into a waste container.  
         [0003]     Systems that have employed one or more cleaning blades to separate the debris from their charge receptors have included solenoid driven mechanisms for engaging and disengaging the cleaning blades with the charge receptors. Solenoid drives have generally facilitated simple, low cost, and reliable cleaning blade actuation.  
         [0004]     However, an under-damped solenoid drive can cause a cleaning blade to impact or strike the charge receptor at an undesirably high speed on engagement. The resulting abrupt change in frictional drag on the charge receptor can cause motion quality errors and associated image defects for a belt type or a drum type photoreceptor and, additionally, it can cause transverse waves and associated undesirable variations in development for a non-contacting belt type photoreceptor.  
         [0005]     Meanwhile, an over-damped solenoid drive can prevent a cleaning blade from cycling (i.e., engaging, disengaging, and then re-engaging a charge receptor) fast enough to meet increasingly high imaging speed demands and/or from moving abruptly enough to facilitate swiping and/or throwing of residual toner from the cleaning blade.  
         [0006]     Thus, there is a need for a solenoid driven cleaning blade control apparatus and method that can prevent the cleaning blade from impacting a charge receptor at an undesirably high speed and yet can also still cycle the cleaning blade at high speeds and/or move the cleaning blade abruptly enough to facilitate swiping and/or throwing of residual toner therefrom.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0007]     According to aspects illustrated herein, there is provided an apparatus including a xerographic cleaning blade, an actuator member operatively connected to the cleaning blade and movable over a first stroke from a first actuator position to a second actuator position, and a damper operatively connected to the actuator member. As the actuator member moves over the first stroke the cleaning blade moves from a first blade position to a second blade position. The damper allows substantially uninhibited actuation of the actuator member over a first portion of the first stroke. The damper damps actuation of the actuator member over a second portion of the first stroke.  
         [0008]     According to aspects illustrated herein, there is provided an apparatus including a photoreceptor belt, an actuator member movable from a first actuator position to a second actuator position, and a damper operatively connected to the actuator member. The damper is configured to damp actuation of the actuator member. The apparatus also includes a cleaning blade operatively connected to the actuator member. As the actuator member moves towards the second actuator position the cleaning blade engages the photoreceptor belt, and as the actuator member moves towards the first actuator position the cleaning blade disengages from the photoreceptor belt.  
         [0009]     According to aspects illustrated herein, there is provided a method including substantially freely actuating a xerographic cleaning blade over a first portion of a range, damping actuation of the cleaning blade over a second portion of the range, and engaging the cleaning blade with a charge receptor after substantially freely actuating the cleaning blade and while damping actuation of the cleaning blade.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is a simplified elevational diagrammatical view showing relevant elements of an exemplary apparatus in one position;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a simplified elevational diagrammatical view showing relevant elements of the exemplary apparatus in another position; and  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is an elevational view of an exemplary xerographic printing device which incorporates the exemplary apparatus.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0013]     The terms “printer,” “printing device,” “xerographic printer,” “xerographic printing device,” and the like as used herein encompass any apparatus, such as a digital copier, bookmaking machine, facsimile machine, multi-function machine, etc. which forms a print outputting function for any purpose. Additionally, the terms “cleaning blade,” “cleaner blade,” “xerographic cleaning blade,” “xerographic cleaner blade,” “spots blade,” “spots removal blade,” and the like as used herein encompass any edged or blade-like member or device that is configured to remove residual toner particles and/or other debris from an imaging surface.  
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a simplified elevational diagrammatical view showing relevant elements of an exemplary apparatus  100  in one position. Apparatus  100  may be incorporated into a suitable overall xerographic printing device  1100  (see  FIG. 3 ) or any other suitable printing device that includes a suitable charge receptor  120  having a suitable charge-retentive surface  140 . As discussed further in connection with  FIG. 3 , device  1100  (see  FIG. 3 ) may be configured to create an electrostatic latent image (not shown) on surface  140 , to develop the latent image by exposing it to toner particles (not shown), to transfer at least some of the toner particles in image-wise fashion from surface  140  to a print sheet or other suitable medium  1180  (see  FIG. 3 ), to form a durable image (not shown) on the medium by heating the medium and permanently fusing toner particles thereto, and to advance charge receptor  120  as generally indicated by arrow  160 . In the exemplary embodiment, charge receptor  120  is a non-contacting photoreceptor belt. In alternative embodiments, charge receptor  120  may be a contacting photoreceptor belt, a contacting photoreceptor drum, or any other suitable charge receptor. Additionally, although the exemplary embodiment shown includes a photoreceptor belt it is noted that alternative embodiments may be used with any other suitable type of belt such as an intermediate transfer belt for some types of color printing. As discussed further below, in the exemplary embodiment apparatus  100  is configured to, among other things, remove residual toner particles (not shown) and/or other debris from surface  140 .  
         [0015]     Apparatus  100  includes a substantially fixed support structure  180 . Structure  180  is made from a suitably rigid and durable metal, plastic, and/or other suitable material or combination of materials. Structure  180  includes an axle member  200  and an axle member  220 .  
         [0016]     Apparatus  100  further includes a brush roller or roller brush  240 . Brush  240  is configured and positioned to, among other things, remove at least some residual toner particles and/or other debris from surface  140 , and is made from a suitably rigid and durable metal, plastic, and/or other suitable material or combination of materials. Brush  240  includes a generally cylindrical core  260  rotably coupled to member  200 . Brush  240  further includes a plurality of bristles  280  extending generally radially outwardly from core  260  to reach surface  140 . Apparatus  100  is configured to, among other things, suitably rotate brush  240  about member  200  as generally indicated by arrow  300 .  
         [0017]     Apparatus  100  further includes a lever arm  320  pivotally coupled to member  220 . Arm  320  is made from a suitably rigid and durable metal, plastic, and/or other suitable material or combination of materials. Arm  320  is configured to, among other things, suitably pivot about member  220  as generally indicated by arrow  340  and arrow  360  and to be coupled to other parts of apparatus  100  as discussed further below. Arm  320  includes an end portion forming a generally cylindrical stud-like member  380 , an axle member  400  positioned proximally to an opposing end portion, and an axle member  420  positioned between member  220  and member  400  such that member  220  is positioned between member  380  and member  420 .  
         [0018]     Apparatus  100  further includes a linear solenoid actuator  500 . Actuator  500  includes a housing  520  fixedly coupled to structure  180  and further includes a shaft  540  having an end linearly movably positioned in housing  520  and further having an opposing end pivotally coupled to member  420 . Actuator  500  is configured to, among other things, generally linearly move shaft  540  somewhat inwardly into housing  520  (as generally indicated by an arrow  560 ) over an inward shaft stroke from a position in which actuator  500  is de-energized and shaft  540  is relatively extended from housing  520  (see  FIG. 2 ) to an opposing (or “pull in”) position in which actuator  500  is energized and shaft  540  is relatively retracted into housing  520 . Conversely, actuator  500  is also configured to, among other things, allow shaft  540  to be generally linearly moved somewhat outwardly from housing  520  (as generally indicated by an arrow  580 ) over an opposing outward shaft stroke (from the aforementioned relatively retracted, energized position back to the aforementioned relatively extended, de-energized position). Apparatus  100  also includes suitable electronic control circuitry (not shown) configured to automatically energize and de-energize actuator  500  during operation.  
         [0019]     Apparatus  100  further includes a linear motion air damper  600 . Damper  600  includes a housing  620  forming a piston chamber  640  having an adjustable flow valve  660 , having an inlet/outlet delay port or orifice  680 , and having a wide opening  690 . Orifice  680  is spaced apart from the widely opened end of chamber  640  by a distance  720 . Damper  600  also includes a check valve  700  and a piston head  740 . Valve  700  extends through head  740 , and head  740  is movable within chamber  640 . Damper  600  further includes a rod  760  extending through opening  690  with an end pivotally coupled to head  740  and an opposing end pivotally coupled to member  400 . Damper  600  is configured to, among other things, allow generally linear movement of rod  760  somewhat inwardly into housing  620  (as generally indicated by an arrow  780 ) over an inward rod stroke from a position in which head  740  is distal to valve  660  and rod  760  is relatively extended from housing  620  (see  FIG. 2 ) to an opposing position in which head  740  is proximal to valve  660  and rod  760  is relatively retracted into housing  620 . Additionally, it is noted that damper  600  is configured to allow non-damped (i.e., “substantially uninhibited”) movement of rod  760  over a portion of the inward rod stroke in which head  740  moves (generally axially in the direction of arrow  780 ) from the end of chamber  640  to orifice  680 , while damper  600  is also configured to damp movement of rod  760  over a portion of the inward rod stroke in which head  740  moves (generally axially in the direction of arrow  780 ) from orifice  680  to valve  660 . Damper  600  is also configured to, among other things, allow non-damped (i.e., “substantially uninhibited”) generally linear movement of rod  760  somewhat outwardly from housing  620  (as generally indicated by an arrow  800 ) over an opposing outward rod stroke (from the aforementioned relatively retracted position back to the aforementioned relatively extended position). Meanwhile, opening  690  provides clearance for generally lateral movements or rocking of rod  760  during operation as generally indicated by arrows  820 . Selection of distance  720  and selection of a suitable damping coefficient for the portion of the inward rod stroke in which head  740  moves from orifice  680  to valve  660  (i.e., the damped portion of the inward stroke) are discussed below. In alternative embodiments, damper  600  may be replaced with any other suitably configured pneumatic damper, hydraulic (“liquid”) damper, or other type of motion damper.  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  is a simplified elevational diagrammatical view showing relevant elements of apparatus  100  in another position. As at least partially discernable from a comparison of  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , apparatus  100  further includes a coiled spring  900  extending from structure  180  to portion  380  (of arm  320 ). Spring  900  is configured and positioned such that when actuator  500  is energized and shaft  540  consequently moves over its inward shaft stroke and causes arm  320  to pivot about member  220  (as generally indicated by arrow  340 ), portion  380  moves to stretch spring  900  and, conversely, when actuator  500  is de-energized spring  900  contracts and consequently causes arm  320  to pivot about member  220  (as generally indicated by arrow  360 ) which in turn causes shaft  540  to move over its outward shaft stroke. Spring  900  is made from a suitably rigid and durable metal, plastic, and/or other suitable material or combination of materials.  
         [0021]     Apparatus  100  further includes a xerographic cleaning blade  920  having an edge portion  940 , and apparatus  100  further includes a whisk broom like swiper brush  960 . As at least partially discernable from a comparison of  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , blade  920  is fixedly coupled to and extends from portion  380  (of arm  320 ) and brush  960  is fixed coupled to and extends from structure  180  such that as shaft  540  (of actuator  500 ) moves over its inward shaft stroke portion  940  (of blade  920 ) moves generally arcuately (as indicated by arrow  980 ) out of engagement with structure  180 , then into engagement with brush  960 , then out of engagement with brush  960 , and then into engagement with surface  140  (of charge receptor  120 ) and, conversely, as shaft  540  moves over its outward shaft stroke portion  940  moves generally arcuately (as indicated by arrow  1000 ) out of engagement with surface  140 , then into engagement with brush  960 , then out of engagement with brush  960 , and then into engagement with structure  180 . Blade  920  is made from a suitably rigid and durable metal, plastic, and/or other suitable material or combination of materials. Brush  960  is made from a suitably rigid and durable metal, plastic, and/or other suitable material or combination of materials. Distance  720  is predetermined and fixed such that damper  600  allows substantially uninhibited movement of rod  760  (and thus, substantially uninhibited actuation of shaft  540  and in turn substantially uninhibited actuation of blade  920 ) until after portion  940  (of blade  920 ) moves out of engagement with brush  960 , and the damping coefficient for the damped portion of the inward stroke of shaft  540  is predetermined and then fixed (via suitable adjustment of valve  660 ) such that blade  920  does not strike or impact surface  140  at an undesirably high speed during operation.  
         [0022]     In operation, apparatus  100  automatically advances charge receptor  120  (as generally indicated by arrow  160 ), rotates brush  240  about member  200  (as generally indicated by arrow  300 ), and energizes/de-energizes actuator  500  (and thus actuates blade  920 ) to desirably remove residual toner particles and/or other debris from surface  140 . By damping the actuation of blade  920 , apparatus  100  prevents blade  920  from impacting charge receptor  120  at an undesirably high speed. However, as apparatus  100  delays the damping until after portion  940  moves through its engagement with brush  960 , apparatus  100  ensures that portion  940  strikes or impacts brush  960  with sufficient force and/or speed for brush  960  to more effectively prevent undesirable buildups of residual toner particles and/or other debris on blade  920 . Moreover, by delaying the damping as shaft  540  (of actuator  500 ) moves over its inward shaft stroke and by avoiding damping altogether as shaft  540  moves over its outward shaft stroke apparatus  100  facilitates higher speed cycling of blade  920 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  is an elevational view of an exemplary xerographic printing device  1100  which incorporates apparatus  100 . Device  1100  is but one exemplary environment in which apparatus  100  may be used and it is not intended to limit the use of apparatus  100  to any particular machine or device.  
         [0024]     Device  1100  includes a feeder unit  1120 , a printing unit  1140 , and an output unit  1160 . Feeder unit  1120  houses supplies of media sheets and/or other substrates  1180  onto which document images are transferred by printing unit  1140 . Printing unit  1140  includes an operator console  1200  where job tickets may be reviewed and/or modified for print jobs performed by device  1100 . Pages to be printed during a print job may be scanned by device  1100  or received over an electrical communication link. The page images are used to generate bit data that is provided to a raster output scanner (“ROS”)  1220  for forming a latent image on charge receptor  120 . Charge receptor  120  continuously travels circuitously in the direction(s) generally indicated by arrow  160  (see also  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 ) and arrow  1240 .  
         [0025]     Device  1100  further includes a development subsystem  1260  that develops toner on charge receptor  120 , and further includes a transfer station  1280 . The overall function of subsystem  1260  is to apply marking material, such as toner, onto suitably charged areas forming a latent image on surface  140  of charge receptor  120  in a manner generally known in the art. Various alternative devices may include multiple development subsystems  1260 , such as one for each primary color for color printing or other purposes. Transfer station  1280  generates electric fields that transfer toner conforming to the latent image(s) to substrate(s)  1180 .  
         [0026]     Device  1100  further includes a fuser station  1300 . Device  100  transports substrates  1180  bearing toner images to fuser station  1300  where fuser station  1300  fixes toner images to substrates  1180 . Device  1100  then transports substrates  1180  to output unit  1160 . Output unit  1160  correlates and/or stacks substrates  1180  to which images have been fixed in trays for pickup.  
         [0027]     It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.