Patent ID: 7283781

Claim:
A high load low load cleaning blade assembly for cleaning a toner image bearing surface comprises: (a) a blade member having a first edge mounted to a frame, a second and opposite edge for contacting and loading against said toner image bearing surface, and a blade width connecting said first edge to said second edge; and (b) a blade holder for holding and loading said blade member against said toner image bearing surface, said blade holder including a frame, and a blade loading plate operatively connected to said frame and extending from said frame towards said second edge of said blade member for stiffening said blade width and determining a resulting blade loading force of each portion of said second edge against regions of said toner image bearing surface, said blade loading plate including a central segment having a first plate width for stiffening a central portion of said blade member, and end segments, each having a second plate width less than said first plate width, for stiffening end portions of said blade member, thereby resulting in the second edge having a high load central portion and low load end portions.