Electrophotography – Having particular structure – Modular or displaceable
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-26
2001-11-20
Royer, William J. (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Having particular structure
Modular or displaceable
C399S149000, C399S150000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06321051
ABSTRACT:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY
This application makes reference to, incorporates the same herein, and claims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C. §119 from my application APPARATUS FOR CLEANING OPC DRUM IN IMAGE FORMING DEVICE filed with the Korean Industrial Property Office on the 24
th
day of the month of June 1999 and there duly assigned Ser. No. 23880/1999.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to processes and apparatus for cleaning a photosensitive drum in an image forming device such as a laser beam printer, a light emitting diode printer, a facsimile machine, or a digital copying machine, and, more particularly, to a process and apparatus for cleaning an organic photosensitive (OPC) drum in an image forming device, of foreign matter adhering to the surface of the OPC drum.
2. Description of the Related Art
Image forming devices such as laser beam printers, LED printers, facsimile machines, or digital copying machines are devices for transferring, in the form of a visual image, an image signal resulting from a digital signal received from a computer or a scanner. In an image forming and printing procedure, a developing device operates to form an electrostatic latent image in response to a digital image signal received, and then to attach toner particles to the electrostatic latent image, thereby forming a toner image. The formed image is transferred to a copy sheet, that is, a printing medium. The copy sheet is then heated to permanently affix the toner image thereto. As the initial digital image signal is outputted in a form affixed to the copy sheet, the image forming and printing procedure is completed. Electrophotographic processors typically require a separate waste toner receiving space for toner residue removed from the surface of the OPC drum. The waste toner receiving space increases the volume of the developer, and hinders efforts to achieve compactness of the design of the electrophotographic processor. Recent design efforts have eliminated the cleaning blade used to remove the residual toner. Particles left on the OPC drum are recovered by a developing roller for reuse. Although toner particles remain on the surface of the OPC drum while in a negatively charged state, and can be reused after being recovered by the developing roller, foreign matter attached to the sheet of paper passing through the nip between the drum and the transfer roller are not in a negatively charged state and can not be recovered by the developing roller. Such foreign matter may adhere to the surface of the OPC drum and create undesired white spots on the printed image. As a result, a degradation in printing quality occurs. This adversely affects the performance of the electrophotographic processor, thereby severely degrading the reliability of the electrophotographic processor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved image formation process and apparatus.
It is another object to provide a process and an apparatus for cleaning an OPC drum in an image forming device.
It is yet another object to provide a process and an apparatus able to print matter exhibiting an enhanced quality.
It is still another object to provide a process and an apparatus for the drum of an image formation device that is capable of minimizing degradation of printing quality attributable to the adherence of foreign matter to the surface of the drum.
It is still yet another object to provide a process and an apparatus for improving the reliability of the electrophotographic processor with a device that cleans the OPC drum in the processor.
It is a further object to provide a process and apparatus capable of printing matter with a high image quality with a concomitant enhancement in performance, and a resulting improvement in operational reliability.
These and other objects may be accomplished by equipping an image forming apparatus constructed with a developer housing formed with an exposure window and an organic photosensitive drum, a developing roller, and a charging roller situated within the housing. The developing roller is configured to recover toner residual particles from the outer circumferential surface of the organic photosensitive drum, for reuse. A device for cleaning the organic photosensitive drum may be constructed with a component blade positioned between the charging roller and the exposure window while contacting the outer surface of the organic photosensitive drum, so that the component blade removes foreign matter adhering to the outer surface of the organic photosensitive drum. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the component blade for removing foreign matter may be constructed with a film that has a proximal end fixedly mounted on an inner wall of the exposure window, and a distal end of the film contacting the outer surface of the organic photosensitive drum. Preferably, the film is arranged in such a fashion that the distal end of the film maintains an orientation at an angle within a range of between approximately 30° to 45° with respect to a vertical line passing through the center of the organic photosensitive drum. Also preferably, the film may extend throughout the length of the outer surface of the organic photosensitive drum. The film is preferably made of urethane and has a thickness of 0.1 to 1.5 mm.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5333041 (1994-07-01), Ito et al.
patent: 5563691 (1996-10-01), Hayakawa et al.
patent: 5822659 (1998-10-01), Ishiyama
patent: 6128456 (2000-10-01), Chigono et al.
Bushnell , Esq. Robert E.
Royer William J.
Samsung Electronics Co,. Ltd.
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