Compliant doctor blade

US5702812A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Lexmark International, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Peter Wallace Bracken · Lexington, US
• Jeffery R. Brener · Lexington, US
• Martin Victor DiGirolamo · Lexington, US
• Sam E. Mullinix, Jr. · Lexington, US
• Donald Wayne Stafford · Georgetown, US
• Peter Wallin · Kalmar, SE

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 28, 1996
• Grant date: Dec 30, 1997
• Expiry date: Mar 28, 2016

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T428/25
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A compliant doctor blade having excellent toner metering capabilities is disclosed. The doctor blade includes a compliant laminate (3) having a resin film backing layer and carrying a binder which contains abrasive particles, such as silicon carbide particles, and a conducting means. In a preferred embodiment the conducting means are conductive carbon black particles which are contained in the resin binder which also includes the abrasive silicon carbide. The compliant laminate is supported on an aluminum bar (1). The bar has fastened to its bottom face a compliant foam layer (2) which includes on its bottom face a shim (10) having a stiffness of from about 0.5 to about 31.0 inches of deflection/inch of length/pounds of force. The laminate is bent under the foam layer and shim where it contacts the developer roller (6). The conductive layer remains conductive as it wears during use. In addition, this doctor blade minimizes toner buildup in the prenip area and provides effective and uniform metering of the toner on the developer roller.