Claims
- 1. A device for cleaning and charging a photoconductive drum within an image forming apparatus, the device comprising:
a. a bracket comprising first and second guides and a mounting surface, the first guide being positioned adjacent to a first end of the bracket and the second guide being positioned adjacent to a second end of the bracket; b. a cleaner blade attached to the mounting surface and extending outward therefrom to contact the photoconductive drum; c. a charge roller mounted to the first and second guides and being positioned against the photoconductive drum; and d. a biasing device to bias the charge roller against the photoconductive drum.
- 2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a bearing positioned within each of the guides to receive the charge roller.
- 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the biasing device is mounted on the bracket to bias the charge roller against the photoconductive drum.
- 4. The device of claim 2, wherein the biasing device is operatively mounted to the bearing to bias the charge roller against the photoconductive drum.
- 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the bracket comprises first and second sections positioned at an angle between them within the range of 90-130 degrees.
- 6. The device of claim 5, wherein a first section extends substantially along the length of the second section, and the guides extend outward from the first section at an angle of about 90 degrees.
- 7. The device of claim 5, wherein the second section comprises at least one aperture and at least one notch to position the bracket within the image forming apparatus.
- 8. The device of claim 1, wherein the bracket is constructed of an electrically conductive material.
- 9. The device of claim 1, further comprising a connection integrally connected to the bracket and extending outward therefrom to contact an electrical connection within the image forming apparatus.
- 10. The device of claim 9, wherein the electrical connection is substantially parallel with one of the first guide or second guide.
- 11. A device for charging a photoconductive member within an image forming apparatus comprising:
a. a bracket having first and second guides and a connection positioned to contact an electrical member within the image forming apparatus; b. a charge roller mounted to the first and second guides; and c. a biasing device to bias the charge roller against the photoconductive member; d. wherein the bracket is constructed of an electrically conductive material and a charge introduced through the electrical member is transferred through the bracket to the charge roller.
- 12. The device of claim 11, further comprising a bearing positioned within the first guide to receive the charge roller, the bearing being constructed of a material that conducts electricity.
- 13. The device of claim 11, wherein the biasing device is positioned between the bracket and the bearing.
- 14. The device of claim 11, wherein the connection is positioned at a first end of the bracket and includes a face which contacts the electrical member within the image forming apparatus.
- 15. The device of claim 14, further comprising a buttress positioned at a first end of the bracket between the charge roller and the connection.
- 16. A device for cleaning and charging a photoconductive drum, the device comprising:
a. an elongated bracket extending along at least a length of the photoconductive drum; b. first and second guides extending outward from a first side of the bracket, the first guide being positioned adjacent to a first end of the bracket and the second guide being positioned adjacent to a second end of the bracket; c. a bearing movably positioned within each of the guides; d. a charge roller mounted within the bearings; e. a biasing device operatively connected to at least one of the bearings and the bracket, the biasing device applying a force to maintain the charge roller positioned against the photoconductive drum; and f. a blade connected to the bracket and extending outward therefrom to contact the photoconductive drum.
- 17. The device of claim 16, further comprising an electrical connection extending outward from the bracket and being aligned substantially perpendicular with an axis of the charge roller.
- 18. The device of claim 16, wherein the bracket is constructed of an electrically conductive material.
- 19. The device of claim 17, further comprising a buttress extending outward from the bracket between the charge roller and connection to prevent axial movement of the charge roller beyond a predetermined amount.
- 20. An image forming device comprising:
a. a photoconductive drum; b. a charge roller to apply a charge to the photoconductive drum; c. a laser assembly to create an image on the photoconductive drum; d. a developer roller to transfer toner to the photoconductive drum; e. a cleaner blade to remove the toner from the photoconductive drum; and f. a bracket to mount the cleaner blade and the charge roller against the photoconductive drum, the bracket comprising first and second guides each comprising an opening adapted to receive the charge roller and a mounting surface adapted to receive the cleaner blade; and g. a biasing device positioned between the bracket and the charge roller to bias the charge roller against the photoconductive drum.
- 21. The device of claim 20, wherein the bracket is constructed of an electrically conductive material.
- 22. The device of claim 21, further comprising a cleaner housing for positioning the bracket, the cleaner housing comprising an opening adjacent to the bracket.
- 23. The device of claim 22, further comprising an electrical connection within the image forming apparatus and positioned adjacent to the opening, the electrical connection contacting the bracket through the opening to supply an electrical charge to the bracket.
- 24. The device of claim 20, further comprising at least one buttress extending outward from the bracket and being adjacent to one of the guides to limit lateral movement of the charge roller relative to the bracket.
- 25. The device of claim 20, wherein the biasing device applies a force to press the charge roller against the drum, the force being adequate such that rotation of the drum causes rotation of the charge roller.
- 26. A method of assembling a cleaner blade assembly within an image forming apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:
a. providing a conductive bracket; b. attaching a charge roller to the bracket and biasing the charge roller against a photoconductive drum; c. attaching a cleaner blade to the bracket; d. positioning the bracket within the image forming apparatus such that the charge roller and the cleaner blade are positioned against the photoconductive drum; and e. positioning the bracket in contact with an electrical contact within the image forming apparatus and charging the charge roller.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of co-pending application Ser. No. 10/324,334, entitled “Multi-Function Cleaner Blade Assembly”, which is a continuation-in-part of the co-pending application Ser. No. 09/789,065, entitled “Multi-Function Cleaner Blade Assembly,” filed on Feb. 20, 2001, and issued on Feb. 18, 2003 as U.S. Pat. No. 6,522,851, which are both incorporated in their entirety herein by reference.
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
10324334 |
Dec 2002 |
US |
Child |
10413192 |
Apr 2003 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09789065 |
Feb 2001 |
US |
Child |
10324334 |
Dec 2002 |
US |