Cleaning apparatus

Claim 2

In combination, an elongated blade constructed of a resilient elastomeric material, said blade having a top surface and one side surface meeting at an acute angle to from an extended cutting edge at one end of said blade, The acute angle facing at a first direction, an image retaining member having a surface capable of electrostatically supporting dry toner powder particles thereon, means positioned adjacent said member to securely mount the opposite end of said blade therein and being arranged to position the cutting edge of the blade in pressure contact with the member to support the cutting edge of said blade in intimate contact against said member, and means to move said member in a path of movement whereby the surface thereof travels in a direction generally opposite said first mentioned direction to remove the dry toner powder particles from said member.

Claim 3

In combination, an elongated blade constructed of a resilient elastomeric material, said blade having a top surface and at least one other side surface meeting at an acute angle to from an extended cutting edge at one end of said blade, the acute angle facing in a first direction, an image retaining member formed in a closed loop configuration having a surface capable of electrostatically supporting dry toner particles thereon, means positioned adjacent said member to securely mount the opposite end of said blade therein and being arranged to position the cutting edge of the blade in pressure contact with the member, and means to move the surface of said member in a path of movement in a direction generally opposite said first mentioned direction whereby the dry toner powder particles on said member are caused to move over the top surface of said blade.

Claim 4

In combination, an elongated blade constructed of a resilient elastomeric material, said blade having a top surface and at least one other side surface meeting at an acute angle to from an extended cutting edge at one end of said blade, the acute angle facing in a first direction, an image retaining member formed in a closed loop configuration having a surface capable of electrostatically supporting dry toner particles thereon, means positioned adjacent said member to securely mount the opposite end of said blade therein and being arranged to position the cutting edge of the blade in pressure contact with the member, and means to move the surface of said member in a path of movement in a direction generally opposite said first mentioned direction whereby the dry toner powder particles on said member are caused to move over the top surface of said blade.

Claim 5

The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said mounting means is pivotable about a line which lies substantially in a plane tangent to the line on said member where said member is contacted by said blade.

Claim 6

In combination, an image retaining member in an endless configuration and having a surface capable of electrostatically supporting dry toner powder particles thereon, an elongated generally rectangular shaped blade constructed of a resilient, elastomeric material, said blade having a top surface and one side surface meeting at an acute angle to from an extended cutting edge at the upper end of said blade, mounting means positioned adjacent said member to securely mount the lower end of the blade therein and being arranged to position the cutting edge of the blade in pressure contact with the member wherein the blade is deflected over the unsupported length thereof, means to produce relative motion between the blade and the member to pass the cutting edge of the blade between the surface of the member and toner particles supported thereon to separate the toner particles from the member and force the toner particles downwardly from the top of the acute angle along said top surface.

Claim 7

In combination, an image retaining member in an endless configuration and having a surface capable of electrostatically supporting dry toner powder particles thereon, an elongated generally rectangular shaped blade constructed of a resilient, elastomeric material, said blade having a top surface and one side surface meeting at an acute angle to from an extended cutting edge at the upper end of said blade, mounting means positioned adjacent said member to securely mount the lower end of the blade therein and being arranged to position the cutting edge of the blade in pressure contact with the member wherein the blade is deflected over the unsupported length thereof, means to produce relative motion between the blade and the member to pass the cutting edge of the blade between the surface of the member and toner particles supported thereon to separate the toner particles from the member and force the toner particles downwardly from the top of the acute angle along said top surface.

Claim 8

The combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said blade is constructed of a polyurethane elastomer having a high tensile strength.

Claim 9

The combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said image retaining member is a horizontal supported xerographic drum.

Claim 10

The combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein the cutting edge of said blade is supported transversely across the drum surface in contact with a downwardly moving portion of the drum below the horizontal center line thereof.