Lexmark International, Inc.

Benjamin John Goebel

Christian Blair Miller

Benjamin Alan Askren

Donald Leo Elbert

Ronald Lloyd Roe

Claudia Alexandra Marin

Matthew Thomas Martinkovic

An image forming apparatus includes a charge roller with improved resistance to defects from prolonged periods of nonuse. The charge roller includes an outermost coating layer including a coating material and filler particles. The filler particles have an average particle size larger than an average thickness of the outermost coating layer in a portion without the filler particles. Furthermore, the filler particles are harder and have a higher glass transition temperature than the coating material.

Charge roller for an image forming apparatus using hard filler particles

A segmented cleaning member for removing particulate from a charge roller of a media processing device. The cleaning member in one embodiment includes a substrate and an open-cell foam cleaning pad disposed onto the substrate. The cleaning pad is segmented by a plurality of cuts into a plurality of longitudinal sections capable of contacting the charge roller for removing the particulate from the charge roller. Various cut patterns made be used to form the sections. The cleaning member can be used in media processing device and cartridge therefor for removing the particulate from the charge roller.

Charge roller cleaning member for use in media processing device

A charge roller wiper for photoconductor unit for forming a toner image in an image forming device. The photoconductor unit comprises a photoconductor drum, a charge roller and a first charge roller wiper. The photoconductor drum receives toner particles for forming the toner image that is transferred onto a media sheet. The charge roller charges the photoconductor drum. A first charge roller wiper is disposed substantially parallel to path along which the charge roller moves between a working position and a storage position. The first charge roller wiper is configured to peripherally contact and clean the charge roller when the charge roller assumes a working position. A second charge roller wiper may be provided adjacent the storage position and disposed substantially perpendicular to the first charge roller wiper and directly in the path along which the charge roller moves.

Photoconductor unit with charge roll wiper for an image forming device

The present invention is generally directed to composite materials or charge rolls comprising a sleeved foam charge roll where the sleeve is interference-fit over the foam core, and methods of constructing them. The foam core can be made with an outer diameter larger than that of the sleeve inner diameter. The sleeve can be interference fit over the foam core to provide a functional charge roll. In some embodiments the charge roll can be used in an image forming apparatus including, but not limited to, an electrophotography system, an electrophotographic copying machine, and a laser printer.

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Lexington, KY, United States of America

Benjamin John Goebel