Lexmark International, Inc.

James Thomas Welch

Robert Watson McAlpine

Donald Wayne Stafford

Mark Duane Foster

Martin Victor DiGirolamo

David Starling MacMillan

Jason Carl True

Mark William Johnson

Richard Kent Anderson

Whitney April Greer

The present disclosure relates to a surface energy reduction material in the form of a topcoat or additive to a coating that may be applied to a toner regulating member such as a doctor blade which may reduce toner build-up about a nip region, pre-nip region, and/or post-nip region. The surface energy reduction material may be include any material having a surface energy of less than or equal to 35 dynes/cm, for example, between 15-30 dynes/cm, including all values and ranges therein. The surface energy reducing materials may include any material that provides a 25% or more reduction of the surface energy of the doctor blade compared to an untreated doctor blade, for example, greater than or equal to 50% reduction or greater than or equal to 75% reduction, including all values and ranges therein.

Doctor blade surface energy modification

Growing community of inventors

Lexington, KY, United States of America

James Thomas Welch