The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 30, 1997
Filed:
Mar. 28, 1996
Peter W Bracken, Lexington, KY (US);
Jeffery R Brener, Lexington, KY (US);
Martin V DiGirolamo, Lexington, KY (US);
Sam E Mullinix, Jr, Lexington, KY (US);
Donald W Stafford, Lexington, KY (US);
Peter E Wallin, Lexington, KY (US);
Lexmark International, Inc., Lexington, KY (US);
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.