MXPA98008599A - Process cartridge that includes a defect in the reinforcement band that prevents that the organic pigment used moves the sin - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electrostatic process cartridge that can be removably mounted in a cavity defined by the coupled modules that are part of an electrostatic reproduction machine, the process cartridge is characterized in that it comprises: (a) a housing that has walls defining a partially closed process chamber, (b) a rotating cylindrical photoreceptor member mounted within a portion of the process chamber and to the walls, the photoreceptor member has a n path or closed circuit path within the process chamber , and a surface that contains or supports an image to retain an image formed with organic pigment, (c) a plurality of components of formation and transfer of the organic pigment image of the electrostatographic process located along the trajectory or path of the circuit closed to form an image of organic pigment on, and to tr such an image of the organic pigment of the surface containing the image, and (d) a sub-assembly of the process cartridge cleaning located along the path or path of the closed circuit under the components that form and transfer the pigment image organic, to remove and transport the organic waste pigment away from the surface containing the image, the sub-assembly of the cleaning includes: (i) a curved portion of the walls that includes a blade mounting surface that has a plane which forms a mounting angle of the blade with a tangent to the surface that contains or supports the image; (ii) a cleaning blade mounted to the mounting surface and having a cleaning edge in contact with the surface containing the image at a desired cleaning angle to remove organic waste pigment from the surface that contains or supports the image; (iii) a seal member mounted in contact with the surface; The image containing the image at a point upstream of the cleaning blade, the seal member, the blade, the surface that contains or supports the image and the curved portion of the walls, defining the cleaning chamber, and (iv) an endless spins rotating transporting organic waste pigment without direction mounted to rotate without a channel and directly on the surface containing the image inside the cleaning chamber to transport and move the waste organic pigment axially in relation to the member photoreceptor and out of the cleaning chamber, the endless without direction has a first end, a second end, a direction of movement of organic waste pigment on the surface containing the image from the first end to the second end and, a step variable to avoid the formation of defects in the form of band on the image due to the accumulation of undesirable organic pigment waste on the surface that contains the image that contains the image

Description

PROCESS CARTRIDGE THAT INCLUDES A DEFECT IN THE REINFORCEMENT BAND THAT PREVENTS THE ORGANIC PIGMENT USED TO MOVE THE ENDLESS RELATED REQUESTS Cross reference is made to the following applications filed at the same time as this: Proxy File Number D / 97267 entitled 'Bolt Load Corotron with Optimal Dimensions for a Minimum Ozone Production' by Dhirendra C. Damji et al ., Proxy File Number D / 97268 entitled 'Developing Deviation Connector With Integrated Bearing Bracket' by Dhirendra C. Damji et al., Proxy File Number D / 97329 entitled 'Load Device Module For Use With A Print Cartridge "by Ajay Kumar et al., Proxy File Number D / 97329Q1 entitled 'Charging Device Having an Electrode with Integrated Electrical Co ector' by Ajay Kumar et al., Attorney File Number D / 97329Q2 entitled "Charging Device" Having a Shield with an Integrated Electrical Connector "by Ajay Kumar et al., Attorney File Number D / 97331 entitled 'Trays of Replaced, Variable-Size Organic Pigment Reservoir for Print Cartridges "by Dhirendra C. Damji et al., Proxy File Number D / 97332 entitled 'Support REF: 28269 Fast-Change Molded Photoreceptor' by Ajay Kumar et al., Proxy File Number D / 97333 entitled 'Print Cartridge with Flat Drive Train' by Ajay Kumar et al., And Proxy File Number D / 97478 titled * Print Cartridge with Spring Separating Cast Roller from Developer Cantilever "by Ajay Kumar et al. Additionally, cross reference is made to the following applications filed at the same time as the present: Attorney File Number D / 97330 entitled 'Process Cartridge Including Process Components That Have Critical Image Quality and Procedure to Lengthen Life Of The Regions Acting On The Tour "by Dhirendra C. Damji et al., Attorney File Number D / 97334 entitled" Process Cartridge That Includes a Part That Defines a Handle of a Paper Path for Machine "by Dhirendra C Damji et al., Attorney File Number D / 97351 entitled 'Electrostatographic Process Cartridge That Has a Grounding Pin, Photoreceptor, Non-Metallic "by" aniel A. Chiesa et al., Attorney File Number D / 97352 entitled 'Limited Life Electrostatic Process Cartridge Having a Sub-assembly of Used Organic Pigment Electrodeposition' by Daniel A. Chiesa et al., Expedient Number e of Representative D / 97353 entitled 'Process Cartridge Having a Force Resulting from the Drive Assembly Countering the Member' by Dhirendra C. Dam et al., Attorney File Number D / 97354 entitled 'Process Cartridge That Includes A Defect in the Reinforcing Band that Prevents the Used Organic Pigment from Moving the Endless "by Dhirendra C. Damji et al., Proxy File Number D / 97355 entitled 'Process Cartridge Including a Developer Housing Defining Part Of A Journey Of The Machine Paper "by Dhirendra C. Damji et al., And Attorney File Number D / 97357 entitled 'All-in-One Process Cartridge Including Photoreceptor Components and Procedures That Have Regions Acting on the Quality of the Image, Relatively Critical "by Ajay Kumar et al.

BACKGROUND This invention relates to electrostatic reproduction machines, and more particularly to an all-in-one process cartridge that is extensible in its capacity and economical to be easily adapted for use in a family of compact electrostatic reproduction machines having different capacities of volume and life cycles of consumer materials. Specifically, this present invention is directed to a cartridge that includes a defect in the web that prevents a waste organic pigment from moving the endless. Generally, the electrostatic reproduction process, as practiced in the electrostatic reproduction machines, includes charging a photoconductive member to a substantially uniform potential to sensitize the surface thereof. A charged portion of the photoconductive surface is exposed in a display station to a luminous image of an original document to be reproduced. Typically, an original document to be reproduced is placed in register, either manually or by means of an automatic document manipulator, on an exposure glass for such an exhibition. Exposing an image of an original document as such in the exposure station records a latent electrostatic image of the original image on the photoconductor member. The recorded latent image is subsequently revealed using a developing apparatus by contacting a dry developer material or charged liquid in contact with the latent image. Commonly used are two component and one component developer materials. A typical two component dry developer material has magnetic carrier granules with fusible organic pigment particles adhered triboelectrically thereto. A single component dry backing material, typically comprising only organic pigment particles, can also be used. The organic pigment image formed by such development is subsequently transferred in a transfer station onto a copy sheet fed to such a transfer station, and over which the image of organic pigment particles is subsequently heated and fixed permanently to form a " original on paper "of the original image. It is well known how to provide a number of elements and components, of an electrostatic reproduction machine, in the form of a unit replaceable by the consumer or user (CRU). Typically such units are each formed as a cartridge that can be inserted or removed from the frame of the machine by a consumer or user. Reprocessing machines such as copiers and printers commonly include consumer materials such as organic pigment, volume limiting components such as an organic waste pigment container and life cycle limiting components such as a photoreceptor and a cleaning device. Because these elements of the copier or printer must be replaced frequently, it is very likely that they will be incorporated into a replaceable cartridge like the previous one.

Therefore, there are various types and sizes of cartridges, ranging from cartridges of a single machine element such as an organic pigment cartridge, to electrostatic cartridges for transfer process and organic all-in-one pigment imaging. The design, particularly of an all-in-one cartridge, can be very expensive and complicated due to the need to optimize the life cycles of the different elements, as well as to integrate all the included elements, without deteriorating the quality of the image at the same time. This is particularly true for all-in-one process cartridges to be used in a family of compact electrostatic reproduction machines that have different volume capacities and elements that have different life cycles. There is therefore a need for an all-in-one process cartridge of extendable and economical capacity, which produces quality images, which is easily adapted for use on several machines in a family of compact electrostatic reproduction machines having different capacities of volume and elements with different life cycles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, an electrostatic process cartridge removably mountable in a cavity defined by the coupled machine modules forming part of an electrostatic reproduction machine is provided. The process cartridge includes a housing having walls defining a partially closed process chamber / a rotating cylindrical photoreceptor member mounted within a portion of the process chamber and the walls. The photoreceptor member has a path or closed circuit path within the process chamber and a surface that contains or supports an image to retain an image formed with organic pigment. The process cartridge also includes a plurality of components for forming and transferring organic pigment images from the electrostatic process located along the path or path of the closed circuit to form an organic pigment image on and to transfer such an image of organic pigment. of, the surface that contains the image; and a cleanup subassembly located along the path or closed circuit path downstream of the components that form and transfer the organic pigment image, to remove and transport the organic waste pigment away from the surface containing the image. The cleaning sub-assembly includes a curved portion of the walls that includes a blade mounting surface having a plane that forms a blade mounting angle with a tangent to the surface that contains or supports the image; a cleaning blade mounted to the mounting surface and having a cleaning edge in contact with the surface containing the image at a desired cleaning angle to remove the organic waste pigment from the surface that contains or supports the image; a seal member mounted in contact with the surface containing the image at a point upstream of the cleaning blade, so that the seal member, the blade, the surface that contains or supports the image and the curved portion of the walls, define the cleaning chamber; and an endless conveyor that transports waste organic pigment through it mounted to rotate without a trajectory and directly on the surface that contains the image. inside the cleaning chamber to transport and move the waste organic pigment axially in relation to the photoreceptor member and out of the cleaning chamber. The endless without direction has a first end, a second end and a direction of movement of organic waste pigment on the surface containing the image of the first end to the second end and a variable spacing to prevent defects in the bands of images against accumulations of undesirable organic pigment waste on the surface that contains the image.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the detailed description of the invention presented above, reference is made to the drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a vertical, front illustration of an exemplary compact electrostatic reproduction machine, comprising modules that they are aligned mutually armed separately in accordance with the present invention; FIGURE 2 is a plan perspective view of the housing of the CRU module or process cartridge module of the machine of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the bottom of the developer sub-assembly of the process cartridge module of the machine of FIGURE 1, with the bottom of the developer housing not attached; FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the open bottom of the process cartridge module of the machine of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 5 is an exploded view of the different sub-assemblies of the process cartridge module of the machine of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 6 is a vertical section (front to back) of the module of the process cartridge of the machine of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 7 is an elongated vertical illustration of one end of the cleaning sub-assembly of the process cartridge of FIGURE 1; and FIGURE 8 is an elongated vertical axial illustration of the cleaning sub-assembly of FIGURE 7 showing the band defect preventing the endless thereof in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Although the present invention has been described in relation to a preferred embodiment thereof, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to that embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents that may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Referring now to FIGURE 1, there is illustrated an exemplary compact electrostatic reproduction machine, without frame, comprising mutually aligned modules, assembled separately, according to the present invention. The compact machine 20 has no frame, which means that it does not have a separate machine frame to which to mount the process electrostatic subsystems, aligned with the frame, and consequently aligned in mutual relation, as is typically the case in conventional machines. . Instead, the architecture of the compact machine 20 is comprised of a number of mutually aligned, individually aligned machine modules that include several active, pre-aligned electrostatic process subsystems. As shown, the frameless machine 20 comprises at least one reinforced copy sheet feed module (CIM) 22. Preferably, the machine 20 comprises a pair of copy sheet feed modules, a primary or primary module. , the CIM 22, and an auxiliary module, the (ACIM) 24, each of which has a set of legs 23 that can support the machine 20 on a surface, thus allowing, appropriately, that each CIM 22, 24 form a base of the machine 20. As also shown, each copy sheet feed module (CIM, ACIM) includes a modular frame 26 and a stacking tray assembly and a copy sheet lifting cassette 28 which moves by sliding inwards and outwards in relation to the frame of the module 26. When, as is preferred here, the machine 20 includes two modules for feeding the copy sheets, the most basic module is considered the auxiliary module (the ACIM). ), ye The uppermost module, which mounts and aligns with each other against the base module is considered the primary module (the CIM).

The machine 20 then comprises a reinforced electronic control and an energy supply module (ECS / PS) 30, which as shown is mounted on, and is mutually aligned against the CIM 22 (which is preferably the higher or only the copy sheet feed module). An armed imaging module forming the latent image 32 is then mounted on and aligned against the ECS / PS module. The ECS / PS 30 ^ module includes all controls and power supplies (not shown) for all the modules and procedures of the machine 20. It also includes an image processing line (IPP) unit 34 for handling and processing images of a Screen Entry Explorer (RIS) 36, and generating processed digital images from a Frame Exit Scanner (ROS) 38. As shown, the RIS 36, the ROS 38, and a light source 33, separately armed in a frame of the imaging module 35 , comprise the imaging module 32. The ECS / PS 30 module also includes interconnection boards without frames and intermodular connectors (not shown), which provide all the logical energy paths to the rest of the modules of the machine. The interconnection board (PWB) (not shown) connects the boards of the ECS controller and the power supply (not shown) in the intermodular connectors, which also locates all locates connectors of the other modules in such a way that their connectors coupling could be automatically plugged into the ECS / PS module during the final assembly of the machine 20. Importantly, the ECS / PS module 30 includes a modular frame 40 to which the active components of the module are mounted as mentioned above, and forming a covered portion of the machine 20, which is also located, aligns with each other, and mounts to the adjacent armed modules, such as the CIM 22 and the imaging module 32. The reinforced copy-sheet feed modules 22, 24, the ECS / PS module 30, and the imaging module 32, assembled as mentioned above, define a cavity 42. The machine 20 includes, as an important ante, a process cartridge module or all-in-one CRU 44, which can be removably inserted and mounted within the cavity 42, and which is mutually aligned with, and operatively connected to the CIM, the ECS / PS and the image forming modules 20, 30, 32. Furthermore, as shown, the machine 20 includes an armed fuser module 46, which is mounted on top of the process cartridge module 44, as well as adjacent to one end of the module. 32 The fuser module 46 comprises a pair of fuser rollers 48, 50, and at least one output roller 52 for moving a sheet containing an image through, and out of, the module of the melter 46 to an exit or exit tray 54. The melter module also includes a heating lamp 56, temperature sensing means (not shown), paper travel manipulation deflectors (not shown), and a frame of module 58 to which they are located on the active components of the module, as mentioned above, and forming a covered portion of the machine 20, which is located, mutually aligned and mounted to the adjacent armed modules, such as the imaging module 32 and the module of the process cartridge 44. The machine then includes a reinforced door module of the active component 60 which is rotatably mounted at a pivot point or pivot 62 at one end of the CIM 22. The door module 60 as mounted , rotates from a substantially closed vertical position to an almost horizontal open position to provide access to the process cartridge module 44, as well as undoing the jammed sheets being fed from the CIM 22. The door module 60 comprises the active components that include a diverter feeder assembly 64, sheet 66 registration rollers, transfer and detachment devices organic pigment gene 68, and the outlet or output tray of the merged image 54. The door module 60 also includes the coupling components for the drive and electrical connectors (not shown), and, importantly, a frame of module 70 to which the active components of the module are assembled as described above, and which forms a covered portion of the machine 20, and is also located, mutually aligned and mounted to the adjacent armed modules, such as the CIM 22, the module of process cartridge 44 and the melter module 46. More specifically, the machine 20 is a desktop digital copier, and each of the modules 22, 24, 30, 32, 44, 48, 60 is a high-level assembly comprising a stand-alone frame and active electrostatic process components specified for that purpose. resource, and enabled as a complete and transportable product. It is believed that some of the existing digital reproduction and lighting lens machines may contain selective electrostatic modules distributed to be mounted to the machine frame, such that they could be dned and manufactured by a distributor. However, there are no such machines that do not have a separate machine frame, but are comprised of armed modules that are dned and distributed each as autonomous, specifiable modular units (ie, specified separately with interface inputs and outputs). ), probable and transportable, and that are shipped and distributed specifically to allow all critical electrostatic functions after a simple assembly. A unique advantage of the machine 20 of the present invention is that its autonomous, specifiable, probable and transportable modular units allow a high level of availability to a small set of dedicated specialized module production distributors. Such a high level of availability greatly optimizes the quality, the total cost and the delivery time of the final product, the machine 20. Referring to FIGS. 1-6, the CRU or process cartridge module 44 comprises, in general , a module housing sub-assembly 72, a photoreceptor subassembly 74, a load subassembly 76, a sub-assembly of developer 78 that includes a source of new developer material, a cleaning sub-assembly 80 to remove the rual organic pigment as an organic pigment from scrap of a photoreceptor surface, and a deposit sub-assembly of the waste organic pigment 82 to store the waste organic pigment. The housing subassembly of the CRU module 72 or process cartridge module 44 provides, importantly, includes support, locating and aligning structures, as well as drive components for the process cartridge module 44.

Referring still to FIGURE 1, the operation of an image forming cycle of the machine 20 using the all-in-one process cartridge module 44, can generally be described briefly as follows. Initially, a photoreceptor in the form of a photoconducting cylinder 84 of the user replaceable unit (CRU) or a process cartridge module 44, which rotates in the direction of the arrow 86, is loaded by the load sub-assembly 76. The The loaded portion of the cylinder is then transported to an imaging / exposure light 88 of the ROS 38 which forms a latent image on the cylinder 84, which corresponds to an image of a document placed on an exposure glass 90, via the module image formation 32. It should also be understood that the image formation module 32 can be easily changed from a digital scanning module to an image forming module with illumination lenses. The portion of the cylinder 84 containing a latent image is then rotated toward the developer sub-assembly 78, wherein the latent image is developed with a developer material such as with a single-component magnetic organic pigment loaded, using a magnetic developer roller. 92 of the process cartridge module 44. The image developed on the cylinder 84 is then rotated to an almost vertical transfer point 94 where the organic pigment image is transferred to a copy sheet substrate 96 fed from the CIM 22 or the ACIM 24 along a path of the copy sheet or substrate 93. In this case, the release device 68 of the door module 60 is provided for loading the backside of the copy sheet substrate (not shown). ) at the transfer point 94, to attract the organic pigment image charged from the photoconducting cylinder 84 onto the copy sheet substrate. The copy sheet substrate with the image of organic pigment transferred thereon is then directed towards the melter module 46, wherein the hot melter roll 48 and the pressure roller 50 cooperate in a rotating manner to heat, melt and fix the organic pigment image on the copy sheet substrate. The copy sheet substrate can then, as is well known, be selectively transported to the output tray 54 or other subsequent fusing operation. The portion of the cylinder 84 from which the revealed organic pigment image was transferred is then advanced to the cleaning sub-assembly 80 where the organic pigment and the residual charge on the cylinder 84 are removed therefrom. The image forming cycle of the machine 20 using the cylinder 84 can then be repeated to form and transfer another image of organic pigment, when the cleaned portion is again under the load sub-assembly 76. The aspects of the detailed and specific advantages of the structure and operation of the CRU or all-in-one process cartridge module 44 will now be described with particular reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. As shown, the all-in-one process cartridge module CRU 44 generally includes six sub-assemblies comprising a housing sub-assembly in the module 72 (FIGURE 2); the cleaning sub-assembly 80; the sub-mounting of the photoreceptor 74; the load sub-assembly 76; the sub-assembly of developer 78 (FIGURE 3); and the scrap organic pigment deposit sub-assembly 82. Generally, the function of the CRU or all-in-one process cartridge module 44 in the machine 20 is to electrostatically form a latent image, reveal such a latent image in an image. of organic pigment through the development of the organic pigment, and transfer of the image of organic pigment without fusing on a printing medium, such as a sheet of paper. The CRU or process cartridge module is accessible from the left side to an operator facing the CIM 22 by opening the door module 60 (FIGURE 1). Once the door module is opened, an operator or user can remove or insert the CRU or the process cartridge module 44 with one hand.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-6, the housing sub-assembly of module 72 is illustrated therein (FIGURE 2). As shown, it comprises a module housing of generally rectangular shape and inverted channel 100 having a first side wall 102, a second side and opposite wall 104, an upper wall 106 including a substantially horizontal portion 108 and a nearly vertical portion 110 defining a rear end in relief 112 (further considered in relation to the process cartridge 44 that is inserted in the cavity 42). There is no rear wall, thereby resulting in an open rear end 114 for mounting the sub-mounting of the photoreceptor 74. The channel-shaped module housing also includes a front end wall 116 that is connected at an angle to the top wall 106. The housing of the channel-shaped module 100 of course does not have a bottom wall, and consequently when inverted, it defines a grooved region or partially closed process chamber 118 that opens wide to mount the sub-assembly of developer 78 (FIGURE 3). The upper wall 106 and the front end wall 116 each include a first cut 120 formed through its joining corner to partially define a first light path 122 (FIGURE 1) for the exposure light 88 of the ROS of the module. imaging 32. The top wall 106 also includes a second cut 124 formed therein at the junction angle between the horizontal 108 and the nearly vertical portions 110 thereof for mounting the load sub-assembly 76 (FIGURE 5), and for partially defining a second light path 126 (FIGURES 1 and 6) for a deletion light 128 that is focused toward the area of the photoreceptor at the embossed rear end 112 of the housing of the module 100. Importantly, the housing of the module 100 it includes two cross-sectional surfaces of the upper wall 130, 132 defining the second cut 124, and one 130, of those surfaces of the cross-sectional wall, has a desired angle 1 34 (in relation to the surface of the photoreceptor) for mounting and fixing a cleaning blade 138 (FIGURE 6) of the cleaning sub-assembly 80. Connecting or joining members 140, 142 are provided at the rear end in relief 112 and extending from the first and second side walls 102, 104 respectively, for attaching a handle of the module 144 to the housing of the module 100. As indicated above, the module housing 100 is the main structure of the CRU or process cartridge module all in one 44, and substantially supports all other sub-subassemblies (cleaning sub-assembly 80, load sub-assembly 76, developer sub-assembly 78 and deposit sub-assembly 82) of the all-in-one process cartridge module 44. As such, it was designed to resist efforts due to the different dynamic forces of sub-subassemblies, for example, to provide the reaction force required for the sub-assembly of developer 78. Because it is located 3 mm below the melter module 46, it is therefore made of a suitable plastic material to withstand the relatively high heat generated by the melter module. The assemblies (not shown) of the developer sub-assembly within the grooved portion of the module housing sub-assembly are located such that the upper wall 106 of the module housing defines a desired separation comprising the first light path 122 between it and the upper wall 146 of the sub-assembly of the developer. Similarly, the rear end of the relief 112 of the upper wall 106 of the module housing is also such that it defines a desired separation between the load sub-assembly 76 and the photoreceptor or cylinder 84, when both are mounted to the rear end in relief 112 of the housing of the module 100. Additionally, the housing of the module 100 provides rigidity and support to the entire module of the process cartridge 44, and after assembly mutually autoalign the CRU or process cartridge module 44 in relation to the contact modules such as the CIM 22 and the ECS / PS module 30. Referring in particular to FIGURE 2, the first side wall 102 includes the electrical connectors 148, 150 for supplying power from the ECS / PS module 30 (FIGURE 1) via the reservoir subassembly 82 to the charge sub-assembly 76. It also includes an electrical connector 152 for supplying an electrical deviation to the sub-assembly of the developer 78, as well as an alignment member 154 for aligning the detachment device 68 (FIGURE 1) to the photoreceptor. Also as shown, the first side wall 102 fur includes an open retention device 156 for receiving an electrical grounding pin 160 for the photoreceptor 84. Importantly, the first side wall 102 fur includes mounting members 162, 164 , 166 for mounting the tank subassembly 82 to the housing of the module 100, and an opening 168 for mounting an endless 170 of the cleaning sub-assembly 80 (FIGURE 6). The opening 168 also passes the organic deposit pigment received from the photoreceptor 84 at the rear end of the relief 112, towards the deposit sub-assembly 82, when mounted as mentioned above. Referring now to FIGURE 3, there is illustrated the sub-assembly of developer 78 of the process cartridge module 44 with an expandable bottom member 172 not attached for the internal development of the developer subassembly. As shown, the developer sub-assembly 78 comprises a generally rectangular developer housing 174 having the lower member 172, the upper portion 146, a first side 176, a second opposing side 178, a front end 180 (in relation to the insert of the cartridge), and a rear end 182. The developer housing 174 is for containing the developer material, such as, the single-component magnetic organic pigment (not shown), and additionally accommodates the magnetic developer roller 92 (FIG. 1), a developing deviation application device 184, and a pair of agitators of developer material or organic pigment 186, 188. As shown in FIGURE 4, the developer sub-assembly 78 is mounted to the housing of the module 100, and within the grooved region 118. With the lower member 172 of the developer housing removed (for illustration purposes only), stirrers 186, 188 can be clearly seen. Also in FIGURE 4, the photoreceptor or cylinder 84 mounted within the raised rear end 112 of the housing of the module 100, as well as, the handle of the module 144 attached to the side walls 102, 104 at the rear end in relief 112 are shown. The entire tank subassembly 82 is fur shown with an external surface 190 of its internal wall 192, mounted to the first side wall 102 of the housing of the module 100. The external surface 194 of the external wall 196 of the tank assembly is also seen clearly. The inner wall 192 and the outer wall 196 partially define the reservoir cavity (not shown) to contain the received organic waste pigment, as mentioned above. Referring now to FIGURE 5, there is presented a perspective view of the exploded view of the different sub-assemblies, as mentioned above, of the CRU or process cartridge module 44. As shown, the handle of the module 144 can be attached to the mounting members 140, 142 at the embossed rear end 112 of the module housing 100, and the reservoir sub-assembly 82 can be mounted to the first side wall 102 of the cartridge housing. The developer sub-assembly 78 is mounted within the grooved region 118 of the housing of the module 100, and is partially seen through the first cut 120. Advantageously, the sub-assembly of the developer is placed in the grooved region 118 so that the upper part 146 (FIGURE 3) of the developer sub-assembly and the inner side of the side wall 106 of the module housing define the first light path 122 for the exposure light 88 of the ROS 38 (FIGURE 1). As shown also, the load sub-assembly 76 can be mounted, in the second cut 124, to the housing of the module 100, and includes a slot 198, through the load sub-assembly, which defines the part of the second light path 126 for which clearance light 128 go to the photoreceptor 84.

Referring next to FIGURE 6, there is illustrated a vertical (back to front) section of the CRU or process cartridge module 44 as seen along plane 6-6 of FIGURE 5. As shown , the developer sub-assembly 78 is mounted within the grooved region 118 of the housing sub-assembly of the module 72 as defined in part by the front end wall 116, the second side wall 104 and the top wall 106 of the housing sub-assembly. module. The handle of the module 144 as it is attached to the mounting members 140, 142, (only one of which is visible), forms a portion of the path of the sheet or paper 98 of the machine 20 (FIGURE 1) by being separated from one another. distance 200 of the photoreceptor 84 at the embossed rear end 112 of the housing of the module 100. The photoreceptor or cylinder 84 is mounted to the side walls 102, 104, (only one of which is visible), and as shown is located inside the rear end in relief 112 and rotates in the direction of arrow 86. The load sub-assembly 76 is mounted within the second cut 124 in the upper wall 106 and includes the slot 198 defining part of the second light path 126 for the deletion light 128 to pass to the photoreceptor 84. Upstream of the load sub-assembly 76, the cleaning sub-assembly 80, which includes the cleaning blade 138 and the worm that removes the organic waste pigment 170, it is mounted inside the embossed rear end 112, and in contact with the photoreceptor 84 for cleaning. As further shown, the upper wall 106 of the housing of the module 100 is separated from the upper part 146 in the sub-assembly of the developer 78, thereby defining the part of the first light path 122 for the exposure light 88 of ROS 38. (FIGURE 1) . The first light path 122 is located as if it were incident on the photoreceptor at a point downstream of the load sub-assembly 76. The front part 180, the upper part 146 and the lower member 176 of the sub-assembly of the developer define a chamber 202, which has an opening 204, for containing the developer material (not shown). The first and second agitators 186, 188 are shown within the chamber 202 to mix and move the developer material toward the opening 204. The developer material biasing device 184 and a loading molding and doctor blade 206 are mounted in the opening 204 As shown, the magnetic developing roller 92 is mounted in the aperture 204 to receive the loaded and measured developer material from such an aperture, and to transport such developing material toward a developing relationship with the photoreceptor 84. Referring now to FIGS. FIGURES 1, 2 and 6, particularly FIGURE 7, illustrate in detail the cleaning sub-assembly 80 of the module of the process cartridge 44. As shown, the cleaning sub-assembly 80 includes an elongated, straight blade member, 138, having a cleaning edge 260 positioned at a desired cleaning angle 262, against the surface 264 of the cylindrical photoreceptor or photoreceptor member 84 to detach the organic waste pigment from the surface 264. The desired cleaning or attack angle 262 as shown is measured with reference to a tangent 135 to the surface containing the image 264. The free length and material of the cleaning blade 130 have been selected to avoid an undesirable "resonant frequency" of the blade, which commonly causes the blade to grind. As a result, the cleaning blade 130 can effectively detach the organic waste pigment from the surface of the photoreceptor 264 without damagingly scratching such surface of the photoreceptor. To provide an almost vertical paper or sheet path 98 (FIGURE 1) within the machine 20, and also to prevent contamination of the waste organic pigment sheet backing out, the cleaning sub-assembly 80 is advantageously located at a point beyond about 12 o'clock or a position above the photoreceptor. The approximately 12 o'clock position of the cleaning blade 138 results in a relatively more uniform accumulation of organic waste pigment against the cleaning edge 260 of the blade, advantageously lubricating the edge of the blade. cleaning 260 and reducing the need to add lubricating additives to the organic pigment as is the case where there is no such accumulation. Such lubrication also prevents advantages premature knife failures. The cleaning sub-assembly 80 includes a containment chamber of the organic waste pigment 270 defined by the photoreceptor 264, the cleaning edge of the blade 260, and an anti-reflux seal member 266 having a rim of the cleaning blade type, and a curved portion 268 of the upper wall 106 (FIGURE 6) of the housing of the module 100. The curved portion 268 includes the surface of the cross section 130 (FIGURE 2) which defines the desired mounting angle of the blade 134 for mounting or placing the straight cleaning blade 138, thereby eliminating the need to have an angled blade member, of a relatively more expensive type. The desired mounting or placement of the blade 134 as shown is measured in relation to the tangent 135 toward the surface containing the image. Advantageously as shown, the desired mounting angle 134 is equal to the desired cleaning angle 262. Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, the cleaning sub-assembly 80 further includes the endless, endless organic pigment worm. 170 which is mounted to rotate without an address and directly on the surface containing the image 264 within the cleaning chamber 270. As shown, it is mounted upstream of the cleaning edge 260 of the blade member 138, to transport the waste organic pigment axially, from the first end 272 to a second end 274 thereof axially in the direction of the arrow 276. Such transport carries the waste organic pigment out of the cleaning chamber 270 and into the tank of waste organic pigment 82 (FIGURE 5). Since the deposit of waste organic pigment 82 is located only at one end, at the second end 274 the amount of waste organic pigment that is measured as mentioned above, will not commonly be evenly distributed, increasing in the direction of movement of the waste. waste organic pigment, and that is, towards the second end 274. Commonly, such non-uniform distribution of the moving waste organic pigment will result in undesirable accumulations similar to rings of such waste organic pigment in both the first and second end 272, 274 of the endless 170 within chamber 270. It has been found that such ring-like accumulations cause image defects in the form of a band at the edges of the organic pigment images transferred from the receiver onto a sheet of paper. In order to avoid such accumulations of waste organic pigment similar to undesirable rings and band forming defects, the waste organic pigment endless 170 is advantageously an endless variable pitch, which includes a first preliminary step towards the first end 272, and a second and different step P2 to the second end 274. The first step Pl se. advantageously greater than the second step P2, so that in operation, the endless 170 effectively slows the movement of the organic waste pigment from the first end towards a CC center, and effectively accelerates the movement of the increasing amount of waste organic pigment, from the CC center to the second end 274. As can be seen, an electrostatic process cartridge that can be removably mounted to a cavity defined by the coupled modules forming part of an electrostatic reproduction machine has been provided. The process cartridge includes a housing that has walls that define a partially closed process chamber; a rotating cylindrical photoreceptor member mounted within a portion of the process chamber and to the walls. The photoreceptor member has a closed circuit path or path within the process chamber and a surface that contains or supports an image to retain an image formed of organic pigment. The process cartridge also includes a plurality of components for forming and transferring the organic pigment image from the electrostatic process located along a closed circuit path to form an organic pigment image on, and to transfer such an image of. organic pigment of, the surface that contains the image; and a cleaning assembly located along the path or closed circuit path downstream of the formation and transfer components of the organic pigment image, to remove and transport the organic waste pigment away from the surface containing the image . The cleaning sub-assembly includes a curved portion of the walls that includes the surface of the blade assembly having a plane that forms a mounting angle of the blade with a tangent to the surface containing the image; a cleaning blade mounted to the mounting surface and having a cleaning edge in contact with the surface containing the image at a desired cleaning angle to remove the organic waste pigment from the surface containing the image; a seal member mounted in contact with the surface containing the image at a point upstream of the cleaning blade, so that the seal member, the blade, the surface that contains or supports the image and the curved portion of the blades walls, define the cleaning chamber; and an endless conveying organic waste pigment indirectly mounted to rotate without a channel and directly on the surface containing the image inside the cleaning chamber to transport and move the waste organic pigment axially in relation to the photoreceptor member and outside the cleaning chamber. The endless without direction has a first end with a second end, and a direction of movement of the organic waste pigment on the surface containing the image from the first end to the second end, and a variable step to prevent the formation of defects . in the form of a band in the image due to accumulations of waste organic pigment on the surface that contains the image. Although the embodiment of the present invention described herein is preferred, it should be appreciated from these teachings that various alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements may be made by those skilled in the art, with which it is intended to be encompassed by the following claims : It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects to which it relates. Having described the invention as above, property is claimed as contained in the following:

Claims (5)

1. An electrostatic process cartridge that can be removably mounted in a cavity defined by the coupled modules that are part of an electrostatic reproduction machine, the process cartridge is characterized in that it comprises: (a) a housing having walls defining a chamber partially closed process; (b) a rotating cylindrical photoreceptor member mounted within a portion of the process chamber and to the walls, the photoreceptor member has a path or closed circuit path within the process chamber, and a surface that contains or supports an image to retain an image formed with organic pigment; (c) a plurality of components for forming and transferring the organic pigment image of the electrostatic process located along the path or path of the closed circuit to form an organic pigment image on, and to transfer such an image of organic pigment of, the surface that contains the image; and (d) a cleaning sub-assembly of the process cartridge located along the circuit path or path downstream of the components that form and transfer the organic pigment image, to remove and transport the organic waste pigment away from the surface that contains the image; The cleaning sub-assembly includes: (i) a curved portion of the walls that includes a blade mounting surface having a plane that forms a mounting angle of the blade with a tangent to the surface that contains or supports the image; (ii) a cleaning blade mounted to the mounting surface and having a cleaning edge in contact with the surface containing the image at a desired cleaning angle to remove the organic waste pigment from the surface containing or supporting the image; (iii) a seal member mounted in contact with the surface containing the image at a point upstream of the cleaning blade, the seal member, the blade, the surface that contains or supports the image and the curved portion of the walls, defining the cleaning chamber; and (iv) an endless conveyor that carries organic waste pigment without direction mounted to rotate without a channel and directly on the surface containing the image within the cleaning chamber to transport and move the waste organic pigment axially relative to the member. photoreceptor and made outside the cleaning chamber, the endless without direction has a first end, a second end, a direction of movement of the organic waste pigment on the surface containing the image from the first end to the second end and, a step variable to avoid the formation of defects in the form of band on the image due to the accumulation of undesirable organic waste pigment on the surface containing the image.

The process cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that the endless without direction has a first at a first end, and a second step at a second end, and the second step is different from the first step, to avoid image defects caused by the accumulation of waste organic pigment at the second end.

The process cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that the cleaning sub-assembly is located at a point beyond a position at 12 o'clock along the path traveled of the closed circuit of the movement.

The process cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that the cleaning blade is a straight blade having a cleaning angle of attack equal to the angle of the blade assembly.

5. The process cartridge according to claim 2, characterized in that the first step is less than the second step to slow downstream, effectively, the movement in an amount of waste organic pigment moving from the first end towards the center of the end, and to effectively secure the movement of an increasing amount of organic pigment from the center to the second end. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An electrostatic process cartridge removably mountable in a cavity defined by the coupled machine modules that are part of an electrostatic reproduction machine. The process cartridge includes a housing having walls defining a partially closed process chamber; a rotating cylindrical photoreceptor member mounted within a portion of the process chamber and to the walls. The photoreceptor member has a path or closed circuit path within the process chamber and a surface that contains or supports an image to retain an image formed with organic pigment. The process cartridge also includes a plurality of components for forming and transferring organic pigment images from the electrostatic process located along the path or path of the closed circuit to form an organic pigment image on and to transfer such an image of organic pigment. of, the surface that contains the image; and a cleanup subassembly located along the path or closed circuit path downstream of the components that form and transfer the organic pigment image, to remove and transport the organic waste pigment away from the surface containing the image. The cleaning sub-assembly includes a curved portion of the walls that includes a blade mounting surface having a plane that forms a blade mounting angle with a tangent to the surface that contains or supports the image; a cleaning blade mounted to the mounting surface and that. has a cleaning edge in contact with the surface containing the image at a desired cleaning angle to remove the organic waste pigment from the surface that contains or supports the image; a seal member mounted in contact with the surface containing the image at a point upstream of the cleaning blade, so that the seal member, the blade, the surface that contains or supports the image and the curved portion of the walls, define the cleaning chamber; and a worm that transports waste organic pigment therethrough so as to rotate without a path and directly on the surface containing the image within the cleaning chamber to transport and move the waste organic pigment axially relative to the photoreceptor member and out of the cleaning chamber. The endless without direction has a first end, a second end and a direction of movement of the organic waste pigment on the surface containing the image of the first end to the second end and a variable spacing to prevent defects in the bands of images against accumulations .