Toner cleaning apparatus.

摘要

Apparatus for separating residual toner material from the surface of a reusable photoreceptor (3) in a reproducing machine has a cleaner blade assembly (1) comprising a cleaner blade (5) in a holder (6). The cleaner blade assembly is movable between two positions. In a first position (see Fig. 2) the blade (5) operatively engages the photoreceptor to clean off the residual toner material which is then collected in a generally enclosed chamber (16) below. In the second position (see Fig. 3) the blade assembly is spaced apart from the photoreceptor but covers the entrance to the chamber forming a sealed enclosure for the contents. Thus the toner collecting chamber is sealed by the cleaner blade alone without relying on the photoreceptor to perform a sealing function which makes the apparatus particularly suitable for use in a process cassette comprising at least a photoreceptor and, optionally, other process elements wherein the photoreceptor cannot seal the chamber because it is only loosely retained when the cassette is not in the working position in the machine.