Texturing of overcoated imaging member for cleaning

摘要

A method and apparatus is provided for cleaning residual toner and paper fiber residue from an electrophotographic imaging member using an elastomeric cleaning blade. Reduced friction between the blade and the imaging member and enhanced cleaning without degrading image reproduction quality results from appropriate texturing of the imaging member. The texturing is impressed upon an overcoat layer formed on the photosensitive layer of the imaging member such that a uniform pattern of at least 20 very fine parallel grooves per centimeter are disposed parallel to the direction of process movement and extend along the entire circumference of the imaging member. The very fine parallel grooves have a depth and lateral width sufficiently shallow/narrow to prevent individual particles of toner material from lodging in the grooves and also to ensure copy quality is not degraded.