Toner adder roll having an abrasive agent additive
View Patent ↗A toner adder roll according to one example embodiment includes an electrically conductive shaft defining an axis of rotation of the toner adder roll. A foam member is cylindrically disposed about the shaft and forms an outer circumferential surface of the toner adder roll. The foam member is composed of a polymeric open-cell foam material. An abrasive agent is dispersed on the outer circumferential surface of the toner adder roll.
1. A toner adder roll, comprising:
an electrically conductive shaft defining an axis of rotation of the toner adder roll;
a foam member cylindrically disposed about the shaft and forming an outer circumferential surface of the toner adder roll, the foam member is composed of a polymeric open-cell foam material; and
an abrasive agent dispersed on the outer circumferential surface of the toner adder roll.
2. The toner adder roll of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric open-cell foam material is a polyurethane foam material.
3. The toner adder roll of claim 1 , wherein the abrasive agent includes at least one of silica, alumina, titania, silicon carbide and ceramic.
4. The toner adder roll of claim 3 , wherein the abrasive agent includes silica.
5. The toner adder roll of claim 1 , wherein the abrasive agent is dispersed in the polymeric open-cell foam material.
6. The toner adder roll of claim 1 , wherein the foam member includes a cured coating on the polymeric open-cell foam material and the abrasive agent is dispersed in the cured coating.
7. The toner adder roll of claim 6 , wherein the abrasive agent is present in the cured coating at between 2.5% and 12.5% by weight of the cured coating.
8. The toner adder roll of claim 6 , wherein the foam member includes a conductive agent dispersed in the cured coating.
9. The toner adder roll of claim 1 , wherein the abrasive agent includes an average aggregate particle size of between 1 micron and 20 microns.
10. A toner adder roll, comprising:
an electrically conductive shaft defining an axis of rotation of the toner adder roll;
a foam member cylindrically disposed about the shaft and forming an outer circumferential surface of the toner adder roll, the foam member is composed of a polymeric open-cell foam material and includes a cured coating on the polymeric open-cell foam material; and
a conductive agent and an abrasive agent dispersed in the cured coating,
wherein the abrasive agent is present in the cured coating at up to 15% by weight of the cured coating and the abrasive agent has an average aggregate particle size of between 2 nm and 100 microns.
11. The toner adder roll of claim 10 , wherein the abrasive agent includes at least one of silica, alumina, titania, silicon carbide and ceramic.
12. The toner adder roll of claim 11 , wherein the abrasive agent includes silica.
13. The toner adder roll of claim 10 , wherein the abrasive agent is present in the cured coating at between 2.5% and 12.5% by weight of the cured coating.
14. The toner adder roll of claim 10 , wherein the abrasive agent includes an average aggregate particle size of between 1 micron and 20 microns.
15. A developer unit for an electrophotographic image forming device, comprising:
a reservoir for storing toner;
a developer roll having an outer circumferential surface; and
a toner adder roll having:
an electrically conductive shaft defining an axis of rotation of the toner adder roll;
a foam member cylindrically disposed about the shaft and forming an outer circumferential surface of the toner adder roll, the foam member is composed of a polymeric open-cell foam material, the outer circumferential surface of the toner adder roll forms a nip with the outer circumferential surface of the developer roll and is positioned to supply toner from the reservoir to the outer circumferential surface of the developer roll; and
an abrasive agent dispersed on the outer circumferential surface of the toner adder roll.
16. The developer unit of claim 15 , wherein the abrasive agent includes at least one of silica, alumina, titania, silicon carbide and ceramic.
17. The developer unit of claim 15 , wherein the foam member includes a cured coating on the polymeric open-cell foam material and the abrasive agent is dispersed in the cured coating.
18. The developer unit of claim 17 , wherein the abrasive agent is present in the cured coating at between 2.5% and 12.5% by weight of the cured coating.
19. The developer unit of claim 17 , wherein the foam member includes a conductive agent dispersed in the cured coating.
20. The developer unit of claim 15 , wherein the abrasive agent includes an average aggregate particle size of between 1 micron and 20 microns.