The present invention has for subject matter a device whereby a substantially uniform coating can be obtained on elements such as drums, rollers, blades can be obtained.

Brief description of the invention The invention relates to a device for coating at least a part of an element by means of a swab impregnated with a coating composition, said device comprising: * a support provided with a guiding path and with a means for bearing the element to be coated; * a mobile carriage with means for bearing the swab, said carriage being movable along the guiding path; * a means for ensuring a movement of the mobile carriage along the guiding path with respect to the element to be coated; * a means for pushing the swab towards the element to be coated so that a quantity of the composition released from the swab coats the element, and * a means for varying the quantity of released composition per unit of length of movement of the mobile carriage along at least a part of the guiding path, so that the coating of the said part is substantially uniform.

Advantageously, the device further comprises a room in which at least the support and the mobile carriage are located, said room being provided with an inlet connected to an air cleaning system. Preferably, the said inlet is adapted for ensuring a substantially laminar flow at least in the neighborhood of the support and the mobile carriage. Such an air inlet is advantageous for preventing dust or other solid particles to enter into the applied and/or to be applied on the coating before its complete hardening or its tack free.

According to an embodiment, the device further comprises a table, a vertical supporting element, and fixing means, whereby the support is movable between a first position in which the support is fixed to the table and a second position in which the support is fixed on the vertical supporting element. Preferably, the vertical supporting element is mounted pivotable around a vertical axis.

Preferably, especially when the element to be coated is a drum or a roller, the device further comprises a driving means for driving into rotation the element to be coated. Advantageously, the driving means is provided with connecting pieces adapted for connecting a roller or drum provided with an inner axis which is movable with respect to the roller. The connecting pieces are advantageously connecting the roller or drum, in such a way that the inner axis remains movable. The connecting pieces are for example provided with one or more truncated segments intended to contact the circular end edges of the roller or drum. The truncated segment or segments form an angle with respect to the axis of the roller or drum, said axis being advantageously comprised between 1 and 60°, preferably between 10 and 45°, most preferably between 15 and 30°, for example about 20°.

In an embodiment, the element to be coated is attached to or provided with magnetically attachable means. In this case, the means for bearing the element is advantageously provided with a support adapted for magnetically attaching the magnetically attachable means of the element. According to a possible embodiment, the means for bearing the element to be coated is advantageously pivotable so as to adapt the position of the support for the element and thus for example of the element with respect to the swap and/or with respect to the air inlet.

According to another embodiment, the device comprises a table, while the support provided with the bearing means of the element to be coated is connected to the table by at least a connecting element pivotally connected to the table or to a plate connected to the table and pivotally connected to the support for guiding the movement of the support between a vertical or substantially vertical position and a horizontal or substantially horizontal position. The device is then also provided with means for maintaining the support in a vertical and horizontal positions. For example, the connecting element is pivotally connected to the plate around a substantially horizontal axis, while the plate is mounted pivotable around a substantially vertical axis.

This is advantageous for adapting the position of the bearing element with respect to the air inlet of the room.

A preferred device of the invention comprises: * a support provided with a guiding path and with a means for bearing the element to be coated; * a mobile carriage with means for bearing the swab, said carriage being movable along the guiding path; * a means for ensuring a movement of the mobile carriage along the guiding path with respect to the element to be coated; * a means for pushing the swab towards the element to be coated so that a quantity of the composition released from the swab coats the element, and * a means for varying the quantity of released composition per unit of length of movement of the mobile carriage along at least a part of the guiding path, so that the coating of the said part is substantially uniform., whereby the said means for varying the quantity of released composition per unit of length of movement of the mobile carriage along at least a part of the guiding path is a means pushing of the swab towards the element to be coated during a movement of the mobile carriage along at least a part of the guiding path.

Advantageously, the means for varying the pushing of the swab towards the element to be coated varies the said pushing of the swab towards at least a part of the element during the movement of the carriage corresponding to the coating of the said part of the element by the swab, the said pushing varying substantially continuously from a first pushing force and a second pushing force so that the coating of the said part is substantially uniform. For example, in case of a vertical pushing of the swab towards the element to be coated, the said pushing varying substantially continuously from a first pushing force and a second pushing force higher than the first pushing force so that the coating of the said part is substantially uniform, while for a horizontal pushing of the swab towards the element, the said pushing

varying substantially continuously from a first pushing force and a second pushing force lower than the first pushing force so that the coating of the said part is substantially uniform.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the mobile carriage has a body movable along the guiding path, said body being provided with a pivoting piece bearing the swab. The pivoting piece is preferably pivoting around an axis with respect to the body, said axis being advantageously parallel to the axis of the guiding path.

According to an embodiment, the means for ensuring a movement of the mobile carriage along the guiding path with respect to the element to be coated moves the said mobile carriage according to a back-and-forth motion. At least during a part of the forth motion, the swab contacts the element to be coated.

Preferably, the device further comprises a means for moving the swab and the element to be coated aside during the back motion of the carriage.

The device comprises advantageously a means for moving the swab and the element aside before the coating of the element and/or after the coating of the element, for example just after the end of the coating step. This is advantageous in order to ensure that during a first relative movement of the carriage, the swab is progressively moved towards the element, while at the end of the coating, during a relative movement of the carriage, the swab is progressively removed from the element. Thus the swab when in relative movement with respect to the element to be coated is moved from a position aside the element to a contact position with the element before starting the coating operation, and from a position in contact with the element to a position aside after ending the coating.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the device further comprises a means for holding the swab and the element aside when the carriage is adjacent to a first position of the guiding path, and a means for displacing at least a part

of the carriage when the carriage is moved away from the said first position, so that the swab contacts the element. This movement of the swab is advantageously realized by a roller working with a nock.

According to a specific embodiment, the means for bearing the element to be coated comprises two bearing elements between which the element to be coated is placed, said bearing elements being aligned along a first axis, said axis being preferably the axis of rotation of the element to be coated. The mobile carriage is movable along an axis parallel to the guiding path of the carriage, said axis being distant from the said first axis and being not parallel to the said first axis. The second axis forms advantageously an angle with a line parallel to the said first axis and crossing the said second axis, said angle being preferably comprised between 0.1° and 15°, for example between 0.1° and 5°, especially between 0.2 and 2°. If necessary, other angles are possible, for example negative angle, for example from 4. 1° to-15°.

The device is advantageously provided with a means for adapting the angle between said second axis and a line parallel to said first axis. For example the means for adapting said angle is a table or support bearing said second axis (axis of the path of the guiding path of the carrier), said table or support being associated with means for adapting its position. For example, the table or support is mounted pivotally around an pivoting axis perpendicular to the second axis, while the means for adapting the position of the table or support is a means for adapting the pivotment of the table or support around the pivoting axis.

The invention relates also to a process for coating an element with a coating composition, in which a swab impregnated with the coating composition is contacted with the element to be coated and is in relative longitudinal movement with respect to the element to be coated so as to release a quantity of composition for coating a part of the element, and in which the quantity of composition released by the swab per unit of length of relative movement of

the swab with respect to the element is controlled so that the coating of the said part of the element with the composition is substantially uniform.

Advantageously, the swab contacts the element in an air clean environment, for example, an air clean environment containing substantially no particles with a size greater than 5llm, preferably containing, substantially no particles with a size greater than 1 llm. This is advantageous for preventing the presence of undesired large particles (dusts, etc.) in the coating or on the coating.

Preferably, the swab contacts the element in an air environment with a temperature greater than 15°C, for example at a temperature comprised between 15 and 30°C or with a controlled temperature and/or with a relative humidity of less than 50% (preferably of less than 40% or in a substantially dry air). Advantageously, the swab contacts the element in a substantially laminar clean airflow. The air environment can be controlled so as to adapt the temperature and/or the humidity and/or the speed of the air flow for obtaining the required coating, for example for controlling the evaporation of the solvent used in the composition, and/or for controlling the reaction speed and/or for ensuring a good application of the composition on the element to be coated.

The temperature of the air environment during and/or after the coating can be higher than 30°C, for example at a temperature comprised between 50°C and a curing temperature of the coating, for example at a temperature comprised between 50 and 200°C, such as a temperature of 100°C-130°C.

Possibly, a heating can be directly applied on the coated element, during and/or after its coating. Various possible heating are possible, such as IR heating, UV heating. Such extra heating can be made together with an air-heating.

Possibly, the heating of only part of the element is made. Possibly also, before coating the element, the element can be pre heated, for example at a predetermined temperature, so that the coating is carried out on elements having always a same predetermined temperature. After a curing operation at high temperature, the air flow can also be used for controlling the temperature decrease of the coated element and/or for maintaining a temperature.

Advantageously, the element is driven in rotation, and the swab contacts the element while rotating.

In the process of the invention, the swab is advantageously pressed with a controlled pressure on the element for obtaining an uniform coating. For example, the swab is pushed with a pushing force on the element to be coated, the said pushing force being controlled during the relative movement of the swab with respect to the element so as to obtain an uniform coating of the element.

When the swab is pushed with a vertical pushing force on the element to be coated, the said vertical pushing force is advantageously controlled during the relative movement of the swab with respect to the element so as that said vertical pushing force varies continuously from a first pushing force to a second pushing force, said second pushing force being greater than the first pushing force.

When the swab is pushed with a horizontal pushing force on the element to be coated and in which the said horizontal pushing force is controlled during the relative movement of the swab with respect to the element so as that said horizontal pushing force varies continuously from a first pushing force to a second pushing force, said second pushing force being lower than the first pushing force.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the process of the invention, the swab is moved with a back-and-forth motion with respect to the element to be coated, in which the swab contacts the element during at least a part of the forth motion, and in which the swab and the element are aside during the back motion of the swab.

Preferably, the coating composition is a composition for obtaining an antistatic and anti abrasive coating. Most preferably, the coating composition is a

composition for obtaining an anti static, anti fog, anti stick, heat resistant, chemical resistant and anti abrasive coating.

The invention further relates to a process for recycling a toner cartridge comprising at least a magnetic roller and a doctor blade, in which the said doctor blade and magnetic roller are removed from the cartridge, in which the removed doctor blade and magnetic roller are coated with an antistatic and anti abrasive coating, and in which, after coating, the said doctor blade and magnetic roller are placed back in the cartridge. Before the coating operation, the doctor blade and magnetic roller are preferably cleaned. If required, the doctor blade is submitted to a treatment for substantially restoring the initial shape of the blade, for example by a heat treatment and by application of a pressure on the blade.

The invention relates also to: -a process for recycling a toner cartridge comprising at least a magnetic roller, a doctor blade, a photosensitive drum, a wiper blade, a fuser roller and a primary charge roller, in which the photosensitive drum and the wiper blade are removed from the cartridge, in which the removed photosensitive drum and wiper blade are coated with an antistatic and anti abrasive coating, and in which, after coating, the said photosensitive drum and the wiper blade are placed back in the cartridge; -a process for recycling a toner cartridge comprising at least a magnetic roller, a doctor blade, a photosensitive drum, a wiper blade, a fuser roller and a primary charge roller, in which at least three elements selected among the group consisting of magnetic roller, doctor blade, photosensitive drum, wiper blade, fuser roller and primary charge roller are removed from the cartridge, in which the said removed elements are coated with an anti abrasive coating, and in which, after coating, the said elements are placed back in the cartridge. The coating of the fuser roller is preferably an anti stick and anti abrasive coating, while the coating of the other elements of the toner cartridge to be coated is an anti static and anti abrasive coating.

Brief description of the drawings -Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a preferred device of the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic front view of the device of figure 1; -Figure 3 is a schematic front view of the device of figure 1 with the coating device in vertical position; -Figure 4 is a schematic view of the control circuit of the carriage of the coating device; -Figure 5 is a front schematic view of the support provided with the coating device; Figures 6 to 9 are respectively a front schematic view, a back view and side views of the coating device of figure 5; -Figures 10 to 15 are schematic views of the position of the carriage during its relative movement with respect to the element to be coated (the figures 10 to 15 showing the position of the carriage respectively along the lines X-X, XI-XI, XII-XII, XIII-XIII, XIV-XIV in the support of figure 5 during the forth movement of the carriage, while figure 15 shows the position of the carriage during the back movement of the carriage); Figure 16 is a view of an embodiment of the carriage of the coating device, said view being similar to that of figure 8; Figure 17 is a front view of the embodiment shown in figure 16; Figure 18 is a horizontal cross section view of a device of the invention with two coating stations; Figure 19 is an enlarged upper view of a coating station of Figure 18 ; Figure 20 is a side view of the coating station of figure 18; Figure 21 is a cross section view along the line XXI-XXI of figure 19 ; Figure 22 is a upper view of a mechanism for facilitating the placement of the coating station of figure 18 in vertical position; -Figure 23 is a cross section view along the line XXIII-XXIII of figure 22 ; -Figures 24 and 25 are views of the mechanism in a position for holding the coating station in vertical position ;

-Figures 26 is a cross section view of a connecting piece; -Figure 27 is an upper view of the connecting piece of figure 26 ; -Figure 28 is a view of another connecting piece (cross section) ; -Figure 29 is an exploded view of connecting pieces for bearing a support plate for a blade to be coated; -Figure 30 is a detail view of the carriage of a coating station of figure 18, and -Figure 31 is a view showing a roller placed between two connecting pieces.

Description of a preferred embodiment The device shown schematically in Figure 1 is a device for coating at least a part of an element 1, such as a drum or roller, by means of a swab 2 impregnated with a coating composition, said device comprising: * a cabinet 3 with a front opening 4, a table 5 and an air cleaning system 6 for controlling environment of at least a part of the working room 7; * a support 8 provided with a guiding path 9 and with a means 10 for bearing the element 1 to be coated; * a mobile carriage 11 with means 12 for bearing the swab 2, said carriage being movable along the guiding path 9 ; * a means 13 for ensuring a movement of the mobile carriage 11 along the guiding path 9 with respect to the element 1 to be coated; * a means 14 for pushing the swab towards the element 1 to be coated so that a quantity of the composition released from the swab 2 coats the element, and * a means for varying the quantity of released composition per unit of length of movement of the mobile carriage along at least a part of the guiding path, so that the coating of the said part is substantially uniform.

The air cleaning system comprises a fan 15 sucking air through an air filter 16 and pushing said sucked air in a distribution room 18 provided with an outlet

consisting of a compressible porous foam layer 19, into the working room 7.

The fan is controlled so that the air flow entering in the working room is substantially laminar and so that the working room is under a pressure higher than the pressure outside the working room so as to prevent air to flow in the working room 7 through the opening 4. The speed of the laminar flow is for example lower than 2m/s, for example comprised between 0.05 m/s and 0.5 m/s. The air cleaning system is advantageously provided with a system 20 for controlling the temperature of the air (for example for heating the air at a temperature of 20-30°C), a system (21) for controlling the relative humidity of the air (for example for obtaining a substantially dry air). Such an air flow (of cleaned air) prevents dust or solid particles to deposit on the coating, for example before the tack free or complete hardening of the composition applied on the element. Such an air flow is also advantageous for preventing the formation of big drop of composition, as possible drop formed on the element is pressed on the element due to the air flow. The control of the temperature of the air flow is also advantageous for controlling the hardening of the composition. The hardening and/or tack free of the composition can therefore be effected in the substantially preferred conditions. Possibly, the temperature of the air flow can be controlled so that the temperature of the air flow during the coating is lower than the temperature of the air flow after the coating. This could be advantageous for preventing as much as possible the hardening of the composition during the coating, while improving or accelerating the hardening of the composition after the end of the coating.

The cabinet 3 provided with a cleaning system as described hereabove is already suitable for coating element with known coating devices using impregnated swab. When using such a cabinet provided with said cleaning system in a coating operation using a known coating device, it is possible to dust or solid particles to deposit on the coating, for example before the tack free or complete hardening of the composition applied on the element. By controlling the air flow, it is possible to prevent the formation of big drops of composition. By controlling the humidity of the air and/or the temperature of

the air and/or the speed of air flow, it is possible to have a control of the hardening of the coating or of the time required for obtaining a tack free coating.. Possibly, the temperature of the air flow can be controlled so that the temperature of the air flow during the coating is lower than the temperature of the air flow after the coating. This could be advantageous for preventing as much as possible the hardening of the composition during the coating, while improving or accelerating the hardening of the composition after the end of the coating.

The table 5 is provided with a vertical supporting element 22 and with fixing means 23, whereby the support 8 is movable between a first position in which the support is fixed to the table 5 and a second position in which the support 8 is fixed on the vertical supporting element 22. Preferably, the vertical supporting element is mounted pivotable around a vertical axis A. This is advantageous for adapting the direction of air flow with respect to the support, by a simple rotation or pivotment P of the support around the axis A.

The support 8 is provided with a gear mechanism 24 intended to be connected to an axis 25 driven in rotation by a motor 26. The gear mechanism 24 and the axis 25 which can be separated, are advantageously adapted for a direct connection there between. The gear mechanism 24 when driven in rotation drives in rotation the element to be coated, such as a drum or a roller.

In this embodiment, the means for varying the pushing H of the swab 2 towards the element 1 to be coated varies the said pushing of the swab towards the element during the movement of the carriage 11, the said pushing varying substantially continuously from a first pushing force and a second pushing force so that the coating of the said part is substantially uniform. For example, in case of a vertical pushing of the swab towards the element to be coated, the said pushing varying substantially continuously from a first pushing force and a second pushing force higher than the first pushing force so that the coating is

substantially uniform, while for a horizontal pushing of the swab towards the element, the said pushing varying substantially continuously from a first pushing force and a second pushing force lower than the first pushing force so that the coating is substantially uniform.

The guiding path of the carriage 11 can take various forms. For example, said guiding path is a circuit provided with balls, sliding rail (s), a rod for example of a jack, etc.

However, the guiding path 9 of the carriage 11 comprises advantageously a cylinder 27 in which a magnetic piston 28 is movable. The carriage 11 has a cylindrical hole 29 in which the cylinder 27 is engaged, whereby the carriage can slide along the cylinder 27. The carriage is made in a material so that the said carriage, due to the magnetic field of the piston 28, follows the movement of the piston. For the movement of the piston 28, the cylinder 27 is connected at a first end 27A to a jack 30 through a conduit 31, and at a second end 27B to a jack 32 through a conduit 33. The jacks 30,32 are connected to a means 35 through conduits 36 provided with a control valve 37A, 37B. The jacks 30,32 are provided with a gas outlet 38 with a control outlet valve 39A, 39B. The cylinder 27 and the parts of the jacks 30, 32 connected thereto are filled with a hydraulic fluid, such as water, oil, etc. When the valve 37A is open (valve 37B closed, valve 39A closed), pressurized air flows in the upper part of jack 30, whereby moving piston 40 downwards, so that hydraulic fluid flows from jack 30 towards the cylinder 27. This flow of hydraulic fluid induces a movement of the piston 28 towards the end 27B and thus a movement of the carriage towards said end 27B, as well as a flow of hydraulic fluid from the cylinder 27 towards jack 32. The valve 39B is open, so that air can be removed from the upper part of the jack 32 during the upwards movement of the piston 41 due to the flow of hydraulic fluid in the jack 32. For having a movement of piston 28 towards the end 27A, pressurized air is lead into the upper part of jack 32 (valve 39B closed, valve 37B open, valve 37A closed, valve 39A open) so as to move piston 28 towards the end 27A. Hydraulic fluid of the cylinder 27 flows

then in the jack 30. The valve 39A is open for enabling the outlet of air during the upwards movement of piston 40. For ensuring a correct control of the movement of the piston (magnetic piston), the conduits 31 and 33 are provided with a system 42 comprising a means 42 for limiting the flow of hydraulic fluid from the jack 30 to the cylinder 27 or the flow of hydraulic fluid from the jack 32 to the cylinder 27, said system further comprising a by pass 44 for permitting a flow (with a low pressure) of fluid from the cylinder to the jack 30 or from the cylinder 27 to the jack 32. By using this mechanism, the carriage 11 is movable according to a forth-and-back movement (X, Y). In the drawings, the forth motion is drawn as being a movement from the left towards the right. It is obvious that the device can be adapted so that the forth motion corresponds to a motion from the right to the left.

Advantageously the jacks 30 and 32 are at a level located above the level of cylinder 27, whereby the hydraulic fluid of said jacks exert always a certain pressure (due to the gravity) on the piston. The level at which said jacks are placed can be adjusted so as to adjust the pressure exerted on the piston by the hydraulic fluid in the absence of pressure to the movement of the jacks.

Advantageously, in the non working position of the jacks 30, 32, the pressure exerted on a face of the piston by the hydraulic fluid of the jack 30 will be substantially equal to the pressure exerted on the opposite face of the piston by the hydraulic fluid of the jack 32.

The carriage 11 comprises: -a body 100 with the cylindrical hole 29 in which the cylinder 27; -a piece 101 attached to the body 100 by means of screws 102, said piece 101 having two arms 103 defining there between a channel 104; -a piece 105 connected to the arms 103 by means of a pivot 106, whereby said piece 105 can pivot around the axis C, said piece 105 having an back rod 109, an upper groove 107 and a downwards recess 108; -a plate 110 partly engaged in the upper groove 107 and connected to the piece 105 by a pivot 111, so that the plate can pivot around an axis D

between a position in which the rod 2A of the swab 2 can be engaged between the bottom of the groove 107 and the plate (see figure 10) and a position in which the plate 110 acts on the rod 2A for preventing its movement in the groove 107 (see position of the plate in figure 11); a spring 112 extending between the piece 103 and the piece 105, said spring exerting a force on the piece 105 so that the end 105A provided with the swab 2 moves downwards; a means 113 for limiting the downwards movement of the end 105A, said means acting therefore as means for adjusting the pressure of the swab 2 on the element to be coated and as means for adjusting the thickness of the coating on the element, said means 113 comprising for example a control means attached to an arm 115 fixed to the piece 105, said control means controlling the displacement of an adjustable screw or rod 114, the free end 114A of which is intended to work with a plate 116 attached to the piece 101; a leg 117 having an upper part 117A engaged in the recess 108 of the piece 105, said upper part 117A being connected to the said piece 105 by means of a pivot 118 whereby the leg can pivot around the axis E, the downwards part 117B of the leg 117 is provided with a roller 120, while the central part of the leg 117 has a groove 118 in which a rod 119 fixed to the piece 105 can slide, the roller 120 being intended to work with a ramp 121 for moving the end 105A of the piece 105 upwards against the action of the spring 112; a jack 122 fixed on the piece 105 and/or on the body 100, said jack having a rod 123 provided with plate 124 with an opening in which the back rod 109 of the piece 105 is engaged, when the said jack is actuated the end 105B (opposite to the end 105A) is moved downwards so as to move upwards the swab 2; a plate 125 provided with a passage provided with a thread; a leg 126, a first end 126A of which is provided with a thread for working with the thread of the passage so as to adjust the position of the leg with respect to the plate 125, while the other end 126B of which is provided

with a connecting element 127 to which is connected an arm 128 on which a rod provided with a roller 129 is mounted, the connecting element permitting a rotation of the arm 128 around the axis F of the leg 126 so that when screwing the leg 126 into the passage, the position of the roller 129 can be adjusted, said roller being intended to roll on a part of the support 8 which has a face for example parallel to the axis of the cylinder or in a rail having an axis parallel to the axis of the cylinder, and -an element 130 attached to the piece 105 adjacent to the end 105A, the position of the free end 130A of which can be adjusted with respect to the piece 105, said element acting as a means for facilitating the correct placement of the swab with respect to the piece 105.

In case, the body can rotate around the cylinder 27, the body or the piece 101 can be provided with a roller 170 (shown in dashed lines in figure 8), said roller acting then as means for preventing or limiting a possible rotation of the body towards the element 1 to be coated. In case, a small rotation of the body around the cylinder 27 is admitted or required, the leg 126 can advantageously slide in the said passage as to adjust the position of the leg with respect to the plate 125. A spring 171 extending between the end 126B and the plate 125 exerts a force pushing away the roller 129 from the plate 125, so that the roller 170 and the roller 129 always contacts the support. In case the part on which the roller 129 rolls is not parallel to the axis of the cylinder 27 (for example in case the said part is parallel to the axis of rotation of the element), a slight rotation of the body will occur during the movement of the carriage 11.

The supporting means 8 comprises: -a first arm 81 provided with a supporting rod lOA possibly driven in rotation by the motor 26 through the gear mechanism 24, said supporting rod being adapted, possibly with a connector, to bear an end of the element , the first arm 81 acting also as means for supporting an end of the cylinder 27; -a ramp 121A adjacent to the arm 8, said ramp 121 working with the roller 120 for moving upwards the piece 105;

-a second arm 82 provided with a rotating supporting rod 1 OB being adapted, possibly with a connector, to bear an end of the element 1 and with a ramp 121B working with the roller 120 for moving upwards the piece 105, said arm being attached to the support 8 by fixing means permitting to vary the position of the arm 82 on the support so as to adjust the distance DIS between the arms 81 and 82 in function of the length of the element 1; -means 83 for supporting the cylinder 27.

For varying the pushing force H of the swab on the element 1 during the movement of the carriage 11, The bearing elements or rods lOA, lOB are aligned along a first axis Z, said axis being the axis of rotation of the element to be coated when the element is rotated during its coating. The mobile carriage is movable along the axis B corresponding to the axis of the guiding path 9. The axis Z forms an angle a with a line B 1 parallel to the axis B and crossing the said axis B, said angle being preferably comprised between 0.1° and 15°, for example between 0.1 and 5°, most specifically between 0.2 and 2°.

It means that the pushing force of the swab on the element will vary during the horizontal movement of the carriage 11 between a first pushing force when the carriage is adjacent to the arm 81 and a second pushing force when the carriage is adjacent to the arm 82. The said pushing force varies substantially continuously during the movement of the carriage during a coating operation.

This variation of pushing force is due to the fact that during the movement of the swab along the element 1, the piece 105 is submitted to a slight rotation against the action of the spring 112, whereby the pushing force of the swab on the element increases.

When the support 8 is placed vertically, the arm 81 is downwards with respect to the arm 82 and the coating operation is effected during the movement of the carriage from the arm 82 towards the arm 81. During said movement, the

pushing force decreases continuously from a maximum pushing force of the swab 2 on the element adjacent to the arm 82 to a minimum pushing force in the neighborhood of the arm 81. The vertical downwards coating is advantageously made only on fixed element (not driven in rotation), such as on doctor blade or wiper blade.

The various position of the swab 2 with respect to the element 1 during the movement of the carriage will now be described.

In figure 10, the carriage 11 is adjacent to the arm 81. The roller 120 contacts the ramp 121A, whereby the end 105A of piece 105 is rotated upwards with respect to the axis C. The plate 110 is rotated around the axis D so as to form a gap between the plate 110 and the bottom of the groove 107. Due to the upwards movement of the end 105A, the leg 117 is rotated around the axis towards the piece 103. The rod 2A provided with the swab is engaged in the said gap and is adjusted so that the position of the swab 2 corresponds substantially to the end position of the element 130.

The plate 110 is then rotated around the axis for pressing the rod 2A against the bottom of the groove 107, so that the rod 2A is fixed on the piece 105. (figure 11) The element to be coated placed between the rod 10A and 1 OB is possibly, but advantageously, driven in rotation.

The forward movement X of the carriage 11 is now actuated. The roller 120 rolls downwardly on the ramp 121A, so that the leg 117 does no more exert a force against the action of the spring 112. During said rolling, the end 105A of the piece 105, as well as the swab 2 are moved downwards, so that when the roller does o more contact the ramp 121A, the swab 2 contacts the element 1 to be coated. (figure 12)

Figure 13 shows the normal movement of the carriage 11 between the ramps 121A and 121B.

At the end of the coating operation, i. e. in the neighborhood of the arm 82, the roller 120 rolls upwardly on the ramp 121B. This upwards movement of the leg 117 causes an upwards rotation of the end 105A and of the swab 2 with respect to the axis E, whereby the swab no more contacts the element 1 (figure 14).

Thereafter, the carriage is moved back (Y) to a position adjacent to the arm 81.

During said back movement, the jack 122 is actuated so that the rod 123 is moved downwardly so as to maintain the end 105A and the swab 2 in an upper position, so as to prevent the swab from contacting the element 1. (figure 15) The device shown in the figure has been used for coating drums, magnetic roller, wiper blades and doctor blades of toner assembly, as well for primary charging roller and fuser roller.

When using the device, the atmosphere of the room is advantageously controlled so that the said atmosphere is substantially free of particles with a size greater than 1 u. m and has a temperature of between 15 and 30°C, for example about 20°C. A cleaned air flow, preferably a laminar air flow contacts the element during the coating, but also preferably before the coating and after the coating, for preventing the deposit of dust particles on the element to be coated before coating and on the coating.

For the coating of drums or rollers, the support is preferably substantially horizontal and the element to be coated is preferably driven in rotation (controlled rotation).

The thickness of the coating to be applied on the element is adjusted by the means 113, for example to 100im or to less than lOOpm, such as 1,2,3,5,10,20,30,50,75am. The means 113 can possibly be adjusted so as to

obtain thicker coating, such as coating with a thickness of 200pm and even more.

The speed of rotation and the speed of movement of the carriage can be controlled as usual for the man skilled in the art for obtaining a coating covering all the part of the drum or roller to be coated.

When using the device of the figures, it is possible to have the swab pressed with a controlled pressure on the element for obtaining an uniform coating.

In the process of the invention, the swab is pushed with a pushing force on the element to be coated and in which the said pushing force is controlled during the relative movement of the swab with respect to the element so as to obtain an uniform coating of the element.

When the coating is made during a horizontal movement of the carriage, the swab is pushed with a vertical pushing force on the element to be coated and in which the said vertical pushing force is controlled during the relative movement of the swab with respect to the element so as that said vertical pushing force varies continuously from a first pushing force to a. second pushing force, said second pushing force being greater than the first pushing force.

When the coating is made during a vertical downwards movement of the carriage, the swab is pushed with a horizontal pushing force on the element to be coated, the said horizontal pushing force is controlled during the relative movement of the swab with respect to the element so as that said horizontal pushing force varies continuously from a first pushing force to a second pushing force, said second pushing force being lower than the first pushing force.

When using the device in the process of coating, it is possible to ensure a back- and-forth motion of the swab with respect to the element to be coated. The swab contacts the element during at least a part of the forth motion, while the swab and the element are preferably aside during the back motion of the swab.

Various coating compositions can be used in the process of the invention. Said compositions can be sold in bottles or vials (the swabs having then to be impregnated before use) or as preimpregnated swabs. Preferable compositions are compositions sold by ICT Coatings under the name PCR KIT 1100A and 1500A, MR KIT l lOOA, 1500A, 1500B, l lOOC and 1500C, DB KIT 1100A, 1500A, 2100A and 2500A. Other compositions can however also be used. Said other compositions are the compositions sold by Cardinal Imaging Supplies under the name Easycoat, Instant Black, Superhard coat, ex super Mag, by Ameri tech Concept under the name PCR Re new, Cyclone Magroller Refinisher, Ultrahard Coat, by KLE under the name PCR Polycoat, PCR Ultracoat, Black Mag Roller Renew, Roller renew, OPC polycoat, Doctor Blade renew.

Possible coating compositions are compositions for obtaining an antistatic and anti abrasive coating, such as conductive and anti abrasive composition.

The invention relates also: to a process for recycling a toner cartridge comprising at least a magnetic roller and a doctor blade, in which the said doctor blade and magnetic roller are removed from the cartridge, in which the removed doctor blade and magnetic roller are coated with an antistatic and anti abrasive coating, and in which, after coating, the said doctor blade and magnetic roller are placed back in the cartridge; to a process for recycling a toner cartridge comprising at least a magnetic roller, a doctor blade, a photosensitive drum, a wiper blade, a fuser roller and a primary charge roller, in which the photosensitive drum and the wiper blade are removed from the cartridge, in which the removed photosensitive drum and wiper blade are coated with an antistatic and anti abrasive coating

preferably in a device of the invention, and in which, after coating, the said photosensitive drum and the wiper blade are placed back in the cartridge ; to a process for recycling a toner cartridge comprising at least a magnetic roller, a doctor blade, a photosensitive drum, a wiper blade, a fuser roller and a primary charge roller, in which at least three elements selected among the group consisting of magnetic roller, doctor blade, photosensitive drum, wiper blade, fuser roller and primary charge roller are removed from the cartridge, in which the said removed elements are coated with an anti abrasive coating preferably in a device of the invention, and in which, after coating, the said elements are placed back in the cartridge.

Possibly the cabinet 3 can be provided with lamps 150, for example colored lamps, red lamps, etc. and/or with panels acting as filter, for preventing the passage in the room of specific luminous waves.

Figure 16 is a view similar to that of figure 8, but for another embodiment of the carriage 11. Said embodiment is similar to that of figure 8, so that only a schematic side view is given. The carriage of figure 16 is not provided with rollers 129,170, said roller (s) being replaced by a second guiding axis or rod 200.

The carriage 11 of figure 16 comprises: -a body 100 with the cylindrical hole 29 in which the cylinder 27; -a piece 101 attached to the body 100, said piece 101 having two arms 103 defining there between a channel; -a piece 105 connected to the arms 103 by means of a pivot 106, whereby said piece 105 can pivot around the axis C, said piece 105 having an back rod 109, an upper groove 107 and a downwards recess 108; -a plate 110 partly engaged in the upper groove 107 and connected to the piece 105 by a pivot 111, so that the plate can pivot around an axis between a position in which the rod 2A of the swab 2 can be engaged between the

bottom of the groove 107 and the plate and a position in which the plate 110 acts on the rod 2A for preventing its movement in the groove 107; a spring 172 extending between the piece 101 and the leg 117, said spring exerting a force on the leg 117 so as to push said leg away from the piece 101; a spring 112 extending between a rod 173 fixed on the piece 101 and the piece 105; a means 113 for limiting the downwards movement of the end 105A, said means acting therefore as means for adjusting the pressure of the swab 2 on the element to be coated and as means for adjusting the thickness of the coating on the element, said means 113 comprising for example a control means attached to an arm 115 fixed to the piece 105, said control means controlling the displacement of an adjustable screw or rod 114, the free end 114A of which is intended to work with a plate 116 attached to the piece 101; a leg 117 having an upper part 117A engaged in the recess 108 of the piece 105, said upper part 117A being connected to the said piece 105 by means of a pivot 118 whereby the leg can pivot around the axis E, the downwards part 117B of the leg 117 is provided with a roller 120, while the central part of the leg 117 has a groove 118 in which a rod 119 fixed to the piece 105 can slide, the roller 120 being intended to work with a ramp 121B for moving the end l O5A of the piece 105 upwards against the action of the spring 112; a jack 122 fixed on the body 100, said jack having a rod 123 provided with plate 124 with a rod 124A acting on the back rod 109 of the piece 105 for moving upwardly the end 105A (when the said jack is actuated the end 105B (opposite to the end 105A) is moved downwards so as to move upwards the swab 2); a plate 125 provided with a passage; a roller 170 mounted on the piece 101, said roller being adapted for rolling on the support 8;

-a leg 126, a first end 126A of which is engaged in the passage of the plate 125 so that the said leg can slide in the said passage as to adjust the position of the leg with respect to the plate 125, while the other end 126B of which is provided with a connecting element 127 to which is connected an arm 128 on which a rod provided with a roller 129 is mounted, the connecting element permitting a rotation of the arm 128 around the axis F of the leg 126, a spring 171 extending between the end 126B and the plate 125 so as to exert a force pushing away the roller 129 from the plate 125, and -an element 130 attached to the piece 105 adjacent to the end 105A, the position of the free end 130A of which can be adjusted with respect to the piece 105, said element acting as a means for facilitating the correct placement of the swab with respect to the piece 105.

Figure 18 is a horizontal cross section view of a device similar to the device shown schematically in figure 1. The device of figure 8 is provided with two supports 8 provided each with a guiding path 9 and a means 10 for bearing the element to be coated, a mobile carriage 11 intended to bear a swab for coating the element being guided along the guiding path 9. Filters 19 are provided for filtering the air entering in the room 7 in which the supports 8 are located.

Said device is advantageous as it allows an increase of coating operation, as for example, when the coating of an element is carried out by a swab born by the carriage 11 of a first support, the coating of the element by the swab of the other support is finished, whereby allowing the removal of the coated element and the placement of a further element to be coated during a coating operation of an element. Possibly the device of the invention can be provided with more than 2 supports provided with coating carriage 11.

A support 8 of the device of Fig 18 is shown in figures 19 and 20, as well as partly in cross section in figure 30.

The carriage 11 intended to bear the swab is similar to the carriage 11 of figure 5. However, the carriage 11 of Figure 18 is provided with a stabilizing means.

Said stabilizing means comprises in the embodiment shown as example only, an axis or rod 200 parallel to the axis 9, said axis 200 acting as guiding path for a ring 201 attached to an arm 202 fixed to the carriage 11.

The axis 9 and the axis 200 are mounted by means of bearing elements 203 on a plate 204. The plate 204 is connected to the support 8 by a pivoting connection 205, the axis of pivotment 206 being perpendicular to the axis 9.

For adapting the angular position of the axis 9 with respect to the element to be coated or the means for bearing said element, the plate is provided with a means 208 having a rod 207 acting on the support 8. Said means 208 is advantageously mounted at the end of the plate 204 opposite to the end of the plate adjacent to the pivoting connection 205. By means for example of a fine screw mechanism 207, the rod 207A can moved towards the support 8 or backwards for causing a pivotment of the plate 204 around the axis 206 (upwards or downwards with respect to the support 8).

In order to ensure that the backwards movement of the plate is correctly carried out, the upwards pivotment of the plate 204 is advantageously carried counter the force or pressure of one or more springs 209. Said springs 209 exerts a force pushing the plate 204 towards the support 8. Said spring is for example mounted on a screw 210, the rod of which is attached to the support 8 and passes through an opening 211 of the plate 204. Each spring 209 is compressed between the head of the screw 210 and the plate 204. Such a mechanism allows a fine angular position of the axis 9 with respect to the support 8. The angle between the axis 9 and the support 8 (which is parallel to the axis of the bearing means for the element to be coated) can be adapted and maintained for example between-5° and +5°, most preferably between +0.1 ° and 2°. The embodiment can be adapted if required for larger angle or angular range.

The support 8 is connected to a base table 213 by a mechanism facilitating the movement of the support 8 between a horizontal position (figures 22 and 23) and a vertical position (figures 24 and 25) and facilitating a pivotment of the support with respect to the table 213 around a vertical axis 214. Said mechanism comprises a connecting piece 215, a first end of which is connected by a pivoting rod 216 to the support 8, while the other end is connected by means of a pivoting rod 217 to a substantially circular plate 218. The circular plate 218 is provided with two slots 219,220 having each the form of an arc of circles, said arcs of circle having the same center 221. The base plate 213 is provided with an opening 223 and with a supporting or guiding element 224.

The supporting or guiding element 224 is attached to the base plate 213 and is adapted to receive a cylindrical piece 225 attached to the circular plate 218.

The base plate is provided with slots similar to the slots 219,220. A bolt 226 is placed through the slot 220 of the circular plate 218 and the corresponding slot of the basic plate 213. A screw 227 is screwed on said bolt so as to push the circular plate 218 towards the base plate 213. On a similar way a bolt extends through the slot 219 of the circular plate 218 and the corresponding slot of the base plate 213, said bolt being on a similar way provided with a screw 227.

When the screws 227 exert a sufficient pushing of the circular plate 218 towards the base plate 213, the pivotment of the circular plate around the axis 214 can be prevented.

For the movement of the support 8 from a horizontal position (figure 23) towards a vertical position (figure 25), the support 8 is moved upwardly while keeping the end of the support 8 provided with the foot 228 adjacent to the base plate 213. When the support is in vertical position, a screw 229 is engaged in the opening 230 of the foot 228 for making a connection between the foot and the circular plate 218, i. e. for maintaining the vertical position of the support 8.

The bearing means 10 for bearing the element to be coated are advantageously provided with connecting pieces for connecting the bearing means with different element to be coated.

In figure 26, the bearing means 10 is provided with a rod 231 with an opening 232 adjacent to its free end. The rod 231 is provided with a plate 233.

The connecting piece 234 is a sleeve 235 provided with two slots 237 diametrically opposed and with a cut 238.

The sleeve has an inner diameter 239 adapted for enabling the engagement of the rod 231 of the bearing means 10 in said sleeve 235. Before said entering of the rod 231 into the sleeve 235, a spring 240 is placed on the rod 231. The engagement of the rod 231 into the sleeve 235 is thus carried out at least partly against the action of the spring 240. When the opening 232 of the rod 231 is in front of the slots 237, a shank or rod 241 is engaged in the slots 237 and in the opening 232 so as to connect together the sleeve and the rod 231. The rod 241 is able to slide in the slots 237 so as to allow a movement 242 of the sleeve against the action of the spring.

The end 243 of the sleeve adapted to contact the roller 244 to be coated is provided with a truncated form 245 adapted for close contacting the end 246 of the roller 244. The roller is provided with a movable axis, i. e. an axis 247 which is movable with respect to the roller 244. For an easy placement of the roller 244 on the sleeve, i. e. for an easy placement of the axis 247 into the sleeve 235, the sleeve is pushed towards the bearing means 10 against the action of the spring so as to have more place and so as to adapt the position of the cut 238 with respect to the axis 247 for enabling an easy passage of the axis through the cut into the sleeve 235.

The truncated form 245 of the end of the sleeve forms for example an angle of about 20° with respect to the axis 250 of the sleeve. Such an angle was found to be well adapted for having a sufficient contact with the roller so as to be able to drive it into rotation by means of the bearing means and a driving mechanism.

Figure 28 is a view of a connecting piece 252 similar to the connecting piece 234 of figure 26. The connecting piece 252 is directly mounted on the rod 231

of the bearing means. For example a screw 253 is screwed in the opening 254 of the sleeve 255 forming the connecting piece 252. By means of said screw, the sleeve 255 and the rod 231 engaged in said sleeve are secured the one with the other.

For having a possible movement 242 along the axis 250 of the sleeve 255, the bearing means can be mounted with a spring 256, said spring pushing for example the rod 231 away from a base support 257.

The free end of the sleeve is also truncated so as to ensure a good contact with a roller.

Figure 31 is another view showing a roller connected between two connecting pieces, one of which is similar to the connecting piece 252 of Figure 28, while the other is similar to the connecting piece 234 of figure 26. The connecting piece 252 is attached to the driving rod 10A driven by the gear mechanism 24 mounted on the arm 81 of the support 8. The connecting piece 234 is connected to a rod 280 by means of a ball bearing or a roller bearing 281. The rod 280 is pivotally mounted on the arm 82 and is provided with a head 282. A spring 283 extends between the connecting piece 234 and the arm 82, so as to push the connecting piece 234 towards the connecting piece 252. For the placement of the roller 244 between the connecting pieces 252 and 234, the head 282 is moved away from the arm 82 against the action of the spring 283 so as to increase the distance between the two connecting pieces 234 and 252 and so as to have more place for the placement of the roller 244. By turning the head 282, it is possible to adapt the position of the cut 238 so as to facilitate the engagement of the axis 247 into the sleeve 234. When the axis 10A is driven in rotation, the connecting piece 252 and the roller 244 are driven in rotation. The connecting piece 234 rotates then around the rod 280 due to the ball or roller bearing 281.

Figure 29 is an exploded view of a connecting mechanism for attaching a blade, such as a doctor blade to be coated. The bearing means 10 comprises two rods 131,277 on which connecting pieces 260 and 261 are mounted. The

piece 260 is mounted on the rod 131 (the connecting piece 260 is fixed on said rod by the screw or bolt 260A), while the piece 261 is mounted on a rod 277 and fixed to said rod 277 by means of a pin 277A intended to be engaged in a recess 261B of the piece 261. The connecting piece 261 is connected through the ring 271 and a locking system 261C intended to maintain a position of the connecting piece 261 A in its locked position and enabling a pivotment of the connecting piece 216A in its open position. Between the connecting pieces 260,261, a supporting plate 262 extends. Said supporting plate 262 is attached to said connecting pieces by the bolts 260B, 261D Said plate 262 has a leg 263 on which is glued a magnetic strip 264. The support plate is also provided with a recess 265 for receiving at least partly a flexible part 267 of the blade, for example of a doctor blade 266, the substrate 268 of which is magnetically fixed on the support 262. For ensuring a good positioning of the substrate, the substrate is provided with an opening 269, in which a pin born by the support plate 262 is engaged when the substrate is magnetically fixed on the plate 262.

The connecting piece 261 enables to adapt and maintain a position or an angular orientation of the plate 262.

The part 261 C is advantageously provided with angular marks for enabling a fine orientation of the part 261 A by means of the pointer 270 attached to the connecting piece by the bolt 270A.