Remanufacturing Toner Cartridges Goes One Step Further at RIT

Patent-pending wiper blade test fixture could save NY remanufacturers $2.5 million a year

Recycling even the smallest parts can save money and landfill space. That includes the small pieces in everyone’s office copier, printer, and fax machine.

If just half of New York state remanufacturers reused a mere 65 percent of the wiper blade components in toner cartridges, it would reduce landfill material by 65 tons per year, with a total savings of more than $2.5 million, the National Center for Remanufacturing and Resource Recovery (NCR3) at Rochester Institute of Technology estimates.

The wiper blade, an integral component in a toner cartridge, is in constant contact with the OPC drum. Its function is to thoroughly wipe off any residual toner from the drum before the next imaging cycle. Any defect in the cleaning edge lets toner pass by the blade, resulting in a black streak on the printed page.

In a recently completed yearlong study, the Imaging Products Laboratory at RIT found that up to 95 percent of original equipment manufactured toner cartridge blades can be reused 10 or more times without causing print defects. In fact, a used blade has a slightly less aggressive edge, reducing wear and tear on the OPC drum. The study also found that it’s very difficult, if not impossible, to reliably and repeatedly measure and quantify defects on the wiping edge using conventional means without damaging it in the process.

"Since the results of the study proved that wiper blades showed no functional degradation, even after 10 lifecycles, it became clear that a method to assess the cleaning edge of the blade was all that stood in the way of a huge reuse/recovery opportunity," says Nabil Nasr, director of the Center for Integrated Manufacturing Studies of which NCR3 is a unit.

So they built a machine that could.

NCR3’s Imaging Products Laboratory developed a patent-pending analyzing fixture that is able to detect and define defects in wiper blades without damaging the working edge. The Printer Wiper Blade Assessment System measures the functional condition of a wiper blade’s wiping edge.

"We believe this device has great potential, not only in helping remanufacturers add to their bottom lines, but also in the fact that tons of non-degradable waste will be diverted from the world’s landfills," Nasr says. "Toner cartridge remanufacturing is a prime example of how economic prosperity and environmental conservation can work hand-in-hand—when it makes economic sense to do things environmentally, the system takes care of itself."

NEWS RECAP:

• Up to 95 percent of OEM toner cartridge wiper blades can be reused 10 or more times
• A used wiper blade has a slightly less aggressive edge, reducing wear on the OPC drum
• NCR3’s Imaging Products Laboratory developed a patent-pending machine—the Printer Wiper Blade Assessment System—that measures the condition of a wiper blade’s wiping edge without damaging it
• If just half of New York state remanufacturers reused a mere 65 percent of wiper blades in toner cartridges, it would reduce landfill material by 65 tons per year, with a total savings of more than $2.5 million BACKGROUND: The Imaging Products Laboratory, part of the National Center for Remanufacturing and Resource Recovery at RIT, evaluates remanufactured toner and ink cartridges to assure standardized quality and helps OEMs and remanufacturers improve their products. The National Center for Remanufacturing and Resource Recovery is a unit of the Center for Integrated Manufacturing Studies (CIMS) at Rochester Institute of Technology. CIMS exists to increase the competitiveness of manufacturers through applied technology and training. Established in 1992, CIMS provides technology and workforce development solutions that strengthen industrial clients’ ability to compete in the global marketplace. CIMS represents a dynamic collaboration of in-house technical experts, as well as academic, industry, and government resources.

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