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Wiper Blade Edge Analyzer - Commercialization Experience

Wiper Blade Edge Analyzer - Commercialization Experience. National Center for Remanufacturing and Resource Recovery (NC3R) Andy Harlan Industrial Programs Manager. What is a wiper blade?. A sheetmetal and urethane subassembly used to scrape residual toner from an imaging (OPC) drum

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Wiper Blade Edge Analyzer - Commercialization Experience

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  1. Wiper Blade Edge Analyzer -Commercialization Experience National Center for Remanufacturing and Resource Recovery (NC3R) Andy Harlan Industrial Programs Manager

  2. What is a wiper blade? • A sheetmetal and urethane subassembly used to scrape residual toner from an imaging (OPC) drum • Typical cost - $1.00 - $2.50 • Often disposed during remanufacturing process due to fear of mid-cycle failure

  3. Re-use study • After studying the wiper blade and the probability of re-use, it was determined that the blade could actually be re-used up to ten (10) times, ONLY if the working edge was not compromised (voids). • How do you inspect the working edge?

  4. Intellectual Property • Develop a method of edge inspection that does not damage the sensitive working edge of the blade • Must be cost effective • Must support production demands • Prove reliable and repeatable results • Find commercialization partner

  5. Commercialization • Finding a partner was easy – Optical Technologies Corporation (OTC), in Long Island City, NY was also a partner in the original wiper blade re-use study OTC also distributes many components to the toner cartridge aftermarket – very well connected and respected

  6. Commercialization • With the help of the Technology Licensing Office, an agreement was reached between RIT and OTC for exclusive licensing of the technology • OTC would process blades from multiple remanufacturing sites and pay RIT a royalty on only the blades that passed

  7. Commercialization • Although many companies were interested in participating in this process, it was quickly determined that it was cost prohibitive to ship the blades cross country or over seas • A sub-licensing arrangement was drafted that enabled OTC to sub-license the technology to companies • Sub-license to China was not allowed

  8. Supporting the Licensee • As more companies are acquiring the device, accommodations need to be put into place: • Support • Spare parts • Users guide • Embedded counters (for accurate accounting / invoicing) • Unique “problems” to overcome

  9. Global Awareness of NC3R • There have been eleven (11) devices built to date with clients in the US, Canada, Japan, Austria, Germany, England, and Australia • Won NYS Governor’s Award for Pollution Prevention • Over 1,000,000 blades have been processed to date

  10. Future Opportunities • This device has enabled the development of another intellectual property idea – The OPC Drum Life Cycle Analyzer.

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