Keep for doctor blade holder

Abstract

An injection molded keep is disclosed that includes a thermoplastic material and a reinforcement material. The keep is positioned adjacent a top plate in a doctor blade holding apparatus and provides a slot opening between the keep and the top plate for receiving an end of a doctor blade in the slot opening.

1 . An injection molded keep comprising a thermoplastic material and a
 reinforcement material, said keep being positioned adjacent a top plate in a doctor blade holding apparatus and providing a slot opening between said keep and said top plate for receiving an end of a doctor blade in said slot opening.   
   
   
       2 . The keep as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said thermoplastic material includes at least one of a polyetheretherketone, polyphenylene sulfide, polyphthalamide polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene and polypropylene. 
   
   
       3 . The keep as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said reinforcement material includes a plurality of fibers. 
   
   
       4 . The keep as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein each of said fibers is formed of at least one of glass, carbon, aramid, ceramic and a thermoplastic material. 
   
   
       5 . The keep as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein each of said fibers has a largest dimension of between about 0.25 mm and about 15 mm. 
   
   
       6 . The keep as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein each of said fibers has a largest dimension of between about 0.5 mm and about 3 mm. 
   
   
       7 . The keep as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said reinforcement material includes a plurality of particles. 
   
   
       8 . The keep as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein each of said particles is formed of at least one of glass, silicon, carbide and calcium carbide. 
   
   
       9 . The keep as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein each of said particles has a diameter of between about 1 nm to about 1 mm. 
   
   
       10 . The keep as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein each of said particles has a diameter of between about 10 nm to about 100 nm. 
   
   
       11 . The keep as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said keep includes at least one gusset for providing additional structural rigidity. 
   
   
       12 . The keep as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said keep includes cavities that are positioned to provide a more uniform cross-sectional area that would exist on the keep without the cavities. 
   
   
       13 . The keep as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said keep includes a relieve in a surface for providing that a portion of the keep adjacent a fastening screw hole maintains contact with the top plate when the keep is secured to the top plate. 
   
   
       14 . An injection molded thermoplastic keep that is positioned adjacent a top plate in a doctor blade holding apparatus and provides a slot opening between said keep and said top plate for receiving an end of a doctor blade in the slot opening, said keep comprising a thermoplastic material and relief features in said thermoplastic keep, said relief features including at least one gusset that provides additional structural rigidity, at least one cavity that is positioned to provide a more uniform cross-sectional area that would exist on the keep without the cavity, and a relieve in a surface for providing that a portion of the keep adjacent a fastening screw hole maintains contact with the top plate when the keep is secured to the top plate. 
   
   
       15 . The keep as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said keep provides a flat portion of a surface that contacts the top plate, wherein said flat portion has a flatness tolerance of at least 0.250 inches per inch. 
   
   
       16 . The keep as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said keep provides the slot opening with a flat portion having a flatness tolerance of at least 0.250 inches per inch. 
   
   
       17 . The keep as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said thermoplastic material includes at least one of a polyetheretherketone, polyphenylene sulfide, polyphthalamide polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene and polypropylene. 
   
   
       18 . The keep as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said keep further includes a plurality of reinforcement fibers formed of at least one of glass, carbon, aramid, ceramic and a thermoplastic material. 
   
   
       19 . The keep as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said keep further includes a plurality of reinforcement particles formed of at least one of glass, silicon, carbide and calcium carbide. 
   
   
       20 . An injection molded thermoplastic keep that is positioned adjacent a top plate in a doctor blade holding apparatus and provides a slot opening between said keep and said top plate for receiving an end of a doctor blade in the slot opening, said keep comprising a nut retaining and anti-rotation cavity for receiving a nut that may be fastened to a screw that passes through the top plate. 
   
   
       21 . The keep as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein nut is received with said cavity in a snap-fit arrangement. 
   
   
       22 . The keep as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein said nut is adhered to the keep within the cavity.