Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image bearing member, a developing member, a transfer member, and a brush contacting a surface of the image bearing member in a contact portion downstream of a transfer portion and upstream of a developing portion with respect to a rotational direction of the image bearing member. The toner which is not transferred onto a toner image receiving member is collected by the developing member. In a charging series, the toner is positioned on the same side as a normal charge polarity of the toner relative to the brush. In the contact portion, a maximum value of a contact pressure of 0.7 gf/mm2 or more and 3.5 gf/mm2 or less, a maximum contact area ratio is 18% or more and 74% or less, and a Clark-Evans index of the brush is 1 or more.

Abstract: A fixing member includes a substrate having an endless shape; and an elastic layer on an outer peripheral surface of the substrate, the elastic layer containing a silicone rubber and fillers dispersed in the silicone rubber, a content of the fillers with respect to the elastic layer being 35 vol % or more and 50 vol % or less. The fillers includes at least a first filler and a second filler. The first filler is at least one selected from the group consisting of: magnesium oxide; and zinc oxide. The second filler is at least one selected from the group consisting of metal silicon and silicon carbide. A proportion of a sum of the first filler and the second filler to a total amount of the fillers in the elastic layer is 90 vol % or more. Further, the average of 6 sets of representative coefficient A is 1.4 or more.

Abstract: An apparatus prevents electrical arcing between a motor including a rotating shaft and an associated bearing within a motor housing. A brush is formed of a conductive fabric for electrically connecting the rotating shaft to the motor housing. The conductive fabric may comprise randomly arranged or non-woven conductive fibers in contact or woven conductive fibers. The fabric may comprise a wool or felt. The apparatus may be applied to a fan. A related method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A pressure device presses against a pressed member. The pressure device includes a support shaft and a presser that pivots about the support shaft and presses against the pressed member. A mover moves the support shaft in an axial direction of the support shaft to move the presser in the axial direction of the support shaft in a state in which the presser presses against the pressed member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable roller member held in press-contact with an image bearing member, and a deformation determining unit that determines deformation of the roller member based on a value of a current flowing between the roller member and the image bearing member in response to application of a voltage to the roller member. The deformation determining unit performing detection of the deformation of the roller member in response to a predetermined indication before start of an image forming operation. In addition, a restoring unit restores deformation of the roller member based on a detection result of the deformation determining unit.

Abstract: An image forming unit includes: a photoconductive drum; a charging member extending in a direction along a rotary shaft of the photoconductive drum; and a holding member holding the charging member at a frame member. While held at the frame member with the holding member in between, the charging member is arranged in parallel to the photoconductive drum in contact with a circumferential surface of the photoconductive drum with their rotary shafts in parallel. The holding member and the frame member respectively have interference-preventing-shaped parts provided at a tip part of the holding member in a direction where the holding member is attached and at a position of the frame member receiving the holding member. The interference-preventing-shaped parts are capable of first making contact with each other upon attachment of the charging member to the frame member to thereby prevent interference between the holding member and the photoconductive drum.

Abstract: An electro-conductive multifilament yarn for an electro-conductive brush that includes an electro-conductive fiber containing a synthetic fiber and a carbon nanotube covering a surface of the fiber. The synthetic fiber may have a single-filament fineness of not more than 30 dtex. The synthetic fiber may have 3 to 6 elongated recesses or grooves extending in a longitudinal direction thereof and have a multi-leaves or cross-section.

Abstract: To provide a charging device and an image forming apparatus that can restrict generation of a winding-seam irregularity of a roll brush for a long period. A charging device 2 is configured so that, when first and second charging members 21a and 21b perform charging processing on a rotating photosensitive member 3, a region 40a on a surface of the photosensitive member 3 facing a winding seam 35a, which is a seam of a base cloth 31 serving as a base material of the first charging member 21a, is not superposed on a region 40b on the surface of the photosensitive member 3 facing a winding seam 35b, which is a seam of a base cloth 31 serving as a base material of the second charging member 21b.

Abstract: A charging device includes a charging member that includes a rotating shaft and charges a surface of a charging object while rotating in contact with the charging object, a cleaning member that includes a rotating shaft and removes unwanted matter from a surface of the charging member while rotating in contact with the charging member, and a bearing member that includes first and second receiving portions each having an open part on one side thereof and a substantially concave-shaped bottom on another side thereof. The first and second receiving portions receive circumferences of the rotating shafts of the charging member and the cleaning member, respectively, at the bottoms thereof. The open parts of the first receiving portion and the second receiving portion face respectively different directions. A part of an inner surface of the second receiving portion forms a part of an outer surface of the first receiving portion.

Abstract: Disclosed is a photosensitive drum that is provided with a structure that can decrease noise-causing vibrations without being accompanied by the addition of new parts. The photosensitive drum (2) is provided with a tube-shaped conductive base (11) on the surface of which a photosensitive layer (12) is formed, and flanges (13) attached to both ends of the conductive base (11) by being inserted into said both ends. The end sections (13a) of the flanges (13) in the tube-length direction (Z) of the conductive base (11) contact the inner surface (11a) of the conductive base (11) within an electrically-charged region (Le) of the photosensitive layer (12).

Abstract: A charging device includes a charging member that is rotatably provided in contact with a surface of a charge member, and that charges the surface of the charge member with contactors thereof. The contactors contact the surface of the charging member at charging areas. Directions of inclinations of the contactors differ in accordance with the charging areas.

Abstract: This invention provides a charging member exhibiting high electrical charge injection efficiency. The charging member has an electro conductive base and an electro conductive fiber, one end of which is connected to the base, in which the fiber contains a plurality of carbon nanotubes which are entangled, and the carbon nanotubes are exposed at the tip portion of the fiber.

Abstract: To provide a charging device and an image forming apparatus that can restrict generation of a winding-seam irregularity of a roll brush for a long period. A charging device 2 is configured so that, when first and second charging members 21a and 21b perform charging processing on a rotating photosensitive member 3, a region 40a on a surface of the photosensitive member 3 facing a winding seam 35a, which is a seam of a base cloth 31 serving as a base material of the first charging member 21a, is not superposed on a region 40b on the surface of the photosensitive member 3 facing a winding seam 35b, which is a seam of a base cloth 31 serving as a base material of the second charging member 21b.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a brush roller, rotatable in a predetermined rotational direction, contacted to the image bearing member; and an applying device for applying a bias to the brush roller. The brush roller includes a shaft and a woven fabric brush including fibers planted in a strip-like base material, which is wound helically about the shaft with a helical winding gap. The woven fabric brush is subjected to fiber slanting processing so that the fibers of the helically wound woven fabric brush are slanted, so as to cover the helical winding gap, from a downstream side toward an upstream side with respect to a longitudinal direction in which a helically extending widthwise edge of the base material appears to be moving when the brush roller rotates in the predetermined rotational direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable drum, a charging section for charging the drum, a latent image forming section, a potential detector, a phase detector, and a controller. The charging section includes a first carrying member and a second carrying member for carrying electroconductive magnetic particles. The second carrying member is disposed downstream of said first carrying member. The latent image forming section forms a latent image on the drum, and is disposed downstream of the charging section. The potential detector detects a surface potential of the drum, and is disposed downstream of the charging section. The phase detector detects information relating to a rotational phase of the second carrying member. The controller controls voltages applied to the first carrying member and to the second carrying member, on the basis of a result of detection by the potential detector and a result of detection by the phase detector.

Abstract: A charging device includes a charging member that is rotatably provided in contact with a surface of a charge member, and that charges the surface of the charge member with contactors thereof. The contactors contact the surface of the charging member at charging areas. Directions of inclinations of the contactors differ in accordance with the charging areas.

Abstract: This invention provides a charging member exhibiting high electrical charge injection efficiency. The charging member has an electro conductive base and an electro conductive fiber, one end of which is connected to the base, in which the fiber contains a plurality of carbon nanotubes which are entangled, and the carbon nanotubes are exposed at the tip portion of the fiber.

Abstract: An electro-conductive multifilament yarn for forming an electro-conductive brush comprises an electro-conductive fiber containing a synthetic fiber and a carbon nanotube covering a surface of the fiber. The synthetic fiber may have a single-filament fineness of not more than 30 dtex. The synthetic fiber may have 3 to 6 elongated recesses or grooves extending in a longitudinal direction thereof and have a multi-leaves or star-shaped cross-section. The electro-conductive multifilament yarn of the present invention has a high electro-conductivity and may have an electric resistance value of 1×106 to 1×1011 ?/cm at 20° C. Further, the electro-conductivity has a high uniformity; the standard deviation of a logarithm of the electric resistance value may be not more than 1.0.

Abstract: An image forming method and apparatus in which a protective agent is supplied to an image carrier, and the image carrier is charged by a plurality of charging units. Degrees of discharge deterioration of the surface of the image carrier in the plurality of charging units are different, and the amount of protective agent supplied to a charging portion of a charging unit, in which a degree of discharge deterioration of the surface of the image carrier is high, is large.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a charging device, including a rotatable magnetic particle carrying member and electroconductive magnetic particles carried on the rotatable magnetic particle carrying member, for charging the image bearing member by contacting the magnetic particles to the image bearing member; a measuring device for measuring magnitudes of a first force in a first direction and a second force in a second direction which are produced in a contact region between the image bearing member and the magnetic particles, wherein the first direction and second direction are independent from each other; and a control device for controlling an image forming operation on the basis of the forces measured by the measuring device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive member; a charging member configured to charge the photosensitive member at a photosensitive member charging position to form an electrostatic image on the photosensitive member; a developing device configured and positioned to develop the electrostatic image with toner to form a toner image; a transferring device configured to transfer the toner image to an image receiving member at a transfer position; a first brush, disposed at a position downstream of the transfer position and upstream of the photosensitive member charging position with respect to a rotational direction of the photosensitive member, configured to charge a residual toner on the photosensitive member at a toner charging position to collect the residual toner to the developing device and to be supplied with a charging bias having a polarity opposite to a regular charge polarity of the toner; and a second brush, disposed at a position downstream of the toner charging position and upstream

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, wherein a surface resistivity Rse[?] of a charger and a volume resistivity Rsw [?·cm] of the composition having a low softening point satisfy the following relationship: 0.8×10?1Rse<Rvw<1.5×10Rse is provided. The image forming apparatus contains a photoreceptor; a charger configured to charge the photoreceptor with a charger contacting thereto; an irradiator configured to irradiate the photoreceptor to form an electrostatic latent image thereon; an image developer configured to develop the electrostatic latent image with a toner to form a toner image on the photoreceptor; a transferer configured to transfer the toner image onto a recording material directly or through an intermediate transferer; and a fixer configured to fix the toner image on the recording material, wherein the toner comprises: a binder resin; a colorant; a composition having a low softening point; and an external additive.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a brush roller, rotatable in a predetermined rotational direction, contacted to said image bearing member; and an applying device for applying a bias to the brush roller. The brush roller includes a shaft and a woven fabric brush including fibers planted in a strip-like base material which is wound helically about the shaft with a helical winding gap. The woven fabric brush is subjected to fiber-slanting processing so that the fibers of the helically wound woven fabric brush are slanted, so as to cover the helical winding gap, from a downstream side toward an upstream side with respect to a longitudinal direction in which a helically extending widthwise edge of the base material is seen moving when the brush roller rotates in the predetermined rotational direction.

Abstract: In the case where image formation is performed by using a part of a plurality of image forming units, an associated image bearing member of a remaining part of the plurality of image forming units is rotated together with an intermediary transfer member or a recording material carrying member while a voltage of a polarity opposite to that of polishing particles is applied to an electric charge imparting member.

Abstract: A technology capable of realizing a stable charging performance in an image forming apparatus employing a contact charging system is provided. A charging device is configured to have a charging member to which a prescribed bias voltage is applied and which comes into contact with an image carrying surface of an image carrier to charge the image carrying surface; and a particle supply section configured to supply a charging auxiliary particle made of a conductive particle having a diamond particle contained therein in a portion coming into contact with the image carrying surface in the charging member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member and a charging device configured to charge the image bearing member. The charging device includes a magnetic particle carrier and a magnetic particle regulating member configured to regulate magnetic particles carried by the magnetic particle carrier. The charging device causes the magnetic particles carried by the magnetic particle carrier to contact the image bearing member, and applies a voltage to the magnetic particle carrier to charge the image bearing member. An electrode has a contact area via which the electrode can contact magnetic particles stored in a particle pool defined by the magnetic particle carrier and the magnetic particle regulating member. The contact area is variable according to an amount of the magnetic particles stored in the particle pool. A current detection device detects a value of current flowing from the magnetic particle carrier to the electrode via the magnetic particles.

Abstract: A charging member that charges residual toner on an intermediate transfer belt is a charging brush constituted by conductive fibers including an electric insulating portion and an electric conductive portion. Part of the outer circumferential surface of each conductive fiber is the conductive portion.

Abstract: A charging device for charging an image supporting member includes a charging roller for charging the image supporting member; and a cleaning member for cleaning the surface of the charging roller. The charging roller has a surface, and the surface has irregularity oriented in a direction opposite to a direction that the cleaning member slides against the charging roller. Further, the surface has a maximum peak height Rp within a range of 2 ?m?Rp?10 ?m, and an average profile length RSm within a range of 40 ?m?RSm?200 ?m.

Abstract: A charging apparatus for charging a member to be charged by contacting magnetic particles to the member to be charged, includes a magnetic particle carrying member for magnetically carrying the magnetic particles, wherein the magnetic particle carrying member is provided at a longitudinal end portion of the magnetic particle carrying member with an insulative portion for electrically insulating from the magnetic particles carried by the magnetic particle carrying member; and an electroconductive member disposed for contacting the magnetic particles carried on the insulative portion, wherein an absolute value of a potential of the electroconductive member is lower than an absolute value of a voltage applied to the magnetic particle carrying member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that is more capable of preventing the occurrence of image quality deterioration caused by defective charging of a photoreceptor than the conventional one. As a charging device, there is used a member which has: a conductive sheet that causes the surface thereof applied with a predetermined bias to abut against the surface of the photoreceptor after passing through a primary transfer nip obtained by abutment between the photoreceptor and an intermediate transfer belt and before entering a development step performed by a developing device; a conductive brush member that applies a predetermined bias to the surface of the photoreceptor obtained after passing through the position of abutment with the sheet and before entering the development step; and a charging roller that uniformly charges the surface of the photoreceptor after passing through the position of abutment with the brush and before entering the development step.

Abstract: There is provided a charging technique in which the generation of ozone is suppressed and charging efficiency can be improved. A charging device includes a contact unit configured to include a magnetic brush coming in contact with a body to be charged, the contact unit including, as a magnetic particle forming the magnetic brush, the magnetic particle containing at least a particle having a negative electronegativity, and a voltage application unit configured to negatively charge the body to be charged by applying a specified bias voltage through the magnetic brush in the contact unit to the body to be charged.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cleaning blade for removing toner from a rotatable photosensitive member by contacting the photosensitive member at a contact position after a transfer operation of a transfer member. The cleaning blade has an end which is outside the end of a magnetic particle carrying region. A cleaning brush is disposed upstream of the contact position with respect to a rotational direction of the photosensitive member, for removing the toner from the photosensitive member by contacting the photosensitive member. The cleaning brush has an end which is outside the end of the magnetic particle carrying region.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of reducing white streaks in gray images and an image forming method using the same are provided. The image forming apparatus including a charging means, a developing means, a transferring means, and a discharging means which are arranged in sequence around a monolayer type electrophotographic photoconductor. The charging means is a means for positively charging the surface of the monolayer type electrophotographic photoconductor, and the pre-charging means has a conductive brush composed of a conductive substrate and conductive brush filaments and is arranged between the charging means and the discharging means. The conductive filaments on the surface of the photoconductor have a bending ratio that is calculated so that the conductive brush filament tips are properly curved near the surface of the photoconductor so as to reduce abnormal discharge between the conductive brush and the surface of the photoconductor.

Abstract: A pulse-like DC voltage is applied from two power sources to transfer residual toner uniformizing means and toner charge amount control means, respectively, to expel transfer residual toner deposited on these means from these means onto a photosensitive drum. In a low humidity environment, the number of application of the DC voltage is increased so as to sufficiently expel the transfer residual toner because the transfer residual toner is less liable to be expelled even when the pulse-like DC voltage is applied to the above two means in the low humidity environment in which an absolute moisture content in atmosphere is small and electrical resistances at portions of a photosensitive drum contacting the above two means.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, performing a corresponding method of image forming, includes an image carrier, a writing unit, a developing unit, a charging member configured to rotate continuously with the image carrier at a portion contacting the image carrier and uniformly charge a surface of the image carrier while contacting a surface thereof with the surface of the image carrier, a charge bias applying unit configured to apply a charge bias to the charging member, and a controller configured to control of driving of the image carrier and the charging member and reduce at a charge nip at a given timing a linear velocity ratio of a travel speed of the surface of the charging member to a travel speed of the surface of the image carrier.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and process cartridge employed in same which, when contact charging processing is implemented employing a brush roller, suppresses the generation of localized excessive discharge and suppresses a state of localized excessive discharge on a photosensitive drum surface. Charging means is configured from a brush roller in the surface of which a brush is formed, drive means for rotationally driving the brush roller, and a power source for applying a prescribed charging voltage to the brush roller, and uniformly charges the surface of the latent image carrier by bringing the brush roller into contact with the surface of the latent image carrier.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with a cooling fan for cooling toner boxes within the apparatus. The outlet of the cooling fan and the toner boxes are connected by flexible tubes, respectively. This makes it possible to connect the cooling fan with the toner boxes even if there is not sufficient space, thereby enabling cooling of the toner boxes.

Abstract: An image forming method and apparatus is disclosed. The method may include charging a rotating latent image bearing member with a rotating charger selected from at least one of contact chargers and short range chargers; irradiating the rotating latent image bearing member with imagewise light to form an electrostatic latent image on the latent image bearing member; developing the electrostatic latent image with a developer including a toner having a charge to form a toner image on the latent image bearing member; transferring the toner image onto a receiving material; and forming an electric field between the charger and the latent image bearing member after the toner image transferring such that charged materials present on the surface of the charger fly toward the latent image bearing member.

Abstract: A cleaning device for use with an electrophotographic image forming apparatus has a charging brush positioned in contact with an endless image bearing surface of a rotatable image bearing member to form a contact region in which the brush provides an electric charge with a certain polarity to toner particles passing through the contact region according to a rotation of the image bearing member, and a cleaning member positioned on a downstream side with respect to a rotational direction of the image bearing member and in contact with the image bearing surface of the image bearing member to collect the toner particles from the image bearing surface. The charging brush has a base and a number of bristles planted in the base. A contact force of the charging brush against the image bearing surface is set to be more than 0 N/m and equal to or less than 1.5 N/m.

Abstract: An image forming method includes supplying a protective agent to an image carrier, and charging the image carrier by a plurality of charging units, wherein degrees of discharge deterioration of the surface of the image carrier in the plurality of charging units are different, and wherein, in the amounts of protective agent supplied to charging portions of the plurality of charging units, the amount of protective agent supplied to a charging portion, in which a degree of discharge deterioration of the surface of the image carrier is high, is large.

Abstract: A charger includes: a charging brush which is rotatably provided and is brought into contact with an image carrier to charge the surface of the image carrier; a charging roller which is brought into contact with the image carrier at a portion on the downstream side relative to the charging brush in the rotational direction of the image carrier to charge the surface of the image carrier; and a controller which controls voltages applied to the charging brush and charging roller, wherein the controller controls voltages applied to the charging brush and charging roller such that one-fifth of the absolute value of a charging brush current flowing between the image carrier and charging brush is lower than the absolute value of a charging roller current flowing between the image carrier and charging roller.

Abstract: A charging device that switches and executes a first mode which brings a magnetic brush into contact with a photosensitive member to charge a surface of the photosensitive member and a second mode which collects a two-component developing agent including a toner and a carrier, which remains on the surface of the photosensitive member. The charging device includes a magnetic brush carrying roller, a toner collecting roller, a toner removing member, and a regulating member. The toner collecting roller is located further on a downstream side than the regulating member and further on an upstream side than a contact position of the magnetic brush and the photosensitive member in a moving direction of a roller surface of the magnetic brush carrying roller.

Abstract: A charging device for applying a voltage to a latent image carrier of an image forming apparatus includes a brush roller, a voltage applying mechanism, and a driving mechanism. The brush roller includes a shaft and a brush. The brush has an oblique brush amount, and is disposed on an outer surface of the shaft while being disposed to a surface of the latent image carrier such that the brush roller is abutted with a brush contact amount. This brush is configured to uniformly charge the surface of the latent image carrier. The voltage applying mechanism is configured to apply a charging voltage to the brush roller. The driving mechanism is configured to drive the brush roller at a predetermined rotation number to satisfy a relationship Z>150?50 A, where Z is a rotation number (rpm) of the brush roller, and A is the oblique brush amount (mm).

Abstract: An apparatus includes an image bearing member for carrying an image; an intermediary transfer member for receiving the image; a primary transfer member for transfer of the image onto the intermediary transfer member in a primary transfer station; a secondary transfer member for transfer of the image onto a transfer material in a secondary transfer station; a first charging member for charging toner remaining in a region upstream of the primary transfer station and downstream of the secondary transfer station; and a second charging member for charging the toner remaining in a region upstream of the primary transfer station and downstream of the first charging member. The first charging member rubs a surface of, and the second charging member moves in contact with, the intermediary transfer member, to transfer the toner remaining on the intermediary transfer member to the image bearing member simultaneously with the primary transfer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member and a charging device configured to charge the image bearing member. The charging device includes a magnetic particle carrier and a magnetic particle regulating member configured to regulate magnetic particles carried by the magnetic particle carrier. The charging device causes the magnetic particles carried by the magnetic particle carrier to contact the image bearing member, and applies a voltage to the magnetic particle carrier to charge the image bearing member. An electrode has a contact area via which the electrode can contact magnetic particles stored in a particle pool defined by the magnetic particle carrier and the magnetic particle regulating member. The contact area is variable according to an amount of the magnetic particles stored in the particle pool. A current detection device detects a value of current flowing from the magnetic particle carrier to the electrode via the magnetic particles.

Abstract: A charging unit available in a process unit detachably attached to an image forming apparatus includes a charging member configured to uniformly charge a surface of an image carrying member while contacting the image carrying member, and a charge bias applying unit configured to apply a charge bias superimposing a direct current voltage on an alternating current voltage to the charging member. The alternating current voltage satisfies a relational expression of “Vpp×0.4/t?8.8×103”, “Vpp” representing a peak-to-peak voltage of the alternating current voltage in the charge bias, and “t” representing a time period from a first point of a swing of a wave component starting to swing by a large amount to a same polarity as the direct current voltage of the charge bias to a second point of the swing of the wave component reaching approximately 80% of an amplitude of the wave component.

Abstract: A charging device at least includes a first charging member held in contact with an image carrier, a toner image of toner containing toner mother particles and an external additive added thereto being to be formed thereon, a bias showing a polarity same as that of the charged potential of toner being to be applied thereto, a second charging member arranged downstream relative to the first charging member as viewed in the moving direction of the image carrier and in held in contact with the image carrier, a bias showing a polarity opposite to the charged potential of toner being to be applied thereto, a collection member held in contact with the second charging member to collect the toner adhering to the second charging member, a bias being to be applied thereto and a collection member bias control unit for controlling the bias to be applied to the collection member according to image forming conditions information.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an organic photoconductor having a surface layer containing fluorine-containing resin particles whose number average primary particle size is not less than 0.02 ?m and is less than 0.20 ?m; a charging device to charge by bring an charging member in contact with the organic photoconductor; a latent image forming device to for a latent image on the organic photoconductor; a developing device to visualize the latent image with toner and to form a toner image on the organic photoconductor; and a transferring device to transfer the toner onto a transfer material.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive member; a charging member configured to charge the photosensitive member at a photosensitive member charging position to form an electrostatic image on the photosensitive member; a developing device configured and positioned to develop the electrostatic image with toner to form a toner image; a transferring device configured to transfer the toner image to an image receiving member at a transfer position; a first brush, disposed at a position downstream of the transfer position and upstream of the charging position with respect to a rotational direction of the photosensitive member, configured to charge a residual toner on the photosensitive member at a toner charging position to collect the residual toner to the developing device and to be supplied with a charging bias having a polarity opposite to a regular charge polarity of the toner; and a second brush, disposed at a position downstream of the toner charging position and upstream of the photosensitive

Abstract: A process cartridge includes a latent image carrier, a charging unit, a latent image forming unit, a developing unit, a transfer unit, a rotary brush contacting a curved surface of the latent image carrier to form a nip, and a brush housing including a first tip and a second tip, covering the rotary brush such that a place where the rotary brush contacts the latent image carrier is opened. A downstream end of the nip where the rotary brush contacts the latent image carrier in the rotation direction of the rotary brush is not higher than a center of curvature of the latent image carrier where the rotary brush contacts, and the first tip of the brush housing is downstream of the rotary brush, further toward the latent image carrier than a tangent to the surface of the latent image carrier at the downstream end of the nip.