Abstract: A cleaning device including a first blade contacting a surface of an image carrier and a second blade separate from the first blade to contact the surface of the image carrier at a position downstream from the first blade in a direction of rotation of the image carrier relative to a transfer position on the surface of the image carrier. A leading end of the second blade facing up is positioned upstream from a trailing end of the second blade relative to the direction of rotation of the image carrier. A first edge of the leading end of the second blade contacts the surface of the image carrier at a point on the surface of the image carrier below a second edge of the leading end of the second blade.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus has a plurality of image forming units for forming a developer image on a recording medium, and a fixing device for fixing the developer image to the recording medium. Each of said image forming units has an image bearing body that bears the developer image, and a cleaning portion that removes residual developer from said image bearing body. Said cleaning portion of said image forming unit is disposed closest to said fixing device and includes a cleaning blade that has repulsion elasticity at a predetermined temperature, and said repulsion elasticity is lower than that of a cleaning blade of said cleaning portion of at least one of said image forming units disposed farther from said fixing device.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a rotary member that contacts with an image carrier and moves materials on a surface of the image carrier along a rotation direction of the rotary member; a scraping member that contacts with the rotary member to scrape the materials adhering on the rotary member; a collected material receiving portion disposed downstream of a contact portion of the rotary member and the scraping member in a gravity direction; plural openings provided along a width direction of the image carrier by a partition member, through which the materials scraped by the scraping member pass to the collected material receiving portion; a protrusion portion that is arranged between the openings and the contact portion of the rotary member and the scraping member, and protrudes toward an upstream side in a rotation direction of the rotary member.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method for cleaning including, scraping off, agitating, or capturing, in non-contact with a belt surface, a visualizing material present on the belt surface and fiber or powder different from the visualizing material, coming into contact with the belt surface and scraping off, agitating, or capturing the visualizing material present on the belt surface and the fiber or the powder different from the visualizing material, and being located in contact with the belt surface at predetermined pressure and scraping off the visualizing material present on the belt surface and the fiber or powder different from the visualizing material.

Abstract: A cleaning device may include a polishing roller, an ejection member, and a conveying member. In some embodiments, the polishing roller may be configured to remove and collect a residual substance adhering to a surface of an image bearing member while rotating in contact with the image bearing member. In an embodiment, the ejection member may be configured to eject the substance collected by the polishing roller to the outside of the cleaning device. An embodiment may include a conveying member configured to follow the rotation of the polishing roller by being in contact with the polishing roller and to convey toner in the cleaning device on a surface of the polishing roller in an axial direction of the polishing roller. When an image is not formed, the polishing roller rotates in a direction opposite a rotating direction in which the polishing roller rotates when an image is formed.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning blade configured to abut with a surface of the image carrier member, and to remove residual toner from the surface of the image carrier member; a cleaning roller rotatably configured to attach residual toner removed by the cleaning blade to the surface and make abrasive contact with the surface of the image carrier member; a toner layer regulating member configured to regulate residual toner attached to the cleaning roller to a predetermined toner layer thickness and scrape and remove excess residual toner; a frame member configured to store residual toner scraped and removed from the cleaning roller; and a toner supply member configured to make contact with the cleaning roller to attach residual toner stored in the frame member to the surface, and to attach residual toner attached to the surface to the cleaning roller.

Abstract: A cleaning device of the present invention includes: a housing with an opening that is open toward a photoreceptor drum; a cleaning roller that is contained inside the housing and disposed in contact with the photoreceptor drum; a sealing member for preventing toner leakage, detachably fixed to the housing; a separation claw that separates paper from a surface of the photoreceptor drum; and a positioning member that is integrated with the separation claw, in which the sealing member is positioned and fixed on the housing by the positioning member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with an image bearing member for bearing a toner image while rotating, a toner image forming device for forming the toner image on the image bearing member, a neutralizer for neutralizing electric charges on the image bearing member by irradiating light to the charged image bearing member after the toner image formed on the rotating image bearing member is transferred to a transfer material, and a frame for supporting the neutralizer. A first clearance is present between the neutralizer and the frame.

Abstract: A cleaning device 20 for removing a toner remaining on an image bearing member 5A after transfer, including: a polarity control member 23 configured to unify polarities of the remaining toner on the image bearing member 5A, a cleaning member 25 configured to remove the remaining toner having a polarity unified by the polarity control member 23, a collecting member 24 configured to collect the remaining toner transferred to the cleaning member 25, a blade 26 configured to remove the remaining toner from the collecting member 24, and a brush roller 21 configured to sweep the remaining toner on the image bearing member 5A and inject charge, disposed upstream of the polarity control member 23 in the traveling direction of the image bearing member 5A.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developer housing that holds a developer; a lubricant supply brush that rotates when in contact with the developer housing, and that supplies a lubricant to a surface of the developer housing; a lubricant that is in contact with the lubricant supply brush; a first voltage supply unit that supplies an AC voltage on which a DC voltage is superimposed to the lubricant supply brush; a determination unit that determines whether or not a usage state of the developer housing is a state at an initial stage; and a controller that controls the first voltage supply unit to supply the AC voltage on which the DC voltage is superimposed to the lubricant supply brush, prior to start of execution of an image forming operation if the determination unit determines that the usage state of the developer housing is the state at the initial stage.

Abstract: Provided is a cleaning roll (conductive roll) including a core, a coating layer formed thereon, and a shaft along the axis of the core. The coating layer contains a bismaleimide resin and a conductive agent. Also provided are a cleaning unit, a process cartridge, and an image-forming apparatus employing the conductive roll. The conductive roll may include a core and a coating layer containing a bismaleimide resin and a conductive agent formed on the external peripheral surface of the core.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including an image carrier, a toner image forming section which forms a toner image on the image carrier, a transfer section which transfers the toner image formed on the image carrier to an intermediate transfer member or a recording sheet, a cleaning section which includes a brush and a blade to remove toner particles remaining on the image carrier after the toner image are transferred by the transfer section, and a control section executes a blade cleaning mode in which toner particles having an opposite polarity against the toner particles adhered onto the blade are sent to the cleaning section while an amount of toner particles to be removed by the brush is changed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier; a charging unit which charges a surface of the image carrier; a brush which removes toner remaining on the image carrier by rubbing the surface of the image carrier; a cleaning blade provided downstream of the brush in a rotational direction of the image carrier, which removes the toner remaining on the image carrier; a surface potential measuring sensor which measures a surface potential of the image carrier between the brush and the cleaning blade; and a controller which causes the surface potential measuring sensor to conduct a measuring operation and adjusts the surface potential of the image carrier between the brush and the cleaning blade on the basis of a measurement result.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling cleaning devices in image forming apparatus electrostatic image forming apparatus. Such systems may include a charge receptor, movable in a process direction, defining a main surface. A toner application device applies toner to the charge receptor, and is configured to place a lubrication stripe including the toner on a portion of the main surface of the charge receptor at a selected time. An influence of at least one corotron on the charge receptor is modified, during the designated rotations of the charge receptor, while the portion of the surface on which the lubrication stripe is formed, or will be formed, is passing the at least one corotron. The lubrication stripe is delivered to a secondary cleaning device including a blade engaging with the photoreceptor surface to lubricate the blade.

Abstract: A polarity controlling device for controlling polarity of residual material on an image bearing member, including a blade, to which a first voltage is applied and which has a contact edge contacted with the surface of the image bearing member to charge the residual material, wherein the contact edge is covered with a resin layer including an electroconductive material. A cleaner including the polarity controlling device; a brush contacting the image bearing member to electrostatically collect the charged residual material utilizing potential difference; a collection member contacting the brush to collect the residual material; and a cleaning blade contacting the collection member to scrape the residual material therefrom. An image forming apparatus including an electrostatic image bearing member; a developing device developing the electrostatic image using a developer including a toner to form a toner image; a transfer device transferring the toner image onto a receiving material; and the cleaner.

Abstract: A photoconductor drum cleaning apparatus in an electrophotographic printer is disclosed which is simple in makeup, which allows a wiping roll to be rotated to follow rotation of the photoconductor drum is rotated and to be serviced for a prolonged life and is capable of performing an improved cleaning operation.

Abstract: A lubricant applicator includes a solid mold lubricant, a lubricant application roller, and a flicker member. The lubricant application roller scrapes and applies the lubricant to an image bearing member. The flicker member removes a powder substance adhered to the surface of the lubricant application roller and is disposed upstream of the solid mold lubricant in a direction of rotation of the lubricant application roller. The lubricant application roller, the flicker member, and the solid mold lubricant define a sealed space therebetween. A lubricant applicator includes the solid mold lubricant, the lubricant application roller, the flicker member, and an adherence prevention member that prevents the substance removed by the flicker member from adhering again to the lubricant application roller. A lubricant applicator includes the solid mold lubricant, the lubricant application roller, and a lubricant receiver that receives the scraped lubricant from the lubricant application roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image holder; a charging unit that charges the image holder; a latent image forming unit; a developing unit that forms a toner image; a transfer unit that transfers the toner image formed on the surface of the image holder onto a recording medium; a toner-particle removal unit that removes toner particles remaining on the surface of the image holder after the transfer of the toner image by the transfer unit; and an external-additive removal unit that includes a conductive blade disposed to contact the surface of the image holder and removes, after the transfer of the toner image by the transfer unit, external additive remaining on the surface of the image holder using the conductive blade while applying a voltage to the surface of the image holder via the conductive blade.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling cleaning devices in image forming apparatus electrostatic image forming apparatus. Such systems may include a charge receptor, movable in a process direction, defining a main surface. A toner application device applies toner to the charge receptor, and is configured to place a lubrication stripe including the toner on a portion of the main surface of the charge receptor at a selected time. An influence of a pre-clean corotron on the charge receptor is modified, during the designated rotations of the charge receptor, while the portion of the surface on which the lubrication stripe is formed, or will be formed, is passing the pre-clean corotron. The lubrication stripe is delivered to a secondary cleaning device including a blade engaging with the photoreceptor surface to lubricate the blade.

Abstract: A cleaning device of an image forming apparatus includes: a magnetic brush roller rubbing a surface of a photosensitive drum by a magnetic brush formed of a toner and carriers; a cleaning blade removing the toner remaining on a photosensitive drum; a toner concentration initialization control part, in order that toner-to-carrier ratio T/C of the magnetic brush formed on the magnetic brush roller falls within a predetermined range, controlling bias applied to the magnetic brush roller and an amount of the toner supplied from a developing device to the photosensitive drum.

Abstract: A cleaning device for a photosensitive drum includes a cleaning roller, a cleaning blade, and a layer control member. The layer control member may include an upstream scraper having a surface that surface contacts the cleaning roller in a substantially same direction as a rotation direction of the cleaning roller. In addition, the layer control member may include a downstream scraper having an edge that contacts the cleaning roller. The downstream scraper may be positioned downstream of the contact position between the cleaning roller and the upstream scraper in the rotation direction of the cleaning roller. In some embodiments, the downstream scraper edge may line contact the cleaning roller in a direction opposing the rotation direction of the cleaning roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: an image carrier, rotating in a first direction and a second direction, and the second direction is opposite to the first direction; a transfer device for transferring the toner image; a cleaning device comprising a cleaning blade for cleaning the image carrier; and a cleaning blade exchanging section for exchanging the cleaning blade, wherein the apparatus works in such ways that, after the cleaning blade exchanging section has retracted the cleaning blade to a retracted position, the cleaning blade exchanging section rotates the image carrier in the second direction, whereby any foreign material, adhered onto the image carrier while the cleaning blade is exchanged, is moved upstream of the cleaning position of the cleaning blade, then the cleaning blade is pressed against the image carrier, and the image carrier is subsequently rotated in the first direction, so that the image carrier is cleaned.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a rotary member that contacts with an image carrier and moves materials on a surface of the image carrier along a rotation direction of the rotary member; a scraping member that contacts with the rotary member to scrape the materials adhering on the rotary member; a collected material receiving portion disposed downstream of a contact portion of the rotary member and the scraping member in a gravity direction; plural openings provided along a width direction of the image carrier by a partition member, through which the materials scraped by the scraping member pass to the collected material receiving portion; a protrusion portion that is arranged between the openings and the contact portion of the rotary member and the scraping member, and protrudes toward an upstream side in a rotation direction of the rotary member.

Abstract: An image carrier cleaning device includes: a first charging member which charges an image carrier to the same polarity as that of a toner after a transfer operation of a toner image formed by the toner charged to a predetermined polarity and having an external additive added thereto; a cleaning member which comes into contact with the image carrier charged by the first charging member; and a second charging member which applies an electric charge having a polarity opposite to a polarity of the toner to the image carrier having passed through the cleaning member.

Abstract: To improve the user maintainability and cost performance with respect to replacing replaceable components in an image forming apparatus using a tandem type intermediate transfer member.

Abstract: A charger includes: a first charging member that contacts an image carrier and a second charging member that contacts the image carrier downstream from the first charging member. At the time of image formation, a voltage higher than the discharge start voltage of the first charging member is applied to the first charging member and a voltage lower than the discharge start voltage of the second charging member and lower than the voltage applied to the first charging member is applied to the second charging member, and at the time when an image is not formed, a voltage lower than the discharge start voltage of the first charging member is applied to the first charging member and a voltage higher than the discharge start voltage of the second charging member and higher than the voltage applied to the first charging member is applied to the second charging member.

Abstract: A cleaning unit, providable to an image carrier unit or an image forming apparatus, includes a cleaning member disposed in contact with a target member to electrically remove residual toner from the target member, an elastic blade disposed in contact with the target member upstream from the cleaning member, a blade supporting member, a blade power source, and a conductive member that is more conductive than the elastic blade, and electrically connects the blade supporting member and the elastic blade. The conductive member is disposed so that an edge part of the conductive member is closer to where the elastic blade contacts the target member than an edge part of the blade supporting member.

Abstract: A felt that cleans the surface of a drive roller or secondary transfer supporting roller that stretches an intermediate transfer belt is supported by a Mylar at its one free end, the other end thereof being fixed to a bracket. The felt is swingably brought into contact with the drive roller or secondary transfer supporting roller by an elastic force of the Mylar.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus and an image forming method capable of preventing excessive charging in the toner within the cleaning device for effectively preventing generation of the black spots derived from the leak current. In the image forming apparatus comprising a cleaning device having a cleaning blade for scraping out the toner on a latent image carrier body surface and the image forming method using the same, the toner contains a titanium oxide as an additive agent, and with the premise that the fluorescence X ray intensity of the titanium oxide added to the toner before use is X1, and the fluorescence X ray intensity of the titanium oxide added to the toner within the cleaning device is X2, X1 and X2 satisfy the following relationship formula (1): X2/X1?1.2??(1).

Abstract: A cleaning device may include a polishing roller, an ejection member, and a conveying member. In some embodiments, the polishing roller may be configured to remove and collect a residual substance adhering to a surface of an image bearing member while rotating in contact with the image bearing member. In an embodiment, the ejection member may be configured to eject the substance collected by the polishing roller to the outside of the cleaning device. An embodiment may include a conveying member configured to follow the rotation of the polishing roller by being in contact with the polishing roller and to convey toner in the cleaning device on a surface of the polishing roller in an axial direction of the polishing roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a photosensitive drum (2), a transfer roller (5) above photosensitive drum (2), a transport line (14) that passes between photosensitive drum (2) and the transfer roller (5), a cleaning unit (6) below the transport line (14) and downstream of the photosensitive drum (2), and provided with a cleaning blade (11) and a polishing roller (10) to polish a surface of photosensitive drum (2), and rotation-direction selector (21) to selectively change a rotation direction of the polishing roller (10). The polishing roller (10) is above the cleaning blade (11) and rotationally upstream of photosensitive drum (2) relative to the cleaning blade (11). The rotation-direction selector (21) allows the polishing roller (10) to rotate in the same direction as the photosensitive drum (2) during a polishing mode for polishing the surface of photosensitive drum (2), and in a reverse direction at other times.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image former to form a toner image on an image bearer. A primary transferer transfers the toner image from the image bearer to the outer surface of an intermediate transferer as primary transfer by applying a primary transfer bias. A secondary transferer transfers the toner image from the outer surface of the intermediate transferer to a sheet as secondary transfer by applying a secondary transfer bias. A cleaner cleans the toner residual on the surface of the intermediate transferer after the secondary transfer by applying a cleaning bias having a polarity opposite to electric charges of the toner. A controller causes the intermediate transferer to rotate continuously and causes the primary transferer to apply the primary transfer bias until a toner image forming area on the outer surface of the intermediate transferer passes the primary transferer after the secondary transfer.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a cleaning blade for contacting to a rotatable image bearing member and removing toner from the image bearing member; an auxiliary cleaning member, disposed upstream of the cleaning blade with respect to a rotational direction of the image bearing member, for assisting cleaning operation of the cleaning blade; and a sheet contacted to the auxiliary cleaning member and to a surface of the cleaning blade which is remote from the image bearing member.

Abstract: A cleaning device and a blade which is provided in the cleaning device and which has an edge portion to be pressed against a surface of a photoreceptor, so as to scrape toner are arranged so that: the blade includes (a) a blade main body constituting a main body portion of the blade and (b) a fluorocarbon resin layer formed in an edge portion, which is to make contact with the photoreceptor, of the blade main body, the fluorocarbon resin layer being made of a resin material, the resin material being filled in irregularities of a smooth surface of the blade main body. With this, even when the cleaning device is provided in a high-speed machine using small-particle toner with no corner, it is possible to extend the life of the photoreceptor without reducing a cleaning property.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling cleaning devices in image forming apparatus electrostatic image forming apparatus. Such systems may include a charge receptor, movable in a process direction, defining a main surface. A toner application device applies toner to the charge receptor, and is configured to place a lubrication stripe including the toner on a portion of the main surface of the charge receptor, the position of the lubrication stripe is controlled with respect to a position on the main surface of the charge receptor corresponding to a paper trail edge. The dimensions and density of the lubrication stripe may also be controlled. The lubrication stripe is delivered to a secondary cleaning device including a blade engaging with the photoreceptor surface to lubricate the blade.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes: a housing; a cleaning roller provided in the housing and operable to come into contact with a photosensitive drum; a cleaning blade operable to come into contact with a surface of the photosensitive drum at a position lower than a nip position between the cleaning roller and the photosensitive drum; and a toner guide plate disposed below the cleaning roller. The toner guide plate includes: a blade proximity portion in proximity to the cleaning blade; and a toner guide portion extending along an outer surface of the cleaning roller, spaced away from the outer surface of the cleaning roller by a predetermined gap. In the cleaning device, the surface of the photosensitive drum can be polished as required.

Abstract: A waste toner transfer device of an image forming apparatus includes a waste toner transfer unit which is disposed in proximity to a cleaning member to transfer waste toner removed from a photoconductive medium by the cleaning member, and includes a plurality of protrusions at one end, a driving unit which horizontally reciprocates the waste toner transfer unit, and a plurality of ribs which constrain the plurality of protrusions when the waste toner transfer unit moves, so that the waste toner transfer unit vibrates vertically.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus of this invention includes an image bearing member which bears a toner image; a toner image forming device which forms a plurality of the toner images on the image bearing member continuously; a transfer device which transfers the toner image on the image bearing member to a recording material; a cleaning web which wipes off toner remaining on the image bearing member after the toner image is transferred to the recording material; and a separating unit which separates the web from the image bearing member when the toner image forming means is forming a plurality of the toner images on the image bearing member continuously.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a cleaning brush positioned upstream of a blade nip in the direction of movement of the surface of a photoconductive drum. To prevent toner from accumulating at the blade nip, the surface of the photoconductive drum is moved in the direction opposite to the regular direction for image formation, conveying toner accumulated in a wedge-shaped space upstream of the blade nip 2n to a position where the cleaning brush removes it. With this configuration, the image forming apparatus can stably clear spherical toner particles left on the drum over a long period of time.

Abstract: A cleaning device that cleans the surface of an image carrier, includes a cleaning blade that contacts the surface of the image carrier, a lubricant-applying brush roller that applies a lubricant to the surface of the image carrier, a cleaning brush roller that removes residual transfer toner from the surface of the image carrier, and a flicker that removes toner from the cleaning brush roller. The flicker performs a flicking operation corresponding to a part of the entire area in the axial direction of the cleaning brush roller at one time. A process cartridge and an image forming apparatus include the image carrier and the cleaning device.

Abstract: A photoconductor drum cleaning apparatus in an electrophotographic printer is disclosed which is simple in makeup, which allows a wiping roll to be rotated to follow rotation of the photoconductor drum is rotated and to be serviced for a prolonged life and is capable of performing an improved cleaning operation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier; a charging unit which charges a surface of the image carrier; a brush which removes toner remaining on the image carrier by rubbing the surface of the image carrier; a cleaning blade provided downstream of the brush in a rotational direction of the image carrier, which removes the toner remaining on the image carrier; a surface potential measuring sensor which measures a surface potential of the image carrier between the brush and the cleaning blade; and a controller which causes the surface potential measuring sensor to conduct a measuring operation and adjusts the surface potential of the image carrier between the brush and the cleaning blade on the basis of a measurement result.

Abstract: A cleaning device of the present invention includes (i) a blade, which has an edge portion to be pressed against a surface of a photoreceptor, so as to scrape toner and (ii) a brush roller, which has bristle whose ends make contact with the surface of the photoreceptor, so as to supply fine particles of a scraped lubricant agent to the surface of the photoreceptor, the blade having a rebound resilience of 10% to 45% and a Young's modulus of 5 MPa to 11 MPa. With this, even when small-particle toner with no corner is used, it is possible to (a) improve a cleaning property while allowing a photoreceptor to have a long life span and without degrading the original electrophotographic performance of the photoreceptor and (b) charge the photoreceptor uniformly.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus, comprising: an image carrier; a brush to remove toner remaining on the image carrier by scrubbing a surface of the image carrier; a flicker to remove the toner adhering to the brush by contacting to the brush; a brush driving section to rotate the brush; and a control section to obtain a quantity of the toner adhering to the brush and to control the brush driving section so as to change a rotation speed of the brush based on the obtained quantity of the toner.

Abstract: A disclosed image removing device includes a roller peeling member onto which a recording material with the image forming substance having thermoplastic properties is superposed; a heating unit configured to heat the image forming substance; a pressurizing unit configured to apply pressure to the roller peeling member and the recording material superposed thereon to cause the image forming substance heated by the heating unit to adhere to the roller peeling member; a separating unit configured to separate the recording material from the roller peeling member after the image forming substance has adhered to the roller peeling member; and a removing unit configured to remove, from the roller peeling member, the image forming substance that has been transferred from the recording material to the roller peeling member. The removing unit is driven in such a manner that the removing unit and the roller peeling member pressurize/contact/slide against each other.

Abstract: A cleaning unit, providable to an image carrier unit or an image forming apparatus, includes a cleaning member disposed in contact with a target member to electrically remove residual toner from the target member, an elastic blade disposed in contact with the target member upstream from the cleaning member, a blade supporting member, a blade power source, and a conductive member that is more conductive than the elastic blade, and electrically connects the blade supporting member and the elastic blade. The conductive member is disposed so that an edge part of the conductive member is closer to where the elastic blade contacts the target member than an edge part of the blade supporting member.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus 30 is provided with a cleaning roller 33 that is a rotating member, a scraper 35, a partition wall 36, opening/closing members 37, and a discharge screw 38 that is a discharging member. The scraper 35 supported by the partition wall 36 scrapes toner by bringing the tip thereof into contact with the cleaning roller 33. The partition wall 36 has a plurality of openings 36a, and partitions between a space S1 formed on an upstream side of the cleaning roller 33 in a rotation direction of a drum and a space S2 in which the discharge screw 38 is provided. The opening/closing members 37 are individually provided for the openings 36a so as to permit toner to move through the openings 36a only in a direction from the space S1 to the space S2. With this structure, it is possible to make toner present in the vicinity of the cleaning roller 33 smoothly move toward the discharge screw 38.

Abstract: A cleaning device for cleaning an image forming surface of a rotating image bearing member that bears a toner image includes a cleaning member that faces and cleans the image forming surface. An operating mechanism allows the cleaning member to come in press-contact with and separate from the image forming surface. A controller controls the operating mechanism. The image bearing member rotates so that in a state where a toner image is on the image forming surface, the toner image passes through a facing position at which the cleaning member faces the image forming surface, and the controller controls the operating mechanism so that the cleaning member comes in press-contact with the image forming surface during an interval period between passing of the toner image through the facing position and arriving of the toner image at the facing position again.

Abstract: This invention relates to a cleaning unit including a cleaning blade that keeps a front end of rubber material in contact with the surface with a pressure so as to scrape residual toner left on the surface of the photoreceptor and a fiber body having multiple fibers in contact with the surface of the photoreceptor in the upstream in the cyclic moving direction of the surface of the photoreceptor with respect to the cleaning blade, the cleaning blade satisfying A??2.5×B+102 and 6.3?B?19.6, where A designates a contact angle (°) with pure water under 23° C., 55% RH and B designates 100% modulus (MPa) at 23° C.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including an image carrier, a toner image forming section which forms a toner image on the image carrier, a transfer section which transfers the toner image formed on the image carrier to an intermediate transfer member or a recording sheet, a cleaning section which includes a brush and a blade to remove toner particles remaining on the image carrier after the toner image are transferred by the transfer section, and a control section executes a blade cleaning mode in which toner particles having an opposite polarity against the toner particles adhered onto the blade are sent to the cleaning section while an amount of toner particles to be removed by the brush is changed.