Abstract: A cleaning blade includes an image region and a non-image region in which Young's moduli at positions separated by a distance of L ?m from an edge portion in contact with an photosensitive drum are respectively defined as YL and Y?L, Y0 and Y?0 are 10 mgf/?m2 or more and 400 mgf/?m2 or less, Y50/Y0 is 0.5 or less, [{(Y0?Y20)/Y0}/(20?0)] is equal to or more than [{(Y20?Y50)/Y0}/(50?20)] and, the Young's modulus Y50 ?the Young's modulus Y?L where L satisfies 0?L ?100 ?m.

Abstract: A cleaning blade includes an image region and a non-image region in which Young's moduli at positions separated by a distance of L ?m from an edge portion in contact with an photosensitive drum are respectively defined as YL and Y?L, Y0 and Y?0 are 10 mgf/?m2 or more and 400 mgf/?m2 or less, Y50/Y0 is 0.5 or less, [{(Y0?Y20)/Y0}/(20?0)] is equal to or more than [{(Y20?Y50)/Y0}/(50?20)] and, the Young's modulus Y50 the Young's modulus Y?L where L satisfies 0?L?100 ?m.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus including: an intermediate transfer member having an elastic layer, to which a toner image on an image bearing member is transferred at a primary transfer portion; a transfer device configured to transfer the toner image on the intermediate transfer member to a recording material at a secondary transfer portion; a cleaning unit configured to be in contact with the intermediate transfer member and clean the intermediate transfer member; and a detection device configured to detect the position of the recording material stopped in the image forming apparatus due to conveyance failure. In a returning operation including driving control of the intermediate transfer member performed after the stopped recording material has been removed, the driving control of the intermediate transfer member is performed according to the detection result of the detection device.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus including: an intermediate transfer member having an elastic layer, to which a toner image on an image bearing member is transferred at a primary transfer portion; a transfer device configured to transfer the toner image on the intermediate transfer member to a recording material at a secondary transfer portion; a cleaning unit configured to be in contact with the intermediate transfer member and clean the intermediate transfer member; and a detection device configured to detect the position of the recording material stopped in the image forming apparatus due to conveyance failure. In a returning operation including driving control of the intermediate transfer member performed after the stopped recording material has been removed, the driving control of the intermediate transfer member is performed according to the detection result of the detection device.

Abstract: A band-like developer (toner) image is formed on an image bearing member by a developing member without performing a charging operation by a charger for electrically charging the image bearing member and then is removed by a cleaner. Thereafter, the charging operation is started after an area, in which the band-like developer image is removed by the cleaner, passes through an opposing portion between the image bearing member and the charger.

Abstract: A band-like developer (toner) image is formed on an image bearing member by a developing member without performing a charging operation by a charger for electrically charging the image bearing member and then is removed by a cleaner. Thereafter, the charging operation is started after an area, in which the band-like developer image is removed by the cleaner, passes through an opposing portion between the image bearing member and the charger.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for an image forming apparatus includes a cleaned member and a cleaning member having a cleaning blade coming into contact with a surface of the cleaned member thereby scraping off a toner, wherein the cleaning blade includes an elastic material having an anisotropy in tensile stress and the cleaning blade shows a deformation, resulting from a tensile stress induced in a direction of load by a friction with the cleaned member, smaller than a breaking elongation of the cleaning blade in the vicinity of a contact portion of the cleaning blade with the cleaned member. In this manner a longer service life of the image forming apparatus can be realized while securing a desired cleaning performance.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member that bears a toner image; an intermediate transferring material; a transferring unit that transfers a toner image on the image bearing member to the intermediate transferring material; a bias applying unit that applies a bias to the transferring unit; a cleaning unit that contacts and cleans the surface of the image bearing member; a toner supplying unit that, when an image is not being formed, passes a toner image for supply that is formed on the image bearing member through a transferring position to supply the toner image for supply to the cleaning unit; and a switching unit that switches from a state in which the power supply portion is electrically connected to the bias applying unit to a state in which a resistance value between the power supply portion and a ground is 100 M? or more.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit for forming a developer image on a first image bearing member, a transferring unit for transferring the developer image on the first image bearing member onto a second image bearing member, a cleaning member abutted against the first image bearing member, and an abutting pressure changing device for changing the pressure under which the cleaning member is abutted against the first image bearing member, wherein control is carried out such that the abutting pressure in a second operation in which a developer image on the first image bearing member that is not transferred onto the second image bearing member is removed is higher than the abutting pressure in a first operation in which a developer remaining on the first image bearing member is removed after the developer image is transferred onto the second image bearing member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit for forming a developer image on a first image bearing member, a transferring unit for transferring the developer image on the first image bearing member onto a second image bearing member, a cleaning member abutted against the first image bearing member, and an abutting pressure changing device for changing the pressure under which the cleaning member is abutted against the first image bearing member, wherein control is carried out such that the abutting pressure in a second operation in which a developer image on the first image bearing member that is not transferred onto the second image bearing member is removed is higher than the abutting pressure in a first operation in which a developer remaining on the first image bearing member is removed after the developer image is transferred onto the second image bearing member.

Abstract: A charging apparatus has a movable image bearing member, a first charging member for charging the image bearing member, and a second charging member provided upstream of the first charging member with respect to the direction of movement of the image bearing member, the second charging member having an elastic rotary member rubbing against the image bearing member.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for an image forming apparatus includes a cleaned member and a cleaning member having a cleaning blade coming into contact with a surface of the cleaned member thereby scraping off a toner, wherein the cleaning blade includes an elastic material having an anisotropy in tensile stress and the cleaning blade shows a deformation, resulting from a tensile stress induced in a direction of load by a friction with the cleaned member, smaller than a breaking elongation of the cleaning blade in the vicinity of a contact portion of the cleaning blade with the cleaned member. In this manner a longer service life of the image forming apparatus can be realized while securing a desired cleaning performance.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention is composed by an image bearing member that bears a toner image; an intermediate transferring material that contacts with the image bearing member; a transferring unit that transfers a toner image on the image bearing member to the intermediate transferring material at a transferring position; a bias applying unit that applies a bias to a power supply portion of the transferring unit during a period in which transfer is performed by the transferring unit; a cleaning unit that contacts with the image bearing member and cleans the surface of the image bearing member; a toner supplying unit that, when an image is not being formed, passes a toner image for supply that is formed on the image bearing member through the transferring position to supply the toner image for supply to the cleaning unit; and a switching unit that switches from a state in which the power supply portion is electrically connected to the bias applying unit to a state in which a resistance v

Abstract: A charging apparatus has a movable image bearing member, a first charging member for charging the image bearing member, and a second charging member provided upstream of the first charging member with respect to the direction of movement of the image bearing member, the second charging member having an elastic rotary member rubbing against the image bearing member.

Abstract: A charging apparatus has a movable image bearing member, a first charging member for charging the image bearing member, and a second charging member provided upstream of the first charging member with respect to the direction of movement of the image bearing member, the second charging member having an elastic rotary member rubbing against the image bearing member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit for forming a developer image on a first image bearing member, a transferring unit for transferring the developer image on the first image bearing member onto a second image bearing member, a cleaning member abutted against the first image bearing member, and an abutting pressure changing device for changing the pressure under which the cleaning member is abutted against the first image bearing member, wherein control is carried out such that the abutting pressure in a second operation in which a developer image on the first image bearing member that is not transferred onto the second image bearing member is removed is higher than the abutting pressure in a first operation in which a developer remaining on the first image bearing member is removed after the developer image is transferred onto the second image bearing member.

Abstract: A charging apparatus has a movable image bearing member, a first charging member for charging the image bearing member, and a second charging member provided upstream of the first charging member with respect to the direction of movement of the image bearing member, the second charging member having an elastic rotary member rubbing against the image bearing member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit for forming a developer image on a first image bearing member, a transferring unit for transferring the developer image on the first image bearing member onto a second image bearing member, a cleaning member abutted against the first image bearing member, and an abutting pressure changing device for changing the pressure under which the cleaning member is abutted against the first image bearing member, wherein control is carried out such that the abutting pressure in a second operation in which a developer image on the first image bearing member that is not transferred onto the second image bearing member is removed is higher than the abutting pressure in a first operation in which a developer remaining on the first image bearing member is removed after the developer image is transferred onto the second image bearing member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a first image bearing body for bearing an image formed by a substantially spherical toner, transferring belt for transferring a toner image formed on the first image bearing body onto a second image bearing body, and a cleaning member, abutting on the first image forming body, for sweeping away the toner remaining on the first image bearing body after a transferring operation by the transferring belt, wherein the first image bearing body contains a fluororesin on its surface, a content ratio F (% by weight) of the fluororesin is in a range of 10≦F≦50, a surface roughness Rz (&mgr;m) of the first image bearing body is Rz<5.0, and a dynamic friction coefficient &mgr; between the first image bearing body and the cleaning member is in a range of 0.5≦&mgr;≦2.5.

Abstract: In a cleaning device having a cleaning blade which is abutted against an image bearing member that bears an image and cleans the surface of the image bearing member, the cleaning blade includes at least a first rubber layer which is abutted against the image bearing member; and a second rubber layer that supports the first rubber layer; wherein the tan&dgr; peak temperature obtained by a dynamic viscoelasticity test of the first rubber layer is a value close to the surface temperature of the image bearing member; and wherein the tan &dgr; peak temperature obtained by a dynamic viscoelasticity test of the second rubber layer is lower than the tan&dgr; peak temperature of the first rubber layer.