Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises: a rotatable image carrier operable to carry a toner image on a surface thereof; a transfer part operable to electrostatically transfer the toner image carried on the surface of the image carrier, onto a transfer material; a cleaning member that is in contact with the surface of the image carrier and that is operable to clean toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier after transfer by the transfer part; and a voltage supplier operable to apply, to the cleaning member, a bias voltage that is for cleaning the surface of the image carrier and that has a polarity opposite to a normal charging polarity of the toner.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes: a brush that has numerous bristles rotating and contacting to the surface of an image carrier, a removing member disposed so as to contact to the numerous bristles and removes a developer adhering to the numerous bristles by elastically deforming the numerous bristles and further returning the numerous deformed bristles back to normal, and a transport member disposed lower than the removing member in the gravitational direction and transports the developer removed with the removing member by rotating on an axis, wherein at least a part of the developer removed from the numerous bristles falls to a farther position than the axis of the transport member from the brush in the horizontal direction.

Abstract: A cleaning unit that can remove particles of residual toner remaining on an image carrier after transfer and be incorporated in a process cartridge removably installable to an image forming apparatus, includes a brush roller disposed in contact with the image carrier to remove the residual toner remaining on the image carrier from the image carrier, and a polarity control member disposed in contact with the image carrier to control charge polarities of the residual toner remaining on the image carrier before the residual toner is removed by the brush roller. The polarity control member includes a first surface where the polarity control member contacts the image carrier, a second surface where the polarity control member does not contact the image carrier, and a conductive filler that is not exposed on the first surface that contacts the image carrier.

Abstract: The present invention includes an image carrier unit, configured to carry a toner image including: an image carrier member configured to carry the toner image and a cleaning portion configured to clean the image carrier unit. The cleaning portion includes a cleaning blade. The cleaning blade includes a blade portion in contact with the image carrier member and a holder configured to partially surround and hold the blade portion. The holder includes a crimping claw portion which latches the blade portion.

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: A roller for use in a developing unit of an image forming apparatus may include a non-conductive shaft member and a non-conductive member to surround at least a part of an outer periphery of the shaft member. The shaft member may include a cylindrical rolling part and a pair of support parts formed to project from both ends of the rolling part in a lengthwise direction. The rolling part of the shaft member may be arranged opposite a charge roller in a developing unit and may rotate in contact with the charge roller to absorb and remove foreign substances adhered to a surface of the charge roller.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a cleaning member, a collection member, an electrical field generator, and a separation member. The cleaning member has a surface capable of moving while contacting a surface of a cleaning target to remove toner on the surface of the cleaning target. The collection member has a surface capable of moving while contacting the surface of the cleaning member to collect the toner on the surface of the cleaning member. The electrical field generator generates an electrical field to move the toner from the cleaning member to the collection member. The separation member contacts the surface of the collection member to separate the toner on the surface of the collection member. The collection member has a centerline average surface roughness of not more than 0.1 ?m and shows a surface hardness rank of B or higher in a steel-wool scratch test.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes: a collection member configured to contact a photosensitive member, on which an electrostatic latent image is configured to be formed, and collect foreign substances on the photosensitive member; a shaft configured to attract the foreign substances from the collection member so as to make the foreign substances cling thereto; a scraping member configured to contact the shaft and scrape the foreign substances cling on the shaft; and a housing configured to accommodate the collection member and the shaft, wherein the scraping member is mounted to the housing. The scraping member includes: an elastic member; and a fiber member configured to be adhered to the elastic member and slidingly contact the shaft. The elastic member is configured to press the shaft to such an extent that fibers of the fiber member are pressed and compressed.

Abstract: A cleaning member includes a core bar, an elastic coating layer, and high-friction coefficient parts provided on both ends of the cleaning member. The high-friction coefficient parts include an elastic material. Outer peripheries of the high-friction coefficient parts are inclined with respect to an axial direction of the core bar. The cleaning member is roller-shaped and is configured to clean a surface of a roller member to be cleaned in contact therewith. A charging device and a process cartridge also include the cleaning member.

Abstract: A protective layer forming device including: a protective agent block containing a metal soap, a protective agent supplying unit configured to supply a protective agent onto a photoconductor, and a pressing unit configured to press the protective agent supplying unit against the protective agent block, wherein the protective agent supplying unit is rotated while being pressed against the protective agent block by the pressing unit, so that the protective agent block is micronized to make the protective agent in the form of fine powder, and the protective agent in the form of fine powder is supplied onto the photoconductor, thereby forming a protective layer on the photoconductor, and wherein the protective agent in the form of fine powder has a particle diameter of 200 ?m or smaller and contains protective agent particles of 20 ?m to 200 ?m in an amount of 1% by mass to 70% by mass.

Abstract: A cleaning element for an image forming apparatus, such as a printer. The cleaning element may include a brush, which may include a support structure and brush filaments extending therefrom. Each of the brush filaments has a tip at the distal end from the support structure and may be configured to contact a surface of a member to be cleaned. An inorganic microparticle may be bonded at or proximate to the tip by a discharge product as an adhesive. Thus, it is possible to provide a cleaning element capable of removing material adhering to the surface of the member to be cleaned. The cleaning element is capable of providing long-term effective cleaning of a member of an image forming apparatus during extended use.

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: A first roll brush is formed from material having the positive triboelectric charge polarity against toner. A positive bias is applied to the first roll brush through a first collection roller by a first bias application device. A second roll brush is formed from material having the negative triboelectric charge polarity against toner. A negative bias is applied to the second roll brush through a second collection roller by a second bias application device. Thus, the first and second roll brushes are applied by each of biases having polarity identical to the triboelectric charge polarity of material of the roll brush against toner. This enhances cleaning performance of both the roll brushes and prevents degradation of the cleaning performance.

Abstract: Web cleaning systems, apparatuses useful in printing onto webs, and methods of cleaning webs are provided. An exemplary embodiment of the web cleaning systems includes a first web cleaning device having a rotatable first electrostatic cleaning brush for contacting a first surface of a moving web on which toner is disposed to remove un-fixed toner from the first surface; and a first brush cleaning device having a first cleaning member contacting the first electrostatic cleaning brush for removing toner from the first electrostatic cleaning brush.

Abstract: Web cleaning systems, apparatuses useful in printing onto webs, and methods of cleaning webs are provided. An exemplary embodiment of the web cleaning systems includes a first web cleaning device having a rotatable first electrostatic cleaning brush for contacting a first surface of a moving web on which toner is disposed to remove un-fixed toner from the first surface; and a first brush cleaning device having a first cleaning member contacting the first electrostatic cleaning brush for removing toner from the first electrostatic cleaning brush.

Abstract: A material for removing residue toner has a non-woven felt with excellent oil retentivity, cleaning, and dry heat-stability, which is disposed on an oiled belt, an oiled roller or an oiled pad for a fixing machine or the like in a photographic imaging process. The material is composed of the felt in which carded lap is milled by punching with needle, the carded lap being consisted mainly of one or more heat-resistant organic fibers whose cross section has an acute angle. The felt is attached adhesively on a body of an acting member and comes into contact with the surface of an operating member such as a fixing roller or a developing roller.

Abstract: A cleaning device removes residual toner particles from a cleaning target, such as a photoconductor, which has a moving surface. The cleaning device includes a cleaning brush, a power circuit, and a cleaning member. The cleaning brush includes a brush rotation shaft, and the power circuit applies a first voltage of a first polarity to the brush rotation shaft. The cleaning member applies a second voltage of the first polarity to the cleaning brush. If the first polarity is negative, the cleaning member electrostatically removes toner particles having a positive polarity from the cleaning target. Then, the cleaning brush is triboelectrically charged to a second polarity, which is opposite to the first polarity, by contacting the cleaning target. Accordingly, the cleaning brush also removes residual toner particles having a negative polarity. Thus, the cleaning device removes both positively and negatively charged toner particles to clean the cleaning target.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provided a method to improve performance of a cleaning device to extend a usage life of the cleaning device. The method can include obtaining a performance characteristic of an electrostatic brush that degrades operations of the electrostatic brush, determining at least one parameter that compensates for the degradation, and controlling the electrostatic brush by the at least one parameter to maintain the electrostatic brush operating within a failure boundary.

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 method for cleaning a circumferential surface of a cylinder of a printing press provides for improved cleaning to be achieved during a short time. In order to clean the circumferential surface, a cleaning fluid is first applied to the circumferential surface. In order then to remove contaminants, the contaminants a broken up mechanically after the cleaning fluid is applied and before a cleaning apparatus acting on the circumferential surface is set into operation.

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: An cleaning apparatus includes: a first brush roll for removing toner from an image carrier; a second brush roll for removing the toner from the image carrier; a first recovery device for recovering the toner deposited on the first brush roll; a second recovery device for recovering the toner deposited on the second brush roll; a first electric field forming device for forming an electric field between the first brush roll and the image carrier; and a second electric field forming device for forming an electric field between the second brush roll and image carrier, wherein the first brush roll and the second brush roll each has a plurality of electrically conductive yarns arranged on a conductive core, and a resistance R2 of each of the yarns used in the second brush roll is smaller than 1×107 ?/cm.

Abstract: In a lubricant applying device, a position adjusting member adjusts relative positions of a lubricant and a rotating member. The rotating member rotates while in contact with the lubricant, receives the lubricant, and applies the lubricant to an image carrier in an image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A cleaning blade anti-peeling apparatus includes a transfer apparatus that transfers a toner image formed on an image carrier to an endless transfer member. An image carrier cleaning member captures toner remaining on the image carrier after the toner image is transferred. A cleaning recovery member recovers the toner on the image carrier cleaning member. A bias applying apparatus applies a bias voltage to move the toner of the image carrier cleaning member to the image carrier. An endless transfer member cleaning blade removes toner adhering to the endless transfer member after the toner image of the endless transfer member is transferred to a transfer material while abutting against the endless transfer member. The following relationship is satisfied: cleaning recovery member width<endless transfer member cleaning blade width<image carrier cleaning member width.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for removing charged particles includes a cleaning brush and a recovery unit. The cleaning brush removes the charged particles from an object by attracting the charged particles having positive and negative polarity. The recovery unit for recovering the charged particles from the cleaning brush includes a recovery member, a first charge applicator, a second charge applicator, and a voltage control unit. The recovery member is supplied with a voltage to attract the charged particles. The recovery member has a core and a surface layer. The first charge applicator applies a voltage to the surface layer of the recovery member. The second charge applicator applies a voltage to the core of the recovery member. The voltage control unit controls a polarity of the voltage to be applied by the first and second charge applicators depending on a polarity of the charged particles to be recovered.

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: A method and apparatus for electrostatic brush cleaning of excess toner particles on a photoreceptor device in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include determining if an image transfer occurred in the image production device, wherein if it is determined that the image transfer occurred, rotating one or more electrostatic brushes at a first speed, and if it is determined that the image transfer did not occur, rotating the one or more electrostatic brushes at a second speed, wherein the first speed is slower than the second speed.

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: A cleaning device, comprises: a plurality of brush rolls being contact with a surface of the image carrier that a toner is attached; and a biasing unit applying bias voltages having different polarities from each other to at least two of the brush rolls, the plurality of brush rolls including a first brush roll and a second brush roll, a bias having a polarity opposite to a normal polarity of the toner being applied to the first brush roll, a bias having the same polarity as the normal polarity of the toner being applied to the second brush roll, a surface circulating speed of the first brush roll being set to be higher than the surface circulating speed of the second brush roll.

Abstract: A toner brush for a printer and a printer including the toner brush. The toner brush includes a substrate (e.g. a core cylinder) with a cleaning brush and a residual toner brush superimposed over one another. During printing the printer holds the residual toner brush against a photoconductor or photoconductive surface, e.g., a photoconductive drum. For deep cleaning, the printer moves the cleaning brush closer to the photoconductor surface and holds it against the surface during deep cleaning. Deep cleaning may be automatically or manually (e.g., by an operator) initiated.

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: 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 cleaning brush configured to remove toner from a surface of a member of an image forming apparatus; wherein the cleaning brush includes a plurality of fibers having an inside part formed from a conductive material and a surface part formed by an insulating material.

Abstract: An image-forming device has a developer-carrying member, an image-carrying member, a belt, and a cleaning unit. The developer-carrying member has an outer surface including a layer forming region for carrying a thin layer of developer. The layer forming region has a first width in a widthwise direction. The layer forming region includes an effective image forming region used for forming an image on a recording medium. The belt is configured to circulate in a moving direction orthogonal to the widthwise direction and transfer the developer image onto the recording medium. The cleaning unit cleans the developer on a cleanable region, which has a second width which is greater than the first width. The cleanable region is placed with respect to the thin layer forming region so that each widthwise end of the second width is positioned outside of each widthwise end of the first width in the widthwise direction.

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.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member configured to bear a toner image, a protective layer forming device configured to apply a protective agent to a surface of the image bearing member with a brush-shaped protective agent applicator, and a surface roughness maintainer configured to maintain a surface roughness Ry of a contact surface of the protective agent with the brush-shaped protective agent applicator at 500 ?m or less. The protective agent is a solid material in which a granular material comprising a fatty acid metallic salt is compressed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a toner image forming unit configured to form a toner image having a predetermined polarity on the image carrier, an intermediate transfer body facing the image carrier, a primary transfer member configured to transfer the toner image on the image carrier onto the intermediate transfer body, a secondary transfer member configured to transfer the toner image on the intermediate transfer body onto a recording medium, and a contacting member in contact with the image carrier and configured to remove residual toner remaining on the image carrier after the toner image is transferred by the primary transfer member onto the intermediate transfer body and to pass the removed residual toner to the intermediate transfer body. A bias voltage with the same polarity as the predetermined polarity of the toner image is applied to the contacting member.

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: A cleaning device includes a first cleaning portion provided at a position where a belt transfer body is moved after transfer, and includes a second cleaning portion having a cleaning member which contacts the belt transfer body, which is located at an end of the belt transfer body in the perpendicular direction to the moving direction of the belt transfer body. There is a fixing member for pressing the belt transfer body to the cleaning member. The fixing member is located at a position opposing the cleaning member with the belt transfer body therebetween.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier that carries an image; a developing unit that develops the image on the image carrier into a toner image; a transfer unit that transfers the toner image carried on the image carrier onto a transfer medium; and a cleaning unit that cleans residual toner, having not been transferred by the transfer unit, from the image carrier. The cleaning unit includes a cleaning roller member provided in contact with the image carrier and supplied with a predetermined bias voltage, having a surface layer of a conductive fiber cloth, and a conductive roller member provided in contact with the cleaning roller member and supplied with a predetermined bias voltage.

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 sheet feeding device includes: a conveying member of a conveying unit which conveys a sheet; and a cleaning member which is in sliding contact with a circumferential surface of the conveying member to clean the circumferential surface. The conveying member and the cleaning member rotate in the same tangential direction at a sliding contact position thereof, and drives of the conveyance member and the cleaning member are controlled so that the following expression is satisfied: V1>V2 where V1 represents a line speed of the circumferential surface of the conveying member during a rotation thereof, and V2 represents a line speed of a sliding contact portion of the cleaning member during a rotation thereof.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes: an image bearing body; a brush member; a brush holder member; and a tension imparting portion. The image bearing body bears an image on its surface. The brush member removes deposits adhered to the surface of the image bearing body. The brush holder member extends along a longitudinal direction of the image bearing body and holds the brush member. The tension imparting portion imparts tension to the brush holder member in the longitudinal direction thereof.

Abstract: A cleaning member is for use in contact with a photosensitive member in an electrophotographic process to remove a paper dust adhered to the photosensitive member. The cleaning member includes: a base fabric; and fibers electrostatically implanted on a surface of the base fabric and lying substantially flat along the surface of the base fabric.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, a charging member, an electrostatic latent image forming member, a developing member, a transferring member, and a cleaning device. The cleaning device includes a cleaning brush contacting with a photosensitive member to remove residual toner on the surface of the photosensitive member and a lubricant supplying brush contacting with the photosensitive member to supply a lubricant to the surface of the photosensitive member. The lubricant supplying brush is configured to change an amount of the lubricant supplied to the surface of the photosensitive member depending on a linear speed of the photosensitive member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which includes a first image forming portion including a first photosensitive member, a first charging member for electrically charging the first photosensitive member to form an image thereon, and a first cleaning brush for cleaning the first charging member, a second image forming portion including a second photosensitive member, a second charging member for electrically charging the second photosensitive member to form an image thereon, and a second cleaning brush which has a longer brush length than that of the first cleaning brush for cleaning the second charging member, a driven mechanism for causing the first cleaning brush to be rotatably driven by the first charging member which is rotatably driven along with rotation of the first photosensitive member, and a drive coupling mechanism configured to drivably couple the second charging member and the second cleaning brush to transmit a driving force from the second charging member which is rotatably driven along with the rotat

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier that rotates in a predetermined direction so as to carry a toner image, a charging member that charges the image carrier by a discharge operation, a toner holding member that is disposed to be in contact with the image carrier so as to hold toner in a portion being in contact with the image carrier and that removes a discharge product generated on the image carrier, and a holding amount adjusting unit that adjusts a toner holding amount of the toner holding member. The holding amount adjusting unit includes an estimation unit that estimates a current toner holding amount of the toner holding member, and a correction unit that corrects the toner holding amount of the toner holding member on a basis of an estimation result obtained from the estimation unit.

Abstract: A cleaning device for cleaning a transfer sheet conveyance belt, includes: a first brush roll which is provided with voltage with a polarity reverse to a charging polarity of toner particles; and a second brush roll arranged downstream of the first brush roll in a moving direction of the transfer sheet conveyance belt, the second brush roll being provided with the voltage with the same polarity as the charging polarity of the toner particles, while rotating in contact with the surface of the transfer sheet conveyance belt.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for electrostatic brush cleaning of excess toner particles on a photoreceptor device in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include determining if an image transfer occurred in the image production device, wherein if it is determined that the image transfer occurred, rotating one or more electrostatic brushes at a first speed, and if it is determined that the image transfer did not occur, rotating the one or more electrostatic brushes at a second speed, wherein the first speed is slower than the second speed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier; an exposure device; a developing device that develops the latent image on the image carrier by using a toner charged to a predetermined polarity and having an external additive; a transfer device that transfers a toner image developed on the image carrier to a transfer medium; a first charging member that charges the external additive and the transfer residual toner remaining on the image carrier and the image carrier after transfer to the same polarity as a polarity of the toner; a cleaning member that electrostatically attracts the external additive and the transfer residual toner charged by the first charging member; and a second charging member that charges the image carrier to an electric potential smaller in absolute value than an electric potential of the image carrier generated after the image carrier passes the cleaning member.