Cleaning body providing reduced in-plane density unevenness and improved cleaning performance, assembly, and image forming apparatus

A cleaning body comprising:

• a shaft;
• and
• an elastic layer that is helically wound around the shaft from one end side to the other end side of the shaft and fixed on the shaft wherein the elastic layer is configured to clean a body while the elastic layer rotates,
• wherein the elastic layer comprises:
• a division portion having a plurality of divided segments, extending 20% to 70% of a full length of the elastic layer and being located in a longitudinal central portion of the elastic layer;
• and
• at least one undivided portion,
• wherein, in a cross-sectional view in an axial direction of the shaft, a minimum thickness in the vertical direction of the plurality of divided segments is 5% to 12% thicker than a minimum thickness in the vertical direction of the at least one undivided portion, and
• wherein, in the cross-sectional view in the axial direction of the shaft, protrusions on lateral end portions of the plurality of divided segments protrude farther than protrusions on lateral central portions of the plurality of divided segments.