# US 2001/0026718 A1 · Cleaning apparatus and image forming apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2001/0026718 A1 - Document ID: US20010026718A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 09/779,523 - Filed: 2001-02-09 - Published: 2001-10-04 - Earliest claimed: 2000-02-15 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Hisakazu Okubo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20010026718A1 ## CPC - G03G 21/0035: {using a brush; Details of cleaning brushes, e.g. fibre density (G03G21/0064 takes precedence; magnetic brushes G03G21/0047)} - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract A cleaning apparatus that cleans an image bearing member on which a toner image is formed, includes first and second brushes which are rotatable and remove toner by abutment against the image bearing member, wherein the first and second brushes rotate in counter directions, a container for containing the toner removed by the first brush and the second brush, and a rubbing member that rubs both of the first brush and the second brush. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cleaning apparatus that cleans an image bearing member on which a toner image is formed, comprising: first and second brushes which are rotatable and remove toner by abutment against the image bearing member, wherein said first and second brushes rotate in counter directions; containing means for containing the toner removed by said first brush and said second brush; and a rubbing member that rubs both of said first brush and said second brush. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a direction of moving said first brush at a position opposite to said second brush is a direction of separating from said image bearing member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1, 2) A cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said rubbing member is disposed in a vicinity of a straight line connecting between a rotation axis of said first brush and a rotation axis of said second brush. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A cleaning apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said rubbing member is disposed at a side apart from said image bearing member with respect to said straight line. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) A cleaning apparatus according to claim 3, wherein an angle defined by said straight line and a straight line connecting between a position in which said first brush and said rubbing member are in contact with each other and the rotation axis of said first brush is 30° or less. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A cleaning apparatus according to claim 5, wherein an angle defined by said straight line and a straight line connecting between a position in which said second brush and said rubbing member are in contact with each other and the rotation axis of said second brush is 30° or less. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1, 2) A cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said cleaning apparatus is movable into contact with and separable from said image bearing member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1, 2) A cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said first brush is spaced from said second brush by a predetermined space. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1, 2) A cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said rubbing member splashes the toner removed by said first brush and said second brush toward a counter side to a side on which said image bearing member is disposed. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1, 2) A cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said image bearing member comprises a photosensitive member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A cleaning apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said cleaning apparatus includes said photosensitive member, and said cleaning apparatus is detachably attachable to an image forming apparatus. ### Claim 12 A cleaning apparatus that cleans a recording material bearing member that bears and conveys a recording material for transferring a toner image on an image bearing member onto a the recording material, said cleaning apparatus, comprising: first and second brushes which are rotatable and remove toner by abutment against said recording material bearing member, wherein said first and second brushes rotate in counter directions; containing means for containing the toner removed by said first brush and said second brush; and a rubbing member that rubs both of said first brush and said second brush. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A cleaning apparatus according to claim 12, wherein a direction of moving said first brush at a position opposite to said second brush is a direction of separating from said recording material bearing member. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12, 13) A cleaning apparatus according to claim 12 or 13, wherein said rubbing member is disposed in a vicinity of a straight line connecting between a rotation axis of said first brush and a rotation axis of said second brush. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A cleaning apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said rubbing member is disposed at a side apart from said recording material bearing member with respect to said straight line. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) A cleaning apparatus according to claim 14, wherein an angle defined by said straight line and a straight line connecting between a position in which said first brush and said rubbing member are in contact with each other and the rotation axis of said first brush is 30° or less. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A cleaning apparatus according to claim 16, wherein an angle defined by said straight line and a straight line connecting between a position in which said second brush and said rubbing member are in contact with each other and the rotation axis of said second brush is 30° or less. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12, 13) A cleaning apparatus according to claim 12 or 13, wherein said cleaning apparatus is movable into contact with and separable from said recording material bearing member. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12, 13) A cleaning apparatus according to claim 12 or 13, wherein said first brush is spaced from said second brush by a predetermined space. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12, 13) A cleaning apparatus according to claim 12 or 13, wherein said rubbing member splashes the toner removed by said first brush and said second brush toward a counter side to a side on which said recording material bearing member is disposed. ### Claim 21 (depends on 12, 13) A cleaning apparatus according to claim 12 or 13, wherein said cleaning apparatus is detachably attachable to an image forming apparatus. ### Claim 22 An image forming apparatus, comprising: an image bearing member for bearing a toner image, wherein the toner image on said image bearing member is transferred onto a transfer medium; first and second brushes which are rotatable and remove toner by abutment against said image bearing member, wherein said first and second brushes rotate in counter directions; containing means for containing the toner removed by said first brush and said second brush; and a rubbing member that rubs both of said first brush and said second brush. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) An image forming apparatus according to claim 22, wherein a direction of moving said first brush at a position opposite to said second brush is a direction of separating from said image bearing member. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22, 23) An image forming apparatus according to claim 22 or 23, wherein said rubbing member is disposed in a vicinity of a straight line connecting between a rotation axis of said first brush and a rotation axis of said second brush. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) An image forming apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said rubbing member is disposed at a side apart from said image bearing member with respect to said straight line. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) An image forming apparatus according to claim 24, wherein an angle defined by said straight line and a straight line connecting between a position in which said first brush and said rubbing member are in contact with each other and the rotation axis of said first brush is 30° or less. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) An image forming apparatus according to claim 26, wherein an angle defined by said straight line and a straight line connecting between a position in which said second brush and said rubbing member are in contact with each other and the rotation axis of said second brush is 30° or less. ### Claim 28 (depends on 22, 23) An image forming apparatus according to claim 22 or 23, wherein said first brush and said second brush are movable into contact with and separable from said image bearing member. ### Claim 29 (depends on 22, 23) An image forming apparatus according to claim 22 or 23, further comprising a unit including said first brush, said second brush, said rubbing member and said containing means, wherein said unit is detachably attachable to an image forming apparatus main body. ### Claim 30 (depends on 22, 23) An image forming apparatus according to claim 22 or 23, wherein said first brush is spaced from said second brush by a predetermined space. ### Claim 31 (depends on 22, 23) An image forming apparatus according to claim 22 or 23, wherein the toner image on said transfer medium which is transferred from said image bearing member is transferred onto a recording member. ### Claim 32 (depends on 22, 23) An image forming apparatus according to claim 22 or 23, wherein plural colors of toner images are sequentially superimposed and transferred on said transfer medium. ### Claim 33 An image forming apparatus, comprising: an image bearing member for bearing a toner image; a recording material bearing member that bears a recording material, wherein the toner image on said image bearing member is transferred onto the recording material born by said recording material bearing member; first and second brushes which are rotatable and remove toner by abutment against the recording material bearing member, wherein said first and second brushes rotate in counter directions; containing means for containing the toner removed by said first brush and said second brush; and a rubbing member that rubs both of said first brush and said second brush. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) An image forming apparatus according to claim 33, wherein a direction of moving said first brush at a position opposite to said second brush is a direction of separating from said recording material bearing member. ### Claim 35 (depends on 33, 34) An image forming apparatus according to claim 33 or 34, wherein said rubbing member is disposed in a vicinity of a straight line connecting between a rotation axis of said first brush and a rotation axis of said second brush. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) An image forming apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said rubbing member is disposed at a side apart from said recording material bearing member with respect to said straight line. ### Claim 37 (depends on 35) An image forming apparatus according to claim 35, wherein an angle defined by said straight line and a straight line connecting between a position in which said first brush and said rubbing member are in contact with each other and the rotation axis of said first brush is 30° or less. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) An image forming apparatus according to claim 37, wherein an angle defined by said straight line and a straight line connecting between a position in which said second brush and said rubbing member are in contact with each other and the rotation axis of said second brush is 30° or less. ### Claim 39 (depends on 33, 34) An image forming apparatus according to claim 33 or 34, wherein said first brush and said second brush are movable into contact with and separable from said recording material bearing member. ### Claim 40 (depends on 33, 34) An image forming apparatus according to claim 33 or 34, further comprising a unit including said first brush, said second brush, said rubbing member and said containing means, wherein said unit is detachably attachable to an image forming apparatus main body. ### Claim 41 (depends on 33, 34) An image forming apparatus according to claim 33 or 34, wherein said first brush is spaced from said second brush by a predetermined space. ### Claim 42 (depends on 33, 34) An image forming apparatus according to claim 33 or 34, wherein plural colors of toner images are sequentially superimposed and transferred on the recording material born by said recording material bearing member.