Image forming apparatus

Abstract

In order to form high-quality images, the positive residual charge on a small-diameter photosensitive drum is efficiently diselectified and the charge built-up is effected rapidly. Above a photosensitive drum 1, a non-conductive elastic cleaning blade 7 with a conductive Mylar 8 fixedly attached thereto is disposed, as well as a transport paddle 9. Waste toner 17 removed by cleaning is gradually accumulated adjacent to the cleaning blade 7 as residual toner with an increase in number of paper feeds. As the residual toner is accumulated to a certain volume, part of the residual toner is uniformly distributed by the transport paddle 9 over the surface of the photosensitive drum 1. On the other hand, the conductive Mylar 8 is biased to a negative potential by a bias voltage source 18 and, therefore, the residual toner accumulated on the photosensitive drum 1 and in contact with the conductive Mylar 8 is charged to a negative potential by charge injection. Thus, the positive residual charge present on the photosensitive drum 1 is diselectrified by the residual toner and such diselectrification assists in charging of the photosensitive drum 1 in the next charging step.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.