Cleaning apparatus, and transfer unit and image forming apparatus including the same

A transfer unit of an image forming apparatus, the transfer unit comprising:

• a transfer medium to receive an image developed on a photosensitive medium while rotating in a regular cycle and in contact with an outer circumference of the photosensitive medium;
• a transfer roller to transfer an image transferred on the transfer medium to a printing medium;
• a blade arm, which is installed adjacent to the transfer medium, to move to a first position and a second position;
• a cleaning blade, which is supported by the blade arm, to be in contact with the transfer medium when the blade arm moves to the first position;
• and
• a pressure unit to bias the cleaning blade towards the transfer medium.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• at least one photosensitive medium on which an electrostatic latent image is formed;
• a developing unit to develop the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive medium;
• a transfer unit to transfer the image developed on the photosensitive medium to a printing medium;
• a fixing unit to fix the image transferred onto the printing medium;
• and
• a discharging unit to discharge the printing medium on which the image is fixed,
• wherein the transfer unit comprises:
• a transfer medium to receive an image developed on the photosensitive medium while rotating in a regular cycle and in contact with an outer circumference of at least one photosensitive medium;
• a transfer roller to transfer an image transferred on the transfer medium to the printing medium;
• a blade arm, which is installed adjacent to the transfer medium, to move to a first position and a second position;
• a cleaning blade, which is supported by the blade arm, to be in contact with the transfer medium when the blade arm moves to the first position;
• and
• a pressure unit to pressurize the cleaning blade towards the transfer medium.

A transfer unit of an image forming apparatus, comprising:

• a continuous belt to carry toner applied to an electrostatic image to a print medium path of the image forming apparatus;
• a blade arm to oscillate over a predetermined period associated with a rotation rate of the belt;
• and
• a cleaning blade coupled to the blade arm and biased against the belt over a predetermined interval in the period.

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• a photosensitive medium to receive an electrostatic latent image;
• a print medium path conveying print media therethrough;
• a developing unit to apply toner to the photosensitive medium to form a developed image;
• a continuous belt to receive the developed image thereon and to convey the developed image to the print medium path;
• a fixing unit to adhere the developed image to a print medium in the print medium path;
• a blade arm to oscillate over a period corresponding to a rate at which the developed image is received on the belt;
• and
• a cleaning blade coupled to the blade arm and biased against the belt over a predetermined interval in the period.

A method to clean a continuous belt, the method comprising:

• rotating the belt at a predetermined rotation rate;
• contacting the belt with a cleaning blade at least once per rotation of the belt;
• and
• biasing the cleaning blade against the belt for a predetermined interval subsequent to the cleaning blade contacting the belt.

An image forming method, the method comprising:

• applying toner to a photosensitive medium on which a latent image has been formed to form a developed image;
• positioning a cleaning blade to be removed from a transfer belt and transferring the developed image to the transfer belt;
• transferring the developed image to a printable medium;
• positioning the cleaning blade proximal to the transfer belt;
• and
• biasing the cleaning blade against the transfer belt to remove toner therefrom upon the developed image on the transfer belt being transferred to the printable medium.