Cleaning Apparatus and Image Forming Apparatus

An electrophotographic image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising:

• a transfer unit that transfers toner onto the sheet;
• a transport belt that transports the sheet to the transfer unit;
• and
• a cleaning apparatus that directly removes the toner attached to the transport belt or removes the toner through one or more rollers,
• wherein the cleaning apparatus removes the toner from a circulation mechanism having a circulating surface that circulates in a two-dimensional manner around one pivotal shaft or two or more pivotal shafts parallel to each other in a housing, the toner attaching to the circulating surface, the cleaning apparatus including
• a stripper blade having a substantially plate-shape, the width direction of which is parallel to the pivotal shaft and the longitudinal direction of which is perpendicular to the pivotal shaft, one longitudinal end portion of the stripper blade abutting the circulating surface to strip the toner attached to the circulating surface,
• a securing section that is secured to the housing and secures the other longitudinal end portion of the stripper blade, and
• a counter-bending prevention member that is formed separately from the securing section and disposed downstream of the stripper blade in the circulation direction of the circulating surface, the counter-bending prevention member preventing bending of the one end portion of the stripper blade on the downstream side in the circulation direction of the circulating surface.