# US 2008/0187376 A1 · 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 2008/0187376 A1 - Document ID: US20080187376A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/000,499 - Filed: 2007-12-13 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2006-12-20 - Assignees: Oki Data Corporation - Inventors: Osamu Watanabe - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080187376A1 ## CPC - G03G 21/12: Toner waste containers - G03G 15/161: {with means for handling the intermediate support, e.g. heating, cleaning, coating with a transfer agent} - G03G 15/168: {with means for conditioning the transfer element, e.g. cleaning} - G03G 2215/00734: of sheet size - G03G 2215/0141: the linear arrangement being horizontal - G03G 2215/1661: of transfer belt - G03G 2221/0015: Width of cleaning device related to other parts of the apparatus, e.g. transfer belt width - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract An image forming apparatus includes a transportation member rotating to transport a medium or developer; a blade member disposed to abut against the transportation member for removing an object adhering to a surface of the transportation member; and a retaining member disposed on an upstream side of the blade member in a direction that the transportation member rotates and abutting against the transportation member for retaining the object adhering to the surface of the transportation member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image forming apparatus, comprising: a transportation member rotating to transport a medium or developer; a blade member disposed to abut against the transportation member for removing an object adhering to a surface of the transportation member; and a retaining member disposed on an upstream side of the blade member in a direction that the transportation member rotates and abutting against the transportation member for retaining the object adhering to the surface of the transportation member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an image forming unit for forming a developer image on the transportation member so that the developer is supplied to the retaining member when a printing operation is not performed. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said retaining member extends in a direction perpendicular to the direction that the transportation member rotates. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said image forming unit is arranged to form the developer image on the transportation member so that the developer image has a length in a direction perpendicular to the direction that the transportation member rotates smaller than a width of the transportation member and larger than a width of the medium. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said retaining member has a length in a direction perpendicular to the direction that the transportation member rotates larger than a length of the developer image in the direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said image forming unit is arranged to form the developer image when the image forming apparatus is turned on or after the image forming apparatus prints on a specific number of sheets. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said retaining member is disposed at a position corresponding to a side edge of the medium in a direction perpendicular to the direction that the transportation member rotates. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said retaining member is disposed at at least two positions corresponding to side edges of the medium in a direction perpendicular to the direction that the transportation member rotates. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said image forming unit is arranged to form a test pattern for operational correction on the transportation member when a printing operation is not performed. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said image forming unit is arranged to form a test pattern for color shift correction on the transportation member when a printing operation is not performed. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said retaining member has a length in a direction perpendicular to the direction that the transportation member rotates covering the test pattern and a side edge of the medium adjacent to the test pattern. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a moving unit for moving the retaining member toward a position corresponding to a side edge of the medium in a direction perpendicular to the direction that the transportation member rotates. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a moving unit for moving the retaining member between a position corresponding to the test pattern and a position corresponding to a side edge of the medium in a direction perpendicular to the direction that the transportation member rotates. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said transportation member includes a medium transportation belt unit. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said retaining member is formed of a urethane foam.