# US 2010/0166456 A1 · Image Forming Apparatus and Image Forming Unit > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0166456 A1 - Document ID: US20100166456A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/645,510 - Filed: 2009-12-23 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2008-12-26 - Assignees: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Takashi SHIMIZU; Junichi HASHIMOTO - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100166456A1 ## CPC - G03G 15/0225: {provided with means for cleaning the charging member} - G03G 15/0291: {corona discharge devices, e.g. wires, pointed electrodes, means for cleaning the corona discharge device} - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract An image forming apparatus comprises a photosensitive drum, a charged wire which long extends in a shaft direction of the photosensitive drum and charges the photosensitive drum by electric discharge, a frame disposed so as to surround the charged wire, the frame in which a cover side opening is formed in the side opposite to the photosensitive drum with respect to the charged wire, and a cover member disposed so as to cover the cover side opening while forming a blow path in communication with the cover side opening between the frame and the cover member. The cover member moves along the charged wire and is constructed extractably from a side surface of the frame and also a cleaning member for cleaning the charged wire is disposed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image forming apparatus comprising: a photosensitive body; an electric discharge member which extends in a shaft direction of the photosensitive body and electrically charges the photosensitive body by electric discharge; a frame disposed so as to surround the electric discharge member, an opening being formed at a side of the frame opposite to the photosensitive body with respect to the electric discharge member; and a cover member which is disposed so as to cover the opening and forms a blow path in communication with the opening between the frame and the cover member, wherein the cover member includes a cleaning member for cleaning the electric discharge member, the cleaning member being movable along the electric discharge member and being formed extractably from a side surface of the frame. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of process units, each of which includes the photosensitive body, the electric discharge member and the cover member are arranged side by side, and the plurality of process units are arranged so that a cover member of one process unit of the adjacent process units is covered with the other process unit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of process units, each of which includes the photosensitive body, the electric discharge member, the frame, the cover member and a detachable developing cartridge having a developer carrier, are arranged side by side, the plural process units are arranged so that a cover member of one process unit of the adjacent process units is covered with the developing cartridge of the other process unit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a rectifying member which extends in a longitudinal direction of the electric discharge member and rectifies air flowing from the blow path toward the electric discharge member is disposed in the cover member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an operation part operated at the time of extraction is disposed in the cover member, and the frame is provided with a supply port, for supplying air to the blow path, at a side surface opposite to the side in which the operation part is disposed. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an operation part operated at the time of extraction is disposed in the cover member, and the frame is provided with an electrode, for applying a voltage to the electric discharge member, at a side surface opposite to the side in which the operation part is disposed. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a pair of frame side guide parts which extend in a longitudinal direction of the electric discharge member and movably guide the cover member are disposed in the frame and in the cover member, a pair of cover side guide parts for slidably engaging with the frame side guide parts are disposed with the cleaning member being interposed therebetween, and one of the pair of cover side guide parts is formed so as to extend in a longitudinal direction of the electric discharge member and the other cover side guide part is formed so as to extend over a range shorter than the one cover side guide part. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising a support member which supports the plural process units in a state of arranging the process units side by side and is formed extractably from an apparatus body. ### Claim 9 An image forming unit comprising: an image forming apparatus body; plural process units, each of the plurality process units including: a photosensitive body; an electric discharge member which extends in a shaft direction of the photosensitive body and electrically charges the photosensitive body by electric discharge; a frame disposed so as to surround the electric discharge member, an opening being formed at a side of the frame opposite to the photosensitive body with respect to the electric discharge member; and a cover member which is disposed so as to cover the opening and forms a blow path in communication with the opening between the frame and the cover member; and a support member which supports the plural process units in a state of arranging the process units side by side and is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus body, wherein the cover member includes a cleaning member for cleaning the electric discharge member, the cleaning member being movable along the electric discharge member and being formed extractably from a side surface of the frame. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The image forming unit according to claim 9, wherein the cover member of one process unit of the adjacent process units is arranged so as to be covered with the other process unit. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The image forming unit according to claim 9, wherein the process unit includes a detachable developing cartridge having a developer carrier, and the cover member of one process unit of the adjacent process units is arranged so as to be covered with the developing cartridge of the other process unit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The image forming unit according to claim 9, wherein a rectifying member which extends in a longitudinal direction of the electric discharge member and rectifies air flowing from the blow path toward the electric discharge member is disposed in the cover member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The image forming unit according to claim 9, wherein an operation part operated at the time of extraction is disposed in the cover member, and the frame is provided with a supply port, for supplying air to the blow path, at a side surface opposite to the side in which the operation part is disposed. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The image forming unit according to claim 9, wherein an operation part operated at the time of extraction is disposed in the cover member, and the frame is provided with an electrode, for applying a voltage to the electric discharge member, at a side surface opposite to the side in which the operation part is disposed. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The image forming unit according to claim 9, wherein a pair of frame side guide parts which extend in a longitudinal direction of the electric discharge member and movably guide the cover member are disposed in the frame and in the cover member, a pair of cover side guide parts for slidably engaging with the frame side guide parts are disposed with the cleaning member being interposed therebetween, and one of the pair of cover side guide parts is formed so as to extend in a longitudinal direction of the electric discharge member and the other cover side guide part is formed so as to extend over a range shorter than the one cover side guide part.