Image forming apparatus with cleaning device and cleaning method
AssigneesKabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorShigeru FUJIWARA
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In an image forming apparatus including a cleaning device having a cleaning blade arranged so as to make contact with and separate from a cleaned surface, an occurrence of excessive cutting when the cleaning blade makes contact with the cleaned surface is prevented. The image forming apparatus includes the cleaning blade for making contact with and separating from the cleaned surface and scraping off toner adhered onto the cleaned surface and a regulation unit for regulating a movement of the cleaning blade in the direction of contact with the cleaned surface up to a position where a pressing force to the cleaned surface by the cleaning blade does not exceed a predetermined pressing force.
Claims20
A method of preventing excessive cutting of a cleaned surface of in image forming apparatus, comprising:
- moving a cleaning blade to contact the cleaned surface using a pressing force and separating from the cleaned surface toner adhered thereto;
- and
- regulating a movement of the cleaning blade in a direction of contact with the cleaned surface by a regulation member using a regulating force, the regulating force larger than the pressing force.
An image forming apparatus method of preventing excessive cutting of a cleaned surface, comprising:
- the cleaning blade configured to contact the cleaned surface using a pressing force and separating from the cleaned surface toner adhered thereto;
- and
- a regulation member configured to regulate a movement of the cleaning blade in a direction of contact with the cleaned surface by using a regulating force, the regulating force larger than the pressing force.
A method of lengthening a life span of a cleaning blade or a cleaned surface of in image forming apparatus, comprising:
- moving a cleaning blade to contact the cleaned surface using a pressing force and separating from the cleaned surface toner adhered thereto;
- and
- regulating a movement of the cleaning blade in a direction of contact with the cleaned surface by a regulation member using a regulating force, the regulating force larger than the pressing force.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.