Cleaning device, intermediate transfer unit and image forming apparatus

An intermediate transfer unit comprising a cleaning device, and an intermediate transfer belt from which residual toner is to be removed by the cleaning device, wherein

• the cleaning device includes:
• a housing formed with an opening facing to the intermediate transfer belt, and a waste toner retaining portion for retaining toner scraped from a surface of the intermediate transfer belt;
• a roller-shaped cleaning member disposed near the opening of the housing, for removing residual toner on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt;
• a pair of bearing portions that rotatably bear both ends of a rotation axis of the cleaning member;
• a toner receiving seal, disposed facing to the entire area in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning member, configured to prevent reverse flow of waste toner toward the opening from the waste toner retaining portion;
• and
• an end seal, disposed in a gap between the housing and each of the bearing portions, configured to prevent leakage of waste toner from both end portions of the housing,
• the cleaning member includes a fur brush for scraping off residual toner on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt, and a recovery roller for recovering waste toner adhering to a surface of the fur brush,
• the toner receiving seal is disposed facing to the entire area in the longitudinal direction of the recovery roller and extends to be laid across each end portion of the cleaning member and outer periphery of the bearing portion,
• the bearing portion has the same outer diameter in a contact portion where the toner receiving seal contacts, as an outer diameter of the cleaning member, and
• the end seal is disposed facing to the contact portion with the toner receiving seal interposed therebetween.

An image forming apparatus comprising a cleaning device, wherein

• the cleaning device includes:
• a housing formed with an opening facing to an image carrier, and a waste toner retaining portion for retaining toner scraped from a surface of the image carrier;
• a roller-shaped cleaning member disposed near the opening of the housing, for removing residual toner on the surface of the image carrier;
• a pair of bearing portions that rotatably bear both ends of a rotation axis of the cleaning member;
• a toner receiving seal, disposed facing to the entire area in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning member, configured to prevent reverse flow of waste toner toward the opening from the waste toner retaining portion;
• and
• an end seal, disposed in a gap between the housing and each of the bearing portions, configured to prevent leakage of waste toner from both end portions of the housing,
• the toner receiving seal extends to be laid across each end portion of the cleaning member and outer periphery of the bearing portion,
• the bearing portion has the same outer diameter in a contact portion where the toner receiving seal contacts, as an outer diameter of the cleaning member, and
• the end seal is disposed facing to the contact portion with the toner receiving seal interposed therebetween.