Image forming apparatus and cleaning method

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a first holding member configured to rotate and hold a liquid developer including a volatile carrier liquid;
• a first cleaning member configured to come into contact with or be separated from the first holding member and clean a surface of the first holding member by being in contact with the first holding member;
• a supplying device configured to supply a volatile washing liquid to the first holding member at an upstream side of the first cleaning member in a rotation direction of the first holding member;
• a switching mechanism configured to switch the image forming apparatus from a first state in which the washing liquid is supplied to the first holding member when the first cleaning member is in contact with the first holding member and the first holding member is rotated, to a second state in which the first cleaning member is separated from the first holding member while the first holding member is rotated and the washing liquid is applied to the first holding member;
• a second holding member configured to rotate and come into contact with the first holding member so that the liquid developer or the washing liquid is moved from the first holding member to the second holding member;
• and
• a second cleaning member configured to come into contact with or be separated from the second holding member and clean a surface of the second holding member by being in contact with the second holding member,
• wherein, in the second state, the washing liquid is supplied to the second holding member when the second cleaning member is in contact with the second holding member and the second holding member is rotated, and
• wherein the switching mechanism is configured to switch the second state to a third state in which the second cleaning member is separated from the second holding member while the second holding member is rotated and the washing liquid is applied to the second holding member.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a first holding member configured to rotate and hold a liquid developer including a volatile carrier liquid;
• a first cleaning member configured to come into contact with or be separated from the first holding member and clean a surface of the first holding member by being in contact with the first holding member;
• a supplying device configured to supply a volatile washing liquid to the first holding member at an upstream side of the first cleaning member in a rotation direction of the first holding member;
• a switching mechanism configured to switch the image forming apparatus from a first state in which the washing liquid is supplied to the first holding member when the first cleaning member is in contact with the first holding member and the first holding member is rotated, to a second state in which the first cleaning member is separated from the first holding member while the first holding member is rotated and the washing liquid is applied to the first holding member;
• wherein the first cleaning member has a plate shape, is disposed to be in contact with the first holding member in the first state, and has a front edge that projects toward an upstream side of a rotation direction of the first holding member in the first state, and
• wherein the switching mechanism is configured to allow the first cleaning member to come into contact with the first holding member after applying the washing liquid to the first holding member, and to switch the first holding member to a reverse rotation state in which the first holding member is rotated in a direction reverse to the rotation direction in the first state.