Image carrier unit and image forming apparatus

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• an image former configured to form an image;
• and
• an image carrier unit that constitutes the image former and is insertable into and removable from an apparatus body including the image former,
• wherein the image carrier unit comprises:
• an image carrier configured to carry an image on a surface of the image carrier;
• a removal member configured to remove an adherent adhering to the surface of the image carrier;
• a transporter configured to transport the adherent removed by the removal member in an axial direction by axial rotation to discharge the adherent;
• and
• a grip portion to be gripped by a user to insert the image carrier unit into or remove the image carrier unit from the apparatus body, and
• wherein the grip portion comprises a recessed portion that constitutes an outer surface while receding toward the transporter in a cross section intersecting the axial direction of the transporter, and has a curved wall serving as a partition from the transporter.

An image carrier unit comprising:

• image carrying means for carrying an image on a surface of the image carrying means;
• removal means for removing an adherent adhering to the surface of the image carrying means;
• transport means for transporting the adherent removed by the removal means in an axial direction by axial rotation to discharge the adherent;
• and
• grip means to be gripped by a user to insert the image carrier unit into or remove the image carrier unit from an image forming apparatus configured to form, on a recording medium, the image on the image carrying means,
• wherein the grip means comprises a recessed portion that constitutes an outer surface while receding toward the transport means in a cross section intersecting the axial direction of the transport means, and has a curved wall serving as a partition from the transport means.