Apparatus for and method of cleaning a photo-sensitive body with cleaning blade brought gradually into contact with body

An apparatus for cleaning a photo-sensitive body, comprising:

• a cleaning blade contractable with respect to the surface of the photo-aensitive body;
• a drive mechanism for moving said cleaning blade to be contacted with the surface of said photo-sensitive body before the start of the operation of said photo-sensitive body and to subsequently cause the contact pressure applied to the surface of said photo-sensitive body by said cleaning blade in contact therewith to be gradually increased in an initial stage of the operation of said photo-sensitive body;
• and
• a blade holding mechanism holding said cleaning blade and capable of being driven by said drive mechanism to move said cleaning blade with respect to the surface of said photo-sensitive body;
• said blade holding mechanism including a support body carrying said cleaning blade mounted thereon, a biasing member biasing said support body in the direction away from the surface of said photo-sensitive body, and a roller rotatably provided on said support body,
• said drive mechanism including a cam mechanism for moving said cleaning blade toward the surface of said photo-sensitive body against the biasing force of said biasing member, said cam mechanism including a cam member having a cam surface, said roller being capable of being brought into contact with said cam surface by the biasing force of said biasing member, said cam surface having a first portion serving to separate said cleaning blade from the surface of said photo-sensitive body, a second portion serving to bring said cleaning blade into contact with the surface of said photo-sensitive body and a third portion serving to gradually increase the contact pressure applied to the surface of said photo-sensitive body by said cleaning blade in contact therewith.