Cleaning device, and image forming apparatus, process cartridge, and intermediate transfer unit each including the cleaning device

A cleaning device for cleaning a moving surface of a cleaning target, comprising:

• a laminated blade member including multiple layers, each of which is made of materials different in permanent set value,
• the multiple layers including an edge layer formed of a material higher in permanent set value than any other one of the materials of the multiple layers and a backing layer disposed against a distal surface of the edge layer;
• and
• a holding member to hold a distal edge of the laminated blade member,
• a proximal edge portion of the edge layer of the blade member being brought into contact with the moving surface of the cleaning target,
• the laminated blade member including a leading edge on which the edge portion thereof is located and a trailing edge where the holding member supports the blade member,
• a ratio of a thickness of the edge layer to a thickness of the backing layer at the trailing edge of the blade member being smaller than a ratio of the layer thickness of the edge layer to the layer thickness of the backing layer at the leading edge of the blade member,
• wherein a length of the backing layer from the leading edge of the laminated blade member to the trailing edge of the laminated blade member is equal to or greater than a length of the edge layer from the leading edge of the laminated blade member to the trailing edge of the laminated blade member.