# US 9,519,258 B1 · Image forming unit, image forming apparatus, and cleaning device

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- Number: US 9,519,258 B1
- Document ID: US9519258B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 14/994,669
- Filed: 2016-01-13
- Granted: 2016-12-13
- Earliest claimed: 2015-08-26
- Assignees: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Hiroaki Akamatsu
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9519258B1

## CPC

- G03G 21/0017: {Details relating to the internal structure or chemical composition of the blades}
- G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY

## Abstract

An image forming unit includes an image carrying body, a plate-shaped cleaning member, and a powder of a fatty acid metal salt. The image carrying body is configured to be rotatable and carries an image formed on a surface thereof with a toner. The plate-shaped cleaning member includes a tip portion which is pressed against the surface and which scrapes a material adhering onto the surface in response to rotation of the image carrying body. The powder of the fatty acid metal salt is applied to at least one of the tip portion and the surface.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An image forming unit comprising:
an image carrying body that is configured to be rotatable and that carries an image formed on a surface thereof with a toner;
a plate-shaped cleaning member that includes a support member, and a tip portion which is pressed against the surface and which scrapes a material adhering onto the surface in response to rotation of the image carrying body;
a powder of a fatty acid metal salt that is applied to at least one of the tip portion and the surface; and
a developing unit that develops a latent image formed on the surface with a developer that contains toner and does not contain the fatty acid metal salt.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The image forming unit according to claim 1,
wherein the fatty acid metal salt is applied to spread from one end of the tip portion in an axial direction of a rotation shaft of the image carrying body to the other end of the tip portion.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The image forming unit according to claim 1,
wherein the fatty acid metal salt is applied to spread from one end of the surface in an axial direction of a rotation shaft of the image carrying body to the other end of the surface.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The image forming unit according to claim 1, wherein the fatty acid metal salt includes zinc stearate.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The image forming unit according to claim 1, wherein:
the plate-shaped cleaning member is configured to be deformed by being pulled in a tangential direction of a surface of a photoreceptor body and a wedge-shaped space is formed between the plate-shaped cleaning member and the surface of the photoreceptor body; and
after the space is formed, the plate-shaped cleaning member maintains the deformed shape.

### Claim 6

An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image carrying body that is configured to be rotatable and that carries an image formed on a surface thereof with a toner;
a charging unit that charges the surface;
a latent image forming unit that forms a latent image on the charged surface;
a developing unit that develops the latent image formed on the surface to a toner image with a developer containing toner;
a transfer unit that transfers the toner image formed on the surface to a medium;
a plate-shaped cleaning member that includes a support member, and a tip portion which is pressed against the surface and which scrapes a material adhering onto the surface in response to rotation of the image carrying body;
a powder of a fatty acid metal salt that is applied to at least one of the tip portion and the surface; and
a developing unit that develops a latent image formed on the surface with a developer that contains toner and does not contain the fatty acid metal salt.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 6,
wherein a lubricant supply unit that supplies lubricant containing the fatty acid metal salt to the surface is not used.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the fatty acid metal salt includes zinc stearate.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein:
the plate-shaped cleaning member is configured to be deformed by being pulled in a tangential direction of a surface of a photoreceptor body and a wedge-shaped space is formed between the plate-shaped cleaning member and the surface of the photoreceptor body; and
after the space is formed, the plate-shaped cleaning member maintains the deformed shape.

### Claim 10

A cleaning device comprising:
a plate-shaped cleaning member that includes a support member, and a tip portion which is pressed against a surface of an image carrying body that carries an image formed on the surface thereof with a toner, the tip portion which scrapes a material adhering onto the surface in response to rotation of the image carrying body; and
a powder of a fatty acid metal salt that is applied to the tip portion.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The cleaning device according to claim 10, wherein the fatty acid metal salt includes zinc stearate.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The cleaning device according to claim 10, wherein:
the plate-shaped cleaning member is configured to be deformed by being pulled in a tangential direction of a surface of a photoreceptor body and a wedge-shaped space is formed between the plate-shaped cleaning member and the surface of the photoreceptor body; and
after the space is formed, the plate-shaped cleaning member maintains the deformed shape.