Cleaning blade including modified portion including impregnated portion and surface layer, and process cartridge and image forming apparatus including the cleaning blade

#This patent application is based on and claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119 to Japanese Patent Applications Nos. 2015-134636 and 2016-004569, filed on Jul. 3, 2015 and Jan. 13, 2016, respectively in the Japan Patent Office, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

#Technical Field

#The present invention relates to a cleaning blade, a process cartridge and an Image forming apparatus.

#Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood from the detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters designate like corresponding parts throughout and wherein:

#FIG. 1A is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a cleaning blade contacting the surface of an image bearer;

#FIG. 1B is an enlarged view illustrating a vicinity of the contact portion of the cleaning blade;

#Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning blade capable of suppressing generation of abnormal noises due to turned over edge ridgeline and abnormal abrasion, maintaining good cleanability for long periods, and preventing color registration errors in tandem image forming methods.

#Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus using the cleaning blade.

#A further object of the present invention is to provide a process cartridge using the cleaning blade.