Cleaning device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus including the same

Abstract

A cleaning device (6; 6A; 6B; 6C; 6D) for cleaning a surface of a rotatable image carrier (3) includes a cleaning blade (61; 610; 612) disposed to contact the image carrier (3) and configured to remove toner on the surface of the image carrier (3), a lubricant applicator unit (62,64) disposed above the cleaning blade (61; 610; 612), downstream from the cleaning blade (61; 610; 612) in a surface rotation direction of the image carrier (3) and configured to apply lubricant onto the surface of the image carrier (3), and an accumulation preventer configured to prevent the toner and excessive lubricant from the lubricant applicator unit (62,64) from accumulating on the cleaning blade (61; 610; 612).

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to image forming apparatuses such as copiers, printers, and facsimile machines, and more particularly, to a cleaning device and a process cartridge used in the image forming apparatuses. Background technique [0002] In the above-mentioned image forming apparatus, a cleaning device is generally used, and the transfer residual toner remaining on the image carrier is removed by a cleaning blade in the cleaning device. Patent Document 1 (JP Laid-Open No. 2001-235987) discloses a cleaning device that not only removes transfer residual toner on the surface of an image carrier, but also has a lubricant coating device for Apply lubricant to the surface of the carrier. Applying a lubricant on the surface of the image carrier with a lubricant coating device not only reduces the friction coefficient of the surface of the image carrier, improves the removal performance of transfer residual toner, but also prevents the toner from fir...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Moreover, the toner in contact with the image carrier 3Z may be attached to the image carrier 3Z again, and if the reattached toner frequently enters the uniform scraper 66Z, the life of the uniform scraper 66Z will be shortened. In addition, the toner falling from the uniform blade 66Z may also cause image abnormalities.

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