JP3262392B2 - Cleaning device, process cartridge and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine and a printer, and a cleaning device and a process cartridge used in the image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of an image carrier such as a photoreceptor, and the electrostatic latent image is visualized with a developer to be printed on recording paper. Transfer is performed. After the transfer is completed, the outer peripheral surface of the image carrier is separated and cleaned by a cleaning device to remove the residual developer adhered thereto, and an electrostatic latent image is formed again to transfer a new image. The cleaning device used to remove the residual developer from the surface of the image carrier needs to have a storage unit for storing the removed developer (residue). In general, in a long-life, high-speed image forming apparatus, since the amount of processed residue is large, when the accommodating means is filled with the residue, it is possible to process the residue, for example, replaceable residue. A storage box is provided at a place where the work is easily performed, and a residue removed by a transfer means such as a spiral blade is transferred to the collection box.

On the other hand, in the case of a small and inexpensive image forming apparatus, the space required for installing the collection box and the transporting means to the collection box and the cost required for the means are reduced, and the size of the entire apparatus is reduced.
It has a simple configuration in which a collection box or the like separate from the accommodation means is not provided. However, even in a small-sized and inexpensive image forming apparatus, the capacity of the storage means needs to be increased with the extension of the life of the image carrier such as the photoreceptor. To block the sheet conveyance path, and to prevent the storage unit from rubbing the unfixed image of the recording sheet to lower the quality of the formed image,
Means have been proposed for expanding the storage means in a direction substantially horizontal or upward with respect to the recording material conveyance path.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, since the storage means is disposed substantially horizontally or above the recording material conveyance path, particularly the image forming apparatus installation surface, the image carrier is held by the developer removing means. In a clamshell type image forming apparatus in which the residue peeled and removed from the body surface is not efficiently stored in the storage means, and the fixing / discharge side is opened with respect to the recording material conveyance path,
There is a problem that the residue in the storage means flows back to the image carrier side. To solve this problem, as shown in FIG. 16 (a), a method of providing a residue feeding means between the residue removing means and the accommodation means has been proposed and put into practical use. However, as shown in FIG. 16B, the problem of the backflow of the residue in the clamshell type image forming apparatus has not been solved.

When the residue containing the developer flows back to the image carrier, the residue is blocked in the vicinity of the residue removing means, and the residue does not go to the storage means even if the residue feeding means is used. For this reason, there arises a problem that the residue leaks from between the removing means and the image carrier. Since the developer is ultra-fine particles with high fluidity, if the developer leaks, it will contaminate the inside of the device and the transfer paper, etc., lower the image quality of the completed copy, and also stain the hands and clothes of workers. Cause. In addition, since the residue removed from the image carrier contains hard particles such as silica and paper powder, if blockage occurs near the developer removing unit, the developer removing capability of the developer removing unit is reduced. Or the surface of the image carrier is partially worn, shortening the life of the image carrier and leaving the developer on the image carrier, so that black stripes are formed on the formed image. As a result, the image quality of the completed copy deteriorates.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object the purpose of the present invention is to provide a cleaning apparatus for preventing the backflow of the residue from the residue accommodating means to the image carrier and always obtaining a high quality image. And a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus using the cleaning device.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, there is provided a first accommodating section for accommodating a residue removed from an image carrier, and a conveyed article from the first accommodating section. A cleaning device having a second storage unit for storing the residue, a shielding member capable of opening and closing an opening between the first storage unit and the second storage unit, and a driving unit for the apparatus body A driving mechanism for moving the shielding member between an open position and a closed position by a driving force from the device.
The drive means can be closed, and the drive means is provided on one of the main body which opens and closes.
And the cleaning device opens and closes the other book.
Provided on the body, the driving means and the
When the drive mechanism is separated from the drive mechanism and the drive transmission from the drive means to the drive mechanism is released, the drive mechanism moves the shielding member to a closed position.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first storage unit for storing the residue removed from the image carrier, and a second storage unit for storing the residue conveyed from the first storage unit. In the cleaning device having, a shielding member capable of opening and closing an opening between the first accommodation portion and the second accommodation portion, a drive mechanism for moving the shielding member between an open position and a closed position,
Provided in the apparatus main body and a support means which can advance and retreat with respect to the cleaning device, the cleaning device,
The relative position with respect to the device main body can be changed,
When the support means moves forward and backward due to a change in the relative position ,
Acting on the drive mechanism to move the shielding member.

Still another aspect of the present invention provides a first storage unit for storing a residue removed from an image carrier, a second storage unit for storing a residue conveyed from the first storage unit, A cleaning member having a rotatable shielding member for closing an opening between the first housing portion and the second housing portion, wherein the shielding member includes a plurality of blade members made of an elastic body. And a center of rotation of the shielding member, the rotation center of the shielding member being displaced from a center of an opening width in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the rotation shaft in the opening, and
The mouth is provided in at least two of the plurality of blade members.
Therefore, it is characterized by being always closed .

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a cleaning device and its periphery showing an outline of the configuration of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied, and FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b) are explanatory views of the driving mechanism of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a shielding member, 2 is a shielding auxiliary member, 3 is a waste toner container serving as a residue storage means, 4 is a cleaning blade serving as a developer removing means,
Reference numeral 5 denotes a residue conveying member, reference numeral 6 denotes a developer scooping member, reference numeral 7 denotes a photosensitive drum serving as an image carrier, and reference numeral 8 denotes a charging roller serving as charging means. The shielding member 1 is a partition plate made of plastic, sheet metal, or the like, and is rotatable about a rotation center 11. The shielding auxiliary member is an elastic sheet material such as PET, one end of which is fixed to the wall 31 of the residue storage means 3 by means of double-sided tape or welding, and the other end of which is always held by the shielding member 1. It is arranged to be. In the present embodiment, by using the shielding member 1 and the shielding auxiliary member 2, the residue accommodating means 3 is moved to the first accommodating portion 32 on the developer removing means 4 side and the residue conveyed from the first accommodating portion. In the clamshell type image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 2, the upper frame of the clamshell type image forming apparatus is opened due to a paper jam or the like. Even so, the residue stored in the second storage section 33 is prevented from flowing back into the first storage section 32.

Next, the operation of the shielding member will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b). In this embodiment, a residue feeding member 5 is provided in the first storage section 32, and the residual developer removed from the image carrier 7 by the developer removing means 4 is removed by the second container 32.
Is configured to be sent out to the storage section 33. Therefore, the shielding member 1 and the shielding auxiliary member 2 are in a state where the residue sending member 5 has no residue sending ability as shown in FIG. 3A, that is, in a state where the apparatus main body is not performing image formation. The first accommodating portion 32 and the second accommodating portion 33 are shielded to prevent the developer from flowing back, and the residue feeding member 5 is feeding the residue as shown in FIG. In the state where an image is being formed, the image forming apparatus rotates around the rotation center 11 in the direction of the arrow in the figure, and avoids upward so as not to obstruct the conveyance of the residue. FIG. 4A shows a driving mechanism in which the residue feeding member 5 and the shielding member 1 are linked.
This will be described with reference to FIG. FIGS. 4A and 4B show a driving unit installed outside the residue storage unit frame of the present embodiment. In FIG. 4A, reference numeral 100 denotes a cam which is installed so as to rotate around the coaxial 101 with the residue feeding member 5 without a relative angle being deviated. Rotate in the direction. 9 is the shielding member 1
And a connecting lever rotatably mounted on the same axis 91 without any deviation in relative angle. The connecting lever has a protruding portion 92 that comes into sliding contact with the outer peripheral surface of the cam member 100.
1 is urged in the direction of arrow Q in the figure by the spring member 110 on the substantially opposite side 93 so that the projection 92 always comes into contact with the outer periphery of the cam member 100. In this embodiment, the tension spring member 110 having one end 111 fixed is used as the urging means, but the connection lever 9 may be urged using a compression spring, a torsion coil spring, or the like. The cam member 100 mainly has a shape in which disks having two types of radii, large and small, are combined, and the above-described residue feeding member does not exhibit its feeding ability (FIG. 3).
In (a)), the cam member 100 has a small radius portion 102.
4, the shielding member 1 is in a closed state as shown by a broken line in FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 3A, the shielding member 1 is stopped by the projection 34 provided on the developer accommodating means 3, so that the projection 9
2 does not separate from the cam member 100 due to excessive rotation by the urging means. When the residue feeding member 5 rotates and sends the residue (FIG. 3B), the cam member 100 is rotated.
4 comes into sliding contact with the protruding portion 92 at the large radius portion 103.
As shown by the dashed line in (b), the shielding member 1 is opened to be in a state in which the residue can be sent out. The junction between the large radius portion 103 and the small radius portion 102 is from the large radius portion 103 to the small radius portion 1.
02 is relatively steeply joined so that the shielding member closes promptly, and the joining portion 104 from the small radius portion 102 to the large radius portion 103 has the shielding member 1 against the urging force. And joined smoothly to open.

As described above, since the shielding member is opened when the residue is sent to the residue storage means, and is closed otherwise, the backflow of the residue can be prevented. .

(Other Embodiment) FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the cam member of the driving means of the shielding member has an elliptical shape.

In FIG. 5 (a), reference numeral 120 denotes an elliptical cam which is rotatably mounted so that the relative angle does not deviate around the coaxial 121 with the feed member 5, and 9 'denotes a cam in the first embodiment. It has the same function as the connecting lever 9, and is urged by a spring 110 so that the projection 92 ′ comes into sliding contact with the outer peripheral surface of the elliptical cam 120. FIG. 5A shows the protrusion 9.
2 'is in contact with the elliptical cam 120 at the minimum diameter, and the shielding member is closed. FIG. 5B shows a state in which the protruding portion 92 ′ is in contact with the elliptical cam 120 at the maximum diameter, and the shielding member is fully opened. In this embodiment,
Since the cam member that transmits the rotational movement to the shielding member has an elliptical shape, the opening and closing operation of the shielding member is performed smoothly.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, the driving means for applying a rotational movement to the residue feeding member is not provided from the image carrier side but from the lower frame portion of the image forming apparatus, particularly the clamshell type image forming apparatus. In FIG. 6A, 9 'is a connecting lever, 110 is a spring member, 120 is an elliptical cam member, and the function thereof is the same as that of the second embodiment. Also, 130
Reference numeral 140 denotes a gear disposed coaxially with the residue feeding member and the elliptical cam member 120. Reference numeral 140 denotes a transmission gear provided on the lower frame of the main body of the image forming apparatus and transmitting a drive from the main body to the gear 130. The gear 140 is attached to the gear 130 by an arrow P 'in FIG.
In order to give a rotation in the direction, it rotates in the direction of arrow T in the figure.
FIG. 6A shows a state in which the image forming apparatus main body is closed and an image forming process can be performed. In this state,
The drive is transmitted from the gear 140, and the shielding member opens and closes in conjunction with the movement of the residue feeding member as described in the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6B, when the image forming apparatus main body is opened, the gear 130 is disengaged from the gear 140 and becomes free to rotate. When the gear 130 is free to rotate, the connecting lever 9 ′ biased by the spring 110 pushes the elliptical cam in reverse, so that the connecting lever 9 ′ always moves the elliptical cam 120 in any state.
Abuts at the position of the minimum radius of. That is, FIG.
As shown by the dashed line in (b), the shielding member is in a closed state, so that even if the image forming process unit is inclined as shown in FIG. As a result, the backflow is prevented from being blocked in the vicinity of the developer removing means 4 and the image carrier 7.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, when the image forming process unit is in the operation position or the operation standby position, the shielding unit is always open, and when the image forming process unit is in the inoperative position, the shielding unit closes. It is what was constituted.

In FIG. 8 (a), reference numeral 9 "denotes a rotary lever which is rotatable around a coaxial 91" with the shielding member without any relative angle shift.
10 urges the shielding member in the closing direction. 16
Reference numeral 0 denotes a support member provided at a lower portion of the image forming apparatus main body. When the image forming process unit shown in FIG.
The projection 92 "of the rotating lever 9" is formed by the upper end 161 of the 60.
Alternatively, the pivot lever 9 "itself is pivotally supported, and the shielding member is opened as shown by the broken line in FIG. 8A. A drive gear 130 'is provided coaxially with the residue feeding member. , 7 'are drive gears for transmitting drive from the apparatus main body to the image carrier, and 150 is a drive transmission gear for transmitting drive from the drive gear of the image carrier 7' to the drive gear 130 'of the residue feeding member. In the embodiment, the image forming process unit having the residue feeding member is presented, but the residue feeding member is not always necessary.

In the state where the image forming process means is in the inoperative position, such as when the clamshell type image forming apparatus is opened up and down, as shown in FIG. 8B, the upper end 161 of the supporting means 160 is Projection 9 of rotating lever 9 "
The connection with the 2 "is released, the rotating lever 9" is rotated in the direction of arrow S in the figure by the urging force of the spring member 110, and the shielding member is closed as shown by the broken line in Fig. 8B. State. In the present embodiment, as described above, the opening and closing of the shielding member is performed irrespective of the presence or absence or operation of the developer feeding means,
In a state where the backflow of the developer can occur, the shielding member is surely closed.

Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
Description will be made using 0 (a) and (b). In this embodiment, the shielding means is constituted by a partition member forming an opening at a lower portion, and a blade member made of an elastic body rotatably disposed with the opening always closed.

In FIG. 9, reference numeral 200 denotes a partition member, and an opening having a substantially circular cross section is formed by the lower part 201 and the bottom part 31 'of the residue storage means 3'. 2
10 is a square core material 212 and an elastic sheet material 21
1 is a blade member. The blade member 210 is formed by fixing an elastic sheet material such as PET with a double-sided tape, bonding, welding, or the like, with a core material of metal or plastic. good. The rotary shaft 213 of the blade member is set in a state in which the sheet material 211 has a positive penetration amount with the bottom 31 'of the residue storage means 3', but is capable of transporting the residue. And the bottom 31 'and the sheet material 2
Reference numeral 11 denotes that at least one or more sheet materials 211 are always in contact with the bottom 31 '. Furthermore the lower 2 01 of the blade member 210 and the partition member 200, the deformed sheet material 211 of the blade member 210 is impossible to transport the residues, yet, at least one or more of the sheet material 211 is always partition and it is configured to be in contact with plate bottom 2 01. FIGS. 10A and 10B are explanatory diagrams of the operation state of the shielding means of the present embodiment. In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the residue sent from the residue sending member 5 is distributed to the opening formed by the partition plate 200 and the residue storage means 3 '. It is sent to the second storage portion 32 'through the opening by the provided blade member 210. Since the blade member 210 is configured as described above, the residue between the sheet material 211 and the bottom portion 31 ′ of the residue storage means is removed from the second storage portion 3.
The sheet material 211 and the partition plate lower part 201 are sent to the 2 ′ side.
Do not transport the residue between and. The blade member 21
0 sheet material always has at least one plate,
01 and the bottom 31 'of the residue storage means, the second storage part 32' is always shielded from the first storage part 31 ', and what state the image forming process means is in. Even if it does, it is possible to prevent the developer from flowing backward.

Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG.
In this embodiment, a residue feeding member and a blade member which is a part of a shielding means are integrally formed. In the present embodiment, the configuration and function as the shielding means by the partition plate and the blade member are the same as in the fifth embodiment. However, since the residue feeding member is eliminated, the blade member 210 'can be arranged closer to the developer removing means 4 and the image carrier 7, as shown in FIG. It is possible to increase the actual volume of the residue storage means, or to further reduce the size of the entire image forming process means.

Next, a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 12, 13A and 13B. In the present embodiment, the shielding means is provided with a partition member forming an opening at the lower portion, a tubular member rotatably disposed in the opening portion, and having a concave portion on the outer peripheral surface, and a concave portion of the cylindrical member from the partition member. And a sheet material provided so as to be in contact therewith.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 330 denotes a partition member, which forms an opening with the bottom 301 of the residue storage container 300. In the opening, a cylindrical member 310 smaller than the opening width is provided so as to be rotatable about a shaft 311. Further, the cylindrical member 3 is separated from the partition member 330.
The sheet member 320 is disposed so as to abut the sheet 10. Details of the configuration and the operation state of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

In FIG. 13 (a), the cylindrical member 3
10 has concave portions 312 at two places, but it is not always necessary to provide two concave portions. Further, the cylindrical member 310 and the bottom portion 301 of the residue storage means have a gap such that the cylindrical member 310 can rotate but the backflow of the developer does not occur. When the concave portion 312 of the cylindrical member faces the bottom portion 301, a gap is formed between both ends of the concave portion 301 and the bottom portion 301 so that the bottom portion 301 is configured to be larger so that the backflow of the residue does not occur ( FIG. 13 (b)). The residue sent out by the residue sending member 5 is transferred to the concave portion 312 of the tubular member and the storage means 3.
00 and the second storage unit 30
2 is transferred. Further, as shown in FIG. 13B, the sheet material is disposed so as to contact the concave portion 312 of the tubular member, so that the residue remaining in the concave portion 312 is scraped off by the sheet material 320. Then, it does not return to the first storage section 303 side. The corner 313 of the concave portion 312 has a gentle arc shape so that the leading end 321 of the sheet material 320 is not caught and the sheet material 320 is not turned up. As described above, also in the present embodiment, the shielding means including the partition member, the cylindrical member having the concave portion on the surface thereof, and the sheet member always shields the first storage portion and the second storage portion. Whatever the state of the means, the backflow of the developer can be prevented.

Next, an eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15A and 15B. In the present embodiment, a shielding member is constituted by a rotatable cylindrical member and a magnetic member provided inside the cylindrical member, having a plurality of concave portions on the outer peripheral surface instead of the blade member.

In FIG. 14, reference numeral 420 denotes a partition member, and an opening having an arc-shaped cross section is formed by the lower part 421 and the bottom part 401 of the residue storage means 400. 4
10 is a cylindrical member having a plurality of concave portions on the outer periphery,
The outer diameter of the cylindrical member 410 is smaller than the inner diameter of the circle formed by the partition member lower part 421 and the bottom part 401 of the residue storage means, so that the cylindrical member can rotate but the residue does not flow backward. Is set to be able to.
The size of the partition member lower part 421 and the bottom part 401 is configured such that a gap is formed at both ends of the concave part 411 of the cylindrical member so that the residue does not flow backward. Next, FIG.
The configuration of the magnetic member and the operation state in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Inside the cylindrical member, a magnetic member 413 having a polarity opposite to that of the developer in the residue is disposed on the side facing the first storage section 402, and on the side facing the second storage section 403. Is provided with a magnetic member 412 having the same polarity as the developer. These magnetic members 41
2, 413 are cylindrical members 4 inside the cylindrical member 410.
It is provided independently so as not to be affected by the rotation of 10. Therefore, the residue sent out by the residue sending member 5 is drawn by the concave portion 411a corresponding to the magnetic member 413, and is held between the concave portion and the bottom portion 401 of the residue storing means. It is carried to the 403 side, and is discharged from the concave portions at the concave portions 411b and 411c corresponding to the magnetic member 412. Then, there is no residue between the partition member lower part 421 and the concave part. Also in the present embodiment, the residue feeding member is not necessarily required, and the UP of the residue storage capacity or the size of the apparatus can be reduced. Further, since the first storage unit and the second storage unit are always in a shielded state, no backflow of the developer occurs regardless of the state of the image forming process unit.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, even in a clamshell type image forming apparatus in which the paper discharge / fixing side is opened, the second storage section is used for the first storage section. Since the residue does not flow backward, the phenomenon of blocking the developer in the vicinity of the residue removing means and the image carrier is prevented, and leakage of the developer, which is a harmful effect of the phenomenon, silica and paper powder contained in the residual developer, etc. This has the effect of preventing the durability of the image carrier and the developer removing means from deteriorating, and the resulting reduction in the quality of the formed image.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a cleaning device and a periphery thereof showing a configuration outline of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are explanatory diagrams of the operation of the present invention.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are explanatory diagrams of a driving mechanism of the present invention.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are explanatory diagrams of a drive mechanism according to a second embodiment.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are explanatory views of a driving mechanism according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a state in which the image forming process unit according to the third embodiment is inclined.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are explanatory views of a driving mechanism according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a schematic sectional view of the configuration of a fifth embodiment.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are explanatory diagrams of the operation of the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a schematic sectional view of a configuration of a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a schematic sectional view of the configuration of a seventh embodiment.

FIGS. 13A and 13B are explanatory diagrams of the operation of the seventh embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a schematic configuration diagram of an eighth embodiment.

FIGS. 15A and 15B are explanatory diagrams of the operation of the eighth embodiment.

FIG. 16 shows a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Shielding member 2 Shielding auxiliary member 3, 3 ', 3 ", 300, 400 Developer accommodation means 5 Developer feeding member 100, 120 Cam 9, 9', 9" Lever 110 Spring 200, 200 ', 330, 420 Partition Member 130, 140, 7 'Gear 160 Support member 210 Blade member 310, 410 Cylindrical member 312, 411 Recess

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] 1. A cleaning device comprising: a first storage unit that stores a residue removed from an image carrier; and a second storage unit that stores a residue transported from the first storage unit. A shielding member capable of opening and closing an opening between the first accommodation portion and the second accommodation portion; and a driving force from a driving unit of the apparatus main body, the shielding member being moved to an open position and a closed position. And a drive mechanism for moving the device , wherein the device body is openable and closable, and
The cleaning device is opened and closed.
The driving means is separated from the driving mechanism when the apparatus main body is opened.
The cleaning device, wherein when the drive transmission from the drive means to the drive mechanism is released, the drive mechanism moves the shielding member to a closed position. 2. A driving mechanism comprising: a cam member for transmitting a driving force from the driving means; a connecting member for moving the shielding member in conjunction with the cam member; and an urging member for urging the connecting member. When the drive transmission from the drive means to the drive mechanism is released, the connecting member moves the shielding member to the closed position while moving the cam member by the urging force of the urging member. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein 3. A cleaning device, comprising: a first storage unit that stores a residue removed from an image carrier; and a second storage unit that stores a residue transported from the first storage unit. A shielding member capable of opening and closing an opening between the first accommodation portion and the second accommodation portion; a driving mechanism for moving the shielding member between an open position and a closed position; Supporting means capable of moving forward and backward with respect to the cleaning device, wherein the cleaning device is capable of changing its relative position with respect to the apparatus main body, and when the supporting means advances and retreats due to the change in the relative position, A cleaning device that acts on a driving mechanism to move the shielding member. 4. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when the apparatus main body is inoperable due to the change in the relative position, the shielding unit is in a closed position. 5. A cleaning device, comprising: a first storage unit that stores a residue removed from an image carrier; and a second storage unit that stores a residue conveyed from the first storage unit. In the above, a rotatable shielding member for closing an opening between the first housing portion and the second housing portion is provided, and the shielding member is configured to move a plurality of blade members made of an elastic body around a rotation axis. Wherein the center of rotation of the shielding member is disposed at a position shifted from the center of the opening width in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the rotation axis in the opening, and the opening is formed of the plurality of blade members. A cleaning device, which is always closed by at least two of them. 6. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier; an image forming unit for forming an image on the image carrier; and a cleaning device for removing a residue on the image carrier. Claim 1 to Claim 5
An image forming apparatus using the cleaning device according to any one of the preceding claims. 7. A process cartridge comprising an image carrier and a cleaning device for removing a residue on the image carrier, wherein the process cartridge is detachable from the apparatus main body.
A process cartridge using the cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.