JPH08194417A - Cleaning device, process cartridge and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To prevent an increase of pressure which is applied on a scooping sheet even if toner is collected in a toner storage section and prevent toner leakage from the toner storage section so as to prevent pollution of a recording medium by providing a block member between the scooping sheet and a toner feed means. CONSTITUTION: A block member 11h is provided between a scooping sheet 11c and a toner fed means 11f, and the block member 11h is attached to the same mounting member 11d as the scooping sheet. Consequently, load applied on the scooping sheet 11c is reduced by the block member 11h. That is, when residual toner in a photoreceptor drum 8 is scraped out by a blade 11b in a condition in which toner is collected to a certain degree in a toner storage section 11a, toner in the vicinity of an inner opening (closer to opening side than a partition plate 11e) of the storage section 11a flows onto the scooping sheet 11c side due to the rotation of the feed means 11f, and the flow of toner is received by the block member 11h. Consequently, pressure due to the flow of toner is not applied on the scooping sheet 11c directly.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cleaning device for removing a developer (hereinafter referred to as "toner") remaining on an electrophotographic photosensitive member after image transfer when an image is formed by an electrophotographic method. The present invention relates to a process cartridge using a cleaning device and an image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus which is widely used today, toner of a toner image formed on a surface of an electrophotographic photosensitive member at the time of transfer is not entirely transferred to a recording medium, and some toner is not transferred. Remain on the electrophotographic photoreceptor. Therefore, it is necessary to sufficiently remove the toner remaining on the electrophotographic photosensitive member even after the transfer of the toner image.

Various types of cleaning devices have been proposed in the past for removing the residual toner, but the edge of a cleaning blade made of an elastic member such as rubber is brought into contact with the electrophotographic photosensitive member to transfer the residual toner. It is widely used because it has a simple structure and can be realized at low cost, and has an excellent toner removing function.

FIG. 8 shows the construction of the cleaning device, which has an axis line in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface, and has a charging means,
A cleaning device 51 is arranged close to a rotating cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member 50 on which developing means and the like are arranged.

The cleaning device 51 has a toner storage portion 51a having an opening in the direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 50, and one end of a cleaning blade 51b made of urethane rubber or the like is fixed to the opening portion. The other edge of the blade 51b is in contact with the electrophotographic photosensitive member 50. Then, when the electrophotographic photosensitive member 50 on which the toner image is transferred at the transfer position rotates and reaches the position of the cleaning blade 51b, the toner remaining on the electrophotographic photosensitive member 50 is scraped off by the cleaning blade 51b.

A partition plate 51c divides the storage portion 51a, and a toner feeding member 51d having rotating blades is provided below the partition plate 51c. The toner scraped off by the cleaning blade 51b falls into the storage portion 51a by the scooping sheet 51e, and the toner feeding member
The toner storage portion 51 on the inner side of the partition plate 51c by 51d.
Transported and stored in a.

With the above structure, the toner can be forcibly fed into the storage portion 51a until the toner density becomes considerably high, so that a large amount of toner can be stored in the small capacity space and the cleaning container can be miniaturized. is there.

Reference numeral 51f in FIG. 8 is a magnet for preventing the spilled toner from widely spreading and contaminating other members.

[0009]

In the cleaning device described above, the toner scraped off by the cleaning blade 51b is guided by the squeeze sheet 51e and conveyed by the feeding member 51d to the inner side of the storage portion 51a. At that time, the toner scraped off by the cleaning blade 51b is removed by the cleaning blade 51b and the electrophotographic photosensitive member.
It accumulates in the vicinity of the contact area with 50. Further, when the amount of toner stored in the storage portion 51a increases, the toner feeding member 51
It becomes gradually difficult to push the toner to the inner side of the storage portion 51a at d, and the feeding member is not conveyed to the inner side of the storage portion 51a.
The rotation of 51d causes the toner to flow back, which is blade 51b.
The toner accumulated in the vicinity of the contact portion between the electrophotographic photosensitive member 50 and the electrophotographic photosensitive member 50 is pushed out. As a result, the toner is squeeze sheet 51e.
There is a case where the squeeze sheet 51e comes into contact with the electrophotographic photosensitive member 50 with a strong pressure of a predetermined amount or more by applying a pressure to the electrophotographic photosensitive member 50.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to prevent toner from being stored in the toner container without increasing the pressure applied to the squeeze sheet even if the toner is stored in the toner container. It is an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning device that prevents the recording medium and the like from being soiled by preventing leakage, and a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus using the cleaning device.

[0011]

A typical structure according to the present invention for achieving the above object is a cleaning device for removing toner remaining on an electrophotographic photosensitive member after image transfer. Blade for scraping off, a storage unit for storing the scraped toner, a scrape sheet for preventing the scraped toner from falling outside the storage unit, and the scraped toner. And a toner feeding means for feeding the toner into the storage portion, and a block member for reducing the load on the squisheet due to the pressure of the toner is provided between the squeeze sheet and the toner feeding means. .

Further, it is characterized in that a process cartridge or an image forming apparatus is constituted by using the cleaning device.

[0013]

In the above structure, the toner scraped off the electrophotographic photosensitive member by the blade is sent to the inner side of the storage portion by the toner feeding means. When the toner is stored in the toner storage portion, the pressure due to the toner is less likely to be applied to the squishy sheet because the blocking member is between the toner feeding means and the squishy sheet. Therefore, the squi sheet is not strongly pressed against the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the toner on the electrophotographic photosensitive member is not scraped off by the squi sheet, and the recording medium or the like is not contaminated.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] First, a cleaning device according to a first embodiment, a process cartridge using the cleaning device, and an image forming apparatus to which the process cartridge can be mounted will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. explain. still,
1 is a configuration explanatory view of a cleaning device, FIG. 2 is a configuration explanatory diagram of an image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge is detachably mounted, FIG. 3 is a configuration explanatory diagram of a process cartridge, and FIG. It is a structure explanatory view.

Here, as the order of description, the overall structure of the process cartridge and the image forming apparatus in which the process cartridge is mounted will be described first, and then the structure of the cleaning device will be described.

{Overall Configuration} This electrophotographic image forming apparatus (laser beam printer) A has a structure as shown in FIG.
Information light based on image information from the optical system 1 is applied to a drum-shaped electrophotographic photosensitive member to form a latent image on the photosensitive member.
This latent image is developed to form a toner image. In synchronism with the formation of the toner image, the recording medium 2 is conveyed from the cassette 3a by a conveying means 3 including a pickup roller 3b, a reversing roller 3c, and pinch rollers 3c1, 3c2, 3c3 which are pressed against this and rotate. Further, the toner image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member formed as the process cartridge B is transferred to the recording medium 2 by applying a voltage to the transfer roller 4 serving as a transfer unit. Then, the recording medium 2 after the image transfer is conveyed to a fixing means 5 including a fixing rotating body 5b containing a heater 5a and a driving roller 5c for pressing the recording medium 2 against the rotating body 5b to convey the transferred toner image. It is fixed on the recording medium 2. Then, the recording medium 2 is ejected by the ejection roller pairs 3d1 and 3d2 and the ejection roller pair 3e1,
It is configured to be conveyed by 3e2 and discharged to the discharging section 7 through the reverse conveying path 6.

On the other hand, the process cartridge B is equipped with an electrophotographic photosensitive member and at least one process means. Here, as the process means, for example, a charging means for charging the electrophotographic photoreceptor, a developing means for developing the latent image formed on the electrophotographic photoreceptor, and a cleaning means for cleaning the toner remaining on the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor Etc. Process cartridge B of this embodiment
3, the photosensitive drum 8 having a photosensitive layer which is an electrophotographic photosensitive member is rotated, and its surface is uniformly charged by applying a voltage to a charging roller 9 which is a charging unit.
The information light from the optical system 1 is exposed to the photosensitive drum 8 through an exposure unit to form a latent image, and the latent image is developed by the developing means 10.

The developing means 10 feeds the toner in the toner reservoir 10a by means of a toner feeding member 10b, rotates a developing roller 10d having a fixed magnet 10c therein, and a developing blade.
A toner layer to which a triboelectric charge is applied by 10e is formed on the surface of the developing roller 10d, and the toner is transferred to the photosensitive drum 8 according to the latent image to form a toner image, and the latent image is visualized. Turn into. Then, after a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner image is applied to the transfer roller 4 to transfer the toner image to the recording medium 2, the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 8 is removed by a cleaning unit 11 which is a cleaning device described later. It is configured to do.

Each component such as the photosensitive drum 8 is supported by a housing in which a lower frame body 12 and an upper frame body 13 are joined to form a cartridge. It is removably attached.

The cartridge mounting means includes an opening / closing member 14
When a is opened, as shown in FIG. 4, a cartridge mounting space is provided, and cartridge mounting guide portions 15 are provided on the left and right inner side surfaces of the apparatus main body 14 so as to face each other. The left and right guide portions 15 are provided with a first guide rail 15a and a second guide rail 15b into which the process cartridge B is inserted. On the other hand, on both outer side surfaces of the process cartridge B, the process cartridge B projects outward from the rotation center position of the photosensitive drum 8 and
A cylindrical projection 15c having a radius substantially the same as that of the groove 15a1 provided at the end of the guide rail 15a is provided, and a guide projection 15d is provided continuously to the cylindrical projection 15c. Further, the engaging portion 15 is provided on the lower front side in the insertion direction of the process cartridge B.
e is provided.

When mounting the process cartridge B, the cylindrical protrusion 15c and the guide ridge 15d of the process cartridge B are guided by the first guide rail 15a, and the engaging portion 15e is guided by the second guide rail 15b. In this state, the process cartridge B is inserted into the image forming apparatus A by inserting the process cartridge B and closing the opening / closing member 14a.

{Structure of Cleaning Means} The cleaning means 11 has a case-shaped waste toner accommodating portion 11a having an opening toward the photosensitive drum 8 as shown in FIG. One end of the cleaning blade 11b composed of the same is fixed, and the edge of the other end of the blade 11b is in contact with the photosensitive drum 8. A squeeze sheet 11c is attached below the blade 11b.
It is fixed to 11d by sticking with double-sided tape or the like, and its tip is in light contact with the entire axial direction of the photosensitive drum 8. Further, the inside of the waste toner storage portion 11a is partitioned by a partition plate 11e provided in parallel with the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 8, and below the toner feed means 11f having rotatable blades is disposed. .

Therefore, after the toner image is transferred onto the recording medium 2 by the transfer means 4, the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 8 is scraped off by the cleaning blade 11b by the rotation of the photosensitive drum 8 and the squeeze sheet 11c.
It is picked up and fed by the feeding means 11f which rotates in the direction of the arrow to the inner side of the waste toner storage portion 11a and is stored therein.

Outside the waste toner storage portion 11a,
A magnet 11g is provided below the blade 11b to store the magnet.
The magnetic toner slightly spilled from 11a is adsorbed to prevent it from falling downward.

In the above structure, the block member 11h is provided between the squeeze sheet 11c and the toner feeding means 11f in this embodiment. The block member 11h is mounted on the same mounting member 11d as the scooping sheet 11c so as to accurately maintain a constant distance from the sheet 11c. The block member 11h is made of a material that is not easily deformed by pressure, such as iron, and the squeeze sheet 11c is used.
It is configured by attaching a sheet metal or the like substantially in parallel with.

The block member 11h reduces the load on the squeeze sheet 11c. That is, when the blade 11b scrapes off the residual toner on the photosensitive drum 8 in a state where the toner is stored in the toner storage portion 11a to some extent, the rotation of the feeding means 11f causes the vicinity of the opening in the storage portion 11a (partition plate 11e). The toner on the opening side) flows to the side of the squeegee sheet 11c, but this flow of toner is received by the block member 11h. Therefore, the pressure due to the toner flow is directly applied to the squeeze sheet 11.
There is no need to go to c.

Since the squisheet 11c and the block member 11h are mounted on the same mounting member 11d and both are mounted close to each other, the squishe sheet
The toner is less likely to enter between the block member 11c and the block member 11h.
The c does not come into strong contact with the photosensitive drum 8.

Therefore, even if the toner is stored in the waste toner storage portion 11a, the squeeze sheet 11c does not strongly contact the photoconductor drum 8 due to the toner pressure, and the residual toner on the photoconductor drum 8 is removed by the squeeze sheet 11c. It can prevent being scraped. For this reason, Squisheet 11
The recording medium 2 and the like are not likely to be soiled by the toner scraped off by c.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the cleaning device will be described with reference to FIG. The members having the same functions as the members described in the first embodiment described above are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description will be omitted.

The cleaning device according to this embodiment is configured such that the vertical heights from the bottom surfaces of the squi sheet 11c and the block member 11h are substantially the same.

When the toner is stored in the waste toner storage portion 11a to some extent and the toner pressure is applied in the direction of the squeeze sheet 11c by the rotation of the toner feeding means 11f, for example, the height L1 of the block member 11h becomes the height L2 of the squeeze sheet 11c. If it is too low, the toner carried in the direction of the squeegee sheet 11c by the rotation of the toner feeding means 11f may exceed the block member 11h and exert a pressure on the squeegee sheet 11c.

On the other hand, when the height L1 of the block member 11h is too high as compared with the height L2 of the squi sheet 11c, the toner removed from the photoconductor drum 8 by the cleaning blade 11b is between the block member 11h and the squi sheet 11c. May accumulate in.

On the other hand, when the height L1 of the block member 11h and the height L2 of the squeeze sheet 11c are substantially the same as in this embodiment, the toner feeding means 11f is rotated to bring it to the opening side of the storage portion. Toner is blocking member 11h
Or the photoconductor drum 8 by the blade 11b.
The toner removed from the block member 11h and the scooping sheet 11c are not accumulated between the block member 11h and the scooping sheet 11c, and the load on the scooping sheet 11c due to the toner pressure is reduced.

[Third Embodiment] Next, a third embodiment of the cleaning device will be described with reference to FIG. In this case as well, members having the same functions as those described in the first embodiment will be designated by the same reference numerals and redundant description will be omitted.

The cleaning device according to this embodiment is the first
The difference from the embodiment is that a toner backflow prevention member 11i is attached so as to extend downward from the partition plate 11e.
11i is provided so as to contact the toner feeding means 11f.

As a result, the waste toner storage portion 11a is divided by the partition plate 11e, the backflow prevention member 11i and the toner feeding means 11f into the storage portion opening side where the squeeze sheet 11c and the like are located and the storage portion rear side, and the toner feeding means 11f. Even if the toner is rotated, it is possible to minimize the backflow of the toner stored on the inner side of the storage section to the opening side of the storage section.

Therefore, as in the above-described embodiment, the toner in the storage portion exceeds the block member 11h and passes over the squeeze sheet 11c.
Not only can the pressure applied to the block member 11h be reduced, but also the toner stored in the back side of the storage portion can be prevented from flowing back to apply pressure to the block member 11h. Therefore, the block member 11
The amount of toner in the vicinity of h can be minimized, and the load on the squi sheet 11c due to the toner pressure can be made extremely small.

[Fourth Embodiment] Next, a fourth embodiment of the cleaning device will be described with reference to FIG. In this case as well, members having the same functions as those described in the first embodiment will be designated by the same reference numerals and redundant description will be omitted.

The cleaning device according to this embodiment is the first
The difference from the embodiment is that the block member 11h is arranged at the rear of the cleaning blade 11b (on the side of the storage portion) and is hung from above in the vicinity of the opening of the storage portion so as to be positioned in the tangential direction of the rotation circle of the toner feeding means 11f. It is provided to do so.

By doing so, the toner is stored in the waste toner storage portion 11a to some extent, and the toner feeding means 11 is used.
When the toner is brought toward the opening of the storage portion by the rotation of f, the toner hits the block member 11h and does not directly hit the squeeze sheet 11c. Therefore, the toner pressure on the squeeze sheet 11c can be reduced, and the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

Another Embodiment Next, another example of each part of the process cartridge B and the like in the above-mentioned embodiment will be described.

The process cartridge B according to the present invention is not limited to the case of forming a single color image as described above, but a plurality of developing means are provided to form a plurality of color images (for example, a two color image, a three color image or a full color image). It can be suitably applied to a cartridge to be formed.

As the developing method, various known developing methods such as a two-component magnetic brush developing method, a cascade developing method, a touchdown developing method and a cloud developing method can be used.

The electrophotographic photosensitive member is not limited to the above-mentioned photosensitive drum, but includes, for example, the following. First, a photoconductor is used as the photoconductor, and examples of the photoconductor include amorphous silicon, amorphous selenium, zinc oxide, titanium oxide, and an organic photoconductor (OP).
C) etc. are included. The shape on which the photoconductor is mounted includes, for example, a drum-shaped, belt-shaped rotating body, a sheet-shaped body, and the like. Generally, a drum-shaped or belt-shaped one is used. For example, in the case of a drum type photoconductor, a photoconductor is vapor-deposited or coated on a cylinder of aluminum alloy or the like. Is.

As for the constitution of the charging means, the so-called contact charging method was used in the above-mentioned first embodiment, but a tungsten wire which has been conventionally used as another constitution is provided with a metal shield such as aluminum around three sides. It goes without saying that a configuration may be used in which positive or negative ions generated by applying a high voltage to the tungsten wire are moved to the surface of the photosensitive drum to uniformly charge the surface of the drum.

The charging means may be of a blade type (charging blade), a pad type, a block type, a rod type, a wire type or the like other than the roller type.

Further, as a method for cleaning the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum, the cleaning means may be constituted by using a blade, a fur brush, a magnetic brush or the like.

The above-mentioned process cartridge is
For example, an electrophotographic photosensitive member and at least one of process means
The cleaning means is provided as one. Therefore, as a typical mode thereof, for example, a cleaning unit, an electrophotographic photosensitive member as an image carrier, a charging unit and a developing unit are integrally made into a cartridge, which can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body. Further, the cleaning means, the electrophotographic photosensitive member as an image carrier, and the charging means or the developing means are integrally made into a cartridge, which can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body. Further, there is one in which the cleaning means and the electrophotographic photosensitive member as the image bearing member are integrally made into a cartridge so that it can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the photosensitive drum, the cleaning means, etc. are made into a cartridge, and the process cartridge is mounted to form an image. However, the photosensitive drum and the cleaning means are not made into a cartridge. Even in the image forming apparatus directly attached to the apparatus main body, the same effect can be obtained by using the above-described cleaning means.

Further, although the laser beam printer is exemplified as the image forming apparatus in the above-mentioned embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and other image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine, a facsimile machine or a word processor can be used. It is also possible to use for.

[0052]

As described above, the present invention is a cleaning device for removing the toner remaining on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and since the block member is provided between the squeeze sheet and the toner feeding means, the toner is stored in the toner accommodating portion. The pressure due to the toner is absorbed by the block member and can be prevented from being directly applied to the squi sheet. Therefore, the load applied to the squi sheet can be reduced, and the sheet can be prevented from coming into strong contact with the electrophotographic photosensitive member. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the squi sheet from scratching off the toner remaining on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and to prevent the recording medium and the like from being soiled by the toner.

By mounting the block member on the same member as the member for mounting the squishy sheet, it becomes easy to accurately set the mounting interval between the block member and the squishy sheet, and it is possible to prevent the toner from entering between them as much as possible. Becomes

By making the heights of the block member and the squishy sheet substantially the same, the toner in the storage portion flows over the block member toward the squishy sheet, and the toner removed from the electrophotographic photosensitive member by the blade. Can be prevented from accumulating between the block member and the squishe sheet.

Further, by providing a toner backflow preventing member in the storage portion, the toner pressure on the squeegee sheet can be reduced more effectively.

Therefore, by constructing the process cartridge or the image forming apparatus using the cleaning device having the above-mentioned configuration, it is possible to prevent toner from dropping from the cleaning position to the recording medium or the like, and obtain a high quality image without staining the image or the like. Can be done.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration explanatory view of a cleaning device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a configuration explanatory view of a process cartridge.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a mounting configuration of a process cartridge.

FIG. 5 is a structural explanatory view of a cleaning device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a configuration explanatory view of a cleaning device according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a structural explanatory view of a cleaning device according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration of a cleaning device according to a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

A ... Image forming apparatus, B ... Process cartridge, 1 ... Optical system, 2 ... Recording medium, 3 ... Conveying means, 3a ... Cassette,
3b ... pickup roller, 3c ... reversing roller, 3c1,
3c2, 3c3 ... Pinch rollers, 3d1, 3d2, 3e1, 3e2 ...
Discharging roller, 4 ... Transfer roller, 5 ... Fixing means, 5a ... Heater, 5b ... Fixing rotator, 5c ... Driving roller, 6 ... Reverse transport path, 7 ... Discharging section, 8 ... Photosensitive drum, 9 ... Charging roller, 10 ... Developing means, 10a ... toner reservoir, 10b ... toner feeding member, 10c ... magnet, 10d ... developing roller, 10e ... developing blade, 11 ... cleaning means, 11a ... waste toner storage section, 11b ... cleaning blade, 11c ... squeeze sheet , 11d ... Mounting member, 11e ... Partition plate, 11f ... Toner feeding means, 11g ... Magnet, 11h ... Block member, 12 ... Lower frame body, 13 ... Upper frame body, 14 ... Device body, 14a ... Opening / closing member, 15
a, 15b ... Guide rail, 15a1 ... Groove portion, 15c ... Cylindrical protrusion, 15d ... Guide ridge, 15e ... Engaging portion

Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Office reference number FI technical display location G03G 21/00 326

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A cleaning device for removing a developer remaining on an electrophotographic photosensitive member after image transfer, a blade for scraping off the developer from the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a blade for accommodating the scraped off developer. A storage portion, a scrape sheet for preventing the scraped-off developer from falling outside the storage portion, and a developer feeding means for feeding the scraped-off developer into the storage portion, and A cleaning device, characterized in that a block member for reducing the load on the squisheet due to the pressure of the developer is provided between the squi sheet and the developer feeding means. 2. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the block member reduces pressure on the squeeze sheet by the developer due to rotation of the rotatable developer feeding unit. 3. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the block member is attached to a member to which the squishe sheet is attached. 4. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the block member has substantially the same vertical height from the bottom surface of the squishy sheet. 5. The cleaning device according to claim 1, further comprising a backflow preventing member for preventing a backflow of the developer sent to the storage portion by the developer sending means. 6. A process cartridge attachable to and detachable from a main body of an image forming apparatus, and an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a cleaning for removing a developer remaining on the electrophotographic photosensitive member as a process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member. A process cartridge comprising: a cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 as the cleaning device. 7. An image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge is attachable / detachable and forms an image on a recording medium, and a mounting unit for mounting the process cartridge according to claim 6, and an electrophotographic photosensitive member of the process cartridge. An image forming apparatus comprising: a transfer unit for transferring the image formed on the recording medium to a recording medium; and a conveying unit for conveying the recording medium. 8. An image forming apparatus for transferring an image formed by a developer onto a recording medium, an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a charging unit for charging the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a latent image on the electrophotographic photosensitive member. An optical unit for forming a latent image, a developing unit for developing the latent image with a developer, a transfer unit for transferring the developed image to a recording medium, and a residual unit on the electrophotographic photoreceptor after the image transfer. A cleaning device for removing a developer, and a transporting device for transporting a recording medium, wherein the cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 is used as the cleaning device. Image forming apparatus. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the image forming apparatus is an electrophotographic copying machine, a laser beam printer, or a facsimile machine.