Patent ID: 9310707
Filing Date: 2016-04-12
CPC Classification: G03G

Claim Text:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a rotatable latent image bearer; a rotatable electric charging member to electrically charge the surface of the latent image bearer uniformly, the rotatable electric charging member contacting the surface of the latent image bearer to form an electric charging nip therebetween; a latent image writing device to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the latent image bearer uniformly charged by the electric charging member; a developing unit to apply toner to and develop the electrostatic latent image borne on the latent image bearer; a transfer device to transfer a toner image rendered visible by the toner adhering to the latent image bearer onto a transfer medium in a transfer process; a cleaning unit to remove residual toner remaining on the latent image bearer after the toner image is transferred onto the transfer medium in the transfer process; and an electric charging member cleaning unit to remove foreign substances adhering to the surface of the electric charging device, wherein a difference between the width of the electric charging nip in the direction of rotation at the longitudinal ends of the latent image bearer and that at the longitudinal center thereof is larger than an amount of deformation of the latent image bearer generated during rotation at the longitudinal center thereof.