Patent ID: 8953970
Filing Date: 2015-02-10
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a latent image forming portion that includes a cylindrical latent image supporting body, and a supporting member disposed at both ends of the latent image supporting body and rotatably supporting the latent image supporting body; a charging unit that includes a discharge electrode supplying electric charge to the latent image supporting body due to discharge, and a control electrode disposed between the discharge electrode and the latent image supporting body and controlling a potential of the latent image supporting body, and that charges an outer circumferential surface of the latent image supporting body with a preset potential; a cleaning member located at one end of the control electrode in a stand-by position and is reciprocally moved along an axis direction of the latent image supporting body to clean the control electrode as it comes into contact with the control electrode; and a movement portion that moves the charging unit to a first position with respect to the latent image forming portion when charging the latent image supporting body, and moves the charging unit to a second position which is farther spaced from the latent image forming portion than the first position when the control electrode is cleaned by the cleaning member, wherein the supporting member is provided with a pressing portion, and the control electrode being configured to contact the pressing portion of the supporting member when the charging unit is located at the first position, and wherein the control electrode being configured to not contact the pressing portion when the charging unit is located at the second position, wherein an engagement portion is provided on an outer surface of the supporting member on one side of the supporting member and is located on an outer side of the latent image supporting body with respect to the pressing member, and wherein in the stand-by position at least a part of the cleaning member is engaged into the engagement portion of the supporting member to avoid interference with the supporting member, wherein at least one end of the control electrode has a through hole configured to accept the cleaning member in the stand-by position.