Patent ID: 6819893
Filing Date: 2004-11-16
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
An image forming apparatus that performs visible image processing on an electrostatic latent image that is formed on an electrostatic latent image carrier, by using a developer that includes a toner with a volume average particle size between 5 &mgr;m and 10 &mgr;m and 60 to 80 number percentage particles having a particle size less than or equal to 5 &mgr;m, the image forming apparatus comprising:a charging unit configured to uniformly charge the electrostatic latent image carrier, the charging unit including a wire provided with only a single gold layer with a thickness between 0.1 &mgr;m and 1.5 &mgr;m or only a single platinum layer with a thickness between 0.1 &mgr;m and 1.5 &mgr;m; and a cleaning unit configured to clean a surface of the charging unit, the cleaning unit including: a cleaning pad holder configured to pivot about a first axis and configured to move along a conveyance structure in a direction perpendicular to the first axis, and a first cleaning pad held by the cleaning pad holder, wherein the charging unit and the electrostatic latent image carrier are not in contact with each other.