Patent ID: 6524394
Filing Date: 2003-02-25
Classification: B24C,Y10S

Abstract:
A method of cleaning a unit of an image forming apparatus contaminated with toner used to form an image, comprising the steps of:supplying dry ice from dry ice storage means by way of dry ice supply means; detecting an amount of the dry ice supplied from said dry ice supply means; adjusting a size of the dry ice to a required size for cleaning the unit of the image forming apparatus contaminated with toner after said detecting step; supplying the dry ice to a nozzle, wherein the nozzle communicates with the dry ice supply means; cleaning the unit of the image forming apparatus by blasting the dry ice, with pressurized air from the nozzle to the toner present on the unit of the image forming apparatus, wherein the blasting removes the toner from the unit of the image forming apparatus; and recovering the dry ice after said cleaning step.