Patent Publication Number: US-9841717-B2

Title: Cleaning device and image forming apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-048873 filed Mar. 11, 2016. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to a cleaning device and an image forming apparatus. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a cleaning device including a rotating brush that supplies lubricant to a surface of an image carrying member on which an end toner image is formed at a first axial end, a cleaning member provided on a downstream side of the rotating brush in a direction of rotation of the image carrying member and that cleans the image carrying member by scraping toner from the surface of the image carrying member, a storing portion that stores the toner scraped by the cleaning member, a transporting member that transports the toner in the storing portion from the first axial end of the image carrying member toward a second axial end of the image carrying member, and a moving member that moves the toner in the storing portion toward the rotating brush. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus, seen from the front side, according to a first exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of a toner-image-forming unit according to the first exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a side sectional view of a cleaning device according to the first exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of an auger included in the cleaning device according to the first exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a development of a photoconductor drum according to the first exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram illustrating transfer-object images and toner bands that are formed on continuous-form paper in the first exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  is a side sectional view of a cleaning device according to a second exemplary embodiment, taken at a position on the upstream side in a direction of toner transport; 
         FIG. 8  is a side sectional view of the cleaning device according to the second exemplary embodiment, taken at a position on the downstream side in the direction of toner transport; 
         FIG. 9  is a side sectional view of a cleaning device according to a third exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 10  is a front view of a film member included in the cleaning device according to the third exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 11  is a side sectional view of relevant parts of a cleaning device according to a fourth exemplary embodiment, taken at a position on the upstream side in the direction of toner transport; 
         FIG. 12  is a side sectional view of the relevant parts of the cleaning device according to the fourth exemplary embodiment, taken at a position on the downstream side in the direction of toner transport; 
         FIG. 13  is a top view of relevant parts of a cleaning device according to a modification of the fourth exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 14  is a sectional view taken along line XIV-XIV illustrated in  FIG. 13 ; and 
         FIG. 15  is a sectional view taken along line XV-XV illustrated in  FIG. 13 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A cleaning device and an image forming apparatus according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to relevant drawings, wherein an arrow V represents the vertical direction, and an arrow W represents the horizontal direction corresponding to the widthwise direction of the apparatus (hereinafter referred to as “the apparatus-width direction”). 
     First Exemplary Embodiment 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus  10 , seen from the front side, according to the first exemplary embodiment. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the image forming apparatus  10  includes an image forming section  12  that electrophotographically forms an image on continuous-form paper P such as a label sheet, a transporting device  50  that transports the continuous-form paper P, and a controller  58  that controls operations of relevant elements included in the image forming apparatus  10 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the transporting device  50  includes a feed roller  51  from which a roll of continuous-form paper P is unwound, a winding roller  53  on which the unwound continuous-form paper P is wound, and pairs of transport rollers  52 ,  54 , and  56  that transport the continuous-form paper P. The winding roller  53  is rotated by a driving unit (not illustrated). Thus, the winding roller  53  winds up the continuous-form paper P while the feed roller  51  unwinds the continuous-form paper P. 
     The pairs of transport rollers  52  transport the continuous-form paper P from the feed roller  51  to a second-transfer position NT. The pair of transport rollers  54  transport the continuous-form paper P from the second-transfer position NT to a fixing device  40 . The pair of transport rollers  56  transport the continuous-form paper P from the fixing device  40  to the winding roller  53 . 
     The image forming section  12  includes toner-image-forming units  20  that form respective toner images, a transfer device  30  that transfers the toner images formed by the toner-image-forming units  20  to the continuous-form paper P, and the fixing device  40  that fixes the toner images on the continuous-form paper P by applying heat and pressure thereto. 
     The toner-image-forming units  20  form toner images in different colors. In the first exemplary embodiment, five toner-image-forming units  20  are provided for five colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), black (K), and a special color (V). The toner-image-forming units  20  are arranged side by side in order of that for the special color (V), that for yellow (Y), that for magenta (M), that for cyan (C), and that for black (K) from the upstream side toward the downstream side in the direction of rotation of a transfer belt  31 , which will be described later. 
     Suffixes (V), (Y), (M), (C), and (K) given to some reference numerals in  FIG. 1  indicate the respective colors for which elements denoted by those reference numerals are provided. The special color (V) is, for example, silver or gold. 
     The toner-image-forming units  20  basically have the same configuration, except the kinds of toner to be used. Specifically, referring to  FIG. 2 , the toner-image-forming units  20  each include a photoconductor drum  21  (an exemplary photosensitive member) that rotates clockwise in  FIG. 2 , a charger  22  that charges the photoconductor drum  21 , an exposure device  23  that exposes the photoconductor drum  21  charged by the charger  22  to light and thus forms an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor drum  21 , a developing device  24  that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor drum  21  by the exposure device  23  and thus forms a toner image, and a cleaning device  60  that removes residual toner particles from the surface of the photoconductor drum  21  having undergone the transfer of the toner image to the transfer device  30 . 
     The charger  22  charges the surface (a photosensitive layer) of the photoconductor drum  21  to have, for example, negative polarity. The negatively charged surface of the photoconductor drum  21  is exposed to exposure light L emitted from the exposure device  23 . The exposed part of the photoconductor drum  21  comes to have positive polarity, whereby an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photoconductor drum  21 . Toner in the developing device  24  is triboelectrically charged to have negative polarity. The negatively charged toner is attracted to the positively charged electrostatic latent image, whereby the electrostatic latent image is developed. In this manner, a toner image is formed on a surface (outer peripheral surface)  21 A of the photoconductor drum  21 . Thus, in the first exemplary embodiment, a combination of the charger  22 , the exposure device  23 , and the developing device  24  serves as an exemplary forming unit that forms a toner image on the photoconductor drum  21 . 
     The cleaning device  60  includes a blade  64  as an exemplary cleaning member, which will be described later. The blade  64  is provided in contact with the surface  21 A of the photoconductor drum  21  and thus scrapes residual toner particles from the surface  21 A of the photoconductor drum  21 . Such toner particles are temporarily stored in a storing portion  66  and are then discharged from a discharge port (not illustrated). The toner particles discharged from the storing portion  66  are transported to a toner collecting box (not illustrated). 
     The transfer device  30  transfers, in first transfer, the toner images formed on the respective photoconductor drums  21  to the transfer belt  31  (an intermediate transfer body) such that the toner images are superposed one on top of another, and further transfers, in second transfer, the set of toner images superposed on the transfer belt  31  to the continuous-form paper P at the second-transfer position NT (an exemplary transfer nip). Specifically, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the transfer device  30  includes the transfer belt  31 , first-transfer rollers  33 , and a second-transfer roller  34 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the transfer belt  31  has an endless shape and is positioned by being stretched around plural rollers  32 . In the first exemplary embodiment, the transfer belt  31  has an inverted obtuse-triangular shape in front view with the base thereof extending in the apparatus-width direction. Among the plural rollers  32  illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the roller  32 D serves as a driving roller that is driven by a motor (not illustrated) and thus rotates the transfer belt  31  in a direction indicated by an arrow A. The transfer belt  31  transports the toner images transferred thereto in the first transfer to the second-transfer position NT by rotating in the direction of the arrow A. 
     Among the plural rollers  32  illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the roller  32 T serves as a tension-applying roller that applies tension to the transfer belt  31 . Among the plural rollers  32  illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the roller  32 B serves as a counter roller for the second-transfer roller  34 . The counter roller  32 B is provided at the obtuse vertex, i.e., the lower end, of the transfer belt  31  having the inverted obtuse-triangular shape. The transfer belt  31  is in contact with the photoconductor drums  21  for the respective colors from below at the base, i.e., the upper side, extending in the apparatus-width direction. 
     The first-transfer rollers  33  transfer the toner images on the respective photoconductor drums  21  to the transfer belt  31 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the first-transfer rollers  33  are provided on the inner side of the transfer belt  31  and across the transfer belt  31  from the respective photoconductor drums  21 . A first-transfer voltage of the polarity opposite to the polarity of the toner is applied to each of the first-transfer rollers  33  from a power-feeding unit  37  (see  FIG. 2 ). With the application of the first-transfer voltage, the toner images on the respective photoconductor drums  21  are transferred to the transfer belt  31  at respective first-transfer positions T each defined between a corresponding one of the photoconductor drums  21  and a corresponding one of the first-transfer rollers  33 . 
     The second-transfer roller  34  transfers the toner images superposed on the transfer belt  31  to the continuous-form paper P. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the second-transfer roller  34  is provided such that the transfer belt  31  is held between the second-transfer roller  34  and the counter roller  32 B. The second-transfer roller  34  and the transfer belt  31  are in contact with each other under a predetermined load. The nip between the second-transfer roller  34  and the transfer belt  31  that are in contact with each other is defined as the second-transfer position NT. The second-transfer position NT is supplied with the continuous-form paper P transported from the feed roller  51 . The second-transfer roller  34  rotates clockwise in  FIG. 1 . 
     Furthermore, a negative voltage is applied to the counter roller  32 B from an application unit (not illustrated). Therefore, a potential difference is produced between the counter roller  32 B and the second-transfer roller  34 . Since the negative voltage is applied to the counter roller  32 B, a second-transfer voltage (a positive voltage) of the polarity opposite to the polarity of the toner is indirectly applied to the second-transfer roller  34 , which serves as a counter electrode for the counter roller  32 B. Thus, a transfer electric field is generated between the counter roller  32 B and the second-transfer roller  34 , and an electrostatic force acts on the toner images on the transfer belt  31 . Consequently, the toner images on the transfer belt  31  are transferred to the continuous-form paper P passing through the second-transfer position NT. 
     Featured Elements 
     Elements featured in the first exemplary embodiment will now be described. 
       FIG. 5  is a development of a representative one of the photoconductor drums  21  and illustrates the surface  21 A thereof. In  FIG. 5 , the axial direction of the photoconductor drum  21  is represented by an arrow B. As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the toner image that is formed on the photoconductor drum  21  includes a transfer-object image  110  (an exemplary toner image according to the present invention) formed in each of transfer areas P 1  (see  FIG. 6 ) defined on the continuous-form paper P, and a toner band  112  for protection of the blade  64  (an exemplary end toner image according to the present invention). Specifically, the transfer-object image  110  is formed in an area containing an axially central area of the surface  21 A of the photoconductor drum  21 , and the toner band  112  is formed at a first axial end of the surface  21 A of the photoconductor drum  21 . 
     According to the first exemplary embodiment, the transfer-object image  110  transferred from the photoconductor drum  21  to the transfer belt  31  is transferred to each of the transfer areas P 1  that are defined on the continuous-form paper P as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , whereas the toner band  112  transferred from the photoconductor drum  21  to the transfer belt  31  is transferred to each of areas that are at a first widthwise end of the continuous-form paper P (an end in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the continuous-form paper P). 
     The toner band  112  (an exemplary end toner image) formed on the photoconductor drum  21  (an exemplary photosensitive member) is composed of toner particles that are regularly ejected from the developing device  24 . The toner particles that are to form the toner band  112  is supplied to the tip of the blade  64  so as to protect the blade  64 . The toner band  112  is a strip-shaped end toner image that is formed at a relatively high image density (image density is also regarded as the amount of toner per unit area). The end toner image according to the present invention is not limited to a strip-shaped image. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the cleaning device  60  that cleans the photoconductor drum  21  includes a housing  61  as an exemplary device body. The longitudinal direction of the housing  61  corresponds to the axial direction of the photoconductor drum  21 . The housing  61  is open on a side thereof facing the photoconductor drum  21 . 
     The cleaning device  60  further includes a rotating brush  62  that supplies lubricant to the surface  21 A of the photoconductor drum  21 , the blade  64  provided on the downstream side of the rotating brush  62  in the direction of rotation of the photoconductor drum  21  and that scrapes toner particles off the surface  21 A of the photoconductor drum  21 , the storing portion  66  that stores the toner particles scraped by the blade  64 , an auger  68  (an exemplary transporting member) that transports the toner particles in the storing portion  66  from the first axial end of the photoconductor drum  21  to a second axial end of the photoconductor drum  21 , and plural puddle members  70  (exemplary moving members) that move the toner particles in the storing portion  66  toward the rotating brush  62 . 
     The rotating brush  62  is provided in the housing  61  and is rotatably supported by bearings (not illustrated) provided at two respective longitudinal ends of the housing  61 . The rotating brush  62  rotates in a direction (represented by an arrow R 2  in  FIG. 3 ) the same as the direction of rotation of the photoconductor drum  21  (represented by an arrow R 1  in  FIG. 3 ) by receiving a driving force transmitted thereto from a drive source (not illustrated). Therefore, the bristles of the rotating brush  62  and the surface  21 A of the photoconductor drum  21  move in opposite directions at a contact point TP between the rotating brush  62  and the surface  21 A of the photoconductor drum  21 . The rotating brush  62  first comes into contact with a stick-like lubricant supplying member  72  provided at a position on the periphery of the rotating brush  62 , and then comes into contact with the surface  21 A of the photoconductor drum  21 , whereby the lubricant is supplied to the surface  21 A of the photoconductor drum  21 . The lubricant supplying member  72  is provided on the upstream side of the contact point TP in the direction of rotation of the rotating brush  62 . The longitudinal direction of the lubricant supplying member  72  corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the housing  61 . The lubricant supplying member  72  is attached to the housing  61  with the aid of a bracket  74 . 
     The blade  64  is attached to an upper part of the housing  61  with the aid of a bracket  76 . The blade  64  is in contact with the photoconductor drum  21  at the tip thereof and cleans the surface  21 A of the photoconductor drum  21  by scraping post-transfer residual toner particles (toner particles remaining on the surface  21 A after the transfer process) off the surface  21 A. 
     The storing portion  66  is provided at a lower part of the housing  61 . Specifically, the storing portion  66  is provided at a position farther from the photoconductor drum  21  than the rotating brush  62 . That is, the rotating brush  62  is provided between the photoconductor drum  21  and the storing portion  66 . The storing portion  66  is a trough-like portion extending from a first longitudinal end of the housing  61  to a second longitudinal end of the housing  61 . The depth of the storing portion  66  is substantially constant in the direction in which the storing portion  66  extends. 
     The auger  68  is provided in the storing portion  66  and extends in the longitudinal direction of the housing  61 . The auger  68  is rotatably supported by bearings (not illustrated) provided at the two respective longitudinal ends of the housing  61 . Specifically, a shaft portion  68 A of the auger  68  is rotatably supported at two ends thereof by the bearings provided at the two longitudinal ends of the housing  61 . The auger  68  is rotated in the same direction as the photoconductor drum  21  by receiving a driving force transmitted thereto from a drive source (not illustrated). Referring to  FIG. 4 , the auger  68  includes a helical or substantially helical transporting blade  68 B provided around the shaft portion  68 A. The transporting blade  68 B is an exemplary projecting portion projecting from the surface (outer peripheral surface) of the shaft portion  68 A and converts the rotational force transmitted to the shaft portion  68 A into a transporting force that transports the toner particles in the storing portion  66  from the first axial end of the photoconductor drum  21  to the second axial end of the photoconductor drum  21 . Hereinafter, the direction in which the toner particles are transported by the auger  68  (a direction from the first axial end of the photoconductor drum  21  toward the second axial end of the photoconductor drum  21 ) is occasionally referred to as “the direction of toner transport” (a direction represented by an arrow Y in  FIGS. 4 and 5 ). The toner particles transported by the auger  68  are discharged from a discharge port (not illustrated) provided at the second longitudinal end of the housing  61 . The discharge port communicates with the storing portion  66 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the plural puddle members  70  (exemplary plate members) each having a plate-like shape are arranged at intervals in the axial direction of the auger  68  (the shaft portion  68 A). For example, the puddle members  70  are provided in alternate gaps between the turns of the transporting blade  68 B of the auger  68 . The puddle members  70  on the upstream side in the direction of toner transport have longer lengths of projection from the shaft portion  68 A than the puddle members  70  on the downstream side in the direction of toner transport. Specifically, puddle members  70 A each having a length of projection H 1  are provided on a first axial side of the auger  68 , and puddle members  70 B each having a length of projection H 2  shorter than the length of projection H 1  are provided on a second axial side of the auger  68 . The term “length of projection” used herein refers to the distance from the surface of the shaft portion  68 A to the tip of the puddle members  70  in the direction of projection. In the first exemplary embodiment, the first axial side of the auger  68  corresponds to the upstream side in the direction of toner transport, and the second axial side of the auger  68  corresponds to the downstream side in the direction of toner transport. In such a configuration, the amount of toner particles scooped from the storing portion  66  and moved toward the rotating brush  62  by the puddle members  70  with the rotation of the auger  68  is greater on the first axial side of the auger  68  than on the second axial side of the auger  68 . That is, the amount of toner particles moved by the puddle members  70  is greater on the upstream side than on the downstream side in the direction of toner transport. 
     Now, functions of the first exemplary embodiment will be described. 
     In the cleaning device  60  according to the first exemplary embodiment, the toner band  112  is formed at the first axial end of the photoconductor drum  21 . Therefore, toner particles are supplied to the tip of the blade  64  in an area in which the toner band  112  is to be formed (the area is hereinafter referred to as “the band area”). Meanwhile, in an area where no toner band  112  is to be formed (the area is hereinafter referred to as “the no-band area”), the toner particles in the storing portion  66  are moved toward the rotating brush  62  by the puddle members  70 , and the toner particles resupplied to the surface  21 A of the photoconductor drum  21  from the rotating brush  62  are supplied to the tip of the blade  64 . 
     The toner particles scraped off the surface  21 A of the photoconductor drum  21  are collected on a discharge-port side of the storing portion  66 , i.e., on the downstream side in the direction of toner transport, by the auger  68 . Hence, the amount of toner particles accumulated in the storing portion  66  is greater on the downstream side than on the upstream side in the direction of toner transport. On the downstream side, some toner particles having overflowed from the storing portion  66  may be moved to the rotating brush  62 . Therefore, in the cleaning device  60 , the amount of toner particles that are moved from the storing portion  66  toward the rotating brush  62  is set so as to be greater on the upstream side than on the downstream side in the direction of toner transport. 
     Furthermore, in the cleaning device  60 , the puddle members  70  move the toner particles from the storing portion  66  toward the rotating brush  62  by the use of the rotational force exerted by the auger  68 . 
     While the first exemplary embodiment concerns a case where the puddle members  70  provided on the auger  68  includes two kinds of puddle members  70 A and  70 B that are of different lengths of projection, the present invention is not limited to such a case. For example, the puddle members  70  may include three or more kinds of puddle members  70  with different lengths of projection that gradually increase from the upstream side toward the downstream side in the direction of toner transport. 
     Second Exemplary Embodiment 
     A cleaning device according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to relevant drawings. Elements that are the same as those described in the first exemplary embodiment are denoted by their corresponding reference numerals used in the first exemplary embodiment, and description of those elements is omitted. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , a cleaning device  80  according to the second exemplary embodiment has the same configuration as the cleaning device  60  according to the first exemplary embodiment, except that the cleaning device  80  includes a housing  82  having a storing portion  84 , the shaft portion  68 A of the auger  68  is tilted, and the auger  68  is provided with no puddle members  70 . 
     The housing  82  has the storing portion  84  at a lower part thereof. The storing portion  84  has a trough-like shape and extends from a first longitudinal end of the housing  82  to a second longitudinal end of the housing  82 . A bottom surface  84 A of the storing portion  84  is inclined such that a depth D of the storing portion  84  is shallower on the upstream side than on the downstream side in the direction of toner transport. The term “depth” used herein refers to the vertical distance from, in a section taken orthogonally to the direction in which the storing portion  84  extends, a lowest point X1 of the bottom surface  84 A to a highest point X2 of a sidewall  84 B of the storing portion  84 , the sidewall  84 B facing the rotating brush  62 . While the second exemplary embodiment concerns a case where the bottom surface  84 A is a continuous slope inclining from the upstream side to the downstream side in the direction of toner transport, the present invention is not limited to such a case. The bottom surface  84 A may be a stepped surface graded from the upstream side to the downstream side in the direction of toner transport. The bottom surface  84 A according to the second exemplary embodiment is an exemplary moving member according to the present invention. 
     The auger  68  is tilted with respect to the vertical direction such that the distance from an axis SC thereof to the bottom surface  84 A is constant. 
     Now, functions of the second exemplary embodiment will be described. Description of functions that are obtained by the same elements of the cleaning device  60  according to the first exemplary embodiment is omitted. 
     In the cleaning device  80 , the bottom surface  84 A of the storing portion  84  is inclined such that the depth D of the storing portion  84  is shallower on the upstream side than on the downstream side in the direction of toner transport. Therefore, in the storing portion  84 , the point X1 of the bottom surface  84 A is nearer to the point X2 of the sidewall  84 B on the upstream side of the storing portion  84  in the direction of toner transport, unlike the case where the depth D of the storing portion  84  is constant in the direction of toner transport. 
     Furthermore, in the cleaning device  80 , the storing portion  84  has an improved shape so that the toner particles stored therein are moved toward the rotating brush  62 . 
     Third Exemplary Embodiment 
     A cleaning device according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to relevant drawings. Elements that are the same as those described in the first exemplary embodiment are denoted by their corresponding reference numerals used in the first exemplary embodiment, and description of those elements is omitted. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , a cleaning device  90  according to the third exemplary embodiment has the same configuration as the cleaning device  60  according to the first exemplary embodiment, except that a film member  92  is provided instead of providing the puddle members  70  on the auger  68 . 
     The film member  92  includes a base portion  93  attached to the inner wall of the housing  61  at a position above the storing portion  66 . The longitudinal direction of the base portion  93  corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the housing  61 . The film member  92  includes plural extended portions  94  extending from the base portion  93 . The extended portions  94  are arranged at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the base portion  93 . The tips of the extended portions  94  are positioned nearer to the photoconductor drum  21  than the shaft portion  68 A of the auger  68 . Therefore, the lower surfaces of the extended portions  94  are in contact with the transporting blade  68 B of the auger  68 . The extended portions  94 , which are made of film, are flexible. Hence, when the auger  68  rotates, the extended portions  94  are regularly lifted by the transporting blade  68 B. Thus, the extended portions  94  scoop toner particles in the storing portion  66  by the upper surfaces at the tips thereof and move the toner particles toward the rotating brush  62 . 
     The extended portions  94  extending from the base portion  93  have different lengths E that are longer on the upstream side than on the downstream side in the direction of toner transport. Therefore, the amount of toner particles scooped from the storing portion  66  toward the rotating brush  62  by the extended portions  94  when the auger  68  rotates is greater on the upstream side than on the downstream side in the direction of toner transport. That is, the amount of toner particles moved by the film member  92  is greater on the upstream side than on the downstream side in the direction of toner transport. 
     Fourth Exemplary Embodiment 
     A cleaning device according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to relevant drawings. Elements that are the same as those described in the first exemplary embodiment are denoted by their corresponding reference numerals used in the first exemplary embodiment, and description of those elements is omitted. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , a cleaning device  100  according to the fourth exemplary embodiment has the same configuration as the cleaning device  60  according to the first exemplary embodiment, except the configuration of the puddle members  70  provided to the auger  68  and that a long member  102  as an exemplary adjusting member is provided. 
     In the fourth exemplary embodiment, the puddle members  70  provided to the auger  68  all have the same length of projection. 
     The long member  102  is provided at a position between, in the direction of rotation of the rotating brush  62 , the contact point TP between the rotating brush  62  and the photoconductor drum  21  and the lubricant supplying member  72 . The long member  102  is attached to an upper surface  61 A of the housing  61 . The longitudinal direction of the long member  102  corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the housing  61  (the axial direction of the rotating brush  62 ). The long member  102  includes a base body  102 A, a pair of arm portions  102 B, and a scraping portion  102 C. The base body  102 A is attached to the upper surface  61 A. The scraping portion  102 C is supported at two ends thereof by the pair of arm portions  102 B. The pair of arm portions  102 B extend downward from two respective longitudinal ends of the base body  102 A. The scraping portion  102 C is in contact with the rotating brush  62  and thus scrapes toner particles off the rotating brush  62 . Specifically, when the rotating brush  62  rotates, the bristles of the rotating brush  62  come into contact with the scraping portion  102 C of the long member  102 . Thus, toner particles caught by the bristles of the rotating brush  62  are scraped off the rotating brush  62 . 
     The long member  102  scrapes toner particles moved from the storing portion  66  to the rotating brush  62  by the puddle members  70  of the auger  68  off the rotating brush  62 . Thus, the amount of toner particles to be returned from the rotating brush  62  to the photoconductor drum  21  is adjusted in the axial direction of the photoconductor drum  21 . The amount of toner particles scraped off the rotating brush  62  by the long member  102  (the amount is hereinafter referred to as “the amount of scraped toner particles”) is greater on the upstream side than on the downstream side in the direction of toner transport. Specifically, a length of projection S of the scraping portion  102 C toward the rotating brush  62  is longer on the downstream side than on the upstream side in the direction of toner transport such that the amount of bite of the scraping portion  102 C into the rotating brush  62  is greater on the upstream side than on the downstream side in the direction of toner transport. The term “the length of projection” used herein refers to the distance from the back surface to the front surface of the scraping portion  102 C. In such a configuration, the amount of bite of the scraping portion  102 C into the rotating brush  62  is greater on the downstream side than on the upstream side in the direction of toner transport, and so is the amount of scraped toner particles. 
     Now, functions of the fourth exemplary embodiment will be described. Description of functions that are obtained by the same elements of the cleaning device  60  according to the first exemplary embodiment is omitted. 
     In the cleaning device  100 , the puddle members  70  provided to the auger  68  all have the same length of projection. Therefore, the amount of toner particles moved from the storing portion  66  toward the rotating brush  62  is greater on the downstream side than on the upstream side in the direction of toner transport. However, since toner particles are scraped off the rotating brush  62  by the scraping portion  102 C of the long member  102 , the amount of toner particles returned to the photoconductor drum  21  is adjusted in the axial direction of the photoconductor drum  21 . Specifically, the amount of toner particles scraped off the rotating brush  62  by the scraping portion  102 C of the long member  102  is greater on the downstream side than on the upstream side in the direction of toner transport. 
     While the cleaning device  100  according to the fourth exemplary embodiment concerns a case where the length of projection S of the scraping portion  102 C of the long member  102  is longer on the downstream side than on the upstream side in the direction of toner transport, the present invention is not limited to such a case. For example, referring to  FIGS. 13 to 15 , a long member  106  of a cleaning device  104  according to a modification of the fourth exemplary embodiment includes the scraping portion  102 C having a length of projection S that is constant in the direction of toner transport. Instead, a base body  106 A of the long member  106  is tilted with respect to an axis of rotation CL of the rotating brush  62  such that the amount of bite of the scraping portion  102 C into the rotating brush  62  is greater on the downstream side than on the upstream side in the direction of toner transport. Specifically, the base body  106 A is attached to the upper surface  61 A of the housing  61  such that a distance LE from the axis of rotation CL of the rotating brush  62  in the horizontal direction (the apparatus-width direction W) is shorter on the downstream side than on the upstream side in the direction of toner transport. That is, the base body  106 A is tilted with respect to the axis of rotation CL of the rotating brush  62 . 
     While the fourth exemplary embodiment and the modification thereof each concern a case where the toner particles in the storing portion  66  of the cleaning device  100  or  104  are moved toward the rotating brush  62  by using the auger  68  provided with the puddle members  70  having the same length of projection on the upstream side and on the downstream side in the direction of toner transport, the present invention is not limited to such a case. For example, instead of providing the puddle members  70  to the auger  68 , a film member  92  including extended portions  94  all having the same length E may be attached to the housing  61 , so that the toner particles in the storing portion  66  are moved toward the rotating brush  62 . 
     While the above exemplary embodiments each concern a case where the toner band  112  is transferred to the continuous-form paper P, the present invention is not limited to such a case. For example, the toner band  112  may be retained on the transfer belt  31 , without being transferred from the transfer belt  31  to the continuous-form paper P, and be removed by a cleaning device or the like. The cleaning device that cleans the transfer belt  31  in such a case may be any of the cleaning devices  60 ,  80 ,  90 ,  100 , and  104 . 
     The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.