Patent ID: 8626020

Claim:
A charging apparatus for electrically charging a photosensitive member, comprising: a discharging electrode; a casing provided with an opening provided so as to surround said discharging electrode and opposing a region, of the photosensitive member, where the photosensitive member is electrically charged by said charging apparatus; a grid electrode provided in the opening; a cleaning member fir cleaning a surface, of said grid electrode, opposing said discharging electrode; a shutter for opening and closing the opening; and a moving mechanism for moving said cleaning member and said shutter in interrelation with each other along a longitudinal direction of said grid electrode, wherein when said cleaning member is located within a range opposing the region where the photosensitive member is electrically charged with respect to the longitudinal direction of the grid electrode, said moving mechanism more said cleaning member and said shutter so that said shutter is located immediately below said cleaning member with respect to a direction of gravitation.