Patent ID: 7660547

Claim:
A charging device comprising: a long electrode mounted over a surface of a photoreceptor, the electrode having a first end and a second end of length thereof; a cleaning member mounted to be movable along the length of the electrode in an outward direction from the first end to the second end, and in a homeward direction from the second end to the first end, while in contact with the electrode; a timing device for measuring time that has elapsed since outward passage time at which the cleaning member passes through a first point in the outward direction, the first point being located near the first end; a drive source for moving the cleaning member in the outward direction for a first time period after the outward passage time and then reversing the cleaning member in the homeward direction; a load measuring device for measuring driving load imposed on the drive source while the cleaning member is being moved; and a control device for controlling motion of the drive source to turn the cleaning member from the outward direction to the homeward direction at a predetermined objective point near the second end, based on sum of driving loads imposed on the drive source while the cleaning member is being moved from the first point to a second point located along the outward direction.