Patent ID: 7623806

Claim:
A charging device comprising: a charged body; a charging member that is disposed at a predetermined distance from a surface of the charged body, and that extends parallel to the surface of the charged body, a charging voltage being applied between the charging member and the charged body; a cleaning member that is in contact with the charging member, and that moves in an extending direction of the charging member to remove matter adhering to the charging member; and an air introduction path that introduces airflow at a position along the charging member flowing in an airflow direction along the extending direction of the charging member, wherein the cleaning member is in contact with the charging member when the cleaning member moves in the airflow direction such that a contact pressure of the cleaning member on the charging member increases as the cleaning member moves along the charging member, and wherein the cleaning member is separated from the charging member when the cleaning member moves in a direction opposite to the airflow direction in a state in which the airflow is generated.