Patent ID: 7796911

Claim:
An image-forming device comprising: a developer-carrying member having an outer surface including a layer forming region for carrying a layer of developer, the layer forming region having a first width in a widthwise direction, the layer forming region including an effective image forming region used for forming an image on a recording medium, the effective image forming region having a width which is shorter than the first width; an image-carrying member having a surface on which an electrostatic latent image based on the image is formed and developed into a developer image by the developer carried on the effective image forming region; a belt configured to circulate in a moving direction orthogonal to the widthwise direction and transfer the developer image onto the recording medium; and a cleaning unit that cleans the developer on a cleanable region on an outer surface of the belt, the cleanable region having a second width in the widthwise direction of the belt, wherein the second width is greater than the first width, the cleanable region being placed with respect to the layer forming region so that each widthwise end of the cleanable region is positioned outside of each widthwise end of the layer forming region in the widthwise direction, wherein the belt has an inner surface opposing the outer surface, and wherein the cleaning unit comprises: a cleaning member that receives the developer from the outer surface of the belt, the cleaning member having a third width in the widthwise direction; a removing member that removes the developer from the cleaning member, the removing member having a fourth width in the widthwise direction; and a backup member that contacts the inner surface of the belt and opposes the cleaning member with the belt being intervened therebetween, the backup member having a fifth width in the widthwise direction, and wherein the cleaning member comprises a first rotating element and a second rotating element, the first rotating element receiving the developer from the outer surface of the belt and having a sixth width in the widthwise direction, the second rotating element transferring the developer from the first rotating element and having a seventh width in the widthwise direction, and wherein the fifth width is greater than the first width, the sixth width is greater than the fifth width, and the seventh width is greater than the sixth width.