Patent ID: 7231163

Claim:
A device for reducing the buildup of particulate contamination on the surface of a charging element within an image forming apparatus, the device comprising: a photoconductive element having a surface, wherein said surface of said photoconductive element has a charged and discharged state; a charging element positioned against the photoconductive element, a conductive cleaner element for said photoconductive element, said conductive cleaner element having a portion positioned adjacent said surface of said photoconductive element; wherein said cleaner element is supplied with an electrical potential and wherein said particulate assumes an electrical potential from said cleaner element; wherein the surface of said photoconductive element when charged has a first voltage level of V 1 and when the photoconductive element is discharged the surface has a second voltage level of V 2 , and wherein said electrical potential provides a voltage V 3 for the cleaning element such that V 1 ≧V 3 ≧V 2 .