Patent ID: 7917061

Claim:
An image forming apparatus, comprising: an image carrier having a surface on which a quantity of developer is carried; a detachable cleaning device detachably supported in the image forming apparatus, the detachable cleaning device including a cleaning member configured to come into contact with the surface of the image carrier so as to remove developer from the surface of the image carrier, the detachable cleaning device being configured to move along a first direction and a second direction non-parallel to the first direction during mounting and dismounting of the detachable cleaning device to and from the image forming apparatus, the second direction being a direction along which the cleaning member moves toward or away from the surface of the image carrier; and a first guide including a restraining portion and a receiving portion, the restraining portion being configured to limit a movement of the detachable cleaning device along the second direction toward the surface of the image carrier when the detachable cleaning device moves along the first direction, the receiving portion being configured to receive the restraining portion so as to allow the detachable cleaning device to move in the second direction, the restraining portion and the receiving portion being adapted to cooperate together such that the movement of the detachable cleaning device along the first direction initiates the movement of the detachable cleaning device along the second direction.