| US 7,532,849 B2 | ||
| Cleaning device for removing toner from an image bearing member | ||
| Yasushi Akiba, Kanagawa (Japan); and Yosuke Saito, Kanagawa (Japan) | ||
| Assigned to Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo (Japan) | ||
| Filed on Jul. 06, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/480,880. | ||
| Claims priority of application No. 2005-197068 (JP), filed on Jul. 06, 2005. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2007/0009293 A1, Jan. 11, 2007 | ||
| Int. Cl. G03G 21/00 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 399—345 [399/350] | 19 Claims |
| 1. A cleaning device, comprising:
a cleaning blade configured to remove toner adhered to a surface of an image bearing member; and
a contact and separation mechanism configured to contact and separate the cleaning blade to and from the surface of the image
bearing member, the contact and separation mechanism comprising:
a first force providing member configured to provide a first force to contact the cleaning blade onto the surface of the image
bearing member;
a second force providing member configured to provide a second force to separate the cleaning blade from the surface of the
image bearing member; and
a third force providing member configured to provide a third force to change an amount of the second force exerted by the
second force providing member.
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