Image forming apparatus

Claim 2

An image forming apparatus comprising: a photosensitive member; charging means for charging the photosensitive member; exposing means for exposing the charged photosensitive member to form a latent image and a non-exposed area on the photosensitive member; developing means for developing the latent image with toner to form a developed toner image on the photosensitive member; transferring means for transferring the developed toner image to a sheet-like material; a brush member arranged along the photosensitive member and arranged between the transferring means and the charging means; first voltage supply means for supplying a first voltage which is sufficient to attract residual toner remaining on the photosensitive member to the brush member during a first period when an exposed area that is to be exposed by the exposing means passes the brush member, the first period occurring before the exposed area reaches the exposing means; second voltage supply means for supplying a second voltage which is sufficient to spit the attracted toner attracted in the brush member at the photosensitive member during at least a part of a second period when a non-exposed area that is on a different area of the photosensitive member from the exposed area passes the brush member, the second period occurring before the non-exposed area reaches the exposing means; and removing means for removing the spit toner on the photosensitive member by transferring the spit toner from the photosensitive member to the developing means, the removing means being operated simultaneously with the developing means.

Claim 3

The image forming apparatus of claim 1 wherein the developing means includes a developing roller rotating in contact with the photosensitive member at a developing position.

Claim 4

The image forming apparatus of claim 2 wherein the charging means is arranged at a charging position and the brush member is arranged at a brush position, and the photosensitive member has a first point which is located at the charging position and a second point which is located at the brush position when the charging means starts charging the photosensitive member, and the developing means comprises a driver mechanism for starting driving the developing roller at a time between when the first point reaches the developing position and when the second point reaches the developing position inclusive.

Claim 5

The image forming apparatus of claim 1 wherein the image forming apparatus is enclosed in a housing, and the brush member is a rotating brush having a shaft supported by the housing, and the brush member is rotated in contact with the photosensitive member.

Claim 6

The image forming apparatus of claim 1 wherein the developing means further includes a developing roller and a developing blade, wherein the toner is charged by friction between the developing roller and the developing blade.

Claim 7

The image forming apparatus of claim 1 wherein the photosensitive member is positively charged.

Claim 8

The image forming apparatus of claim 1 wherein the image forming apparatus is enclosed in a housing, and the brush member has a base and a tip, the base being fixed to the housing and the tip contacting the photosensitive member.

Claim 9

A process unit mountable into an image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus including a transfer device, a first terminal and voltage supply connected to the first terminal, the process unit comprising: a photosensitive member; charging means for charging the photosensitive member; exposing means for exposing the charged photosensitive member to form an exposed area including a latent image and a non-exposed area on the photosensitive member; developing means for developing the latent image with toner to form a developed toner image on the photosensitive member; a transfer portion for allowing the developed toner image to be transferred from the photosensitive member to a sheet-like material by the transfer device; a brush member arranged along the photosensitive member between the transferring portion and the charging means; a second terminal electrically connected to the brush member; first voltage supply means for supplying a first voltage which is sufficient to attract residual toner remaining on the photosensitive member to the brush member during a first period when an exposed area that is to be exposed by the exposing means passes the brush member, the first period occurring before the exposed area reaches the exposing means; second voltage supply means for supplying a second voltage which is sufficient to spit the attracted toner in the brush member at the photosensitive member during at least a part of a second period when a non-exposed area that is on a different area of the photosensitive member from the exposed area passes the brush member, the second period occurring before the non-exposed area reaches the exposing means; and removing means for removing the spit toner on the photosensitive member by transferring the spit toner from the photosensitive member to the developing means, the removing means being operated simultaneously with the developing means, wherein, when the process unit is mounted into the image forming apparatus, the first terminal contacts the second terminal.

Claim 10

A process unit mountable into an image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus including a transfer device, a first terminal and voltage supply connected to the first terminal, the process unit comprising: a photosensitive member; charging means for charging the photosensitive member; exposing means for exposing the charged photosensitive member to form an exposed area including a latent image and a non-exposed area on the photosensitive member; developing means for developing the latent image with toner to form a developed toner image on the photosensitive member; a transfer portion for allowing the developed toner image to be transferred from the photosensitive member to a sheet-like material by the transfer device; a brush member arranged along the photosensitive member between the transferring portion and the charging means; a second terminal electrically connected to the brush member; first voltage supply means for supplying a first voltage which is sufficient to attract residual toner remaining on the photosensitive member to the brush member during a first period when an exposed area that is to be exposed by the exposing means passes the brush member, the first period occurring before the exposed area reaches the exposing means; second voltage supply means for supplying a second voltage which is sufficient to spit the attracted toner in the brush member at the photosensitive member during at least a part of a second period when a non-exposed area that is on a different area of the photosensitive member from the exposed area passes the brush member, the second period occurring before the non-exposed area reaches the exposing means; and removing means for removing the spit toner on the photosensitive member by transferring the spit toner from the photosensitive member to the developing means, the removing means being operated simultaneously with the developing means, wherein, when the process unit is mounted into the image forming apparatus, the first terminal contacts the second terminal.

Claim 11

The process unit of claim 8 wherein the process unit is enclosed in a housing and the second terminal is provided outside of the housing.

Claim 12

The process unit of claim 8 wherein the brush member is a rotating brush having a shaft supported by the housing, and the brush member is rotated in contact with the photosensitive member.

Claim 13

The process unit of claim 8 wherein the developing means includes a developing roller rotating in contact with the photosensitive member.

Claim 14

The process unit of claim 9 wherein the charging means is arranged at a charging position and the brush member is arranged at a brush position, and the photosensitive member has a first point which is located at the charging position and a second point which is located at the brush position when the charging means starts charging the photosensitive member, and the developing means comprises a driver mechanism for driving the developing roller when or after the first position reaches the developing position and when or before the second position reaches the developing position.

Claim 15

The process unit of claim 9 wherein the developing means further includes a developing roller and a developing blade, and the toner is charged by friction between the developing roller and the developing blade.

Claim 16

The process unit of claim 8 wherein the photosensitive member is positively charged.

Claim 17

The process unit of claim 9 wherein the brush member has a base and a tip, the base being fixed to the housing by the second terminal, the tip contacting the photosensitive member.