A movable member includes a frame, a mounting portion, a rotatable image bearing member, a charging member, and a cleaning member. The cleaning member includes a base portion including a first surface positioned on one side of the frame, a second surface positioned on the other side of the frame, and a third surface, and includes a projected portion. The projected portion includes a first side surface positioned on the aforementioned the other side and a second side surface positioned on the aforementioned one side. The first side surface is positioned between the first surface and the second surface. The first side surface constitutes an end surface of the projected portion on the aforementioned the other side with respect to the axial direction, and the second side surface constitutes an end surface of the projected portion on the aforementioned one side with respect to the axial direction.

An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable photosensitive member (drum), a first corona charger, a second corona charger, an image forming portion, a voltage applying portion, a surface potential detecting portion, a controller. The controller determines a condition of voltages applied to the first and second corona chargers during image formation, by setting a first voltage condition for the first corona charger so that the surface potential of the drum is a second potential lower in absolute value than the first potential in a state in which the first corona charger operates, and the second corona charger does not operates, and then by setting a second voltage condition for the second corona charger so that the surface potential of the drum is the first potential in a state in which the first corona charger operates under the first voltage condition, and the second corona charger operates.

An image forming apparatus includes a corona charger, first and second supporting members for supporting the corona charger on the respective sides of the corona charger with respect to the circumferential direction of a photosensitive member, and first and second urging portions for urging a shield of the corona charger in the first and second supporting members. The first urging portion and the second urging portion urge the shield at non-opposing positions relative to each other with respect to a longitudinal direction of the corona charger. The image forming apparatus enables suppression of charging non-uniformity due to vibration of the corona charger without impairing motion of a grid cleaning member.

A movable member includes a frame, a mounting portion, a rotatable image bearing member, a charging member, and a cleaning member. The cleaning member includes a base portion including a first surface positioned on one side of the frame, a second surface positioned on the other side of the frame, and a third surface, and includes a projected portion. The projected portion includes a first side surface positioned on the aforementioned the other side and a second side surface positioned on the aforementioned one side. The first side surface is positioned between the first surface and the second surface. The first side surface constitutes an end surface of the projected portion on the aforementioned the other side with respect to the axial direction, and the second side surface constitutes an end surface of the projected portion on the aforementioned one side with respect to the axial direction.

A movable member includes a frame, a mounting portion, a rotatable image bearing member, a charging member, and a cleaning member. The cleaning member includes a base portion including a first surface positioned on one side of the frame, a second surface positioned on the other side of the frame, and a third surface, and includes a projected portion. The projected portion includes a first side surface positioned on the aforementioned the other side and a second side surface positioned on the aforementioned one side. The first side surface is positioned between the first surface and the second surface. The first side surface constitutes an end surface of the projected portion on the aforementioned the other side with respect to the axial direction, and the second side surface constitutes an end surface of the projected portion on the aforementioned one side with respect to the axial direction.

A method of operating an electrophotographic printer (100) to control the optical density of a printed image is described. The method comprises providing a printing substance on a transfer member (104); emitting a pulse of heat to heat the printing substance on the transfer member to increase flowability of the printing substance on the transfer member; and transferring, from the transfer member to a substrate (108), the printing substance heated by the pulse of heat so as to provide the printed image on the substrate.

A movable member includes a frame, a mounting portion, a rotatable image bearing member, a charging member, and a cleaning member. The cleaning member includes a base portion including a first surface positioned on one side of the frame, a second surface positioned on the other side of the frame, and a third surface, and includes a projected portion. The projected portion includes a first side surface positioned on the aforementioned the other side and a second side surface positioned on the aforementioned one side. The first side surface is positioned between the first surface and the second surface. The first side surface constitutes an end surface of the projected portion on the aforementioned the other side with respect to the axial direction, and the second side surface constitutes an end surface of the projected portion on the aforementioned one side with respect to the axial direction.

An image forming apparatus includes a corona charger including a discharging wire and a grid electrode for charging a photosensitive drum at a charging position and an exposure device for exposing the drum charged by the charger at an exposure position which is at a downstream side of the charger (in a rotational direction of the drum) at the charging position. The grid electrode includes a first portion having openings and a second portion having only a non-opening portion in a charging region for charging the drum in a longitudinal direction of the charger, and the second portion includes a downstream side peripheral portion at a downstream end of the grid electrode with respect to the rotational direction. In a cross-section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction and including the charging region, the downstream side peripheral portion is intersected by a straight line passing through the exposure position and the wire.

An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, a corona charger including a discharging electrode and a grid electrode having a surface layer containing carbon atoms as a main component and configured to electrically charge the photosensitive member under application of a voltage to the discharging electrode and the grid electrode, and an output portion configured to output information on a lifetime of the grid electrode. The output portion outputs the information on the basis of an index value of an amount of use of the grid electrode correlating with a product of a value of a grid current flowing through the grid electrode and a time of flowing of the grid current through the grid electrode.

A method of operating an electrophotographic printer (100) to control the optical density of a printed image is described. The method comprises providing a printing substance on a transfer member (104); emitting a pulse of heat to heat the printing substance on the transfer member to increase flowability of the printing substance on the transfer member; and transfer-ring, from the transfer member to a substrate (108), the printing substance heated by the pulse of heat so as to provide the printed image on the substrate.