Image forming apparatus having a cleaning unit and a method thereof

Abstract

An image forming apparatus of a contact-type to develop an electrostatic latent image using a single-component nonmagnetic toner includes a photoconductive medium, a developing roller to move and attach toner to the photoconductive medium to develop the electrostatic latent image, a developing unit to support the developing roller to be rotatable, and having a toner receptacle to store the toner, a toner supplying roller to rotate in contact with the developing roller with a predetermined nip with the developing roller to supply the toner in the toner receptacle of the developing unit to the developing roller, and a cleaning unit to remove from the toner supplying roller the toner which remains on the toner supplying roller after the toner is transferred from the toner supplying roller to the developing roller. The toner supplying roller is formed in a fur brush shape where a fur, such as nylon or acryl, is attached to a cylinder of the cleaning unit, and the cleaning unit is formed as a cleaning roller to be supported by the toner receptacle to be pressingly in contact with the toner supplying roller by a predetermined pressure to form a predetermined second nip with the toner supplying roller.