Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, an image bearer, at least one density sensor, a cleaning jig, and an insertion port. The image forming device forms a toner image. The image bearer bears the toner image to be transferred on a recording medium. The density sensor has a light-receiving surface to optically read the toner image. The light-receiving surface faces the image bearer constantly. The cleaning jig cleans the density sensor and includes a cleaner to contact the light-receiving surface. The cleaning jig is inserted through the insertion port into the body of the image forming apparatus and reciprocally moved to clean the light-receiving surface and is removed from the body of the image forming apparatus after the light-receiving surface is cleaned.
1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image forming device to form a toner image;
an image bearer, which is a belt, to bear the toner image to be transferred on a recording medium;
at least one density sensor having a light-receiving surface to optically read the toner image, the light-receiving surface facing the image bearer constantly;
a cleaning jig to clean the density sensor, the cleaning jig including a cleaner to contact the light-receiving surface; and
an insertion port through which the cleaning jig is inserted into a body of the image forming apparatus and reciprocally moved to clean the light-receiving surface and is to be removed from the body of the image forming apparatus after the light-receiving surface is cleaned,
wherein the cleaning jig is removed from an inside of the body of the image forming apparatus after cleaning of the light-receiving surface is finished.
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a guide between the image bearer and the density sensor,
wherein the guide has an opening at at least a portion facing the light-receiving surface of the density sensor, and
the guide is to guide reciprocal movement of the cleaning jig.
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the guide is parallel to the light-receiving surface of the density sensor.
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the guide has a plate shape.
5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein a portion at which the cleaner and the light-receiving surface contact each other includes a liquid that prevents the light-receiving surface from being charged, to clean the light-receiving surface.
6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the liquid includes distilled water.
7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a housing configured to house the image forming device, the image bearer, and the at least one density sensor.
8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the insertion port is disposed on a side of the housing, and the cleaning jig is removed from the inside of the body of the image forming apparatus after cleaning of the light-receiving surface is finished though the insertion port on the side of the housing.
9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the cleaner is formed of a nonwoven fabric.
10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a cover to cover the insertion port.
11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one density sensor does not include a shutter that shields the light-receiving surface from light.