IMAGE-FORMING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF SELECTING MATERIAL FOR CLEANING BLADE

摘要

An image-forming apparatus including a cleaning blade having a long life is provided by accurately evaluating the suitability of materials for use as a cleaning blade.  The image-forming apparatus includes: an image holder which holds an image comprising a developing agent; a lubricant applicator which applies a lubricant to the image holder; and a cleaning blade which is in contact with the image holder and wipes off the developing agent.  The cleaning blade is constituted of a material in which in a tensile stress-elongation test, the integral of tensile stress with respect to elongation in the range of from an elongation of 0 to an elongation corresponding to a stress of 5 MPa is 300 MPa·% or smaller.