Image-forming apparatus and image forming method using a controlled dynamic frictional force between a cleaning blade and a photosensitive member

摘要

An image forming apparatus and method uses an electrophotographic photosensitive member that includes a conductive substrate. The photosensitive member has a photoconductive layer thereon formed of a non-single-crystal material mainly composed of at least silicon atoms. Charging, exposure, development and cleaning in the image forming arrangement are repeated while the photosensitive member rotates. The dynamic frictional force (unit: gf) produced when the photosensitive member surface is cleaned by a cleaning blade to remove a developer remaining on that surface is so set that its standard deviation in its change with time is 2 gf or below per 1 gf/cm of linear pressure of the cleaning blade. No melt-adhesion of toner results and durability is high enough to stably obtain images of high quality.