Cleaning blade equipped with a vibration sensor

A piezoelectric sensor is mounted on the cleaning blade and/or the blade support member of a blade cleaning apparatus contained within a electrostatic copying machine. The piezoelectric sensor generates a waveform indicative of the wear characteristics of the cleaning blade and pressure loading of the cleaning blade against the photosensitive surface. A detection circuit monitors the waveform generated by the piezoelectric sensor to predict the imminent failure of the cleaning blade due to wear and damage. The detection circuit also monitors the waveform to detect a build up of frictional and adhesional forces between the cleaning blade and the photosensitive surface and adjusts the pressure loading through a feedback loop to extend the usable life-span of the cleaning blade. Thus, unscheduled maintenance due to sudden and unpredictable failure of the cleaning blade can be avoided and the usable life-span of the cleaning blade can be extended.