Patent ID: 8919921

Claim:
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a recording head having a plurality of nozzles to eject droplets and a nozzle face in which the plurality of nozzles is formed; an ejection detector to detect ejection or non-ejection of the droplets from the recording head, the ejection detector having an electrode member disposed in an area in which the electrode member is opposable to the recording head, the electrode member on which the droplets ejected from the plurality of nozzles of the recording head land; and a cleaner to clean the electrode member after ejection or non-ejection of the droplets from the plurality of nozzles is detected by detection of electric changes of the electrode member generated when the droplets ejected from the plurality of nozzles of the recording head land on the electrode member in a state in which a potential difference is created between the nozzle face of the recording head and the electrode member and the nozzle face of the recording head is opposed to the electrode member, the cleaner including a wiping member to wipe the droplets adhering to the electrode member, the wiping member and the electrode member configured to be relatively moved in parallel to a nozzle array direction in which the plurality of nozzles is arrayed, to clean the electrode member.