Patent ID: 8862004

Claim:
An image forming apparatus, comprising: at least one photosensitive element; a plurality of chargers configured to charge the at least one photosensitive element; a voltage applying circuit commonly connected to the plurality of chargers and configured to apply a voltage to the plurality of chargers; a current detecting unit configured to detect a current sum of currents of the plurality of chargers; and a control device configured to control the voltage applying circuit so that the current sum detected by the current detecting unit becomes equal to or larger than a reference value, wherein the plurality of chargers are Scorotron chargers having wires and grid electrodes, wherein the grid electrode of each of the Scorotron chargers is connected to ground through a common connection line, and wherein the current detecting unit includes a resistor provided at the common connection line and a constant-voltage element provided at the common connection line between the plurality of chargers and the resistor, the current detecting unit configured to detect a voltage at a point between the resistor and the constant-voltage element to detect the current sum.