Patent ID: 8737851

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: a photoconductor; a charger configured to charge the photoconductor, the charger having a discharge wire and a grid; a charge-voltage applying device configured to generate charge voltage and apply the charge voltage to the discharge wire; an abnormal-discharge detector provided in series between an output end portion of the charge-voltage applying device and a ground, the abnormal-discharge detector being configured to detect an abnormal discharge occurring in the charger by detecting an abnormal current passing via the grid and the ground upon occurrence of the abnormal discharge; and a grid-current detector provided between the grid and the ground, the grid-current detector being configured to detect a grid current passing through the grid by the charge voltage applied to the discharge wire, wherein the abnormal-discharge detector detects the abnormal discharge by detecting the abnormal current passing via the grid-current detector and returning to the charge-voltage applying device.