Patent ID: 8676067

Claim:
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a photoconductor; a charger configured to charge the photoconductor, the charger including a discharge wire and a grid; a voltage applying circuit configured to generate charge voltage and apply the charge voltage to the discharge wire of the charger; a grid-current detector configured to detect a grid current passing through the grid, the grid-current detector including a voltage dividing element and a grid-current detection resistor that is connected between a first end of the voltage dividing element and a ground; a controller configured to control the voltage applying circuit on the basis of a detection value detected by the grid-current detector so that the grid current is constant; an abnormal-discharge detector configured to detect an abnormal discharge occurring in the charger; and a suppression resistor configured to suppress abnormal discharge energy, the suppression resistor including a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal connected to the grid, the second terminal connected to at least one of: (a) a second end of the voltage dividing element of the grid-current detector; and (b) the abnormal-discharge detector.