Patent ID: 8712290

Claim:
An electrostatic charger for charging a photoreceptor by performing a discharge to the photoreceptor, the charger comprising: a discharge electrode having a saw-toothed tip portion; a case for shielding disposed surrounding the discharge electrode leaving a space in between, the case provided with an opening at which a grid electrode is installed opposed to the tip portion of the discharge electrode, and a bottom face in which a first air-intake opening is provided opposed to an edge portion on the opposite side of the tip portion of the discharge electrode; an air current generating section generating an air current that flows in from the first air-intake opening and passes through the interior of the case; a guide member that is installed in the case and directs the air current generated by the air current generating section from the first air-intake opening to the tip portion of the discharge electrode in the case and thus forms a passage of the air current passing around the tip portion, the guide member being opposed to the discharge electrode and forming a top surface inclined toward the discharge electrode; an air-intake passage directing the air current from a second air-intake opening that is isolated from the photoreceptor to the first air-intake opening; and an air-exhaust passage directing the air current exhausted from the opening of the case after passing around the tip portion of the discharge electrode to an air-exhaust opening that is isolated from the second air-intake opening.