| 摘要 |
<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus where the responsiveness of a laser element is made compatible with restraint of the optical fatigue of an image carrier. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus is equipped with: the laser element to form an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier by irradiating with light; a current control means to cause a predetermined current to follow to the laser element when a laser irradiation position by the laser element is a non-image part; a detection means to detect the surface potential of the image carrier; and an analysis means to obtain a boundary current I<SB>b</SB>between an area where the surface potential of the image carrier changes gently and an area where it changes suddenly according to the level of the current applied to the laser element based on the result of detection by the detection means. The current control means sets the predetermined current flowing when the laser irradiation position by the laser element is the non-image part to the boundary current I<SB>b</SB>obtained by the analysis means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT |
