Image forming apparatus

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• an image carrier configured to carry an image to be transferred onto a recording medium;
• a charging member in contact with the image carrier, the charging member configured to charge the image carrier;
• an erase unit configured to erase charge on the image carrier;
• a current detector configured to detect a current that flows to the charging member;
• a forming unit configured to
• form a charged region on a surface of the image carrier, and
• form an erased region on the surface of the image carrier using the erase unit;
• and
• a change unit configured to change a voltage applied from the charging member to the image carrier during image formation based on (i) a first current that flows in response to applying a voltage from the charging member to the erased region and (ii) a second current that flows in response to applying a voltage from the charging member to the charged region.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• image carrying means for carrying an image to be transferred onto a recording medium;
• charging means in contact with the image carrying means, the charging means for charging the image carrier;
• erase means for erasing charge on the image carrying means;
• current detecting means for detecting a current that flows to the charging means;
• forming means for
• forming a charged region on a surface of the image carrying means, and
• forming an erased region on the surface of the image carrying means using the erase means;
• and
• state acquisition means for acquiring a deterioration state of the charging means based on (i) a first current that flows in response to applying a voltage from the charging means to the erased region and (ii) a second current that flows in response to applying a voltage from the charging means to the charged region.