Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a cleaning member, a determination unit, and a control unit. The image carrier carries a developer image. The cleaning member removes a developer adhering to a surface of the image carrier by a frictional force when the image carrier is rotated in a first direction. The determination unit determines an image forming amount in a plurality of continuous image forming jobs. The control unit rotates the image carrier in the first direction during the image forming period and in a second direction opposite to the first direction at reverse rotation timing, and changes a condition for rotation in the second direction according to the determination result.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a drum cartridge and a controller. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a charger and a drum cartridge memory storing a life count value and discharge history information. The controller includes a voltage applying circuit, and an abnormal discharge detection circuit. In a case where the abnormal discharge detection circuit detects an abnormal discharge, the controller does not permit printing in a case where the life count value is equal to or more than a first reference value and a number of abnormal discharges which is included in the discharge history information read from the drum cartridge memory is equal to or more than a particular threshold value, or permits printing in a case where the life count value is equal to or more than the first reference value and the number of abnormal discharges is less than the particular threshold value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion, a high-voltage generation circuit, a current detection portion and a control portion. The image forming portion includes an image carrying member, a charging device, an exposure device and a developing device which includes a developer carrying member for carrying a two-component developer. The control portion can perform a transfer memory prediction mode that includes a step of estimating, when a first reference image is formed, the level of occurrence of transfer memory based on the direct-current component of a development current flowing through the developer carrying member and a step of measuring, when the measured direct-current component of the development current is larger than a predetermined value, the amount of charge of the toner within the developing device and estimating the cause of occurrence of the transfer memory based on the measured amount of charge of the toner.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a cleaning member, a rotation controlling part, a first obtaining part and a mode changing part. The image carrier has a surface to carry a toner image transferred onto a sheet. The cleaning member contacts the surface of the image carrier at a downstream side in a rotating direction of the image carrier from a transferring position transferring the toner image to collect a toner from the image carrier and to hold the toner. The rotation controlling part has a first speed control mode rotating the cleaning member at a first rotational speed and a second speed control mode rotating the cleaning member at a second rotational speed faster than the first rotational speed and switches from the first speed control mode to the second speed control mode at predetermined switch timing.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a sound pickup unit that is arranged on a plurality of spots, and an output unit that is capable of outputting comparative information between a sound which is picked up by the sound pickup unit, and each sound pickup unit at a time of picking up the sound. By the recording apparatus of such a configuration, a cause of an abnormality can be estimated, regarding the abnormality which is generated in the recording apparatus.

Abstract: A charging device has a charging member to charge an object, an applying unit to apply a voltage to the charging member for generating an electric discharge from the charging member, so that the object is discharged by the charging member, a detecting unit to detect an emission of light of the electric discharge, an output unit to output a detection result by the detecting unit, a cleaning unit to clean the charging member, and a controller to control the cleaning unit to clean the charging member when the detection result is out of a predetermined range.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a control unit configured to: after an image is formed in a color mode, if an integrated supply amount is larger than or equal to a reference supply amount, cause a supply image with a first amount of developer, otherwise, cause a supply image with a second amount of developer larger that the first amount; and, after an image is formed in the monochrome mode, cause a supply image with a third amount of developer smaller than the first amount, and, to make an interval between recording materials when the supply image with the third amount is formed shorter than an interval between recording materials when the supply image with the first amount or larger is formed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a chassis having an opening, a cover, photosensitive members, an intermediate transfer belt, a primary-transfer member, a secondary-transfer roller, a cleaner device, a waste toner container, which is movable along a predetermined direction to be removably installed in the chassis through the opening and stores residual toner, a connector, and a feed roller, which is arranged within the feeding path to feed the recording sheet in the feeding path. The feed roller is arranged in a position to at least partially fall within a vertical range of the waste toner container and to be aligned with the waste toner container along an axial direction of the second feed roller.

Abstract: A collection device including: an accommodation part configured to accommodate therein collected adhering substance; and a detection part configured to detect an amount of the adhering substance in the accommodation part and including, a moving member configured to move from a first position to a second position, the accommodation part being capable of accommodating therein the adhering substance when the moving member is arranged at the first position and being full of the adhering substance when the moving member is in the second position, and a restraining member configured to restrain the moving member from moving from the first position to the second position when the moving member is arranged at the first position, and restrain the moving member from moving from the second position to the first position when the moving member is arranged at the second position.

Abstract: Provided is a cleaning device including a brush roll that removes residual toner remaining on a surface of a toner image carrier provided in an electrophotographic apparatus, and a pressure detector that contacts the surface of the brush roll with preload, and outputs a detected pressure value to a determination unit that is provided in the electrophotographic apparatus to determine the adhesion state of toner to the brush roll.

Abstract: A toner-state predicting device includes a changing unit that changes a rotation speed of a stepping motor that drives a toner recovery mechanism in an image forming apparatus; a detecting unit that detects presence of synchronization loss of the stepping motor at the changed rotation speed; and a predicting unit that predicts toner clogging which will occur in future in the toner recovery mechanism, based on the rotation speed changed by the changing unit and the presence of the synchronization loss detected by the detecting unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes image forming portion, toner-disposal container, conveying portion, driving portion, load detection portion, image formation control portion, and image forming condition adjustment portion. The image forming condition adjustment portion corrects, when image forming condition does not conform to predetermined condition, the image forming condition. In a case where a drive load detected by the load detection portion becomes greater than first threshold value while the conveying portion is driven by the driving portion and the image forming operation is executed, the image formation control portion temporarily stops the image forming operation, and causes the image forming condition adjustment portion to check and correct the image forming condition.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a sheet feeding section; an image forming section configured to form an image on the sheet fed from the sheet feeding section; and a control device configured to: cause the image forming section to form the image, cause the image forming section to perform a quality assurance operation, if a resource necessary for the image forming operation is not available for a predetermined time from an end of the image forming operation, and extend the predetermined time when determined that it is necessary for the user to set the sheet in the sheet feeding section prior to the image forming operation to be longer than the predetermined time when determined that it is not necessary for the user to set the sheet in the sheet feeding section prior to the image forming operation.

Abstract: A reference value of an electric current flowing through each charging member is determined and recorded in a memory unit at a predetermined time by a reference value recording unit. A voltage application unit is caused to start applying a voltage to the charging members upon startup of an image forming apparatus, and a measurement value of an electric current flowing through each charging member is determined by a measurement unit. A charging member of which the measurement value is such that an absolute value of a difference between the reference value and the measurement value is not smaller than a predetermined value is marked by a determination unit. If there is at least one marked charging member and at least one not-marked charging member, a notification produced by a messaging unit is given through a notification unit.

Abstract: When a cleaning operation is performed, a controller of an image forming apparatus controls to emit a light beam from a light emitting window so as to form a stripe image in a predetermined position of an intermediate transfer member so as to form a image defect part in the stripe image, which occurs when a cleaning member moving in a reciprocating manner in a main scanning direction along the light emitting window blocks the light beam. In addition, the controller detects the image defect part by a density detecting member. When a predetermined number of image defect parts are not formed in the predetermined position in the period from start to end of the cleaning operation, the controller determines that the cleaning member is within the scanning range of the light beam.

Abstract: A method of cleaning a heated drum within a continuous web printer includes operating an actuator to rotate a drum that is heated to a first temperature. The drum rotates in a process direction of a media web contacting the drum and heats the media web as the media web moves over a portion of the drum. The method also includes stopping movement of the media web, heating the drum to a second temperature that is greater than the first temperature, and operating the actuator to rotate the drum against a portion of the stopped media web to transfer ink from the drum to the portion of the stopped media web.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and method are provided. The image forming apparatus includes a communication interface unit that receives printing data, an image forming unit that performs an ordinary printing to form an image on printing paper based on the printing data, a paper supplying unit that provides the printing paper to the image forming unit along with a paper supplying route, a determination unit that determines whether a functional printing may be performed on the paper supplying route in an interval section between sheets of the printing paper, and a controller that controls the image forming unit to perform a functional printing, wherein the ordinary printing is a printing performed on one or more sheets of printing paper, and the functional printing is a printing performed in an interval section between the sheets of printing paper.

Abstract: Provided is a toner recovery device including a toner recovery path, a vibration exciter that applies vibration to the toner recovery path, a detector that detects vibration of the toner recovery path, a determining unit that determines whether characteristics based on the vibration detected by the detector have reached predetermined reference vibration characteristics, and an output unit that outputs the result of the determination by the determining unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes image forming portion, toner-disposal container, conveying portion, driving portion, load detection portion, image formation control portion, and image forming condition adjustment portion. The image forming condition adjustment portion corrects, when image forming condition does not conform to predetermined condition, the image forming condition. In a case where a drive load detected by the load detection portion becomes greater than first threshold value while the conveying portion is driven by the driving portion and the image forming operation is executed, the image formation control portion temporarily stops the image forming operation, and causes the image forming condition adjustment portion to check and correct the image forming condition.

Abstract: A driving device includes a drive source that generates a force for moving a cleaning member that cleans an elongated member while moving in a longitudinal direction of the elongated member; an overload limiter disposed between an input side and an output side of a transmission unit that transmits the force from the drive source to the cleaning member, the overload limiter interrupting transmission of the force if a magnitude of the force reaches a predetermined magnitude; and a rotation detector disposed in the transmission unit on an output side of the overload limiter, the rotation detector detecting rotation caused by the force.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and an image forming method therefor. The image forming apparatus includes: an image forming part, which forms printed and alternate printed images including different developing agents to a recording medium; and a controller which controls the image forming part to form a the printed and alternate printed images according to a comparison of number of pages of a print job and a reference number of pages, and a whether the images of the print job are of a single color.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a chassis having an opening, a cover, photosensitive members, an intermediate transfer belt, a primary-transfer member, a secondary-transfer roller, a cleaner device, a waste toner container, which is movable along a predetermined direction to be removably installed in the chassis through the opening and stores residual toner, a connector, and a feed roller, which is arranged within the feeding path to feed the recording sheet in the feeding path. The feed roller is arranged in a position to at least partially fall within a vertical range of the waste toner container and to be aligned with the waste toner container along an axial direction of the second feed roller.

Abstract: A toner-state predicting device includes a changing unit that changes a rotation speed of a stepping motor that drives a toner recovery mechanism in an image forming apparatus; a detecting unit that detects presence of synchronization loss of the stepping motor at the changed rotation speed; and a predicting unit that predicts toner clogging which will occur in future in the toner recovery mechanism, based on the rotation speed changed by the changing unit and the presence of the synchronization loss detected by the detecting unit.

Abstract: A cleaning brush is not made slidably contact suctioning endless belts which pass inlets, and the cleaning brush is made slidably contact non-suctioning endless belts which do not pass the inlets. Consequently, it is possible to bring out paper dust and transfer remaining toner which adhere to the suctioning endless belts in attracting areas in which the inlet holes are formed, to the exterior of the apparatus by means of sheets to be conveyed. By contrast with this, from non-suctioning endless belts, the cleaning brush can clean and remove paper dust and transfer remaining toner which adhere to the non-suctioning endless belts.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus comprises: a first driving section causing an image carrying body carrying a developer image to perform regular rotation or reverse rotation; a fixing section fixing the developer image and conveying a sheet; a second driving section rotating the fixing section; and a control section. The control section controls the first driving section to cause the image carrying body to perform regular rotation such as to convey the sheet and transfer onto the sheet the developer image formed on the image carrying body, and controls the second driving section to cause the fixing section to fix the developer image on the sheet. Further, in a state that the fixing section nips but does not convey the sheet, the control section controls the first driving section to cause the image carrying body to perform reverse rotation so that the image carrying body is cleaned using the sheet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a rotary image bearing member, a charging device to charge the image bearing member. an irradiator to irradiate the image bearing member to form a latent electrostatic image thereon, a developing device to develop the latent electrostatic image with a developing agent containing toner to obtain a visible image, a transfer device to transfer the visible image to a recording medium, a first cleaner that slidably contacts the image bearing member to remove toner remaining thereon, a driving mechanism to drive the image bearing member at different linear speeds, a noise detector provided in the vicinity of the image bearing member to detect noise, and an abnormal noise predictor device to predict whether abnormal noise hear during image formation based on noise detected by the noise detector when the image bearing member is driven not during image formation at a linear speed different from that during image formation.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing portion provided with a fixing roller, a heating roller and a fixing belt; a pressing roller that presses a recording sheet to the fixing belt; a cleaning unit provided with a cleaning web that cleans up the pressing roller; and a contact/separation mechanism that separates fixing means from the pressing roller. Viscosity of silicone oil that impregnates the cleaning web is set to 3,000 cs or more, and the contact/separation mechanism separates the fixing belt from the pressing roller at the time of rotation operation before fixation.

Abstract: A collection device including: an accommodation part configured to accommodate therein collected adhering substance; and a detection part configured to detect an amount of the adhering substance in the accommodation part and including, a moving member configured to move from a first position to a second position, the accommodation part being capable of accommodating therein the adhering substance when the moving member is arranged at the first position and being full of the adhering substance when the moving member is in the second position, and a restraining member configured to restrain the moving member from moving from the first position to the second position when the moving member is arranged at the first position, and restrain the moving member from moving from the second position to the first position when the moving member is arranged at the second position.

Abstract: A reference value of an electric current flowing through each charging member is determined and recorded in a memory unit at a predetermined time by a reference value recording unit. A voltage application unit is caused to start applying a voltage to the charging members upon startup of an image forming apparatus, and a measurement value of an electric current flowing through each charging member is determined by a measurement unit. A charging member of which the measurement value is such that an absolute value of a difference between the reference value and the measurement value is not smaller than a predetermined value is marked by a determination unit. If there is at least one marked charging member and at least one not-marked charging member, a notification produced by a messaging unit is given through a notification unit.

Abstract: If an input of a continuous image forming job is received, a time for interrupting the continuous image forming job is decided based on an image area ratio of a toner image that is formed on a latent image carrier through the continuous image forming job and a predetermined number of formed images (the number of passed sheets) that is formed until a predetermined type of abnormal image is generated when continuous image formation is performed at the image area ratio. During an interruption period of the continuous image forming job, an idle rotation in which the latent image carrier rotates in a state in which the toner is not supplied to the latent image carrier by the developing unit is performed, and the cleaning process is performed.

Abstract: Provided is a cleaning device including a brush roll that removes residual toner remaining on a surface of a toner image carrier provided in an electrophotographic apparatus, and a pressure detector that contacts the surface of the brush roll with preload, and outputs a detected pressure value to a determination unit that is provided in the electrophotographic apparatus to determine the adhesion state of toner to the brush roll.

Abstract: An Image Forming Apparatus has a controller for controlling a second bias, which is applied to a cleaning member, based on a value of electric current measured by a current sensor. The controller controls the second bias on based on the value of the current measured when a predetermined measurement range of a transport belt is in contact with the cleaning member. The measurement range is a range in which conditions, under which the first bias and the second bias are applied, are identical.

Abstract: Provided is a toner recovery device including a toner recovery path, a vibration exciter that applies vibration to the toner recovery path, a detector that detects vibration of the toner recovery path, a determining unit that determines whether characteristics based on the vibration detected by the detector have reached predetermined reference vibration characteristics, and an output unit that outputs the result of the determination by the determining unit.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) and method (200) that evaluates printing apparatus cleaner performance. The method can be performed in a printing apparatus that can include an intermediate transfer belt (150), an intermediate transfer belt sensor (155), a developer (115), a photoreceptor (110), and a photoreceptor cleaner (120). The method can include placing (220) marking material on the photoreceptor using the developer. The method can include cleaning (230) the marking material on the photoreceptor using the photoreceptor cleaner. The method can include transferring (240) the marking material to the intermediate transfer belt. The method can include sensing (250) marking material on the intermediate transfer belt using the intermediate transfer belt sensor.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a rotary image bearing member, a charging device to charge the image bearing member, an irradiator to irradiate the image bearing member to form a latent electrostatic image thereon, a developing device to develop the latent electrostatic image with a developing agent containing toner to obtain a visible image, a transfer device to transfer the visible image to a recording medium, a first cleaner that slidably contacts the image bearing member to remove toner remaining thereon, a driving mechanism to drive the image bearing member at different linear speeds, a noise detector provided in the vicinity of the image bearing member to detect noise, and an abnormal noise predictor device to predict whether abnormal noise hear during image formation based on noise detected by the noise detector when the image bearing member is driven not during image formation at a linear speed different from that during image formation.

Abstract: Cross-track banding artifacts and wear in an electrophotographic (EP) print engine are reduced. A development member and a supply member are disposed so that charge is transferred between them in a charge-transfer region. The members are retained in a first position with respect to each other for a first dwell time, and neither member is rotated during the first dwell time, so that charge is transferred between members in the charge-transfer region. One of the members is rotated so that at least one point on one of the members is moved out of the charge-transfer region. The members are retained in a second position with respect to each other for a second dwell time that is greater than the time for one revolution of the development member, wherein neither member is rotated during the second dwell time.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a controller that is configured to, during a warming-up operation performed before an image forming operation, control a cleaner perfoiiiiing cleaning to remove development agent from a conveying belt and a remaining amount detector performing detection of an amount of development agent remaining in the development unit in a contact state where a development unit contacts an image holding body. When it is presumed that there is a small amount of development agent on the image holding body, the controller controls the remaining amount detector to perform the detection during the cleaning. When it is presumed that there is a large amount of development agent on the image holding body, the controller controls the remaining amount detector to perform the detection after execution of the cleaning in a separate state where the development unit is apart from the image holding body.

Abstract: A protective layer setting unit includes a protective agent, and an application unit for applying the protective agent on an image carrying member. An attenuated total reflection (ATR) method is used for detecting a surface condition of the image carrying member after applying the protective agent. A peak Pa at a given wavenumber, attributed to the image carrying member, has a peak area Sa in an infrared spectrum observed after applying the protective agent. A peak Pb at a given wavenumber, attributed to the protective agent, has a peak area Sb in the infrared spectrum observed after applying the protective agent. A peak area ratio of Sb/Sa is used for evaluating the protective layer setting unit. The protective layer setting unit is accepted when the Sb/Sa is set to a given range after applying the protective agent to the image carrying member for a given time period.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a cleaning blade cleans residual toner adhered on the surface of an image carrier and a sound sensor collects a sound generated inside a casing of the image forming apparatus. A determining unit determines, based on the sound collected by the sound sensor, whether cleaning failure has occurred in the cleaning blade. The determining unit makes the determination based on at least intensity of a first sound component that is a sound component of a first frequency and intensity of a second sound component that is a sound component of a second frequency different from the first frequency.

Abstract: Web cleaning systems, apparatuses useful in printing onto webs, and methods of cleaning webs are provided. An exemplary embodiment of the web cleaning systems includes a first web cleaning device having a rotatable first electrostatic cleaning brush for contacting a first surface of a moving web on which toner is disposed to remove un-fixed toner from the first surface; and a first brush cleaning device having a first cleaning member contacting the first electrostatic cleaning brush for removing toner from the first electrostatic cleaning brush.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes photoconductors capable of carrying toner images of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), developing rollers capable of developing toner images of Y, M, C, and K, and a blade for removing toner adhering to each of the developing rollers. The photoconductors are driven in synchronization with each other when at least one of the developing rollers develops a toner image. When a print job of a monochrome image is accepted and if there is a likelihood of damage to the blade, at least one of the developing rollers adheres toner to at least one of the driven photoconductors during execution of the print job.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section that forms an image on a recording medium; a storage container that is detachably and attachably provided and that stores waste powder having been discarded and transported from the image forming section; a first transporting section that transports, from the image forming section, the waste powder having been discarded in the image forming section; a transport path through which the waste powder having been transported by the first transporting section is caused to fall down and is transported; a second transporting section that transports, to the storage container, the waste powder having been transported through the transport path; and a controller that stops driving of the second transporting section if an operation set in advance is executed when the storage container is removed.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) and method (200) that adjusts cleaning station operation in a printing apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus can include a charge receptor (110) movable in a process direction P, where the charge receptor can have a main surface (111). The apparatus can include a charger (140) configured to generate a charge on the charge receptor and an image generator (118) configured to generate an image on the charge receptor. The apparatus can include a cleaning station (124) coupled to the charge receptor. The cleaning station can include a cleaning brush (125) coupled to the main surface of the charge receptor. The cleaning station can be configured to clean the main surface of the charge receptor. The apparatus can include a controller (150) coupled to the cleaning station.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling cleaning devices in image forming apparatus electrostatic image forming apparatus. Such systems may include a charge receptor, movable in a process direction, defining a main surface. A toner application device applies toner to the charge receptor, and is configured to place a lubrication stripe including the toner on a portion of the main surface of the charge receptor, the position of the lubrication stripe is controlled with respect to a position on the main surface of the charge receptor corresponding to a paper trail edge. The dimensions and density of the lubrication stripe may also be controlled. The lubrication stripe is delivered to a secondary cleaning device including a blade engaging with the photoreceptor surface to lubricate the blade.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) and method (200) that evaluates printing apparatus cleaner performance. The method can be performed in a printing apparatus that can include an intermediate transfer belt (150), an intermediate transfer belt sensor (155), a developer (115), a photoreceptor (110), and a photoreceptor cleaner (120). The method can include placing (220) marking material on the photoreceptor using the developer. The method can include cleaning (230) the marking material on the photoreceptor using the photoreceptor cleaner. The method can include transferring (240) the marking material to the intermediate transfer belt. The method can include sensing (250) marking material on the intermediate transfer belt using the intermediate transfer belt sensor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for predicting blade life in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include retrieving a number of print starts, a number of print cycles, a wear rate for print starts, and a wear rate for print cycles from a memory, calculating wear of a cleaning blade based on the number of print starts, the number of print cycles, the wear rate for print starts, and the wear rate for print cycles, wherein the wear rate for print starts and the wear rate for print cycles are weighed differently, determining if the calculated wear of the cleaning blade exceeds a predetermined threshold, wherein if it is determined that the calculated wear of the cleaning blade exceeds a predetermined threshold, sending a notification that the cleaning blade needs to be replaced.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image receptor; a developing member which develops a latent image on the image receptor with a toner; an anti-spattering member collecting free toner particles, a driver which drives the developing member and the anti-spattering member; and a controller which controls the driver not to drive the anti-spattering member during a printing operation, and to drive the anti-spattering member at other times when printing operation is not being performed.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus comprises: a first driving section causing an image carrying body carrying a developer image to perform regular rotation or reverse rotation; a fixing section fixing the developer image and conveying a sheet; a second driving section rotating the fixing section; and a control section. The control section controls the first driving section to cause the image carrying body to perform regular rotation such as to convey the sheet and transfer onto the sheet the developer image formed on the image carrying body, and controls the second driving section to cause the fixing section to fix the developer image on the sheet. Further, in a state that the fixing section nips but does not convey the sheet, the control section controls the first driving section to cause the image carrying body to perform reverse rotation so that the image carrying body is cleaned using the sheet.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device to feed a sheet in a sheet feeding path is provided. The sheet feeding device includes a plurality of feeding rollers to feed a sheet in the sheet feeding path, and a dust remover unit to remove dust adhered onto a surface of the sheet. The dust remover unit includes a dust absorber roller to absorb dust from a surface of the sheet, a dust remover member arranged to be in contact with a surface of the dust absorber roller to remove the dust from the surface of the dust absorber roller, a conveyer member, arranged to be opposed to the dust remover member, to convey the dust removed by the dust remover member, and a cutter member, arranged in an intervening position between the dust remover roller and the conveyer member, to cut the dust removed by the dust remover member into smaller pieces.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive member; a discharging unit arranged to face the photosensitive member; a high-voltage power supply unit which supplies power to the discharging unit; a discharge detection unit which detects abnormal discharge in the discharging unit; an output controller which controls an output of the high-voltage power supply unit according to control information; and a cleaning detection unit which compares current control information for the high-voltage power supply unit supplying power to the discharging unit in which abnormal discharge is detected with previous control information for the high-voltage power supply unit when previous abnormal discharge is detected in the discharging unit, and which detects whether the discharging unit has been cleaned based on the comparison result.