This invention provides an image forming apparatus where the useful life of
the image carrier does not become significantly short. This system has a charging
unit, a charge voltage loading unit, an exposure unit, a development unit, an image
transfer unit and a control unit, wherein, when the transport interval of plural
recording materials is shorter than a predetermined time the AC charge voltage
applied to the image carrier during the transport interval is a first AC charge
voltage, and when the transport interval is longer than the predetermined time
the AC charge voltage applied to the image carrier during the transport interval
being a second AC charge voltage, the control unit makes the current running in
the charging unit when the second AC charge voltage is applied lower than the current
running in the charging unit when the first AC charge voltage is applied.
