PURPOSE: To prolong the life of a photoreceptor, by detecting the degree of contamination of the photoreceptor when the operation of a titled device is interrupted on account of jamming or the like, operating the intensity of the light necessary for destaticization in accordance with the results of the detection, and destaticizing the photoreceptor by means of the lamps selected by the same.

CONSTITUTION: A means for detecting abnormal start modes, a means for recognizing contamination and a microcomputer 41 provided also with functions as means for operating the intensity of light and controlling destaticization are provided in a copying machine which destaticizes a photoreceptor by irradiation of light. When the means for detecting abnormal start modes detects the stoppage on account of jamming, etc. in the event of the interruption in the operation of the machine, the respective blocks L1WL4 of erasing lamps 12 are all lighted while the photoreceptor 8 is kept idled; at the same time, a destaticizing lamp 27 is controlled to light at about 5W10W. The light reflected from the photoreceptor 8 is detected with a photodetector 23, whereby the degree of the contamination is detected. In accordance with the results thereof, the lamp outputs necessary for cleaning the photoreceptor are operated and if necessary, the lamp for exposure is used for desaticization.