Patent ID: 8000643

Claim:
A lubricant applicator, comprising: a solid lubricant; a lubricant retainer configured to hold the solid lubricant; a lubricant holder configured to store the solid lubricant and the lubricant retainer and configured to frictionally slide against the lubricant retainer; a lubricant application mechanism configured to apply the solid lubricant to an object; a pressure mechanism provided between and contacting the lubricant retainer and the lubricant holder, the pressure mechanism configured to press the lubricant retainer so as to push the solid lubricant from the lubricant holder; and a plurality of friction resistance reduction members provided at a position where the lubricant retainer and the lubricant holder contact each other in a frictionally sliding manner, wherein the lubricant retainer includes first surfaces at both ends of the lubricant retainer in a longitudinal direction thereof and second surfaces at both sides of the lubricant retainer near the first surfaces, the friction resistance reduction member is provided on a first and second position, the first position being an area of contact between the first surfaces and the inner wall of the lubricant holder, and the second position being an area of contact between the second surfaces and the inner wall of the lubricant holder, at least one of the friction resistance reduction members includes a first protrusion extending along a sliding direction of the lubricant holder, the friction resistance reduction member provided on the first surfaces is a second protrusion configured to point-contact with the inner wall of the lubricant holder, and the friction resistance reduction member provided on the second surfaces is the first protrusion configured to contact in line with the inner wall of the lubricant holder.