Patent ID: 7162179

Claim:
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a plurality of image carriers on each of which a toner image is formed based on image data; an intermediate transfer belt that is in contact with the image carriers, and is endlessly stretched over a plurality of rollers; a primary transfer unit that transfers the toner images formed on the image carriers to the intermediate transfer belt; a secondary transfer unit that transfers the toner images on the intermediate transfer belt to a recording medium; a cleaning blade that removes a residual toner on the intermediate transfer belt after the secondary transfer unit transfers the toner images on the intermediate transfer belt to the recording medium; and a lubricant supplying unit that supplies a lubricant to at least one of the image carriers and the secondary transfer unit, so that the lubricant spreads to the intermediate transfer belt from at least one of the image carriers and the secondary transfer unit to which the lubricant is supplied, wherein the lubricant is spread to the intermediate transfer belt such that the lubricant reduces a surface friction coefficient to a level that does not harm primary transferability.