Lubricant applicator to counteract bristle-bending

A lubricant application device comprising:

• an application roller located adjacent a photosensitive body of an imaging apparatus, the application roller having an outer circumferential surface and application bristles radially arranged about the outer circumferential surface, the application bristles to transfer lubricant from a lubricant supply source to the photosensitive body, wherein a minimum distance between the outer circumferential surface of the application roller and the photosensitive body is shorter than a length of the application bristles, causing the application bristles between the circumferential surface of the application roller and the photosensitive body to bend;
• a drive unit to rotate the application roller;
• and
• a controller to control the drive unit to:
• rotate the application roller in a rotational direction that counteracts a bristle-bending tendency of the application bristles having been bent, and
• before an imaging operation, rotate the application roller at least by 360° in the rotational direction by which portions of the application bristles of the application roller having the bristle-bending tendency are restored by an abutment between the application bristles and the photosensitive body.