Image forming apparatus, lubricant applying device, transfer device, process cartridge, and toner

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a latent image carrier that is rotatable and configured to carry a latent image;
• a cleaning blade that cleans toner remaining on a cleaning area on the latent image carrier;
• and
• a lubricant applying element that is arranged on downstream side of the cleaning blade with respect to direction of rotation of the latent image carrier, and that applies a lubricant to a lubricant applying area on the latent image carrier, wherein the cleaning area and the lubricant applying area overlap.

A process cartridge to be coupled to an image forming apparatus, comprising:

• an image carrier on which a latent image is formed;
• and
• a process unit that includes at least one selected from
• a cleaning device that cleans the surface of the image carrier, and
• a lubricant applying device that is arranged on downstream side of the cleaning device with respect to direction of rotation of the image carrier, and that applies a lubricant to a lubricant applying area on the image carrier, wherein the cleaning area and the lubricant applying area overlap, wherein
• the process cartridge integrally supports the image carrier and the process unit, and is detachable from the image forming apparatus.