Protecting agent-supplying device, process cartridge, image forming apparatus

A process cartridge comprising:

• a protecting agent-supplying device;
• and
• an image bearing member, to which an image bearing member-protecting agent is supplied by the protecting agent-supplying device,
• wherein the protecting agent-supplying device comprises:
• a rotation member configured to rotate in a certain direction;
• the image bearing member-protecting agent comprising a fatty acid metal salt and an inorganic lubricant, and being in the form of a solid,
• wherein the image bearing member-protecting agent is scraped off by the rotation of the rotation member in the certain direction, and supplied to the image bearing member, so as to protect the image bearing member,
• wherein the image bearing member-protecting agent is disposed to have a surface facing the rotation member, which surface has a width G in a direction along the certain direction, and
• wherein a center of the width G on the surface facing in the direction along the certain direction is defined as a position X, and a line of intersection between the surface facing and a line extended from the rotational center of the rotation member perpendicular to the surface facing is defined as a position Y, and the position X is located upstream in the direction along the certain direction from the position Y, and a distance d between the position X and the position Y satisfies the relation represented by a formula 0<d≦G/2.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a protecting agent-supplying device;
• an image bearing member, to which an image bearing member-protecting agent is supplied by the protecting agent-supplying device,
• wherein the protecting agent-supplying device comprises:
• a rotation member configured to rotate in a certain direction;
• the image bearing member-protecting agent comprising a fatty acid metal salt and an inorganic lubricant, and being in the form of a solid,
• wherein the image bearing member-protecting agent is scraped off by the rotation of the rotation member in the certain direction, and supplied to the image bearing member, so as to protect the image bearing member,
• wherein the image bearing member-protecting agent is disposed to have a surface facing the rotation member, which surface has a width G in a direction along the certain direction, and
• wherein a center of the width G on the surface facing in the direction along the certain direction is defined as a position X, and a line of intersection between the surface facing and a line extended from the rotational center of the rotation member perpendicular to the surface facing is defined as a position Y, and the position X is located upstream in the direction along the certain direction from the position Y, and a distance d between the position X and the position Y satisfies the relation represented by a formula 0<d≦G/2.