Image forming apparatus

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• an image carrier configured to carry an image while rotating;
• and
• a lubricant supplying device configured to supply a lubricant to the image carrier,
• wherein the lubricant comprises a fluorine-containing resin and a filler.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• an image carrier configured to carry an image while rotating;
• and
• a lubricant supplying device configured to supply a lubricant to the image carrier,
• wherein the lubricant comprises heat decomposition treated polytetrafluoroethylene.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• an image carrier configured to carry an image while rotating;
• and
• a lubricant supplying device configured to supply a lubricant to the image carrier,
• wherein the lubricant comprises radiation decomposition treated polytetrafluoroethylene.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• an image carrier configured to carry an image while rotating;
• and
• a lubricant supplying device configured to supply a compression molded lubricant to the image carrier,
• wherein the lubricant comprises a fluorine-containing resin.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• an image carrier configured to carry an image while rotating;
• and
• a lubricant supplying device configured to supply a lubricant to the image carrier,
• wherein the lubricant comprises a porous fluorine-containing resin.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• an image carrier configured to carry an image while rotating;
• and
• a lubricant supplying device configured to supply a lubricant to the image carrier,
• wherein the lubricant directly contacts the image carrier and a surface of the lubricant includes at least one concave portion facing the image carrier.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• an image carrier configured to carry an image while rotating;
• and
• a lubricant supplying device configured to supply a lubricant to the image carrier,
• wherein the lubricant directly contacts the image carrier and a surface of the lubricant includes at least one convex portion facing the image carrier,
• wherein a contact area at which the lubricant contacts the image carrier changes as the lubricant abrades.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• an image carrier configured to carry an image while rotating;
• and
• a lubricant supplying device configured to supply a lubricant to the image carrier,
• wherein the lubricant comprises polytetrafluoroethylene and is prepared by a compression molding method including a sintering process, and
• wherein the lubricant is prepared so that a longitudinal direction of the lubricant is substantially vertical to a compression direction of the lubricant during the compression molding of the lubricant.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• an image carrier configured to carry an image while rotating;
• and
• a lubricant supplying device including a lubricant and configured to supply a lubricant to the image carrier, said lubricant directly contacting the image carrier,
• wherein the lubricant comprises polytetrafluoroethylene and is prepared by a compression molding method including a sintering process, and
• wherein the lubricant contacts the image carrier such that an acute angle formed by a line parallel to a compression direction of the lubricant, during the compression molding of the lubricant, and a line parallel to a rotating direction of the image carrier, is from about 45 to 90.degree..

An image forming method comprising the steps of:

• forming a toner image on an image carrier;
• transferring the toner image to a receiving material;
• and
• applying a lubricant to the image carrier while the image carrier rotates,
• wherein the lubricant comprises low molecular weight polytetrafluoroethylene.

An image forming method comprising the steps of:

• forming a toner image on an image carrier;
• transferring the toner image to a receiving material;
• and
• applying a lubricant to the image carrier while the image carrier rotates,
• wherein the lubricant comprises a fluorine-containing resin and a filler.

An image forming method comprising the steps of:

• forming a toner image on an image carrier;
• transferring the toner image to a receiving material;
• and
• applying a lubricant to the image carrier while the image carrier rotates,
• wherein the lubricant comprises polytetrafluoroethylene which is subjected to at least one of heat decomposition treatment and radiation decomposition treatment.

An image forming method comprising the steps of:

• forming a toner image on an image carrier;
• transferring the toner image to a receiving material;
• and
• applying a lubricant to the image carrier while the image carrier rotates,
• wherein the lubricant comprises a fluorine-containing resin, and wherein the lubricant is prepared by a compression molding.

An image forming method comprising the steps of:

• forming a toner image on an image carrier;
• transferring the toner image to a receiving material;
• and
• applying a lubricant to the image carrier while the image carrier rotates,
• wherein the lubricant comprises a porous fluorine-containing resin.

An image forming method comprising the steps of:

• forming a toner image on an image carrier;
• transferring the toner image to a receiving material;
• and
• applying a lubricant to the image carrier while the image carrier rotates,
• wherein the lubricant includes a surface which contacts the image carrier, and wherein the surface has at least one concave portion facing the image carrier.

An image forming method comprising the steps of:

• forming a toner image on an image carrier;
• transferring the toner image to a receiving material;
• and
• applying a lubricant to the image carrier while the image carrier rotates,
• wherein the lubricant includes a surface having at least one convex portion facing and contacting the image carrier, and wherein an area of contact between the lubricant and the image carrier changes as the lubricant abrades.

An image forming method comprising the steps of:

• forming a toner image on an image carrier;
• transferring the toner image to a receiving material;
• and
• applying a lubricant to the image carrier while the image carrier rotates,
• wherein the lubricant includes a surface which contacts the image carrier,
• wherein the lubricant comprises polytetrafluoroethylene and is prepared by a compression molding method including a sintering process, and
• wherein the lubricant is prepared so that a longitudinal direction of the lubricant is substantially vertical to a compression direction of the lubricant during the compression molding of the lubricant during the compression molding of the lubricant.

An image forming method comprising the steps of:

• forming a toner image on an image carrier;
• transferring the toner image to a receiving material;
• and
• applying a lubricant to the image carrier while the image carrier rotates,
• wherein the lubricant includes a surface which contacts the image carrier,
• wherein the lubricant comprises polytetrafluoroethylene and is prepared by a compression molding method including a sintering process, and wherein the lubricant contacts the image carrier such that an acute angle formed by a line parallel to a compression direction of the lubricant, during the compression molding of the lubricant, and a line parallel to a moving direction of the image carrier, is from about 45.degree. to 90.degree..