Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and process cartridge for adjusting applications of lubricants

An image forming method, comprising:

• charging surfaces of multiple image bearing members that bear respective electrostatic latent images, the image bearing members provided in tandem;
• radiating light onto the charged surfaces of the multiple image bearing members to form respective electrostatic latent images thereon;
• developing the respective electrostatic latent images with toner to form respective toner images;
• transferring the multiple toner images onto an intermediate transfer member to form a composite toner image;
• transferring the composite toner images from the intermediate transfer member onto a recording material;
• removing residual toner particles remaining on the intermediate transfer member by a cleaner after transferring the composite toner image therefrom;
• applying a first lubricant to each of the multiple image bearing members;
• and
• applying a second lubricant to the intermediate transfer member downstream from the cleaner and upstream from an extreme upstream image bearing member,
• wherein an amount of the first lubricant applied to the extreme upstream image bearing member is based on at least one of an amount of the second lubricant applied from the second lubricant applicator to the intermediate transfer member and an amount of the first lubricant applied to each of the other image bearing members.

A process cartridge detachably mountable in image forming apparatus, comprising:

• multiple image bearing members configured to bear respective electrostatic latent images, provided in tandem;
• and
• multiple first lubricant applicators configured to apply a lubricant to the respective image bearing members,
• wherein an amount of a first lubricant applied from an extreme upstream first lubricant applicator to an extreme upstream image bearing member is based on at least one of an amount of a second lubricant applied from a second lubricant applicator to the intermediate transfer member and an amount of first lubricant applied from each of the other lubricant applicators to the respective image bearing members.