| 摘要 |
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a compact image forming apparatus capable of stably supplying a prescribed amount of a protective agent to an image carrier over a long period of time by low pressing pressure without deteriorating or breaking a foam layer, evenly supplying even a small amount of the protective agent to the image carrier, suppressing abrasion of the image carrier, a cleaning member, and the like, preventing an occurrence of filming of the image carrier, having simple protective layer supply means having a small-size structure, and stably forming a high-quality image over a long period of time.SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus comprises: an image carrier; protective layer forming means having at least a protective agent supply member and an image carrier protective agent; and rotation speed control means. The protective agent supply member includes a core material and a foam layer having a plurality of air bubbles. The number n of the air bubbles being present at a contact part between the image carrier surface and the protective agent supply member is more than 9 and less than 23. A moving speed V of the air bubbles at the contact part, with respect to the image carrier surface is more than 837 pcs/mm/s and less than 4,670 pcs/mm/s. |
