An image forming apparatus includes plural image forming devices each
including an image carrier, a charger and a developing device, which in
conjunction produce a corresponding toner image on the image carrier. A
primary image transferring device transfers the toner images from the
image carriers to an intermediate image transfer body one above the other,
thereby forming a composite toner image. A secondary image transferring
device transfers the composite toner image from the intermediate image
transfer body to a recording medium. The primary image transferring device
includes the intermediate image transfer body including at least an
elastic layer, a cleaning device cleaning the intermediate image transfer
body, and a coating device coating a lubricant on the intermediate image
transfer body. The charger is released from the image carrier
substantially at the same time as the coating device is released from the
intermediate image transfer body.
