An image forming apparatus including a cleaning blade for cleaning a conveying
belt or an intermediate transfer body, and a lubricating agent coating mechanism
for coating a lubricating agent on the surface of the conveying belt or the intermediate
transfer, body, wherein detection is made whether a conveying belt, an intermediate
transfer body belt or a cleaning blade is a new article, and the lubricating agent
coating mechanism is operated to coat the lubricating agent on the surface of the
conveying belt or the intermediate transfer body. Further, detection is made of
installation temperature and humidity of the image forming apparatus, and in case
of under-prescribed environments, the lubricating agent coating mechanism is operated
to coat the lubricating agent on the surface of the conveying belt or the intermediate
transfer body. Thereby, the cleaning performance is improved, and the blade burring
is prevented.