A method and apparatus that uniformly distributes a material on an image transfer surface is disclosed. The apparatus may include a circulation mechanism to circulate an image transfer surface in a two-dimensional manner around an axis and a retractable blade which is movable between a smoothing position contacting the material on the image transfer surface and a stand-by position departing from the material on the image transfer surface. Additionally, a cam on a lever moves the retractable blade to the stand-by position or to the smoothing position. In an image forming apparatus a retractable blade is used to smooth contamination of unknown distribution on a belt and to move corresponding to the movement of a roller disposed proximate to the belt.