Patent ID: 8235519
Filing Date: 2012-08-07
Classification: B41J,B41M

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus which forms an image on a recording medium by using an ink and an aggregating treatment agent, the ink containing coloring material, the aggregating treatment agent containing a component which causes the coloring material to aggregate, the apparatus comprising: a treatment liquid deposition device which deposits a treatment liquid onto the recording medium, the treatment liquid containing the aggregating treatment agent; a treatment liquid heating device which heats the treatment liquid having been deposited on the recording medium to form a solid or semi-solid layer of the aggregating treatment agent on the recording medium; a treatment liquid permeation suppression device which suppresses permeation of the treatment liquid into the recording medium at least from a time of deposition of the treatment liquid onto the recording medium until formation of the solid or semi-solid layer of the aggregating treatment agent; and an ink droplet ejection device which ejects and deposits droplets of the ink onto the recording medium on which the solid or semi-solid layer of the aggregating treatment agent has been formed, wherein the treatment liquid permeation suppression device includes a permeation suppression agent deposition device which deposits a permeation suppression agent onto the recording medium before the treatment liquid is deposited onto the recording medium, the permeation suppresion agent having a repelling property with respect to the treatment liquid.