Patent ID: 7381515

Claim:
An image forming method comprising: a primary transferring step for transferring to an intermediate transfer member a toner image formed on a photosensitive member; a secondary transferring step for transferring to a transfer material the toner image held on the intermediate transfer member; and after the secondary transferring step, a cleaning step for removing the toner remaining on the intermediate transfer member by bringing a cleaning means into contact with the intermediate transfer member, wherein; the cleaning means is one of a fur brush and a charging roller; the intermediate transfer member has a maximum displacement quantity (Sb) in a range of 0.10 μm to 1.00 μm against a load of 9.8×10 −5 N, and has an elastic deformation percentage (Eb) (%) of 50 or more which is represented by the following expression: Eb= ( Sb−Ib )×100/ Sb where Ib represents the plastic displacement quantity (μm) of the intermediate transfer member against the load of 9.8×10 −5 N; a toner which forms the toner image has an average circularity of 0.920 to 0.960 in its particles having a circle equivalent diameter of 2 μm or more, has a maximum displacement quantity (St) in the range of 0.06 μm to 0.24 μm against a load of 9.8×10 −5 N, and has an elastic deformation percentage (Et) (%) of 25 to 60 which is represented by the following expression: Et= ( St−It )×100/ St where It represents the plastic displacement quantity (μm) of the toner against the load of 9.8×10 −5 N; and the elastic deformation percentage of the intermediate transfer member and the elastic deformation percentage of the toner satisfy the following conditional expression: 75≦ Eb+Et≦ 135.