Patent ID: 8041276

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: a first image bearer configured to bear a latent image and a toner image comprising toner which includes toner particles; a second image bearer including an intermediate transfer member; a first transfer device configured to transfer the toner image from the first image bearer to the second image bearer; and a second transfer device configured to transfer the toner image from the second image bearer to a printing medium; wherein one of the below described inequalities exists for the toner when subjected to centrifugal force of 2.6×10 4 (N/m 2 ) per particle, wherein Ftp represents a non-electrostatic adherence between the toner particles, Fpp represents a non-electrostatic adherence between the toner and the first image bearer, and Fbp represents a non-electrostatic adherence between the toner and the second image bearer; Fbp>Ftp and Fbp>Fpp.