Patent ID: 8382230

Claim:
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a printing device which forms an image on a recording medium using ink containing at least pigment, a water-soluble organic solvent, resin particles and water; and a fixing device which makes contact with a surface of the recording medium on which the image is formed and applies heat and pressure to fix the image, wherein a minimum filming temperature (MFT 0 ) of an aqueous dispersion of the resin particles is 60° C. or above, and higher than a minimum filming temperature (MFT 25 ) of a dispersion of the resin particles in a mixed liquid combining a water-soluble organic solvent at 25 weight % with respect to the resin particles, and water; and wherein the image forming apparatus further comprises a controller which controls temperature of the recording medium in such a manner that, when the temperature of the recording medium in the fixing device is represented by T, the minimum filming temperature (MFT 25 ) of mixed liquid dispersion of the resin particles satisfies MFT 25 ≦T≦MFT 25 +50 (° C.), and a coating layer is formed on the recording medium, then the temperature of the recording medium is adjusted to or below a temperature at which a coating layer is not broken down.