Patent ID: 8567937

Claim:
An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium, the image forming apparatus comprising: a first discharge head configured to discharge, toward the recording medium, an ink containing a coloring agent while producing an ink mist; a second discharge head configured to discharge, toward the recording medium, a liquid, which improves image quality and which contains a component for coagulating or depositing the coloring agent, while producing a liquid mist; an energy emitting device configured to emit active energy and irradiate at least one of the ink mist and liquid mist with the active energy; and a transport mechanism configured to transport the recording medium to a position opposed to the first discharge head and the second discharge head, wherein the energy emitting device comprises a plurality of light sources, wherein the plurality of light sources are opposed to the transport mechanism and arranged in a staggered form in a direction perpendicular to a transport direction in which the recording medium is transported by the transport mechanism, wherein at least one of the ink and the liquid contains a curable substance which is curable by being irradiated with the active energy, and wherein at least one of the ink mist and the liquid mist is cured.