Patent ID: 8746873

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: a recording head having, an ink chamber configured to store inductive ink therein, the inductive ink including a pigment dispersed in water, and a nozzle capable of ejecting the inductive ink including the water from the ink chamber; a first intermediate transfer body having a conductive substrate electrically connected to a conductive surface, the conductive surface configured to have an ink image formed thereon; a voltage application unit configured to, temporarily form, during the ejection of the inductive ink from the nozzle, a liquid-column bridge, made of the inductive ink including the pigment and the water, between the conductive surface and the nozzle of the recording head by applying a voltage between the inductive ink in the recording head and the conductive substrate, and electrolyze the water from the inductive ink included in the liquid-column bridge to decompose the water in the inductive ink into oxygen and protons; and a transfer unit configured to transfer the ink image formed on the first intermediate transfer body to a recording medium.