Image Forming Apparatus and Image Forming Method

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• an image carrier;
• a latent image forming device which forms a latent image on the image carrier;
• a developer which develops the latent image on the image carrier by using a developing agent containing at least a toner;
• an intermediate transfer belt which supports and carries a toner image which is transferred from the image carrier by primary transfer;
• a second transfer device which performs secondary transfer to transfer the toner image transferred on the intermediate transfer belt to a recording medium;
• a cleaner which abuts the intermediate transfer belt to remove toner attached to a surface of the intermediate transfer belt and which comprises an abutting portion that is less elastically deformable than rubber;
• an abutting angle adjuster which adjusts an abutting angle between the cleaner and the intermediate transfer belt;
• and
• a hardware processor which controls the abutting angle adjuster to maintain the abutting angle at a predetermined angle.